07.02.09
More Than Meets The Eye
Target has Tranformers, and Target.com has Transformers coupons. Go to Target’s Transformers page and click on the “Get Power Coupons” button to get printable coupons for 10, 15, and 20% off Transformer purchases — and apparently not just toys but also clothing, bedding and video games. If you don’t want to shop in the store (or if you live a sad existence and don’t have a Target store in your area) there are codes so you can get the discount online too.
On a related note, we’ve not yet seen the new Transformers movie, and don’t know for sure if we’ll see it in theaters or wait for the DVD. The boys love Transformers, Caden especially. They’ve seen the previews and have asked to see the new movie, but I’m afraid it may be too much for them, especially on the big screen. Maybe if we sit far enough in the back??? The verdict is still out. We took them to see the first one and they were OK and were even younger then. It’s a holiday weekend with not much planned so the temptation to go out to a movie is there, just not sure whether Transformers will be “it.”
06.26.09
Yes Man
I’m not a big Jim Carey fan — his kind of humor is a little over-the-top for my tastes. But his latest movie “Yes Man” wasn’t quite as overbearing as some of his other movies. It’s similar to “Liar Liar” where Carey plays a dad who lies all the time, and when his son wishes that his dad couldn’t tell lies and he can’t. In “Yes Man” he chooses to say “yes” to every question and every opportunity that he is offered.
Without spoiling too much of the movie, the moral of the story is that it’s good to say “yes” and to put yourself out there, take chances, etc. BUT within reason and without being stupid. I feel quite silly saying a Jim Carey movie has inspired me, but seriously I like the idea of saying “yes” more because all too often I don’t really have a good reason to say “no.” Our pastor has been saying for years to “put your ‘yes’ on the table” in reference to being willing to say “yes” to whatever God calls you to do. Tell Him “yes” first.
So, yesterday, one of hubby’s female co-workers invited me to a meet and greet lunch with a group of ladies that I don’t know — I barely know the co-worker! I know what hubby has told me about her and we’ve met once. But I said yes! Why not, right?
05.09.09
Bride Wars
I finally got to see Bride Wars last night. This is the one we’d talked about seeing at Valentine’s, saw He’s Just Not That Into instead, kinda regretted not seeing Bride Wars, and THEN once it was out on DVD had to wait a few weeks for Netflix to send the DVD because so many people had requested it. Short review: very cute movie, humorous, light and funny. What I really think: I miss my BFF from high school. Because the movie revolved around best friends who’d planned their whole weddings out — with each other as the other’s maid of honor — from the time they were kids, it reminded me of her and our own wedding fiascos. Nothing like the ones in the movie where weddings are double-booked on the same day, but we did get married the same summer and some of the themes of the movie were evident with us and not everything worked out as we’d hoped. The words that close out the movie, spoken by Candice Bergen, who plays the wedding planner:
It was quite a wedding and as I stood there watching I realized something I’d forgotten a long time ago. Sometimes in life there really are bonds formed that can never be broken. Sometimes you really can find that one person who will stand by you no matter what. Maybe you will find it in a spouse and celebrate it with your dream wedding. But there’s also the chance that the one person you can count on for a lifetime, the one person who knows you sometimes better than you know yourself is the same person who’s been standing beside you all along.
05.03.09
Hannah Montana (the movie)
I took the boys to see the Hannah Montana movie Saturday. They are both very aware of who she is, and while I felt a little silly taking them to a girl movie, they were excited to go. One of the highlights for them was seeing Taylor Swift, one of their favorites!
The movie was very cute, very clean (rated G, by the way). Even “the kiss” was well done and not actually seen, which for a movie targeted at girls as young as age 3 and 4, I think was a good idea. For fans, there were lots of concert-like appearances and singing. There was also typical zany Miley behavior which made the boys crack-up!
One thing I really appreciated was the story of young love or first love. That’s what I like about movies like this or songs by Taylor Swift is they allow me to reminisce about being that 14-year-old girl and swooning over some cute country boy. I give it two thumbs up and would see it again in the future on DVD.
One of my favorite scenes was the Howdown Throwdown. I want to learn the steps. Looks fun!
04.30.09
Taste in Movies
Netflix knows me, and quite well I might add. Based on my rental history and my ratings of movies, it makes recommendations of other movies I might like. Sometimes I get a movie they suggest, sometimes not. It’s not the movies they suggest that impresses me. It’s the personalized categories, all of which I agree uniquely and accurately describe my tastes.
Action & Adventure based on real life — The key is “based on real life.” I love movies based on true stories — “ripped from the headlines” — or that present a story that I believe could happen.
Feel-good Teen Dramas — Sure. I love a good teeny-bopper flik. Takes me back, keeps me young, makes me laugh at my teen-age self. Some of my faves are Grease, Freaky Friday, Mean Girls, Bring It On.
Dark Military Movies – This is obviously hubby’s movie choices coming through. Although, I’ve been known to enjoy a good war movie from time to time. I even watched We Were Soldiers all on my own a few weekends ago.
Sentimental Wedding Movies — Yeah, I’m a sap for a wedding movie. My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Wedding Date, The Wedding Planner, Sweet Home Alabama, … love ‘em all.
03.17.09
“World Spins Madly On”
This video is from the movie “Because I Said So,” which is a very cute movie, if I do say so myself. And I do. As do most movies these days, it has some content I could have done without, but as a whole it tells a cute story. The movie aside, this song from the movie, “World Spins Madly On” by The Weepies is very catch-y and has quickly become one of my favorites.
The Weepies – World Spins Madly On Album: Say I Am You (2006) Film: Because I Said So (2006)
12.11.08
“No Greater Love”
No Greater Love is another Christian romance/marriage movie coming out next year.
I’m excited that movies like this one (Fireproof, Facing the Giants, etc.) give Christian couples and families something positive and encouraging to watch and give hope to people out there struggling with the same issues in the movies.
Flywheel is another one I’d not heard of. which is actually the first movie from the Georgia church that made Facing and Fireproof. Flywheel is about man not doing “the right thing” in his business, with his family etc. and his transformation to honor God with his business, relationships and life.
12.03.08
Think on These Things
To read or not to read, that is the question. Well, the question is actually a little bit broader than that: to consume or not to consume, perhaps, is a little more accurate. I’ve heard all my life sayings like “junk in, junk out” but qualified the “junk” I put in by believing I could handle it. As a teenager I listened to the same music everyone else did but thought that while other teenagers heard negative lyrics and acted out what they heard, I could hear the same bad lyrics and just enjoy the sound.
To some extent I still believe that. Yet just because you can handle something doesn’t mean that you should. A devotional I read recently about integrity said you can’t truly judge whether you can handle something (a book, music, movie, lyrics, etc.) until after you’ve consumed it, and then it’s too late. The devotional also pointed out what my mother always told me but that I never believed, which is that what you see and hear becomes ingrained in your mind and can be/will be recalled later. Your subconscious mind will bring up what has been fed to your conscious mind.
I’ve tested this theory a little over the last month or so and have tried to listen exclusively to positive music, primarily praise and worship music. And you know, in those rare quiet moments, I have found myself many times singing in my head the very praise and worship music I have been listening to. If a song is going to get stuck in my head, I’d much rather it be a positive, Christian song that is uplifting and encouraging instead of a song with a bad attitude like Pink’s “So What,” or a song about inappropriate relationships like Britney’s “Womanizer.”
I use these songs as examples because at the time I read this devotional on integrity I had just purchased both of these songs on iTunes and was listening to them on my computer, via my iPhone, in the car, etc. Even my 5-year-old was singing along with Pink, “I’m gonna start a fight.” I really started to feel convicted about the lyrics that I was allowing into my own head and now the heads of my children. I may can handle Pink, but can my kindergartner?
The struggle with what to see, hear, read, “consume” is not easy, and it’s a constant one. I still like the sound of the Pink and the Britney songs so it’s tempting to listen to them. I can relate to a lot of the lyrics in popular songs because they talk about love, break-ups, hurts, longings, all of which I’ve experienced. It’s enjoyable to hear lyrics that relate well to things I’ve felt and experienced. This is not to say that all secular music (movies, TV, books, etc.) is bad, but one should search their heart and their conscience to determine which ones are or aren’t appropriate to consume.
In fifth grade the principal at the Christian school I attended refused to let me and some friends sing a certain song in chapel because he doubted whether or not it was appropriate. He told us a simple truth that I’ve never forgotten: when in doubt don’t do it. He had doubts about the song so he couldn’t, in good conscience, let us to sing it. I’ve applied that principle many times, to the clothing I choose, the places I go and the people I am around. When in doubt, don’t. If you have doubt, there’s probably a good reason.
Ok, so my final thought on deciding what to consume is this: Is it healthy? This has been advice that I have given in the past to others yet I’ve seldom applied it to myself. (Remember, it didn’t matter to me if it was healthy or not because I could handle it.) But just this week I had to make a decision about whether or not to read something that I had doubts about reading. Initially I decided there was no reason not to read it and had a “Why not?” attitude. But that still small voice said to me, “Instead of asking ‘Why not?’ ask ‘Why?’ Is there a reason to? Is this healthy? What do you gain by reading this?” And the answer was nothing. Well, nothing good anyway. So I’m not going to read it. Doesn’t make it easier. Just like with Pink and Britney, I’m still tempted. But I’m confident that the positive Christian praise and worship that is filled my mind and my heart (as well as passages from the Bible, which I have been striving to read everyday!) is going to come to mind just when I need it and help me resist.
“Finally brothers, whatever is true; whatever is noble, righteous and pure; whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, excellent, and worthy of our praise; think on these things.” — lyrics based on Philippians 4:8
