Friday

Ahhhhhh...

Life is coming together at such a rapid pace.

It's like that saying, "be careful what you wish for"...

But it's all wonderful things.

Such a rush!

New York is SCREAMING my name!!!

Fear not fair City! I'll be with you soon!

I could not have asked for better roommates.

I am off, high on life...

Enjoy this Friday everyone!

Seven Pounds

I wish that I could hold onto the way I felt after watching "Seven Pounds" forever. If I could, I would have a much better outlook on life.

If you’ve never seen it, I think you should. It definitely goes on my list of movies I feel everyone should watch.

This man lost his wife. He was driving and checking his email at the same time. He drove into the opposite lane and caused 7 people to die, including his brand new fiance; the love of his life.

Because of this, he fell into a deep depression which encouraged him to steal his brothers identity. His brother was a IRS employee. He would use his stolen credentials to find people in need. Give a woman a lung. Give a man new eyes. Give a woman with a rare blood type, a new heart. He also gave a woman [and her two kids] who was constantly being beaten to a pulp by her boyfriend the home he and his former fiance had lived in so they could have a better life, without abuse. He never wanted anyone to know why he was doing the things that he did. Only one man knew his plan. His best friend knew exactly what he was to do with the remains of his body after he committed suicide so everything could be donated and put to the best of use.

This is the most generous and odd form of pay it forward I have ever encountered.

I feel that a lot of people (especially women) have issues with movies/Hollywood saying that they make everything look unreasonable. There is no frog that after a kiss from a princess will turn into a prince and sweep her off her feet so they can live happily ever after. That much is true, and I believe around the age of 13, I figured this out.

There are so many times where I find myself not being able to enjoy a movie because all I can think about is how unrealistic it is.

That was not the case with this movie. I don’t think that the majority of the population is anywhere near as generous as this character was- but deep down, I’d like to believe that it really could be true. It gave me hope, and inspiration. It also made me turn around and really take a look at myself and what I’m giving back to the world, or rather, the lack there of. As I stated above, I really wish I could hold onto this feeling for the rest of my life and always try to find a way to pay it forward each day no matter how small.

I don’t know how long this feeling will last. Maybe only a couple of hours? Maybe days, weeks, months? But I hope that no matter what, I can find it in myself to see the good in each person I meet.

If you have not yet seen “Seven Pounds”, please take my advise and do (if you are anything like me, I recommend watching it alone, or with people who won’t make fun of you for crying- I cried like a little baby). Keep an open mind.

Find the good in each person you meet.

ma digs

Many of you have been inquiring about what my new home looks like. Well friends... wait no longer. I know, I know, I've been here for almost two months- but better late than never right?

In addition to my home in Omaha, my aunt and uncle also own a home on Table Rock Lake (southern Missouri), so I found it only fitting that you got to view both places, especially since I think we all (my family) can agree we'd rather be at the lake any day over Omaha.

So, without further ado, enjoy your tour!

the front of the lake house:

The living room looking into the kitchen:

Windows to the right go out to the deck that they share with the Kulceski family. Hallway to the left leads to the half bath, downstairs, and front door.
Kitchen:

door to the left of the kitchen leads to Uncle Tim & Aunt Barb's room.
The downstairs "living room":

Door on the far left leads to the laundry room. Stairs lead... well, upstairs which you've already seen. The hall to the right leads to Meg and Brandon rooms and the bathroom.
Meg's room:

I chose to only show this room since it's also where I sleep (hence the bunk bed). Not shown- Meg's walk-in closet that I am very jealous of.

Back in Omaha!!

Here's where I spent the majority of my time :)

Welcome to Polk Street:
Kitchen view #1:

Meg and Aunt Barb are probably appalled that I posted this picture. As of Monday morning, this kitchen will have a whole new look sans kokopelli's and the southwestern themed wallpaper. I have promised them that I will do a "before & after" shoot. So check back soon to see the new kitchen!
Kitchen view #2:
The bathroom Meg and I share:
My room:

Don't you just love all the southwestern themed stuff?!

For those of you who had ever been to my house in Portland yes, it's much smaller. But it fits me perfectly right now and since I'll be living in NYC soon enough- I figure I'd better get used to cramped spaces!
So there you go! The roof(s) over my head... in all their glory!

I didn't include a photo of the Omaha living room, only because when I was shooting, Meg, Melanie, Uncle Tim, and Aunt Barb were all lounging and I didn't think they'd like being in my photo- even though we all know Aunt Barb's favorite thing to do is pose for pictures ;)

I promise soon I'll post pictures of Melanie, and the Moore wedding!!! The Corbett family is ever growing!

Cheers!

45 lessons life taught me

This was sent to me by my high school cheerleading coach (the text, not the video). I really love it. I wish I could keep these things in mind each day.

I have had much admiration for Jared Leto for quite sometime... it probably started back in the day with the show "My So-Called Life" (hmmm... I wonder where I got the inspiration for the name of my blog?) and continued when he became a part of the band "30 Seconds to Mars". I love this song, and I recommend that you play this video and listen to this song while reading the following text.

Enjoy :)

A lot of people have been asking to see my new digs. I'm actually at Table Rock right now, so I think my next post will include a comprehensive view of both homes, since I feel I'll be spending my time equally at both places.

Until next time....

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the local newspaper "The Plain Dealer", Cleveland , Ohio: To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer..

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

SATC2

Oh where to start....?

To begin, I’ll let you know right off the bat that this is a very mixed review.

First of all, can you say “long”?! My goodness! I get it, there’s just so much fabulousness in SATC you just want to pack it all in- but honestly!? One hour and fifty seven minutes?! A girl can only take so much!

I felt almost as if the movie was shot by two different directors.

Michael Patrick King did such a good job of forming such a cohesive series for six years, and even the first SATC movie seemed so true to the series he had directed. I almost can’t believe that the first half of this movie could have been directed by him. I think one of the greatest things about this show (and most successful shows) is that the actors make it look flawless. Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP), Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon always did such a good job of making it seem on film like they really were friends- like we were really getting a glimpse of what their lives looked like. It didn’t seem like acting. It seemed like the lines they were given were their own words; as natural as can possibly be.

Well in this movie- that was so not the case. I could not believe the continuous, obvious “line cues” going back and forth between the actors. And beyond that, none of it was natural at all, not for real life, and not even for their characters!

SPOILER ALERT! (only a minor one) The “gay wedding” was ridiculous. SATC has always been known for being a little over the top (“a little” being the operative word here); but they took it just a step too far. Having Liza Minnelli officiate the wedding, and then going on to perform her version of “Single Ladies”.... I mean, really?! I get that it’s a movie, but I feel that SATC has always done such a good job of keeping it relatively true to life. I’m not saying that Liza would never officiate someone’s wedding- but I feel like they would have to really be someone to know, and I just don’t feel like Stanford and Anthony really fit in that category.

Speaking of Liza Minnelli, if you can say “long”, can you say “cameo”?! Since when does SATC need other famous actors to boost their ratings? Sure, they’ve had other well known actors come on every once in a while but I just really don’t feel like they needed so many: Liza Minnelli, Miley Cycus, Penelope Cruze, Tuesday Knight. Maybe four cameo’s doesn’t sound like a lot, but for SATC, I personally think it’s far too many.

Before I wrap up my bash session, I’ll end this portion with this: I just think that the majority of the first half was trying way too hard. Every single scene seemed like a trailer, and not a movie with meaty dialogue. I wouldn’t generally be this critical, but I hold SATC to a rather high standard. I mean, they stayed on the air, and popular for so long- I just don’t understand the rather seemingly desperate cries in this one.

On to my praise, I’ll try to keep this short and sweet (just like the good portion of the film). The second half really picked up. It really started to feel more like the traditional SATC we all know and love when Carrie saw Aiden. SPOILER ALERT! (this one’s kinda a big one) I think we all knew what was coming when we saw the trailer of Carrie seeing Aiden, I mean, it has been smooth sailing for long enough they had to throw someone cheating somewhere in there to shake things up!

Essentially- if you’re a SATC fan, of course you have to see this one, but keep your expectations low. I was also hoping that this would be kind of the end of the road for this series, but no such luck- I just read online that a third movie is already in the works, and most likely a forth will follow. Thank God, that sounds to be the end of it.

And lastly, I'd like to pick a fight with whoever is in the editing department of the movie poster. I’m guessing they paid all of their famous actors to do their cameos so they had to hire someone out of their first design class. The photoshop on this is unbelievable. SJP’s face looks like it’s been copied and pasted onto her body (that is, if it even IS her body), and I’m fairly certain that that’s not even Kim face. (please compare the bottom photo to this top one)

If you have already seen it, or plan on seeing it, please leave me a comment below and let me know what you thought!