Friday, April 30, 2010

Sweets of Summer

It feels like summer is right around the corner and I couldn’t be happier.  I’ve been preparing for its arrival by incorporating seasonal fruit into each meal, wearing my Toms just about everywhere, eating chocolate-dipped ice cream cones, buying Gerber Daisies in cheery colors and finding the sweetest of packaging for my abundance of baked goods.



The Back-up Plan



When the alarm on a woman's biological clock starts ringing, no snooze button on earth can truly turn the thing off.

Just ask Zoe. Sure, some folks might assume that she already owns everything the average Manhattanite could want: a comfortable apartment, a thriving business, the looks of Jennifer Lopez. But Zoe feels like something's missing … something small and warm and burpy.

No, no. We're not talking about a Boston terrier. She already has one of those. She wants a baby. And since she's not in a relationship, she sets up a date with a fertility specialist and a vial of sperm.

Wouldn't you know it, the day—nay, the very hour—after her first clinical rendezvous, Zoe runs into Stan, a hunk-a-hunk-a-hunky cheese farmer from upstate. Edam! Zoe exclaims to herself. He's just too gouda to be true! But too true he is, just like a nice, ripe feta, and it's not long before they're going on picture-perfect dates, spending long weekends on the cheese farm and falling in love.

Oh, yeah, and growing a baby, too.

When Stan first finds out, he sours a bit on the whole relationship. But not wanting to be a curd, he decides to stick around, molding true love out of an unusual baby-makes-three arrangement.

Which leaves us with just one question: If it's a boy, will they name him Colby?
Positive Elements

We don't see Zoe interact much with children, even after she has them. (She delivers twins.) But we do know that she dotes on her dog—supplying the canine (whose back legs don't work) with special carts so he can walk/wheel himself around. And not once considering abortion as an option—even when Stan goes a little green at the thought of having kids—her yen for them is nice, so far as it goes.

But the real hero here is Stan. Once he comes to grips with the fact that kids are on their way, he does everything he can to support his ever-expanding sweetie—dealing with her cravings, her neuroses and, for a time, even her omnipresent full-body pillow. He contracts a custom-made stroller and manfully breeches the great unknown with a sense of understated sacrifice and humor.

When Zoe asks him why he would want to deal with her children, he answers, "Because I love their mommy—and what I want more than anything else in the world is to be their daddy."

Cheesy? Naturally. But admirably so—as is the fact that the two eventually marry.
Spiritual Content

When Stan and Zoe gather to watch one of Zoe's friends give birth, they find the place filled with women pounding on drums and chanting in a vaguely Native American/New Age sort of way. Zoe believes it's lucky to pick up a penny—but only if it's showing "heads."
Sexual Content

Here's where this review takes a sharp downward turn. Zoe and Stan wait until their third date to have sex—hardly laudable self-control. And once they've started, they don't stop.

We hear from Mona, Zoe's friend, that because Zoe's pregnant, her body's particularly sensitive and she's apt to be particularly orgasmic. And so we're soon exposed to a scene in which Zoe climaxes during the early stages of foreplay. During intercourse, she has three or four orgasms. Stan rips open Zoe's dress on one occasion, and we see her bare back.

Zoe examines her nearly naked self in the mirror. (We see a brief glimpse of her thong-clad backside.) She tells Stan how much better her rear used to look—offering him pictures to illustrate. She wears some tight-fitting outfits with plunging necklines. For his part, Stan often wears no shirt at all, and the film treats him very much as a sex object—more so even than J.Lo's Zoe.

Beyond all the shown and talked-about orgasms, there's all sorts of conversation about pre- and post-baby vaginal conditions, nipples, "penis partners," pubic hair, sperm, sexual habits and rapid-fire serial monogamy.

The camera watches as a woman breast-feeds her 3-year-old girl. And there's a bit of explicit content related to pregnancy itself. We first meet Zoe in her fertility doctor's office where the camera doesn't blink very often during her insemination. A later appointment includes a vaginal ultrasound and a doctor who repeats the word vagina many, many times to make Stan uncomfortable.

We see one of Zoe's friends give birth in a tub of water. Shots include her pubic region.
Violent Content

Zoe crashes into a tree with her SUV. One woman, in the throes of delivery, threatens Zoe with bodily injury, clawing at her.
Crude or Profane Language

One f-word and about 20 s-words are mixed in with "a‑‑," "b‑‑ch," "h‑‑‑," "d‑‑n" and "douche bag." God's name is misused more than a dozen times (once with "d‑‑n"), and Jesus' name is abused twice.
Drug and Alcohol Content

Zoe drinks wine and champagne—but not when she knows she's pregnant. Others drink those intoxicants, too, along with beer.
Other Negative Elements

Mona, a mother of four, tries to dissuade Zoe from having a baby, telling her that kids are "awful" and "I hate them." A playground father echoes this to Stan, telling him that fatherhood is "awful, awful, awful … and then something beautiful happens … and then it's awful, awful." When Stan notices that one of this unnamed dad's children is eating sand, the man says, "By the time you get to the third one, you don't worry about that stuff." Later, a child carries over a piece of poop for his dad to inspect, and the father merely asks him whether it's from a cat or from him or from some other undetermined source.

Zoe and Stan both initially keep information from each other (Zoe her pregnancy, Stan the fact that he's going to night school). We see both Zoe and her dog throw up. Mona talks about the effect pregnancy had on her bladder. We see Zoe sit on the toilet and hear her urinate as she's taking a pregnancy test. During Zoe's friend's birthing scene, fishing out excrement is played for laughs.
Conclusion

"Some things can last forever," Stan tells Zoe. He's trying to reassure her that one of those things is their love for each other—that he'll never leave her no matter how much she may believe he has no reason to stay.

So they've got that going for them.

But then there are things that simply seem to last forever. Like, for instance, this film. The Back-up Plan was supposed to be, I think, an update of a classic romance—one that starts out with having kids, rather than ending there. It culminates in engagement and, apparently, true love. Along the way, it studiously avoids all that old-fashioned traditionalism seen in romances of yesteryear.

But I still believe in love, marriage and family, in that order. You might too. And partly because of that, The Back-up Plan didn't much resonate with me. And it strikes me that it may actually do some harm.

While the premise of the romance centers on the desire to have children and the unstated belief that acquiring them will bring happiness, most of what we actually hear about kids is negative. They put dinner on their heads. They play with unfamiliar feces. They're "awful." They're "horrid."

Zoe, while she desperately wants children, seems to see them not as sacred responsibilities, but rather accoutrements. She's obsessed with their clothes, consumed with their strollers. And when asked why she wants kids, she says she doesn't want to be alone.

So The Back-up Plan is about Zoe and Stan and their love for one another. The children, rather than being the film's ultimate gift, are its reoccurring obstacle. And as those twins were born, I couldn't help but think that they'd better grow up pretty quickly—just in case their parents get bored with them.

Perhaps I'm not giving due credit. After all, we do see Stan reading a bedtime story to them before tucking them in at night. Few of us, when we become parents, are truly ready. It's hard to grasp the joys, the trials and somber responsibilities that come with parenthood, and most of us learn along the way. So I should probably be more forgiving when it comes to Zoe and Stan.

But if this film has some sweetness to it, the content it displays is as sour as a hunk of gorgonzola left in the sun for six weeks. And that makes me a bit cranky. Its foul language and frank sexuality spoil whatever meager charms it might've offered.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Should little kids be allowed in big church?

 For the most part, I think it’s a decision the parents make with their kids. But then I saw this video that the hilarious team of  Tripp Crosby and Tyler Stanton made. They showed it at a friends church because they had a bajillion babies storm service like a SWAT team. Slight exaggeration. Check it out and let me know what you think of the following question:
Should little kids be allowed in big church?

World Exclusive: Meet Sandra Bullock's Baby Boy!



In public, Sandra Bullock has been through the best and worst of times this year – from winning her first Oscar to enduring the breakup of her marriage. In private, she was quietly keeping a joyful secret – his name is Louis, and he is her newborn son.

"He's just perfect, I can't even describe him any other way," Bullock reveals exclusively in the new issue of PEOPLE, announcing that she is the proud mother of Louis Bardo Bullock, a 3½-month-old boy, born in New Orleans. "It's like he's always been a part of our lives."

Bullock, 45, and husband Jesse James, 41, began the adoption process four years ago and brought Louis home in January but decided to keep the news to themselves until after the Oscars. Their close friends and family – including James's children Sunny, 6, Jesse Jr., 12, and Chandler, 15 – were essential in keeping the adoption a secret.


Then, just 10 days after the March 7 Oscars, Bullock and James separated following reports James had cheated. Bullock says she is now finalizing the adoption as a single parent.



For much more, including an in-depth interview with Bullock and exclusive photos of the star and her baby boy, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

How he loves us.



I can honestly say this song brought me to tears

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

That He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Orange-Flavored Almond Biscotti by Emily


I can say with complete honesty that I have never been a fan of biscotti.  It always seems like something you eat when there’s nothing else available and you’re simply settling for a stale cookie.   I had never even thought about how they were made until I considered making some from scratch after seeing this recipe.  Turns out, they’re twice-baked (which makes them seem extra special) and when they’re homemade, there’s quite a difference.  They’re crunchy, but full of flavor and the hint of orange makes them the perfect complement to cup of tea in the afternoon.



Tuesday, April 27, 2010

My first Vlog




Yep i started Vloging! Love it. Here is my email btw Sorry if the audio is a little messed up.

Short On Prints

After seeing countless pictures of stylish ladies at Coachella in patterned shorts, I’ve been dying to recreate the look (minus the bikini tops that were worn out at the desert).  I typically rely on multiple stores to provide an adequate variety of shapes and styles, but Topshop has a firm grip on this season’s trend.   I love how butterflies and abstract watercolor prints suddenly seem fresh and crisp, though I’m fairly confident that I owned both such patterns as a child.  Whether you throw on a gauzy tunic or slouchy tank, these shorts all provide a welcomed departure from my normal routine.

1. Butterfly Print Skirt Shorts, $60
2. Tropical Print Hareem Shorts, $80
3. Eyelet Floral Shorts, $65
4. Daisy Chain Shorts, $65
5. Floral Fluid Shorts, $65
6. Slouchy Shorts, $90
7. Botanical Shirred Shorts, $50
8. Lace Pleat Shorts, $65

Friday, April 23, 2010

Spring Uniform

I’d be happy dressing in slight variations of J.Crew’s entire spring line from here on out. A crisp blazer, t-shirt, tangle of chains and you’re out the door. Of course I’ll make sure things don’t ever get too monotonous by throwing on different pants (rolled up khakis one day and boyfriend jeans the next), switching between oxfords and wedges and occasionally doing my hair differently.
j.crew blazer


Reiss - Sitara, $315
Topshop - Boyfriend Oversized Blazer, $100
Forever 21 - Buttoned Woven Blazer, $26.90
Juicy Couture - Lace-trim Terrycloth Tunic, $140
Forever 21 - Slashed Knit Top, $11.80
Kain - Silk and Modal Tank, $85
By Malene Birger - Lilly Bell Pearl and Crystal Necklace, $315
Banana Republic - Lorenz Necklace, $79.50
Forever 21 - Snake Chain Braid Necklace, $19.80

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Post here!

Have we lost our “Bye um pum pum”?

This clip is exaggerated and slightly ridiculous, but I’ve always remembered it.



Who needs to throw themselves at a guy when you’ve got Bye um pum pum?

We’d be better off with a little less “friendliness” and a little more mystery.

Maybe it’s time for a bit of Bye um pum pum.

_____

Please note: I am half in jest.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Magnolia’s Famous Banana Pudding

  • 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 1/2 cups ice cold water
  • 1 (3.4-ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix (preferably Jell-O brand)
  • 3 cups heavy cream
  • 1 (12-ounce) box Nabisco Nilla Wafers (no substitutions!)
  • 4 cups sliced ripe bananas
  1. In a small bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the pudding mix and beat well, about 2 minutes more. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight, before continuing. It is very important to allow the proper amount of time for the pudding mixture to set.
  2. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the pudding mixture into the whipped cream until well blended and no streaks of pudding remain.
  3. To assemble the dessert, select a large, wide bowl (preferably glass) with a 4-5-quart capacity. Arrange one-third of the wafers to cover the bottom of the bowl, overlapping if necessary, then one-third of the bananas and one-third of the pudding. Repeat the layering twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer of the pudding. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours - or up to 8 hours, but no longer! - before serving.




Monday, April 19, 2010

Norwegian Wood

If you taller like me (5'6") you don't really like high heels. But if you are short (fun sized) like my mother who tops out at 5'4" .  You love and live for them.  All the shoes my Mom has are high heels. So for my shorter readers here are just a few of my current favorites.   I love all of the wooden options this season since they’re sleek, but have a natural vibe that’s perfect for warmer months.  
norwegian-wood.jpg
1. Diane von Furstenberg, $295.
2. Elizabeth and James, $350.
3. Steve Madden, $109.95
4. Belle by Sigerson Morrison, $218.40
5. Steve Madden, $109.95
6. Jeffrey Campbell, $124.95
7. Miu Miu, $495
8. Bakers, $59.95
9. DKNY, $130
10. Christian Louboutin, $545

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Vintage Days APRIL 15-18, 2010

Vintage Days is a four-day, student-planned celebration which attracts over 50,000 people from Fresno and the surrounding communities to the Fresno State campus. The annual spring event combines numerous social, cultural and recreational activities into a series of coordinated programs over an extended weekend.  Each fall semester, applications are accepted and student coordinators are selected to plan, organize, and execute all of the events and activities.  Events and activities include:  Boomtown Carnival, Casino Night, Concerts, Crafts Faire, Kid's Zone, and Special Events.

Friday, April 16, 2010

The Story Of Stuff

How many things do you think you buy in a week? If your like me when you sit back and think of it you really don't know. Its a lot though. Have you ever thought of where it comes from of where it goes when your done with it. Here is a link to a website i would recommend for women.
 Also here is a video that has in a lot of ways opened my eyes.

Black Bean Soup

blackbean3.jpg
The weather has been so erratic lately that meal planning has become close to impossible.  One day it’s sunny and stifling, the next it’s gray and wet. Why don't you make Tyler Florence’s Black Bean Soup with fresh lime crema and cilantro you will be seriously impressed with yourself.  Not only does it make my entire place smell incredible, but it tastes just as good the next day, served cold.
{Washed black beans}
{Pureed garlic, onion, cilantro, jalapeno and green pepper}
{Served with homemade corn bread and lime wedges}

Thursday, April 15, 2010

April Meeting Info


Please join us for the April 2010 4X 4Him Christian Wheelers Club Meeting

 gossip gossip gossip
 Date:  Thursday, April 15th, 2010
  Time:  6:30pm
 Place:  KOKOMO
             2970 N Sunnyside Ave #103
             Fresno, CA    93727

            South of Shields & North of Clinton
         
            Click Here for a Map
   Plan:  Fellowship, good food, club business

Mosley    Please join us for dinner!    Mosley

I will be cooking main dish & brownies so post up your side dish

Bring a chair and beverage of your choice
Don't forget Raffle stuff...


We hope to see you all there!

Fleur de Sel Caramels by Emily

I am - and always will be a fan of all things chocolate.  But when caramel is done right, there’s really nothing better.  I’m consistently disappointed with the caramel products readily available, whether it’s an impossibly chewy Milk Dud or a Sugar Daddy that’s hard as a rock.  I’ve tried homemade caramels before from little sweet shops, but I had never considered making my own until I stumbled across Mark Bitman’s recipe.  The result was perfectly chewy caramels with just enough salt to bring out the complex flavors of butter, cream and sugar.  
caramel7.jpg
{Maldon flakes of salt on top of smooth caramel}
{Make sure to swipe a spoonful of caramel from the bottom of the skillet after you’ve poured it into the pan.  You know, to speed up the cleaning process.}
{Cut 4×6 sheets of parchment paper for wrappers}
{A perfectly twisted caramel wrapper ready to be unfolded}

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Wednesday’s Wonders: Are Cargo Pants safe?

Cargo pants are indeed making a comeback, what with the military-inspired trends we’re seeing for both women and men. The good news?  The more fitted versions of cargo pants that you’re seeing today are a far cry from the oversized, stuff-your-pockets versions that were popularized in the 1990s.  To keep from looking like Rambo or Amazon women, pair your cargos with some very feminine pieces.
Here are three ways to wear Cargo Pants:
___________________How to Wear Cargo Pants
How to Wear Cargo Pants by Christa-Taylor.com featuring Oasis tops

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

CONFUSION

Today we live in a world where there is much confusion! There is confusion about the economy, confusion about relationships; confusion about war & peace, the list goes on and on. Among teenagers, growing up in the mist of all these “confusing” circumstances, it is important to note that there should be NO confusion about who God is, and that he loves you very much. Yet, the more I talk with teenagers, the more I realize there is confusion, yes even among “church-going” teenagers.
My prayer today, is that, as you read this article, God stirs your heart and clears away any confusion about his love for you!
The scriptures tell us that “God is Love”. “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. (1 John 4:16). Despite this truth, in the world today, there is still much confusion about what “love” really is. Many teenagers find it hard to believe that God is a loving God. Could this be mainly, because love has been defined in so many different ways in our world?
It is difficult to define “love” when we have a society where parents say they love one another, yet they get divorced; we have moms and dads that say they love their children, yet they are virtually absent from their lives; we have “church communities” that say they love people, yet they judge and condemn. No wonder, if we look to the world, there is confusion about what love is! However, if we look to God we can clearly define love.
God says love is everlasting – God will never leave you or forsake you. “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deut. 31:8). We learn in God’s word that he promises to always stand by us. “ No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you”. (Joshua 1:5).
God’s love will never end and it cannot be measured. “ Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Rms 8: 39). God, through his love for you, made a plan for your life. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).
God has adopted you, you are never without a Father. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God”! (1 John 3:1).
This is the kind of love that will put to rest any confusion about what true love is. God is Love, and he loves you! You can depend on the love of God. Do not look to the world for love, look to and rely on God’s love. Spend time with God and you will come to know “love”.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Wedding Wear by Emily

If your calendar looks anything like mine this summer, you’re in dire need of cute cocktail dresses appropriate for multiple weddings.  Since white is out of the question and you don’t want to be confused for one of the bridesmaids, there are plenty of fun options at a variety of price points.  Whether you’re decked out in feminine florals or a mini dress in a bright, notice-me-now shade, you’re bound to find something that fits the dress code.
wedding-dresses.jpeg
Topshop: Abstract Floral Smock Dress, $90
Zimmerman: Floral-Print Chiffon Dress, $515
Single: Printed Jersey Strapless Dress, $295
Milly: Asymmetric Silk Mini Dress, $355
Kova & T: Lace and Silk Mini Dress, $365
Topshop: Silk Dress by Boutique, $160
Diane von Furstenberg: Layly Tiger Dress, $385
French Connection: Dandy Voile Dress, £75.00
Missoni: Candia Woven Mini Dress, $705
Thread Social: Ruffle-Strap Mini Dress, $520
Tibi: Scalloped Silk-Georgette Dress, $300
Forever 21: Draped Woven Tunic, $27.80

Yep Em i got a bunch of weddings to go to too

Friday, April 2, 2010

The Passion

Kim Kardasian reminded me today that its Good Friday. I was wondering if i should watch The Passion today.
The last time i watched it i was in 8th grade. It was a youth group thing. we went "big church" and watched it on the "big screen" I sat by my friend Brit. We almost walked out we were crying so hard. But it was a very well done movie.

So have you seen it? Should i see it again? Tell me what you think leave a comment

How to wear the Statement Necklace -Spring 2010

The runways have been presenting the Statement necklace since Spring ‘08, but it is still going strong through 2010 with designers including Chanel, Christian Dior, Marni, Valentino and many more.
Jewelry is big, not just in popularity but in scale with lots of color.
____________Statement Necklace
Statement Necklace by christa_t featuring Marni jewelry
Do:
Mix long strands together
Keep other accessories to a minimum.
Wear it long or short
Wear it in multiples- it’s supposed to be a bit audacious.
mix and match metals, glass, or acrylic and even add in leather, feathers and wood.
Pair with a simple neckline and neutral colored clothes.
DIY
To make your own necklace, simply look for bold beads, pendants and chain.  Make sure that the metals work together, and that the colors are in the same family either by hue or shade.  For example, choose gold or silver, muted tones or brights.  Group your selection together to see how the components harmonize and how much space each piece demands.  To avoid unnecessary bulk, cluster your larger pieces to the front of the necklace and keep the section that will lie on the back of your neck very plain, maybe just simple smaller scale beads or medium chain.