Magnolia Mom

When thinking of things that make happy there’s all sorts of categories of things that make me happy. I’m going to try and highlight the top things so this is not a never ending post!

I can’t make a list without putting my kids. I’ll have to say I’m especially happy when they’re getting along!

And the hubby.

Our dog, Rosie, brings me joy.

Friends make me happy.

Happiness is dancing! I’ve loved dancing since I was a little girl and still it’s one of the things that makes me most happy.

Music evokes such emotion in me and also memories. I can hear a song and automatically think of what was going on in my life when that song came out.

Diet Coke (although I drink regular now, not caffeine-free) and Chocolate!

A clean house

Traveling

Going out to eat, not having to cook.

And then there are days I’m happy staying home and cooking.

Going out with Rob to concerts, musicals, or just a movie.

Weekends of nothing to do.

Photography

Popularity: 18% [?]

The American Idol finale was awesome! Incredible performers and performances! The highlight of the show was when Casey James came out and sang Every Rose Has Its Thorn. During earlier performances, Rob and I would call out who sang the song originally. I, for some reason, was thinking it was Guns N Roses and we were like, oh well their lead singer is dead….yada yada yada. Then when Bret Michaels walked out, I absolutely lost it. I have grown fond of Bret while watching Celebrity Apprentice. I so much admired his humor and his love for his daughters. Anyway, in April, Bret had a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage and was in critical condition, so for that reason, I was beside myself when he was out there. What an amazing recovery and truly a miracle!

Loved all the tribute to Simon, but really missed David Cook when all the past winners came out to sing. I found where he was at a charity event in Kansas City.

As far as the winner, I just had a feeling it was Crystal, but for once I really didn’t mind who won. I like both Lee and Crystal.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Universal Pictures’s *big* summer release is hitting theaters July 9, 2010, Despicable Me starring the voice talent of Steve Carell, Miranda Cosgrove, Jason Segel and Russell Brand.

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden deep beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by an army of tireless, little yellow minions, we discover Gru (Steve Carell), planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universal’s new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me.

Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.

One of the world’s greatest super-villains has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

Despicable Me on Facebook

Popularity: 2% [?]

Rob’s cousin, Candi, gave me a blog award, Beautiful Blogger Award.

I’m passing this award along to 3 very different bloggers:
1. The Flossip, who I’ve read for years on her previous blogs. She’s a great writer.
2. Southern Gal Goes North , who I’ve read for a couple years.
3. Vitafamiliae, who I’ve read for a little over a year. Her Dad is Rob’s boss.

When awarded you’re supposed to list 7 things about yourself. So, ummm…. let me think here….trying to think of things I’ve never said on here before.

1. Rob and I have made a commitment in 2010 to go to church and Sunday School every week.
2. We also just started a bible study; Growing Kids God Way
3. I am SO excited that 24 starts tomorrow!
4. I am trying to do a 365 day photo project over on flickr.
5. This is my 3rd year to attempt this, but I have such a hard time staying committed to it wanting to be more creative.
6. I didn’t think the “Pants on the Ground” song was so funny. We watched it on DVR a couple nights after reading and hearing all the hype and I just didn’t get it.
7. Love the satisfaction of a clean house.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Every year I try to write up what we got just to have it to look at years from now.

Rob
navy blue jogging suit
pocket knife
socks
Panini Press

Me
black jogging suit
Victoria Secret secrets – nothing exciting, I promise
Gravy Boat
Kitchen Spritzer

TV Boy
wallet
Auburn hat
pocket knife
Under Armor Auburn jersey
Silly Bandz
Champion Double Dry Compression T-shirt
Rawlings Baseball Glove
The O’Reilly Factor for Kids

Monkey Boy
Cars & Trucks
Fisher-Price Doodle Pro
Silly Bandz
Underwear
LEGO Camper, MiniFigure Collection, Police Car, Classic Car
Bendaroos Set
I Spy Christmas: A Book of Picture Riddles
Disney Bedtime Favorites (Disney Storybook Collections)
Webkinz

Family
Double DVD with Mr. Mom & Mrs. Doubtfire
Triple DVD with I, Robot, The Day After Tomorrow, & Independence Day
The Karate Kid
Grease
Wii
Backyard Baseball 2010
Wii Remote Controller (x2)
New Super Mario Bros
Wii Nunchuk Controller
Wii Play with Wii Remote

Popularity: 5% [?]

Today I spent nearly the entire day making everything for tomorrow:
Oreo balls
Banana Nut Bread Muffins
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cookies
Sausage Balls
Sausage-Cheese English muffins (make-ahead snack or breakfast)

After all that cooking, I was exhausted! I relaxed while watching White Christmas, which is not one of my favorite Christmas movies! I need to go adjust my top 10 Christmas movies again. I was dreading cooking dinner after being in the kitchen practically all day, so I was very happy when Rob reminded me that a friend of ours was bringing over some homemade lasagna. Lasagna is one dish that I just can’t get to “work”. So it’s been a tradition for Rob’s coworker to make him lasagna for his birthday, but this year she never did do it with summer being so busy. It worked out great. We popped it in the oven and “wolfed” it down before having to head out the door. It was just SOOO yummy!!!

While we were waiting on the lasagna to cook we got dressed up and went to the Christmas Eve service at our church. Beautiful service as always. Our preacher’s brother, John Ed, preached. He started by talking about instant replay in football and how a coach can throw a red flag to have a play reviewed. His sermon was based on the idea that the devil threw the red flag to have the events of Christmas reversed. He discussed the events of that miracle and nativity scene. I loved the way he did this, because I think it really got TV Boy’s attention right off the bat, being how he loves football. I love Christmas Eve services; communion, singing Christmas hymns, hearing “O Holy Night”, and my favorite part; singing “Silent Night” with only candles to light the room. Just awesome!

We came home and the boys opened their Christmas Eve present, PJs, put those on, and then picked out a couple cookies to leave for Santa along with some milk. TV Boy asked if she should leave Santa a Coke instead in case he’s “lactose intolerant”. Made me laugh!

Popularity: 5% [?]

Starting right after Thanksgiving, I really enjoy watching Christmas Movies. Thought I would share them with you. [Edited Post parts in GREEN.]

10. Jack Frost (1998)
This heart-warming movie with Michael Keaton and Kelly Preston is one that you just can’t go wrong with.

Favorite Quote
Jack: My balls are freezin! I never thought I’d say THAT with a smile on my face.

9. Deck the Halls (2006)
Just watched this movie and I was really excited because Ferris Bueller (my fav movie) aka Matthew Broderick is in the movie as Steve Finch along side Danny Devito. Devito, who plays Buddy Hall, moves in across the street from Finch and causes quite a hoopla. Funny!

8. Surviving Christmas (2004)
Ben Affleck enthusiam and love for Christmas just reminds me of how my Granddad adored this time of year. Although Granddad wasn’t quite as over the top as Ben’s character, Drew is in this hilarious movie.

Favorite Quote
Drew Latham: Please! Please, let me stay here!
Tom Valco: No!
Drew Latham: I’ll pay you.
Tom Valco: My family’s not for sale, pal.
Drew Latham: I’ll pay you $250,000!
Tom Valco: Welcome home, son.

7. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
There’s something about the Kranks and I think it’s the fact that it’s since they have no kids at home they decide to have a year of no lights, no tree, not presents, and just go on a cruise.

Favorite Quote
Spike Frohmeyer: You’re skipping Christmas! Isn’t that against the law?

6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Great remake. I think the “Whos” are so cute.

Favorite Quote
The Grinch: I’m all toasty inside. And I’m leaking.

5. The Santa Clause (1994)
Tim Allen is one of my favorite actors and this just awesome. The little boy is also great. The adventure that Tim goes on in being Santa is classic.

Favorite Quote
Mr. Whittle: I don’t know what’s happening to you. You’re starting to look like the Pillsbury Doughboy.

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966 animated)
This is just a great kid movie all around.

Favorite Quote
Grinch: All I need is a reindeer!
Narrator: The Grinch looked around, but since reindeer are scarce, there was none to be found. Did that stop the Grinch? Ha! He simply said:
Grinch: If I can’t *find* a reindeer, I’ll *make* one instead.
Narrator: So he took his dog Max, and he took some black thread, and he tied a big horn on the top of his head.

3.White Christmas (1954)
I watched this movie and absolutely adored it! I’m just mad I waited this long to watch it. Loved the dancing and singing. Just awesome!

Favorite Quote (you just have to watch this to see why it’s hilarious)
Bob Wallace: How do you do?
Doris: Mutual, I’m sure.
….later in the movie….
Mr. Herring, General’s Party Guest: How do you do?
Doris: Mutual, I’m sure.

2. Polar Express (2004)
The year this movie came out I took TV Boy to see it. Just he and I. It was a really special Mom-son day. That Christmas Santa brought him the Polar Express book and a bell.

Favorite Quote
The Conductor: Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
This is one of the rare movies that I could watch over and over.

This movie is FULL of great quotes, but one that always comes to mind when I think of this movie is:
Ellen: “Audrey’s frozen from the waste down.”
Clark: “Ah, it’s all part of the experience honey.”

So what did I leave out of my top 10? What are your favorites?

Other favorites
Fred Claus (2007)
I had originally had this movie in my top 10, but it got bumped out by another movie.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

A Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Christmas Story (1983)
This is another one that was bumped out of my top 10.

Favorite Quote
Ralphie: Oooh fuuudge!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Only I didn’t say “Fudge.” I said THE word, the big one, the queen-mother of dirty words, the “F-dash-dash-dash” word!

Classic Christmas Cartoon Movies
Frosty the Snowman (1969)
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970)

Worst Christmas Movie Ever
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Some other Christmas Movies
Elf (2003)
Scrooge (1970)
Prancer (1989)
Scrooged (1988)
The Family Man (2000)
Jingle All the Way (1996)
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1976)

Here’s some other opinions about Christmas Movies:
Top 10 Christmas Movies
All Time Top Christmas Movies
Best Christmas Movies: The Top 25 of All Time
Top 10 Christmas Movies from Family Education
Being Frugal’s 10
Listverse’s 10 Christmas Horror Movies
Top 10 Christmas Movies for Kids

Popularity: 3% [?]

by: Foundation HealthCare Network
Category: Healthcare & Fitness
Released: August 2008
Size: 1.1 MB

I love this app. This is great for those of us who are trying to make better choices when we have no other choice but to east fast food. Of course, since I have an iPod and can’t access it when I’m out I have to do where I have free wifi. Regardless I find this very useful and informative. Below you can see the information that it gives you for the item you’re trying to look up.

Here it shows the screen which is so awesome. It enables you to do a search. So say your going out for dinner and know you should only be eating 500 calories, just type that in and it will narrow down your choices for you! Love that. You can also create a profile and keep up with the foods your eating each day.

Check it out!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Not sure if you’ve heard Jonny Diaz‘s music, but it is relaxing and inspiring. His music is acoustic, Christian, pop, which lends itself to folks of many different tastes. You can watch a video from his newest CD here.

A couple top hits on his newest album, More Beautiful You, are:
More Beautiful You
Love Like You Loved

Cool fact about Jonny: One of his brothers is Matt Diaz of the Braves!

So now for the giveaway…Just leave a comment!
On Oct. 24 I’ll do a drawing of everyone. We’ll give away 5 CDs!

Original post on 10/9/2009

Popularity: 3% [?]

SparkPeople

by: SparkPeople
Category: Healthcare & Fitness
Released: February 2009
Size: 1.1 MB
Spark People is an app to keep up with your fitness and healthcare goals. I’ve used sparkpeople.com for years and really like it. I think the app is even better. There are many different tools on the app, some of which include weight goal, daily food intake, daily fitness log, and useful charts. I would highly recommend this app and the website for anyone who is goal oriented eager to keep with food intake and setting goals.

Popularity: 1% [?]