Media Monday: Episode 4

What I'm listening to:


     Pregtastic and New Moms New Babies. These two podcasts are great! Several moms-to-be on Pregtastic, and new moms on New Moms New Babies, get together every week and discuss everything concerning pregnancy and babies. They also invite experts on to discuss in depth interesting topics. I have learned so much. Both of these podcasts (New Moms New Babies grew out of Pregtastic) are based in San Diego, so if you're in the area, you can ask to be part of the show! It's great to get an experts opinion, but also get other mom opinions on these topics as well, and what they're doing.
     I download their podcasts through Zune, but you can listen online on their website, or through iTunes, etc. They also have blog posts and forums on their websites as well. What I really like is that whenever they have expert guests on their shows, they also ask them for any suggestions for websites, books, or any other material that might be helpful for further information. I've been able to get such great resources from them! You should definitely check them out!




What I'm watching:

• G and I have finished our Harry Potter marathon! We busted out the projector and screen for this marathon! Each night we watched another episode. He bought this really awesome collector's edition right? Well, of course it only includes episodes 1 through 5, and that's it. So now what do you do when the new ones come out? You'll have this really awesome set that goes together of the first 5, then the last 3 movies awkwardly sitting beside it sticking out like a sore thumb! Sad day. My mother passed down her anal preferences of wanting all sets, trilogies, etc, to be the same, so they will look pretty on the shelf together. 
• Make it or Break it. I'm streaming it through Netflix Watch now. I'm loving this ridiculous high school drama show from ABC Family. It is really making me have a huge respect for gymnasts. How incredible are these young athletes that train ridiculous hours, and have no other life besides gymnastics (I do understand this is their choice of course), and work so hard at a sport that in one instant, one wrong move can completely change their lives forever by rendering them paralyzed, etc. I'm just in awe of their talent, strength, and dedication. Granted I know this is just a show, but it's depicting the life of a gymnast training to be an Olympian; it's just given me a respect for this sport that I didn't have before. 

What I'm reading:

• What to Expect When You're Expecting. This book has been great to just have around, and any chance I get a few free moments, I pick it up and read a page or two. This last week I finally busted through month 7 and 8 to month 9 and now I'm in the labor and delivery section. It's probably a good thing that I've finally made it to this section considering I'm a week away from my due date. 

What I'm stumbling upon:

• This made my heart smile! I really hope I can capture some hilarious moments of Abby like this!

22 Words

• I really like these aprons from Anthropologie! I'm hoping that one day I'll get good enough to make some like this for people as gifts! Wouldn't that be so neat?!

Media Monday: Episode 3

What I'm listening to:

     Guster! They are a great pop-rock group that formed in 1991 during college and began touring. With the addition of a fourth member who played numerous instruments, they were able to add a folk element to their music as well. Their music is super catchy and fun. I have three of their albums, and really enjoy them all. I just recently downloaded their newest album Easy Wonderful, released in 2010, and have really liked what I've heard so far. Some say they are similar to Matchbox Twenty, Counting Crows, Barenaked Ladies, Hootie and the Blowfish, The Flaming Lips, and Wilco. Watch their video of Do You Love Me off their new album... it's quite silly and entertaining!

What I'm watching:

• The Greatest (2009) featuring Susan Sarandon, Pierce Bronsnan, and Carey Mulligan. This drama is about a young girl (Mulligan), newly graduated from high school, dealing with her pregnancy alone, as her boyfriend has just died in a car accident. The movie centers around the relationship she builds with his parents (Brosnan and Sarandon's characters), and his wayward brother as they try to come to terms with the loss of their son and brother. This film was much more interesting that I originally thought it would be. It had some very serious, heart-wrenching moments, especially watching Sarandon's search to figure out what her son's last moments were like. Of course, each character deals with the boy's death differently; the father is pushing it out and trying to go on as normal, the mother is trying to be proactive and find out details, while the younger brother is struggling with drugs. The writer/director's goal was to be realistic as possible, and it seemed like she was able to acheive this. Ultimately, it was an enjoyable film, watching the progression of this family as they each struggle with their own problems as well as the loss of a family member.                                                                    
• Thor (2011) featuring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, and Anthony Hopkins. Everyone has pretty much heard about and seen previews of this movie, so I don't really need to give a description of the movie. I knew nothing about the movie going into it. So, it was a wonderful surprise to find that I really enjoyed the film. I would say it was one of the best films I've seen in the theatre in quite some time. It had pretty much everything: action, adventure, personal quest, romance, etc etc. My only issue was that it was in 3D, which I'm so over. Those irritating glasses that they make you wear could not be more uncomfortable, and I end up rubbing my ear the whole time trying to sooth it from the hard plastic hanging on it. Not for me. Sometimes I find myself just taking the glasses off completely, and the movie is just as enjoyable. I'm crazy, I know.
  

What I'm reading:

     Natural Birth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon. As things get closer and closer (5 weeks now), I'm starting to get very nervous about this whole natural childbirth thing. I'm still very passionate about it and my reasons why, but with the birthing classes ending some time ago, the enthusiasm has kinda gone the same way unfortunately. I was really needing a boost of encouragement and a reminder about why I chose this method. This book has definitely been the help I have needed. I'm feeling great again and re-energized! Exactly what I needed!

What I stumbled upon:

• This picture is hilarious!
• This gal makes a monthly calendar for your desktop, it's great! 
• How cute is this idea? How fun to eat a cake out of a jar!
• How fun would this be to do if you had stairs in your home?! 
• Yet another Nutella recipe... but can you blame me? I think I need to give in, and finally buy a jar for myself!

Media Monday: Episode 2

What I'm listening to:

•      Jack's Mannequin. Find them HERE! I am really diggin this guy! Yes yes, I just discovered him several months ago, for all of you out there who are thinking that they're old news. Andrew McMahon is the piano-playing songwriter for this rock group. I just love rock bands that are driven by the piano (Ben Folds, etc). Some say that they are similar to The Rocket Summer, Jimmy Eat World, and The Fray, and influenced by The Beatles, Billy Joel, Elton John and Ben Folds. By the way, if you enjoy Jack's Mannequin, they have some tour dates in CA coming up this month and midway through June, so get on those tickets quick! I wish I could go! Check out the video of their break out hit from several years ago!

What I'm watching:

• Previews for new movies coming out! I'm not a big TV watcher anymore, and even when I was, the DVR has revolutionized everyone's TV watching; no one watches commercials anymore. Therefore, I don't catch previews on TV, I have to watch them online, otherwise I don't see them. And that's usually what happens. Movies come out, and I have no clue what any of them are about. I have to rely on my husband and movie friend S. Anywho, some previews I've watched recently are (please note that I am not endorsing any of these films, I'm just saying I saw the previews): Water for Elephants, Something Borrowed (Good book, as well as the sequel), The Help (Can't wait for this one to come out!), Crazy Stupid Love, Arthur, I am Number Four, Melancholia, and All Good Things. 

What I stumbled upon:

• Here is a great idea for parents with creative kids, or even for creative adults, interested in preserving their artwork!                                                                                                                                           
• If you're feeling brave, try this out! I love the idea of picking an unexpected color and making a change!
• Not really a fan of banana type recipes, other than just eating a banana plain, but this recipe actually sounds marvelous; maybe it's the nutella! Try it and let me know how it goes!
• Have some free time this weekend? Try this great DIY project that doesn't take much time!
• How adorable is this?
• Here's a funny for ya!

Media Monday

     This is a new part of the blog I thought I'd add b/c I'm such a media nerd and I like to watch all kinds of movies and TV shows, read books and magazines, listen to and discover great new music, and surf the net for everything from fun gadgets to recipes to fashion and design. Hopefully you can find something new you didn't know about and/or get reintroduced to something you forgot about a while back.

• What I'm listening to: Gungor! Find them HERE! 

          I read about this group in one of our leadership or worship leader magazines a few months back and added them to my playlist. Unfortunately, I didn't really have much of a chance to listen to them. They were titled the Michael Gungor Band at that point. Then, Grant came back from Catalyst this year and told me all about them, and played their music incessantly. I really enjoy them. There is something different and unique about them. I can't quite put my finger on what it is exactly. From listening to their album many times now I'd say that their sound ranges from Sufjan Stevens to Switchfoot. Michael Gungor describes their style as "liturgical post-rock." And, whats more, they use super fun instruments!

          Check out this acoustic version of Beautiful Things:

• What I'm watching: Big Bang Theory, Find them HERE!

          I remember seeing previews for this show when it first came out a few years ago, and thinking it would be a cute little show. Then I never watched it. I had too much on my plate at the time. Then I kept hearing good things from a few people. I decided to check it out on Netflix, and got hooked. I enjoyed the first few episodes, I remember thinking that it wasn't funniest show ever, but I was laughing, and I saw great potential, so I kept watching. Boy, am I glad I did! I love that the show focuses on these two brainiacs and all their quirky habits and behaviors. It's such a different idea for a show that it's really appealing! Here's a synopsis of the show:

          "Leonard and Sheldon are brilliant physicists, the kind of "beautiful minds" that understand how the universe works. But none of that genius helps them interact with people, especially women. All this begins to change when a free-spirited beauty named Penny moves in next door. Sheldon, Leonard's roommate, is quite content spending his nights playing Klingon Boggle with their socially dysfunctional friends, fellow CalTech scientists Wolowitz and Koothrappali. However, Leonard sees in Penny a whole new universe of possibilities... including love."

• What I stumbled upon:

          I've been taking some sewing lessons for the last month, and so I've been excitedly searching for easy patterns online that I might be able to tackle. HERE is a tutorial for how to make a super cute stuffed goose. I don't think I'm necessarily at this sewing level yet, but it definitely got bookmarked for a later date! 

          HERE is a recipe for salt water taffy; it looks incredible. The pictures alone are so artistic I just want to stare at it.... course I do want to eat it as well. I just don't know if I'd be up for the taffy making process. It looks intense. 

          HERE is an adorable short article with pictures and quotes of 5 couples  who have been in love for over 50 years. Sweet!

• What I'm reading: Last month's Rolling Stone article on Adele. 

          I totally dig this chick; her voice is amazing! I loved this article for all the fun pictures of Adele, and to get an insight into who she is. Something interesting I read was that she has extreme stage fright; to the point of running to the window to puke right before she goes on stage. I predict this woman is going to stay around for a long time. Her voice is just timeless!