Hi, remember me?

Well, hello friends!

I'm sorry I've been MIA lately. It's been a mixture of craziness and laziness over here at my house and I was just not in a very bloggy kind of mood, ya know what I mean? But, I am now. And, you know I love a good list... so, here's what I've been up to the last few weeks.

1. This little thing has obviously been taking up the majority of my time. She sure is cute... and, in the grand scheme of things, she's doing really well. She hasn't had a potty accident in the house in a loongg time and she still adores her crate, which is great for me. But, ya'll? Not gonna lie: she's a handful. She's fiesty and she loves to bite. I know that's normal... we're just working on it every day. Oh, and she loves to eat grass. I can't stop her! She thinks that every time I take her outside to potty is an all-you-can-eat buffet. She literally NOSEDIVES into the grass... which is all dead because of the heat. I've had to stick my finger into her mouth more times than I can count to pull handfuls of grass out. But, all the inconvenience is worth it because she really is a doll. I kind of love her :)

My favorite picture of her :)

She thinks this is her personal balance beam.

Sweet, sweet.

2. We've been visiting with a bunch of people lately:

I took Finley over to my friend Laura's house to play. We took a million pictures, but this one with Katie is my favorite. I've been taking pics with this girl for two years and she keeps getting bigger! And, sadly, so do I...

My cousin Elizabeth and Aunt Connie stopped by my parent's house one day last week and JP and Isaac got to play with the pup. Cute little Isaac kept saying "She's yickin' my arm!"

Our favorite visit was with Matt, Blakely and Hampton! We were SOO EXCITED to see Matt and he got to come home because....

3. He moved up! Matt got moved from Low A to High A! He now plays for the Wilmington Blue Rocks in Delaware! We're so proud of him. He's already thrown three times and has two wins! He's doing great :) Way to go, kiddo!

4. Have ya'll been watching the Olympic Trials? Ohmyword. I can't stop. I can't wait for the Olymics in a few weeks. I especially love gymnastics and swimming. I'm gonna be rooting for:

Ryan Lochte

Michael Phelps

Gabby Douglas

Jordyn Weiber

Can. Not. Wait.

5. I somehow got sucked into a new tv show.

Disclaimer: I'm going to go ahead and say that if cuss words bother you, this show is not for you. If HBO bothers you, this show is not for you. If you can't stomach any violence, this show is not for you. But, I'm totally engrossed in The Wire.

In the span of about two weeks, I ran across a bunch of comments on the internet about how this was one of the best shows ever. And, my curiosity got the best of me. So, I downloaded it off iTunes. It's sooo good. It takes a few episodes to get into it. But, once things start clicking, it's so good!

It's basically a cop show about the city of Baltimore. The first season is about this group of cops trying to bring down a drug seller in the projects. The acting is amazing, the writing is great and it's really funny, too! But, it has heartbreaking moments, too. And, you have to think. The show is really ambitious and introduces new characters all the time and you really have to pay attention. But, it. is. good.

Seriously, if you like cop shows (and, really, even if you don't b/c I HATE them) you have to watch this show.

6. My puppy is totally and completely ADDICTED to this thing:

It's a Kong. And, you fill it with food and then give it to the puppy. Finley is obsessed. She licks this thing and it keeps her entertained for a LONG time. I'm sure everybody knows about these things... but, this is my first puppy. So, just in case anybody out there doesn't have one of these for their dogs, get one. You won't regret it.

7. I'm going to tell you about two books that I've read this summer that I could not put down. I LOVED them! But, read that disclaimer above again. If any of that stuff bothers you, steer clear of these books.

We all know I'm obsessed with Taylor Kitsch (Tim Riggins). And, he's in a movie that is coming out on Friday. I'm sure you've seen the trailer for it. It's called Savages. Well, when I saw the trailer, I thought it looked like such a cool story. So, I bought the book and I read it in two days. It was SO GOOD!

Then, when I finished it, I realized that the prequel for Savages was coming out June 19th. It's called Kings of Cool. So, I ordered it and when it came in, I read it in two days, too! And, it might be even better than Savages!!!

It's basically all about Ben and Chon, two friends in Laguna Beach. Ben is a hippie who grows the best weed in the world, and he sells it violence-free. His friend and business partner, Chon, is an ex Navy SEAL who is quite the opposite. They have a shared girlfriend, O. And, the Mexican drug cartel tries to buy their business but the boys don't want to sell it to them. So, the cartel  steals their girlfriend. And, as the trailer says, they'll do ANYTHING to get her back.

The books are different from the stuff I normally read. And, again, they are not squeaky clean. But, they're fun summer reading that I couldn't put down.

Alright, I think that's all for tonight.

Thanks for reading!

Oh, Tim Riggins.

So, do you remember a few weeks ago when I posted about the show Friday Night Lights? I told you I was obsessed... and, I wasn't joking. Well, I've since finished all 5 seasons on Netflix and I can NOT get Tim Riggins off my mind. I even went back and fast forwarded through some episodes to watch my favorite Tim scenes again. I don't think I've ever seen a character on TV that is more interesting or compelling. He just steals every single scene he's in.

 

How could he not?

 

 

So,  here is my list of reasons why I love Tim Riggins.

 

 

 

1. Tim Riggins is hot.

 

 

 

Make no mistake about it. He's not just hot... he's smoldering. I have to say that I am generally not a "fan girl." I don't usually walk around talking about sexy guys in my every day conversations. But, I can't stop talking about him! He has huge green eyes that I can't stop staring at. And, I HATE long hair on guys... but, on Tim? LOVE it. Plus, his body is insane. Oh, and how many gratuitous shots do the producers give you of his amazing abs? Swoon.

 

 

 

 

2. Tim Riggins is tragic.

 

 

His dad is a dead beat, his mom has been MIA for years and he's being raised by his older brother, Billy. Billy tries to be a good brother, but he's a "get rich quick scheme" kind of guy and puts Tim in all kinds of illegal and stupid situations. Tim should know better than to get involved in them... but, really, why should he know better? He trusts his brother and loves him and would do anything for him... which, we will discuss. And really, his brother is his only role model. All you want for Tim is a stable home and for somebody's momma to take him in and give him a hug. Speaking of mommas... he also keeps a cheap little snowglobe that his mom gave him. BREAK MY HEART. Oh, and he hooks up with the mom next door just because it makes him so happy to be a part of a family. Like I said, tragic. My heart hurts thinking about him.

 

 

3. Tim Riggins never complains.


 

There are so many times in the series when Tim gets a raw deal. So many misunderstandings and situations where Tim has every right to throw a fit and talk back to an adult. But, he never does. There are also times when all Tim has to do is give a simple explanation that will get him off the hook... but, he doesn't do it.  At the beginning of season 2, there's a new coach. And, for whatever reason, he hates him. He screams at him and makes him carry tires over his head and run bleachers and just berates the kid for two episodes on end. Tim actually ends up being pushed so hard he collapses on the field and has to go to the hospital... and, he never says a word about it. He just expects life to suck and that is so heart-wrenching to me.


 

 

 

 

 

4. Tim Riggins says a lot while saying nothing at all.


 

Okay, so this is more about Taylor Kitsch (the actor who plays Riggins). He can convey SO much emotion with his face. I've never seen anything like it. Riggins doesn't usually talk a lot... he's just a quiet guy. But, you always know what he's thinking because you can see it on his face. Tim actually cries quite a bit throughout the series and it never fails to make me tear up myself because TK is just so dang good at making you feel what Tim is feeling. And, I went on YouTube and watched some videos of Taylor Kitsch. I  think it's so fascinating how different he is than Riggins. He's really active and silly and fun and Tim is just so still and quiet. That is a GOOD actor.

 

 

5. Tim Riggins is not a stereotype.

 

 

I totally thought after watching the pilot episode that I would HATE Tim. He seemed like the team jerk who was mean and selfish and drunk. But, when Tim's best friend Jason gets paralyzed during the first game of the season... everything changes. You start to realize how completely broken up Tim is about it. And, around the 3rd episode, you realize that Tim is not mean or selfish. He's just a confused, lonely, scared kid who is dealing with stuff that is too big for him. Throughout the series, Riggins is the one who stands up for people and helps people when it's really inconvenient for him to do so. And if he doesn't know how to help them, he finds somebody who does. Soooo not the stereotype of the "bad boy."

 

 

 

 

6. Tim Riggins loves babies.

 

 

Seeing Tim holding Gracie Belle, Coach Taylor's baby daughter, was maybe one of the cutest things ever. And, then, when Tim finds out that his brother Billy is going to have a baby in season 4, he's literally so excited that he tackles him to the ground. Be still my heart. And you can't forget about Tim's relationship with his neighbor Bo. Bo wasn't a baby: but, Tim played with him and looked after him and was so sweet with him all the time. But, the best Tim/baby moment is in the finale when Tim literally spends the whole episode carrying around Billy's little boy. And, Tim talks to him in a baby voice and then I die of cuteness overload.

 

 

 

 

7. Tim Riggins has the best smile.

 

 

He hardly ever smiles. But, when he does? It's the best thing ever. Like, maybe I rewind the dvd seven times and watch it over and over. That kind of smile :)

 

 

 

8. Tim Riggins is a good friend.

 

 

 

He was there for Jason a bunch of times: when he took him to the lake in season 1, when he took him to Mexico in season 2 and when he helped him move to New York in season 3. And, don't even get me started on the end of that episode. My Tim love grew three sizes that day :) He's also there for Matt when his dad dies and for Smash when a guy on another team goes after him. Oh, and can't forget how sweet he was to Becky when she found out she was pregnant. Somewhere along the way, Tim became the most loyal guy in Dillon, Texas.

 

 

 

 

9. Tim Riggins is a good boyfriend.

 

 

My favorite scenes with Tim mostly involved him and Lyla in season 3. He was just the sweetest guy that entire season. I loved how he was supportive of her when her dad screwed her chances to go to college. And, I love how he took her to church to cheer her up and then told her she did have a family. But, my favorite Tim/Lyla moment? When he told her he was  "kinda madly in love with" her. It was great to see him take on the caretaker role when Lyla needed it. And, when Lyla told him that she was going to skip out on going to Vanderbilt to go to San Antonio State with him, he looked her right in the eyes and said "Go." It broke his heart (and hers, and mine) but he did it because he loved her and knew it was best for her. He's such a good (imaginary) guy.

 

Plus, dude knows how to ROCK a pair of jeans and cowboy boots.

 

10. Tim Riggins loves his brother.

 

 

When Tim's brother Billy turned their garage into a chop shop, Tim begged him not to do it. But, Billy did it anyway. And, Tim went along with it... which, he should not have done. A few episode later, the police arrest Tim and Billy. (Which, by the way, I LOVE the scene with them in jail and Tim just sitting there crying while Billy apologizes. Somebody give that boy a hug!) They are both headed to jail for 1-5 years. But, because Billy has a wife and new baby at home, Tim takes the fall for both of them and goes to jail alone. When he finally gets out of jail, he's totally changed. He's broken and sad and he has so much bitterness and anger towards Billy... which, he has every right to. But, I just can't get over the sacrifice he made for his brother. And, the sacrifice his brother made for him by dropping his own life to raise Tim.

 

 

 

 

11. Tim Riggins is funny.

 

 

 As tragic a character as Tim is, he's really funny! He's not always sad and sullen... he's the life of the party a lot of the time. His funniest episode might be the one where he is a powderpuff football coach. When he's picking teams, he asks the girls if any of them know how to chop block. And then, as the other team is scoring a point, Tim is running up and down the sidelines SCREAMING "Kick her knees! Kick her knees!" Here are some of the other funny things he's said:

 

 

 

12. Tim Riggins is all about the nicknames.

 

 

 

 

I think this is the cutest thing. Tim calls everybody by a nickname. He's a big fan of the jersey number nickname. He calls Matt "Seven." He calles Jason "Jay" and "Six" and sometimes even "J-Six." I about died when he called Luke "Fours." He calls Julie "Jules" and Mindy "Minds." He calls his girlfriend Lyla "Ms. Garrity." And, the interesting thing about it is that that's all Taylor Kitsch. In every interview I've seen of him, which happens to be A LOT, he calls his character "Rigs" and he calls Kyle Chandler "Chandy."  Sooo cute.

 

And, I love how everyone always calls him Tim Riggins. Both names. Sometimes Riggs or Timmy, mostly by Jason. And Lyla called him Tim. But everybody else called him Tim Riggins. Especially Bo and Becky. So cute.

 

 

 

 

 

13. Tim Riggins has a sexy voice.

 

 

 

I think it's that Taylor Kitsch is from Canada. He also has this husky voice that is so endearing. And, he's pretty dang good at his Texas accent. His favorite saying is "Let's make some memories." But, what he says is more like "Less make some mammaries." Which, knowing him, maybe that is what he's saying :) And, sometimes he talks in the softest voice and you can just hear all the pain in his life. Whatever it is, I could listen to him talk all day long.

 

 And, sometimes I do.

 

 

 

So, to sum up:

Here's to you #33!

And, if you haven't watched Friday Night Lights, then you're crazy. Go watch it. You won't be sorry. I promise...

Texas Forever

  I have a new obsession.

And, if you know me in real life, you know what I'm talking about. I've pretty much been talking about it non-stop to anybody who will listen.

What is it?

I started watching it on Netflix a week or two ago... and, I'm already halfway through Season 3. I can't stop. It's the best tv show I've ever seen. And, I've seen a LOT of tv shows :)

There are two main reasons why I can't turn it off:

Reason #1



Tim Riggins: the quiet, brooding bad boy who is always in trouble but you just want to give him a hug because he has no family and nobody to teach him right and wrong and plus look at his eyes!!!

and

Reason #2

Matt Saracen: the poor kid whose dad is in Iraq and who lives with his grandma who has dementia and he has to take care of her and work and play quarterback and he never complains and plus look at his eyes!!!!

I'm not too proud to tell you that these two guys are both adorable, sweet and completely tragic... which is a winning combo.

I'm just kicking myself that it took me this long to discover this show! How did I not know? Why did nobody tell me about it?

I've now gotten my friend Brittney hooked and my brother (although, he likes it for slighlty different reasons than I do probably... ha).

So, if I don't blog for a while... it's because I'm in Dillon, Texas.

(Oh, and guess what! My puppy is born and three days old. I'm waiting for a picture and I will post it as soon as I get it. I'm sooo excited!)

My Other Passion :)

So, usually I do posts about teaching or decorating. Those are things I'm very passionate about. But, I have another passion. And, if you know me, you know what that passion is: reality tv. Ha! I don't know why... but, I LOVE IT! It's funny. It's dramatic. It's entertaining. And, it's really fun to talk about it with people the next day. Right, Melissa??? Just because it's fun, I thought I would do a TOP TEN list of my favorite reality tv shows. So, here we go...

10. Flipping Out (Bravo)

Description: In all honesty, I just started watching this show a few months ago. I think it's in its 5th season now. But, yall? It's sooo funny! Jeff Lewis is a professional house flipper. He buys houses in LA and then renovates and flips them. He's totally OCD, controlling and completely sarcastic. Which, awesome. Oh, and the title? That's because this guy will LOSE IT about twice an episode... also awesome. His crew is amazingly funny as well. Especially Zoila, the housekeeper.

Favorite Character: It has to go to Zoila. She barely speaks English. But, I swear. She has the best one liners. And, she is basically the only person who will call out Jeff on his ridiculousness.

9. Toddlers and Tiaras (TLC)

Description: There is just something about this show that just draws me in. Maybe it's the little girls that throw tantrums and are praised for being a "diva." Maybe it's all the flippers (fake teeth), makeup and sequins. Or, maybe it's because the mommas on this show are CRAZY!  They are all living out their lives through their poor children. There are a few reoccuring "toddlers" on this show and they are my favorites to watch. Obviously, they bring the drama.

Favorite Character: Makenzie. She's a 4 year old little girl with a huge attitude. And, she still uses a paci, which she calls her "nini." That girl had some very funny moments: like when she calls her paci a "hard-working lady" and when she tells her mom she's "driving {her} nuts." (I'm properly embarrassed that I know this and am proclaiming my entertainment of it on the Internet. Just so you know.)

8. The Bachelor/Bachelorette (ABC)

(Um, how funny is this picture of Jake?)

Description: Watching people try to find their "one true love" on national TV is aces. It's so entertaining! Plus, add in alcohol, desperation and an annoyingly dramatic host and you have a recipe for awesome. I've never seen so much crying in my life... except, of course, on Toddlers and Tiaras.

Favorite Character: This is kind of hard because there are so many characters to love and "love to hate." But, my favorite guy has probably been JP from Ashley's season. He was just so sweet and nice and, ahem, smokin' hot. My favorite girl was Emily from Brad's season. She just seemed really nice and genuine.

7. Real Housewives of New York (Bravo)

Description: I love all the "Real Housewives" seasons. But, I had to only choose a couple for this list and the New York ladies were a no-brainer. I mean, come on! You couldn't write a show this entertaining. There are funny characters (Jill and Sonja), crazy-pants characters (Kelly), holier-than-thou characters (LuAnn), and irrelevant characters (Alex). And then there's Ramona. She's in a league of her own.

Favorite Character: Um, I guess if I had to say (and I totally do), I'd say my favorite is Ramona. Just because she's nuts. And, nuts = fun to watch. Plus, who can forget Turtle Time??? A close second would be LuAnn, solely because she wrote and starred in the song Money Can't Buy You Class. I suggest you Google that asap.... I'll wait here.

6. Dance Moms (Lifetime)

Description: Abby Miller is a dance instructor in Pittsburgh. And, y'all? She's fierce. She's a screamer, yeller and pusher. But, the moms on this show are worse. I LOVE to watch all their antics. They yell at their kid's teacher right in front of them, swear like sailors and are so jealous of the "star" Maddie that they can't even see straight. And the little girls on this show are just so darn adorable. My roomie, Claire, got me hooked on this show and I am forever grateful!

Favorite Character: That would have to be the ever-so-cute Mackenzie. She's the youngest of the girls and she has the best quotes. My favorite? "Abby always talks but nobody knows what she's talking about." Which, is so spot on. Kids really do see it like it is. Ha!

5. Bachelor Pad (ABC)

Description: It's just all drama. All the time. Plus, it involves strategy and alliances. So, win/win, right?

Favorite Character: My favorite character this season was Ella. Because she's from Tennessee. And, she's normal. Two rare occurrences in reality TV.

4. Real Housewives of New Jersey (Bravo)

Description: I think this is my absolute favorite of the Real Housewives franchises. I enjoy it because these ladies bring the crazy every episode. And, when they got rid of Danielle, I thought the show would go down-hill. But, it's been even better with the additions of Kathy and Melissa. My only complaint: get rid of Caroline. She's old, absolutely no fun and waaaay to opinionated.

Favorite Character: I know she's insane. And, I know she's in legal trouble up to her eyeballs. And, I defintely know she's a terrible parent. But, I am going to go ahead and confess my adoration of Theresa. I can't stop watching her! I honestly think she's really funny and her family is sooo entertaining to watch. Her daughter Milania should have her own show. Just trust me.

3. Teen Mom (MTV)

Description: Sigh. I LOVE this show! Cute babies? Check. Drama? Check. Funny? Double check. The funny comes largely from Amber and Gary. They fight and make up and get back together every. single. episode. I mean, how can you NOT get wrapped up in watching that?

Favorite Character: The babies. Did I mention how cute they are? And, I just want to take Leah and bring her home with me. She deserves a house where people get off the couch and eat things other than Taco Bell. Wait. Maybe my house isn't much better... ha!

2. Bethenny Ever After (Bravo)

Description: Y'all, I LOVE Bethenny! She is seriously the funniest person ever. Although, she's totally nuts. Which is a WINNING combination, if you ask me. I think her husband is a saint and seems so nice and patient. She has an adorable baby and last season, she had the funniest baby nurse ever. I can't wait for the new season of this show to start!

Favorite Character: Obviously, it's Bethenny. She's hilarious. My goal in life is to be as funny as she is.

1. Survivor (CBS)

Description: I might be the biggest Survivor nerd on the planet. I watch all the seasons. And, some of my friends and I have a Survivor watching party every week. So, clearly, this is my favorite show. Maybe of all time. I love the strategy and alliances. I love the challenges. And, I mostly just love to watch people embarass themselves on TV week after week. 

Favorite Character: Boston Rob! Always and forever. He plays reality TV shows like it's his job. (Which, technically, it might actually be his job.) He is nice to people and plays an amazing social game. But, he also knows that it's just that: a game. And, he's not afraid to cut ties and get rid of people that he knows will beat him or who won't play by his rules. He's a genious, I tell ya! Plus, sexy Boston accent. Just sayin.

So, all that to say, I love reality TV.

Could you tell?

*Disclaimer: This post took me a month and a half to finish. Quite a waste of time, huh? I promise I'll be back sometime soon with soemthing worthwhile. Or, at least, more worthwhile than this...