The IC Girl's Guide To Living

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Rickrolling

I don't even remember why he said it or what occured to cause him to, but the other night Jeremiah said to me, "You've been Rickrolled!" I had no idea what he was talking about! So he told me to Google "I am Legend 2" and click on the Youtube video. Well, upon doing so I was treated to an 80's goody like no other! I think this needs to take over "planking" and "icing" in the trickery world.

Rickrolling:
From Wikipedia

Rickrolling is an Internet meme involving the music video for the 1987 Rick Astley song "Never Gonna Give You Up". The meme is a bait and switch; a person provides a hyperlink seemingly relevant to the topic at hand, but actually leads to Astley's video. The link can be masked or obfuscated in some manner so that the user cannot determine the true destination of the link without clicking. Persons led to the music video are said to have been rickrolled. Rickrolling has extended beyond web links to playing the video or song disruptively in other situations, including public places, like a surprise appearance of Astley himself in the 2008 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. The meme has helped to revive Astley's career.

Try it! Go to Google and type in "I Am Legend 2" and click on the Youtube video that pops up with Will Smith's face. I am sure there are many other videos out there that do this, but this is the one I know that works :) Now, who can I Rickroll next...

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Catching Up With The Atkins

Currently, we are busy turning our basement into a home theater! I gave Jeremiah the go-ahead to buy the projector he has been pining after for months and told him Merry Christmas and Happy Valentine's Day! So next up came cleaning, building a screen, and moving furniture into the basement. We're not done yet... but hopefully in the next couple weeks we will have our first movie night down there!

We are also dealing with the health issue of a possible of Interstitial Cystitis diagnosis for me. IC is an inflammation of the bladder that can cause ulcers or wearing away of the lining of the bladder. Yes, it is as uncomfortable as it sounds. But I am leaning on Jesus to guide me, heal me, and be my strength during this rough time. I have good days and bad days and am thankful for all the prayers and encouragement from those around me and CANNOT wait to feel better. I know Jesus has a better plan than this for my life and I will trust in that with all I have!

Finally, we gearing up for our first trip of the year to Seattle on the 28th to see Anjelah Johnson (a.k.a. Bon Qui Qui) at the Paramount Theater. Please pray I will be feeling well enough to go and enjoy this time me and the hubby have together. I have really been looking forward to this.

Well, that's what we are up to at the moment. Prayers are appreciated and I know our God is a BIG God who loves to show His love and power. Despite the struggles, we have already been so blessed in 2012 and couldn't ask for more!

Monday, January 9, 2012

Cheers to the New Year!

Well, what would a blog be without a shout out to the new year? So, here goes:

Good-bye 2011! You blessed us with trips, babies born, braces, cars, home improvements, and so much more! There were of course some downs. Downs I am glad to see go, but that I learned from by the grace of God. Here's to 2012! Praying for a year of growing closer to God and HIS will for my life! A year full of joy that is known only by knowing HIM! No matter what happens, no matter what the year, life goes on and with God at it's core there is always a blessing to come out of it and growth to be had. Thank you Jesus for 2012 and all that it holds!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Christmas Memories

This time of year makes me so nostalgic! Lights on the houses, the smell of pine and peppermint, Christmas specials on TV, holiday tunes on the radio... all flood me with thoughts of my childhood. Warm, cozy, joyful, carefree memories. I feel so blessed to have grown up in a 2 parent household, for most of my childhood, with 2 loving parents who truly made the holidays special. So special that 28 years later the memories are so vivid and sweet I love to recount them. Hence, this post.

One of my favorite traditions was getting our Christmas tree, eating lunch at Burger King, and heading home to decorate it. Even the year my dad cut his hand pretty bad with "Old Hickory," a knife (of all things) he was using to cut some of the bottom of the tree off with. Yikes! I bet he still has a scar. Haha! Sorry, dad ;)

Sleeping with my sister every Christmas Eve with the radio on and hearing our favorite song, Transiberian Orchestra's "Christmas Canon." My sister now cries whenever she hears this song.

Watching all of our favorite shows, from the below list, that my mom had recorded off TV (if you haven't seen any of the below, check them out now):

For Better or For Worse: The Bestest Present
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
Nestor The Long Eared Donkey
Noel
The Wish That Changed Christmas
The Bear Who Slept Through Christmas
Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas
Mickey's Christmas Carol
Charlie Brown Christmas
Rudolph
Frosty The Snowman
Garfield's Christmas Special
The Year Without A Santa Clause

My mom baking Rich Almond Snow Drops, Honey Cookies, Toffee, and Peanut Butter Cups while my sister and I played around the house; not even realizing the smells and sounds coming from the kitchen would someday be the smells and sounds that would take us back to more carefree, innocent times. Ahhh... how sweet.

Opening one present on Christmas eve (which was always Christmas pajamas). Still do this one :)

My grandma's elaborate Christmas decor that she still puts up to this day! Shelves with different Christmas scenes, a smoking cabin, a walking talking Santa with a bell, a Santa with a list of each and every family member's name on it, musical mistletoe, and so much more!!!

Playing with the tinsel and decor while my mom decorated the house and doing more damage than help. But she never got mad :)

Nothing compares to those times. I suppose as we grow-up, we rekindle this joy when we have our own children. Experiencing the sites, smells, and sounds of the holidays through a child is the best way to to relive those days. I see it when I'm with my niece and nephews and one day will with my own children, too. For any child or adult out there not knowing what I grew up knowing, my prayers go out to you. That you feel the peace and joy of the season in not an earthly way, but in a way only our heavenly father can give you; a peace that surpasses all understanding, a deep down joy, and a love more great than you've ever known! Merry Christmas and JOY to the world!

What are some of your favorite Christmas memories? I would LOVE to hear them!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

It's A Girl!

I have been wanting to sponsor a child through Compassion International for quite sometime now. I looked at various programs and Compassion is known to take very little administrative costs and my church works with Compassion, as well. The next step was going through hundreds of adorable babies all needing a sponsor. How the heck could I choose?! Well, I finally had Compassion choose for me! I picked the gender, location, and age and left the rest to God. I decided to pick a young age because I thought it would be fun to watch my sponsor child grow. I am very excited! I already wrote her a letter before I even got the information package in the mail. Can't wait to hear from her! Friends and family meet, Chistie:

Age: 4
Location: Togo

Monday, November 28, 2011

Disneyland Birthday

For my 28th birthday this year the hubs took me to Disneyland! There was a SharePoint conference being held in Anaheim, that Jeremiah was attending for work during my birthday week, so he decided to bring me along to celebrate my birthday at every child's dream location :)

Memorable Moments Include:

- Beignets! Beignets! Beignets! My new favorite delicatessen :)

- Jeremiah eating 1-2 Churros every day.

- The canoes.

- 90 degree weather!

- "World of Color" 3 course meal at Ariel's Grotto and reserved seating for the show.

- My free birthday pin.

- Favorites Rides: Indiana Jones and Haunted Mansion When 2 Holidays Collide featuring "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

- Asimo the robot show! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfaAiujrX_Y

- Riding the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters more times than we could count so I could try and beat Jeremiah's score like I did at Disney World!

- In-N-Out at 1am.

- My Mayor Mufaletta Sandwich that came in a coffin and using any chance I get to say Mayor Mufaletta still.