Biggest Loser Finale: Did She Go Too Far?

So, The Biggest Loser finale was last night. I missed it, but I caught up this morning.

So, Rachel Fredrickson won. Awesome, right?

Wrong, according to some. And by the looks on Jillian's and Bob's faces, I think they'd agree.

Rachel went in at 260 pounds, and won the competition at 105 pounds, which means she's lost 60% of her body weight.

Photo courtesy of Us Weekly

Now, normally, I'd be ecstatic that someone was so dedicated and had so much willpower. However, after seeing the pictures for myself, I was not happy. I was sad.

Rachel looks way too skinny now, and the fact that she's lost THIS much in a few months is cause for concern.

I understand wanting to be healthy, but that doesn't mean you take it from one extreme to the other.

I can hear people calling me jealous now, and while yes, I am envious of one's ability to lose weight so fast, I am not envious of swapping one unhealthy lifestyle for the other. I am overweight, and that's my own personal battle I need to fight. I've researched what a healthy body weight is for my height (which is the same as Rachel's), and it's in the 120s.

Now, I know that after the show, they all tend to even out and all that, but I really hope that Rachel can put a little weight back on. I am so proud of the fact that she did get the weight off, but I do not condone going so far.

Snow Survival Essentials...According to Us

So the snow still hasn't arrived, but it will. Right now it is just gloomy and COLD. And boring. I mean yeah, I've spent all morning trying to get something trending on Twitter, but people are slacking. Or maybe they're not interested.

I saw one of my local radio stations asking for opinions on what they would like in a snow survival kit. Some were funny, and I decided to make on of my own. Then I asked Ariel what she wanted, and I should ask the husband what should be in his, but I have a pretty good idea. So I'll improvise with his.

So, without any further adieu, here are our lists.

Ariel's Snow Survival Kit:

• Lilo and Stitch (and all accompanying movies)
• Apple Jacks
• Kidz Bop CD
• "Unnies" (underwear, hey kid's got some priorities after all! lol)

Husband's Snow Survival Kit

• World of Warcraft
• Internet Connection
• Mountain Dew

  Becca's Snow Survival Kit:

• All of the Backstreet Boys CDs
• A coat (as I seem to be the only logical one here)
• Thin Mints (they're crack, I tell you)
• Entire series of Grey's Anatomy, in case I need to do emergency surgery. 
• Vodka. I'm sure I'll need it eventually.

So there you have it. I'm sure we won't make it two minutes into Snowmageddon. But we'll have great music to die to!

Snow Day!

You need to read that in the camel's voice. You know what camel I'm talking about.

Okay, so ever since I have lived in North Carolina, I have wanted a DECENT snowfall. I have appealed to all possible gods, I have written threatening letters to the weathermen (I was NINE! DON'T JUDGE ME!), I have tried to reason with Mama Nature herself.

Nothing. Maybe an inch or two at the most.

The year I have decided to leave this snowless wonderland, Mama Nature then decides that she wants to set things right.

As I type, the entire Southern portion of these United States is bracing itself for a MAJOR snowstorm. My area is looking at eight to ten inches.

Well played, Mama Nature. Well freaking played.

So now, we're looking forward to a bunch of "angel poop" (my cousin's description of the frozen precipitation) tomorrow. Schools are closed. Grocery stores have been wiped clean.

Snowmageddon has begun.

I don't know if I'm going to make it. I may queue up some posts in the event of my untimely demise in the wintery hell that's set for us tomorrow. Kind of like PS I Love You, but instead of love letters, you'll get a few snarky posts and a tearful goodbye to my online community.

Unless I forget. Then this would be the last post. In which I utter these last words:

Nitwit. Blubber. Oddment. Tweak.

You Know What Sucks?

Having an organization problem.

I've had problems keeping things organized ever since I was a little kid. I blame a teacher. She dumped out my messy desk in front of the class and made me feel like crap. By messy, it wasn't like old food and stuff, it was just paper. Old tests and the like.

I'm seriously hoping to get things under control when we get to the new place in T-Town, so I've taken to Pinterest to get some ideas. These were some of my favorites. If you click the pictures, it takes you to the original link =).

 

Seriously, one thing that I'm always having to look for is a cleaning supply. Someone's (me) always putting it somewhere else and then forgetting where they last put it. I love this idea.


Yes! I love this! No more having to find that pesky box with the wax paper or foil, because it's like right there! This is something I definitely want to use!


One thing I hate is a cluttered refrigerator. Something to think about, for sure.

 
Everyone loses their keys. Almost always at the moment you need them most. This thing is definitely going up in the new place, that way whenever husband (or I) loses the keys, I can say "your fault for not putting them in the key frame, dum dum!"


I am so excited to move. I really am. I have all of these ideas (curse you Pinterest) and I cannot wait to get started!

#FreeBieber? No Way!

With the arrest of the so called "pop prince" Justin Bieber, his fanbase has decided to go to Twitter to demand the release of their hero.

Ah, to be so young and naive.

Now, I can see people saying it now.."Oh, he's just a kid, cut him some slack!"

He's 19 years old, and has been a total douche bag this past year. I think we've cut him enough slack. It's time for him to face the music and own up to what he's done. The guy had his dad block off a road so he and his buddy could drag race...while he was drunk. Seriously? I'm not one to preach about people being role models, but since JB has said in the past he likes to be considered as a role model, I am going to address something.

If he wants to be considered a role model, he needs to straighten the hell up. This past year is a shining example of why he should NOT be a role model. If he wants people to look up to him, he needs to quit the childish crap, and find some maturity. No longer can he blame his actions on being a kid.

I'm rather pleased he's been arrested, but I am not hopeful that a single charge will stick. As with Chris Brown, Justin Bieber will continue to get away with every transgression he does, simply because he is Justin Bieber.

Don't believe me? One of you naysayers should try assaulting someone while still on probation or driving drunk. You'd be sentenced to more than just a slap on the wrist and counseling classes. These two "men" won't ever know what it's like to truly take responsibility for their actions until they really go too far. Someone will probably have to die before they get the justice they deserve. And even then, it's doubtful.

Long story short: stop calling for the release of someone who deserves to be in jail. Justin Bieber probably NEEDS this wake up call. Let's hope he gets the point that all of these foolish antics are hurting no one but himself, but he could end up seriously hurting someone if he doesn't stop.

"I Was Too Busy..."

It's something we always hear. As an excuse, or as a regret, those four words always seem to pop up.

"I'm sorry I didn't make it to your birthday party, but I was too busy."

"I should have made more time for Grandma, but I was too busy."

Isn't it funny? We're ALWAYS too busy for something. We're too busy to say hi to Mom, or too busy to stop in at Papa's for a chat. We're too busy to stop and look at the horses that our children are fascinated by. We're too busy to stop in Nashville on a road trip, so the wife can admire the city that she once dreamed of taking over one day.

Hell, sometimes, we're too busy to be too busy.

Why can't we stop being busy for two minutes, and admire those horses? One day our children will be too old to be amazed by those beautiful creatures.

We need to give our moms a call. They weren't too busy for our crap, we can at least take ten minutes to listen to her.

Papa won't be around forever, to talk about the good old days. One day you'll wonder what really happened back in 1943, and he won't be around to ask.

Stop in Nashville, and let your wife sing there. It would be a dream come true, and she'll remember it forever.

Stop being too busy being busy, and start being too busy making these little moments count. One day, these moments will be gone, and all we're going to be left with is memories.

"After All This Time?" "Always..."

Yes, some Harry Potter references to a post that will be about my favorite band of all time.

Let me paint the scene for you. Yours truly is about five or six years old, in 1996 or 97. My aunt is about twelve or thirteen, and is babysitting the aforementioned child and her younger sister.

All of a sudden, the children hear something coming from the radio. It sounds creepy at first, but soon becomes a fun song to dance to.

And then, they hear it.

"Backstreet's back, alright!"

Thus, began a love affair with one of the biggest boy bands in the world. I became a huge fan, squealing when their videos came on, collecting every poster in the world. I endured ridicules from classmates after their star faded from America, yet I carried on, my love for these five boys never dwindling.

Fast forward to August 20, 2013. My sister and I, now 22 and 21, are sitting in a couple of chairs at the TWC Pavilion in Raleigh, NC. This was going to be my first concert, and how appropriate that it was a Backstreet Boys concert. They were one of my first musical loves (they compete Michael Jackson and Garth Brooks in my heart).

The concert was just amazing. It was better than my wildest dreams, and I hope I can attend another one. I don't have many words to describe what I felt when I saw them in person. I didn't see them on a TV screen or in a poster, I saw THEM. And now I know what the term "star struck" really means.

Now, my husband is ready to murder me because I have infected my daughter with the Backstreet love. She can sing along to nine songs of theirs, and that number will probably grow. She LOVES "Madeleine" and "Show Em What You're Made Of" (the latter being my song to her as she grows up), and will dance to "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" every time it's on.

Hey, it's better than Justin Bieber!

Movie Review: Django Unchained

A little bit behind the times, perhaps, but I have longed to watch this movie since it came out. I was FINALLY able to watch it last night.

I'd heard negative things about it, but one of my best friend absolutely raves about the movie, and, knowing that I love Leonardo DiCaprio, she decided to share the movie love.

So, first of all, Inglorious Basterds is one of my favorite movies. I actually wish that what occured in the film was historically accurate, because I would have paid more attention in history class.

So imagine my surprise when I see HAN FREAKING LANDA  on the screen (actor's name: Christoph Waltz). A quick summary: Waltz plays King Schultz, who asks for Django's help in hunting three murderers. After they are caught, the two make a deal: Django helps King, King will help Django find his wife Broomhilda.

Django accepts, they spend the winter brutally murdering criminals, and King makes good on his promise. They locate Broomhilda, at a place called Candyland. Words are exchanged, blood is shed, and explosions occur.

This movie kept my attention from beginning to end. Yeah, some people complained about all the bloodshed and racism. I'm sorry, but 1) this is a QT film and 2) this is a film set in pre-Civil War times. The language is quite appropriate for the time frame.

Leonardo DiCaprio deserved an award for his performance as Calvin Candie, for the infamous hand scene alone. Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington did amazing in their roles. The sarcastic humor was right up my alley. It's definitely not a movie to watch with kids around, but personally? Django Unchained was worth the wait.

Why An Only?

It's a question I deal with a lot, which starts out like this:

"When are the two of you having another one?"

Answer: "We're not."

And then this is where things start to get fun. I will address the three main things I hear when I say that Ariel will be our only biological child.


#1 "You'll Change Your Mind."

Really? You really know this? How amazing, I've never met a psychic before! Mind telling me tomorrow's winning Mega Millions numbers, because I could use the money!

/sarcasm

I'm pretty sure I won't change my mind. Pregnancy was rough on me, mentally and physically. I have no desire to put my body through that again, much less my mind.


#2 "What if Ariel WANTS another brother or a sister?"

I wanted a pony when I was little, and I didn't get one. Why? A pony was impractical. If she wants a brother or a sister, it's something I'll discuss with her. I've considered adopting a child before. Not a baby, mind you, but that's a rant for another day.

Simply put, Ariel will not be lonely growing up. My family is huge, and lately my cousins have been reproducing like rabbits. My niece is two weeks younger than Ariel, and the two are pretty close. I know that moving her away from her cousins may not be the best, but as Ariel may be spending summers in North Carolina with her grandparents (still under discussion at the present time), she will not be short on family members her age to play with. Plus there's Brad's family, and his cousins who have children Ariel's age.

#3 "It's selfish."

What's selfish? Knowing that I can only handle one child being birthed from my body? Not wanting to change the life we've become accustomed to? Not wanting to go through the sleepless nights, constant diaper changes, and leaky boobs again? Yeah, maybe I am selfish, but it's not for a horrible reason. I like where my life is now, and we're finally in a routine again. Another baby would uproot all of that. I'm not doing it to be mean to anyone, but in the end it is my choice. And I choose not to have another child.

Introductions

Hello, everyone who is reading this. Only me at the moment, so HI ME!

Now that we've established that I am talking to myself, let me introduce myself.

My name is Rebecca. I am about to be 23 years old, and I am about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.

Actually, I'm only moving from North Carolina to Tulsa, Oklahoma, which isn't really considered a journey of a lifetime by most people.

However, it is the first time I'm leaving my home state to live somewhere else.

I am also a mother to a beautiful two year old girl. My Ariel Grace was born August 4, 2011. Her father's birthday was the next day, so I think I have a great excuse not to get him a birthday present for a while!

I married her father on July 28, 2012. Brad is someone who I had to get used to at first. Then he grew on me and I decided to give him a chance.

We didn't plan on getting married or having children, but life had different plans for us, you know? I found out I was pregnant, and honestly, I was scared out of my mind. Brad stepped up, got a decent job, and is a great father to our daughter. She is a daddy's girl, and looks just like him.

I don't really know why I decided to start this blog. Boredom, perhaps?

I find that writing calms me down. For example, I had a major disagreement with a girl I once considered my best friend. This was around the same time as NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). To ease the pain of the emotional trauma I was going through, I turned to writing. I finished my entire NaNoWriMo project in three weeks. Funny thing is, I could not remember a single thing I wrote until I re-read it all. My mind just closes off to everything but the story that wants to come out when I'm in the zone. Sidenote: Ironically, me and aforementioned former friend actually became close through writing.

So this blog...I don't want to say it's a mommy blog. I'm not the type to tell people how to do this or what to do, because I'm still learning this parenting thing. I mean sure, I have an opinion, but so does every other women who has pushed a kid out of their vagina (or, in my case, cut out of the uterus).

I guess this is where I will put my rants, my own parenting wins and fails, and maybe some words of wisdom to anyone who wants them.

But who am I kidding? I'm probably only talking to myself, anyway! =D