Naturalizer, Jarrett Boots

I walk a lot for work and my feet pay the price. So, I broke down and bought these terrific black Naturalizer boots. My feet feel fantastic now! I love these boots! They're really comfortable and were nearly half price. Aren't they cute?!

War Room

So, I was expecting this movie to be cheesy and not well-done. I'm happy, I was wrong. This movie is inspiring, well-done, and attention-grabbing. I felt challenged to pray more and with direction. I was reminded the power of prayer and the way it increases one's relationship with Christ. I have a lot of work to do in all areas of my relationship with Christ. The movie, made me laugh, tear up, and left me challenged. If you've watched it, what did you think? If you haven't watched it, why not?

The Best Winter Hat: Pistil Juliette Hat

While shopping in L.L.Bean before Christmas, a super cute hat caught my eye. I tried it on and liked it, but didn't like the price tag. My mom asked if I wanted it for Christmas, I did, but had several hats already. I told her that and knowing me she said, would you actually wear this hat? I really liked it and said I would. For Christmas, I got my Pistil Designs Juliette hat in gray. I love it. Kansas winters are brutal and I've worn the hat to work as well as around town nearly everyday since. It's comfy, warm, and stylish. Definitely one of my favorite Christmas presents. :)

Riley, Part 1

Last summer, I wrote about when my family got our sweet puppies, Max and Riley almost 12 years ago. Last fall, I also wrote about Max's cancer and his passing.

The holidays and every day are still hard without all his enthusiasm and love. We are continually grateful to still have our sweet Riley.

Riley has also taken Max's passing hard. They spent every day of their lives side by side. Riley often seems lost without Max as the leader. We've worked to keep him happy and give him extra attention and love.

He's seemed more unsettled in the last month; he wakes up startled, he's up often in the night, and he just looks miserable. We definitely wish dogs could talk. My mom got him into to his vet and there we learned the cause of his issues. Riley's heart is massively enlarged. In fact, his vet had never seen a heart so enlarged. It's also not beating correctly. We were devastated to learn of Riley's serious heart issues and were told he could die at any minute. It's been so hard to process everything that happened with Max that I can't even begin to think about Riley going down that road too. So, we've made him an appointment at K-State's Veterinary Center, with their heart specialists for next week. We are praying, they can help our Riley and that he won't suffer. :(

Riley on Christmas Day.

Easy Way to Remove Glitter Nail Polish

I absolutely LOVE glitter nail polish. What I hate is trying to take it off. The cotton ball sticks to the pieces of glitter and rips into little shreds. It takes forever to take it off and leaves me frustrated.

My mom shared her stylist's secret with me: Step 1. Put nail polish remover on a cotton ball. 2. Cut a piece of aluminum foil out large enough to cover your nail. 3. Put the cotton ball on top of your nail with the remover side down. 4. Put the foil over your whole nail, crunch it down so it keeps the cotton ball on your nail. 5. Wait 5-10 minutes and remove.



The result!

A Walk in the Woods

Hello to all my new readers in Russia, Ukraine, and Germany.

Since the movie, A Walk in the Woods isn't in the theaters anymore and isn't yet on DVD, I decided to read the book. To be honest, I didn't know the movie was based off of a book until I saw it while Christmas shopping.

I love the book, it's a fairly easy read. It's by Bill Bryson and he's now my new favorite author. He's written a lot of travel-related books that I plan on reading.

A Walk in the Woods is about the time Bill and his friend, Katz walked the Appalachian Trail. They had some many adventures and misadventures. Bill gives the history of the trail and the areas they travel through. At times there's too much side info for me, but I skip it over when it gets to be too much.

In the book, Bill and Katz are in their 40's. They fight each other, the weather, and other hikers. I often find myself laughing while reading it. Try it and see what you think.

Excited to see the movie:

Newer Car: Honda Accord Sport

Late October, I took my beloved Jetta to the mechanic and found out she (my Jetta) needed a $1,000 repair. Well, the car was nearly 15 years old and wasn't worth much more than that, so I had to get another car. I didn't want another car; I had been working on contentment, but I didn't really have a choice. To make matters worse, I'd only just thought about starting to save money for a new car, that week. Not good timing.

So, what did I get? A beautiful 2014 Honda Accord Sport.

This is a picture of my car under 1/4 inch of ice.

So thankful for this car: smooth ride, better gas mileage, power windows (Jetta didn't have this), dual chrome exhaust, back-up camera, roomy trunk and inside, heats up fast, more horsepower :), key FOB will actually unlock my car when I'm further than 5 feet away (Jetta was challenging), seats are comfy and supportive, tinted windows, defrost works FAST, time left on warranty, , the cutest little rear spoiler, and sensors that work. God has been gracious to me!

I bought my car at Ed Bozarth Chevrolet from Morris James.

The Newer Cinderella

Every little girl grows up watching and cheering for good to overcome evil in the movie, Cinderalla. Every so often the movie gets remade. So, the question is, how did this version stack up?

Well, this one brings some well-known stars Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Cater, and Lily James (the infamous, Cousin Rose from Downton Abbey. One of the evil stepsisters is the actress that plays Daisy Mason on Downton Abbey (Sophia McShera). The ever versatile Helena Bonham Carter plays Ella's Fairy Godmother.

It starts with a beautiful, sweet family of three who live in a lovely house. Alas, the mother gets sick and passes away. Before she dies, she tells her daughter, Ella to have courage and be kind.

Ella and her dad live just the two of them for years, but over time he gets lonely and decides to get married. Ella supports him and wants him to be happy. That is, before she meets her awful, new stepmother (played by Cate Blancett) and wretched stepsisters. Ella keeps a positive attitude despite their snarky comments. Her dad has to go away of business and next thing you know Ella lets herself get talked out of her own room in favor of the far away, scary attic. News soon comes that Ella's father has gotten sick and died.

With money no longer coming into the house, soon the servants and cooks are all let go. Who is to do the work for the demanding stepmother and stepsisters? Ella is; she works tirelessly, often she falls asleep reading by the fire. Her stepmother and stepsisters cruelly call her, Cinderella.

One day while riding her horse, Ella sees a wild stag running from the royal hunting party. She helps the stag get away and meets the royal party. She has a good conversation with one young, handsome member of the party, who unbeknownst to Ella is the prince. She persuades him to quit hunting the poor animal.

The prince is under pressure to get married, specifically to have an arranged marriage. He doesn't want that. He decides to host a ball for everyone. Ella is so excited to go and prepares her nicest outfit, her mom's dress. She goes down to leave with her "family." They think it's preposterous that she even thought she could go. Her cruel stepmother tears Ella's beloved dress and leaves for the party. Ella is comforted by her only friends, mice. Soon while outside, an old lady approaches and asks for a drink. Ella obliges and the old lady turns out to be Ella's fairy godmother. Her fairy godmother gets her ready for the ball, including fixing and upgrading Ella's dress. A pumpkin is turned into a carriage. She's given comfy glass slippers. A goose becomes a driver and a lizard becomes part of the team as well. Ella's mice friends become beautiful, white horses. Away Ella goes to the ball, looking radiant. Her fairy godmother gives her the ability to not be recognized by her "family" and warns her that everything will change back by midnight.

Though arriving late, Ella makes a grand entrance and the prince is awed. They dance and talk; true love. The clock strikes 12 and Ella must leave. She runs and leaves behind a glass slipper. The prince sends people after her, but alas she gets away.

The prince continues to face pressure to marry and to do so strategically with a princess from another country. He instead decides to seek far and wide for Cinderella. The news travels that he wants to marry the girl from the ball. They line up every maiden far and wide to try on the glass slipper the mystery girl left behind, but alas, no Cinderella. So, there's one house left, Cinderella's. Cinderella's awful family leave her oblivious to the prince's arrival and declaration that every maiden try on the slipper. The stepsisters aren't matches, thankfully. While getting ready to leave, one of the prince's attendants hears the voice of a maiden singing. They find Cinderella and that she is the owner of the slipper. The prince is overjoyed, they wed, and happily ever after. Ella's positive attitude kept her getting bitter, as many would in her position.

Although different from the other Cinderella movies, this was unique and sweet. I liked it. See what you think. :)

DC Part 8, Miscellanous

For a friend's birthday, while in DC, we went to her favorite restaurant, Uncle Julio's Mexican Restaurant Though it looked nice and had a festive atmosphere, it was awful. Took forever to get food for our party of 8. Steak was overcooked. We were there at least 3 hours. Wouldn't go back.

While in DC, late one night, we got a ride from Nesibu Limo. Our driver, John was a lifesaver! If you ever need a ride in the DC area, call John with Nesibu Limo. He's professional and kind: 202-270-3404. And no, we didn't ride in a limo. :)

Fast and Furious 7

The most recent Fast and Furious movie, #7 is said to be their last. With the passing of one of the movie's legends, Paul Walker, it's unclear how the franchise can continue.

This movie opens as Shaw first meets up with Hobbs, Dwayne Johnson, the "Rock." This time Jason Statham is the bad guy and is after blood. Shaw pulverizes Hobbs and needs Dom's help to bring Shaw down. Statham's character, Deckard Shaw killed Han one of the Fast and Furious crew.

Meanwhile, Paul and Mia's baby boy, Jack is around 3 years old now. They live in the same house, as always, in LA with Dom.

With Mia and Jack shuttled away to safety, Brian is ready to help the crew out. Mia worries that domestic life bores Brian. She hasn't even told him she's pregnant.

Letty is back from the dead, but things still aren't back to normal due to her memory loss. She breaks up with Dom and needs a break to "find" herself.

Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson fill out the crew, as always.

Kurt Russell even has a strong role as the guy with money and equipment at his disposal. He'll let Dom use the new cutting-edge, God's Eye software if Dom and crew will retrieve hacker, Ramsey. The job of gaining Ramsey is where the biggest action scenes take place. And surprise, Ramsey is a girl. Letty is back and ready to help her crew.

Like with all these movies, clues lead them around the world including to Dubai where Ronda Rousey makes a cameo as the part of a prince's security. She and Letty have an epic fight scene. Brian and Dom crash a billion dollar car through 3 buildings; nothing new.

They get Ramsey and the chip they need to give Russell's character to utilize God's Eye and find Shaw. The damage and body count runs high. Shaw doesn't give up without a fight, that's for sure.

I expected the ending to be sad, but it wasn't as sad as I thought it might be. Like the other movies in their series, this includes the themes of family, cars, speed, fighting, and heists. It is high energy and if it is the last, a great way to end the series.

Last year, I posted a music video for the song, "See You Again," which is prominent at the end of the movie. Here's the link to that post with the music video, See You Again.