You never marry the right person

"The reason that marriage is so painful and yet wonderful is because it is a reflection of the Gospel, which is painful and wonderful at once. The Gospel is-we are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared to believe, and at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope."

Read about it yourself at Relevant Magazine.

Be vulnerable

let love be genuine

Everything I need to know, I learned from Titanic...

Jack: Rose, you're no picnic, all right? You're a spoiled little brat, even, but under that, you're the most amazingly, astounding, wonderful girl, woman that I've ever known...
Rose: Jack, I...
Jack: No, let me try and get this out. You're ama- I'm not an idiot, I know how the world works. I've got ten bucks in my pocket, I have no-nothing to offer you and I know that. I understand. But I'm too involved now. You jump, I jump remember? I can't turn away without knowing you'll be all right... That's all that I want.
Rose: Well, I'm fine... I'll be fine... really.
Jack: Really? I don't think so. They've got you trapped, Rose. And you're gonna die if you don't break free. Maybe not right away because you're strong but... sooner or later that fire that I love about you, Rose... that fire's gonna burn out...
Rose: It's not up to you to save me, Jack.
Jack: You're right... only you can do that.

It's my favorite movie. I'm devoted to saying this is my favorite movie for the rest of my life. But I would have found a way to get two people on that darn floating debris. Orrrr when I was producing the movie, I would have gotten a smaller piece of wood.

Wedding Season 2011: the kind not in neat blogs, but a happily ever after nonetheless.

Dear Wedding Season 2011,

You have given me temporary depression quickly erased with great hope, many smiles, telling-grandchildren-worthy memories-many which are unforgettable thanks to Facebook and the moments captured by friends with my camera phone-sweaty southern nights, more engagements, expensive dry cleaning and alterations bills, more strapless dresses, glory days reminiscing, priceless dancing lessons, experimentations with white wine, reunions with best friends, and above all, love.

Sincerely,

me

p.s. I'll be getting hitched on New Year's Eve in the unforeseen though no less exciting future.

Thank goodness someone gets it

"How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being?" -Oscar Wilde

The "F" Bomb

Mind out of the gutter-the other F bomb.

So here's the deal about "forever." It is the one word that simply put means the day after tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that and the day after that, etc etc etc. You get the picture. I made the point.

So when you're with someone, you eventually-hopefully sooner rather than later-but who am I to judge-come to the ultimate question:

Many would lead you to believe that is, "do I love (insert name)?"

But I think the ultimate question is, "do I want to spend the day after tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that and the day after that, etc etc etc, with (insert name)?"

Because love, as much as it is the ultimate compromise between emotion and game-time decisions, is more intangible. Because we desperately believe in its ideals, truths and infectious butterflies, we conveniently and flirtatiously forget if it's lost or missed.

But forever. Now, we know exactly when something is not forever. Nap times in Mrs. Williams' first-grade class were not forever. Running the mile in middle school was not forever though it felt like an Iron Man bc Pizitz Middle School was surrounded by torturous smelling Bradford Pear Trees and strategically built on a hill for the sun god to beat us all with hot, sweaty sticks.

Love conquers all.

But there is only one forever...

And we're not there with the Author, Writer and Maker of Forever.

So therein lies the dilemma...

Grace be active. Patience be outstanding. Wisdom be obvious. Boldness be encouraging.

Love be genuine.

Forever be near.

Sooner rather than later.

I love you more than blank... a live in love campaign

I love (love, love) campaigns. I'm not talking political today. I'm talking about personal and innovative campaigns. I love campaigns that cost nothing or cost a fortune, but either way, improve quality of life.

I love large-scale campaigns such as Pepsi's Refresh Project, which is giving away millions of doll-hairs to individuals supporting community projects just because... It's Pepsi. It can. Awesome.

But as generous as Pepsi is, I think I found another campaign where we can all win. It's called i love you more than blank dot com.

The campaign started in a paperwhite studio in NYC's lower east side from the belief that someone can't evaluate the value of something unless it can be measured to something else...

They even divided your love into categories: the benjamins, coffee vs. fizz, wired, eatables, wax poetic, if you only knew, homies, i heart and motley crew...

Go to i love you more than blank to find your category and submit a reason why you love

If you know me, you might know which one I submitted...

In their words, it's "a small project w a big heart"

live in love, me

Best friends near or far

Two of my best friend's WEB LOG.
If you follow me on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace (jk. I think I'm better than most people with MySpace. Besides, I think it's for the music crowd), you know I am obsessed with my two friends, Jordan and K8ie gurl Anderson.
He's a chaco-flannel-Levi-wearing Tiger Head (AU alum), wet cat (AU swimmer), Banjo picking and skit performing enthusiast (YL leader).
She has a Moe's-pizza-and-Birthday-Cake-ice-cream palette with a rockin body. She loves nicknames, lilies, notes and early bedtimes. But I love her most for her unmatched ability to deeply love a wretch like me despite my mood swings and all-too-often tendency to pull away from the ones I need the most.
Freshman year in ADPi, I was blessed to meet Katie . Then I got to live with her on the ADPi hall and in 36 Mafia with 4 other best sista friends. I met Jordan through my "magnet" friend whom was also influential in kindling the K8ie+Jordo=4eva fire.
I liked Jordan because he entertained me in between classes in the Haley Center. He was (who am I kidding-IS) way cooler than I, so I appreciated his companionship.
Now, when I say I liked him-I did. But that didn't mean I liked him coming in and dating my bff.
I need to confess this because for all who knew me at the time Jordan was pursuing Katie so patiently and confidently, I was not-so subtly protective.
I was protective because she had been hurt indifferent to what Jordan was or was not doing. I was also protective because of the caliber of man I knew him to be in the short time I had known him. That sounds backwards, but isn't that the mind of a girl for you?
I have been affirmed EVERY time since the first few days of our friendship he was as genuine and intentional as they come. I knew he was the real deal.
THAT terrified me because those are the kinds of guys who ride off into painted sunsets and steal your best friends.
It didn't take long (well, I was the last bff to accept them, but give me a break) for me to concede my reservations and happily support this couple. The rest is history documented thanks to various Facebook albums, visions of swim meets dancing in our heads and countless stories that will be re-told to their all-star kids and my red-headed heathens of unforgettable porch nights and lake trips.
Now, I have a brother AND my sista friend.
Here's the kicker: He is actually stealing her away-not to never never land via side saddle on some tantalizing stallion, but to England via Delta (maybe even United).
AND I'm not even upset about this fairytale. I'm pumped.
Because it's not a cursive "The End" after a Disney movie or "happily ever after" just yet...
It's the beginning.
I joined my best friends in marriage, and you better believe I'm using my dad's Sky Miles and sick days to go visit.
Now that K8ie gurl blogs, I can shout out to her with hope she'll see it:

Here's a toast to... you know the rest, but most of all here's a toast to my best friends!

Jesus was single... Hello

I listen to podcasts like old, rich ladies play card games at my country club: seriously, socially, privately and often.

Recently, I listened to a podcast by Matt Carter from the Austin Stone Community Church on singleness.

It made me laugh, think and pray deeply about my condition. And no I don't mean the poor-pathetic-hook-me-up-with-your-sinlge-good-looking-friend-who-comes-from-a-great-family condition. I mean Paul and yes, let it rock your mind, JESUS'S condition.

He said singleness secures an undistracted devotion to the Lord.

I mean, Jesus was total man and total God here on Earth. He could have had his pick of any fine dame, and he CHOSE singleness. I mean, He literally could have said, "Let there be light. Let there be a white picket fence. Let there be a red Golden Retriever named Jake. Let there be a hot girl to make me chicken parmesan with a side of summer squash, and we'll make some wine from water together."-if you know what I mean in more than one sense of the analogy

Paul talks mainly ab sex up until here... Then he just gets all personal and says he wishes everyone was single. (He talks ab fellas first, but I cut that bc let's face it, I'm in this part. Go look it up here).

"I would like you to be free from concern... An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35

If Paul were to have Toomer's Coffee with me today, this verse would look more like this:

"When you are single, you can buy minimal groceries, one pair of shoes, one outfit, travel for cheap (if you'd sell that blast-it, gas guzzling Tahoe) and give all the rest to fund your friends in Campus Crusade and Grace Campus in China or sponsor Tim Tebow's dad's orphanages in South America.

And talk about 'All my single ladies put your hands up.' Have you looked at your prayer life now that you're a prayer Beyonce? It's not about anybody or yourself, but it's devoted to the Lord's will because we all know you have no idea what you're doing with your hott-mess of a life. Besides, you never remember to clean the coffee pot, and any husband would get annoyed with that quick. Then you'd be all worried and turn into Martha on me, and all that leads away from the cross."

Instead, Carter urges us to set our sights and start sprinting to the cross. He says every now and then to look around, if there is someone on the right or left to run with, marry him. But don't slow down or take a detour...

I mean, have I not mentioned I run daily already? Now, I have that calorie counter on the treadmill and Nike ID iPod attachment motivating me, but much more importantly, I have Christ in sight.

This is what we look like when we start considering our condition as leprosy or athlete's foot instead of a beautiful season...
All Single Ladies Gone Wrong... painfully wrong.

What's your love language...

So my Bible study did this, and I think it's one of the most beneficial things to know about yourself and others. Yes. Yes. This is intended for married people, but I know you're curious...

Click here to learn your love language...

Obviously, if any of you know me, you know without a shadow of a doubt I'm a quality time kind of girl, which to me is the worst.

In the words of Harry in "When Harry Met Sally," I'm the worst kind of maintenance because I'm high maintenance, but I think I'm low maintenance. And we're not talking about taking hours to get ready and get done up kind of high maintenance because let's face it-I often times don't brush my hair when I get out of the shower and use tinted moisturizer as my sole source of make up. No, no. My high maintenance is much worse, much more demanding. It's emotional high maintenance.

I've been lucky because I have friends, a guy and a fam who understand me and love me just the same. But dang. I exhaust myself sometimes...

So everyone go figure out their own love language.

Then go watch one of my favorite movies of all times, "When Harry Met Sally." It's about best friends staying friends and falling in love at the same time... (insert sigh).

the L-word

So I was passing through a little gem called Greenville, SC on my way back to The Plains from Charlotte when my chauffer asked me if I wanted to stop and see Holly one of my endearing, best and most-missed friends.
Elated upon meeting up, we ran into each other's arms and promptly found an IPA, stacked nachos with mango salsa and stools that encouraged our summer-sandal wearing feet to dangle.
As we sipped and stuffed, she asked me my opinion on saying the L-word.
We're girls, so of course boys come into convo all too often. But in my answer, I wasn't so concerned with that part of the definition.

My preacher once told me no one can look at my life and tell I love Christ with 30, 70 or 100 percent of my heart. The only way someone knows the extent of my love for Christ is by the way I love others.
When I heard this, I was just at the age when my head wasn't buried in my mother's lap, while she braided my hair or playing silent games with my dad. I was just old enough to feel the Holy Spirit gently tugging on my heart, and I knew then I'd never forget that statement. (If you ever see me humming when I'm frustrated, it's the muted version of "And they'll know we are Christians by our love," which I'm blaring in between my ears as I try to find my happy place...)
It was then I wanted to live in love with God and consequently his creation for the rest of my life as long as we all shall live.

So my take on the L-word is simple... Duh I say it. And I mean it.
I can't separate the L-word into compartments labeled boyfriend, friends, etc. etc. etc. It's all the same to me because it's all independent of... me.
There is this stigma in the church that we can only love the person we're going to marry.
Sorry. That may be true for some people, but it's not true for me, and I'd bargain to say it's not true for most people if they'd dissect the big picture down to it's smallest thread. I have loved and been loved so deeply it hurts, excites and encourages, but it never disappoints.
I'm one of those ridiculously practical people who sets out her oatmeal, bowl and spoon and pre-sets the coffee every night before I sleep, and I'm similarly practical in every aspect of life except when it comes to love. And i LOVE it.
I love friends, dogs, especially Traveler, running, camp, horses (not ponies), missions, short stories, wedding blogs, every member of my crazy family and mostly my first love, Christ, my groom. I love loving.
The above mentioned mindset in the church infers that God portions (or sanctions) a pre-determined amount of love for each of us to spend on His creation and Him for that matter. It misses the point.
The relationship we share with God isn't one that comes pre-packaged for portion control like a Lean Cuisine on the shelf at Kroger.
Because He sent Jesus to die and called us to die to ourselves, He rules our hearts with never ending love. I love all creation out of a cosmic consequence of a love relationship with my first Love. I call it consequence love: He loves me, and my cup is so overflowing that I can't help but love others.
If we were at Kroger, it'd be like a gift card with no limit or 'use by' date.

Now, I'm not saying go throw your heart and body at some good lookin' fella or gal at the next foam party you get invited to by some bar you rarely if ever attend. Don't twist this advice to fit some cockananny scheme you know is wrong and should run/flee from.
...Because you know all that matters is loving God and loving the people he created...

Disclaimer: when I want to do things my way or solve problems with my resources, they often come up short of even a Kroger pre-packaged dinner. They taste bland, smell questionable and leave me wanting more. I'm prone to this often, but I'm like a fat woman at Jenny Craig- trying.

Sooo you lovers and closet love lovers out there, live in love and love deeply... it's not yours, and it never was.

From hotdog topping to country-singing jerks to On the Wings of Love... The Bachelorette is back

Here's a little piece of juiciness compliments of Hulu.

I have seen people LOST that their fav shows are coming to an end and worried they'll turn into Biggest Losers because they won't know what to do for a whole 24 hours of the day without the motivation of series drama, plot twists and unexpected scripted love.
No need to worry because The Bachelorette is back and from the looks of the first episode, juicy.
As vets of the show and loyal followers, we have a tradition when The Bachelorette or The Bachelor starts. We pick teams.
After Monday's premier 2-hour episode, I made careful examinations of Ali Fedotowsky's interaction with each potential suitor, but honestly my decision was determined by first impression.
If I were in her cute black peep-toe shoes wearing that elegant, but too long black dress, I would be pinning JESSE!
1) He's a general contractor. My father would be proud.
2) He's smokin' hot. My mother would be proud.
Jesse wasn't the only one I was secretly scoping out. I am pulling for funny guy Frank and studly Chris H.
There were quite a few funny stories from the first night: ukelle playing, entertainment wrestling, scrapbook making and back flipping from the top of the limo to name a few.
But I have always been a girl attracted to the mysterious ones, which has gotten me into trouble a few times, but I can't help myself.
I appreciate unassuming fellas. It was attractive that Jesse wanted to tell her about himself because she asked, but he didn't dwell on himself. He genuinely asked if she was OK or overwhelmed. 2 points for being endearing and 3 for charming.

You can read bios, see pics and pick a team for yourself here.


Here's Prince Charming from ABC.com.

There's never a moment you are not loved

The Anthony Clan

That's a quote my mother has told me as long as I can remember: when I didn't make danceteam, when she forced me to go to math tutoring, when I lost her trust, when I left for college, when I came home from college, when I had my first breakup to the next... and next... and next.... you get the point and most importantly, when I didn't deserve it.
She says it regardless if she likes me at the moment because we all know mothers and daughters have to love each other, but they don't have to like each other sometimes. My mother not only my pushes off the cliff into some of the greatest adventures of my life, but she catches me at the bottom if I don't soar quite as gracefully or as far as I thought.
So this Mother's Day, I'd like to remind her,

"Mom, there's never a moment you're not loved."

Despite how much I love her, there might be too many moments my mother is not appreciated... Make sure your mother knows you love her this Mother's Day.

Smith Magazine is partnering with Women ONE2ONE on why moms matter. Go to

Six-word memoir for mother

and leave your six-word thoughts about your mommy:

a convenient Valentine

So after an amazingly inspirational breakfast with passionate, Christ-filled friend, Abby S., the Love station on XM tainted my perfect snow-filled morning. Firefall's "You are the Woman" is still ringing when a commercial comes over the airwaves and unfortunately into my ears.

Excuse my ignorance, if I get this wrong, but I'll take a stab... It was a woman who has recently written (and published) a self-help book telling women how to find men and get them to marry us in a reasonable amount of time.

Seriously? That sounds preposterous. ridiculous. luda...

There are so many things wrong with this picture.

If you charm Mr. Right This Minute so stratigically that he decides you are marriage worthy-however low that standard is- what do you do once you have him?

Does this book have a sequel titled How to Keep Your Husband or How to Make Him Actually Love You, So you Don't Get a Divorce?

Maybe I am being pretentious, but I along with most socially adept women could go to the local bar, bookstore, grocery store or online chat room and find someone desperate enough to marry us. This doesn't mean we should... or he should take us.

That is the culture we live in: obsessed with instant gratification in every aspect of life.

Love is not instant gratification by definition.

Using God's standard to measure love, 1 Corinthians 13 says love is PATIENT among a list of many things love is and is not.

It actually says patient first, before many other attributes.

It's patient not instantly gratifying.

Love is also kind.

It is not envious or boastful (except in the cross, praise Jesus), nor is it arrogant or rude. Unlike me most of the time, it doesn't insist on it's own way. It's never irritable even before coffee or resentful even after an ugly public fight. It does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices in truth.

My favorite attributes of love from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things and never fails.

This personification making love into a perfect human-Christ-convicts and encourages me with every reading. Feel free to raise your hands at this point and give the sister an "Amen."

My Bible study last semester went through Ephesians with Precepts teaching. We looked at 1 Corinthians 13 and inserted our own name for every "it" or "love."

Exercise time: Yourname is patient, kind... etc.

Even Merriam-Webster defines love as: 1. 1) strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties 2) affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interest

Obviously, love is a cultivation... It requires time to acquire this admiration or affection by most standards Christian or secular.

So this book baffled me so much, I came home and went straight to iGoogle for some more info... Unfortunately, I couldn't find the exact book I was looking for.

I did find some other humorous titles that preach and teach about the same idea: check-list love. What a constraining though...

If you have read any of these and the message is different from my idea... by all means, enlighten me. I have a strong inclination I am right on this one.

The above pics are all from Amazon.com.

live in love,

grace

Third times a charm... Candlelight magic

Sooo we sorority ladies have a special way to celebrate engagements inside our sororities. It might be cheesy or highly glamorized by pop-culture and Greek-the silly show with a solo cup as its graphic-but it's no less special for us classy Southern sorority gals.

It's a candlelight.

The tradition has changed its image and meaning through the years, but the excitement of mentioning it still brings tears to giddy girl's eyes. News of a candlelight makes girls run down the halls screaming, place bets on the lucky girl and sit anxiously through all of chapter until it's time at the end to start the tradition.

At some schools, this started with a pinning, lavaliere or engagement. The sorority girls circle up and pass around a flower arrangement with a long-stemmed candle in the middle.

The trick as in anything sorority related: secrecy!

Unless you can tell by the blush on her cheeks, no one knows who the candlelight is for until she blows the light out on the THIRD round. Once blown, everyone yells, claps and gathers around for her to tell the engagement story...

Today, Auburn sororities usually practice candlelights for engagements only.

In some schools and while my mother was in Auburn, sororities have a candlelight if you start dating a fraternity guy, and he pins you with his fraternity letters. Candlelights can also be called if a girl is lavaliered-fraternity boy gives girl a necklace with greek letters, another form of pinning. It's considered a sign that he's ready to be exclusive and more serious about the relationship... pre-engagement, if you will.

In this blog's particular love story, I have had two best friends/roomies have candlelights this year. Actually, they have been the only candlelights Alpha Delta Pi has had this year.

The first was Brittany Tucker. Both Gump-town natives, she and Mark have been dating since around 9th grade... Want to tell her she's getting married young? She has been committed to Mark longer than most people in blog world have been married or dream of staying married.

The second was Katie Watson soon-to-be Anderson. Jordan Anderson... gosh, that names sounds familiar. O yes, he's the RHODES SCHOLAR. The two have been dating for one year officially, but honestly, he's been in love with her for a respectable amount of time. They will be married Sept. 4, and then it's off to England! How blessed? They start their marriage together studying, traveling and learning about life and love allll by themselves in EUROPA.

I wanted to show some curious souls the delight of a candlelight... Not ABC's version, but real girls sharing their special engagements with sorority sista friends.

"I get to marry Mark Bethea!" -Brittany soon-to-be Tucker

Roomies aka 36 Mafia

ADPi seniors...

New semester, new guy and gal, but same routine... This is Katie and I after HER special surprise!

36 ladies are becoming pros at this. The Alpha Chis even took a pic throwing up the diamond while hiding in our kitchen waiting for the big moment.

Goooood job Jordan...

With this speech... I thee give you away

Soo... Some of my friends have asked me what I said during my speech at my best friend's wedding rehearsal dinner. Here it is.

Hit it maestro: So I figured the last person in the world to stand up and give any kind of romantic advice that would actually benefit anyone including you two is me… Honestly, I’m OK with that because that’s what mommys, daddys, grandmothers and grandfathers are for. Looking at the excellent example of love from your own parents is proof enough that romantic love does last.

But I am going to stick with the only kind of love I know. It’s not necessarily always neat and pretty. It is rarely fairytale, but every princess has to start somewhere and she usually starts with this first.

I am talking about the love of a best friend. The love that comes from days spent jumping on the trampoline doing the … and peeing our pants laughing so hard. Love that comes from so many Little Debbie Zebra Cakes it makes my metabolism shudder as I speak. Love that comes from birthday parties spent riding together, skating together, sitting together, spending the night together- you get the picture- we were inseparable. Love that comes from a strong, confident 7^th-grade best friend who will always sacrifice her hott dance partner to get me out of the girl’s locker room and find some poor soul to dance with me (I’m being nice to myself because that happened until freshmen-year homecoming). I always knew they would only dance with me because maybe Kelli would dance with them next… Love that comes from laughter and good times, and love that's overwhelmingly mutual.

But it wouldn’t be love without the hard times too. So I hope you never have to, but understand you inevitably will face love that comes only from the humblest of circumstances and most broken of hearts. Love that unselfishly comforts one when she doesn’t make the dance team despite that the other did. Love that comes from disappointment by a midnight phone call with a pitiful excuse of why he changed his mind resulting in a sweet, broken-hearted girl fallen on my doorstep, who only my dad can pick up and carry to my room.

Jay, at the time of heartbreak and myworldisover, I didn’t understand why.

Looking at you two now, and your commitment to Kelli, I never have to question whether you’ll change your mind. You’re here to stay like a true friend. If I had truly wanted to, I couldn’t have designed someone using a paint by numbers kit more fit for Kelli… You’re not perfect. You’re her compliment.

So new best friend, I have advice: Embrace one of Kelli’s most admirable qualities, and the quality I have found most precious: loyalty. Since 1^st grade, her loyalty has only strengthened. Even when it hurts her, she’ll stick by your side and defend you. It works well for you because she’s rarely wrong, but she’ll even defend you if you both know what you’re doing or saying is absolutely wrong.

Now, I’m going to read this letter I wrote at the end of 8^th grade for this very day:

Kelli, You are and have been since 1^st grade my other half. I have always been terrified of this day because it ends with me giving you to someone else to complete him and be his better half. You’ll clean his room and make him sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles. You’ll make him the happiest person alive because he’s whole now. I am still so scared and anxious, not for myself, but for you! You’re going to really do this (like sleep in a bed with a boy)! But your maturity has yet to let me down, and I’m excited for us both to learn through this.

Fill in the Blank.. JAY, I can’t think of a better friend or man I’d rather give my other half too (and the better half at that). Remember, you don’t deserve love and neither do I, but we have a Father who has graciously given love to us with one requirement: we give it back. So, all I ask is that you love her with the love that never fails and forgives even though we know she’ll never do anything worth needing forgiveness.

I am a little embarrassed to admit it, but I’m so jealous. I’m jealous of you Jay because you now get my best friend as yours. Love her despite and inspite of yourself. But I trust you because she wouldn’t keep you if you weren’t worth it…

When you get frustrated or she gets frustrated, remember she has that old best friend who loved her first but gladly gave her to you as your best friend.

I now toast to the love of youth and mine and Kelli’s fairytale: the love of best friends.

Then we CHEERed!

Save the date... though Hallmark won't let you forget

Happy early Valentine's Day... You shall hear my six pence (none the richer) soon enough.

If the draw-dropping list of talented actors in this movie wasn't enough... and when has Julia Roberts or Bradley Cooper not been enough... You were probably laughing out loud at the other half of the 1:31 trailer.

If you weren't, get a Zoloft and book your Fandango ticket now for this movie because I'm convinced it'll cheer you right up.

Since the first Valentine's Day was celebrated, commercial America, Hallmark cards and Beanie Babies have nobly tried to season the other half of the crowd, the single crowd, with sugar and spice appropriate for this bittersweet holiday.

They try to make us fat with chocolates, sentimental with George Straight and Seal songs or hopeful with Father of the Bride marathons...

The best is when Hollywood succeeds at making all the single ladies and gents waiting to get a ring on it appreciate our season of singleness. (Thankfully, it's not Hollywood's job to make us thankful for this God-ordained time, but I am nonetheless grateful when Hollywood throws me a bone)

Best contribution on this day: laughter.

When laughing, Beyonce's crowd isn't excluded but included on this blissful February 14. Excluded is the way I feel having to watch the train-wreck effect of two young lovers making out on my charming walking campus... Stop that by the way.

I strongly dislike when people refer to Valentine's Day as Single's Awareness Day. It makes them sound bitter, and who is attracted to bitter people? Well, probably other bitter people, which is just an ugly cycle.

Back to our Valentine's Day plans... laughing.

Since when did dinner and a movie become roped off as couples only? We could all do it together. Come on. It'll be fun. We'll sneak a box of Hot Tamales and a Dasani into the theater and laugh the night away.

The single's crew is revamping V. Day this year.

Depending on which work out video you got yourself for Christmas- Pussy Cat Dolls, Dancing with the Stars' ABs or any of the Wii Fit options- we should be looking toned by Feb. 14, 2010. It'll be more than a month after we made resolutions to loose # pounds, run once a week and skip the fries at Chick-fil-A. We will be in good spirits with the amount of successful relationships eHarmony is cranking out, and we have a reason to laugh.

This Valentine's Day, I echo John Mayer... I'm perfectly lonely, and I'm laughing loudly.

live in love,
grace

My little girl is growin up... do i join her?

So I sucked it up (and in) and went to the alterations guru to have my bridesmaid dress altered. Mr. Wang reminded me that a few years ago I was in that very shop altering my prom dress… That was a punch of reality.
My simple, slate blue, dupioni silk, knee-length, strapless bridesmaid dress is a far cry from my first prom dress in ninth grade. Two words: bow and pink. What was I thinking?
Anyhow…
We all have THAT friend. THAT friend who has the other half of the heart necklace, which was bought in Santa’s Secret Shop in 4th grade. It has “Be…” and “Fri…” on one side and “…st” and “…end” on the other side.
Kelli and Grace. KMO and Geller.
The showers have passed, the bachelorette weekend was memorable (from what I remember) and the only things left are the Bridesmaid luncheon, rehearsal and dinner and the DUN DUN DUN: wedding.
She is flitting around like a sugar-plum fairy, while I am sweating bullets over here.
When does this become real for me?
When do I accept she will be giving her real heart to someone else, not the cheap heart necklace we kept for nostalgic sake? And a BOY at that…
When I come over do I sleep in the guest bedroom while he falls asleep talking to her in their shared master bed?
I am more than excited about the wedding… That’s not the scary part. I’m not even scared of tripping down the aisle or the up-do.
I’m scared of the happily ever after part…
Because that may or may not include the old, silver or gold BFF.

On Dec 28, I go for my final fitting because Mr. Wang says I’ll lose weight before then because girls do that before weddings… laughable.
I will zip up that simple dress, strap on my gold heels, brace myself for a look in the mirror of reality… Life is flying by, and I’m no passenger.
I have no choice but to drive.
Shoot… I have to drive because I’m sharing Maid of honor duties with an eighth-grade cousin who doesn’t even have a driving permit.
So drive I will… drive on.