Sarah Jane

Right now I am exploring and LOVING this website: http://www.sarahjanestudios.com/
It's been around for a couple years now but I just stumbled across it this evening. I love her vintage designs, her links to other great illustrators/creative people, and her story. She's an average woman who had a goal and a dream and went for it. It didn't stop her from getting married or having children, those things may have postponed her dream but she got back on track and is now illustrating a children's book and doing really well on her Etsy shop. By the way, if you haven't checked out Etsy, change that. It's so great and you can spend hours looking over everyone's creativity! Happy exploring!

Emma

Starring: Romola Garai, Michael Gambon, & Jonny Lee Miller
3-Part Miniseries that just aired on PBS.

Every Sunday evening for the past three weeks, I've been excited to check my DVR! This program was fantastic. I loved this film version as much as I love the BBC's Pride & Prejudice (w/ Colin Firth). It was wonderful!
All the actors did a great job and the screenplay was well-written. I even loved the 'lesser' characters such as Miss Bates and the horrid Mrs. Elton. Of course the scenery and costumes were fantastic as well. The movie was very true to the book and was very entertaining.
I know you can order the DVD at http://www.pbs.org/ or try to catch an encore presentation--it's worth it!
I love every opportunity to escape into Jane Austen's England and this experience was no different! Next week, Northanger Abbey!

Me With You

I realize I "review" a lot of children's books but as it turns out, I have a small child and we read lots of books so I have a seemingly-endless supply. I stumbled across this one and have enjoyed it as a bedtime read the past couple weeks. It's beautifully illustrated by Christopher Denise and portrays a relationship between a grandpa and his granddaughter. I have to promote those when I find them because how many books include grandpas? Not as many as grandmas, I'll tell you. Without further ado, let me share a couple of my favorite passages from this book:

We're a pair beyond compare,
a rare and special two,
in all the ways that I am me
and you're completely you....

On days when being me feels like
the sky was painted black,
you and I together roll
along a brighter track...

And though I'll find new ways
of being me my whole life through,
my favorite me will always be
when I am me with you.



Sweet. Charming. Delightfully illustrated. Check it out!
*photo courtesy of http://www.kristydempsey.com/

Last Amen

Last Amen by DownHere

This is a fun song to dance too-they've only recently played this on my local Christian station but I already like it a lot! Of course I like the message but right now I'm just enjoying the beat!
Here's the lyrics (if you're interested). Enjoy!

*My fave lines:
And while the thrills are fading
The joy is in the waiting
Somewhere in the grand design
It's good to be unsatisfied
It keeps the faith and hope a little more alive

Same Kind of Different As Me

By Ron Hall & Denver Moore

I read this book to participate in my online book club. In fact, at the time it was announced we were reading this I didn't think I would be able to read it because we couldn't afford to purchase it. I put in a request but hadn't heard from any one in the book club but a week before the discussion started I received a package all the way from Surrey, England! A fellow book club member was gracious enough to donate a copy! Thanks, Rebecca!
I was warned that this book is a tear-jerker but that always sets my defenses on high. Same as the movie P.S. I Love You. All anyone ever told me was that I would weep so of course I didn't since I'm stubborn like that. I digress...
This book was an uplifting story and I greatly appreciated hearing how a simple act of caring was able to change lives. Deborah did not do more than have a will to serve and a lot of determination but God was able to use that in might ways. I also appreciated the juxtaposition of a black homeless man's struggles set against an affluent white man's. It reminded me that struggles are struggles. What is difficult for one man may not be the same for another and yet, each struggle is validated. Each person has his own path but God is sovereign.

SparkPeople

My sister-in-law is visiting and we started talking about fitness and weight-loss. She told me about SparkPeople which is a free website dedicated to helping people track their fitness and weight-loss. You can find the website at www.sparkpeople.com and I'm looking forward to checking out all it has to offer! It helps you track your food for the day as well as makes grocery lists for you based on your own weight-loss goals. I have not had a chance to explore all the features but thought I'd pass on the information! Hope it helps!

All About Steve

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper, Thomas Haden Church, Ken Jeong

I was caught off-guard with this movie. I was expecting a chick-flick but it wasn't the typical one. It could be categorized as a CF in that the movie was about feelings, a story, and a little about love but not in the girl-meets-boy-happily ever after sense.
Sandra's performance was awkward and heart-warming all at the same time. The dork side of me enjoyed her trivia knowledge and love of crosswords. The men-folk provided plenty of laughs; I've had a love of Thomas Haden Church's humor since Wings and he didn't disappoint.
Overall I can see why the movie didn't get the ratings as others but it was generally entertaining. I have to say, I've seen worse.