Oscar Sunday > Superbowl Sunday

Number of bacon-wrapped dates consumed: Many
Number dipped in chocolate fountain: Many
Number of Sparkly Soul headbands used as flapper headband: One
Weight, in pounds, of bag of Swedish Fish won: 1.9 (technically won by The Sailor in Oscar Bingo ... of course my initial reaction was "these will be great fuel for marathon training")
Number of Cotton Candy Machines won: Half - my dad and I tied on our Oscar ballots - we both picked 16 correctly, so we have to share the grand prize. However, combined with the Popcorn Machine I won at last year's party, I can host some pretty sweet movie nights someday.
Number of miles swam pre-party: One (phew)

Midnight in Paris-inspired: Gertrude Stein, Salvador Dali and some flappers

Bridesmaids-inspired: She was Megan. Those are her puppies. 

 

I'm not ashamed to admit that I love Oscar Sunday way more than Super Bowl Sunday.

Oscars: You can wear a fun outfit inspired by a nominated movie. And take photos of it on a faux red carpet! Who doesn't love a theme? 

Super Bowl: I guess you could wear a themed outfit but you'd be out of place among all the uninspired jeans and sweatshirts everyone else is wearing. 

Oscars: CHAMPAGNE! Wins every time in my book. 

Super Bowl: Bud Light. (Although I drank a rather fancy beer when watching the Super Bowl because I don't usually drink cheap beer.)

Oscars: Evening gowns!

Super Bowl: Football uniforms. 

Oscars: Song and dance numbers! Montages! Awkward jokes! Long speeches cut off by music! Indecipherable accents! 

Super Bowl: Overhyped halftime show that looks awkward. (Sorry Madonna, I love you and I loved your show, but it's true.)

Oscars: Brad Pitt! Clooney! Jean Dujardin! Demian Bashir! Whoever that hot guy was that helped Octavia Spencer on stage! Sadly no James Franco this year. But J.Lo's cleavage!
Super Bowl: Green Bay wasn't in it this year, so no Aaron Rodgers. 

Oscars: I know what is going on.
Super Bowl: I couldn't care less what is going on.

Oscars: The actual show is interesting.
Super Bowl: The commercials are more interesting.

 

The Sailor isn't one for dressing up

How do you watch the Oscars? Do you attend a party? Have a themed night at home? Or just wear your sweats and tweet along? Or skip it altogether?


Did you enter my Favorite Things raffle yet? I'll pick a winner Monday morning (let's say 10am central time). So you have until then to enter!

Mediocre at many things. Stellar at none.

I've never been stellar at any one thing. I know that's normal. But I've been mediocre-to-good at many things.

In my formative years (ages 10 - 18), I took piano lessons, played flute in band, was on the dance team, volleyball team and soccer team. I did well academically. I was never a star at any one thing. As is always the case, there was always someone (or many someones) better than me. There's nothing wrong with that. I never expected or was expected to be the star. It was all a way to keep busy and have fun.

As an adult, I'm falling into the same patterns. And I'm realizing it's so much easier to stretch myself thin when work takes up 8 hours of my day, commuting 1.5 hours, sleep 7 hours. And in my free time I have to do things like feed myself, do laundry, pay attention to my husband, buy groceries, etc. So even though my hobbies are limited to three right now - playing the flute in a community band, playing on a recreational soccer team and running/working out - there's just never enough time. I never have time to practice my flute (and as a result, I'm honestly the worst in my section). I don't devote as much time as I would like to running and thus I'm not improving like I want to and I could very well injury myself because I don't make enough time to increase my mileage like I should. I'd like to pick up some freelance projects in my space time ... but it is such a struggle to find the time when I do pick up a project.

I keep asking myself if I should give up one or more of my hobbies, and if so, which one? I'm finding that without the proper time to devote to any of them, I don't enjoy them as much. If I had more time to devote to any one of them, and found myself improving at whatever it was, I would feel much better about it. But instead I suck at everything, which takes the enjoyment out of it.

But what do I give up? I'm torn. If only there was a way to reduce the time spent doing all that other stuff - commuting, chores, errands, etc. C'est la vie.

Bristol Renaissance Faire

Photos from the Bristol Renaissance Faire, taken on Saturday, September 4, 2010.





Modeling her new corset

Peek-a-Boo Pin Ups

Last night, my sister-in-law's dance studio, Room To Move, was converted into a photography studio for Peek-a-Boo Pin Ups. We had fun behind the scenes:

Getting her hair done


It turned out quite cute!


Doing make-up


Sexy ballerina


Reviewing her photos with the photographer


Playing with tutus


My outfit was a tribute to the Sailor, but I decided I wasn't comfortable posting that much cleavage. Sorry! :)

Lilith Fair

On Friday afternoon, one of my good friends from college called me up and asked me if I wanted to go to Lilith Fair, for free. She was offered tickets from a friend of hers. OF COURSE I'd like to go!!

It was super hot, but we still managed to have a good time.

These drinks were expensive, so we had to get the most out of them by showing them off.


Our tickets were for the lawn. It was soooo hot.


Heart!


Sunset over the First Midwest Bank Amphitheater (formerly known as the Tweeter Center, New World Music Theater)


Mary J. Blige. She did a cover of Stairway to Heaven!


So about halfway through Mary's set, we were offered upgraded tickets! (Free upgrade to our free tickets!)


Sarah McLachlan




At the very end, Sarah invited all the performers onstage and they sang "Because the Night." It was freaking awesome.




Video:


All of my photos are on Flickr.

Go Cubs!

Today I was lucky enough to be able to take the afternoon off from work, and instead spend it basking in the sunlight on a rooftop overlooking Wrigley Field. For three hours, my only cares in the world were 1) the Cubs winning and 2) not getting sunburned. Both were accomplished!