Music Video Flashback Friday

On this day in 1985, Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" topped the billboard charts. This was the first U.S. # single for the brit rock/pop band. I'm pretty sure you've heard it, and if you're like me, you LOVE when it makes a surprising appearance on the radio! Enjoy a corny 80's video for an awesome 80's song:

"Welcome to your life, there's no turning back..."

It's a Beautiful Day

Several things made me happy today!

• This was my Friday for the week... I'm taking a vacation day tomorrow!
• We celebrated a birthday at work, which means... CAKE. and Brownies. Yum!
• The Hallmark card contest judging crew "flurried" on Facebook (I will post my entries on here as soon as I get them all finished)
• I came home @2pm and got a healthy dose of vitamin D by the pool
• I received a special UPS package from a friend with lots of GREAT summer beauty goodies!

I have quite a bit of vacation time to use before I get a crap ton of additional time on my anniversary of hire in July, so I scheduled some random days off during the next two months. Tomorrow is my first random day off, and for some reason, I am so excited - I think it's because our landlord finally decided to open the pool this past week, and it's going to be a perfect day for relaxing beside it with Todd - we did that a little bit today, and I got a beautiful glow! I'm excited! I have been walking around, white as a milk jug, for too long. Of course, I'm sort of boycotting tanning beds - in a peaceful way. I'm not trying to talk others into joining my efforts, and I certainly do not "look down" on those who use tanning beds - it's just that after seeing so many people, a couple of which are personally close to me, go through cancer treatment this past year, I felt like I had to take a stand in some type of way. I know that laying out in the sun isn't exactly the smartest thing to do, but i always always ALWAYS use a high quality sunblock, and I've been using self-tanning lotion when i "need" a quick glow. I am fair-skinned, red headed, and freckled... there's a melanoma target on my back!

Speaking of sunblocks and self-tanning lotions, I have to share with you my two very favorite summer products, both of which i've been using for the past four years. Bath and Body Works' True Blue line is loaded with awesome, healthy skin-boosting products. I love all of the sunless tanners, so that counts as "one" product - seriously, try any of them. NO ORANGE. Just apply evenly and wash your hands - definitely the most natural glow i've ever found in a self tanning product. Number two is the "29 and holding" Sunblock, which

smells AH-MAAAAZING (kinda like a dreamsicle) and has tons of great moisturizers/vitamins for your skin. I love 29 and holding because it blocks out the sun effectively (SPF 29), but does not prevent the user from getting a great tan. It makes your skin look so soft and beautiful the very second you apply it. So, there's product #2. My story about these products is not finished:

I am nearly out of both the self-tanning lotion and the sunblock. The products are around $12 a piece, which I don't look forward to forking over each summer - I go through the sunblock really fast, because i love it sooo much. (did i mention, you can put it on your face and it will not cause breakouts?) I received a package today from my great friend, Cary - I was excited to get the package in the first place, but when I opened its contents, I was completely ECSTATIC!

(The sign says, "Steph, Hope you enjoy this!")

My *prezzie* consisted of a summery basket full of Bath and Body Works True Blue Spa "I Need a Margarita" Body Wash and Jar of Body Scrub, an eco-friendly water bottle, a cute little bag to tote my goods around in, and... AND.... My two very favorite products - the sunless tanner & my best friend, 29 and Holding! I am still super excited, and am so thankful - it was so thoughtful of my friend! Which makes me ponder this: why don't people perform more acts of kindness? It can truly make one's day - whether you are nice to a friend, a stranger, a co-worker... sometimes, even a smile can turn someone's upside-down day "sunny-side up". Even though I always try to be nice and polite to others, I'm really going to start making more special efforts to show those i love and care about how much I really appreciate them.

So to my followers, here is a challenge: do something unexpected and nice for someone before you go to sleep tonight! Make someone's day :)

I hope you all have had a great Thursday! I will be spending the remainder of my day with fat cat-bag Diego, and my super terrific husband. We're drained from the sun, so I think we're going to chill out, chit chat on the phone with our families, and maybe put on a good movie for background noise while we hang around.

Until next time...

Tuesday's Feature: Dessert!

Thanks to my friend Aimee, who's hosting a Link-up party over @ Thanks for that Info, I have a wonderful Tuesday blog topic... "DESSERT" (or DIZZERRRT, for all the Kanye West Fans out there - wherever you are!)

Those who know me fully expect this to be about something chocolate - and, well, it is - but not dark or milk chocolate. I'm talking about White Chocolate... I'm talking about
White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake from none other than the Cheesecake Factory. It was love at first taste on June 8th, 2006, when I ate at the Cheesecake Factory for the very first time in my life in Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas. The number of Cheesecake choices were overwhelming, so I went with my first "that sounds good" gut feeling and chose the White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle. It was absolutely heavenly cheesecake goodness, super rich but with just the right amount of tart raspberry swirl to balance out the sugary white chocolate center and dark chocolate crust.
Currently, I limit myself to the White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake Factory experience around twice per year - which keeps it *special* and very exciting. Thank goodness I am reasonably close to Columbus - where my cheesecake heaven is located at the Easton Town Center.
I've tried lots of copycats, but nothing has quite compared to the CF version. If anyone out there has a great White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake recipe they would like to share, please - let me know! And then, if it's successful, i'll blog about my weight gain.

So, what's your fave dessert? Blog about it, and link up at Aimee's Blog!

Get ready to Crack 'em Up!

The new Hallmark Card Contest began today. "Crack 'em up" calls for FUNNY. When it comes to greeting cards, I am so NOT funny. Anyway, I dug up a photo that makes me laugh out loud every single time i see it - and figured it would do the same for someone else (maybe?) So you can imagine how prepared I felt, being a Hallmark contest second-timer and all, as I submitted my entry early this a.m. I feel that my photo and the text fit together perfectly (and I'll definitely share later this week, after Hmark's first round of "flurries" on Facebook - don't want to give away my little idea too soon!)

So anyway, as I'm checking over the Hallmark FB Wall, I read that there's a computer glitch of sorts, and all participants can enter up to six times in this single contest instead of just picking one sub-category and entering once! One entry per sub-category... which means, you have six different opportunities to win. SIX. That is a lot - it will sex-tuple the entries (that is six, right? triple, quadruple, quintuple... sextuple... lol) but still... six ideas? Which at first seemed really EXCITING. But then.. i realized, that is a hella lotta work! Most of my Hmark pals are as equally freaked out as I am, but I think every single one of us are game. Sub-categories are: Congratulations, Get Well, Friendship, Love, Miss You, and Thank You. I can't wait to brainstorm and get to work this evening. This, on top of all that sign painting I'm doing! My head is spinning...

my dearest blog fans, you have got to give this contest a shot! Anyone should be able to come up with an idea for at least one of the sub-categories - please please PLEASE go to the Hallmark Contests website, read the details, look at past winners to get some ideas, and go for it - it's so stinking FUN!!! It takes some time to put your thoughts together and develop a great idea, but the entry process is quick & simple. I know my Hallmark buds are thinking, "Noooo stephanie, no more new recruits! We'll have six times as many entries anyway (sextuple haha)!" Or maybe not - maybe they're like me, and want some new card-crazy friends to be Hallmark Contest Obsessed with. Anyway... DO IT. You have to. New Rule: If you read my blog, you must enter the Crack 'em up contest. You have until June 28th!

So, the sign painting is coming along. I contacted the Addison Visitor's Center in Webster Springs - some of my West Virginia State themed signs will be on sale there, beginning in late June/July! I'm also hard at work, analyzing and planning for my Etsy store. I'm still working to find the best shipping price for customers. As always, I'll keep you posted!

I read the Eclipse novella on Sunday afternoon - it was super short, but just enough to get me really excited for my midnight showing in a few weeks! I'm going to re-read Eclipse before the movie hits theaters - I need to refresh my memory a little bit.

That's about all for Monday - work, gym, post office, home, shower, cook, paint, Bachelorette, think about Hallmark card designs while watching Bachelorette... I have a headache! But it is... a good one. There is a such thing.

Have a super day, everyone!

Friday Free-Write (#5)

First things first on this Fabulous Friday... I would like to thank Brittany over @ Unexpected Surprises for featuring my blog in Spotlight Thursday! I now have lots of lovely new followers - most of which I've started following, too. Thanks to everyone who left those super sweet wedding anniversary wishes!

I'm sure you're wondering - how was the anniversary? Both of us had a great day, an even better evening. After Todd finished teaching for the day and I finished torturing myself at the gym, we exchanged gifts at home. I bought a nice sweater/shirt/tie combo from Banana Republic for Todd, which he loved. When I picked it out, I had the early fall conference he is presenting at in mind, and that is what he says he plans to wear it for (just what I thought!) The sweater is made of silk and linen, so it's very lightweight and won't be too heavy layered over the dress shirt this fall. I took a major chance with the tie - it's a microstriped peachy burnt orange - but he will look fab in it. I think he likes everything from BR, regardless of what it looks like.

What did I get? Well, for starters, Dear John on DVD because HELLO! There's an alternate ending included in the bonus features, as well as deleted scenes - all of which I'm dying to see, because there were parts missing in the movie that i thought really made the book amazing. Todd also spoiled me with Diamond stud earrings from Cornwell Jewelers, a local jewelry store that really pulls out all the stops. They remind me of a local version of a Tiffany & Co, because they use unique packaging that makes you just want to stare at the gift for hours before even opening it. I appreciate all of the special little details! And I appreciate Cornwell's Royal Purple gift boxes trimmed with a big Purple/silver organza bow. Which comes inside a royal purple gift bag stuffed with royal purple tissue paper. So classy! We had a terrific Dinner at Abrio's Brick Oven. Their dinner - and dinner rolls - are soooo good. Both of us had seafood/pasta, but had absolutely no room for dessert (I'm going to start ordering dessert first!) It's hard to believe that we're already working on the 5th year of marriage :)

Soooo... the weekend is here. Is anyone excited for a little book by Stephenie Meyer to come out tomorrow? You know... the Eclipse Novella that's supposed to tide us Twilight fanatics over... I will definitely be picking up the Short Second Life of Bree Tanner tomorrow. And I'm going to push Richard Russo's Nobody's Fool off to the side - ok, maybe off into the trash, because it has been a sucky read thus far - and read all about Bree Tanner this weekend! And our pool will finally be open - so I'll be tanning my vampire-white skin while reading vampire tales! Maybe I'll go really crazy, and while i'm tanning my vampire skin/reading vampire books, I'll listen to Vampire Weekend on my iPod! YAY for the weekend.

The sign painting continues... I just finished up one for myself last night, and I dearly love it - it looks amazing, and although it's hanging in the oddest of places (our bathroom wall, for we have zero space anywhere else), I just want to keep staring at it. (I love the pretty script font!) I know I can paint the Marshall logo, but i wanted to give another a try. The OU Bobcats logo was a huge success! I'm currently working on an Ohio State sign and it's almost impossible... very, very difficult. Not my favorite thing. Which stinks, because I live in Buckeye country, where a lot of people may possibly want a custom sign... I keep telling myself It'll get easier! I'm giving the Duke Logo and others a shot as requests come in. I'm planning to paint more WV state scenic signs, and some whimsical designs with everyone's favorite inspirational words, too. And then? Perhaps an Etsy store! All I know is, I went to Lowes and bought a ton of boards, had them chopped in to pieces, and now there are a bunch of sign-sized boards laying around the apartment with my signature chocolate brown base coat on them. I have work to do. I'll keep you posted!

MONDAY is the first day of a new Hallmark Card Contest! I have my design all worked up - I'm going to introduce Diego to the HFB on Facebook first thing Monday morning, and I cannot wait! More contest blogging on Monday. :) Again, for those of you who love drawing, designing, photoshopping, and photography - you need to enter Hallmark Card Contests! It's Fantastic FUN, I'm telling you!

Have a terrific weekend, everyone! I have to work through the afternoon, but it's ok - I feel either a Starbucks Iced Mocha or a "love it"-sized Chocolate Devotion from Cold Stone Creamery coming on once the work day is done! OOH! And Todd & I are giong to kick off our summer movie marathon by going to see Splice tonight (which is sure to gross and freak me out!)

Yep, it's gonna be a terrific weekend!!!

Flashback Friday - 1996

I asked Todd to pick a year, any year, off the top of his head...

1996 it is!

In the week of June 4th, 1996, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony topped the Billboard charts with "Tha Crossroads". This song also earned a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

Now, it's time to take a little trip back... back to the days when MTV still played music videos, and this video was always #1 on the Top-20 Countdown. Good times, good times...

4 Years on a Winning Team - It's my Wedding Anniversary!

On June 3rd, 2006, I married my teammate, Todd; the past four years of marriage have been full of pure love and amazing-ness (I love made-up words). We’ve taken on everything as a team – the good, the stressful, the challenging, the Christmas shopping for our family members who have everything on the planet… yep, the team approach definitely works for us! I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have by my side, because even though I’m a forward thinking, determined type of person who could possibly function on my own, he helps me stay grounded – he may not think so, but he helps to keep my emotions in check.
I love being with my husband. We’ve experienced a lot together in the last four years – and there is plenty more to come. Regardless of what the future brings, I know I’ll always come out a winner as long as I have Todd for a teammate. He’s my Kobe Bryant, my very own Payton Manning - no matter what the situation, with his help, we’ll always win in the end.

“Life as a grad student’s wife” can be challenging at times, but it is also very exciting – because next year, on our 5th Wedding Anniversary, I’ll be living life as a “Professor’s wife”! So here’s to the next year of marital, dissertation and job market-filled bliss. (This year, I’ll be Todd’s trainer, waiting in the corner with a spit bucket after the bell rings!)
I love my husband so much – I can only hope that those who are married/in a serious relationship feel the same way I do. Life is so challenging, with lots of surprises, and it really helps to have that other person to pass the ball to. I am so very lucky, and look forward to winning lots more championships in this crazy game of life!

(We are sports fans, can you tell?)