I Should Probably Start Packing.

Just kidding, I've started. I mean, nothing is actually in a bag yet, but, you know, I thought about it. We've got a good 15 hours before we leave for the airport, and who would I be if I wasn't a raging procrastinator? So we'll get it together here soon.

Tomorrow I'll be on a plane to Los Angeles, and tomorrow night we'll be on the plane to Auckland. Toss in a little time travel and we'll be landing down in New Zealand on Tuesday morning. I am excited but at the same time I have that strange surreal feeling I get before any big trip or event, where it just won't seem like it is actually happening until we get on that plane! I am praying for safe travel and that this trip is just really awesome for Ben. He's worked so hard over the past year and so REALLY hard over the past few months that I just can't wait to unleash him on NZ and see him enjoying life.

Just pretend this is me and Ben.

We are going to be gone for two weeks (or as I like to count it, two episodes of LOST) and we'll be a bit off the radar in lots of the places we're headed. We will be trying to snag internet from time to time and hope to post some pics and updates from the road.

What do you mean they're missing two weeks of our show?! Don't they know this is the final season?!

Well let's be honest, those bags aren't going to pack themselves. I've done my stalling, and I'm getting on that plane tomorrow whether I'm ready or not. But since I'd prefer to have clean underwear and my glasses (what else does a girl need?) I'm off for now... see ya in a couple weeks kiddos!

Golden Globes 2010 Fashion Round-Up!

The poor little movie stars got rained on all the way down the Golden Globes red carpet on Sunday night. Fortunately for you, dear readers, this will not prevent me from raining on their proverbial fashion parade during this fashion round up. Let's get to it!


RANK THE RUFFLES
Ruffles were all over everything last night, with varying degrees of success. Here is how I felt about them.

Chloe SevingyCall me crazy, but I don't actually hate this dress. It is weird, to be sure, but it certainly caught my attention and when she walked the fluttering movement of the fabric was very lovely. I don't like the color, which I would describe as... not a color. But I will give these ruffles a B for unique placement and visual interest.

Anna Kendrick

It doesn't look it so much in this picture, but on TV the ruffles on Anna's dress were overwhelming to her tiny-ness. The ruffle plus the print, delicate as it is, were just too much for such a small person. I love that she respected the classiness of the event, but I also think she's young enough that she could afford a little more fun. For the Oscars, I expect improvement! C- for a disadvantageous ruffle-to-person ratio.

Christina HendricksFellas (do any guys read my blog? Ben?) might want to scroll on down, because I'm going to talk about boobs here, and how to manage them, in a strictly utilitarian sense. Christina, who plays the sassy Joan on Mad Men, is a gorgeous voluptuous lady. She has a true hourglass figure with curves up top and on bottom and a relatively little waist in between. Homegirl has some boobs and hips. The problem with wearing a strapless dress when you are so endowed is that the mechanics of the undergarments are so structured that they only serve to make your boobs look even bigger. A fascinating study in defying gravity, but yikes that is a lot of chest just baaaaarely hanging onto that dress. As if that weren't enough, the designer is going to throw some gigantic shiny ruffles over one hip? I don't think that was necessary, Christian Siriano from Project Runway Season 4. On a positive note, I kind of love this color on her; just the right side of peach to make her skin look amazing. I also love her hair, which some wise stylist kept simple and soft.


SPARKLY FOR THE WIN
Like a magpie or a raccoon, I'm quite fond of sparkly things. Plus I love when ladies get sparkly for awards shows, because I feel like it conveys that they're there to have fun and not get too serious about things. You can't be too serious in head-to-toe sequins and rhinestones and sparkles.

Toni Collette
I was making notes as I watched so I could keep track of my initial reactions to the dresses. What I wrote for Toni was: "Sparkly! Fun! Love it!" I think all of that still stands. Flattering shape, added interest from the lines and geometric bodice, and wisely accessorized with just a few simple touches. My overall favorite from the night.

Olivia WildeThank goodness she redeemed herself from the figure-skating lace debacle of the Emmys. I love the slick look of the gunmetal-colored sequins. This low neckline can still look classy on someone like Olivia because she isn't trying to squeeze some DDs in there. I'm looking at you, Mariah Carey. We were ALL looking at you.

Anna Paquin
I still haven't seen a picture of Anna's dress close-up enough to tell what exactly her dress was made of (are those giant sequins? shiny scales?) but, in a nutshell, I LOVE IT. I have maybe three times in my life said that about an article of clothing that involved shoulder pads. She looked happy, fresh-faced, fun, and most importantly, sparkly.


REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE THAT BRIDESMAID DRESS
We started off with some looks I loved. Now let's look at some... others. I really hate when celebrities wear dresses that look like glorified bridesmaid dresses. Whether it be color, style, or worst of all both, people with thousands of dollars and teams of stylists at their disposal should do better than something out of a wedding album. However nice a wedding it might have been.

FergieIt is really, really, really hard to wear a periwinkle dress that doesn't look bridesmaidsy. The style doesn't help, which I would also describe as... bridesmaidsy. In other news, I don't know WHY someone can't help Fergie part her hair to the side and get some matte powder. EVERY. TIME.

Lauren Graham
This is so, so pink. And I LIKE pink. But it's also so, so shiny. And strapless, shiny, pink ballgown... well my friends, that's by definition a bridesmaids dress.


OH, THAT'S... INTERESTING... I HAVE COMMENTS.
I have some things to say about these ladies. Mostly just about their clothes.

Diane Kruger
This girl is a knockout who is dating adorable wonderful Pacey (who insists on going by his actual name, Joshua Jackson, as opposed to his Dawson's Creek character from the 90s). She has been known to take some risks on the red carpet, and I'm all for that. When the results are awesome. Supermodel looks and the body to accompany it mean you can get away with wearing a lot of crazy stuff. I don't think this is one of those times. I read reports that at varying angles this dress was awesome, artsy, whatever, but I can't get on board. The ombre on the neckline looks like when I mixed two colors of Play-Doh as a child. That plus the fussy draping, the random white bow, the frumpy column skirt... And the pink, the pink, everywhere the pink.

Penelope Cruz
I like the bottom of Penelope's dress. I really like the middle of Penelope's dress. I don't really care for the top part of Penelope's dress. But what I really think, and what the girl on the right of this photo is also clearly thinking, is that none of the three parts go together at all. The bottom is from a romantic lace gown, the middle is like a sexy modern dress, and the top is, well, the top is still weird. But what I was also thinking, as was that girl in the photo, is that Penelope is still really pretty and we covet her shiny hair.

Kate Hudson
This whole look was very very weird. My friend Heather rightly commented that Kate looked like a wedding cake - the front of the dress is so smooth and structured that it could be made of fondant. It was a little bit costumey, which is fine, I guess, but... still seemed a departure from Kate's usual "California Girl" cool.

Julianna Margulies
I don't dislike this dress. But then again, I love Star Trek.

Marion Cotillard
I definitely thought this was black when I saw it on TV. I don't mind that it is actually deep blue-green. But the little peek-a-boo slip is a weird little detail that makes the dress seem campy. I would've just gone with the high slit. Go big or go home, Marion. Jennifer Aniston did it.


WTH (What the Headband)
I think this category is self-explanatory. And there's really only one offender.

January JonesI feel bad for January Jones, because after her horrendous hosting appearance on Saturday Night Live, there was lots of speculation that her drawn, cold, dead-eyed portrayal of Betty Draper on Mad Men was just actually her personality. I can understand that in real life she wants to distance herself fashion-wise from Betty's 60s style. I just don't know why that has to involve ill-placed headbands and ugly baggy dresses.


LET'S FIX THIS
There were plenty of fashions that had lots of potential and just needed a tiny bit of tweaking to get to awesome. I've got some suggestions.

Drew Barrymore
I thought Drew Barrymore looked really gorgeous. At the Emmys I chastised her for doing the "all-one-color" look but this neutral shade is just right. I love the delicate fabric and burst of beading. Her hair and make-up were lovely and I think she's continuing this phase of looking the healthiest and happiest she's looked in her life.

There's something else I wanted to say about this dress. I just can't remember what it was. But I have a strong urge to clean my dusters. And research coral formations. And rip those hideous growths off of Drew's dress. Oh yes, that was it.

Maggie GyllenhaalCan we just agree that peach/nude shades are very, very tricky? I think they are done wrong more often that right. I do think brunettes have more success than blondes, and I think Maggie is quite close to the right shade for her. I love the shape of this dress on her long, lean figure, and the fabric is very unique. You can tell a bit in this closer picture, but it is a sort of pebbled effect. You can also see in that photo her hair, which I loved - it showed off her long neck and was simple but not stiff. The only thing is... doesn't that front piece kind of look like a seatbelt? Wouldn't it be better as just strapless? Me thinks yes.

Tina Fey
Oh, Tina-na-na. I think I'll try to trick my mind into incorrectly remembering this dress as full-length and we can all go about our day feeling a lot better about things.

Kristen BellSpeaking of people who need instructions in dress length, when I saw Kristen step onto the red carpet on TV, I immediately said, "Oh, the Fug Girls are going to have a field day with that." (If you don't know, Go Fug Yourself is the ultimate fashion website and the girls who blog there are the funniest, snarkiest commentators out there. I purposefully don't look at their site when I'm writing these blogs because I'd totally just want to copy and paste everything they say.) For years they've been berating Kristen for "stumpefying" herself with dresses that are short but not short enough. It's true, and this is no exception. I normally wouldn't offer this advice to anyone, but hike that skirt up a few inches girl! In other news, this looks like a shiny bedsheet.


BAD COLOR
I said this before, but I think neutral colors like nude, peach, taupe, and anything in the yellow family are really tough. The right shade is going to make your skin glow and your hair shine and your eyes sparkle. The wrong shade is more frequent, and here are a few examples.

Jennifer GarnerI don't know if I would like this dress a LOT more if it were a different color, but I would like it a LITTLE more for sure. This color, I would call... dishwater. I hate her hair. I want her arms. That about wraps it up for Mrs. Affleck.


Jennifer MorrisonThis is so, so, so ugly. So ugly. I forgot how ugly I thought it was on TV until I went and found this picture. She's fallen into the dangerous pit that blondes must avoid: hair, skin, dress, all one color. Maybe if she had her brown hair back, or maybe if this was a different color, or maybe if the dress was less ugly, that would help.

Nicole Kidman
This is so, so, so ugly. So ugly. I forgot how ugly I thought it was on TV until I went and found this picture. (So handy, I was just able to copy and paste that comment from Jennifer's dress and use it here for Nicole.) I don't mind if Nicole wants to wear this color because it suits her skin and hair. But WHY IS IT SO SHINY? This is even more shiny than normal shiny satin. Nicole Kidman is a gorgeous, tall woman, and someone stuck here in this sad shiny overwrought lopsided ugly sack. Criminal!

PS. If you just stare at that dress, it keeps getting worse and worse. Avert your eyes!


GOOD COLOR
Let's cleanse our palette and wrap things up by checking out a bevy of beauties who knocked it out of the park in the color department. It doesn't have to be bright but it has to be right!

Zoe Saldana
I still don't know exactly what is going on with Zoe's dress, but this gorgeous color covers a multitude of sins, even if those sins may be a skirt covered in tassels. She's beautiful and this crimson only enhances that. Soft and romantic, her whole look was a win.

Sofia VergaraThis was a WHOLE lotta dress, but it was the first one we saw on the red carpet coverage we watched, and it was really special on camera. It actually seemed more grey than the blueish tint it has in this photo. That plus the pop of burgandy was very unique.

Sandra Bullock
I didn't really love all the aspects of this dress, but I loved the color on Sandra. The skirt is just barely see-through, which I think is kind of perfectly cheeky. I was waffling on whether the fabric seemed cheap, but again, the purple is so great and fun that I'm feeling forgiving. Also isn't this picture of her hubby holding the umbrella just adorable?

Emily Blunt
I could not find a picture that did Emily's dress justice, so just take my word for it. Plus this picture has her fiance John Krasinski in it, so we all win, don't we? Her hair looked bedraggled but the dress was divine, like a delicious whipped pink cloud. This is another color that works better on a tan brunette.

Jane LynchJane's olive gown was awesome and suited her personality. I'm a sucker for pockets on a dress! Isn't this a good color for her?

Mo'Nique
Mo'Nique was glowing all night, and this dress only amplified that. The shape was SO flattering for her, the vertical pleating of the skirt had beautiful movement, and the color was magic with her skin. I loved that she didn't even have accessories, except her smile and, after her win, her shiny award. Flawless.

Thanks so much for reading! Awards season has only just begun so I am sure we'll have more celebrities to study in the near future! What did YOU think of the Golden Globes fashions and who was YOUR best and worst of the night? Tell me in the comments!

Oh, hello 2010.

Goodness me, can you believe it? A new year has begun. I am excited to think about what is in store for 2010. This year has some special milestones for me, including five years of being married to Ben and TEN years of being together. Wow. Realizing that I'm old enough to be celebrating the tenth anniversary of anything is pretty wild.

I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions but there are some things I'd like to do and see in 2010... here are a few! In no particular order.

I want to go to here:

Working on a BIG trip to here:


Read this more:


And do a lot more of this:


Have one of these:


Or at least one of these:


See the number keep dropping on this:


Do more cooking and try some new:


Be a cheerful wife.

And a compassionate friend.

And run fearlessly after God.

Advent Thoughts: Mary

Two years ago I wrote lyrics for my first and only songwriting collaboration with our choir director at church. He asked me to write something about Mary's perspective on the Christmas story.

I was thinking about how Mary was the first one to know Jesus as Immanuel, his name which translates as "God-with-us." She was the first person in history to experience the indwelling of Christ. The really cool part is that she knew it literally, as she carried the baby who was also God inside her. Because of this ultimate miracle, now you and I can carry Him in our hearts. Isn't that amazing?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14


"The virgin will be with child

and will give birth to a son

and will call him Immanuel."

Then the angel sang

to fulfill those ancient words

that God-with-out

would become God-with-in

Sweet in Mary's heart

sprang the first worship

of God-with-us

Immanuel

Soon this foretold child

would live mankind to save

but just this hushed moment

the joy was hers alone:

"O may my soul sing

forever of your great love!

How can it be that in me stirs

the rescue of all ages?"

Advent Thoughts: It's True

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Matthew 1:18-25


Eight little verses in Matthew open a new chapter in the most fantastic story ever told. Nearly 28,000 verses of back-story in the prelude of the Old Testament, all leading to the first bodily appearance by our Hero... who arrives as a squirming, red-faced baby boy. Who was born of a virgin. Who, along with her husband-to-be, was told about all this in a dream and visitation by an angel. And did you catch the part where the baby was to be the savior of the world, God-incarnate?

It's fantastic. It's so crazy. It's more out-there than the plotline of anything we have ever come up with. Any book, any movie, any other story: there's those and then there's This.

C. S. Lewis, in describing some of how he came to believe that Christ was the Son of God, wrote that he eventually realized that "the story of Christ is simply a true myth: a myth working on us in the same way as the others, but with this tremendous difference that it really happened: and one must be content to accept it in the same way."

He understood that the human race is a people of stories and storytelling. It's our tradition that really and truly sets us apart from the rest of nature. We love stories and we allow them daily to affect us. We cry at movies, we connect with song lyrics, we are inspired by characters in books and their quests and we name our children after them. Lewis came to understand that we shouldn't turn off that part of ourselves when it comes to facing the story of Jesus.

So fall in love with this magical, fantastic story, embracing everything it means. And then, go one step further. See the one "tremendous difference" from all other myths out there.

It's true. Utterly, mercifully, graciously, wonderfully true. Read it again. It's true.

Advent Thoughts

I'm just going to stop numbering these, because then I don't have to feel guilty about my rather loose interpretation of doing "daily" posts...

In a sermon a few weeks ago, our pastor talked about how God wants to move us towards fearlessness. What would THAT be like, huh? To live, unafraid of the future, chasing after God and embracing without a backward glance all that he extends to us...

In scripture's account of the Christmas story, every time an angel shows up, the first thing they say is "Do not be afraid." Here's three times just in Luke:

But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John." Luke 1:13

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God." Luke 1:30

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:10

Of course, the angels are saying "do not be afraid" partially in reference to themselves, as seeing an angel pop up in front of you was just as shocking as an experience to these people as it would've been to you or me. But I think what we know of God and His great plan shows us that the "do not be afraid" part is mostly in reference to what is about to be revealed.

God told these people not to be afraid, even though what would come next for each of them was sort of terrifying!

"Zechariah, don't be afraid of the fact that you and your wife are old and that it is scientifically impossible for her to be pregnant. Don't be afraid that the son I'm going to give you has a really important job to prepare the way for my son."

"Mary, don't be afraid that you are the one who is getting this ultimate job of motherhood. Don't be afraid that no one will believe you, because they might not, but I know the truth. Don't be afraid of your husband-to-be and what he will think. Don't be afraid of the way people will talk. Don't be afraid about how this isn't how you thought the Messiah would eventually appear. Don't be afraid even though your son's life - and yes, Mary, someday his death - will change the course of history."

"Shepherds, don't be afraid that people might think you're crazy when you tell them what you saw. Don't be afraid that this baby won't be the king in the way you imagined he should be. Don't be afraid that this is too good to be true; I sent this baby to be to you as you are to the sheep asleep at your feet."

Can it be as simple as that, for you and for me? That God would say to us, "Do not be afraid," and, even if what he says next sounds really really scary, we could obey? At Christmas, we celebrate the most extraordinary miracle of all time. Our Savior entered the world. That's got to be more than enough reason to follow God into fearlessness.

Advent Thoughts #3, #4, #5

I figured I better catch up on my days since I started this a little late so I'm using the three gifts of the Magi to count for three different advent thoughts. I wanted to do a little research (Thank you Wikipedia) on the gifts and their meaning.

Matthew is the only gospel to mention the three gifts by name. And interestingly enough, the traditional nativity representation of three wisemen stems from the fact that three gifts were mentioned. We don't really know how many were in their group. We also don't know when they came to see Jesus exactly, though most scholars agree it was not at the scene of his birth.

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." Matthew 2:10-11

I love buying and giving presents at Christmas. Spending time to pick out something perfect, wrapping it up beautifully, watching the recipient open it and (hopefully) love it... that's my favorite part. If only I would take a hint from the wise men and remember that first and foremost I should bring my gifts to God! I love that they were so incredibly excited to find Jesus that scripture uses TWO forms of the word "joy" in the same sentence. Shouldn't I "rejoice exceedingly with great joy" to find Christ this Christmas; to find him every day?

Here's a little info I rounded up about each gift and its significance:

Gold - Just like today, gold was very valuable during ancient times. It would also have been a practical gift since it could be used for currency by Mary & Joseph. The symbolic nature of gold is to reference Jesus as king. In fact, all the gifts are common to what might have been given to royalty at that time. The wise men recognized Jesus's lordship, even in the form of a chubby little baby.

Frankincense - This gift, like its name implies, was a material that could be burned as incense. It comes originally as dried sap from a specific tree that is native to the southern area of the Arabian Peninsula. It was used by multiple ancient cultures, including Egyptians, Jews, and Chinese, across Africa and Asia as a fragrant incense during religious ceremonies. It was also used in perfume, makeup, and medicines. It relates symbolically to Jesus as priest, as our connection to God the Father.

Myrrh - Myrrh is also a tree-sap byproduct. It has some really interesting historical uses. The ancient Egyptians used it to embalm the dead. Despite its bitter qualities, it was also used in fine perfumes and anointing oils, and is mentioned throughout scripture as such. Myrrh also has a functional use as an antiseptic, and is used as such even today. Whether the magi intended it or not, the gift of myrrh has come to foreshadow Christ's death on the cross. It has a haunting scriptural parallel in Mark's account of the crucifixion:

They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Mark 15:22-24

The symbolic nature of these items is fascinating stuff, but when I think of the magi and their gifts, I am mostly convicted about my own gifts to God. Have I brought him my best? My most rare and valuable? My most prized and significant offerings? Gifts to glorify Jesus my God, to honor Jesus my Priest, to thank Jesus my Savior? Clean hands, a pure heart, incessant prayer, songs of worship, obedience, compassion... these and more are the offerings we can bring.

Advent Thoughts #2

Just last night I rewatched the first of the Narnia movies based on C.S. Lewis' beloved series. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the White Witch seeks to rule Narnia. As Mr. Tumnus describes to Lucy, it is this pretending queen who makes it always winter, never Christmas.

What a relief that we have Christmas to celebrate in winter! I think most of us tolerate the cold weather and frozen landscape because Christmas twinkles on the horizon. Don't you find the chill of December more bearable than, say, mid February? The joy of anticipating the holiday and all it means keeps us warm, in a way.

We live in what often seems a winter-numbed world, full of gray circumstances, icy perils and cold-hearted people. But like Christmas in December, Christ in our hearts fills us with hope. God kept his word to send the world a savior. We celebrate His arrival in the dead of winter, a blaze of joy in a most dark hour. Because of Christmas, we can live the other 364 days carrying the flame of fulfilled-promise that God will also do everything else he said he would do, including one day bring us into his glorious eternity.

Lost souls operate in an always winter, never Christmas world. We have to live like Christmas is coming. Because it is, dear ones. It is.

Advent Thoughts #1

I'm a bad little blogger lately, I know. Sorry Mom and small but lovely handful of other readers out there! I thought I would try something special from now through Christmas, and that is to make a daily "Advent" post. It can be a sort of devotional, for you and for me. Let's start now!

***

Rescue. I love that word as it pertains to what Christ means to us weary sinners. There's a drama to that particular word; it heightens my sense of understanding of how very far gone we all were before Christ stepped into the world. Kidnapped by death, held hostage by our sin, eternally incarcerated for our offenses against a righteous, holy, perfect God.

And then there was Jesus. Our rescue was coming, did come, has come. That's what the world was waiting for. That's advent: the anticipation of our imminent rescue.

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Galatians 1:3-5

Just Watch This.

And a happy Thanksgiving to you!