A tribute to Taylor Swift!

Ok, before you skip past this post and say "Taylor  Swift, ugh!", hear me out. I do love her. But let me reassure you that it is not a teeny-bopper-dated-a-Jonas-brother type of love. My reasons for my love of Taylor Swift comes solely from her music. Sure, she is quite beautiful. She has the appeal, but I personally just enjoy her music. 

Now, I do have a Taylor Swift ringtone. This can make for embarrassing moments when I forget to turn it off. Love it when "Our song is a slammin' screen door..." interrupts a meeting or something.....it's a little embarassing. 

Now back to my Taylor Swift adoration. I just think she is impressive. Not fantastic live, but I love her music! On her CD "Fearless" she wrote ALL of the songs. Wow! 

Here are some of my favorite lyrics: 

From "Fifteen": 

In your life you'll do things greater than dating the boy on the football tea/but I didn't know that at fifteen/ When all you wanted was to be wanted/wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now.

From "Change"

It was the night things changed/do you see it now?/ These walls that they put up to hold us back fell down/It's a revolution, throw your hands up/cause we never gave in/and we'll sing Hallelujah/we sang Hallelujah/Hallelujah.

From "Breathe"

Music starts playin' like the end of a sad movie/it's the kinda ending that you don't really want to see/cause it's tragedy and it'll only bring you down/now I don't know what to be without you around..

*Note: me typing the lyrics out from memory is not nearly as good as hearing them. :)

Now you may scoff at my Taylor Swift love. You may think it is weird. That is okay. But I am not ashamed that I love her music and it is what I listen to when I walk the dog or go to the gym. So you rock on, Taylor Swift. You have a fan in me. 

Much love, 

Allison

P.S. I was going to post a picture of Taylor Swift in this post, but all of them seemed creepy. Google Images Taylor Swift and you will see what I mean. But still, I like her. 

P.P.S. Her CD comes with a Taylor Swift poster. I thought about hanging it in my closet, but I decided that I had to draw the line somewhere. 

Valentines Day!

Here is a little recap of our Valentines Day. I know it was a long time ago in the blog world, but it deserves a post!

A note before I share....Ryan and I trade off on Valentines Day. I planned last year, so Ryan planned this year. 

Our day...

1. Ryan and I made breakfast together. This was more fun than the traditional breakfast in bed, because whenever we do that for each other, someone gets something spilled on them. Sometimes something hot. So we opted out of that this time!

2. Ryan and I played with Sadie and hung out around the house. See below. 

3. Out of the blue, Ryan hands me money and tells me to go shopping for an hour! Whooo!

4. I come home and this is waiting!

The chair I have been wanting! Love it!

5. Ryan takes me out to a fancy dinner and to see a movie I had been wanting to see! 

Great job, honey!

About to go out!

The bar is set high for me next year.  :)

Happy belated Valentines Day!

Much love, 

Allison

Who will he pick?

Who will Jason choose? The 32 year old single Dad has finally narrowed his choice down to two women. Molly, the blond girl with big eyes and lack of PDA, and Melissa, the bubbly former cheerleader who likes to baby talk. Hmmmmm. Here are my thoughts. 

1. I like Melissa. I always have. Even before this You Tube video came out.  SPOILER ALERT! (Well, maybe. If this is for real.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83d8e3hNoHA

2. I liked Jillian, too. I was kinda sad to see her go. But I couldn't stay to like, hear her talk agaiyin. (That is Canadian for again) I guess if you are going to marry someone, it shouldn't be someone you can't stand to hear speak. Good move, Jason. 

3. Molly bugs me. And Ryan. Yes, I make him watch The Bachelor sometimes. She says she is pretty if she doesn't open her eyes. Not a good sign. 

4. I am confused about DeAnna coming back. I think that they are trying to make us think she is there to get Jason back, but I think she is trying to tell him to make sure he makes the right choice, because she didn't. Read: Snowboarder Jesse is totally with that girl from Matt's season. 

5. The producers are trying to make us think (or, I don't know, maybe it did) that something crazy happens at the end. They are saying that the After the Final Rose show was taped in private because it was so shocking. I just think they didn't want people attending it and telling about what happens. They usually use paid actors for the Women Tell All and After the Final Rose shows anyway. 

6. This show is so stupid. But I watch it. And I now a lot of people who watch it. Once every season I say to Ryan: "This is so dumb. Why do I watch it?" But I tune in every time. They have me hooked. 

On a completely unrelated note, I have no email at work. So I am calling people. I feel like I am an OC telecounselor again. I would prefer email. Come on, email! Start working again, please!

Much love, 

Allison

I might be becoming Anti-LOST.

No, I am not going to try to not get lost in my life. Well, I guess everyone should do that. But I am talking about the TV show Lost. Ryan and I are watching Lost currently, and I cannot get into it. 

Now, I know a lot of people like Lost. I am not "hating" as the kids say. (Did I just say the kids? Maybe I am getting old.) I understand that people enjoy the show. And I still am watching it, so I must like something in it. Right? Something is making me tune in. Or maybe it is just loyalty. 

When Ryan and I first got married, we were both unemployed and so we rented the first two seasons of Lost and watched them all in a matter of weeks. It was awesome! I loved it. I was invested. 

As the seasons have gone on, I have come to find the show incredibly frustrating. I just don't get it sometimes, and I have watched it from the beginning. I mean, come on. SPOILER ALERT: Don't read on if you are not caught up. 

Really, black smoke that changes people? A bright light that changes the date and makes you mad? Random nose bleeds? Ben is "good" now? 

I just don't get it. But I will probably keep watching. There is room on the DVR. 

Much love, 

Allison

Dancing with the Stars Line-up, Part 1

I have so many things I could blog about right now. But, instead of having a deep post about my life and ministry, I will spare you that and talk about Dancing with the Stars! And the Bachelor, probably...if I have time. :)

Dancing with the Stars announced PART of their line-up for their March something debut of Season 8. Everyone is talking about how there are lots of romantic couples, one married, one engaged and one dating. Here are my thoughts!

1. Julianne Hough (whom I LOVE as a dancer but don't care for as a singer) is dancing, even after she said last year she was done with the show. She is dancing with.....drum roll....her boyfriend. Some country singer. I guess if you are going to come back to the show, it might as well be for your love interest. 

2. Jewel is dancing. I like Jewel, but Ryan doesn't. I think she has bad teeth, but she is a good singer. But honestly, I didn't know her career was that down the tubes to go on Dancing with the Stars! But then again, I haven't heard a lot from her since she sang that one song...what was it...about the towels on the floor and don't leave your keys in the door?

3. Speaking of down the tubes, there is Denise Richards. She is dancing with the very handsome, but conceited, Maksim. (I am not even going to try to spell his last name. I am not sure I got his first name right. Probably not.) Denise should be interesting. Will probably cry a lot and drive Maks crazy! I perdict a fairly early exit for her and sadly, Maks. 

4. Jewel's husband, Ty Murray, is also on the show. Weird. Maybe they only do things together? Biking, bowling, going to movies, reality TV? Okay, sure. 

5. Shawn Johnson is competing this season. I like her! I preferred Nastia in the Olympics, but I really liked Shawn, too. My lifelong bff Rachel Chiz liked Shawn better, so I will give her a chance, I guess. But regardless, she is totally my prediction for winner! (I guess I should wait to see who else is going to be on the show, but you heard it here: Shawn Johnson WILL win.)

5. Lil' Kim. Okay? Prediction: Early Elimination. 

6. Belinda Carlisle from the Go-go's. Who? Showing my age here I am sure. 

7. Someone named Steve-O from a TV show title I cannot post on my blog. You can look it up, I guess. Sorry. 

8. They said Karina (one of the pro dancers) will be on the show, but they didn't say with who. She will be dancing against her fiance, Maks. Wasn't she dating Mario Lopez (aka AC Slater) for a long time and that just ended a few months ago? I wonder who she will dance with. At the rate we are going, it will probably be someone's husband. 

The Bachelor: 

Out of time, but Melissa is totally going to win, and I am happy, because I like her. And she is from Dallas! I never pick the winner right, so this would be a true first. 

Much love, 

Allison

Thoughts

How can I rebound from a post like the one below? I think that is a pretty ridiculous story, and I think it is pretty funny. Feel free to read it and comment. Or maybe it is not that funny, I am not sure. But I think it is. 

I am watching the Grammy Awards right now, and I have a few thoughts. I may have more when it is over, but I am not sure I am commited enough to stay up that late. 

1. Coldplay just keeps winning. And when they accept awards, they might as well just say "YOU ARE WELCOME. We rule. You are very welcome for us gracing you with our horrible outfits and music." (Just FYI, I don't think their music is terrible. Just their outfits and attitudes.)

2. Carrie Underwood used to be such a great singer. Someone let me know what happened!

3. Jennifer Hudson is quite inspiring. 

4. Taylor Swift is probably one of my favorite artists right now. I will admit that I listen to her daily, and I love her. So Taylor, my friend, please don't sing with Miley Cirus! Are you kidding? You are above that. 

5. Katy Perry is such a one-hit-wonder! She is not good live. 

6. I love Jason Mraz. 

7. Is Kid Rock still singing? 

That is all. 

Much love, 

Allison

My Battle with Our Alarm

Our alarm at our house is not my friend. Not really even an acquaintance. We don't even like each other. We tolerate each other because we must see each other at least once a day. I am sure we all know people like that. But this is an ALARM. And ALARM hates me right back. I swear the ALARM is plotting against me everyday. 

Which brings me to my reason (one of many) why I hate ALARM. 

I hate ALARM because no matter what I do, it goes off. Not every time I try to set it or turn it off, but only the times when I am in a hurry, coming home really quick to grab something....AKA the times when I just need it to work. 

Ryan set up our alarm as soon as we got into the new house. The man came, albeit, 3 hours late, (but who's counting!) to set it up. He gave us a little lesson on how to set it, and I listened. But little did I know that as The man was bringing our little ALARM to life, the ALARM began planning it's destruction of my life. The man told us that if it goes off, the alarm company will call one number. We set this to Ryan's cell phone. So if it goes off, Ryan has to be with his phone, and answer it and give them our password. Which is....just kidding. Ha.

Now I am sure you are thinking, and I would be, too, what could this alarm do to you? Well, I am going to tell you, and brace yourself. 

Typical weeknight. Ryan wants to go to the Gym and play volleyball. I want to go grocery shopping, to the bank and run a few other errands. Ryan insists that we will go to the gym, and then do those things. Okay, I think. Not my first choice, but I can work out for an bit while he plays volleyball. We go to the gym, he begins his "bump-set-spike" routine all of us former volleyball players know. I go get on the treadmill, reluctantly trying to keep my New Years resolution. After about thirty minutes, Ryan comes and tells me that he is sorry, but they are not going to start playing until 8. I say that's okay, I will just go to the store by myself. He says fine, and I leave him there stretching and such. 

I get in the car, and realize that I have left my purse at home. I go home to get it, open the door and turn off the ALARM. I leave the door open and grab my purse, come back to the door and try to re-set the ALARM. ALARM begins wailing like a small child in the Nursery who just wants to sit in church with his Mom. I panic. Ryan is not here! He has his phone! I begin frantically calling him. He is not answering, because HE IS PLAYING VOLLEYBALL. 

I hop back in my car and race to the gym, frantically calling Ryan and praying he will answer. I have then become THAT wife. The wife who rushes into a volleyball scrimmage and says "RYAN! I NEED YOU!" He runs to me and I tell him that I set off the alarm and he didn't answer his phone and the police are probably coming! 

Now I bet you are getting bored with this story, but it is about to get interesting. 

He tells me to go home immediately and tell the police it was a false alarm. I race home, and pull in behind the police in front of our house. I get out and hurry to the door. 

"Ma'am,  is that 1310 you are going into?"

"Yes, sir. It is my house."

"Well, step back, because we have a break in."

"No, that's me!"

"That's you?"

"No, I set off the alarm and my husband was at the gym and he has the phone and I had to go tell him to answer his phone and come back and tell you that it is a false alarm!"

"Calm down, ma'am. It's okay. Can I just see your license?"

"Sure. "

I hand him my license, and he goes back to check to see if my car is stolen. I am pretty frazzled, and very embarrassed. His partner tells me that it's okay, and they give me my license back and start to leave. We laugh and say it has been "just one of those days".  Sure. I think. Just get me outta here.

I then walk to my front door, and get out my keys. This is not a usual thing, because typically we go in the house through the garage. I CAN'T GET THE KEY TO TURN. The police are in their car and I look like I am still trying to break into the house. 

Luckily, they left. I went around to the back and got in. 

Needless to say, I have set of the ALARM since then. And ALARM hates me. And I hate our ALARM. 

Much love, 

Allison

Inspirational Video

I was watching the Today show this morning, as I do every morning, and I saw the most inspirational story. I want to share it with you, the 3-4 people who read my blog. :)

Now, I will warn you that this is sad. This hits very close to home for me. 

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Trying to make my blog cooler...

Hmm...How can I make my blog cooler? Adding some features over to the side? Check. Posting links to my blog in random places? Check. 

Any other suggestions? 

Just be cooler? Ok, working on that. :)

Trying to post more...

In an effort to post more, I am posting. I will now share my current random thoughts. 

1. I really liked the "25 Random Things" list. I want to make another one, but I don't think I will. 

2. I hope my dog did not escape again. 

3. I cried when Stephanie left The Bachelor last night. It was the first time I ever cried at that silly, addicting show. 

4. I started this post early this morning, and I am still trying to finish it. Silly job!

5. I realized today that on my "To Do" list, I only really like to cross something off with the same color pen I wrote it with. Anal, maybe? 

What are some of your random thoughts?

Much love, 

Allison

The only funny thing in SNL last night...

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