DC GOP Girl

Six hours, one Friday

2013-03-29T11:00:00.000-04:00

Six hours, one Friday. Mundane to the casual observer. A shepherd with his sheep, a housewife with her thoughts, a doctor with his patients. But to a handful of awestruck witnesses, the most maddening of miracles is occurring. God is on a cross. The creator of the universe is being executed.

It is no normal six hours. It is no normal Friday. Far worse than the breaking of his body is the shredding of his heart. And now his own father is beginning to turn his back on him, leaving him alone. What do you do with that day in history? What do you do with its claims? They were the most critical hours in history.

Nails didn’t hold God to a cross. Love did. The sinless One took on the face of a sinner so that we sinners could take on the face of a saint!

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

from Six Hours One Friday by Max Lucado

Officially horrible

2013-03-01T02:46:00.001-05:00

I'm officially a horrible blogger. How I've not made the time to write here more often... I have no excuses. I've been keeping busy over at AskMissA.com managing both the Entertainment section and Washington, D.C., as well as running PR. I guess that keeps a girl pretty tied down. But truth be told, I've given so much of myself there and at church as of late, I've just not had a whole lot of me left to put anywhere else.

Does that make sense?

That said, today marks the beginning of sequestration going into effect. Don't worry, I'm not about to talk politics, but I wanted to bring a message over here from my facebook page:

Prayers for everyone being effected/about to be effected by the implementation of sequestration today. I know it's such a scary time, feeling as though your future is resting in the balances of our crazy government... but know that God is faithful.

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

Have faith my dears. As troubling as joblessness is, He's going to stand by your side and provide for you. ♥

Summertime state of mind

2012-12-26T23:23:00.002-05:00

While I'm prepping to drive back home to the cold of DC I've decided to embrace a summertime state of mind and look back at some of my fav easy, breezy summertime outfits this year that I've yet to share:

Jesus' one-on-one with my heart

2012-11-28T23:06:00.002-05:00

Tonight I was driving home from my book club (love my GPBC gals!) and Jesus just decided it was time to have a one-on-one with my heart. I was listening to Laura Story's song Blessings and boy did it speak volumes to me.

As per the usual, when Jesus is speaking that loudly and that directly -- I'm was in tears. But it was the good kind of tears. The cleansing kind. The fortifying kind.

Lately I've been dealing with a lot. I feel like I'm always dealing with a lot, and more often than not I'm convinced my lot in life is so much harder than those around me. And maybe in some ways it is. But geez, am not extraordinarily blessed? How much good is in my life despite the trials? SO much I tell you. But oh how I forget.

But tonight Jesus reminded me --

what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know Your near?
Is that why I'm not sleeping God? Is it because I so easily forget what's really important. I so easily rely on the things of this world when I really ought to be relying on you because I'm so quick to forget You are here for me? Always.

What if trials of this night, are Your mercies in disguise?
How often that has been that case... It's not a lie when I say I've always felt like on the other side of my hard times comes great things. That almost tit-for-tat I can run through the bad things and find the good that comes on the other side. That doesn't make going through the bad any easier. Any less painful.

Below is the song Jesus found a way into my heart tonight through. You don't need to be a Christian to listen to it. So I ask of you -- please take a moment to listen. Maybe Jesus is looking for a way to speak to your heart tonight too. xxoo.

If nothing else, skip to the very bottom for something else.

And for those who'd like to see the lyrics:

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace.
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep.
We pray for healing, prosperity.
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering.

All the while, You hear each spoken need.
Your love is too way too much to give us lesser things.

Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this night, are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear.
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near.
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love.
As if every promise from Your word is not enough.

All, the while, You hear each desperate plea.
And long that we'd have faith to believe.

Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if trials of this night, are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win;
We know that pain reminds this heart, that this is not, this is not our home.
It's not our home.

Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops?
What if your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life;
Is a revealing of greater thirst that a world can't satisfy?

Start reading again here:
All of this said -- if you're in the DC metro area this holiday season and you don't have a church home... you've not found your place in this world and you're desperate for something better.... you can't even fathom who God is, and it seems like the most unrealistic thing in the world to think that there's a God who would give his son Christ Jesus to die on a cross for YOU -- for your sins... then please accept my humble invitation to come to church with me. I belong to a great church family at DC Metro Church. I know it's not the place for everyone, but the people and the experience is amazing.

You don't need to be a believer. You don't even need to think you have a chance of ever believing. You just need a pause in your heart to be willing to give something a try because you're so ready for something better. I promise you, if you're going through a bunch of crappy things right now (like me) -- there's something better to come. Even if you don't believe there's a God out there who can help make things better.

I may just be talking to myself right now, but know this is a personal invitation to YOU. I feel so compelled to write this right now, that I know it's for YOU even if you're still not sure.

Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

A brief hello

2012-10-29T22:47:00.002-04:00

Yes, I'm alive. Although you wouldn't know it by looking at my blog these days. That said, I'm busy as ever online, so it's not like I'm completely off the map.

Figured I ought to write a post like this to get my butt writing here again, so consider this simply a brief a "hello" and an "I hope to see you again soon."

It's time for a wake-up call

2012-08-10T11:25:00.001-04:00

If you've not already heard, I'm trying to win my way to the Republican National Convention later this month through CNN's iReport. So put the politics aside, and consider helping a girl out. Watch the video and even click the "share" button and share on FB/Twitter if you have the chance.

Your support is greatly appreciated!

Critiquette -- my new gig!

2012-08-08T15:06:00.001-04:00

Friends!

SO much has been happening lately, so I'm going to break it down into three posts, this obviously being the first of them.

First and foremost (well first anyway), I wanted to let you know that I am a contributing writer for Miss A, one of the largest and fastest growing online destinations for women. Miss A covers the intersection of charity and style in 21 major U.S. cities and offers informative content on a woman’s well-rounded lifestyle and interests. With a team of more than 30 editors and writers, Miss A includes the latest and most relevant information on fashion, beauty, entertainment, food, family, city events and exclusive advice and recommendations for nearly one million unique visitors each year. Through authentic, informative, and witty editorial voices of writers in-the-know across the United States, Miss A informs, inspires, and entertains an audience of more than 95,000 unique visitors monthly. Miss A continues to grow organically by building a powerful online network of women.

Here's a link to my first three reviews:
Beasts of the Southern Wild
The Dark Knight Rises
The Odd Life of Timothy Green

If you feel like sharing it via any social media platform (buttons are to the right of the reviews) it'd be greatly appreciated!

To follow my posts and those of my peers, please "like" our Miss A Entertainment page on Facebook. You can also follow my personal DC GOP Girl Facebook page and I'll be sure to link to all the reviews there. And of course, I'm tweeting about them too!

For the most part, I'll be covering movie and tv reviews, but If you have an idea or event for me to cover, please let me know. I'm very excited about this new opportunity!

My new best friend

2012-07-28T10:00:00.000-04:00

Last month, in the aftermath of Derecho, I found myself without power in the sweltering heat, bored out of my mind. Which led to going to Petsmart -- it had power, A/C and cute kittens to pet -- what more could a girl want. Flash-forward 45 minutes and I'm walking out with a baby kitten in tow.

Yes, because I was bored and hot I thought it'd be a good idea to buy an 8 week old kitten. Go figure.

Fast-forward four weeks and here we are today. My lil bundle of energy is my new best friend (don't worry Nico fans, he's still around and is my greatest of buddies -- yes, that's my other cat). A new cuddle buddy. Endless entertainment, all waking hours. And if you follow me on twitter, you've probably seen enough #babykitten chatter to last a lifetime.

But enough talking, check out her cuteness in her glamour-shots!

Until next time!

My lame excuses

2012-07-09T00:37:00.004-04:00

Recently I joined a women's Bible study at DC Metro Church. If you know me, that in and of itself is a HUGE deal. Like really HUGE. In the study we're doing new author, Kasey Van Norman's book Named by God. I must say I'm a big fan of Kasey, but I'm making this deduction based off the DVDs we watch as a group each week. Why? Because, on my own I'm really, really bad at actually doing the workbook.

In fact, even now I'm writing this blog instead of taking the time to go through the book. And why? Because I feel like I don't have the attention required to "get in the Word." I'm not in the right mindset to "truly focus and reflect." Translation: I'm distracted and I've given up. Why? Because I'm too afraid of messing up that I'm not even starting.

Sure enough, I skipped weeks one and two of the study for that very reason, and now less than 24hrs away from our week three meeting, it looks like I'm doing the same all over again.

I think we do that a lot as people. Stay away from things because we're afraid to fail if we try them.

So we use excuses. Excuses. They sound acceptable enough when we say them to ourselves. Logical even. But isn't there a point when even the best of excuses aren't enough.

The dictionary describes an excuse as, "to offer an apology for; seek to remove the blame of" and "to release from an obligation or duty."

And wow. What fitting definitions when talking studying God's Word. Instead of a good "excuse" what I'm really doing is looking for a way to get out of my obligations to God. Trying to avoid blame and come up with apologizes for why I'm not stopped and prioritized my life the way that I truly know that it should be.

By offering continual excuses, people stop trusting us, and we begin to expect less of ourselves because we convince ourselves we're doing all we can.

So instead of living in lame excuses, I'm going to live in my commitments. Or at least try to anyway.

How often am I not content?

2012-06-23T16:47:00.001-04:00

This is one of those moments where I want to try and explain something, but there's a decent amount of background story necessary to appreciate what I'm trying to say, and thus I become acutely aware of the fact I've not blogged regularly through this awful spring/early summer and I really don't feel like explaining everything at once...

So, I'll just skip to a point and maybe fill in the rest later. But probably not. Let's fact it, I'm a lazy blogger lately.

I went to DC Sisterhood this past Thursday night. It's an all-women, once-a-month ministry at DC Metro Church. Chock full of rocking worship time, a message and socializing. Needless to say, I'm a fan of the whole set-up.

I digress... this week part of the message was about contentment. How easily we become discontent, especially as women. How quickly we'll try and conquer our problems by ourselves when things aren't resolved as fast as we'd like them to be and how miserable we make ourselves in the process.

Boy, does that sound familiar. I'm a pro at getting frustrated that my timing and God's timing doesn't always seem to be aligned, that more often than not take steps away from God and try to take things on myself. And if you've looked at my life over the past few months, years... you'd know this doesn't do me any good. I worry incessantly about problems that I'm facilitating by refusing to surrender.

And then a verse was mentioned -- Proverbs 27:15. I don't think it was meant to stick out. I think it was merely mentioned as part of a larger point, but it just kind of stuck to me.

I'm that woman. That woman whose complaints and discontentment are as annoying as a constant dripping of rain. A steady, continuous drip-drop that drives someone slowly crazy. By not surrendering, I hold on to my brokenness, my worries, and I create this maelstrom of misery in my life.

HOW OFTEN AM I NOT CONTENT?!

But how simple is the concept of letting go and letting God? How much happier would I be if, instead of trying to fix everything myself I took a step back handed it over to the Creator?

I WILL be conscious of my complaints. My weariness. My belligerence when I'm convinced I can do best for myself over anyone else in my life. Over God.

My contentiousness.

Beauty in Brevity

2012-06-20T00:52:00.000-04:00

I'm hoping in brevity I find the beauty of blogging tonight. Lately I've had LOTS of posts I've started, but none I've finished. Part of the reason is that I write for a living for so many other people, by the time I'm home I have little inspiration left for myself. Part of it's because I'm ADD with the best of them and I'm so easily distracted at night (when the meds have worn off) that I can't pay attention long enough. And part of it's because I get flat out lazy.

So again, beauty in brevity to kick-start things tonight.

A week and a half ago I went to the zoo with my lovely cousin and her not-quite-two-year-old daughter. This cousin is by far my closest cousin and she's the one I've often mentioned before. Almost two years ago, 2 months to the day that her daughter was born, her husband stepped on an IED in Afghanistan. Boy did that change everyone's life.

I'll get into an update on her family in another post, but we did have a LOVELY trip to the zoo and it made me realize how much I miss her even though she's only 20-30 minutes away! Absolutely must prioritize better and work on seeing her on a more regular basis!

Yeah my cousin had us buy the picture at the zoo because we looked "cute enough." But baby Scarlett... :P

Until next time.

"You made my heart smile"

2012-06-04T23:03:00.001-04:00

Consumed by a cloud of smoke, with hands steadily shaking he muttered mindless nothings to himself.

Side-effect from the drugs. Crack, maybe?

At its filter, the thin paper of the Parliament sizzled as he took another slow drag to ease the incessant trembling.

It was only dusk, but had it been any darker, and had I been alone, the sight of him would have kept me from going inside.

As I entered Subway, I noticed the new Jason Mraz song playing subtly in the background.

I won't give up on us

Even if the skies get rough

I'm giving you all my loveI'm still looking up

I waited patiently for the friendly sub-master (the title I've dubbed Subway workers. It's kinda of like being a Barista at Starbucks, only it's a much cooler title) to take my order and in stumbles the shaking man.

Clumsy and frenetic, he reaches into his tattered pocket for some change to throw onto the counter, while simultaneously taking a large plastic cup from the nearby stack.

"Dis change is for my soda," he boldly tells my sub-master.

"You need to have $2.17 for that size."

"Is enough. I have it. It's all derr."

"You still owe me $0.50 from the last time."

As he backs away from the counter, "I tolt choo, it's all derr."

This clearly wasn't a first-time experience for the sub-master, as he tilts down his head and sighs in frustration. It wasn't worth the fight, and his face had just let it be written all over it.

"I've got it. Sir, take back your change. I've got your soda for you. I'm paying for his soda. Sir, your change, take it back," says a voice from the silent observer standing in line behind me.

Excited the shaking man, makes his way back to the counter. With soda in hand he fumbles to collect his change and put it back into his pockets. Nickles, dimes and pennies.

Undoubtedly all that he had.

A few minutes later I find myself paying the sub-master, getting ready to walk out the door when I look over my shoulder and tell the anonymous stranger, "Thank you so much for buying that man a soda. You made my heart smile."

And then I left. Profoundly moved by such. a. simple. act.

A sincerely thoughtful gesture that seemed to take no thought at all.

The Subway stranger not only showed goodwill and a kind heart to a man desperately in need, but he also showed a young woman there are really angels among us, and she was desperately in need of remembering that.

And the perfect song to accompany this post:

Calling all social media professionals & small business owners!

2012-05-31T10:05:00.000-04:00

Did you know, over 99% of U.S. adults on social networks are on Facebook? (per Edison Research)

And that Facebook will soon be over 1 billion active users.

Those are extraordinary stats if you think about it.

By now if you're a small business owner, you've realized whether you like it or not -- it's not enough to simply have a website. More than any other online platform, you need to bring your business to Facebook. It's a part of a comprehensive online experience.

But how do you make an impact on Facebook?

How do you find new fans to come and "Like" your page?

The right fans.

Who will engage with your company, help generate revenue, and spread the word about all you have to offer?

On the surface, the answer is simple -- Facebook Ads. Having the ability to target ads to people based on very specific criteria and cap your ad spend at a daily amount of your choosing makes for a very cost-effective way to reach consumers, especially for small businesses.

But let's face it, not everyone knows how to use them and maybe you're not quite ready to invest in something you don't fully understand.

That's where SocialFresh's online Advanced Facebook Ads online conference comes into play.

Filled with 22 online marketing experts and companies from around the world to instruct you on how to use ads effectively, this conference is a sure-fire way to help you understand Facebook ads better than anyone else you know.

Don't worry about booking travel or expensive hotel rooms. This online conference allows you to attend from anywhere! The comfort of your own home. Your office. The Starbucks down the street. You name it. Talk about incredible convenience.

And just look at some of the companies leading online presentations:

Here is the full list of live presenters:

Justin Kistner from Webtrends
Marty Weintraub from aimClear
Randall Lloyd from Buddy Media
Diana Plazas from Doubletree by Hilton
Angela Leaney from the Harlem Globetrotters
Jordan Franklin from Clickable
Hussein Fazal from Ad Parlor
Tim Bosch from Likeable Media
Dan Slagen from HubSpot
Chris Tuff from 22squared
Amy Porterfield from AmyPorterfield.com
Ryan Cohn from What’s Next Marketing
Matt Monahan from AlphaBoost
Dan Benyamin from Citizennet
Katie Roberts from Walden University
Maya Grinberg from Wildfire
Mark Unger from PUSH
Jeff Widman from Pagelever
Merry Morud from aimClear
Erika Brookes of Vitrue
Lucy Jacobs of Spruce Media
Nate Riggs of The Karcher Group
Roland Smart of Involver
Jay Baer of Convince&Convert
Chris Penn of WhatCounts
Victoria Gibson of FB Ad Queen

What the conference has to offer:
- 22 Live presentations from top Facebook ad experts around the world
- 10 Facebook ad case studies
- 4 Live Q&A sessions
- 5 bonus Facebook ad basics presentations
- 6 additional bonus social media marketing sessions
- Private conference networking group
- And more!!

Still worried you don't know enough about Facebook ads to attend an "advanced" online conference? SocialFresh has got you covered! They have 5 getting started seminars to get you up to speed! And help you start boosting your company's Facebook presence immediately.

So what are you waiting for? Go sign-up for this incredible experience today!

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Another handful of 2012 movie reviews

2012-05-17T15:13:00.000-04:00

Since my 4/29 movie review, I've seen a handful of movies. In fact I've not blogged since then, so of course my return-to-blog post is going to be filled with reviews rather than fashion fun or life updates:

Lockout: (April) Perhaps derivative and to-the-final-moment exactly what I expected, but the subtle charms of this B-movie at best still managed to entertain me being exactly what it was -- a predictable, implausible sci-fi flick.

The Avengers 3D IMAX: (5/4) I'm stepping in front of a moving train for this review, but it wasn't all that I expected it to be. That is, despite its high-budget and all-star cast, there were no surprises. But don't think I didn't love it. I did. Edit: I really liked it.

While you don't have to have seen the individual Marvel movies that led up to this one, seeing the others, particularly Thor and Ironman, helped. But it's safe to say Joss Whedon did a good job of blending all the superheroes without forgetting their real character. Something Marvel fans can appreciate.

And what's not to love when a movie features a flying aircraft carrier? Side bar: If you follow me on twitter or Facebook you should know by now that I represent the sole provider of U.S. carriers for a living, and am crazy about them.

While it's not the greatest superhero movie I’ve ever seen, I think I reserve that for Dark Knight, The Avengers is still definitely worth the price of a ticket. Go see it. You won't be disappointed.

Girl in Progress: (5/8) Every now and then I stumble across a film that speaks to where I am, where I've been in life in a profound way. This was one of those films. By no means did I try to grow up too fast as Ansiedad (which means anxiety in spanish. Great name, eh?) the protagonist did. Nor did I have a neglectful mother. But there was something about the spirit of the movie. The trying so desperately hard to make things work. Make things right. Despite a complete and utter lack of control that just worked for me.

The Road: (5/11) Whatever I claimed the worst film of 2011 to be, we can probably replace it with this one. Worried that I'd be "reading" my movie, before heading to the theatre I desperately tried to find out if it would in fact be in subtitles. Despite a foreign-heavy cast and crew, all signs pointed to English. Clearly I was looking in all the wrong places, because yes it was a subtitled. Which in and of itself is no problem, but I had a killer headache (and yes, I still wanted to go to the movies) so I knew "reading" was going to bug me.

But I digress... the film itself is a jumbled mess of a story. So much so, that I walked out of the movie after an hour. My first walkout. A huge deal when considering my I'll pretty much sit through anything attitude.

This slow-moving, monotonous film committed the worst of all horror-movie-crimes -- it wasn't the least bit scary. Maybe it's because others around me were laughing it was so much. It's hard to take a horror film seriously when it's laughable. Save your time. Save your money. Pass on The Road.

Dark Shadows: (5/11) I ended up paying to go see this one the evening I walked out of The Road. By no means was it on my "to see" list, but I miraculously did nonetheless.

The good news: if you've seen the previews and thought it looked absolutely awful, you'll be pleasantly surprised. While by no means a summer blockbuster, it did have its moments that made it an overall enjoyable movie.

Based on the American gothic soap opera of the 1960's and remade in the early '90's (I remember watching it with my mom before it's early end in large part to the Gulf War), the altogether competent film (why thank you Johnny Depp) gives faithful fans of the tv show have something to look forward to. And something to enjoy.

The bad news: If Johnny Depp was the reason the movie didn't flop, his development and screen-time left the rest of the cast underdeveloped and is the reason Burton didn't find the re-make "sweet spot."

The Dictator: (5/15) Let's just say this one is as crude as the oil field of Wadiya, the fictional North African country where the movie is set. But that's crude, coupled with hysterical, misogynistic, at moments tedious all at once. The title character, a power-hungry internationally hated dictator, Admiral General Haffax Aladeen played by Sacha Baron Cohen, shines in this over-the-top flick as the dictator comes to America to meet with the U.N.. But shining aside, I can't help be think of Cohen in his wonderful role in Hugo and await the end of this long-running joke. Perhaps it's time to surprise the audience with a few less Aladeens and Borats, and instead replace them with the more unexpected, meaningful roles. But that's just me.

Beasts of the Southern Wild: (5/16) review will come next month.

16 Movies of 2012 I've Yet to Review

2012-04-29T02:49:00.001-04:00

Okay, so I've taken the time to review a few movies here and there this year, but I've seen a few in the past few weeks that I've not reviews, so I've decided to go ahead and add them now, as well as a couple others I've seen earlier this year too. It's kind of ridiculous realizing just how many movies I've already seen this year...

Safe. (04.28.12) I didn't know how much I liked Jason Statham until today. And it's decidedly, a lot. Now on to the real review... Filled with gritty fight sequences and camerawork that takes full advantage of the raw talent it spotlights, Safe seems like a promising action film. However, its plot proves it’s an action film with an uncharacteristic element: common sense. Safe might not be thought-provoking material, but it does offer enough of a plot to engross the audience and carry the stars thought plenty of car chases, gun fights and high-flying kicks. Needless to say it distinguishes itself from the paint-by-numbers action movies that seem to be crawling out of the woodwork these days.

Five Year Engagement. (04.27.12) Funny, sincere and occasionally dramatic this romcom almost makes it as a comedy classic, but barely misses that mark. That said it's still an endearing movie that's highly entertaining. The only downfall -- a 20 minute run that slowed the otherwise steady pace of jokes and sincerity towards the end that could have been edited out to make a more perfect flick.

The Lucky One. (04.22.12) Eh, save your money and wait for this to come to video. Sure Zac Efron's hot and now that he's 24 he finally seems old enough to say he's hot, but the movie itself is lukewarm at best. Thrown into another lousy role Efron and the female lead (no reason to learn her name) play one-dimensional characters in a flick chock-full of clichés fleshed out by overused montages that rely on the soundtrack to set any tone at all. Again, wait to rent it.

Cabin in the Woods. (04.13.12) Let's just say it's not what I expected. But that's not to say it's bad. Quite the opposite, I thoroughly enjoyed watching this one. Unfolding in expected ways, this "horror" flick is actually meant to be comedic. And perhaps it works best because it doesn't take itself too seriously.

American Reunion. (04.11.12) Let's just say it was decent if you like the American Pie franchise. And it's safe to say they've set it up so they can make another if it makes them enough money. Aside from Alyson Hannigan, it's not like any of the other actors are doing anything.

21 Jump Street. (03.16.12) So the previews definitely gave away most of the great lines of this movie but Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill made for a perfect comedy duo. It's definitely the best comedy movie that's come out in a while.

Silent House (AMC Stubs didn't record the date so I'm not sure) I was super excited to see Elizabeth Olsen again, but this movie just wasn't for me.

Project X (03.01.12) The ultimate party movie. By no means is it "good," but I was entertained.

Act of Valor. (02.23.12) This movie literally made me want to be a Navy Seal. Boasting the fact that it stars active-duty Navy SEALs using modern warfare tactics, it delivers some of the most realistic action sequences ever to grace the silver screen. While the acting isn't the best-in-the-world it's easy to forgive with this patriotic script that provides insight in a world we don't normally see.

Safe House (02.10.12) Decent enough, but don't rush to see it.

The Vow. (02.09.12) Nothing original here. But how can you not love the leads from The Notebook and Dear John coming together to make their own romantic movie. The Vow isn’t anything extraordinary, but it’s a great date movie

Man on a Ledge. (02.04.12) Full of drama and action this film was surprisingly entertaining.

Chronicle (02.03.12) No, just no.

The Grey. (01.28.12) While my roommate really liked this movie, it wasn't my favorite of the year by any means.

Haywire. (01.25.12) It was a great action flick to start the year. Gina Carano made for a kick-ass action-chick lead, and it was a different enough film that I enjoyed it start to finish.

Contraband. (01.13.12) Mark Walhberg's in it. Enough said. *yes, that's a good thing

P.S. can you tell I got tired of writing reviews at some point? Yeah, I did.

Happy Easter!

2012-04-09T00:26:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter all! I know it's been a while since I've written a "real" post. A non-review/guide. An update on life that is. So I figure it's about time for one. Albeit a brief one.

I spent the weekend at Old Woodville. After all the crap I've been dealing with lately, getting away was really nice. In fact, I may try to get away more in the upcoming months if I'm able to between dr's appointments. Who knows.

More than anything this weekend proved what a friend is like at their very best and that sometimes people step up as family even if they're not technically family.

And now here's my weekend experience in photos:

Woodville. Absolutely gorgeous.

Springtime view 1. Click to enlarge.

Springtime view 2. Click to enlarge.

Springtime view from the side of the house. Click to enlarge.

A view from Woodville looking out at the mountains and Nydrie Farm. Click to enlarge.

"We're definitely from the South. We're shooting guns, drinking beer and talking about secession."

We're American. We play football on holidays.

And while I may not like dogs, these two gorgeous Rhodesian Ridgebacks are keepers.

Until next time...

Oh, and more about this later, but lots of items from my closet are now listed for sale, so check them out over at DCGOPGirl on Facebook.

Mirror Mirror Review

2012-03-30T11:31:00.004-04:00

Thursday night midnight movies (is "night midnight" redundant? oh well) are among my favorite things in the world. There's just something about seeing a flick before anyone else that I love. And rarely do you find me elsewhere on Thursday nights these days.

Last night was no exception. My roommate and I went to see Mirror Mirror the new Julia Roberts/Lilly Collins film.
I have a feeling I'm going against the grain on this one, but I truly enjoyed this bauble of a film. From opulent, vibrant sets to unexpected, witty one-liners, it was truly charming.

Overview: "A fresh and funny retelling of the Snow White legend, Mirror Mirror features breakout star Lily Collins as Snow White, a princess in exile, and Oscar-winner Julia Roberts as the evil Queen who ruthlessly rules her captured kingdom. Seven courageous rebel dwarfs join forces with Snow White as she fights to reclaim her birthright and win her Prince in this magical comedy filled with jealousy, romance, and betrayal that will capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences the world over."

The cast:
The Queen: Julia Roberts. Finally an age-appropriate film for Julia. Don't get me wrong, I love her with the best of them but she's had some duds in the past few years. But this one worked well for her and she played an over-the-top queen to a T.

Snow White: Lilly Collins. Daughter of musical savant Phil Collins, and better known as the daughter in The Blind Side, the perfectly cast ivory skin and raven hair mixed with her sugary sweet demeanor made Lilly a delightful Snow.

The Dwarves: unlike any dwarves you've previously seen in fair tales. Enamored with the beautiful, this drunken crew of thieves will keep you laughing.
I enjoyed Mirror Mirror from the beginning to "The End."

Prince Alcott: Armie Hammer. I recognize him best as the twins in The Social Network and the boyfriend in J.Edgar, Armie's boyish good-looks and endearing smile make him a believable prince that you can easily like. While I thought I'd find some of his scenes annoying based on the previews, I instead found myself laughing during his screen time, charmed by the prince.

The Verdict: While I won't classify this as a must, must see kind of movie, it's exponentially better than half of what's out there right now. So if you've already seen The Hunger Games, put Mirror Mirror next on your list. You won't be disappointed.

*Movie-goer tip: don't leave until the credits literally roll. You'll want to stick around and see what happens after "The End."

** Missed Mirror, Mirror when it was in theaters? Catch it now with Redbox. Click here to find a location nearest you, and reserve your copy. Yes, that's right. You can reserve your copy before you go to Redbox, guaranteeing its availability. Too good to be true for just a buck-twenty.

SoMe: Facebook Timeline 101: telling the story of your brand's life - timeline elements explained

2012-03-29T01:46:00.001-04:00

In my last post I gave you an easy cheat sheet guide to image sizes for elements in Facebook's new Timeline.

And with the hours ticking away before Facebook transitions all pages to Timeline, whether you're ready for it or not, I decided it was time for another guide that complements the first.

This time, it's Timeline 101. Sure you've seen some of the elements of Timeline before, heck you may even think you know it all, but odds are you're missing some little tidbit that could set you apart from all of your brand competition. So be sure to check out each section and make sure your page is up to snuff, before this Friday, March 30th!

Click to enlarge.

SoMe: Facebook Timeline Cheat Sheet for Images

2012-03-26T14:11:00.001-04:00

Unless you've been hiding under a rock the past month, you've probably heard that ALL Facebook "Pages" are converting to the new Facebook Timeline this Friday, March 30, 2012.

For some of you this is an exciting opportunity to market your brand in a new way, with a hip scrapbook-esque feel. For others, the idea is terrifying! I mean, you just got used to the old set-up and now Facebook is pushing a major change on you. Again.

One of the most complicated things people have asked me about Timeline is what size different graphics should be so that they're not cut off, etc. For those with Photoshop you're probably less concerned, you go for the trial and error route. For those without, who wants to pay a graphic designer to make a new cover photo and it be the wrong size? Either way, getting it right the first time around is the way to go.

Which is why I've created an easy Facebook Timeline Cheat Sheet for Images to help you get started, showing the ideal size for all page elements. So be sure to keep this close-by when designing your Timeline, and don't forget to share it with a friend!

Click to enlarge

Silent House Review

2012-03-25T12:42:00.004-04:00

Two things should be established early on:

1. I'm a pretty big Elizabeth Olsen fan. Like her super-twin sisters or not (of cours I do), there's no denying this sibling is chock-full of talent and she's super cute.

2. I hate suspense-thriller movies. You know the kind -- sit on the edge of your seat, while the music accelerates and your heartbeat picks up as you wait for something awful to happen. Seriously, not my style. I know better than being dragged into these kind of movies, and yet, it happens a few times a year. Fail on my part for that.

Now that those two points are established...

If you've seen the previews for this movie, you probably have decent expectations of what you think it is. Something along the lines of 88 minutes of Elizabeth Olsen and father being tortured in a house by God-only knows what in real time. And that much is true, the whole film is one long unbroken shot, and it stars the excellent Elizabeth Olsen, but that's about all it delivers.

"Silent House" could have been an intelligent and disturbing horror film -- perhaps even a classic. All the elements were in place: creepy location, good actress, decent story with a few twists. But regrettably, it was not. Don't get me wrong, you will sit on the edge of your seat waiting for what happens next, but the movie fell short of what the amazing trailers promised and I left the theater wanting something more. Or rather something else.

I won't bother delving into it further. You can choose to see and it make your own opinions. But if I were you, I'd wait til Redbox. Better yet, make it Netflix.

Have you seen it? What do you think?

Hunger Games Review

2012-03-23T11:46:00.003-04:00

Looking at the extensive list of flicks I went to see in 2011, it's safe to say I'm a movie fanatic. And so it should come as no surprise that I spend another Thursday night at midnight movie going to see "The Hunger Games" last night. And folks, we have a winner!

Hunger Game strayed far from that usual young adult novel turned film-cliché where everything is set to please every fan's hearts. No, it didn't follow they book 100%, but what movie does? You have to often cut and amend scenes to get into a watchable time. That was fine by me. Nothing they altered affected the overall storyline (SPOILER: did I really need to see the mayor's daughter give Katniss the mockingjay pin? No.)

That said, it was truly a magnificent view of Collin's bestselling novel. And if you've read the book it's incredibly fulfilling to see it come to life on the big screen. Good for those who haven't read it as well, it's a definite must-see.

What'd you think?

Wordless Wednesday: Polyvore Edition

2012-03-22T02:28:00.003-04:00

*it counts even thought it's late and now EARLY Thursday

I'm okay.

2012-03-12T01:05:00.001-04:00

So I just wanted to thank everyone for all of their kind words and support. As my parents pointed out, my "C word" post, was a bit too vague for those who hadn't read my previous post, and things really didn't make a lot of sense. By no means did I mean to worry any one, or have people think the worst. I don't really feel like talking about it all right now, but I will be okay.

So family members/friends who are worried -- worry not. Again, I will be okay.

And for those asking about this past Tuesday's surgery -- it went well. I spent the week on the mend, but I was able to venture out of the house today to the Caps game. So again, I'm okay. :)

Speaking of Caps -- we won today! Yay boys! Good job!

I was also dragged out by the guys to watch the Caps 2 weeks ago. I know, that makes this an old outfit now, but I polvore'd it then and failed to post it, so I'm doing it now.

Okay, this post was pretty pointless. Until next time...

I felt the first cracks...

2012-03-06T00:27:00.001-05:00

Sitting here in this empty house tonight. I'm finally losing it. I've been pretty angry at the world thus far, but somehow the silence has broken through the anger and now I'm just pathetically sad. I don't really want anything more than my parents to answer the phone right now, which they're not.

Jump ahead 15 minutes. They answered. Simply talking to someone and I was able to snap out of it.

One hour later and I feel like my emotions are like tectonic plates. Things are shifting. Subtle cracks in my once solidly cool exterior are beginning to show. I can't seem to make it more than 10 minutes at a time tonight without the tears welling up.

Do I feel sorry for myself? I don't know. Yes.

There are some truths I've still withheld from people in my life. Not what you think, but I've denied a few things that I should probably disclose. What's happening next with the "c" word. Consequences. Etc.

I'm not ready to be that kind of honest yet. Not even close.

Things I've been told that I'm not ready to process further. To share.

Which again, is all too vague for blogging and I'm very much aware of how my rambling sounds if your any place but my head right now.

The "c" word

2012-03-04T11:42:00.001-05:00

Maybe I haven't told you about it because telling you would make it more real.

Maybe I haven't told you about it because I keep telling myself that if I have surgery it will disappear without having to do anything else. I know it doesn't work that way, but if I think it enough -- maybe it will.

Maybe I haven't told you about it because I've not even began to tell the world around me (only a small, need-to-know, limited world) and I don't think it's fair for "you" to know before they do.

Maybe I haven't told you about it because I've managed to make myself sound logical, and accepting of it but if I let myself really feel right now, I know I won't feel anything but anger. *hell yes, I'm angry.

Maybe I haven't told you about it because I don't want to be defined by it. I don't to meet a nice guy (finally) and have to tell him about it either.

Maybe I haven't told you about it because I'm just so mad at the world right now that I'd much rather scream, or cry, or laugh than talk about it.

Maybe I haven't told you about it because I'm mad at those who do know, who say "we'll get through this. Whatever the doctor's say... consider yourself lucky. We can fight this. It's going to be okay."Okay my ass.

Maybe I haven't told you about it because I don't want to be one of those blogs that talks about "the journey" I'm about to go through. I'd rather talk politics and clothes.

Maybe I haven't told you because I don't want to have to talk about it. To have to answer questions.

Maybe I haven't told you because I don't want to have to deal with it on "my" time. That being any time that I don't choose to think about it on my own accord.

Maybe I haven't told you because I'm so desperately afraid of feeling alone right now, that I'd rather you not know so I don't have to feel let down by those that I care about.

Maybe I haven't told you because the minute I press "publish" I can't take the news back later. There's no more pretending everything is okay.

Maybe I haven't told you because you said "this happens to a lot of women," and that "abnormal tests are normal, don't worry about it," and now I know just how wrong you are. False hope was nice though.

Maybe I haven't told you about it because who in the hells wants to say they have cancer.