CommonSense.org

So I think Dr. Coyne sent the email out about the website commonsense.org. I just have to say that I love it! It gives great descriptions about all types of media and has been really helpful. I think this will be great while Steele and I are building up our movie/book collection so we know upfront what material is in it and then can choose if we even want it. A lot of movies I used to like I am realizing have stuff in it that I didn't quite catch and now I do, so this is a great resource. Yay, thanks Dr. Coyne!

Babysitting Blunder

So I've been a babysitter for quite sometime now. I think I started when I was 12, that should give somewhat credibility in being able to come up with something to do with the kids right? At one point in time I actually had kids requesting I come over just so I could tell them bedtime stories about 'Princess Lily' in Candyland. Well, I'm sad to say this, but I have realized that I am no longer the fun babysitter....I have been replaced by the media. I have suggested playing games, drawing, and pretty much turning off anything that had an on/off button! However, I found that the majority of my time babysitting more recently has been entrenched in the media. Maybe I am just old school but I feel like I didn't do that as much when I was growing up. I ran outside and made 'potions' from the dirt/weeds/whatever, made forts, played street hockey/tag/basketball, went to the park, made jewelry, did crafts, played games, and just did a lot more that was not so media saturated. I think I turned out ok...I'll let you be the judge of that. I'm just really surprised that its hard to think of a way to have fun together without it involving the tv, videogames, ipods, etc. Granted, sometimes the weather is bad like it has been lately, it was but I still think there are ways to have time better spent. Any suggestions for next time or thoughts of how I can balance keeping up with 'modern' kids interests while not being glued to a screen?

South Carolina Republican Debate

So my husband and I have been married for 2 years. For the first year and a half, we lived about ten minutes outside of Washington D.C. and really got a taste of the D.C. political culture. A lot of people in our ward worked in the pentagon, were government workers, etc. One of the ladies in my ward offered me a job to work with her as a campaign fundraiser. Basically we worked on different congressional, senatorial, and presidential campaigns, and the NGA and raised money for them. A lot of times I would be on the phone with something and they would ask me my thoughts on a recent political news something or other and I had NO idea about who the politician was or what the issue was. Needless to say, I started getting involved with CNN, Fox, etc. to be caught up on the political news. I just stopped doing the fundraising last month to do school full time, but my hubby and I still try to keep up with the political arena. Therefore, many of our date nights the past few months has been watching the republican debates together. We watched it last night (he is in Oregon so we just texted our thoughts back and forth) and it was pretty interesting. I myself am pro-Romney, but I thought it was a good debate for Santorum as well last night. I also liked some aspects of what Ron Paul talked about with the budget cuts with military defense. Anywho, I know that politics can be a touchy subject and I've learned from experience that it is a topic to never bring up over Christmas dinner, but I feel like I'm filling my civic duty by watching the debates. Its one of those 'bonding' things with Steele and I and I'm able to have more conversations with my parents and grandparents and kind of link the generation gap more by being updated on what is going on. I don't think I would have gotten into it if we hadn't gone to DC but I think its good to stay involved. I'm not going to get into a political debate via blogging...soo...thats a wrap!

The New 'For the Strength of the Youth' Pamphlet

Hi guys....so my hubby and I are Sunday School teachers in our ward for the 12-13 year olds. In December we saw that we had covered all the lessons and had an extra day to do whatever pretty much (not that it said to do 'whatever' in the lesson manual, haha). So...we found out on the youth.lds.org website that there is a NEW For the Strength of the Youth pamphlet! And guess what...it is AWESOME! We went through the new parts of it with them. Here is the link to it:

https://lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth?lang=eng

Here are some things that I saw that stuck out to me as pretty awesome:

-Always be kind and respectful when you ask for a date or when you accept or decline one. While on a date, be courteous as you listen to others and express your own feelings.

-As you enter your adult years, make dating and marriage a high priority

-The whole section on media/entertainment (very pertinent to our class if I do say so myself): https://lds.org/youth/for-the-strength-of-youth/entertainment-and-media?lang=eng

-Seek to be a peacemaker rather than to tease, fight, and quarrel.

-Do not participate in any form of bullying. Make a special effort to be a friend to those who are shy or lonely, have special needs, or do not feel included. (This has Dr. Coyne's lectures from last semester written all over it)

-Speak kindly and positively about others. Choose not to insult others or put them down, even in joking. Avoid gossip of any kind, and avoid speaking in anger. When you are tempted to say harsh or hurtful things, leave them unsaid.

-Keep your music at a reasonable volume, and remove your earphones when others are talking to you or want you to be part of their activities

-Attend only those dances where dress, grooming, lighting, lyrics, music, and entertainment contribute to a wholesome atmosphere where the Spirit may be present. (whoa...that definitely would have ruled out my high school prom/homecoming)

-Disappointment and occasional sadness are part of this mortal life. However, if you have prolonged feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, or depression, talk with your parents and your bishop and seek help.

-Avoid situations that invite increased temptation, such as late-night or overnight activities away from home or activities where there is a lack of adult supervision.

-Victims of sexual abuse are not guilty of sin and do not need to repent

There is a lot more that they added to it that approach topics like eating disorders, gambling, pornography, bullying, and a bunch of other stuff. It is really awesome. Which of these stand out to you or what are other things you picked up on when you looked at it?


Yay for Latter-day prophets!!!!!!!

Puss in Boots

So for date night, Steele and I went to go see Puss in Boots at the dollar movie. I was super excited, thought it'd be another great pixar, heard a lot of good things about it, etc. However....I was pretty disappointed! The reason being...all the sexual innuendoes. The beginning scene is him (Puss) waking up and putting his clothes back on and leaving this girl cat in the room then riding off. Then the last scene said something like 'and I'm good with women, really good, with a lot of women'. Afterward I looked in the theater and it was packed with kids. This frustrated me because this is supposed to be a kids movie but its highlighting, encouraging, and promoting sexual promiscuity. Urg. The cat he has a fling with in the movie doesn't even get together with him, he just concludes it by saying he's good with a lot of women. What message is that sending?? I read Dr. Linder's blog post about the rating system and how it is more and more lax about content and I completely agree. This frustrates me because I can't trust a kids movie and will need to be like extra cautious with my kids, make sure I see the movies they watch, explain the innuendoes in the gospel perspective, and just pray for some of the film media majors at BYU to go make some wholesome movies! Won't be owning that movie unfortunately. Anyways...I'm off my soap box for now...expect more to come!

Why I love GROUPON!

Ok so my hubby and I are still newlyweds right? We just had our 2 year anniversary and so I still consider us newlyweds. Anywho...we have been on a pretty tight budget, especially when we lived in DC and everything was so expensive. Well, Steele (my husband), isn't one for shopping...like at all. However...through the wonderful, amazing, and brilliant emails from Groupon, he has given in to his shopping side. He's gotten restaurant coupons, pedi/manis, random activities, and pretty much a bunch of stuff that we would NEVER buy! However...the ads work well with him and thus the $20 for $50 worth of Old Navy or whatever else it has been has made me a bit more spoiled, you could say, than before. Would he buy $20 worth of shirts at Old Navy if we walked in...heavens no...but if we got a Groupon for it, bring it on! All hail Groupon!!!