MK&A: Ridiculous but Intriguing

Edicts from Lucky

I was reading Lucky Magazine and they had 100 edicts that the editors live by. Here are the 15 top ones I circled.

1. Hair: Blow-dry to the side rather than (or in addition to) upside down for volume.

2. No beauty product can do for you what eights hours of sleep can.



3. Always have at least one black-tie dress in your closet in case of last minute celebrating.

4. Buy clothes that you will wear on a Tuesday afternoon, not a Saturday- few people lead Saturday-night lives.

5. Packing: Roll, never fold.

6. Never get on an airplane without a chasmere blanket or huge scarf.


7. Most useless advice from a salesperson: "You can wear it with jeans."

8. Things that look crappy on a hanger could look gorgeous once you put them on.

9. If something is expensive, leave it behind for 24 hours. If you are still obsessed with it the next day, buy it.

10. The one remaining style rule to never break: no more than three colors in one outfit.

11. Your waist isn't wear you think it is. It's about three inches higher. Put another way: the most flattering spot for a waisted dress to hit is just under the rib cage.


12. By age 30, every women should own three pairs of comfortable flats, three pairs of walkable heels, and two pards of total sexpot stilettos.

13. In life you will need four bags a big, slouchy weekend one; two good-looking but practical work ones; and a sleek evening one. Minimum.

14. A leather jacket looks great with a party dress.

15. Pairing a boyish piece with a girly one will make you look like you know how to dress.

Choosing to be happy and loving the cold

Just because I know this is true doesn't mean I am always going to act like it is.



But for now, I am acting like it is because I am in Sioux Falls, South Dakota embracing the 20 degree weather and loving being with my family! I am such a Yankee, it is pathetic.

The Last Song - The book is better but I love this scene...

Mono to Movie

First off, I am sorry I have been so pathetic lately. I had mono and I didn't know this for the first three weeks and it really messed with me mentally and physically. (Hence all the depressing type posts/pictures. I mean, I am normally a pretty happy person.)

For the first time in my life I felt completely out of control, overwhelmed, insufficient, and incapable of doing anything to the standard at which I hold myself. I would sit down to write a paper and absolutely nothing would get done. Focusing was almost impossible and it was the weirdest, most awful feeling for a while. I was about two steps from diagnosing myself with A.D.D. and getting medication to help.

It was after falling asleep on my boss's desk at work,taking two hours naps during the day (which I didn't have time for), and having a sore throat for three weeks, I began to think "Hmm... I may actually be sick." So I went to the nasty, community clinic here in Siloam and it was confirmed. I had/have mono.

Thankfully, I am now on the down slope but I am still exhausted and creativity in my writing is still escaping my brain but I am trying. I am beginning to get back on track. It feels a lot better.

But for all of you who are completely overwhelmed with life whether it is school, family, friends, financial things, or maybe all of them together, know that I completely understand how you feel. And its okay to be mad, sad, and even depressed.

It will pass. I hate that saying because I really didn't feel like it would over the past few weeks but it will. It is just the season of life you are in and you know what, you are not in control anyways. Remember: God works for the good of those who love Him, even though I felt like I was failing at loving Him too. But that is why He is so great. He doesn't care how much I fail. He just loves me regardless.

So all to say, the pieces will fall together, this season will pass, and you know what: Harry Potter is coming out tonight! The final film! You can't be upset today! I know everyone is excited!




"Harry Potter has reached out to an estimate of 200 countries, spoke out in over 69 languages and has touched the lives of more than 400 million people. It is the phenomenon that ignores race, age, gender or religion and it has brought us together despite all our differences. We are the Harry Potter generation."

Although I wish this quote could be said in regards to something else, there is unrelenting truth to it.

I am excited. And geeze, they are so grown up.

B & W

My Movie Review

This semester I am taking a class called Magazine Writing and I have really enjoyed it. For my first piece, I decided to do a movie review on M. Night Shyamalan's movie "Devil". Although the choice is kind of random, I thought it would be interesting just because of his history with movies and how they have seemed to digress ever since the "Sixth Sense".

Anyways, I sent in my review to the magazine, "Christianity Today", and as I expected it was too late to do the movie release since the movie was out for about a month already. However, the guy emailed me back and told me to do a DVD release with a 100 word limit. If they like it, they will buy it which would be cool.

But as for now, I thought I would post the review that I originally wrote just for kicks and giggles/ for those who are interested. Here it is:

"Devil Not So Devilish"

Picture yourself riding in an elevator. There is the typical jazzed elevator music playing in the background as you are riding to your destination, awkwardly staring at the four other people doing the same exact thing. But, out of nowhere, the elevator comes to a sudden halt. All of a sudden you find yourself trapped in a small confined space, with four strangers, no windows, no ventilation, and no communication with the outside world.

Sounds like a perfect set-up for a scary movie, doesn’t it?

In the first of a series of supernatural films titled “The Night Chronicles”, M. Night Shyamalan’s film “Devil”, released on September 17th, is based on that exact scenario except with one added twist: the Devil is among them looking for someone to torment. What seems like a perfect set-up for a “sure-to-thrill” movie, Shyamalan’s touch on the story once again fails to deliver a huge scare factor. However, viewers don’t necessarily walk away completely disappointed.
The opening of the film begins with a Bible verse displayed across the screen. The verse is 1 Peter 5:8 and it says “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”.

The story is centered around Detective Bowden played by Chris Messina (Julia & Julia, 2009). Viewers are introduced to Bowden in the opening scene as he is talking to his sponsor. He is telling Bowden he needs to learn how to forgive after dealing with the loss of his wife and child. Dealing with the tragedy has led him to almost drink himself to death and left him with no faith in God or the Devil. Soon after, Bowden is called to a crime scene where a man has fallen from a building. The same building where the five strangers are about to enter the elevator, ominously numbered Elevator 6.

But who are these five strangers whom fate or some higher power has brought together? Viewers learn each has done his or her own sin that has placed them on this elevator marking each one of them as a possible target.

First the audience is introduced to the typical suit and tie mattress salesman (Geoffry Arend). He tries to provide some comic relief during the first few minutes the strangers are stuck on the elevator but then becomes a nuisance that no one likes. Second there is the typical old lady (Jenny O’Hara) who is frail, incapable of doing anything and yet easily irritated by everyone in the elevator, especially the next character, a big African-American male (Bookeem Woodbine) who is serving as temp security guard in the building. Suffering from claustrophobia and being the stereotypical intimidating African-American male he, of course, is an easy target as being “devil worthy.” Then the viewer realizes how politically incorrect that is and he or she dismisses him from that possibility…but is that a wise decision? The next character is a quiet, rough around the edges, white guy (Logan Marshall-Green) who has a mischievous air. Then finally there is the rich, innocent, cute girl (Bojana Novakovic) who portrays the first victim of the devil’s attack very convincingly. Could the blood on her back simply be self-induced, excusing her from any accusations of being the Devil or the cause of the tormenting? Shyamalan does a fair job at keeping the audience guessing throughout the film.

Jump starting his career with the box office hit “The Sixth Sense” which made $293.5 million in the USA alone, Shyamalan has tried again and again to produce another thriller. None of them have been able to exceed the success of “The Sixth Sense” financially or artistically. The plot and stories of his other films have yet to deliver a twist that leaves the audience in awe as with his first film.
The same is true of “Devil”. As the plot of the story is unveiled, viewers don’t necessarily get the thrills they want or expect from the hopeful trailers. However, this cannot discredit the improvement of the story line compared to Shyamalan’s last four films. Maybe the improvement seen in “Devil” is simply because the only part Shyalaman did play was the actual writing of the story.

“Devil” was directed by John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine, 2008) and the screenplay was written by Brian Nelson (Hard Candy, 2005). According to Scott Mendelson of the Huffington Post, he says of the film that “In terms of pure entertainment value, this is the best thing that Shyamalan has put his name on since “Signs” eight years ago. For a man with such a legendary ego, it's interesting that he'd allow someone else to tell his stories, let alone tell them better than he has been doing for the last several year” (Mendelson, 2010.www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-mendelson/huff-post-review-devil-20_b_734304.html .) Either way, the story line of “Devil” does a better job at intriguing the audience and producing a story that is worth hearing because the movie, unlike many films in the horror/thriller genre, has a point and lesson to be learned by the audience.

Similar to the surprising love story from “The Village” or the lesson on faith seen in “Signs”, the writers of “Devil” create a story about confession and forgiveness. Without giving too much of the story away for those who have yet to see the film, the writers push forward a question of: are we not only willing to admit our faults but also forgive those who harm and hurt us? The inability to do so can cause us to live under a tormented, hopeless life instead of living in freedom and peace.

So although Shyamalan’s movies have continuously lacked in the scare factor, Shyamalan still has the talent of using his movies to present a deeper meaning than just to provide a thrill for the audience. “Devil” may pale in comparison to the hair-tingling moments of “The Sixth Sense”, but there is a meaning behind the story that sends deeper questions to his audience, questions which are probably worth looking into.

To My Big Sister and Best Friend!

Through thick and thin and ups and downs you have always been there. Since the day I born I am pretty sure you have taken care of me and I would be so lost without you.

You are my best friend and sister and always will be. We have a bond that no one will ever be able to break. Yeah...people should be jealous of me and the awesome sister I have. I couldn't ask for a better one.

I love you so much. Happy Birthday!

To My Oldest Friend

Today is my best friend Molly's 22nd Birthday!



We met in Kindergarten and still remain best friends today. She is the other third to the amazing trio that makes my life wonderful. (Kathrine, Molly, and I)



I cannot explain to you, Molly, how much I love you and how grateful I am for your friendship. Through the ups and downs of my life, you have always been there and I know you always will be.



From when I got sent to d-hall in the first grade and you came with me because I begged you too. Or when we were 16 and I begged you to go with me and Kevin, my first boyfriend, everywhere because I needed you there to make things easier. From Winter Chill days to camp outs to high school graduation. And even now, when I beg you to run errands with me or to go out with a group of people I don't know well, you are always there.


A friendship like ours is rare to find and it is one of the greatest joys of my life. As we know, I love to brag about it. You are the bestest friend and wing man a girl or really any guy could ever ask for. I love you so much and I am sorry I can't be there to celebrate your 22nd Birthday!



Happy Birthday Molly Sue!!

The E-Word

"To be a good surgeon, you have to think like a surgeon. Emotions are messy. Tuck them neatly away and step into a clean, sterile room where the procedure is simple. Cut, suture, close. But sometimes you're faced to a cut that won't heal. A cut that rips its stitches wide open."
-Dr. Meredith Grey

Try and Locate Me

Where I am and where I want to be are two completely different places right now.

and I don't know how to fix it.

but I keep being told that I need too.

Mrs. Nesbitt(Toy Story original clip)

Hide Me.

Rent's Due Today

Considering my recent addiction to Friends and the fact that it is the 3rd of the month, I thought this was quite appropriate.

Here's to another crazy busy weekend!