Oh Steph!: April 2011

For Mom (and me too)

I bought this print by Don Carney from 20x200 the other day. When it showed up in the mail today and it was even cooler then I imagined, I bought one for my Mom - we both have a thing for birds. I hope she likes it!

I also have my eye on this fauxidermy deer head - I think it will be our anniversary splurge this year. What do you think?

Am I beginning to sense a wildlife theme here?

Steph's Top 5 Under-Appreciated Movies

Because I know you care, and because we are having a bit of a film festival at the Maughan house. Here are 5 movies that I think are fabulous and need to be appreciated more.

#1 Willow

Released in 1988 - story by George Lucas - staring Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis. A great story in which a reluctant dwarf must play a critical role in protecting a special baby from an evil queen. This movie has it all: fantasy, romance, knights, magic, whit, and a feisty redhead to boot. I loved this movie as a child, I think I love it even more as an adult.

#2 Strictly Ballroom

Released in 1992 - my mother bought me this movie on VHS when I was a child and I have watched it hundreds times! A great story with a great message, this movie is funny and the dancing is great. It is a bit of a mockumentry that turns into a real movie half way through - you must watch it more then once to really get it, but damn if I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life this just might be the one!

#3 Hitch Hikers Guide To the Galaxy

Released in 2005 - staring Zooey Deschanel and other people. LB and I quote this movie constantly, its pathetic. This movie is a hoot, it takes a quarky sense of humor to truly appreciate it, but totally worth your time. Mostly this movie is just funny but it does answer the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything - I won't ruin it for you by giving you the answer. Watch this movie!

#4 Once

Released in 2006 at the Sundance Film Festival - A modern day musical in which you must also buy the sound track! This movie is a love story set in Dublin and staring two people who are not actors but really musicians. Now this movie is rated R and before all my fellow Mormons freak, it is rated such because they say the "F" word a few times and that is it (also in Ireland the "F" word is used in the same way we use like and umm - or so I'm told). This is a fabulous movie about following ones dreams, the music is amazing (oscar winning even), and the characters are lovely. I have even seen the two main actors/stars in concert, they were amazing!!

#5 The Emperor's New Groove

Released in 2000 by Disney - This movie is Hysterical, easily one of Disney's best and oh so quote-able. This movie has great characters, there is no breaking into song, and the story of the emperor turning into a lama could not be more fun. Kids will love this movie, grandparents will love this movie, you will love this movie.

So there you have it folks - 5 great movies that you need to appreciate more, and by appreciate I mean watch, love, and own. Now I realize this is just my opinion, so you must have a few movies that you think are under-appreciated so do share and tell me what movies you think I need to be in the know of as well.

Deep Breaths...

Last year sometime I decided that I was going to apply to graduate school. I have always wanted to get a Masters Degree, partly for me, somewhat for the security that comes from more education, and partly because I am too competitive with my extremely brilliant spouse. So I hoed and hummed and dragged my feet for several months and then finally signed up to take the GRE (GRE=test of death). The GRE did not go well, let just leave it at that. However, way back in December I applied to grad school anyway.

Well since we will be paying off law school student loans for eons to come I decided that I needed to go to a state school, after all that is why we live in VA and not DC. So there is really only one Sate University within reasonable distance that had the masters program I was looking for; that's right folks, despite what my mother taught me I put all my eggs in one basket and applied to only one school!

Then came waiting, so I waited, then the school informed me that there were changes within the department and it would be a while longer. So I waited some more, two more months to be exact. Then I gave up hope and convinced myself that I did not really want to go to grad school, that I really had little hope of getting in, and that teaching ballet was my new career and damn it I was going to good at it. But I emailed the university and asked if they had made a decision anyway - to which I was told they had and I would get a letter soon. Then I waited some more, it was painful, I was stalking the postman.

Well the letter finally came! And after getting the mail and while walking to the car to get the groceries I tore the damn thing open and upon seeing the word "congratulations" I started to cry. Apparently I did want to go to grad school after all! It was such a relief to have a direction in life again, to feel successful, and to get something I really wanted. But then the fear set in, the fear of going back to school, the fear of the unknown and of the debt that I would accrue in the process. I lied awake at night for hours going over and over in my head whether or not I was making the right choice and if I could really handle grad school. However, sleepless nights, debt and doubts aside I have decided to go for it.

So as of Fall 2011 I will be attending George Mason University working towards my Masters in Public Health (MPH) - Go Patriots!

Favorite Things

I have nothing to blog about! I spend my days in a ballet studio with children and teenagers. My major stressors at the moment have to do choreography, teaching pirouettes, and getting 6-year-olds to stand in a line while remembering their dance, now these things maybe keeping me up at night they are not however great blogging material.

So, since I have nothing great to blog about here are a few of my current favorite things - cuz I know you care.

essie nail polish in turquoise & caicos

I have a small obsession with nail polish and it is a personal goal of mine to be able to paint my right hand finger nails with my left hand. The great part of essie nail polish is that it says on longer then a day and you can buy it at Target - the draw back it cost about $8.

She Laq by Benefit Magical Makeup Sealer

I was skeptical at first but this stuff is genius! Between the humidity and the fact that I spend hours in hot ballet studios with sweaty kids I was ending up with mascara everywhere until I found this stuff. If you are moving to or living in a humid climate check this stuff out.