GREATEST SHOWMAN RABBIT HOLE

Have you seen The Greatest Showman?  🙋🏻🙋🏻 Are you obsessed with the music like we are? 🤗🤗

A while back, The Popcast (my very favorite podcast), put me on to some "making of" videos that show the cast pitching the show to the executives who needed to green-light it.  The first video shows when Hugh Jackman was supposed to not be singing, but just couldn't help himself when it came time for them to perform "From Now On."  They look like they are all doing exactly what they are meant to be doing and having the very best time, and it is a joy to watch.



The next video from that same day was when Keala Settle sings This Is Me, and her performance is so heart-felt in the face of her fear.  Spoiler alert: I have yet to watch this without shedding some tears.  This song is so beautiful.



I knew it was only a matter of time before some great parodies cropped up, and I've rounded up a couple, if you want to keep falling down this Greatest Showman rabbit hole with me.

One of my favorite funny families on the internet is the Holderness family, and they just delivered a pretty great montage last week.  My favorite one is "This Was Clean," though I also love "Go Get In the Car."



Another funny couple did a lipsync in their car in full costumes which is fun.  It won't let me embed it, but you can see it here.

And, have you ever seen anything by Todrick Hall?  He's so talented, and his mashup of Greatest Showman is amazing.



His 90s and 2000s mashups are also super entertaining, and I saw his Taylor Swift video today and loved it.

It's spring break here, and sometimes it helps to have a little extra entertainment - enjoy!

FYE: BECAUSE IT'S BEEN TOO LONG

Man, there is some funny stuff out there on the internets.  Here are a few things that have me laughing lately.

If you've ever tried to restrict your caloric intake for any reason, you'll appreciate this Instagram series by Chris Pratt who is slimming down for his role in Jurassic World 2.  It's titled "What's My Snack" and is really funny.

Next up: Church Hunters - a parody of House Hunters where a "young, energetic couple" is searching for the church that is right for them!  This is far too close to reality in our current church culture and spot on.



This guy also brought us the Sponsor a Millennial video, which is a fav of ours.



Also, if you are a mother and have ever watched The Bachelor, this parody will hit home.



In other mom news, Nordstrom came out with some Clear Knee Mom Jeans, which are head-scratching in and of themselves.  The reviews highlighted in this article are priceless.

I love laughing, and all of these things brought giggles - hope they can cheer up your post spring break life!

FYE: ELECTION EDITION

While the third and final presidential debate is raging on, and the Dodgers are battling the Cubs (Go Dodgers!), I'm looking for a little comic relief.  This election season has been so wearying, and honestly, it is much easier to make fun of the whole thing.  In that vein, here are a few things that have helped me in that pursuit.

Bad Lip Reading from First Presidential Debate



I've Had the Time of my Life



Why Vote?



Who's Gonna Work It Out?



Also, Jen Hatmaker brought this to my attention yesterday, and it completely cracked me up - In the Scholastic children's election that has correctly predicted the presidential race since 1964, there were an unusual number of third party candidates and write ins that received votes, notably, bacon.  #BaconforPresident 😂 (as a side note - if we can't have bacon for president, can we at least have it as an emoji?  this seems like a massive emoji oversight.)

In all truth, I have struggled (haven't we all?) to muddle my way through what I should do.  I'm clinging to the fact that God is just as sovereign on November 9th as any other day, and I'm praying for his direction as I engage in this process.  And I'm looking for laughs along the way. 👊

THINGS I'M CRUSHING ON

Obviously, the world is a heavy place right now.  I broke down in sobs last night for lots of reasons - loss of life and racial tensions in our country, my own impending changes and the ways that I feel worn around the edges from the past couple of weeks.  It's been a lot, and thankfully, God is helping me get through it all, cause he is so good like that.

Here are a few other fun things that are brightening my day regularly.  I've blogged about changing our eating habits around here, and though I can barely believe I am writing these words, I've become someone that really loves Kale Chips.  I've started hoarding this variety from Kroger (especially since they were on sale last week), and I'm looking into making my own.  But also, it is easiest to buy them.

There's is a Kool Ranch flavor that I like as well, though I can't quite trick myself into thinking I'm eating Doritos - more's the pity.  Some of my kids will also eat these, and they do fit that snack hole in my life really well.

This is another "healthy" snack that I found recently at Sam's - it does have sugar, but it has a lot of other good stuff as well and helps satisfy the sweets craving.

CFA came out with a new Egg White Grill for breakfast that features egg whites, cheese and grilled chicken on an English muffin.  I tried it today, and it is SO. GOOD.  Packed with good protein and delicious.



I gave up Diet Dr. Pepper (🙌😔#mixedfeelings) months ago and needed some other options to fill that hole.  I started drinking coffee - this, cold and on ice, with a splash of Coconut/Almond milk and Skinny Girl Stevia.  Yummy.



Since I shouldn't drink coffee all day (bummer), I also found this tasty drink.  I am hesitant to tell you about it, because I am finding that my favorite flavor - the coconut - is regularly sold out in several local locations.  So maybe you should buy a little but leave the rest for me.

Another thing that I stalk at my local grocery store/Target are these press-on nails.  I still love my Jamberrys, but I haven't made an order recently, and it is very convenient to pick these up at Kroger.  They are hard and stay on in my life and come in fun colors, and they are a very reasonably priced option to have great looking nails that you do at home.  I usually just use the solid colors, but some of the designs are fun too.

John and I have been collectively crushing on the Tour De France like we do every July.  The scenery is everything, and the intricate race plotting and team dynamics keep us fascinated each year.

(photo cred to 20 Minutes site)

I imagine that you, like me, have heard of and enjoyed some of James Cordon's Carpool Karaoke with celebrities.  My favorites are Adele and the one with the Broadway stars - so good.  I really enjoy them all.  I also laughed a ton at this mash up with Anna Kendrick - not a carpool, but so fun.



This are a few of the things that have become my new favorites - maybe you'll find something you like too!

FYE & BOOKS

It's been a long time since I've complied some of the things that have entertained me recently.  Jimmy Fallon had Melissa McCarthy on a few weeks back with this hilarious lip sync battle as a result.



I know this zombie apocalypse prank video was shared about a million times online, but it is SO worth the watch.  I laugh with tears when I watch it.  😂😂😂



If you want to see the follow up on Ellen where they discuss the prank - here it is.



In the vein of pranks - check out this prank where people use what looks to be a real raptor to scare their co-workers in a parking garage.  😳😳😳



I have also been reading a TON this year.  I read mostly fiction, though I have been trying to warm myself to more non-fiction and memoirs.  (I give other book recs and a little background of my reading tastes here, if you're curious.)  Here are a few books that I've loved this year.

The Lake House by Kate Morton

This might have taken the place of The Secret Keeper as my new favorite Kate Morton - though I certainly have enjoyed most of her books.  It flashes back and forth from the past to the present to tell the story of a family mystery, and it is just a beautiful journey.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

After reading this book, I read almost everything else that Rainbow Rowell has written, because I enjoyed the style so much.  It would be considered a young adult book as a love story between two high schoolers, but the themes are a little grittier, and the characters are so endearing.  My other favorites by Rainbow Rowell were Fangirl and Attachments.  (There is some bad language - be warned.)

Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

This book would be considered classic chick lit, but it is so adorable and set in a charming English city by the sea, and I fell in love with everything.  It also made me want to bake more bread and includes recipes for things she makes in the book.  (another language warning)

The Chief Inspector Gamache Mystery Series by Louise Penny

I'm only three books in, but I am really enjoying this series.  Gamache is such a likable character with hero qualities, and you find yourself cheering for him.  These books (so far), are set in a small village in Canada with an assortment of interesting people and references to great food and art.  I definitely want to visit Three Pines - though I hope I don't get killed there.  (language warning)

Also - did you know that you can check out audio books through your local library on your phone?  Check it out!  My library system has SO many of the books that I want to read available on audio (or at least an e-book), and this helps feed my reading craze without breaking the bank.  I'm a huge fan!

FYE FOR NOVEMBER

Something that keeps me afloat is laughter.  Real life can be a downer.  It is good and rich and completely full of things that God has for me and my family, but it can be filled with hard things at the same time.  So, I look for ways to laugh often.  Here are some of the things that have cracked me up recently.

The Active Wear video.  Y'all.  This is so true and funny.  My friends and I have enjoyed sending selfies to each other of all that we do while in our active wear.  It is so stinking versatile.



These next two will allow you to capture my exact age - this song was so popular when I was in high school, and I can probably sing almost every word.  I'm not sure why Alanis Morrissette is suddenly popping up everywhere, but I'm glad she is.

The first one is "Ironic" with updated lyrics including modern problems.



The next one is "Ironic" sung by the "Jagged Little Chicks" on Jimmy Fallon.



John and I have also been working our way through Parks and Rec, which provides endless entertainment.  I'm sure the humor style is probably not for everyone, but it has lightened our evenings up, and I've very much appreciated it.  What's made you laugh lately?

SUMMER READING RECOMMENDATIONS

I'm an avid reader.  Always have been.  I got to thinking that it might be fun to do a blog post with my favorite books, because I have found so many good books through the recommendations of others.  Then I realized that what I read is pretty personal to me.  Everyone has different desires of things they want to get out of reading and what they like or tolerate.

I'll describe my basic reasons for reading as well as some of my own standards, and that may help you better judge whether you would want to take any of my recommendations.  Mostly, I read for fun, which for me means that I mostly read fiction.  I do often read books that would encourage me spiritually as well, but by and large, I devour fiction.  I love Harry Potter and have read the series more times than I can count.  I love Anne of Green Gables and have read all eight of those books repeatedly (though I don't really care for the 4th much, so it has often been skipped).  I've read Pride and Prejudice over and over.  I also really enjoy many of John Grisham's novels, so I guess my taste is a little all over the place.

I've realized that I enjoy many young adult books, because I prefer to read things that could be made into a PG-13 movie, more or less (though I will say that I tolerate bad language much more than graphic violence or a lot of sex).  I do venture into adult fiction as well, since I am a grown-up.  Once I find an author that I like, I usually read a lot of their books, because I find that I can trust them to some degree.  Reading is basically letting someone else take you on a journey, and I don't like falling into the wrong hands.  I also read a lot of reviews before I choose a book to this end.  If lots of people say they hate the ending, I usually skip the book, because for me, there are enough real things in life that have bad endings, and I don't want that in my "entertainment."

So - here are a few books you might enjoy!

The Secret Keeper, by Kate Morton

This is the first Kate Morton book I read and my favorite.  It flashes between the past and present, like all of her books, and has many surprises along the way.  I love a good mystery, and this one kept me "turning pages"***.  It's a little lighter than some of her other work, but I did enjoy her other novels as well.



***I mostly listen to books.  If you are wondering how in the world I have time to read, it is because I multi-task a lot of different things and reading.  You can decorate cookies, sew, fold laundry, do dishes AND read when you have book on your phone ready at the push of a button.  Audio books make my world go round.

The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion

This book is light and fun.  It is told from the first person narrative of someone who is on the autism spectrum, and his perspective on life and the ways that he relates to people are hilarious.  And it's an adorable love story to boot.  I recently read the sequel, The Rosie Effect and loved it as well.



A Time to Kill and Sycamore Row, John Grisham

I've read many of John Grisham's novels, but when I saw that one of the newer ones - Sycamore Row - was a sequel to A Time to Kill, I realized that I had never read the first one.  I read them back to back, and it was a compelling look at racism in the not so distant past.  Both books were gripping and thought-provoking to read - though I did skip a chunk of the first chapter of A Time to Kill.



The Selection Series, by Kiera Cass

Okay.  You very well may judge me for putting The Selection Series in this list, and I will very well tell you that I don't really care if you think my reading preferences are like that of a 14 year old girl.  Sometimes they are.  This is pure fluff.  I've heard it said that if The Hunger Games and The Bachelor were to have a lovechild, this would be the result, without the violence of the Hunger Games (which I read and mostly enjoyed until the last book which I mostly hated).  There are four books in this series so far, and a fifth book will complete it.  They are not great quality writing, but the books were fun, mostly interesting reads, and I was sad when I was done reading them.  And I'm excited for the last one to come out.  Plus, they have beautiful covers.  It matters.



The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver

This book is the opposite of fluff.  It is excellent story-telling through the lens of four sisters whose parents move them to Africa to be missionaries.  As a Christian, I found it a fascinating- though cynical - look at missions and what can go wrong.  It has more sadness than most books on this list, but it stuck with me and kept me thinking.



The Cuckoo's Calling, by Robert Galbraith (aka JK Rowling)

This is the first book of the Cormoran Strike detective series brought to us by JK Rowling under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.  I love this series.  JK Rowling is a masterfully engaging writer, and I really enjoy her style of story-telling.  These both have a bit of gore and lots of bad language - just to warn you.  I am anxiously awaiting the third book that will debut this fall and seeing my friends Cormoran and Robyn again.



Love Does, by Bob Goff

If you are looking for a quick, uplifting read that will challenge how you view God and people, this is the book!  It's so good.  Bob Goff is one of the most infectious people walking around Earth right now, and it is inspiring to hear some of his God stories.



The Royal We, by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks

This is more pure fluff.  It is loosely based on what the story of William and Kate might look like if you had a front row seat.  So, if you like the British Royals and fun love stories, you will like this book.



Well, I feel a bit as if I've bared my soul by showing you what I like to read.  I hope you find something in there to help you make it through the summer heat!  I'd love to hear your suggestions as well - I always have a running list of what to read next.

FYE: JULY EDITION

Real life's heavy, huh?  Here are a few things that might make you giggle on this Friday afternoon - For Your Entertainment: July edition.

I love big superhero movies.  In fact, I actually like them much more than John, probably because my ability to suspend reality is quite well developed.  Here's a parody of the Avengers making them out to be rednecks.



And - there's just something about the tryouts for major reality shows that can having me tearing up in no time.  Here are three local guys that wowed the judges on America's Got Talent.  Clearly, no one expected them to do well, but they are just charming!



For kicks, let's throw it all the way back to when Susan Boyle first auditioned on Britain's Got Talent. Her moving, shockingingly good rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Mis still brings me to tears.



Did you ever see the movie Newsies?  I LOVED this movie in my youth.  In fact, I loved it and watched it so often that my Dad hid the video to avoid hearing it.  Here is a hilarious mashup of a dance scene from Newsies synced to Uptown Funk.  The internet does bring us good things indeed.



After seeing this, it inspired me to go onto YouTube and watch the actual Newsies song and dances, which the kids and I thoroughly enjoyed before nap today.  Can't wait til the girls are old enough for watching the whole movie!

This retro Sizzler commercial is entertaining on so many fronts.  Please take the time to enjoy their promotional video from the early 90s capturing all the reasons that Sizzler is the wave of the future as a "Restaurant within a Restaurant."  I'm not certain that it has quite lived up to the hype.



Hope that your weekend is off to a good start!

FYE APRIL

Today has already been a bit of a doozy.  It started with finding a tick attached to Bella's scalp and my subsequent freakout and over-googling, and I rounded off the morning with four trips to Sam's to get a new phone.  They made a mistake and managed to completely disconnect John's phone.  I wish it had been an April Fool's joke, but no such luck. Still getting that sorted out.  So - I needed a few laughs and decided to post another edition of For Your Entertainment.

-  There are these very awkward books to laugh at.

-  Sometimes picture of Cats in Tights will make you feel better about life.

-  I really like Tom Hanks, probably like most of America.  Here, he's starring in Carly Rae Jepson's new music video, and it is a ton of fun.



-  Apparently, I can't help but include Jimmy Fallon is every one of these.  Here he is interviewing Ben Stiller while they both use extra emotions.  So funny.



Tom Hanks is making two appearances on the blog today, and in this second clip, he and James Corden are acting out all of his movies in 7 minutes.  Pretty impressive.  Also - you have to admire his career.



In honor of the holiday this week, here's a hilarious take on Fiction vs. Reality of how Easter might go down if you have small children.  Thank you, Honest Toddler, for always keeping it real.

I hope your April is off to a great start, and I'm hoping mine will turn around starting now.

FYE: FEBRUARY

It's time for a little entertainment this week.  Here's my quick round up from this month.

Jimmy Fallon's post Superbowl lip-sync battle made me laugh so much.  Will Ferrel is pure joy.



Did you ever see this Downton Abbey parody starring George Clooney?  Watch both parts - they are so funny, especially if you're a fan of the show.




And - I may have shared this before - I can't remember.  This is an SNL sketch mocking the Atlanta snowstorm last year that shut down the road ways.  It makes me laugh every time.  It seems fitting to share today since the South has been inundated with snow this week.  We just don't handle it very well.

Ellen really does a great job at finding unique guests.  This little girl who loves the presidents is ADORABLE and so funny.



I really can't explain what makes me laugh at this video.  I don't even like chihuahuas, but this is pretty funny.  I may be punch drunk from all the time indoors and out of routine this week.  We'll blame it on that.



Obviously, Jimmy Fallon is my favorite.  I love how he gets people to do funny stuff.  Here's Christina Aguilera doing impressions, and she is so good at it.  Really.



This last clip is not funny, but it is just so good.  It's Carrie Underwood singing "There Must Be Something in the Water" at last year's CMAs.  She's just so talented, and the song is beautiful.  Also, I want to tell that unborn child how amazing it is to be able to hear that voice all the time.



Hope your February is wrapping up nicely.  Can you believe March is right around the corner?

FYE: JANUARY

Are ya'll sick of our ER stories yet?  Because I am.  So I'll keep the most recent one short.  We went back to the ER yesterday morning and spent about 5 hours there.  They basically told me that Violet could be really sick at the hospital or at home if I was committed to following their instructions.  I picked home, and though she is still icky sounding and cranky, we are on the road to recovery.  Praise be to King Jesus, because cranky twin toddlers are absolutely no fun.

At a low point yesterday, I was suctioning William's nose and getting a fair amount of blood, when I looked over and noticed that Violet's nose was also bleeding.  They were both screaming, and I started sobbing.  It was ugly.  My clothes looked like I lost a bad fight.  But, we all recovered, mostly.

Enough of that.  The weather is beautiful - truly.  Sunshine does good things for my soul.  We had a delicious lunch from CFA.  I managed to finish up some cookies at nap time.  I am dressed and my bed is made, so really, life is good.  The truth is that God is good, and I am so thankful that he is sustaining me right now.

Since I'm sick of blogging about sickness, I've come up with a few fun things.

We are major Parenthood fans at our house and mourning the end of the series.  I really enjoyed this clip of Dax Shepherd on Ellen talking about their new child.



And - this video is an old one - it's his wife, Kristen Bell, talking about the time he brought a sloth to their house for a birthday.  So funny.  I totally understand her emotional scale, because I have tears in my eyes very quickly at both good and bad times.

Last night, John and I were listening to Pandora and decided to watch the video for The Cave.  Some songs really resonate somewhere much deeper than my ears or even my mind.  This one does that.  This song rings with a deeply held truth, and I love it.

This last video is back from Lily's birthday.  She honestly cannot blow out candles, and its pretty hilarious to watch.



I hope your Tuesday is a beautiful one.