Amy J. Bennett

Tackle It Tuesday

January 27, 2009 by Amy 2 Comments

Let me just preface this post by saying I REALLY thought I was an organized person growing up. And I think even into my early 20s I insisted I was organized. But I’m coming to the conclusion that organization is just not my thing. I like when things are organized. A lot. But I don’t like doing it or keeping up with it. I don’t know why.

Two weekends ago I did a sort of spring cleaning. One day that week I had jumped on one of Flylady’s calls and I think it got me revved up to do some purging. Scott was very proud.

Last night I finally took the rest of Lexi’s clothes out of her closet and combined it with Emma’s. I moved my ever-growing stash of CVS stuff to the top shelf of Lexi’s closet. And now I can actually fit all of my towels in my hall closet with a little bit of room leftover.

I did actually take before and after pictures.

Before (after the clothes were moved)

Yes, there were towels stuffed everywhere!

After

And just because, here are other places I organized/cleaned that day.

The Bachelor: Episode 4

January 27, 2009 by Amy 4 Comments

Wow. That was a crazy episode. I am so happy in the end that Jason let Megan, Lauren and Shannon go. I was reading Chris Harrison’s blog just now and realized how hard a decision it was between Stephanie and Nikki. And seeing that Stephanie made it through to top 5, I feel really bad for Nikki because she really should have beat out Megan, Lauren and Shannon then.

So here’s my thoughts…

I think he picked Stephanie over Nikki because of her reveal about her 11 year relationship that started when she was 17 and just ended a year before. Nikki is an amazing woman but she just couldn’t figure out how to let go with someone else. And who can blame her? She’d been with someone for 11 years. I can’t tell you how much I related to her on the not-singing thing. Her saying I’m just too much of a perfectionist to “just have fun”. Yeah, not sure I could do that in front of a guy and a bunch of beautiful girls either. And Scott, who for some reason was watching it with me, was super upset because he thought she was the prettiest of them all.

I just don’t see why he picked Stephanie. The double date was as awkward as I don’t know what to watch and actually even more awkward once Nikki left. It almost was like Jason was dancing with his mom. I just don’t see any romantic connection at all. The only thing I can figure is she gives him comfort because she is a mother.

I think Megan liked to think she was the most normal out of all of them but I don’t agree. And that whole coming on strong kiss I think might have scared Jason.

And speaking of scaring Jason…let’s talk Shannon and Lauren.

As Chris mentioned, Lauren came on WAY too strong. I couldn’t believe she was being so demanding during their one on one time. I think she thought it was funny but it wasn’t.

And Shannon, oh my word. She bottom-line became obsessed with Jason. And then for some awful reason, thought she could build some type of comfort level by picking her nose in front of him. Like, hey, we MUST be meant to be if I feel comfortable enough to pick my nose in front of you (and all of America) and THEN she tries to kiss him. Ugh.

As I mentioned last week, I really thought Molly came on strong lately and loved her on their date this week. I could definitely see them together. But my first favorite was Melissa and I’m still sticking by her. She’s fun, down to earth, pretty and she honestly seems into him.

As for Naomi and Jillian, unfortunately I think they are going to fall to the wayside. Home dates can change and everything and DON’T FORGET, DeAnna’s coming back!!!!

Not Me Monday

January 26, 2009 by Amy 2 Comments

This is my second week of participating in Not Me Monday and I did NOT spend the week thinking of things I did NOT do to add to this post.

I did NOT get a bit miffed when I found out Scott drank 2 of 3 Starbucks’ Frappucinos I got at CVS yesterday. I love sharing.
I was NOT woken up by a call from work this morning at 8:30. I get up super early and do…early morning stuff.
I did NOT put a pair of semi-clean underwear on my daughter the other day when she had an accident and there were no clean ones left. OMG. I would NOT do something that gross. Especially since I am ALWAYS on top of the laundry.
I did NOT look up my first crush on Facebook and then giggle a little when I got an email that said he had confirmed my request.
I did NOT get myself a bowl of ice cream and try to sneak it by Lexi sitting at the computer. I also did NOT groan when she caught me and asked what I was eating. I love fixing food for my children.
I did NOT spend 6 hours sitting in my bed watching Pride & Prejudice this weekend. That would be such a waste of time. I also did NOT think it was really good.

Lie to Me

January 26, 2009 by Amy 2 Comments

No, please don’t actually lie to me. I hate when people lie to me. Actually, that’s the name of the newest show added to my DVR schedule!

I heard about it on twitter last week and you know I love me some TV. I finally checked it out and WOW. Twitter folk were right! It was a really good show. I’m coining it the new House. It’s like House and CSI combined actually. But the character Tim Roth plays reminds me a lot of Dr. House. He’s a master in his field, can be quite manipulative and sarcastic and doesn’t care what people think. Except guess what? They didn’t get rid of his English accent! Yippee!!

I also like it because Kelli Williams plays his right hand woman and played on The Practice and Scott and I used to LOVE that show.

And also? Eli, played by Brendan Hines, works in their office and he always tells the truth. And it makes for some really funny moments.

Oh and figuring out whether people are lying is mucho fun-o. And you only have a split second to figure it out before he tells whomever he is talking about. Plus there’s the big picture of the case to solve. I’m really hoping the rest of the episodes are as good as the Pilot.

So for reals, you should check it out if you haven’t. Fox.com has the full episode up for free!

My First Crush

January 26, 2009 by Amy 15 Comments

Ok, this should really be titled One of My First Crushes or My First Crush on a Boy at Church or maybe even more appropriately The First Boy I Stalked.

When I was in Fifth Grade (or was it Sixth?), we started going to a new church. We moved from a church of about 30 to 3,000. Somewhere along the way Heather and I both developed a crush for a boy. He. was cute. But very, very unattainable. Since it was such a large youth group (over 200 I think) we didn’t really cross paths except to say we were in the same room 3 times a week. We definitely didn’t run in the same circles. And we didn’t even go to school in the same state so we never saw each other there either. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever spoken to him in my life. (Heather, correct me if I’m wrong.) So I have no idea how we started liking him. Except did I mention he was cute?

But somehow we obsessed over him.

The sanctuary was large, shaped in an arc with two stories. Heather and I always sat in the second section from the left, first row in the balcony on Sunday evenings. This boy always sat in the second from right section about mid-way on the floor. And for whatever reason, we stared at him the entire time clapping and singing about how God was a Strong Tower hoping he’d look up at us. And every once in a while he would. And I’m very sure now trying to see if the two crazies had quit staring. But how did we poke each other and giggle which further encouraged our stalker-like staring.

I think word eventually got around to him that I liked him. I was told he said he wasn’t interested. I was ugly and I looked like a St. Bernard.

Either that was a lie, he didn’t know what a St. Bernard looked like, maybe I heard through the grapevine wrong or he REALLY thought we were crazy and was exaggerating so we’d leave him alone which was highly likely. Because as much self-confidence as I lacked, I knew I didn’t and don’t look like that. But, I got the drift. I wasn’t pageant material and he wasn’t interested.

But somehow we never quit looking at him, hoping he’d change his mind one day. I left that church when Scott and I got engaged. My family continued to go for a while and I remember going back and visiting and hoping he’d look at me and see how much I did NOT look like a St. Bernard, declare his long-time love for me and carry me off on a white horse. Needless to say my “love” went quite unrequited. Especially since we never, you know, TALKED.

And don’t forget to read about Melissa’s First Crush

Be Quiet!

January 25, 2009 by Amy 2 Comments

Not much to report today but here’s a funny picture from just now….I’m lying in bed trying to finish watching Pride & Prejudice on my laptop and Scott is insisting staying on his cellphone talking. He won’t go in the other room….he’s in there somewhere talking.

Build a Bear

January 24, 2009 by Amy 1 Comment

Emma and Lexi both have Build a Bears but they don’t remember doing it because they were so young. Emma was super-duper insistent about going back to the mall after we were there last night with Heather. I know she must have asked me 20 times…in 5 minutes. She went to bed asking and it’s the first thing she asked me this morning. I gave in when Scott didn’t put up a fight to go.

Emma went with the Hannah Montana white bear with matching Hannah Montana outfit and named her Hannah. Lexi at first picked a brown and red High School Musical bear but when she saw the wedding dress outfit, she switched it up and went for the pink bear and named her Swan Lake.

My First Kiss

January 23, 2009 by Amy 15 Comments

I always heard first kisses were something to look forward to. They said it’d be heavenly, spine-tingling and unforgettable.

I remember through middle school that was always a question that seemed to come up…have you kissed anyone yet? Those were the days we still openly called it French kissing. The days when we held and attended our first boy/girl parties and seven minutes in heaven was a valid and much anticipated party game. And no, my first kiss wasn’t in a closet. Although it could have been. One time I got put in a closet with a boy and didn’t kiss him. We just stared at each other, neither willing to make the first move. I still regret not kissing that boy. He grew up to be a mighty handsome man. *Ahem*

No, my kiss didn’t happen until I was in Ninth grade. Yes, I was 14 before I first kissed a boy. I had met a boy at one of those first boy/girl parties. He was my age but he lived in the next town over. But that didn’t stop us from “dating”, “going steady”, “being boyfriend and girlfriend” or whatever you called it. One day said boy came over with a friend to hang out at my house. I don’t recall too much about the visit except that we played a game or two of HORSE on our half basketball court in the backyard. Dad had just had it done and I had spent a good amount of time practicing. The guys were actually impressed with my mad basketball skillz.

The next thing I remember is telling him goodbye in my parents’ foyer. I stood facing towards the door and he stood in front of me. His friend stood a few feet behind him facing me right near the door. I don’t remember how I knew we were supposed to kiss but I knew I was supposed to. And I was FOURTEEN and I KNEW I had to French kiss this time. So we both leaned in with open mouths that eventually met. I remember his tongue awkwardly moving side to side and all the sudden I hear “Close your eyes!” from his friend. I looked at him while still kissing and then snapped my eyes shut, mortified. I think we might have kissed another few seconds and then it was over.

Looking back, the only thing they were right about was that it was unforgettable. Maybe sometimes it’s spine-tingling and heavenly. But sometimes it’s just an awkward, tongue-moving, spit-swapping rite of passage.

Melissa wrote about her first kiss too so go check it. I know I’m dying to read it.