Dearly Beloved...

Okay, look.

I, too, dreamed of being a princess. I think nearly every American girl in the proper age group, (and some in improper age groups) dreamed of marrying Prince William or Prince Harry and becoming the next princess. I get it, I really do. Even though the monarchy is all but extinct, there's still that fascination with British royalty, Buckingham Palace, and all that life entails.

I LOVE Kate Middleton. I really do. I love that her family came from blue-collar roots, that she's not an aristocrat, and that she's smart as hell and (from what I can tell) genuinely interested in making the world a better place. I ADORE the fact that Wills chose a woman that's very much like his mother, the late Great Diana, (I don't think we're allowed to call her a princess anymore? Not after the divorce?). I, honestly, could not be happier about the wedding because I think Wills and Kate are fricking adorable, and I wish them a long and happy life together.

That being said...

Is anyone ELSE tired of hearing about the Royal Wedding? I'm not English, and I'm overwhelmed with it at every turn. The merchandising has just gotten out of control. There are William and Kate PAPER DOLLS?

I saw them. Yes, just like our paper dolls, you get the Royal Couple in their underwear before you fold their clothes on. 

You also now have ROYAL PILL BOXES?

 

There's also something called a Royal Loving Cup...which, actually, sounds kinda dirty if you ask me. It also reminds me of the Loving Spoonful... and now I have 'Do You Believe In Magic' in my head. I'm not really sure what you're supposed to do with a Royal Loving Cup, but this is what one looks like. 

 Plates, cups, saucers, paperweights, JIGSAW PUZZLES and a plethora of other items are available on Edwards China. Seriously, check it out if you want a giggle. 

I thought we were obsessive about our celebrities in America. Hell no, turns out we have NOTHING on the English and their love for the royals. But what do the royals actually DO these days? They don't really create laws or lord over society. That's what Parliament and the Prime Minister are for. They're just sort of famous for....being famous...aren't they? Like Snooki and Paris? It's great, I love the marriage, like I told you...but I just don't get what the big DEAL is. 

And I guess I'm just sort of...over it.

Of Engagements, Weddings, and Baby Showers

This is is probably going to seem like one of those posts where I might as well be saying "when *I* was a kid...." Sorry about that. It is what it is.

I guess I took it for granted. When I was younger, when you got engaged, married, or were expecting a baby, it was a moment of celebration with all of your family and friends. I guess it's just how my family always was; when you had a big moment in your life, you invited all of your family and friends to celebrate with you. It wasn't about the biggest party, or the biggest gift, or the best status among the social community.

I remember being invited to weddings in a church where everyone was invited, and it was about having your friends around you to celebrate with you, even if the couple couldn't afford more than cake and fizzy apple juice to share with their friends. It wasn't about how fancy you could make it, it was about sharing this moment with the people who cared about you.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'll admit that this post is in direct relation to the fact that I wasn't invited to my friend's wedding. I wasn't invited to the shower or the bachelorette party, either. Yet, this is a person who (up until this happened) I would have called in case of emergency, in case I needed a shoulder to cry on, or in case I had a night off and wanted to share a bottle of wine with a friend.

I understand weddings are expensive. I understand that brides and grooms have to narrow the field of the people that they invite for financial reasons. I know that the reason I wasn't invited is twofold: 1) They had to cut out the people that they weren't 'super-close' to cut down on costs and 2) I can't afford to give them a fancy gift from their registry. I get that the bride had to make her decision and not invite all of her friends to maximize the benefit to her and her new husband-to-be.

But shouldn't the fact that she pranced to me, excitedly, sharing her new ring the day after she was proposed to mean something? Shouldn't the fact that her fiance contacted me BEFORE he proposed, because he wanted help in proposing beautifully mean something?

Call me crazy. I'm not engaged. I'm not married. I've never been proposed to...really (long story, don't ask).

But personally, I'd much rather have a huge fricking party, a barbecue on the beachfront, with all of my friends and family there, rather than some big, status-filled event. I'd want everyone who wanted to celebrate with me to be there, regardless of their ability to pay for gifts. If that meant I didn't rent a big fancy ballroom for our reception, and instead had a smaller, more conservative event, I'd do it. I'd much rather be surrounded by the people who have shaped my life; to be able to hug and kiss-on-the-cheek all of the people that are happy for me and want to share in my day.

I don't underSTAND why weddings have become this huge deal. Why a bride would rather have a super expensive, glamorous wedding with only 20 of her friends, excluding the people that are just "average".

I DO, however, understand why shows like 'Bridezillas' are so popular. Because there are so many people like me that don't understand why friends and family are pushed aside and hurt (for a LIFETIME), so that brides can have their moment in the sun.

You can feel free to remind me of this blog when I finally get married.

But I'm sure that I'm already going to be at my giant, cheaper reception, surrounded by everyone who loves and cares about me. Because I'd rather have the people that make my world magical beside me. Even if it means that I don't get to wear diamonds and have a sparkling ballgown.

Tuesday Teatime: Tea, Earl Grey, Hot.

Yay for spring cleaning on my blog! It was time for some bright colors and clean lines to usher in spring...whenever Mother Nature decides that spring should make an appearance...::taps foot impatiently::

Now then, first things first. Challenges! I'm in the midst of two challenges, the Walk to Rivendell Shieldmaiden Challenge, and the Wii Get Fit in 30 Fitness Challenge. For more info on WTR, check out my earlier entry here.

My Progress in Walk to Rivendell: 

I have walked 19 miles.
I  have passed Green Hill Country.
It is 8 miles to the next landmark.
You have 439 miles to reach Rivendell.

I'm on Day 2 of the Wii Get Fit in 30 Fitness Challenge, and all goals from yesterday were met! I managed to eat healthy all day; had an antioxidant juice smoothie for breakfast, a protein PB&J smoothie for lunch, and a healthy bean burrito dinner. Add in 64oz of water, multiple vitamin boosts, and an hour of Zumba, I had a fantastic start to this adventure! 

Now, onto Tuesday Teatime. 

Image from TeaVana, because my camera is on the fritz.

Tea of the Day: Cream Earl Grey - classic earl grey tea with a touch of vanilla flowers. 

Every time I order this tea, I can't help but feel all Jean Luc Picard. Actually, I probably tried earl grey the first time BECAUSE I heard him order it, but I fell in love immediately after. Nonetheless, my love of earl grey is tied directly into my love for Star Trek: TNG. 

Stop calling me a geek, and let me explain. 

When I was younger (and I mean YOUNG, the show started airing in 1984, I probably got into it around 1988), I wasn't allowed to watch much TV. The shows that I was allowed to watch were few and far between, and it was really a treat for me. Since I couldn't watch a show every night, I'd sit in front of the TV with my little Fisher Price Tape Recorder and record the audio from every show so that I could revisit them in my imagination later. (Which is probably why I love old time radio mysteries, too, come to think of it!). 

One of the shows I was allowed to watch was ST:TNG. I'd climb the stairs to my parent's bedroom, were they had a tiny 12 inch TV. I'd have to go about 15 minutes before the show started so that I had plenty of time to adjust the rabbit ears, and carefully wrap aluminum foil in the appropriate spot to tune the channel. Then, I'd sit there, entranced by the show, completely lost in the universe. 

I was waaay too young at the time to drink tea. Never once did I sip tea as I watched the show. Nonetheless, every time I sip earl grey, I'm back in my childhood, sitting on my parent's bed, legs dangling over the side, watching my favorite stories in the dark. It's a comfort thing for me, and it probably always will be.

Tuesday Teatime Topic: What food or drink takes YOU back? What taste or aroma sends you into happy memories, and where does it send you?

30 Days

They say that it takes 30 days to make or break a habit. Supposedly, that's the length of time that your brain needs to turn a conscious decision into an unconscious one. Well, I'm going to be putting this to the test for the next 30 days.

It all started with some friends of mine from Twitter and the RP world. Some of you know that I post on a Twitter to get Fitter blog, which is all about a group of women joining together to support one another in our fitness journeys. Well, someone in the blog noticed that a group of us also have Wii Active, and suggested that we, as a group, take the 30 Day Challenge in Wii Active. We set up a website to support eachother called Wii Get Fit in 30. (Catchy use of the pun, no?) Would you like to join us? Sign up! Don't have a Wii or Wii Active? No problem! Just commit to doing 20 minutes of exercise every day for 30 days. Take the dog on a long walk. Do some pushups. Turn up the radio and dance like a crazy-chick. It doesn't matter WHAT you're doing, just do SOMETHING!

I can do anything for 30 days. For the next 30 days, these are the things I will do EVERY day.

1. Wii Active 30 Day Challenge -OR- Zumba. Every Day. No exceptions.
2. Blog - at least one entry, no matter how long or how short. I have to post something.
3. Drink 2 Nalgenes of water.
4. Drink one vitamin packet or one nutritious smoothie. (I can't take vitamins in pill form, they mess with my stomach something awful and vitamins in gummy form have gelatin, which isn't vegan.)

Weekly, these are my goals:

1. Attend AT MINIMUM, two Zumba classes every week. More, if possible. (Sometimes my work schedule doesn't align with the studio's schedule).
2. Post my Wednesday blog to Twitter // Fitter (okay, I like the shorter name, honestly. Easier to type...because I'm lazy).
3. Post my Teatime Tuesday blog to this blog. I started it and failed right away...oops.

Are you ready? The challenge starts.....NOW!