All I Want For Christmas

I love Christmas. Sometime this month, I'll break out my Christmas albums and start singing "Silent Night" on my way to work in the morning. Actually, I'll break out my n'Sync CD and belt "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" at the top of my lungs. (Don't act like you don't have that CD.) I also love Christmas presents--both giving and receiving--so, when I see that retailers are releasing new products and gearing up for fourth quarter shopping, I'm even more stoked about the holiday season. Since I work for an internet company and rapidly find myself becoming a techie, I've been checking out the new gadgets I might want to add to my wish list. You might want to ask Santa for some of them too:

If you're the queen (or king) of self-portraits like me, the Samsung DualViewTL225 is your new best friend. The camera has a 1.5-inch LCD screen on the front, making it easy to see whether or not you're cutting off your significant other's head. Asking price? $349.99

Every time I see my friends pull out their iPhone 3Gs, I turn Kermit-the-Frog green with envy. And as everyone knows, it's not easy being green--especially when you're locked into a two-year service contract with Verizon. However, the Samsung Omnia 2 seems like it might turn my skin back to its original (pale) color. The touch screen smartphone from Verizon comes with eight GB of memory, Windows Mobile, Wi-Fi and a GPS. If you add all those features up, it might be worth the $669.91 price tag (on Amazon.com). Let's hope I'm eligible for an upgrade by December!

I love mini things. (Probably because I'm only five-foot-two myself.) So, it goes without saying that I love the Dell Mini Netbook. I know it doesn't do everything that a true techie would want, but in Dell's own words, it's "perfect for surfing the web, streaming media content, emailing friends and family and blogging about it all." That's pretty much my daily personal computer usage in a nutshell, and it's teeny-tiny size and vibrant colors make it the perfect travel accessory! For a starting price of $199, I'm ordering mine in "promise pink" today!

Not that I want to give Husband one more opportunity to play video games, but I have to say that the Sony PSP Go does look pretty sweet. (Think Nintendo GameBoy on Speed.) Sony even developed the PSP Go Minis store, similar to the iPhone App Store for games. (I wonder if they have Mario Kart??) Unfortunately, the online reviews of the PSP Go say that it's not worth the $250.

If none of these gadgets suit you, check out CNET.com's Fall Tech Preview. There's a ton of toys for every type of techie (Whoa! Tongue twister!) including the coolest looking sedan I've ever seen, the 2010 Porsche Panamera. At $89,800, Santa's sure to drop one down my chimney, right?

Until Tomorrow,
Jennifer Lynn

Celebutards

David Letterman fans beware: I've always preferred Leno. I think my friend Valery put it best when she asked: "Since when did cheating on your wife become funny?" Well, Valery, I suppose since America's favorite late-night talk show host did it and confessed to it in an oh-so-witty-way on national television.

I won't lie, what Letterman did was a brilliant PR move on his (or his "rep's") part. In fact, body language expert and Huffington Post blogger Patti Wood said she was "awed by his near perfect example of how to handle a crisis." Stunning crisis communication tactics aside, I am appalled by what Letterman did and even more so by our nation's response.

Five point seven million Americans tuned their television to CBS on Thursday night, when Letterman broke the news of his misconduct, and 5.9 million viewers watched his show on Monday night to see if there would be any fall-out or follow-up. What is wrong with our society when we not only pardon, but very literally applaud, a man who has an extramarital affair??

Then again, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. This is the same society that watches My Super Sweet Sixteen, idolizes Lindsey Lohan and pays money to attend Marilyn Manson concerts. Those of you who know me know that I'm just as guilty of idolizing celebrities as anyone, but there comes a point when even the most star-struck of us all can no longer turn our heads when basic morality is being violated. Or, in this case, we can simply turn the channel.

Until Tomorrow,
Jennifer Lynn

P.S.- If you're looking for a good laugh at another celebutard's expense, check out Nancy Grace stickin' it to Jon Gosselin.

A Lump of Kohls

The last time I visited a Kohls, was about two years ago when I was still living in North Carolina. I remember being disappointed in the selection and thinking that the quality of their clothing was pretty poor. Since that last trip, the store has added clothing lines from Vera Wang, Lauren Conrad and Elle Magazine. Therefore, I walked into the newly opened Kohls in my area this past weekend with high hopes of finding fashion-for-less.

Unfortunately, my shopping trip left me with a less-than-favorable impression of the retailer, once again. Much like I remembered, the racks were filled with cotton-rayon-nylon blends that you just know will shrink or become pilled after one wash. The oversized sweaters (which the store had an abundance of) looked cheap as did pretty much everything in the Junior's department--and seriously, who calls it a Junior's department anymore? I feel immature just saying that I shop in that section! (FYI- The picture at the top was the "hottest" find in the Junior's section. Did you know there's such a thing as ruched python leggings??)

Even the "designer" labels were disappointing. Vera Wang's Simply Vera line was simply awful; and both Lauren Conrad's and Elle's clothing lines were unoriginal at best--something I'd expect from LC, but not from one of the largest fashion magazines in the world.

I did manage to find a few items in the shoe department worth sharing with you guys (posted below), but even they aren't worth paying full price for. Personally, I doubt I'll be making a return trip any time soon.

Until Tomorrow,
Jennifer Lynn

Shoes worth noting:
1. Dana Buchman Purple Alexandria Pumps
2. Simply Vera Margarit Platforms
3. Elle Gisela Dress Heels

Cheapchicas.com

I wasn't sure if I should post this...in a way, this woman is my competition. However, I have an obligation to you, my faithful readers, to share the fabulous things I find--particularly when they are fashion related and under $100!!!!

Fashion blogger Lilliana Vasquez describes herself as someone who "loves designer denim, lusts after “it” bags and can’t live without James Perse, but the difference is I find other ways of getting it (or very close versions of it) without spending my entire paycheck."

Now that's my kind of girl!!!! Check the site out for yourself, but check back tomorrow for my review of Kohls fall fashion repertoire...or lack thereof. I guarantee that I'm still the cheaper chica! =)

Until Tomorrow,
Jennifer Lynn

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

Today is my mom's birthday. Words can't express how much I wish that I lived close enough to celebrate with her, but the reality of our lives right now is that we are more than a few time zones apart. Therefore, I will do the best that I can to celebrate her life and all that she means to me in this entry--though words really can't express that either.

When I was growing up, my mom had a mug with a picture of a woman with curlers in her hair, laying prostrate on a couch. Beside the woman was a vacuum and a cluttered floor. The caption on the mug read "Sometimes the handles of reality seem a little slippery to Helen." As a kid, I failed to understand why mom loved--and even seemed to identify--with that mug. Now that I'm married, I'm beginning to comprehend half of the mug's meaning to my mother. (The other half will come when I have children, I think.)

As women, we often (willingly or unwillingly) sacrifice ourselves at the altar of our families. My was (and still is) the perfect example of someone who freely gave of herself, her time, her money and even the shirt off her back (which I often stole from her closet when she wasn't looking) so that my dad, brother and I could live a comfortable existance.

Growing up, there weren't too many nights when a made-from-scratch dinner wasn't on the table between 5-6 p.m. (Sometimes I'm lucky if take-out from the local Chinese food joint makes it onto a TV tray by 8 p.m.) I can't recall the laundry ever piling up in our house. (As I type, I'm staring at an overflowing hamper.) And I don't remember hearing her complain even once when purchasing new "back-to-school" outfits for me meant that she would be wearing the same wardrobe for the third year in a row. (To this day, mom marvels at what a shop-a-holic I am.)

If you asked her, she'd deny all of this and say that she's "far from perfect." (I can literally hear those words coming out of her mouth right now.) Interestingly enough, she'd also tell you that one of her biggest regrets is not having any direction (a.k.a.- a "thing") in life. (Sound familiar?) But that's not how I see it. Her "thing" is our family and she excels at putting us first.

So, today on her XX birthday (number erased to protect the innocent), I celebrate her and her selflessness.

Mom, I love you. I couldn't have asked for a better example of what it means to be a Godly wife and mother. If I turn out to be half the woman you are, then I'll count my life as a true success. Consider this post a virtual hug from me (and The Far Side) to you.

Love,
Your Jennysue

Be Near Oh God

As I was driving home from work today--almost giddy with excitement about the fact that the weekend is finally here--I was listening to a song by Christian artists Shane & Shane entitled "Be Near." I began to think about how truly blessed I am and what an absolutely amazing time in my life I am experiencing--as well as how desperately I need the Lord.

All too often, we turn to God when things are going wrong, but fail to draw close to Him when everything is going well. This song is a great reminder that nothing in this world--even the most awesome seasons of life--can compare to "being near" to our Savior.

Until Tomorrow,
Jennifer Lynn

Be Near
by Shane & Shane

Based on Psalms 73:28; 139

You are all
big and small
beautiful
and wonderful
to trust in grace through faith
but i'm asking to taste...

for dark is light to You
depths are height to You
far is near
but Lord, i need to hear from You

be near, oh God
be near, oh God of us
Your nearness is to us our good
be near, oh God
be near, oh God of us
Your nearness is to us our good, our good

Your fullness is mine
revelation divine
but, o, to taste
to know much more than a page
to feel Your embrace...

for dark is light to You
the depths are height to You
far is near, but Lord
i need to hear from You

be near, oh God
be near, oh God of us
Your nearness is to us our good
be near, oh God
be near, oh God of us
Your nearness is to us our good, our good

Maybe Crockpotting Is My Thing

Nah...The Fix It and Forget It people have the corner on that market. I have, however, had great success with not one, but two, crock pot meals this week. I'll post my favorite of the two recipes--Come-Back-For-More Barbecue Chicken--at the end of this entry.

Right now, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk more about my post In Search of My Thing. As a result of a random work experiment, I uploaded the post to Facebook, and I honestly had no idea that it would elicit the response that it did. I figured that, if anything, people would find my entry a bit of a downer and a good reason to stop--or never even start--reading my blog. Therefore, I was astonished to find that not only did people send words of encouragement my way (on here and on Facebook), but some of you indicated that you identified with how I felt.

I've been thinking about all of your comments over the past 24 hours and here's what I've concluded: Every one of us, at one time or another, feels inadequate in some way. Whether that feeling comes from not having a "thing"-- or not--it is always the result of a lie that is put in our head by Satan. My friend Mary (of Mary's Monday Musicology fame) put it best when she said that Satan doesn't want us to feel adequate because, "We aren't as vulnerable to his lies when we find our purpose and discover the gifts God has given ALL of us."

And He HAS given all of us a gift. It's simply our job to pursue the Lord and trust that He will reveal what "thing" He has called us to do during our time on earth. Maybe you'll find that you aren't called to do just one "thing." Maybe, as my friend Melanie said, your "thing" is to be "well-rounded" (a.k.a- a fabulously energetic multi-tasker). It doesn't matter, as long as you are well-rounded and fabulously energetic for His glory.

I'm still not sure what the Lord has planned for my life--or even for this blog--and I'm not planning to give up the search for my "thing." I do, however, plan to take the advice of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." I hope that those of you who identified with my post will shake off the discouragement (like I'm trying to do) and lock arms with me in serving our Savior-- the only "thing" that really matters in the first place.

(Sidenote: The comments I received on the aforementioned post came from people in four different states, who I have known in three different stages of my life: high school, college and engagement/marriage. To me, that is the perfect example of the power of internet to intertwine our lives with the lives of others whose paths we normally would not cross. End sidenote.)

Until Tomorrow,
Jennifer Lynn

(Crock pot recipe below)

Come-Back-For-More Barbecued Chicken
(courtesy of Fix It and Forget It!)

6-8 chicken breast halves
1 cup ketchup
1/3 cup Worchestershire sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 cup water

1. Place chicken in slow cooker
2. Whisk remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Pour sauce mixture over chicken.
3. Cover and cook on Low for 6-8 hours, or until chicken is tender but not overcooked.
4. If chicken begins to dry out while cooking, stir in another 1/2 cup water

Makes 6-8 servings