Friday Favorites: First in June

This week I dealt with a lot of first world problems, and I'm glad it's over. I'll be sure to tell you allll about them... next week. For now I'm trying to forget and get to the weekend! I'm heading "DTS" for the first time this season, since last week it was a madhouse, and then brunch with friends on Sunday- yay! Kicking it off with some favorites and Amanda! 

Favorite Song: Try not to bop a little... Twenty One Pilots- Ride

Favorite Moments: 

Watching the sun set/ landscapes en route to the Poconos/ loungin with Blue

Favorite Quote: 

Favorite Video: This is from Blue's niece's Graduation party a few weeks ago. The college graduates wanted to take on the "adults" in flip cup. I honestly don't remember the last time I played any drinking game. I'm at the end; I stopped drinking midway through my turn because I thought the other team had already won... oops. I'm wearing my sassypants as well.

Favorites from Around the Internet: 

• Netflix list of new stuff coming this month!
• A wine amusement park? Say whaaa?! I think I need to go to France!
• Of course Apple is adding more storage to its NEW phones.
• Anyone who is/has been playing Two Dots knows the agony of waiting for more lives. 
• Someone erected a selfie statue in Texas. Archaeologists will have a fun time digging that one up!

Favorite Funnies: 

Have a great weekend!

Tolerance and the Squeaky Wheel: A Rebuttal

You may have noticed that I've been a bit quiet around here lately. I haven't been posting or reading many blogs, because my mind has been consumed by a post I read several weeks ago. I've wanted to say something about it, but I felt that I'd sound like just another "squeaky wheel." But I can't stay silent any longer. I've written and deleted this post several times. I've edited it for tone, because the first few drafts were dripping with sarcasm and snark. But that's not true to the message I'm trying to convey or the point I'm trying to make; that's just my natural reaction to opinions that get me riled up, which I should mention is hard to do. I'm usually quite laid-back and tolerant of everyone's viewpoints, even if I don't exactly agree with them.  However this post hit a nerve. Please take a minute to read it.

All caught up? Ok, so here's my thing. I think everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I appreciate this woman's viewpoint. I think she shares a perspective that is very popular with a lot of Americans today, especially in light of the many legislative decisions that have been made on the state and national level recently.  Opinions are fine. But there are 3 parts of her post that bother me:

1. Inconsistencies. 
2. Facts.
3. Religion. 

The many inconsistencies within the post make me unsure of what she truly felt.  Was she writing for her audience, who might doubt her opinions? Or was she expressing her (conflicting) feelings towards the issue at hand? In one line she states that she has "nothing against that [couples kissing or holding hands in public]," but directly afterwards states that "it just makes me uncomfortable."  I mean I get it, I really do.  I understand people being embarrassed around PDAs; personally I've never been into it, and I'm a little "uncomfortable" watching two men kiss. But just because I don't love seeing it doesn't mean I think it's "wrong" in any way, shape, or form. We are all different, and love is love. Why should some people be "allowed" to express it openly, and others not?

The Golden Girls, keepin' it real since 1985. 

What concerns me is that a lot of the ideologies presented in this post may be shared by many of my fellow Americans without knowing the (very serious) implications of these concepts. One such perception stands out:

"i am glad that same-sex couples are recognized in a way that they can get information when one is in the hospital, that they can adopt children, that they can get equal opportunity jobs the same as straight or non transgender people can.  they deserve all that.  i am happy about all of that." 

I completely agree with the statement above, and I'm pretty sure that even people who may be somewhat homophobic or may not be rooting for gay rights would agree with that in terms of basic human rights. But what does that mean in reality? Whether a significant other can find out if their gay/bisexual/transgender partner is in an emergency room directly correlates to state laws. Laws that we have made and/or voted for on a state level, not a national level. I'm not sure that people not directly affected by such jurisdictions know and/or care about this fact. 

Her "facts" anger me because they are just plain untrue. If you don't have the time/energy/inclination to learn the facts, then please don't post them as such. Specifically, I'm talking hate violence toward the LGBT community and the definition of marriage, noted further below. She proclaims,

"why do i have to agree? i have a right to not believe the same things as you and not be scared.  just like you have the right to believe what you want to believe and not be scared of what people might think or do to you. " 

The last three words are the most poignant. Many people who "come out" lose their friends and family because of un-acceptance of who they are. one of my very close friends from high school was actually kicked out of his house at 16 when he came out to his parents. And I've never heard of a heterosexual person getting killed or seriously injured because the person they love is also straight. 

But it was this religious perspective that was the hardest for me to understand: 

"i believe marriage should be between a man and a woman only, and that same-sex couples should have civil partnerships... God created marriage for man and woman."

That second half of this sentence is 100% false. Marriage is "the legally or formally recognized union of a man and a woman (or, in some jurisdictions, two people of the same sex) as partners in a relationship." [source]

Now, I understand that some people are very religious, and that's fine! I'm not here to denounce or judge anyone's religious or spiritual beliefs. However, as the definition above states, marriage is a LEGAL binding. A marriage does not need to be officiated in a church by a priest. Many weddings take place in a courthouse, because it is a legal procedure.  As in man-made. God did not make up the legal system, we did. This is why we have that whole separation of church and state concept. I'm not touching on the term "civil partnerships" because 1. it doesn't exist (I think she meant either civil union or domestic partnerships, but I'm unsure of which, which it seems she was confused about as well) and 2. it would take me way too long to explain either one.

Lauren made one point that I am completely on board with and that I feel is worth repeating: "Tolerance goes both ways..." However, life isn't always comfortable, and love isn't always easy. The LGBT community has been "tolerant" of others whether they wanted to be or not. And just as everyone is entitled to their opinion, I don't have to agree with them nor do I have be be silent about my own just because they may be unpopular. 

I think it's important to have these types of discussions, and I want to foster a healthy debate for those who disagree. In keeping with open-lines of communication, I have informed the writer of the original post of my rebuttal. 

What are your thoughts on these issues? 
As I mentioned earlier, I am very open-minded, but 
please be respectful in your comments as well! 

Friday Favorites

Yesterday I took a much-needed personal day after sleeping like shit the night before. I took the day and slept like my body told me to. Because sometimes you just have to stop and listen. I slept until 11 and it was divine. And then I got up and tackled some chores that I had been putting off without realizing how heavily they were weighing on my mind. It was the best decision I made all week. I woke up today refreshed and feeling much more free from those worries than I have in recent weeks. Note to self: stop procrastinating and just do it. Good grief. Anyway, here are some other favorites from this week!

Favorite Song: Apparently this is a year old, but I just heard it yesterday on Spotify's Happy Hits! Old Thing Back- Matoma and The Notorious B.I.G. ft Ja Rule and Ralph Tresvant

Favorite Recipe: Trying out this 25 min Tuscan Chicken Pasta on Sunday!

Favorite Moment: Purging 129 items from my apartment aka surpassing my 101 in 1001 List goals. 5 bags to Vietnam Veterans (picked up from my doorstep), and 3 bags to a friend collecting for the victims of the Ecuador earthquakes. BOOM. Oh, I also finally washed my dishes. There were a lot.

Favorite Mail: Limited Edition Gilmore Girls themed LitCube! I've never ordered from LitCube before, but they are a YA themed subscription box. This one was a one-time purchase though. It came with a tee, Luke's coffee mug, chew-able coffee, a YA novel, GG pins, pro/con list pad, No Cell Phone sign (from Luke's Diner), and Dragonfly Inn tea towels :) 

Favorite Reads:

• Did you know you can now deposit cash money into your Paypal at CVS and Rite Aid through their app? There are fees though, so be sure to read the fine print. 

• Samsung is taking technology to the next level by trying to get a patent for "augmented reality" contact lenses. It would be used paired with a smartphone to do the processing, and basically have an always-on camera directly in your eye. Um... that's a bit too much if you ask me. 

• April 28th is National Superhero Day. Wear a cape to any participating Krispy Kreme location for B1G1 free donuts. Okay, you don't really have to wear a cape, but it is encouraged. 

Favorite Video: You didn't think you'd get through a post today without a Prince mention did you? Last night, Jennifer Hudson and the cast of The Color Purple paid an amazing, chilling tribute to him.

Favorite Funnies:

Happy weekend friends! What's on your agenda?

Linking up with Amanda!

Friday Favorites- Out Like a Lion

Happy Friday! Who's at work today? The first thing I heard this morning was that those bankers on Wall Street and I-bankers in general (who are off today) average income is $404,000. Then that they were whining about not get another day off until May. That's funny, I don't make nearly that much, and can't take off until May either. And really, that's only a month away. Stop your bitching! #fwp Anyway, if you are at work today (like me), I hope the day goes quickly and that you have a great Easter/regular weekend! Now on to my weekly favorites with Amanda!

Favorite Song: Love is- Inas X

Favorite Reads:

• First and foremost, Chipotle is giving away FREE guacamole. Get on that! 
• Close second, it's Ulta's 21 days of beauty until April 2nd! 
• This Democratic Senator Twitter tirade on Trump (say that 5xfast!) 
• Anyone out there miss That 70's Show? Looks like Mr. Kutcher is at it again with a new show to debut on Netflix on April 1st. 
• Not sure how I stumbled on this, but I absolutely love it. The Complete Guide To Not Giving a F*ck

Favorite Idea: Easter Beer Hunt!

"My mom is smart.She could tell that her kids enthusiasm for the annual easter egg hunt was waning.When hard boiled eggs lost their luster, she introduced candy-filled plastic eggs.As the kids got older she would fill the plastic eggs with coins, and then dollar bills.But when we hit our 20’s, the Easter egg magic was gone.One year, after a nice Easter breakfast, Mom announced, “Time for the Easter Hunt!”Jim and I groaned. But our exaggerated disinterest evaporated when Mom produced the baskets.She set out a bunch of empty cardboard 6 pack holders, filled with plastic green grass.“The front yard is filled with micro-brews,” she announced.” “Each of you is responsible for finding 6 beers. There are wine coolers and cans of Ensure for Grandpa. You can trade bottles after the hunt is over.”And so the Easter Beer Hunt was born. And what was a withering tradition gained a new fervor."

Favorite Moments:
Receiving an email telling me my book was available at the library.
Having two wishlist books become available on Paperback Swap, and promptly ordering 3 more.
Going to see Batman vs. Superman tonight!
Ordering tickets for the Go-Go's Farewell Tour!
Getting my "Big Fat Check" from E-Bates :)

Favorite Quote: 

Favorite Video: Only in NJ! The Easter Bunny brawl at the mall!

Favorite Funnies:

Friday Favorites

Who's excited for a 3 day weekend?! Got any big plans?  This weekend I'm hoping to do a few things that I meant to do over the holiday break (oops) but mostly just relax. Nothing big, but I'm more than okay with that because next week I'm going to see Whitney Cummings and I cannot WAIT. I'm also excited to finally go to Caroline's (where the show is being held). It's such a famous venue, but I've never been before. Anyway, let's kick this weekend off with Amanda and some favorites! 

Favorite Song: I have no idea what this song is actually saying, but it's so upbeat that i can't help but do a little dance in my chair when it comes on at work. DNCE- Cake By The Ocean

Favorite Reads:
I found this list of secret codes for Netflix and fell into the movie rabbit hole.

Don't want to be buried in a casket or cremated? How about turning into a tree after you die?

"Pretty in Pink" is returning to theaters for its 30th anniversary! Who's getting tickets? 

People's stupidity continues to baffle my mind. Why would you spend all your money on Powerball tickets when you literally have 1 in a 292M chance of winning? And then this chick started a GoFundMe page to raise money. I can't. 

This "nurse" cat is the cutest. He snuggles his sick friends in the shelter until they get better.

Speaking of snuggling,... this week a story broke about Taye Diggs cheating on his gf with a "Professional Snuggler." Can we back up a minute... I didn't even know that was a thing! 

Favorite Purchase(s): Target was offering not one, but two different beauty boxes for $5 each, and they arrived this week. I love these boxes because they're cheap, they introduce me to new products, and the full-size "samples" are awesome.                   
                                     

Favorite Pic: I forgot to do a weekend update this week, so these are the highlights. Dinner with my friend who I haven't seen in a year and who didn't want her picture taken, cat cuddles with Keebler, rice balls and risotto for me and Blue's anniversary dinner. 

Favorite Funnies: 

Happy 3 Day Weekend Friends! 

If I Won A Billion Dollars...

Like millions of other Americans, I drank the Kool-Aid and purchased a few Powerball tickets. It was kind of a big deal for me, since I never buy lottery tickets. (The only exception is when I have a dream that involves numbers.  I'm not sure why.) But a couple million dollars certainly wouldn't hurt, so I purchased $10 worth. If I actually won, I'd probably be in a state of shock for a solid week, at least. Here are some other things I'd do with my winnings. 

Financial Planner- This would be step #1. I have no idea what to do with that kind of money. I'd need some assistance.

Invest-  Stocks, bonds, real estate, maybe a vineyard somewhere, etc. Again, something hopefully my personal financial analyst can help me figure out.

A Lawyer- I don't know exactly why I would need one, but it seems like a good idea, no?

Mom Apartment- My mom currently rents an apartment, because owning a house was too much money and too much work. I don't blame her, but I'd like to buy her an apartment.

Mom Money- There is no way I could stop my mom from working. It's just what she does, and I think she likes it. However, I'd like to set her up so she wouldn't have to work anymore.

Blue stuff-  I'd help her pay off her condo, help with some family members, and get NY Rangers season tickets. Obviously she wouldn't have to work anymore either.

Other Helpful Hands-  I originally had "car" here, but I don't actually want to drive. Or cook. Or clean. So I'd hire these other "helpful hands."

House- I wouldn't actually move, or at least not right away. Mostly because I haven't been to enough places to know where I would want to move, and moving in general is a major pain in the ass. But I would definitely want to buy a house at some point. At least one. And an apartment or condo in Manhattan. 

This would work.

Donate- Do I need to explain this one?

Help my friends- Not all of them, but the close ones that have been there for me. And not just giving them money, but say, investing in the kids' college tuition or something.

Student Loans- Oops, this should be much higher on the list, but yes, obviously pay off my old student loans and tell that B Sallie Mae to take a hike!

Travel- My first trip would be back to Maui because it was by far my most favorite place on Earth. And then Italy. And then... who knows? I have a VERY long list of places I would like to visit.

Quit job; find meaningful work- I don't think I'd even give two weeks notice. I wouldn't be able to stay that long... I'd have things to DO!  Like buy my plane ticket(s). I'd want to get a job doing something I actually like when I come back though. Or maybe I'll just be a travel writer/personality like Anthony Bourdain.

It's nice to dream, but as Blue and I were talking on Saturday night, we realized that we are really lucky that our "problems" can be solved easily with money. Neither of us are sick, or have family that we need to stay and take care of, or children, or... really anything. But winning sure would be awesome!

What would you do if you won the lottery? 

Friday Favorites

You ever notice how no one forgets or gets confused when it's Friday? For instance, it will be Tuesday and you'll be like "Man, I thought it was Wednesday!" but that never happens on a Friday. Also, why doesn't everyone get off for Columbus Day? I remember that we used to at our company, but they took it away a few years ago. I'm taking off anyway because I can, but I miss the days when we just had it off. Are you off on Monday? I'm kicking off this three day weekend with Amanda as per usual. 

Favorite Song: Edward Maya ft. Andrea and Costi- Universal Love

Favorite Recipe: I was first introduced to Pastina when I fell sick right around the beginning of the year. A friend made it for me, explaining that it was a known Italian comfort food- and boy was she right! It's basically little pasta, milk, and butter. Lots of butter. And it's delicious. 

I love the little stars!

Wish List Item: How cute are these earrings??! I'm not sure I would wear them, but I know quite a few bibliophile friends who would adore them. You can get them on Etsy
. 

Favorite Reads:
Did you hear that HBO is coming out with a new series called Vinyl in January?

Have you heard of Pumpkin the pet raccoon yet? Be prepared for cuteness overload. 

I've always taken a napkin to the grease on my pizza, unless it was Domino's or Uno's, because I didn't like the way all that grease felt in my mouth. looks like there are some health benefits to this habit too! 

I'm pretty sure I've covered just how much I love Mindy Kaling, but this article listing some life lessons from her new book were spot on. 

We all saw Honey Boo Boo's music video right? 

Favorite Outfit: I love the colors and layers in this outfit. And the fact that I have most of the pieces in my closet already :)

Favorite Funnies: