I know just about everyone has seen all of these commercials and the genius BYU parody, but honestly, how can I pass up posting these gems?
You may remember this magnificent marketing campaign for Old Spice beginning with this:
and following up with this:
Well, the Harold B. Lee Library at BYU decided to get in on the action and produced this brilliant version of their own.
It makes me miss working at the HBLL. Especially because A. they have guys that good-looking roaming the stacks, and B. they finally implemented a "snack zone". So unfair that I missed out on both!
One more thing. These commercials are getting so much attention, that CBS News even picked up on the phenomenon and gave BYU a little face time. Sweet!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Mom
So I was sitting in church today, thinking about the lesson I had prepared to teach the Young Women on the importance of writing in a journal and the fact that it was Mother's Day. What better way to combine both than to write about my own mother in my journal? I began making a list of some of the things I love about my Mom and decided that it was too important not to share. Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list, but it does cover some key things.- I love her faith and testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Her quiet, firm foundation in the gospel is evident in everything she does and says and in the way she serves her family and others in her neighborhood.
- I love her love of family. Family always comes first. She prays for all of us each day and thinks of ways to reach out and help us.
- I love the way she loves her grandchildren. Watching her read a story to, bake cookies with, or create an art project for one of my nieces or nephews is one of the sweetest things ever!
- I love her love of family history and her determination to acquaint her children with our ancestors.
- I love her creativity - painting, sewing/quilting, crafts and doodling. I always love seeing the doodles she creates while on the phone w/ someone. Mom, I wonder if you know what a wonderful artist you are?
- I love her love of reading, good storytelling, and learning. Thanks to her, I grew to love reading too and to pursue my education as far as I have. One of my very first memories ever is of her reading me stories. It is also one of my sweetest. I still find listening to her voice reading to be one of the most comforting and beautiful things I can imagine.
- I love her physical beauty. My mother is simply lovely.
- I love her hands. There is something comforting and familiar about her hands and what they have been used to do over the years. They have been used to cook, comfort, wipe away tears, cuddle, create countless art projects, edit countless school papers, bake bread, cookies, brownies, prepare innumerable meals (many of them far under-appreciated), pin, hem, sew everything from pants to prom dresses, and so much more. I find them inexpressibly beautiful. I love that when they are at rest they are still always carrying memory, experience, and love.
- I love her for her faith in me. She has always had the ability to see some things more clearly than I - whether that was regarding my serving a mission or not or whether or not I could complete my Masters program. She always believed I could do it and always encouraged me beyond my own insecurities and sense of failure. She always prayed for me by name.
- I love her for her patience with me. Sometimes I feel endlessly needy - especially throughout my Masters program, constantly seeking her skills as an editor at all hours of the night and she was always there.
- I love her love for me. It is kind of hard not to love someone who loves you and I think I've already given enough proof that my Mom loves me very much. But the simple fact that she loves me is enough for me to love her back.
Did you wish your Mom a Happy Mother's Day? What do you love about her?
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Mary, to the Savior's Tomb
Listening to our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, speak about the resurrection and the reason we celebrate this glorious Easter holiday reminded me of a special song written by my great grandfather, Albert R. Lyman. It is entitled, "Mary, to the Savior's Tomb".Mary, to the Savior's tomb hastened at the early dawn.
Spice she brought and sweet perfume, but the Lord she loved had gone.
For a while she ling'ring stood, filled with sorrow and surprise,
trembling while the crystal flood issued from her weeping eyes.
But her sorrows quickly fled, when she heard his welcome voice.
"Christ is risen from the dead and he bid your soul rejoice!"
What a change His words can make!
Turning darkness into day!
Ye who weep for Jesus' sake, He will wipe your tears away.
Spice she brought and sweet perfume, but the Lord she loved had gone.
For a while she ling'ring stood, filled with sorrow and surprise,
trembling while the crystal flood issued from her weeping eyes.
But her sorrows quickly fled, when she heard his welcome voice.
"Christ is risen from the dead and he bid your soul rejoice!"
What a change His words can make!
Turning darkness into day!
Ye who weep for Jesus' sake, He will wipe your tears away.
Amen.
Happy Easter, everyone!
Happy Easter, everyone!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Panacea Playlist
A week ago, a friend of mine invited me to act as guest blogger to a collaborative blog called Setlist Society to which he regularly contributes. How flattering! I mean, it's not like I contribute that often to my own blog, but being asked to guest blog? Well, that's just might be enough to actually get me to write something! For those unfamiliar w/ the Setlist Society, the rules are that each week a new theme is chosen and throughout that week, each contributor must submit his/her musical realization of that theme in the form of a setlist. The setlist, however, must A. be no longer than an 80 min. cd, B. come from music you actually own, and C. must be submitted w/in the week. So, honored w/ the task of blogging AND choosing the week's theme, I dove right in. Enjoy! (Be sure to check out the Setlist Society's earlier themes too. I've been introduced (and reintroduced) to some great music thanks to these fine folks! Scroll down for the week's theme, followed by my post or simply go here to read/hear it.
Ya know when you've had the day or week from hell and you feel like screaming, crying, shaving your head and joining a monastery, punching something (or someone), or just going to sleep for a long, long time? You, my friends, are not alone. If you're anything like me, you may occasionally feel like wallowing in all that self-pity, frustration, and sorrow. Other times you have so much anger or frustrated energy that you need help releasing it. Time for a little music therapy with the perfect panacea playlist! Let's hear yours. Who are your musical shamans? No one is the same, so I'm looking forward to a group of setlists as broad and varied as the emotional spectrum. Let's dance/sing/scream it out.
After a series of weeks of frustration, disappointment, stress, heartache and sadness, things are finally looking up. Ahhhhh. Thank goodness. Thanks, specifically, to the music I turned to for a little symphonic soothing. While a hellish week might suggest angry chick rock to one and mopey emo tunes to another, as a musical panacea for all that ails me this go 'round, I've really craved a gradual progression from beautifully melancholy to happily peppy songs. Follow my progression thusly, won't you? Look below the widget to read about my explanations for choosing each song.
"Both Sides Now" from Hits by Joni Mitchell - If you've ever seen "Love Actually", you will also remember the scene where Emma Thompson listens to this song alone in her bedroom after realizing that her husband is cheating on her. Thompson's heartbreaking performance coupled w/ Joni's mournful song...well, if you haven't seen it, it says it all.
"What Happens When the Heart Just Stops" from Strict Joy (Deluxe Edition) by The Swell Season (originally written/performed by The Frames) - I just love the last 2 lines - "There's a bad bone inside of me. All my troubles started there." The lyrics of this entire song are perfect, actually. I've definitely had this one on repeat in the last few weeks. I love you, Glen.
"Hallelujah" from Grace (Legacy Edition) by Jeff Buckley - Heartbreaking, slow, and beautiful. Amen.
"Fake Plastic Trees" from The Bends by Radiohead - This song has always made me kind of weep inside. Perfect for the days when you're feeling like weeping on the outside too.
"Breakable" from Girls and Boys by Ingrid Michaelson - Picking up tempo here. Simple lyrics, but easily very relatable. And sometimes I feel like a breakable girl.
"Way I Am" from The American by Martin Sexton - Progressing into the feel good section here. Martin's voice does things for me that penicillin never will.
"The Flower Duet" from Lakme by Leo Delibes - Mmmmm. Close your eyes and listen to this one. I actually can't listen to this duet without involuntarily closing my eyes.
"O mio babbino caro" from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini - Transportation to a beautiful place...probably Italy. This may or may not have something to do w/ the movie "A Room With A View".
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from Alone in IZ World by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - No matter how many times you've heard this one, tell me it doesn't make you smile.
"Sweet Disposition" from (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack by Temper Trap - The opening of this song forces my eyes closed and utterly transports me. As silly as it might sound, it makes me feel like I'm floating. I love that.
"This Too Shall Pass" from Of the Blue Colour of the Sky by OkGo - Because every so often we need full, orchestral reminders that this too SHALL pass! Also, if you've never seen the most recent video for this song...it is pure genius and will add another smile to your face.
"Little Secrets" from Manners by Passion Pit - Just a few weeks ago when I was having a really rotten day, a friend shared this one with me and it instantly made me smile from the inside out...and may have poured out of my eyes a little bit.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" from Classic Queen by Queen - Entering the "sing along as loud as you can" section! I dare you to try NOT to sing along!
"Island in the Sun" from Weezer [Green Album] by Weezer - I thought of including any number of other Weezer songs, but I just really loved the feeling of being on a holiday. Go ahead. Take a musical holiday from your problems for 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
"Lollipop" from Life in Cartoon Motion by Mika - Jared, thanks for reminding me of this song. I love it and I love Mika's infectious peppiness. Also, this has some pretty apt lyrics.
"Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" from Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend - VW never fails to infuse me with some much needed pep and feelgoodery. I could have included Paul Simon, because he often has the same effect, but I thought I'd give VW a shout out.
"Diner" from Black Sheep by Martin Sexton - Because Martin is just too good NOT to include twice. And doesn't this happy little ditty make you start moving in your chair or beating your knee/desk along w/ the beat?
"Chelsea Morning" from Hits by Joni Mitchell - The worst is over and you can wake up to your own Chelsea Morning. Who doesn't want to feel the sun pour in like butterscotch and stick to all your senses? Mmmm. Thank you, Joni, for being able to express my melancholy and my happiness!
"Here Comes the Sun" from Abbey Road by The Beatles - Cue The Beatles. Joni asked for the sun and here it comes.
Are you smiling yet? You should be.
Ya know when you've had the day or week from hell and you feel like screaming, crying, shaving your head and joining a monastery, punching something (or someone), or just going to sleep for a long, long time? You, my friends, are not alone. If you're anything like me, you may occasionally feel like wallowing in all that self-pity, frustration, and sorrow. Other times you have so much anger or frustrated energy that you need help releasing it. Time for a little music therapy with the perfect panacea playlist! Let's hear yours. Who are your musical shamans? No one is the same, so I'm looking forward to a group of setlists as broad and varied as the emotional spectrum. Let's dance/sing/scream it out.
After a series of weeks of frustration, disappointment, stress, heartache and sadness, things are finally looking up. Ahhhhh. Thank goodness. Thanks, specifically, to the music I turned to for a little symphonic soothing. While a hellish week might suggest angry chick rock to one and mopey emo tunes to another, as a musical panacea for all that ails me this go 'round, I've really craved a gradual progression from beautifully melancholy to happily peppy songs. Follow my progression thusly, won't you? Look below the widget to read about my explanations for choosing each song.
"Both Sides Now" from Hits by Joni Mitchell - If you've ever seen "Love Actually", you will also remember the scene where Emma Thompson listens to this song alone in her bedroom after realizing that her husband is cheating on her. Thompson's heartbreaking performance coupled w/ Joni's mournful song...well, if you haven't seen it, it says it all.
"What Happens When the Heart Just Stops" from Strict Joy (Deluxe Edition) by The Swell Season (originally written/performed by The Frames) - I just love the last 2 lines - "There's a bad bone inside of me. All my troubles started there." The lyrics of this entire song are perfect, actually. I've definitely had this one on repeat in the last few weeks. I love you, Glen.
"Hallelujah" from Grace (Legacy Edition) by Jeff Buckley - Heartbreaking, slow, and beautiful. Amen.
"Fake Plastic Trees" from The Bends by Radiohead - This song has always made me kind of weep inside. Perfect for the days when you're feeling like weeping on the outside too.
"Breakable" from Girls and Boys by Ingrid Michaelson - Picking up tempo here. Simple lyrics, but easily very relatable. And sometimes I feel like a breakable girl.
"Way I Am" from The American by Martin Sexton - Progressing into the feel good section here. Martin's voice does things for me that penicillin never will.
"The Flower Duet" from Lakme by Leo Delibes - Mmmmm. Close your eyes and listen to this one. I actually can't listen to this duet without involuntarily closing my eyes.
"O mio babbino caro" from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini - Transportation to a beautiful place...probably Italy. This may or may not have something to do w/ the movie "A Room With A View".
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from Alone in IZ World by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - No matter how many times you've heard this one, tell me it doesn't make you smile.
"Sweet Disposition" from (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack by Temper Trap - The opening of this song forces my eyes closed and utterly transports me. As silly as it might sound, it makes me feel like I'm floating. I love that.
"This Too Shall Pass" from Of the Blue Colour of the Sky by OkGo - Because every so often we need full, orchestral reminders that this too SHALL pass! Also, if you've never seen the most recent video for this song...it is pure genius and will add another smile to your face.
"Little Secrets" from Manners by Passion Pit - Just a few weeks ago when I was having a really rotten day, a friend shared this one with me and it instantly made me smile from the inside out...and may have poured out of my eyes a little bit.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" from Classic Queen by Queen - Entering the "sing along as loud as you can" section! I dare you to try NOT to sing along!
"Island in the Sun" from Weezer [Green Album] by Weezer - I thought of including any number of other Weezer songs, but I just really loved the feeling of being on a holiday. Go ahead. Take a musical holiday from your problems for 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
"Lollipop" from Life in Cartoon Motion by Mika - Jared, thanks for reminding me of this song. I love it and I love Mika's infectious peppiness. Also, this has some pretty apt lyrics.
"Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" from Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend - VW never fails to infuse me with some much needed pep and feelgoodery. I could have included Paul Simon, because he often has the same effect, but I thought I'd give VW a shout out.
"Diner" from Black Sheep by Martin Sexton - Because Martin is just too good NOT to include twice. And doesn't this happy little ditty make you start moving in your chair or beating your knee/desk along w/ the beat?
"Chelsea Morning" from Hits by Joni Mitchell - The worst is over and you can wake up to your own Chelsea Morning. Who doesn't want to feel the sun pour in like butterscotch and stick to all your senses? Mmmm. Thank you, Joni, for being able to express my melancholy and my happiness!
"Here Comes the Sun" from Abbey Road by The Beatles - Cue The Beatles. Joni asked for the sun and here it comes.
Are you smiling yet? You should be.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Snowmageddon, Snow-pocalypse, SnOMG...Oh snow they di-in't!
So where were you when the Great Winter Storm of 2010 struck? Why, I was right there in my house...where I then stayed for the next six days (and then some). [deadpan] Boy, it was fun.Is anyone as tired as I am of hearing about, looking at, thinking about, shoveling up, or dreaming of the snow? Yeah. It is everyone's pet topic on the east coast and the amount of snow we've received in such a short amount of time that it's caused nearly everyone to react thusly. Seriously. There is no better word to describe the general reaction to all the snow than panic. From the general frenzy witnessed in nearly every grocery store in the area beginning last week Wednesday, one would have thought we were preparing ourselves for the end of the world. Picture going to your local store and finding the shelves cleared out of milk, bread, fresh produce and snacks with check out lines from here to kingdom come! Now picture every hardware and convenience store sold out of shovels and rock salt for the rest of history and you'll have the prevailing hysteria that has swept this part of the country.
Well, after the first onslaught of snow last weekend, it was on for real and considering the fact that nearly every county in Virginia has already overspent their snow removal budget for the year, it wasn't looking good that we would be going anywhere anytime soon. So here I sit...after six days of being home, shoveling A LOT of snow, baking/cooking a lot of food with my roommate(s) (but mostly just Becca since the other two jumped ship), sleeping...and perfecting my techniques on precisely how to be lazy. With so many days of snow, work/school cancellations, and involuntary house arrest at least we can say that we set some records! Highest snowfall for the DC Metropolitan area. 55 INCHES!! Well, hallelujah! For all our troubles, at least we made history.
And now for some visuals.
If you're interested in watching the rapid accumulation of Snow-pocalypse Part I, click here.
Proof that the snow wasn't just invasive, but also really lovely. For anyone who wants to see more pictures (complete w/ descriptions) feel free to check out my picasa pics here.
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