and the Academy Award goes to...

Jennifer Garner for Best Oscars Dress ever.

Other nominees include:

Halle Berry

Kate Winslet

Cate Blanchett, and

Cate Blanchett again!

I'm a huge fan of watching the Oscars, and I love the dresses, especially when they're elegant, memorable, or both. I'm not a fan of Halle Berry but I will always remember how perfect she looked when she scooped up her Academy Award a few years ago. Kate Winslet (one of my favorite actresses!) always looks regal, and she embraces color (in addition to this red one, she's also been stunning in periwinkle and mint green). She's gorgeous. And Cate Blanchett is a classic red carpet star. She looked so statuesque in her yellow gown when she won the Academy Award a couple of years ago (for The Aviator), and I will never forget this beautiful purple dress with the pretty back of stitched flowers & a hummingbird.

What dresses stand out in your memory?

Year-End Faves: Friends' Blog Posts of 2007

I love blogging. I love that it keeps me connected with friends near & far, past & present, in such an easy and fun way. Not to mention it gives me such incredible insights into their souls! I have learned so much about the people I love and people I'm becoming better friends with through the blessing of blogging. There is so much wisdom to be found in their words! I chose six posts that really stood out to me this year, and selected a quote from each one to whet your appetite. If you have not already visited these folks' pages, grab a tasty beverage, sit back, and enjoy. You won't be disappointed.

1. Jen's writing is always amazing, but I found particular joy in this post, Days of Awe. Here's a quote:

God has a big box of sticky notes waiting for me, I know. Just because I haven’t wanted to listen, that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t have things He’s been wanting to tell me.

2. Brie sees beauty in the everyday. Right now she's living in the Big Apple, and I'm enjoying the opportunity to live vicariously through her as I read her blog. I loved this post, hitting the mark. In it, she says,

the good news is that the coach is the best around, and he doesn't give standardized tests. he has the time, energy, and support from the Upper Administration to craft specialized tests for each player, designed to reveal what's lacking, challenge to a higher level, and reward where the hard work has paid off. He's good like that.

3. My friend Pam is serving the Lord and the people of Nicaragua. She's about halfway through her assignment. I love to read about what she's doing, and even more about how it feels to be wholly used of God in the mission field. This entry (introspection) made an impact on me.

... a deeper part of me recognizes that this cloak of stability and "normalcy" that I cling to as a future dream is not a full answer to my desire to find a place where I truly belong.

4. Jenny wrote a post entitled "siblings" about her children that really touched me.

And I wonder how we cultivate transparency, understanding, love, and REAL friendship among our kids.

5. My brother in law, Bob, wrote this post after he visited us in our new town. I thought it was something special. I put a copy of it in Eli's baby book for posterity.

The first thing you will notice about Eli is his eyes. I feel like me and Eli bonded in the way only an uncle and a 4 month old nephew can. To ensure our bond he made sure to mark me with his industrial drool.

6. Jan describes her first marathon experience so well, you feel like you're right there next to her throughout the entire thing. If there was ever a blog post that inspired me, this one is it.

I tried to embrace everything as it unfurled...not really knowing what to expect. I did not expect the pain nor did I expect the power of whispered words from fellow runners..."Come on. Just a little further," words that were repulsive coming from the crowd of on-lookers, but full of hope and promise when spoken from fellow participants. I did not expect it to be an act of worship....

And one more shout out, just because I thought it was so funny. Read this, then this.

i'm published!

well, virtually. i wrote a guest blogger post over at The Mom Crowd. check it out!

favorite five: the music down yonder

i've had a list of songs posted at the bottom of my blog for awhile now. maybe you've noticed and clicked on one of them whilst perusing my blog. maybe not. (if you are in the latter category, i encourage you to head down there and give one a listen!) here are some thoughts on a few of them:

"Falling Slowly" (Glen Hansard) - last summer, i was scouring moviefone.com for a flick to see with dave for our anniversary. i came across the trailer for a small movie called Once, about musicians. yep, it's that simple. a movie about musicians that features real musicians singing beautiful songs. i watched the preview at least 3 times, transfixed. this is the song playing throughout. something in the song awakened that ache, that feeling you get when great music speaks to your soul. i haven't seen the movie yet; both it and its soundtrack are on my Christmas wish list.

"We Used to Be Friends" (The Dandy Warhols) - theme song to Veronica Mars. totally strange sounding the first few times i heard it; in fact, i couldn't even understand a word they were singing. but now i think it's the coolest sounding song, and i associate it with the coolness that was Veronica Mars. whoever selected the songs for VM was pretty sharp. each song complemented or underscored a scene perfectly, like

"Sway" (The Perishers) - a perfectly romantic song played during a key Veronica/Logan moment in season 2.

"Chasing Cars" (Snow Patrol) - awesome. listen to it loudly. it's crazy romantic. "all that i am, all that i'll ever want, is here in your perfect eyes, they're all i can see"

"Crazy in Love" (Beyonce) - i'm no beyonce fan by any means, but i LOVE this song. i started loving it about a year after it was popular (that's just the way i roll, baby). and i just want to dance every time i hear it. it's used in the climactic ending of Bridget Jones' 2 and i got all excited then, for example. i'd never buy the whole album, so having it on this music player is perfect for me.

what about you? what five songs get routine play in your stereos, ipods, mp3 players, etc?

Favorite Five: Quotes from The Office

(...seriously, choosing 5 is nearly impossible...)

Michael Scott: "TMI? Too Much Information. It’s just easier to say TMI. I used to say "don't go there", but that's lame."

Michael Scott: "I do read Small Businessman. I also subscribe to USA Today and American Way magazine. That’s the in-flight magazine. Some great articles in that. They did this great profile last month of Doris Roberts and where she likes to eat when she’s in Phoenix. Illuminating."

Dwight Schrute: "Identity theft is not a joke, Jim! Millions of families suffer every year!"
Jim Halpert: "Michael!"
Dwight Schrute: "Oh that's funny. Michael!"

Michael Scott: "Wow. They grow up so fast. I have a few of my own that I want someday."

Michael Scott: "I am like Eddie Murphy in Raw, and they are trying to make me into Eddie Murphy in Daddy Day Care. Both great movies, but still."

Favorite Five

Anna posted recently about networks showing reruns in light of the writer's strike (which could affect our tv-watching enjoyment if something doesn't get worked out soon!)... and asked us which shows we'd enjoy watching in reruns. I thought about it. It's basically the same question as "Which shows would I want to buy on dvd?" In my new list format, here's my "favorite five tv shows to watch in reruns or own on dvd":


1. The Wonder Years. Easy. I've wanted this on dvd since dvd's were invented. If only they could get those stupid music-rights-issues settled! You may recall, the show utilized a ton of classic sixties music to underscore the emotion of the storytelling. If it is to be transferred to dvd, they'd have to redo each episode with different songs due to money & rights issues. I don't know how else to describe it because I'm not that bright when it comes to the details. Anyway, TWY will always be one of my favorite tv shows ever. I am the same age as Fred Savage, so I more or less grew up with Kevin as the show progressed over the years. (Random scene: in the finale, Kevin follows Winnie to a summer camp place where she's working, and confronts her at the pool. He's wearing a t-shirt with a tomato on it - I have no idea why - and after she rejects him, the narrator's voice says all seriously, "I felt I had been shot... right through the tomato." Even in its poignancy and drama, the show was very funny.)


2. Sports Night. One of the best series I have ever had the privilege of watching. Dave & I watched it on dvd those early weeks after Lucy was born (thanks, Rob!). Witty, smart, hilarious, moving, romantic. Unforgettable. Come to think of it, if anyone seriously wants to get this for me as a Christmas gift, I'd be all over that.

3. My So-Called Life. I saw a few episodes of this coming-of-age classic on vhs, thanks to my old roomie Brie. I liked what I saw. It was compelling and entertaining. It ended too early, making it that much better. Having only seen some of it only one time, I'd love to view it again.


4. Freaks and Geeks. I haven't seen any episodes of this show, and I hear it's pretty great. Also plagued by great reviews and early cancellation. Plus, it's got Marshall in it. I love Marshall.


5. Veronica Mars. I have to give this show a shout-out because Dave & I recently discovered it at our local library. Twisty, turny, snarky, fun little show about a sassy high-school girl who is something of a Nancy Drew. We love it. It's like Lost: who thinks up this stuff? It's so complicated and brilliant. Alas, our library doesn't yet carry season 3. No spoilers, please!

What about you? If first-run shows are history for the time being, which shows would you choose for your prime time viewing?

Favorite Five

Here are my five favorite Counting Crows songs:


St. Robinson in His Cadillac Dream
the funnest song to try to sing along with; great driving music


I was born on the shores of Chesapeake Bay
But Maryland and Virginia have faded away
And I keep thinking tomorrow is coming today
So I am endlessly waiting


Speedway
very melancholy and emotional


In all this time, the bottom line
You don't know how much I feel
You say you see
But I don't agree
Don't know, don't know how I feel


Miami
just a cool song. i like how it builds up to its conclusion about "shutting it down" in New Orleans


The bus is running
It's time to leave
This summer's gone
And so are we
So come on baby,
Let's go shut it down in New Orleans


I Wish I Was a Girl
easy and fun to sing along to


For all the things I'm losing
I might as well resign myself to try and make a change
And I'm going down to hollywood
They're gonna make a movie from the things
That they find crawling round my brain


Sullivan Street
best melancholy Crows song of all time


She's nearly crawling on her knees
It's almost everything I need


Plus I have to include what are probably my favorite CC lyrics in all of their songs:

We'll I'm all messed up, that's nothing new

Hey monkey, when you open up your blue eyes,

I don't know if I'm wide awake or dreaming

But all I ever need is everything

("Monkey")

Dave's faves:
Hanginaround ("came out right about the time I was tired of living in California, so I left there")
Long December ("because it came out right before I went out to California, and it talks about being there")


Bob's fave:
Raining in Baltimore ("it bookends a great episode of Homicide")