This has been a jam-packed weekend of fun! On Friday I had girls’ night out and saw the latest Hunger Games movie, yesterday we all went to Disneyland to take in their holiday decorations, and today I am having another girls’ outing, this time to see the musical Kinky Boots. I like to pack my weekends tight!
Around The ‘Net
~Every Single Thing About This Jaden and Willow Smith Interview Is Nuts LOL what did I just read?
~13 Amazing Food and Life Hacks You Need to Know Right Now
~The flowchart for dealing with greetings this holiday season
~Uber Executive Suggests Digging Up Dirt On Journalists Disgusting.
~College freshman first-term grades: Should parents flip out or chill out
~Thanksgiving Recipes Across The United States
~Frozen’s Anna and Elsa, now teaching kids to code: Do you want to build a snowflake?
So About Mockingjay Part I…
~I’m not going to give away any spoilers, so don’t worry! I thought the movie was great. It was very intense, and I think that was aided by the filmmakers adding scenes to the movie that occurred, “off-page,” in the book. I was on the edge of my seat a few times, even though I’ve read the books and knew what was going to happen! I always see these movies with the same group of friends – three of us have read the books, one of us hasn’t. You definitely don’t need to read the books to see the movies (but, obviously, it enhances the experience). The way this movie ends, though…if you haven’t read the book, you probably will before Part II comes out! Also everyone in this movie is too pretty and I couldn’t stop staring at the places under their eyes where they should have bags.
The Final Countdown
~Advent calendars start next week, and I’ve been on the ball for once and have mine already. I have a chocolate one for James I got for a dollar at Trader Joe’s, and Annie is getting Lego advent calendar (I ordered it here on Amazon, but I’ve seen it in-store at Target, too!) that I think will blow her mind. I love stuff like this. So excited for all the holiday fun (including Thanksgiving this week!)!
Pro-Pony Peeps
~Annie and her friends are soooo into My Little Pony these days (just like I was at their age!). Yesterday at Disneyland, Annie and her friend Delilah both had their MLP hoodies – Delilah had Rainbow Dash and Annie had Pinkie Pie. When the girls were both wearing their hoodies, we were stopped constantly by parents who said, “My daughter LOVES My Little Pony! Where can I get that hoodie?” We got them on Amazon, and I highly recommend them (Pinkie Pie is here, Rainbow Dash here.)! They’re great medium-weight hoodies, and your kids will never want to take them off.
Speaking Of My Girl…
Annie has asked for about 500 things for Christmas (maybe because I let her circle things in catalogs…), but these are my favorites of what she’s requested.
~My Little Pony plush collection
~A panda sweater (I want this for myself)
~A karaoke machine (LOL forever)
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Jordan says:
A karaoke machine? Annie is SO your kid!
I could not get into the Hunger Games books. Totally disinterested after reading 100 pages or so of the first one. My friends have all said to give it a 2nd chance, especially since I LOVE Divergent so much (if you haven’t read them and like HG, you totally should check ’em out).
Also, I heard that JLaw sings in Mockingjay and I’d watch it just to hear that.
Heather says:
You definitely should try reading the books again (or at least seeing the movies) if you like Divergent! O don’t know anyone who likes one but not the other. And yes, JLaw sings in this movie and she’s amazing! She actually sings in the first one, too, but this latest movie’s song is really great.
Nancy says:
I really enjoyed the Hunger Games books, especially the first one. But I didn’t like the Divergent series. The Divergent books just didn’t hold my interest, but I read them (listened to audiobooks, actually) because my teen daughter loved them and it was at least fun to compare views with her.
Pam L. says:
ooh!, you must be a fly on the wall in our house…our daughter is a freshman in college. She’s our oldest – so this is a whole new world for all of us. She was a really good high school student (not 4.0 but 3.8 something) But, right now geology is kicking her behind. We tell her to just do all she can to pass the class, a C would be fine.
With high tuition prices and the time it takes to finish a degree (sometimes more than 4 years for students because they can’t get the classes they need), none of us want her to have to retake any classes.
I’m gonna go right now and click on that article and hopefully get some good advice or learn how to calm my nerves/fears. ha!
Jordan says:
From a college senior/ life-long perfectionist: the first semester is both the easiest and the hardest. Easiest because you (typically) are taking classes that are gen-ed and relatively made to be easy. Hardest because you are navigating a whole new way of education, AND a whole new life change/lifestyle change to boot! I saw friends that struggled academically because of the rigorous course work that came with his/her major, and I saw friends flunk out because they were having more fun with their freedom than focusing on school work. It all happens.
At the end of the day, and as I’m heading towards the light at the end of the tunnel, here’s the thing: grades and academics are MAJORLY different in college. My 1st semester I did decently well, getting all As and Bs. I’ve gotten a few Cs in my time, but nothing less than that. And I WORKED MY BUTT OFF FOR THOSE C’S. In high school I could have not even tried and gotten a B or C. It’s so different. Yet at the same time (at least for me), the only thing that grades carry weight with right now are scholarships. Again, vastly different.
The point of my rambling is this: grace grace grace. (which, from your post, I think you’re doing a magnificent job!) College students need more grace and encouragement, especially in the academics, than just about anyone I know. College classes are hard, especially as you get more into your major field. But they’re also super rewarding and helpful, and are centered around something you are (hopefully) passionate about, so though the work gets harder, it becomes more enjoyable and meaningful.
As cliché as it is, college students are in the prime of their life. SO much going on at once, all of the time. She will be fine. College kicks your tail in more ways than one, but if you work hard (as she’s clearly doing- I’m an English major so bless her for taking geology lol) and figure out how to somewhat balance it all, it will work out. Grades are a big deal, yes, but so is entering this overwhelming phase of life. She’ll figure out her study habits, social-academic balance, and what extracurriculars/campus activities are best for her, and it will all fall into place. It did for me. I’m gonna miss college life so much when I graduate next fall. All the clichés in the book apply to how fast it goes by!
Sorry for the soliloquy, but hope my perspective helps. Much luck to your daughter (and to you, mama!)
Pam L. says:
Oh Jordan, thank you so much for your reply. Your perspective has been so helpful and I could just hug you! (you did make me choke up/cry, though, when you said it sounded like I was doing a magnificent job! I don’t think I’ve allowed myself to feel that.)
We’re almost 3 months into this school year and I’m still at times (emotionally) adjusting to her living away from home. Some weeks are easier than others and fortunately she’s only about 2 hours away (without a car) so it’s not like she’s out of state, but it’s still an adjustment for all of us.
So much of what you wrote really applies to us. She likes to be very organized and color coordinates her planner! She almost sounds like how you described your (perfectionist) self. lol!
She is still getting used to living with three roommates who don’t seem to have as much homework as her(they’re theater majors and she’s elementary education)
She’s been frustrated that she’s had to physically leave her dorm room in order to study, write essays, etc., because otherwise it’s too distracting.
She tells us she is working hard and if she ends up with a C in geology, I like your words, she will have worked her butt off for that grade. She’s/we’re hoping her upcoming final project is well received by the teacher, maybe she’ll eek out a B. On a plus side, she is excelling in English and has had a few top essays in her class.
She also is on a scholarship, so she needs to keep a certain GPA in order to earn it each year and the amount covers her room/board or some tuition (however we choose to look at it) – so there’s that pressure – losing that aid would hurt our finances.
But I will remember your words of grace, grace, grace and do my very, very best to give that to her.
And, over this Thanksgiving break when I get to have her back home for 4 1/2 days, I now plan to not even bring up the subject of grades, if she happens to say something I’ll tell her we know she’s working hard and keep encouraging her to stay positive.
Jordan, thanks again for your kinds words and advice, they were really what I needed to hear.
Sunshine says:
My daughter has a Fluttershy Hoodie and I made it double as her Halloween costume this year! I just ordered her a Rainbow Dash one from Zulily! This is also where I got her first one. She absolutely loves it and we get asked all the time where we got it!
Jerilynn says:
LOVE the Holiday Greeting Flowchart!
Anna says:
Oh my gosh, the Barbie story! I don’t even know what to say about that one.