You're a Grand Old Flag

I love America. My heart beats true for the red, white, and blue. Fourth of July is definitely my favorite holiday. It’s all about fun in the sun, barbeques, fireworks, and saying Happy Birthday America. I honestly can’t think of a better combination.

As I sit here painting my nails red for the 4th, I think back to a cute story a friend told me in college. Her five year old niece had recently learned the song, “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” As the little girl was belting it out for her aunt she sang, “You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high FIVING flag…” I thought it was so cute, and now every Fourth of July I sing that song, and I say high fiving flag. I think those words are better anyway. So high five to America…and Happy Birthday!

Man in the Mirror

I have had a Michael Jackson song stuck in my head ever since Thursday. I’m a fan of Michael Jackson’s music just as much as the next person, but I can’t get his songs out of my head! I’m talking Thriller, Billie Jean, Black or White—you name it, and I’ve had it in my head. I mean, he is EVERYWHERE right now--radio, T.V., and Internet. I even bet that used Thriller CD you bought last summer is really coming in handy right now!!

I think it’s great to pay tribute to the King of Pop; however, the pièce de résistance came today at church when the person speaking incorporated Man in the Mirror into his talk. Wow. Okay, I think that’s going a bit too far. It was even more hilarious because he read the lyrics so seriously, like it was some crazy profound poem or something. I think he may have even had a small tear in his eye. All I know is that when Jay Z passes away I am going to do my best to incorporate Big Pimpin into my church talk.

In the meantime…why don’t we all sing together…“I’m starting with the man in the mirror…”

He Even Carved the Roast Beast!

Beef! It’s what’s for dinner. And it’s certainly for dinner at my house quite a bit, because I found the best pot roast recipe EVER! I just had to share this one. It’s incredibly easy and incredibly yummy. Just be sure to throw in potatoes and carrots with the roast—they are the best part. Enjoy!!

Ingredients:

1 beef roast, any kind
1 (1 ¼ ounce) package brown gravy mix, dry
1 (1 ¼ ounce) package Italian salad dressing mix, dry
1 (1 ¼ ounce) package ranch dressing mix, dry
1/2 cup water
Potatoes, carrots, or your favorite veggies

Directions:

1. Place potatoes and carrots in the bottom of the crock pot.
2. Place beef roast in crock pot.
3. Mix the dried mixes together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast.
4. Pour the water around the roast.
5. Cook on low for 7-9 hours.

Zack Attack

Oh my gosh! Great news everyone! Get out your Bayside t-shirts and stonewashed jeans. It’s almost time for a Saved by the Bell reunion!!!! This is a day we’ve all been waiting for! So here’s the scoop. Apparently, Jimmy Fallon has been trying to put together a SBTB reunion for quite some time. Lisa, Slater, and Mr. Belding are already in, and just last week Mark Paul Gosselaar, Mr. Zack Morris himself, has agreed to the reunion!! (insert valley girl scream here)

“I’m so excited…I’m so excited…I’m so…I’m so...” scared that some of you may have missed this great clip. So is here Mark Paul on Jimmy Fallon last week. If you are a SBTB fan you will absolutely love this!



I cannot wait for the reunion! Stayed tuned for more info and keep your giant cell phones handy. B--BB--BBB - GO BAYSIDE!

Summer Reading List

Remember the summer reading list days of yore? When the summertime was all about getting a tan, going to cheer camp, and reading a few good books? I don't get to go to cheer camp anymore, but I can have a summer reading list! The summer reading list is a staple of any bookworm’s summer, so I have decided to create one for my summer of 2009.

I needed a good theme for my reading list, so I decided to get Lost. That’s right; I’m talking about Lost--which is quite possibly the best television show ever created. For those of you who watch Lost, you know that this mysterious show is filled with literary references galore! So this summer I decided to start a little Lost book list with a few of my fellow coworkers. We’ll be reading a list of books seen or referenced on the show Lost. Yay! So let’s get started…

Lost Book #1: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

“The time has come the walrus said, to talk of many things…”

And I’d like to talk of the many things I love about these adorable Lewis Carroll classics!! These books are completely magical! It is delightful to follow Alice into the upside-down and topsy-turvy world of Wonderland. She meets the craziest of characters along the way, and their conversions are absolutely absurd and hilarious. I admire Carroll’s nonsensical world and found it to be a breath of fresh air from the all too logical and proper world we live in. The books are so well written and full of fantastic puns, poetry, and prose.

So, if you are looking for a great book to read to your kids, or if you want to be a kid again, take a trip down the rabbit hole or pass through the looking glass and visit Wonderland.

That's the Power of Love

Great Scott! It’s summer time! And it’s time to talk about this summer’s hottest trends. I was reading US Weekly a few weeks ago—my favorite celebrity news magazine—and I read that this summer’s new trend for nails is bright, neon colors. I’m not talking kind of bright, but way bright!!!!

I set out to find the perfect summer nail polish. I decided to go with a H-O-T pink! A dear friend of mine, Miss Kristan Brooks, once said that the best way to select a nail color is by the name. Truer words have never been spoken, people. I have always lived by that rule. You just cannot wear a nail color unless it has a fabulous and clever name.

So I searched and searched until I found the perfect color with the perfect name…

“Back to the Fuchsia”

Oh my gosh! When I read the name, I instantly fell in love. Not only is the name so clever, and the color so cute, but it also pays homage to one of the best movies of all time! The Back to the Future movies are probably on my list of top ten movies ever, and I KNOW they are on yours too.

I love my hot pink nails. I can’t help staring at them as they type happily across the computer keys while I’m humming The Power of Love. Here’s to you Marty McFly…and hot pink nails.

I Heart Dan Brown

I heart Dan Brown. There, I said it. I am like a total Dan Brown junkie. I got on the Dan Brown train when all of the Da Vinci Code hype started up, and I am still riding. I have read all four of his books and I am anxiously awaiting his new release on September 15th (Yay!!). I guess you could say I just wouldn’t be the same without a Mr. Brown in my life.

Angels and Demons is definitely my favorite book of his….so lucky for me, the movie just came out! I went and saw Angels and Demons last night, and it was so fun to see the book brought to life!! Of course you can never perfectly capture a book in a movie, and they will always have to leave some things out, but overall it was a great movie! Well done Ron Howard!

So this post is a plea to any Dan Brown virgins. If you haven’t read any of his books, I beg you to do so. Start with Angels and Demons. Even if you aren’t into mystery or if you haven’t read a fiction book since 1995 (you know who you are!), just read it. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Are we all on the same page?

You know that saying, “If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that…” Well, I’m pretty sure I’d be a billionaire if I could apply that principle to jokes about my name. I mean, it’s tough growing up with a name that is also a noun. Don’t get me wrong…I LOVE my name, but there are just so many bad jokes that one can use with a page…or a Paige.

I think the one I hear most often is, “Are we on the same page, Paige?” followed by boisterous laughing. Ha ha ha! I mean, that joke is pretty funny the first seven times, but then it just starts to lose it’s zing. It’s especially bad in the workplace. People love to use that cliché phrase, “Let’s get on the same page here people.” Or, “What we really need to do is get everyone on the same page.” They all think it’s just hilarious when they say that and I’m in the room.

So it’s settled, I’m officially going to start keeping track of how much money I would have if I got a dollar every time someone said that to me. I’ve already earned two dollars this week. And just so we are all on the same page, if you say that phrase to my face, you own me a dollar.