Makeover yourself, girl.

Every girl knows that in order for a chick flick to, in fact, BE a chick flick, there's got to be a makeover scene. That or have Meg/Tom or Julia/Richard in it.  Some of my favorite makeover scene's include but aren't limited to...

 The Devil Wears Prada

Anne Hathaway, no stranger to a makeover scene, is amazing in this walk-through NYC of costume changes.  It is by far my second favorite move makeover of. all. time.

Maid in Manhattan

JLo is fine.  Need I say more?  Is she even remotely convincing as a maid?   Didn't think so.

 Mean Girls


Ahhh the good old days when Lindsay Lohan was a semi-respectable human being.  She looks like a whore, yes.  But at least she doesn't (yet) look rode hard and hung up wet.

 Never Been Kissed

Drew is so tragic when this movie starts.  There isn't quite a makeover scene, per say, but she looks less of a hotmess.

 Pretty Woman 


Julia.  These were the days.  I love this movie.  The clothes are wretched before and after.  "Do you work on commission?  Big BIG mistake, HUGE"

 Grease

This is the worst need for a makeover, but quite possibly the most famous.  When Sandy ditches that sweet Sandra D ponytail for those high waist leather pants, every girl wanted to wear that.  

The Princess Diaries

Look at Anne.  Her first makeover scene.  It's hard to make her look like she needs a makeover for sure, but plucking those eyebrows and snapping those glasses in half was pure genius.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

The obvious, far superior, best makeover scene in ANY chick flick is Toula.  Not only does Toula realize herself that she needs a change, she goes out, gets a degree and a job, all the while buying some new makeup and clothes to go with her new look.  Ian Miller/Aiden Shaw/Jon Corbett loved her from the start and says he doesn't even remember "Frump Girl".  I certainly did.  Why in the hell did Carrie leave him anyways?  Am I mixing up my stories here? He will always be Aiden in my heart.  Although, Ian Miller is pretty great as well.

Kerry Alan Jones- He's a lot of things, but he's NOT a loser

While I was growing up, whenever my siblings and I would call my Dad a loser he would ALWAYS respond with "Listen, I'm a lot of things, but I'm not a loser".  I have no idea why, but that was so hilarious to us.  He is such a joker, will always make up an answer he has no idea to, makes the best hot dogs and pancakes you'll ever have, and will do pretty much anything to put a smile on your face.  When he was teaching me how to drive and park in our garage, he turned to me and said, with all seriousness "If you take nothing away from this Lesley remember... Never and I mean NEVER put your lips on the ceramic logs while they're burning" got out of the car and went inside.  I think I knew right then and there where my sense of humor came from.

While I was growing up, my parents and I clashed on a lot of things.  Once I got to be about 17, I started to see what kind of Dad I really had.  A Dad who would work overtime so my mom could stay home with us, get his MBA while working full time, send me money when I just don't have enough to eat, drive the worst car in the world so my sister could have a reliable one (while parking next to a lexus, bmw, etc.), the list goes on and on.  I think the moment I realized my Dad was the most supportive father in the world was when I told him I wasn't enjoying college.  He sat me down and told me he always thought I would love hair school.  I hadn't even thought it was an option!  He stood by me, went to all the meetings, helped me get financial aide, and had my back when a lot of people were very hateful.  He always puts us first, something I'm not sure I could do, and for that I will be forever grateful. 

My favorite thing he does lately is just call to he misses Michael and me.  He truly is a lot of things, but he's for sure, almost never, a loser. :)

Current Obsessions

Chris Hemsworth, Lady GaGa VivaGlam Lipstick, Mint Pants, Naomi Clark and HBO's Girls.

Momma's Girl

This post is dedicated to my most beautiful and wonderful mother, Valerie Jones. 

Throughout my life my mother has done so many amazing things for me.  Meeting my father, moving back to Irving, putting me in public school, giving me 3 insane siblings, going to every single boring football game to watch me be a cheerleader, reminding me to be nice to Michael Jarboe, waiting for me for HOURS outside my high school, supporting me going to trade school and moving to Shreveport and getting married, treating my husband like he's been in the family forever, listening to my countless phone calls that make no sense... The list could go on and on.

I am so proud to have such a caring and loving mom.  She is truly the most selfless person I have ever met, putting my siblings and me above anything and anyone else.  She dedicates her life to her family, few friends, and serving on the IrvingISD school board (all for free!).  I feel like I got a lot of my best qualities from my mother.  And also my terrifying ones :)

I love my mom.  I hope one day I can be half the mother, wife, and person she is.  Thanks Val for everything you did and do for Lacey, Austin, Justin and myself (and Michael too!)  We love you and are SO proud of you!!!!

Happy Mother's Day!

40 Days of Purpose, Lent, Adding, Subtracting, Giving up Chocolate

When I was growing up as an Assemblies of God pastors kid legacy major, I had no idea what the idea of "Lent" was.  That's for Catholics, I thought.  We had 40 Days of Purpose (newsflash evangelicals, its the same. thing.).  I only started "giving up" things once I moved to a United Methodist church about 5 years ago.  (About the time I started taking communion using intinction rather than taking it from a prepackaged cup at my seat and it completely changed me.)  I usually give up fried food, cursing, booze, meat, or the inevitable chocolate for Lent.  I end up giving up about 8 days later and never think about it again.

Last year my best friend Emma posted this blog about instead of giving something up for Lent we add something that would change our views.  Like, maybe we should try to eat chocolate every day for lent.  We aren't all in the same place!  Who is to say that I should give up eating french fries and focus on God's grace in the time I would be eating said fries.  It just doesn't make any sense to me.

Last year for Lent I decided I would do one thing a day just for myself.  Buy myself flowers, make myself cookies, clean my bathroom, go out with my 2 girlfriends, make a homemade margarita, talk to my mom for 2 hours on the phone, have a date with my husband, and while I'm doing such things I would thank God for my ability to do these things.  I was in a very dark place this time last year and it only got worse as the year went on.  I do remember though, feeling like I loved my life a little more during this time.

Recently I have really realized my struggle with self image.  It is something I will always struggle with I've come to understand.  So, naturally, my first thought was to workout and diet every day this year for lent.  Essentially, lose weight for God and if I don't it will not only be a defeat against myself but also my faith. Obviously a horrible, and selfish, idea.  I just want to not feel like I am obsessed with how much I weigh.

So I have decided to give up weighing myself for the entire lenten season.  If you know me, you know I'm weighing myself every single day and beating myself up over .6 lbs I've gained, lost, or maintained.  During my obsessive habits, freak outs, work outs, etc. I'm going to instead give my God thanks for giving me the ability to choose how I deal with different things and for the pretty awesome life I have.  Like while I may live my life, take communion, pray, and go to church differently then some (and differently than I would've thought 6 years ago), I know that the faith, grace, and love God has for me is all I need.

Here's to a new perspective!  Happy Lenting!
xxLesley

Update on 12 in 2012

I thought I would give a quick update on how I'm doing this year on my 12 things to do in 2012!!  It has been a pretty amazing 2012 so far!


1. Live on an actual budget.  Well, I signed up for www.mint.com and really tried the budget thing.  It may or may not be looked at. Ever.  I really should've thought this one out. :)
2. Read a book a month.  Well!! I actually have read 4 books so far this year!  I finished Water for Elephants, The Hunger Games Trilogy(Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay) and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me by Minday Kaling.  Any suggestions on my next one??
3. BUY A NEW COUCH.  Hopefully this will happen soon.
4. Go to the BEACH.  Never again will I not let my feet hit the sand and water with my friends.  Flights BOOKED!!!  April 9th cannot come soon enough.
5. Start playing the piano again.  Well, I really don't have a piano.  Must figure that out.
6. Lose 20 lbs by my birthday, April 6, and maintain it all year.  I really have rethought this one.  I don't want to have a particular set amount in mind.  I want to change my lifestyle and just be more healthy.  I have thrown out my scale, and hopefully this will help give me some freedom from my obsession with weight without having some crazy diet keeping me down.
7. Spend more time with friends that live elsewhere.  I have set some dates to go back to Dallas AND Shreveport! Huzzah!
8. Actually watch ALL the movies nominated for Best Picture before the Oscars.  I'm getting there! Only 3 left!!
9. Go to a Bulls game.  I think we're thinking about the end of March.  Denver Nuggets game??
10. Buy my DREAM Michael Kors watch.  THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!
11. Decorate my apartment EXACTLY like I've been picturing and keep it CLEAN!!  I have really been good about decorating it but keeping it clean?  I may have to wait until Kaci Kimball is here :)
12. Cook 4 nights a week.  Eh?  Hopefully I'll just start cooking again. 


Really in the past 6 weeks of 2012, I have come along way.  When I wrote all of these down I wasn't thinking about actually doing something on all of these.  I'm glad I'm mostly keeping up with these things and hopefully the next 10 1/2 months will give me time to complete the others :)


xx Lesley 

Oscar Nominations

As part of my 12 in 2012, I planned on watching every movie nominated for an Oscar this year.  There are nine nominated for Best Picture and I have seen... two.  So, I'm writing out a list of the movies I need to see before the end of February. 

Best Picture:
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Hugo
The Help
Moneyball
War Horse

 Best Actor/Actress
My Week With Marilyn
Albert Nobbs
The Iron Lady

 I've seen Midnight in Paris and Tree of Life.  I LOVED Midnight in Paris and HATED Tree of Life.

We've got a lot of watching to do!!!!!!