7th Hell

One of my favorite shows growing up was "7th Heaven." It was an oasis from the typical shows that were throwing values to the wayside. It represented two important things to me. One, It was the kind of family I wanted to be a part of, and it was the kind of family I wanted to foster as an adult. As I've grown, some of my viewpoints have changed, but the warmth I felt for that show remains to this day.

I was very recently reminded of that when I saw a twitter pic of the cast (sans "Ruthie") reunited over dinner. I applauded Jessica Biel for taking the time and never being too big to return to her roots. The image was like a time machine that took me back "home."

Stephen Collins was a major part of creating that family that helped shape me. He seemed to embody the perfect husband, father, friend, and all-around great guy. He was, by far, one of my favorite television personalities. But, as it often happens, we fell into the trap of believing Stephen Collins was, and is, Eric Camden. We bought so deeply into his character that it shocked any "7th Heaven" fans to realize his past. Isn't that what every actor wants, though...to be so believable?

I've found myself wanting to read article after article to learn more about his child molestation investigation. I'm wondering if there were ever clues on the old set. I fear for the young actors he worked with. And, maybe deep down, I'm hoping there will be some explanation. But there's not. It is true. At this point, with his taped confession, the question isn't really whether it's true, but how to process it.

Stephen has already faced a considerable amount of backlash, and rightly so. He's resigned from positions he's held, he's been fired from current film projects, and his story is being plastered across the news. It makes perfect sense to drop him, protect the cast from any physical or emotional harm, and separate from that kind of behavior. However, TV Guide made a move that I find myself questioning. They cancelled the airing of old "7th Heaven" episodes and made the decision to never air the show again. Was this wise? Or, rather, was it fair?

I've watched the show many times, and never tire of it. However, I have to be honest in saying I'm not sure how I'll feel the next time I play an episode. But I don't agree with the cancellation of the reruns. It's not currently filming and it's not putting anyone at risk on set. It's just retelling the same stories that haven't changed. Stories about life, family, love, and good values. It seems a shame to not continue to share those stories because of one person. It's unfair to the much larger creative team that we forget exist because they weren't in front of the camera. It's unfair to the actors that have to have their television legacy tainted by something they weren't a part of. It's unfair to old fans who must feel ashamed for loving a show that had nothing to do with the scandal. And it' s unfair to future audiences who won't be able to learn some of the lessons that made that show special for teaching.

If the show were currently on, then I'd say fire him immediately and distance itself from him. But it's not. And it shouldn't be left to collect dust in the vault because of an actor's problem. We have to separate Eric Camden from Stephen Collins. What do you think?  

A Little Halloween Help

On the radio the other day, I heard some statistic that the average person spends about 75 or so days getting ready for Halloween. That seems a little extreme. But then I realized that it's probably true. When you think about how early some of those decorations go up, or how I hear parents discussing their children's costumes months in advance, the number's not so hard to believe. Personally, I think some of it is unnecessary. However, I can appreciate why the crafters or DYI-ers need more time. And I'll admit, I love the fun aspect of the holiday.

I've also been into YouTube for quite some time. Short little videos about other people's lives or tutorials on how to learn to do new things...it's helpful! So, why not share some of that information? I'm always trying to think of different looks for Halloween that are creative and still look impressive. I've been blown away by a teen's Halloween tutorials and she provides some great guides on how to stand out with some expertly done tips.

I watched her journey as a contestant in the NYX face awards (a makeup artist contest for beauty gurus). I thought she deserved to win, and has grown leaps and bounds in the short amount of time since then. Maybe it's all the new tools she has to work with. All I can say is if any of those people who randomly stumble across this blog need some ideas on how to transform themselves for Halloween, I highly recommend checking out FRESHBLUSH on YouTube.

Let me know if anyone finds this helpful and comment what you plan to be for Halloween. If I have something exciting to do to celebrate and get to try out one of her looks, I'll post a picture. Thanks for stopping by!

Just My Cup of Tea

I have never been a tea drinker - hot or cold. I've tried to be, but I've never been able to stand the taste. I'm not a coffee drinker, either. My hot beverage of choice has always been hot chocolate. After all, what woman can't get enough chocolate? But I'm straying here. Every time I've tried hot tea, the description that comes to mind is always "liquid potpourri." It seemed like someone soaked some potpourri in water and that's what is left to drink. I do recall once having green tea that I enjoyed but it was at a friend's house and I wouldn't know how to repurchase it.

Given my strong dislike for it, and the fact that we're finally experiencing summer weather, I didn't anticipate that I'd be drinking tea. However, that's just what I've been doing...on a nightly basis, too! A cold had left my throat in need of some tea with honey. I'd been sick for weeks and waking up with a terrible cough. It felt like a last resort option. I gave it a try and it's become a nightly ritual. Thank goodness it's decaf.

The tea I've fallen in love with is Red Raspberry by Bigelow. I guess it's no surprise since raspberries are probably one of my favorite foods. But this tea doesn't have that potpourri taste I despise. It's like a treat, especially with honey. It's warm, soothing, and it's the perfect way to unwind and relax.

This tea has definitely become a favorite of mine, and I plan on doing a little write-up of things that I'm loving at the moment. I enjoy hearing what others can't get enough of to give me ideas on what I should try.

So, do you like tea? Have your ever had Bigelow's Red Raspberry? What's your favorite and what should I give a try? Let me know!

***This is not a sponsored blog and opinions are all my own.

Under the Hood

Taking my vehicle into the dealership, even for an oil change, always induces a bit of nerves. It seems as though every time my car goes in, it comes out with problems, no matter how fine it was before that. It's either followed up with a laundry list of expensive repairs that need to be done, or the check engine light illuminates later that week. I'll admit, as a single female, I often feel intimidated on how to take care of these problems or even keep up my end of the conversation - my calipers are frozen...what does that mean? Unfortunately, I've also been given the run around several times by my dealership and it's caused me to have to stand up for myself or they would have been fixing the same costly problem over and over again, instead of the real issue. Well, I'm done with it. I'm trying to expand my understanding and I'm wondering why we let this problem even exist in the first place.

While not everyone drives, especially those in major cities with access to public transportation, there are many people that do. Yet, the average person doesn't know much about the workings of his or her car. It's time driver's education programs start teaching these things. There are so many tasks that should be taught as part of the curriculum. Instead of students just getting behind the wheel, they should get under the hood. 

In my long list of repairs, a few of things were new wipers and adding coolant. Those are surprisingly simple enough tasks that anyone should be able to do. Some people might prefer to pay to have someone else get their hands dirty and take two seconds to change a wiper, but they should still know how to do it. Cars are expensive and dangerous. Anyone who learns to operate them should have a better understanding of how to properly care for them.

There are certain things in life that most people do, and driving is one of them. Why isn't a more in-depth education encouraged? Students are required to study such things as foreign languages, but something that will be a part of their every day life gets neglected. We should be providing the tools for success by learning how to manage something that is an essential part of our daily lives. Our safety and our budgets depend on it.  

Frozen?!?

As a Midwestern girl, I am no stranger to the bitter cold that comes with winter. I'm likely to see snow five months out of the year. This year, however, Jack Frost has been especially unkind. Even some of the warmer regions have been victims of the Polar Vortex - the latest weather phenomenon that has kept the news buzzing. I haven't seen temperatures this cold since I was in my early teens, roughly 20 years ago. We've likely seen the worst of it now but, this week, we face another round of snow and temps dipping below zero. Through it all, I've found myself asking, "Is all this Polar Vortex hype worth it?"

Strictly speaking from a scientific standpoint, it's obviously important to pay attention to weather patterns and understand what's going on with our planet. It's still the only one we have. On top of that, there's no doubt the danger that comes with getting stranded in this frigid weather. Precautions should definitely be taken. I have no intention of arguing either of those things. However, I do think we have allowed some of the hype to instill fear in us. And, well, I'll just say it...we've become wimps as we enter into adulthood.

With the news of the Polar Vortex on the horizon, schools and workplaces began announcing their closings. I'm all for keeping the kids safe...adults, too, if jobs permit. For those, like me, who still had to venture out into the cold, we had to do so under the hype of how it would feel and what might happen. Articles popped up on how to prepare yourself, with such things as not allowing flesh to touch metal for fear of freezing in seconds, or covering your mouth to protect your lungs from experiencing problems. I'll admit, I succumbed to some of that fear and wanted to hibernate beneath the warmth of my down comforter. But when I put on my big girl snow pants, my first reaction was, "Is this it...really?"

I slowly opened the door, half expecting an arctic blast to knock me over, and almost experienced a letdown. There was no white air swirling around me. I was not sharply gasping for a breath. The cold didn't rip through me or settle into my bones. In fact, I probably felt warmer than I have in a long time. Why? It's simple - I dressed for it! It's amazing what a hat, earmuffs, scarf, mittens, long underwear, and boots can do. They can actually keep you warm! Who knew?

Let's face it - we all knew that that. Anyone who grew up in a region with regular cold winters knew that. Yet, as adults, we forget. We forget the hours we spent outdoors playing in our winter wonderland. We forget that rush we feel when someone white washes our face in snow. (You know you've been there!). We forget how hot we get running around during snowball fights. It's to the point that we actually peel off some of our gear until we turn into shivering little icicles forced to finally come in by our parents, who have lured us into the house with piping hot chocolate.

Somehow, we see gloves, scarves, and all that other stuff as overprotective, instead of protective. We rebel against being bundled up like we had to be as kids and dress as though it's a fall day. Even though some of us may still insist on bundling up the little ones, we don't value giving ourselves the same kind of care. When was the last time most adults wore a pair of earmuffs, for example, on a daily basis? How often have you seen a guy break out the shorts on a December day? What about a woman wearing heels and a short skirt? How many of us our guilty of even skipping a coat and letting a sweatshirt pass as our outerwear? We all seem to do it for different reasons, but the reality is that we've tried to ignore our environment.

Again, I want to stress that freezing cold temperatures reaching in the double digits below zero should not be taken lightly. My point is simply that we shouldn't allow ourselves to get caught up in the media hype that's looking to sell as much of a story as they possibly can. When you step outside, the scene will not look like it came straight out of Disney's "Frozen" movie. If the day calls for you to brave the cold, then you can do so, and you can do it warmly. All you need are a few essentials that may have gotten lost somewhere back in your childhood.

Whatever this winter brings, whether the Polar Vortex rears its ugly head again or not, stay warm!

Love,
Lizzie