February 4th, 2011
Like it says in my mini-bio, my name is Laura and I LOVE baseball. I’d marry it if I could. For reals. I can talk baseball with the best of ‘em (and I do via Twitter - @LorInBigD if you’re a tweeter too). My favorite teams are the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers, but I keep an eye on most of the other teams, too. Besides baseball, I’m a pretty avid college football fan – Arkansas Razorbacks/SEC football, to be precise. This time of year (January thru March) sorta sucks for me, not being the biggest follower of the NFL, basketball or hockey, but since we’re here to talk sports, let’s talk Super Bowl.
I’m Faking it – and You Can, Too!
I don’t know about you, but I am quite relieved that Lil Wayne came out with the song “Green & Yellow.” I was scared that there would be no way for Green Bay could win the Super Bowl without a song. I haven’t taken the time to actually listen to said song, but I’m sure it’s awesome and full of amazing lyrics. And because of this, and after a lot of thought, this year, I’m throwing my support to the Packers in Super Bowl XLV. You’re welcome, Wisconsin.
Before you ask, I have great reasons for my newly found loyalty:
- Two of my college roommates are Packers fans, and I want them to be happy.
- I detest Ben Roethlisberger. I won’t rant about this here, but you really should detest him as well.
- Wisconsin is known for cheese. I live for cheese.
In my opinion, the Super Bowl really isn’t fun if you aren’t cheering for a team (or any sporting event for that matter). And if I have to make up reasons, then so be it. I don’t really get into the NFL, thus I really don’t have a team, so each year, I adopt*. So, in order to stand by my SB team choice, I’ve been doing research**…you know, so I don’t look like a poser. This is what I’ve got so far (figured I’d share just in case anyone else cares to fake it like me on Sunday):
- The Packer’s QB is Aaron Rodgers (wears #12). He was Brett Favre’s replacement/backup.
- Their coach is Mike McCarthy.
- If it wasn’t obvious by the name of the Lil Wayne song, their colors are Green and Yellow, so dress accordingly. Cheese hats are also considered appropriate attire. Under no circumstances should you where black and yellow. Actually, black should be avoided altogether.
- The Packers have won 3 Super Bowls, including Super Bowls I and II. Their latest Super Bowl win was in 1996.
- Brett Favre: To quote my lovely friend Carol, he’s “like an ex-boyfriend. We had some good times; I’m happy for all the things he did for the Packers. And now that we “broke up” I do hope he’s happy. But when I run into him with my new bf (Aaron Rodgers), I want my new bf to be so much better/hotter/etc…” So, any reference to why you’re happier with Rodgers over Favre is always appreciated.
- The Packers once played in what has been dubbed the “Ice Bowl” against the Dallas Cowboys in 1967. Given the recent ice storms in Dallas, and the fact the Packers are playing in Cowboys Stadium, I’m setting the over/under on mentions of the “Ice Bowl” during the broadcast at 5.
- Other Packers players of note: Brandon Jackson (running back, wears #32), Greg Jennings (wide receiver, wears #85).
Just in case you have opted to cheer for the Steelers, I did a bit of research for you as well (and honestly, to truly fake being a fan, you should probably know things about both teams):
- Their QB is Ben Roethlisberger (wears #7, nickname: Big Ben). Umm…I’ll omit any comments/opinions I have on Big Ben. Should the Steelers win, this would be his 3rd Super bowl win.
- They are coached by Mike Tomlin.
- The song “Black and Yellow” by Wiz Khalifa is an homage to Pittsbugh sports teams, and Steelers fans have embraced it as a team anthem. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you probably don’t listen to the radio as they seem to be playing it on a loop lately. And, if you couldn’t figure it out, their colors are…you guessed it…black and yellow/gold. Oh, attire-wise: Don’t wear green…or a cheese hat.
- The Steelers have the most Super Bowl wins of any franchise with 6. This is something you should gloat about to Packers fans (and Cowboys fans if you’re like me and will be surrounded by them).
- Their defense is often referred to as a “Steel Curtain.”
- Other players of note: Troy Polamalu (he has big hair, plays Safety, and wears #43), Rashard Mendenhall (running back, wears #34), and Mike Wallace (wide receiver, wears #17).
Other Super Bowl tid bits:
- It’s always appropriate to make fun of Joe Buck (one of the announcers during the Super Bowl). Any joke involving him being emotionless or agreeing with Troy Aikman is always funny. Editor’s Note: Also, Troy Aikman is nice to look at.
- Any reference to the football robot always seems appreciated…or maybe that’s just my friends? They love that thing.
- The Black Eyed Peas are the halftime “entertainment,” so feel free to take your bathroom break then. You won’t miss anything.
- Glee is on after the Super Bowl. There will be a mashup of Thriller and Heads Will Roll. Yay!
Hopefully, this should be enough to get you through the big game. And if you really are a big Packers or Steelers fan and have more facts to contribute, it would be truly appreciated! Like I’ve said, NFL isn’t my thing. I’m a baseball girl…and I take it quite seriously.
*For the record, I tend to find myself rooting for the Rams (no real reason except I lived in St. Louis during many of the Kurt Warner years…he’s sorta dreamy, and they were good then) and the Colts (most of my friends in Dallas are from Indy, and I’m a sucker for Peyton Manning). Those teams aside, I typically cheer for the team that has the most former Arkansas Razorbacks on it. It makes sense in my head, and I’m consistent, so I’m good with it.
**I’d like to thank Wikipedia and my facebook/twitter feeds for their contributions to all of my “research”.
What sports do you peeps like/follow? Are you REALLY into these sports or just a casual fan?
 |
Laura Schulte, a native of Little Rock, loves baseball (Rangers, Cardinals. Andrus, Pujols). And books. And movies. And did I mention baseball? Her feature: Pitching & Moaning might just end up a bit baseball heavy. Fair warning. |
January 19th, 2011
I have a whole bunch of posts planned or already in the works (making/keeping budgets, rocktastic things to do with spray paint, WTF is up with my FICO score?), but eventually, I’m going to draw a blank. I will run out of ideas and then I will be PARALYZED with fear. Fear and loathing. So, I’m taking requests.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to know how to do?
Like, I’m about to drop a “Smokey Eyes for Girls Who Don’t Know Nothin’ about Make-up” (title, uh, pending) because it’s something I’ve been too intimidated to master – and something my friend, Laura is really, really good at. Then I’m gonna share how to make a kick-ass chicken soup. Because (unless, of course, you’re of the vegetarian/vegan persuasion or you hate chicken. or soup), it’s a staple. And way easier than you’d think.
So much learning!
If you’ve got a particular request, hit me with your questions either by email or comments. And hey, if you want to share some of your mad skills or be an interview subject, I’m wildly enthusiastic about that, too!
January 19th, 2011
Everyone is going to ask. Caterers, florists, photographers. “What’s the theme of your wedding?”
First, you’ll be happy to learn that you don’t have to choose a wedding theme right from the get-go – or even choose one at all! I know, that’s crazy talk in the bridal world but the truth is, the mojo of your wedding is going to be set by you and your guests, even if there aren’t any words to describe it. And in the end, the theme is just a template to (hopefully) make the rest of the eleventy billion wedding decisions just a little bit easier.
Where you want to get married (cathedral, country chapel, hotel ballroom, backyard, Jamaican beach) will have a lot of impact on how you plan out the details. But to narrow it down a bit, start out by answering a few questions about you and your dude. Are you two…
- Traditional or Modern
- Casual or Formal
- Rustic or Chic
- Really into pirates
If you’re the satin and tulle kinda gal, a casual wedding is probably not in the cards. But you know what? It’s your wedding and if you want to prance around in your Cinderella gear at Chuck-E-Cheese for your wedding, you go right ahead. We’re not much for conforming. We’re just trying to help with the whole cohesion bit. Like I said, to make the next several months of decision making easier.
Amanda’s Got a Feeling
When I first dove into planning mode, I had visions of royal blues, sage greens, teals and feathers. Peacock feathers, to be exact. I wanted them in bouquets and in 1940’s inspired hair pins. It was going to be beautiful and elegant and … totally wrong for our venue. So, back to the drawing board!
Once I picked my dress and the venue had been decided upon, my fiancé and I sat down and talked about what we wanted our wedding to feel like. Not look—feel. We decided we weren’t formal, 4 forks, two spoons and a butter knife people; we were BBQ and home cooking people.
Our wedding needed to be laid back, we wanted our guests to feel like…our guests, like at-our-house-chillin-on-the-couch kind of guests. We didn’t rush to pick the different elements of our wedding, we waited until inspiration struck. The outcome was a comfortable wedding where people were directed by old wooden fence post signs, given cookies as they arrived at the ceremony, ate as much down home cooking as they could and topped it off with more cookies, cupcakes, and sparklers…because everyone plays with sparklers on their friends’ couches, right? Yea, I thought so.
Heather is Clearly Not a Girl
My sister was the first person to ask, “What’s your theme?” I was clueless. “Um, I don’t know. The one where I wear a dress and people come? What’s a theme?! I’m clearly not a girl.”
So, yeah, at first, it was overwhelming. But once I got to picking things like venue, time of day and the mood I wanted to set, the theme of our wedding developed pretty organically. We chose a local winery for the venue, Italy for a honeymoon destination and as for the mood – I just wanted a sweet, simple, sophisticated party where folks could eat, drink and laugh. Enter, “La dolce vita,” an actual theme (!) that encompassed all of those things. From there, we’ve been able to choose food (Italian, duh), music (Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra) and lots of smaller, more personal details – even save-the-dates, inspired by vintage wine labels – to make the party something special (even though I hate the word special).
A few Inspiration Tactics
- Grab some magazines and start clipping. Pictures, words. Anything that fits who you are and what you like. Lay them out on your kitchen table and start putting a story together.
- Start with the flowers. A bouquet of wildflowers or white lilies? Tulips or succulents?
- Let your mom take over. I promise it won’t be long and you’ll know exactly what you want. heh.
Okay, married ladies, your turn. What was your theme? And better yet – what was the inspiration behind it?
 |
Amanda McCain Himes, a Colorado native, made her own DIY wedding look like… well, a piece of cake. |
January 18th, 2011
Here’s a little something to chew on as you’re reading, Emma this month:
As a heroine, Emma doesn’t come off as all that strong. She’s complacent, boring even – especially when you compare her with other Austen ladies. Compare her to Pride & Prejudice‘s Elizabeth Bennett, for example. Even if you haven’t read the book, the A&E version of the movie will catch you up to speed on Lizzie’s personality pretty quickly and accurately. And she’s a tough cookie.
My sister and I made the comparison and decided this: Emma is strong – interestingly enough, where Lizzie is weak and vice versa. As an example, take their relationships with…err, difficult parents. Mr. Woodhouse? Annoying. But Emma excels in forbearing and in being a good example (except when she doesn’t – and that’s a growing moment). Mrs. Bennett? Most annoying ever. And smart, sassy Lizzie mocks her for it. And naturally, you love it because it’s funny and well, you agree.
The question is: What do you think Emma’s greatest strength is and does it make her fitting of an Austen leading lady?
 |
Heather Hunter, aka This Fish, is is from Dallas, Texas via Boston, New York and some other cold, snowy places. She spends a bunch of her time blogging, planning her May wedding and eating things made mostly of melted cheese. |
|
Contributors
Got a great story that you want to contribute? Drop me a line! We'll talk. No big whoop. |
