Kayla I. Shown-Dean's Blog, page 63
February 1, 2015
The Beloved Beatles
It’s here!
This is it folks—the month that either has you running to the hills or to the closest gift shop to find that special item to give that special someone on the 14th of this month. However, instead of limiting ourselves to one day of celebration of our loved ones, I’ve decided to dedicate the entire month to the appreciation and celebration of true love–any true love, be it romantic, brotherly, spiritual, etc.
For the month of February, I hope to rekindle some romance in the lives of my readers. This month’s Musical Mondays will feature some of my favorite love songs. I will share with you some intimate details of my relationship and the impact these love songs have had on it. On Saturdays, there will be original posts and guest posts all incorporating the theme “my true love”. I could not be more excited to introduce these talented writers to you all.
And what better way to start this month off than with the Beatles?
This song was actually the first Beatles song I ever listened to, and I became an instant fan. While it wasn’t a song that directly impacted any of my romantic relationships, it did make me fall hard for The Beatles, and it’s a wonderful excuse to hold my husband’s hand as it reminds us of those bubbly and nervous feelings (I call them flutterflies) that we experienced at the beginning of our relationship.
January 30, 2015
A Tribute to Hot Chocolate and to my Husband
There’s nothing (and no one) in this world that gets me like my husband, and lately it’s like we’ve been on the same cravings wave-length as he’s made his infamous hot chocolate for me the last two nights.
I know; I know; it’s doing nothing for my girlish figure. However, it does help warm my bones on these cold, rainy nights, and it brings a certain comfort and relaxation in its warmth.
My husband’s hot chocolate is also the world’s best hot chocolate as he makes differently from anyone I’ve ever met. I grew up with boxed hot chocolate, like Swiss Miss or Nestle. While it’s served its purpose of warming me up, it isn’t nearly as good as my husbands.
First he takes out the mugs that we are to use and he fills them with milk.
Then, he readies the stove-top by setting it on medium heat. While he’s waiting on the stove to heat, he gets a saucepan and fills it with water, placing it on the hot burner. Then, he pours the milk from our mugs into a metal bowl and places the milk-filled bowl on top of the saucepan.
saucepan at the ready
good sturdy metal bowl
Once the milk begins to boil, he adds a handful of chocolate chips, stirring them frequently, so they won’t scorch. There’s really no set measurement for the amount of chips; he just adds more until he gets the creamy chocolate coloring we both love.
Use a small handful for starters; add more later if you need it.
Afterwards, he pours the concoction back into our mugs and, here’s the kicker, adds a candy cane to use as a stir stick.
This makes for a delightful treat that can sweeten up the dreariest of evenings!
January 27, 2015
January 26, 2015
He Fought So Hard…
I don’t know if I’m going to be able to write this tonight. I just got word that brave Alex lost the fight about an hour ago. He always wanted to be a wrestler, and he stayed in the ring as long as he could. 70+ days in Children’s Hospital, hooked up to machines, unable to eat, to communicate–he lasted longer than I would have, a lot longer than most.
I know I haven’t been involved in his life much until recently. I remember playing with him as a child, watching him grow up via Facebook photos and updates from his mother. I just hope he knows how loved he was, how loved he is.
Father, please wrap your arms around this little one. Welcome him home.
There’s a new name written down in glory.
(I’ll leave Alex’s GoFundMe account open until the end of this week. I’m sure his mother would appreciate any help with the cost of the funeral).
January 25, 2015
ITry…
…to forget this song, but seriously, this is the song that I belt out in the shower and when running the vacuum cleaner. This song really has no emotional connections for me personally, meaning I didn’t blare this song in my bedroom as a mourned a dead/dying relationship like some may have. In fact, my memories of this song are listening to it on Rick Dee’s The Weekly Top 40 as I went garage saling with mother. I think I just appreciated this song for what is was–a pleasant change in the music of the late 90s and early 2000s. Macy Gray, where ever you are, we miss you!
January 23, 2015
Why “All About that Bass” Doesn’t Have As Good of a Message as We Thought
It’s that time of year again, isn’t it? The store’s are void of Slim Fast, and prime time T.V. is full of those pesky infomercials that make you feel like disgusting slob for not owning a Bow Flex. At least, some people get, right? I mean, Meghan Trainor sure does.
I’m sure many have heard of Meghan Trainor’s hit single “All About that Bass” by this point. If you haven’t, go ahead and give it a listen:
Trainor has picked up fans like a whirlwind with her hit song. It’s been played worldwide and has been listed in 21 different charts for 253 weeks. With its unique rhythm featuring the use of the cello and/or other bass instruments and its “positive” message to women, what’s not to love? However, Trainor’s song has some subtleties that I simply cannot ignore.
Firstly, I think it’s horrible that we live in a culture in which a song such as this should even need to be written. It’s almost barbaric that in the year 2014 we, as women, need a song to remind us that size doesn’t matter. Unfortunately, this only proves that size does matter. After all, the song includes no lyrics addressed towards men and their body types; in fact, I can’t think of one that does. While I understand that men have their own “magazine(s) workin’ that Photoshop” and their own pressures that come along with it, when have they ever had to be told to love themselves in the way that women are?
Another issue with the lyrics that stood out to me is the subtle objectifying of women. In penning her lyrics, I believe this was something Trainor (or her song writer) was trying to speak against; however, her lyrics actually support the degrading of women to the status of a mere object. Her aim may have been to build confidence in the body images of listeners, but she fails in this line: “My mama she told me don’t worry about your size. She say, ‘Boys like a little more booty to hold at night.'” In this single line, as well as in others, she has still objectified women by almost encouraging them to have that bigger “booty” to please and/or attract a man. To succeed in her message, Trainor should have left the male perspective aside and simply prompted her listeners to take pride in themselves simply because they are “perfect from the bottom to the top” with or without a man’s seal of approval.
All in all, I can agree with Trainor on one thing we as a society need to “make it stop”. Women and young girls are beautiful the way that they are, and they shouldn’t have to change themselves in any manner to please someone else. Our worth, as women, is immeasurable, and if someone else doesn’t see that they need to “go ahead and move along.”
January 20, 2015
January 18, 2015
Are You Ready…
What ever 2015 throws your way, I hope you’re ready…set…g0!
[side note: this is my three year old’s favorite song]
January 17, 2015
And the winner is…
On January 4, I posted a DVD giveaway of the movie, Hero.
Today, I’m proud to announce our winner…
Emily Smith
Congratulations, Emily! You will recieve an e-mail from me soon!
Thank to all who entered.
January 15, 2015
One Step Forward…Two Steps Back
This last week has been a week of blessings and setbacks. Doesn’t always seem to be that way, take one step forward only to take two steps back?
On the plus side, Alex was able to actually have restful sleep this week for the first time since he entered the hospital on November 13, 2014. The shaking in his arm and twitching in his face has somewhat subsided, allowing him some relief.
On the negative side, they had to intubate him once more to help with his breathing.
Also, I heard from his mother who told me that this week they lost Alex’s benefits. All the family has at this time is Alex’s SSI as income since his mother had to put her life on hold to care for her son. Not only has SSI refused to pay, but the family must also pay back benefits that were paid to them since he has been in the hospital.
I know we can’t help much with Alex’s healing process, guys. But we can help with the financial burden this has placed on this single mother–and we are a long way from $5,000.
