Attack of the Zombie Snowpersons!

You thought they were snowmen, didn't you?  Jolly happy souls, made of snow, who occasionally came to life.

And sure, some of those snowmen and snow-women you see are the jolly happy souls.

Then there are... the Un Dead.  The snowpeeps who are no longer among the living, who search for brains, who lose limbs and don't seem to notice or care.

Try the zombie checklist:

• Snowman zombies are undead. This means they used to be dead, but are somehow reanimated .

• Zombies don't walk.  They shuffle, slide, and roll. 

• Zombies generally have their arms outstretched.

• Zombies don't talk.  They do make sounds -- usually something like "Aaaaaangh!" or "Braiiiiiiiiiins!"

• Zombies wear dirty torn clothes, if they wear any clothes at all... like a castaway muffler or an old hat.

• Zombies are usually covered in blood.  Snowman zombies, having different circulatory systems and different eating habits, are covered in, well, snow.

• Zombies look like they're sick.  You know - kind of bloated, with little body definition.

• Zombies have dead expressions and vacant stares.  Their eyes might as well be two lumps of Kingsford charcoal.

• Zombies crave brains.  What do you think these are carrying in their hands?

• Zombies will get up after you run them over with your car.

 So what to do in case you meet up with a snowman zombie?

Best case scenario: Avoid the zombie in question. Failing that:

• Some say decapitation works best and will stop a zombie in his tracks.

• Cutting a zombie  into tiny pieces with some sort of chainsaw works, but in the case of snow and electrical chainsaws there can be electrocution problems.  A snow shovel should do the trick.

•  Hairdryer.

In any event, exercise caution and stay as far from the zombie snowperson as possible.  The further you are, the less likely you are to have an arm or leg ripped off your body.

Zombies will lunge at you if they think they have an open shot at your brains.  And on that subject, it is best to keep your head and brains covered.

The zombie snowmen in these earrings will actually protect you.  You see, each one is already carrying a brain.  So they won't need yours.  If other zombie snowmen see them, they will think the brains are YOUR brains, and move on to someone else.

These protection zombie snowmen are available on etsy.  Can you afford to be without them?

What Are You Doing New Year's, New Year's Eve?

Just quietly pondering the last year and listening to Diana Krall.  Enjoy...

"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve"

When the bells all ring and the horns all blow
And the couples we know are fondly kissing.
Will I be with you or will I be among the missing?

Maybe it's much too early in the game
Ooh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same

What are you doing New Year's
New Year's eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it's exactly twelve o'clock that night

Welcoming in the New Year
New Year's eve

Maybe I'm crazy to suppose
I'd ever be the one you chose

Out of a thousand invitations
You received

Ooh, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance:

What are you doing New Year's
New Year's Eve?

Happy New Year All.  May the year ahead be filled with love, peace, happiness, and BrightandShiny moments.

2012: The New Year And New Hope

 "The Gate of the Year"

GOD KNOWS

- Minnie Louise Haskins (1908)

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

So heart bestill: 

What need our little life  

Our human life to know,  

If God hath comprehension? 

In all the dizzy strife  

Of things both high and low,  

God hideth His intention.

God knows. 

His will Is best. 

The stretch of years  

Which wind ahead, so dim  

To our imperfect vision,  

Are clear to God. 

Our fears  

Are premature; 

In Him, All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until God moves to lift the veil  

From our impatient eyes,  

When, as the sweeter features  

Of Life’s stern face we hail,  

Fair beyond all surmise  

God’s thought around His creatures  

Our mind shall fill. 
---------

This poem became popular and caught the attention of many people when Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) handed a copy of it to her husband, King George VI and used it as one inspirational quote in his Christmas Broadcast in 1939. God Knows is the original title given by the author but it is popularly known as Gate of the Year.

It has also caught my attention as it was a part of our family devotion before the turns of the year.  (Using some of my devotional piece from my subscription in  crosswalk is really a blessing, authored by different remarkable christians who stood by their faith.) This poem is a think tank on what a light can do to move in the darkness, to see what is known, to see what lies ahead this new year..and yet the most that we can do is to sink our hands deeply to God so He would light and lead us into the path of the unknown. 
"He who trusts in the Lord will be exalted," (Proverbs 29:25) Nothing is better if we could light our path by following His words yet there is more than reading it...if we could hold on Him knowing He wouldn't lead us astray ... so whatever the struggles that we have left behind, a new hope for this new year is to keep holding on to His promises, trusting God and let Him lead us.

And as we make the turn to a new year, face that needs and sink our hand more deeply into God's hand. Pray for one another that as we embark upon a new year, God will grant us and our family His favor. 

I Heard a Bird Sing

by Oliver Herford

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December

A magical thing

And sweet to remember:

"We are nearer to Spring

Than we were in September,"

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December.

Spring butterflies here.

Resolutions That Probably Shouldn’t Be On Your List

•  Quit smoking and chewing tobacco at the same time

• Make sure you drink at least one Slurpee per day

• Read more… or at least watch more movies based on books… or at least watch more TV shows based on movies based on books… or at least just watch more TV.

• Exercise at least one minute per week

• Quit drinking coffee after 10 p.m.

• Floss semi-annually

• Take up something new, like salsa-dancing or salsa-eating

• Cut internet time down to 26 hours a day

• Spend more time with friends, family and/or strippers

• Work at reducing debt by purchasing one lottery ticket per day

• Organize office by setting desk on fire

• Each week, spend at least 12 hours improving Angry Birdage skills

Thoughts on Winter Solstice

The Shortest Day

by Susan Cooper

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.

And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, revelling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us – listen!

 All the long echoes, sing the same delight,

This Shortest Day,

As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, feast, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends,

And hope for peace.

And now so do we, here, now,

This year and every year.

BrightandShinyThings for winter here.

The Top Prom Dresses of 2012

The Top Prom Dresses of 2012

2012 is a great year in fashion and style. As the school year wraps up, and time approaches for prom, the right prom dress is on the top of the list for every young high school graduate to be. However, with so many styles to choose from, how do you select the one that is just right for you? Read on and you will find a review the Top Prom Dresses for the year 2012.
Best Evening Gown: Comfortable and Elegant
The Best Evening Gown dress is a classy dress that is great to have around for all occasions. This dress boasts seamed see through hips, over the neck single strap with sequins, and a long skirt. The long skirt allows your legs full movement while dancing, and is breathable for warm occasions. With these great features in one dress, the Best Evening Gown dress is versatile in its sexiness for cocktail parties, and just the right flavor for prom night.
Amazing 2-in-1 Dress: Very Stylish and Very Functional
If you plan on wearing your dress not only for the night, but possibly for after parties after the dance, you may want to consider getting a dress that has full functionality. A 2-in-1 dress offers all of the amenities of any evening gown- a long flowing skirt for when you arrive, but also the option to detach the skirt at any moment should you have another party to attend later in the night. Also, this is a great option for separate occasions, as you can show up with one look, frequent other occasions, and people will ask you where you purchased your new dress!
Best for the Evening: Simple, Sophisticated, and Comfortable
The Best for the Evening dress is perhaps our favorite selection for prom dresses, because of its adaptability. Its short cut in the front, and subtle layers of lace in the back provide a versatile and glamorous dress. This design allows you to show off your legs in an elegant matter, which is especially important in warmer climates and in stuffy rooms. If you want to show elegance, preserve your beautify, all white getting down on the dance floor, this is the right dress for you.

Ring in 2012 in Party Town Paris

Ring in 2012 in Party Town Paris

Slip into your fancy dress and head down to Paris' 8th district for the Bal Masque (the Masked Ball) at the legendary club Regine, famed for this New Year's Eve soiree. Free masks will be distributed at the prestigious club to recreate a Venetian ball atmosphere, although you are certainly allowed to take your own masks as well. While you're busy striking up conversation with attractive (by way of their masks) arbitrary attendees, you can swing your hips or bop your head to the intoxicating sounds of funk, pop, disco, house, RnB, 80's and 90s music. Dance the night away until 5am (2012!) when breakfast will be served. The best thing? It's all within reach of many boutique hotels. Paris, district 8 is the place to be on December 31st 2011.

The Ultimate Couples Halloween Costumes - The Lone Ranger And Tonto

The Ultimate Couples Halloween Costumes - The Lone Ranger And Tonto

Come Halloween, Fancy dress parties pop up all over the place and sometimes will require you to have a range of costumes in your closet for different occasions. Whether it is you who has a party to go too, or your partner, either way, going together and coordinating the costumes is exciting and a ton of fun.
Finding costumes, the right design or idea for the right occasion is not a problem these days with the vast amount available on the net, it is the agreeing part and compromising which is the first hurdle, but a quick decision usually takes over with anticipation and excitement.
In the year 2012, The Lone Ranger and his trusted friend are making a return to the big screen with a new movie starring Johnny Depp as Tonto and only rumored George Clooney as The Ranger Himself. This is sure to be a hit, and hopefully the TV series I grew up with and most of us adults with, gets some re-runs so our children can become fans too.

Don’t Read This!

I’m serious!

This is personal, something just for myself.

I know, it would probably make more sense to simply keep this as a regular document on my computer, but I’ve already started a blog post and I like to finish things that I start (except for that ship-in-a-bottle project that I started in 1989; damn my giant hands!).

Instead, I’ll run you all off by explaining, in excruciating detail, the rules of cricket.

According to Wikipedia, Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the runs scored by the batting team. A run is scored by the striking batsman hitting the ball with his bat, running to the opposite end of the pitch and touching the crease there without being dismissed. The teams switch between batting and fielding at the end of an innings. In professional cricket the length of a game ranges from 20 overs of six bowling deliveries per side to Test cricket played over five days. The Laws of Cricket are maintained by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) with additional Standard Playing Conditions for Test matches and One Day Internationals. Cricket was first played in southern England in the 16th century. By the end of the 18th century, it had developed into the national sport of England. The expansion of the British Empire led to cricket being played overseas and by the mid-19th century the first international matches were being held. The ICC, the game's governing body, has ten full members. The game is played particularly in Australasia, the Indian subcontinent, the West Indies, Southern Africa and England.

Okay, that should have gotten rid of everyone off by now.

Now Jack… Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack…

Think about how good you feel right now, right this very second. You’ve been eating well and exercising regularly for the last week or so.

AND YOU FEEL SO FREAKIN’ GOOD.

You fell off the wagon and you were draggin’ the entire time. You had no energy. Your get-up-and-go just got up and went. The connection was obvious, but you couldn’t put two and two together.

So here’s your reminder, dumbass:  Good health and weight loss is a giant boulder that, once it starts rolling, can bust through virtually any obstacle.

But when it comes to a stop, it can be next-to-impossible to get moving again.

So do yourself a favor…

Get it rolling.

Keep it rolling.

And keep it rolling some more.

Winter Tops

Topshop Striped Sweater Dress

Topshop Dress

ASOS Tartan Cape

Some Very Calvin and Hobbes Snowmen on a (Nearly) Wordless Wednesday

Snowpersons for all right here.