Why I Love 'Bunheads'

I try to avoid watching new television shows, since I tend to record shows simply because I have the ability to watch them later on, commercial free and at my own leisure. In the end, this still leads to watching too many hours of TV, in the grand scheme of things, when I should be using my time more productively. But sometimes, I just can't help myself. Take last summer, for example. I broke down and started recording/watching Bunheads. It wasn't (and still isn't) something I am proud to share, but the show has quickly become one of my favorites, and I must give credit where credit is due.

ABC Family is swiftly turning into the teenage girl television channel. Among a slew of shows geared toward the young female population, such as Pretty Little Liars, Secret Life of the American Teenager, Jane by Design, and Switched at Birth, Bunheads caught my eye because of its advertising gimmick: "From the creator of Gilmore Girls." None of the other shows can boast that as one of its credentials, that’s for sure. I thought it would be harmless to check it out.

You must understand that Gilmore Girls is one of my all-time favorite TV shows. It reached an unfortunate ending after seven seasons, spending its final two out of the hands of the absolute genius Amy Sherman-Palladino, who is also responsible for the creation of Bunheads. Lorelai and Rory had the mother/daughter relationship that seemed like a fantasy for most - they never fought, (except for one tiff right around the time Luke and Lorelai officially became a couple); they told each other everything; they were funny, likable, and relatable; and they could eat junk food like it was nobody's business without so much as gaining a pound. Their snarky, quick-witted, fast-paced conversations were certainly enough to keep me entertained all seven seasons, and I was sad to see the show end. (Who wasn't?!)

Bunheads has brought this same subtle humor and speedy dialogue back to life. While I was first traumatized at the quick departure of Hubbell after just one episode, (since Ferris Bueller’s Day Off just so happens to be my all-time favorite movie), I have long since forgotten about him. Michelle and Fanny have developed a great relationship of their own, Truly has turned a much less creepy and much more lovable corner, and the teenage girls have hit their stride in perfecting their characters’ personalities and mannerisms.

Sutton Foster is no Lauren Graham, but she does a fantastic job anchoring the show as Michelle, never missing a beat and always finding an analogy for every situation she faces. The character of Rory has been replaced by four clever, spunky teenage ballerinas who leave me wondering how just one Rory was enough. Instead of Emily Gilmore, we have Fanny Flowers, who is just as mysterious, yet much more lovable, also played flawlessly by Kelly Bishop. Quirky Kirk has been replaced by the peculiar Truly; Stars Hollow, Connecticut has been replaced with Paradise, California; and we are all still wondering just when Michelle will find her Luke, since Hubbell is out of the picture. 

It also doesn’t hurt that we have been lucky enough to be graced by plenty of Gilmore Girls alumni. We all know that Fanny previously held the role of Emily Gilmore, but the cameos from lesser-known characters have popped up in multiple shows, much to my delight. Everyone from Gypsy, who has a recurring role on the show; to Kirk as a crazy barista; former boyfriend of Lorelai, Jason, turned former lover of Michelle; Lane’s husband, Zack, a love interest for Truly who served a dual purpose as a plumber when the dance studio sprung a leak; and most recently, Paris has returned as an older version of her Gilmore Girls character, this time in the form of Truly’s older sister, Millie.

There isn't a single episode that goes by where I am not laughing out loud and enjoying every moment of the show, not wanting it to end. While it isn't an exact replica of Gilmore Girls, there is something fun and fresh about Bunheads that leaves me hopeful it, too, can stick it out for seven seasons...or more! So, it is here, on my blog, that I must confess and profess my love of Bunheads.

Late to Join the Bandwagon

I admit it. I have a weakness. I am like a child, and when someone tells me to do something, it makes me not want to do it. In fact, I tend to avoid it as much as possible. In some instances, I find myself doing the opposite. So when people have told me to watch a television show, a movie, or read a book series, I tend to stray away from following their advice. What I am learning is that I should really start listening to people, because avoiding their advice and recommendations has left me rather late on joining the bandwagon for many things I have come to love and enjoy.

Take, for example, the Harry Potter books. Way back when the books first came out, I thought the idea was stupid. I resisted reading them. Finally, my mom ordered the first two for me, out of her Avon book, of all places. I was still skeptical, but I eventually picked them up and read them right away. I loved them. I went on to read all the books and see all the movies. I can't even imagine a life without Harry Potter in it, but yet, if my mom wouldn't have started me off with the first two books, I don't think I ever would have read them.

While I never had HBO in order to watch Sex and the City during the time when new episodes aired, (and I was probably too young to watch it), I did see both movies when they were out in theatres. I thought I might enjoy the show, but I never really gave it a second thought. Earlier this year, a friend from work loaned me the first two seasons of the show. Again, I put off watching them. It started out slowly, and I just didn't think I would like it. All of a sudden, I became obsessed! All I wanted to do was watch Sex and the City to see what happened next. I went on the hunt to purchase all the seasons for myself in the exact covers I wanted. I was disappointed when I located all except Season Five at a Target near my house and elated when I went back a month later and discovered it there, on sale. With my collection complete, I have delayed watching Season Six: Part Two simply because I don't want the show to end! On the bright side, I do have both movies to look forward to, since I don't really remember much from those.

For anyone who has read The Hunger Games, you know that explaining the concept to someone else makes the book series sound completely bizarre. I had multiple people tell me to read the book series and attempt to tell me what it was about. I made the decision that I wasn't interested, and the books sounded weird. Then, I don't know what happened - something made me want to read them just to see what all the fuss was about. I received the first book for my birthday, and I then delayed reading the books for two months. When I finally picked it up, I read all three books and saw the first movie within a week. I became completely obsessed. I developed a crush on Peeta. (No, not Josh Hutcherson - Peeta, the character from the book). I was annoyed to stop and go to the bathroom or eat. All I wanted to do was read my books. Now, I can't possibly imagine waiting over a year before I can see Catching Fire on the big screen, the next installment of the trilogy and my favorite book of the series.

Perhaps the one bandwagon I was slowest to jump on has been Twilight. I simply was not interested in vampires, and I thought I would be cheating on Harry Potter in reading another series. Since I like to read books before I see the movies, I have been sure to avoid each and every one of them. I ordered all four books online ages ago when they were on sale, but they have sat on my bookshelf collecting dust since. Finally, this week, I sat down and started reading the first one. Much to my dismay, I actually have enjoyed what I've read so far. My new dilemma is whether I want to read one book at a time and watch the movie and so on or if I would rather read all the books before seeing all the movies.

What other bandwagon am I missing? I know 50 Shades of Grey is looming in my future, but am I missing the boat on something else? What bandwagons have you been late to jump on? I am certain I can't be the only one out there so resistant to the recommendations of others.

Quarter-Life Crisis

The past couple of weeks, I have been joking and dramatizing the fact that I am having a mid-life crisis at age 25. My husband corrected me - it is actually called a "quarter-life crisis." Now that I have a title for my dilemma, I am full steam ahead in my crisis and really unsure of a way out.

I followed the path I thought I was supposed to follow. I went to college and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in English, with my field of expertise being Creative Writing. At the time, I wasn't entirely sure of what I wanted to do - when I was younger, I wanted to teach. By the time I got to college, I knew I could not bear to deal with rotten school children or spending any more time in school. I thought I would be able to find some sort of writing job. I had dreams of sitting at home with my laptop, in my home office, writing and editing to my heart's content.

Yet, here I am, just three years after graduation, working in an office at a desk job, not using any of the skills I went to college to improve. I thought this job would be a good place to work my way up and at least pay the bills until I was financially capable of pursuing my writing and editing goals. Only now, I feel like I have wasted yet another two years of my life in a field I am finding is not stable, nor is it something I would be interested in remaining at long-term. For now, it is fine...but how long can a person really stay at a job where they remain a flex employee with no hope of transitioning to a "real" (core) employee. I wonder if my time has come to move on and I am just too resistant to change to see where the signs are pointing.

Throughout my earlier years, I wrote and wrote and wrote. There was never a time when I didn't have a story (or two) in progress. Then, I hit college, and in turn, hit a wall. For whatever reason, my classmates in writing workshops were always full of criticism, none of which felt constructive. Other students, who were nowhere near as grammatically correct as myself, seemed to get praise for off-the-wall story ideas. The wackier, the better. It never failed - if I thought a story was ridiculous or disgusting, the other students and professors would love it. As someone with low self-esteem to begin with, this really hurt the confidence level I once had, after being asked if I wanted to try and publish anything by my high school Creative Writing teacher.

Since then, I have dabbled in blogging, SEO writing, and a stint with Examiner.com as the Milwaukee TV and American Idol Examiners. I still have not gone back to the excessive short story writing I once did. Frankly, I know I just need to get over what happened in college and start writing again, even if it is just for myself. I am never going to accomplish any goals or become the next Nicholas Sparks or J.K Rowling if I sit here and avoid writing. I can't let myself get so disappointed about my job - I need to remember that this isn't my future career. It is something I can do for now before I eventually move into my chosen field.

Well, that's a lot easier to say than do. So, here I am, stuck. I don't have the experience in the field I want to be in, so getting a job in that field is virtually hopeless. I could try and find a new position related to what I do now, but that really isn't my passion and feels like it would be wasting more time. I feel unsure of what step to take next, I worry I missed out on opportunities and wasted too much time, and I am afraid to make a decision because I am an incredibly indecisive person and can hardly figure out what I want to eat for every meal, let alone what career path to take. Therefore, I have determined I am officially experiencing a quarter-life crisis.

If you have found yourself in a quarter-life crisis and aren't sure where to turn, therapy might be a great outlet for you. Please see this link for further information: https://www.betterhelp.com/start/.

Sounds Like a Flock of Wah Wahs

It amazes me how negative our world has become. Social media has given people plenty of outlets for expressing themselves - unfortunately, it offers an endless array of options for all of us to complain about every detail in our lives. Now, don't get me wrong. I was once one of those people. I felt I had to update my Facebook status every time something happened, good or bad. Since then, I have realized how incredibly obnoxious that can be. I hardly ever update my status, and when I do, I try to make it something exciting or positive. Twitter is something I am still working on improving, since it's much easier to throw a cryptic message of crabby-ness out there without anyone noticing.

Bad things happen in life. That's just life. We deal with it, we move on, we get over it. Why would you want to focus on everything negative and make yourself miserable? Every day, you have the option of making a conscious decision: either you wake up and have a good day because you keep a positive attitude and don't let yourself get brought down, or you wake up and let every little thing bother you, spend your day complaining, and most likely have a crappy day.

I'm not saying you can never complain about anything. I am the type of person who likes to share every detail about my day with those I am close to. Maybe it's because I want to be a writer, but this is just how I have always been. I would come home from school when I was younger and tell my mom everything. Often times, my dad would eavesdrop and comment, "Sounds like a flock of wah wahs!" to make fun of me for complaining. I never saw it as complaining - I was just being thorough.

This year, one of my goals is to try and be a more positive person. I tend to get hung up on the little things, overreact, and get upset when I shouldn't. That adds excess stress to my life that just isn't necessary. Please see this article for further information on stress: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/stress/. Life is better when you are thankful for what you have, instead of frustrated over the bad things that may occur. You can have a bad day every now and again, but really, is every day of your life that bad? Do you have a job? Do you have a caring family? Do you have a place to call home? Do you have friends you can count on? Do you have enough food to eat every day? More than likely, you have at least one of those things going for you. Things probably aren't as bad as you are making them out to be, and there are certainly others in the world who have it a lot worse.

Before you jump to Facebook or Twitter to update it with negative thoughts or complaints, take a moment to ask yourself if you are going to look back on that status or update and regret it. Are you going to want to remember it? Or, was it just something else minor that happened that would be better kept to yourself? Are you going to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable when other close family or friends read what you have to say? In the moment, your post may seem like the best way for you to vent, but that complaint could be better suited to be kept private, in a journal or notebook, where you can release your feelings without telling the world about your moment of weakness or frustration.

I don't write this to offend anyone or make them mad. I write this with the hope that even just one person might read it and feel more motivated to have a better, positive attitude. My life hasn't been perfect. I have been through a lot. But, if I woke up every day and focused on everything bad that has ever happened to me, you can bet I would be a pretty depressed person. Instead, I am choosing to wake up each day and hope for the best and to feel thankful for what I have. Your life probably won't ever be perfect and what you imagined it would be, but I find it is most important to be grateful for what you have and remain as positive as possible. Negative people are going to continue to attract other negative people and things around them. Positive people don't want to spend time with negative ones who spend their days complaining.

The next time you go to say or post something negative, take a moment to think about it: is it worth it? Or, in a day, will you look back and laugh at yourself for overreacting and getting so upset? Try eliminating negative posts and replacing them with only positive ones. You will certainly begin to see a a gradual change it your life, even if it isn't noticeable at first.

What do you think? Are you trying to be more positive in your own life? What do you do to limit your negative posts or excessive complaints? Leave a comment below to give your opinions on overcoming negativity and the negative people in your life!

Phone Interview Dos and Don'ts

My job is to conduct phone interviews. Day in and day out, I talk to people throughout the United States to conduct phone interviews. It simply amazes me at the things people tell you on the phone, the personal information they throw out there, and the absolutely awful answers they give for the simplest questions. If you have a phone interview coming up, you may want to take a few things into consideration before you prepare.

• The most important thing is to avoid having a bad attitude. Don't be rude, don't be snotty, and don't be negative. If you want a job, how do you expect to get one if you treat the interviewer poorly? Even if you're having a bad day, you're fighting with your significant other, or if you aren't feeling well, do not tell the person interviewing you about any of these things! Be upbeat! Be excited! Be likable! In the words of my co-worker, your personality should be more than that of a wet blanket.
• Do not ramble or give excess information. I understand you only have a set amount of time to get information about yourself out there and set yourself apart from other candidates, but the second you start to ramble and get off-topic, you are going to lose the interest of your interviewer, and you will quickly join the category of candidates we call "the ramblers." You'll be the one to throw off our interview schedule for the rest of the day because you started talking about your work history dating back to 1972 or telling a ridiculously long story that took 10 minutes and should only have taken two. Keep your responses clear, concise, and to the point. Answer the question you were asked, and nothing more.
• Don't talk about your age. In most cases, your age can't be held against you when it comes to a job anyway, so stop bringing it up. I know that I personally never take that into consideration, nor do I make a note of it in my interview notes. Don't make things awkward by revealing your age or making assumptions about the age of your interviewer. (For example: "I've been working in customer service longer than you've been alive").
• When asked why you left a position, do not launch into a story about how you were taking care of a family member with cancer and that person passed away or how you had a disagreement with your employer. Trust me. (My mom passed away from cancer, so I am certainly not being insensitive here). This will make another awkward situation, and everything can actually be summed up in two simple words: "Personal reasons." That's what we will write anyway, so that's what you might as well say.
• If asked about the job description for the position you applied for, a good response is never that you applied for so many jobs that you can't remember. Read the job description. Know what you applied for. Heavens, take notes if you have to.
• Generally, if you can't answer a question, you probably aren't going to pass. So, you should at least make an effort to think of something instead of automatically saying you can't think of anything.
• Questions are good, but you should never ask too many questions. I would say keep it to five questions or less, unless the phone interview happens to be the very last step of the process. Especially if it is early on, asking a lot of specific questions is unnecessary, because you haven't really made it all that far yet, so there may not be a lot of specific information available at that point.

Once the interview is done, it is fine to follow-up. However, do not check excessively. Try calling or e-mailing one time. In many cases, when you don't hear back, that means they aren't going to move forward with you. In other cases, a decision has maybe just taken a little longer to be made. In any case, do not harass the person you are trying to contact. That certainly will not help to speed up the process, and it is most likely out of their hands anyway.

At the end of the day, we don't want you to fail your phone interview. We want you to pass. So, think smart, don't ramble, and be pleasant. If you don't, you are most likely going to remain jobless, because someone else out there will have listened to this blog post when you didn't. =)

Book Review: Sisterhood Everlasting

**Spoiler Alert: There will be spoilers from the book discussed in this review.**

I have always been a fan of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants novels. I had an idea in my head of how I wanted my friendships to turn out in my teenage years, and I always imagined I would have three best friends to last me for life, just like Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget. When I learned a fifth book was coming out very soon, (it was released on June 14th), I hopped on over to the Barnes and Noble website and pre-ordered it right away.

During a weekend up north at my husband's parents' cottage, I thought this would be the perfect time to read my book. I was excited to see where the four girls had ended up in their lives 10 years later. I assumed the book would be happy, and that even though they had drifted apart, they would be reunited and everything would end up just how it used to be and as it should be. I couldn't have been more wrong.

I finished the book within a couple of days, but that didn't stop me from feeling depressed and cranky throughout the two days. The book brought down my mood, and I honestly just kept reading it in the hopes that things would change or somehow get better. Truth be told, by the time the book finally ended, I was relieved. I was slightly satisfied with the endings that came about for Bridget, Lena, and Carmen, but I could not get over the fact that Ann Brashares actually killed Tibby off in the book.

What bothered me the most about this is that enough people have died throughout this series. Even to start this book, Carmen revealed that her father's wife, Lydia, had passed away. In my opinion, there was enough death up to this point in the books. Bridget's mom, Bailey, Lena's grandparents, now Lydia...but to add Tibby to that list? It just seemed ridiculous and completely unnecessary.

I was mad at the characters for just not picking up the phone and talking to one another and for assuming Tibby had killed herself, when (to me, anyway), it was obvious that there was more than likely something wrong with her. I felt frustrated that the four girls never got to say good bye and that they came so close, but it just didn't happen. I was annoyed at the change in Carmen's personality, I was annoyed with Bridget for just running away, I was annoyed with Lena for never doing anything and being so incredibly passive, and I was annoyed with Tibby for not reaching out to her friends sooner and having a complex about telling them everything in person. Most of all, I was annoyed with Ann Brashares for writing this book the way she did.

There were some good moments...oh, maybe in the last 10 pages of the book. I was happy to see Lena and Kostos end up together, to see Carmen break off her engagement, for Bridget to finally come clean and tell Eric the truth, for everyone to finally know the truth and get all the misunderstandings cleared up about Tibby, and for the whole gang to have a place to share together. The one thing that would have made this better is if Tibby could have been there to share it with them.

Overall, I just didn't like this book. It brought down my mood, the characters were frustrating, and this was not the ending I had in mind for the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants girls. I almost would prefer this book was never even written so they could have remained in my head how I imagined, and not down a member of the Sisterhood. It was an incredibly disappointing book.

What do you think? Do you agree with me, or am I being to harsh? Did you read the book? Did you like it or hate it? Will you read it in the future if you haven't already? Feel free to discuss by leaving a comment below!

Why I Decided to Go Back to Work

If you know me, you know that I was laid off from a job I really enjoyed back at the end of January. We lost the client I was working on, and they could only keep some people around. Unfortunately, that meant splitting up myself and the other three people I had grown close to - two of us were laid off, and the other two stayed and moved over to a different client. I went to work at a different branch of the company for a month on a temporary assignment they needed my help on. When they couldn't afford to keep me around any longer, I was laid off once again.

Since then, I have actually been making a living working from home as a freelance writer and editor. I asked a couple of people for advice, and they were each incredibly helpful. I was happy to stay home and work in my new "home office" and make use of my English degree. I was happy to be in sweatpants. I was happy to do whatever I wanted and go to lunch when invited or have the freedom to attend a Brewers game on my husband's day off with him on a couple Wednesday afternoons.

Things were going pretty well last month. I had steady work, I was busy, and I made solid use of my time. Then, my boss from the first place I was laid off from e-mailed me to ask if I would be interested in coming back. I had a hunch it would be coming, as my old co-workers kept telling me about everyone who left working there or was promoted, and no one new ever came in. So, after careful thought and consideration, I decided I wanted to go back.

A lot of people probably think I'm a little crazy. Why would I give up being able to work from home? Well, for one thing, freelance work isn't always the most reliable. I may have been crazy busy last month, but this month slowed down to the point where we wouldn't be able to afford me working from home unless I started to send out more e-mails for new clients. A consistent paycheck will be helpful.

For another thing, I agreed to come back, but I asked if I could work 32 hours a week instead of 40. My boss and I came to the conclusion that I would work half days on Wednesdays and Fridays, and combining those with some weeknights or weekends, I should be able to juggle my workload between everything. I have heard that sometimes, freelance writing dies down during the summer anyway.

I think one of the biggest reasons I was ready to go back to work was probably because I missed it. I missed having a set schedule. I missed having daily interactions with people, as opposed to sitting home alone everyday and debating on whether or not to put on make-up or straighten my hair that day, since the only person to see me would be my husband, anyway. I also missed the friends I had made while I worked there, and I have felt sad that I couldn't be the one to determine when I left this job - they had decided that for me based on my date of hire.

Finally, I was bored and unmotivated at home. In the beginning, I had more work, so I had to be productive. But, as my workload died down, I started to become lazy, lethargic, and a huge procrastinator. I started waiting until the last minute to get everything done, I would put off writing articles as much as possible, and my main focus became checking Facebook and Twitter and clearing off the DVR instead of getting work done. I am hoping that having set times to focus on my freelance work will force me to get it done when I have the time to, because I can't just save it all for the next day anymore.

This past Tuesday, I officially went back to work. I have a new cubicle and don't sit by my friends anymore, but I also have a new computer with a flat screen monitor that I always hoped I would get the last time I was there. This time, I am working on a client where I schedule all of my own phone interviews and decide how many I can handle in a day. The positions are all different, so I won't necessarily be doing the same exact phone screen 16 times a day, which I like. It didn't take long to get back in the swing of things, and today, I decided I am happy to be back. Something about working there and being in such a positive environment puts me in a good mood. Hopefully this time, with such a small team left, I won't even have to worry about the possibility of a layoff again...but, if I do, at least I have my freelance work to fall back on. For now, this is a good balance for me. This is what I want to be doing.

Something Borrowed: The Book vs. the Movie

Now that I have seen Something Borrowed twice, I feel as though I have to write about the obvious contrasts between the book and the movie. While I liked both, I definitely enjoyed the book more, as I usually do when books are turned into movies. There are just so many details within a book that are important to the story that can't always be used in the movie.

**If you don't want to read spoilers about the book or the movie, you probably should read someone else's blog instead of mine. Just a head's up.**

The overall storyline was basically the same. Dex and Rachel hook up after her birthday party, they continue to do so throughout the summer behind Darcy's back, she hooks up with Marcus, gets pregnant, she and Dex called off the wedding, and she finally catches him with Rachel.

Differences:

• In the movie, Hillary's character was completely absent and basically replaced with John Krasinski's version of Ethan.
• Darcy and Rachel's pregnant childhood friend Annalise was also not in the movie at all.
• Marcus' character was a complete idiot in the movie. He is portrayed as a complete pothead skateboarder...and that's pretty much it. Very hard to see how Darcy would be so interested in him.
• Ethan does not live in London the entire film; rather, he chooses to move there as a part of his career as a novelist. During Rachel's visit to him in London, he revealed he was in love with her, which was completely unnecessary.
• Instead of being ultra-snooty, Claire is ultra-crazy-in-love-with-Ethan. She obviously was a completely different person than in the book to add comic relief to the movie.
• The addition of Dex's parents was lame. In the book, it was his Dad and Step-Mom, who were hardly even mentioned. In the movie, they played a central part in why Dex couldn't call the wedding off. Something about how his mom suffered from depression, and the wedding was making her happy? I didn't understand why that was needed. It should have just been Dex's problem to figure out. No pushing from Dad.
• The characters of Rachel, Dex, and Darcy were perfect. Kate Hudson played the perfect Darcy, and Ginnifer Goodwin was just as perfect as Rachel. Colin Egglesfield was great for Dex - gorgeous and charming. It was hard to be mad at him.
• There was definitely much less sex between Dex and Rachel in the movie, which didn't bother me. I just wish their relationship could have been clearer in the movie. Instead of them finding ways to spend time together, their relationship was mainly based upon the feelings they'd been experiencing for each other since law school.
• The sort-of-relationship between Marcus and Rachel really never happened in the film.

What I Liked:
I was happy to see small details from the book pop up in the movie - Darcy not really getting into Notre Dame and the tear Dex wiped from Rachel's cheek while they were studying together during law school were both in the movie. I enjoyed the humor that was brought into the movie, and I especially enjoyed Darcy and Rachel's dance to Salt 'N Pepa's "Push It." I also liked that they backed up the reason Dex and Rachel were so close and gave enough back-story on their lives back in law school. (Not that I condone cheating).

What I Didn't Like:
I hated the idea of Ethan being in love with Rachel during their adult lives. I liked the idea of him being the best guy friend she could ask for, without any other feelings between the two - not the best friend who had fallen in love with her and further complicated the story. It almost made me want Rachel and Ethan to get together, and that obviously wasn't the point, or even a possibility, in the book. As I mentioned, I didn't like the addition of Dex's parents in the movie. I also would have loved to see Hilary and/or Annalise in the movie. Even if they would have just had small roles, it would have been nice to see them as a part of the cast. Finally, I would have liked to see a hometown visit from Darcy and Rachel, just to see where they got their start.

So, what did you think? Did you read the book, then see the movie? Or, are you the type who likes to see the movie before reading the book? Maybe you just like the see the movie and skip the book? Were you disappointed in the movie or the book? Which did you like better? After a lackluster performance at he box office, do you think they will still make the film Something Blue, which they alluded to with a "to be continued" and short scene of Darcy arriving in London to see Ethan during the credits of the film? (I hope so).

Why I Hate Mother's Day

For those of you who don't know me personally, saying "I hate Mother's Day" may seem like a bold statement. I don't want to get into all of the details, but in order to explain myself, I do need to explain a bit of my past. After all, I don't want any readers thinking I'm rude or insensitive.

Back on December 10th, 2005, I lost my mom to ovarian cancer. She and I were incredibly close. I told her absolutely everything. We fought, we laughed, we cried - I was a teenage girl, and my relationship with my mom was all over the place; but at the end of the day, she was one person I knew I could always count on. I never imagined losing her when I was only 18 years old. As she fought her battle, I made the assumption she would be okay. Losing her simply was not an option, but it certainly became a reality. More than five years may have passed since then, and I have come to terms with what happened, but that still doesn't mean I like Mother's Day.

Part of the problem is that I don't really know what to do with myself. I used to think working made it better when I worked at the movie theatre. But, then I would go to work and see them pass out flowers to mothers or see families come in to see movies, and I realized that didn't help. My mom's side of the family typically gets together every year, so I thought being around family would help. But, then I always felt awkward saying "Happy Mother's Day" to everyone, so I realized that didn't help, either. Staying home alone never works because then I just sit, think, and cry all day.

There is just something about Mother's Day that leaves me completely unsure of what to do, how to act, or where to go. I have a hard time saying "Happy Mother's Day" to anyone. I get cranky and overly sensitive the entire week leading up to Mother's Day. I miss my mom most of all when Mother's Day rolls around. It's hard knowing that she can't be here on the one day solely devoted to mothers.

This year, we have plans with my husband's family, as I now officially have a mother-in-law. I hope that I am able to keep busy enough to not worry about how to act or what to say, but I know it will be in the back of my mind. When dealing with loss, there will always be certain times of the year that a person struggles to deal with, and I am no different. If you're not sure how to cope with the loss of a loved one, online therapy may be an option for you. Please see this link for further information: https://www.betterhelp.com/.

I do hope that those of you who still have mothers to spend the day with are able to do just that - you never realize how lucky you are until someone so precious to you is gone. One of my biggest regrets is perhaps that I took the time I did have with my mom for granted. I never realized I would only have her in my life for such a short time. I didn't ask her the questions I should have. I worry I will forget certain memories, her laugh, or the sound of her voice. She wasn't there to see me graduate college, and she missed out on my wedding. But, before she passed away, she told me that no matter what, she will always be with me. And, in my heart, I know she is - even on Mother's Day.

For Mom. 3.13.62-12.10.05

Teen Moms Visit Dr. Oz

Today, Maci, Kailyn, and Leah from MTV's Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2 paid a visit to the Dr. Oz Show. They were there to talk about their stories, and also to defend themselves against those speaking out against the shows. The creator of TM and TM2, Lauren Dolgen, was even on hand to back the girls up. A few things irked me about the show, so I wanted to point them out. After all, we all know how much I like to share my opinions.

Some uptight woman named Melissa was there to voice her opinions on the terrible things the show is doing to teenage girls, as well as a teen mother named Kathleen. Both of them said the show glamorizes teen pregnancy. In fact, Kathleen, who claims to love these girls and watch the show religiously, said the show made her think that if these girls could do it, so could she. Yes, because that makes sense. What a logical train of thought.

If this Kathleen character actually watched the show, she would realize that their lives aren't glamorized at all. Week after week, you see these girls struggle with being single parents and finding ways to balance school, work, and taking care of their kids. I've been married almost a year, I'm almost 24, and this show actually makes me want to wait even longer to have kids because I realize I'm not ready for it. So, you're telling me that teenage girls are watching this show and thinking they are ready to have a baby because of it? I don't buy that. At all. If that's what they're thinking, they have some other sort of issues that are most certainly not a direct result of MTV. (Does watching Jersey Shore make them want to go on a drinking binge or go to the gym, tan, or do their laundry?)

If anything, the part of the show that is "glamorized" is the fact that these girls have become celebrities. But, that's what you get with MTV reality shows. The same thing happened with Laguna Beach, The Hills, Jersey Shore, The Real World, and so on. When characters are relatable and have a lot of drama going on in their lives, people are entertained. That doesn't mean every person watching Teen Mom is going to turn to their significant other and say they want a baby. Only the crazy ones are going to do that!

Maci repeated many times that she hopes the show gets conversations going between teens and their parents. She spoke up much more than the other two, and I was glad. She especially had no idea what the show was going to become, having been on the first seasons of 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom. When she signed on, you know her intentions had to have been genuine, because no one had even seen the show at that time. Even so, I don't think Kailyn or Leah signed on because of the fame - they all seem to have good intentions and truly want to show other people that their lives are tough and not glamorous at all.

There will always be crazy people that do anything to get themselves on television - you can't avoid that. But, is picking on a show that plays an advertisement about preventing teen pregnancy during every episode, takes the cameras right into the delivery room to show what really happens, or follows these girls through the drama they experience in their every day lives really worth your time? No. I'll answer the question for you. Teen Mom is meant to educate and entertain - I can guarantee you the creators of the show never had the intentions of urging young girls to have unprotected sex and get pregnant. Maybe these people should actually watch the show and find out what really goes on. There is nothing glamorous about the life of a teen Mom.

The Lord Works in Mysterious Ways...

Around an hour ago, I sent my husband a text message saying I was concerned about my workload for the week. A regular client of mine hadn't sent over any new projects in more than a week, and I was starting to wonder if the overwhelming amount of work I received last week was just a fluke. You see, I am absolutely bound and determined to make writing from home as a freelancer into my career. I have never wanted to write/edit any more than I do now, and I feel like I have finally come to terms with the fact that this is what I want to spend my life doing. I don't want to work a job in a cubicle that I'm unhappy with or have to wake up ridiculously early for or drive in rush hour traffic to get to - I am content with my home office and writing or editing from the comforts of my home. I want nothing more than for others to read what I have to say or be impacted by what I write.

I also love to edit and proofread. Even if I can do some editing work on the side to get myself started, my ultimate goal is to do more editing work than I do writing. (Of course, at some point, I do want to accomplish my goal of having a book published. I just have to figure out how to write one first).

At any rate, not more than 15 minutes after my text message complaint, that very same regular client I mentioned sent me a content request for seven more articles. (They've never sent over more than three at a time).

Then, I heard back from one of the many ebook publishing firms I'd e-mailed about editing work not more than ten minutes ago with how to get started editing for them.

Just when I started to worry, everything worked out.

Lesson to self: Quit worrying all the time. It will all work out just fine in the end! Oh, and prayers do get answered.

So, despite this miserable "spring" day in Wisconsin, where I can hear sleet tapping away at the patio door and sirens raging down the street to aide those who didn't drive quite slow enough on the slippery roads, where the high temperature for today is a whopping 33 degrees, and where I just heard booming thunder outside, I will continue writing AND editing from the comforts of my home with a giant smile on my face. I never thought I could make a living doing what I love...yet, here I am. It doesn't get any better than that.

Goodreads: Where Have You Been All My Life?

Recently, I stumbled upon a delightful website called Goodreads. I'm not entirely sure how I ended up there - maybe a friend posted something on Facebook or Twitter? Regardless, I immediately decided this was my new favorite website. In fact, as someone with an English degree, I can't believe I never knew about it before!

Basically, Goodreads is a website you can use to keep track of every book you have ever read or want to read. Then, once you've completed the book, you are able to rate it and write a review. It has a ton of great features, including an app for my phone, polls you can vote in about books, and a way to set a goal for yourself on how many books you are going to read throughout the year. (I set mine for 20. I didn't join until last month). Then, it will even keep track of how far along you are when it comes to your goal. (You can scroll to the bottom of the page to monitor my progress).

I only have four friends on Goodreads, but you know, that's okay. I'm sure there will be more eventually, and it isn't like Facebook, where I feel like people all have competitions to see how many friends they can get. Goodreads is just a great place to share books you've read and loved (or hated) and get some new recommendations on what to read from your friends and peers.

If you're the type of person that loves to read as much as I do, you simply have to join this site. I am someone who likes to set goals, and I do so much better with achieving them when they are in writing somewhere. What better way to get back into my habit of reading books like crazy than to have an actual graphic that reminds me I'm behind where I should be? (13% at the moment). Just make sure that if you do join, turn that whole connect to Facebook feature off. I missed unchecking one little box, and suddenly, all the books from the Pretty Little Liars series showed up as books I wanted to read on my Facebook wall, among others. (Woops). Talk about embarrassing...

Recovering from Illness

The past week-and-a-half has been pretty rough around our household. My husband came down with a whomping sinus infection, which I swiftly managed to catch as well. While the biggest benefit of working from home is easily that I am able to stay home whenever I am sick, it also means that even while I'm sick, I still have to get work done. So, my home office became the couch pretty much all of last week. I would nap, write an article if I could muster the energy or spare a bit of time in between blowing my endlessly dripping nose, and take another nap. Not exactly ideal working conditions.

Thankfully, this week, I am pretty much back to my old self - for the most part. Now, if I can just teach myself some better time management skills, I will be well on my way to success. You see, working from home comes with a line of distractions. First of all, there are Facebook and Twitter. I have a rotten obsession with checking these websites over and over throughout the day - I always think I'm going to miss something important. Or, I'm procrastinating on my work, and I just feel like poking around to see what's going on. Or, I'm trying to log onto Facebook at just the right time to answer a Georgetown Cupcake trivia question and win a free dozen of cupcakes shipped right to my door. Woops. So, there's that whole problem that obviously needs some attention. The second problem is my overflowing DVR. It just bothers me knowing the amount of recordings I have sitting there, just patiently waiting to be watched. I hate to fall behind, and since I write about TV shows for examiner.com, I do a pretty decent job of keeping up with most shows regularly. It's the shows I don't write about that I struggle with leaving sit there, recorded and un-watched. I try to limit myself - maybe just a couple episodes a day to catch up, but then that turns into more, and before I know it, I've wasted two hours I can't get back because I became obsessed with clearing the DVR. Then, there's the whole keeping the house clean aspect. Due to my clogged head and lack of ambition last week, I am way behind on chores. A mound of dishes, a kitchen floor in need of a good Swiffer, a bedroom that could use a good dusting, a bathroom that could use a cleaning, and piles of unorganized messes lying about from me moving my office around and not taking care of the mail. Needless to say, the place is a mess. I like a clean working environment, and it's hard to ignore the mess and get work done anyway.

Today, I must admit - I did pretty well to start. I didn't set my alarm because I took medicine for my cold last night before bed and hoped a good night of sleep would finally kick this awful thing to to curb. Well, that was a bad idea. I heard them collecting the garbage from the communal bins at our condo around 8:30, when I was going to get up, but fell back to sleep until almost 10:00. Not the best way to start the day off productively. I still managed to crank out a couple projects before lunch, but since then, my attention span has been dwindling. Again, I will be forced to get more work done tonight, probably until I go to bed. But, you know what I continually notice? I am most productive during the evening hours. I guess that's okay, but I sure would feel better if I could just get more accomplished during the daytime instead. Once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator, I suppose.

With my husband being gone pretty much all of today/tonight, home for a short while, then gone all day tomorrow/tomorrow night, I am confident I will get plenty of work completed so that when his day off rolls around on Wednesday, we can take our healthy selves out and do something fun for a change. The only time I've left the house in the last week was to go see the movie Arthur last night - that's sad. But, when you're that sick, what can you do?

I'm setting some new goals for myself. I'm going back to setting an alarm as of tomorrow, I am going to get through all of the work I have on my plate by tomorrow night when I go to bed, and now that I don't get dizzy every time I stand up, I am going to start playing the Wii games I was using to work out regularly again. I was doing so well prior to this massive sinus infection!

What do you do to overcome procrastination habits or find motivation? Leave a comment below!

Baseball Season Has Arrived

Baseball has been my favorite sport for about as long as I can remember. My mom was always a huge fan, and from little on, watching Milwaukee Brewers games at home on television, going to Brewers games at County Stadium or Miller Park, or playing softball at family functions were regular occurrences. I remember sitting in our apartment, eating pretzel rods, and swinging them around like baseball bats while my mom laughed and scolded me for getting crumbs on the carpet.

Once I got a bit older, I quickly chose my two favorite players - Jeff Cirillo and Mark Loretta. I became obsessed. I had their bios memorized, I knew their birthdays, and I even named my Ken dolls after them. I met Jeff when I was in the fourth grade at a car dealership about 20 minutes away from our house. I got his autograph and a quick picture taken with him, and I told my mom I never wanted to wash my shirt again, since he'd put his arm around my waist in the picture. Trade rumors started to circulate, and I swiftly sent a letter in the mail off to Wendy Selig-Prieb, telling her how upset I would be if they traded Jeff. To my surprise, she replied with a short letter telling me they valued Jeff's talents and .324 batting average. He was later traded to the Colorado Rockies. Although I was disappointed, I still had Mark Loretta to get me by.

Since Jeff was gone, I turned into a whole-hearted Mark Loretta fan. I was all over those Milwaukee Brewers message boards, and when one negative comment was mentioned, I jumped on it to defend him. Before I knew it, Mark's cousin, Maria, sent me a message thanking me for standing up for him and that she appreciated it. She mentioned he had a younger brother who looked just like him, only with red hair. I decided if I was too young for the already married Mark, at least one day, I could aspire to marry his brother. Because I was wondering if Maria was for real, I sent Mark a letter. Again, to my surprise, he responded with a short card thanking me for my defense of him on the message boards and confirming he did indeed have a cousin named Maria. I was tickled. I took that card and plopped it in a frame right away. When the opportunity presented itself, I made him a happy birthday sign and took it along to a Brewers game I attended on his birthday with my mom, aunt, and uncle. He waved and tipped his cap to me, and I was told by a fellow fan I had been on TV with my sign. Life was good.

Much to my dismay, one August night, as I perused the Internet, an article came to my attention: Mark Loretta had been traded to the Houston Astros. This one hurt. I burst into tears, ran downstairs, flung open the side door, and sobbed to my parents and grandparents that my beloved Mark Loretta had been traded. (They all actually thought someone had died, the way I carried on and on).

So, with Mark and Jeff having gone to other teams, the time came to choose a new favorite. The player I chose was later traded. Jeff did come back for a short stint with the Brewers, but since his second departure, I have been without an official favorite. Now that Mark and Jeff have each retired, I can't help feeling like something is missing when I watch Brewers games. It just isn't as exciting without someone in particular to root for. I hate to choose a pitcher because they don't play everyday, Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are pretty much everyone's favorites - aside from them, the options of someone "good" are limited. This season, it has become my mission to find a new favorite player. I know that Mark and Jeff and all of my good memories can never be replaced, but watching games just isn't the same without a favorite.

My friend, Jeff Cirillo, and I

Last summer, a friend called and asked if I wanted to help her volunteer at the Jeff Cirillo Charity Golf Classic. Of course, I went along, and it brought back all of my old gleeful feelings again. I got my picture taken with the now-divorced Jeff, (now that I'm married, of course he becomes available! haha), and may or may not have have spent a majority of the day driving around in a golf cart in search of him, but it reminded me how much fun it was to have a favorite baseball player I couldn't wait to see. At least if I can't find someone in particular to root for, I can cherish all of my adolescent memories in the meantime.

Spring Fever

Typically, I don't remember getting this feeling of spring fever inside. I actually don't mind the long, cold winters we experience here in Wisconsin. (After all, it makes for great hair-straightening weather). At a certain point, I get sick of the snow, but the cold usually withers away by the end of March, and signs of spring arrive.

Right now, we are experiencing unseasonably cold temperatures, and it feels like winter will never end. It looks sunny and pleasant outside, but I still have to wear my bulky winter coat and mittens when I go outside. I can still see my breath in the cold, I still get frost on my car, and the heat still runs far too often inside our cozy condo.

So, I started thinking - when is spring ever going to get here?

They say that by the end of this week, temperatures should go up and get closer to normal. But for now, I feel like we are experiencing the never-ending winter. I'm probably being over-dramatic.

You know, I don't even like spring all that much. It's full of rain and mud and melting mush. For me to get spring fever, things must be cold. I just want to be able to go outside and read or write. We have a tiny little balcony with a table and two chairs, only I've never used it. Summers get too hot in the afternoon, since our condo faces the west, and the sun beats down in the afternoons. What I need is a relaxing, spring afternoon to enjoy the balcony, as it was meant to be enjoyed.

Thankfully, I do get a break from the cold - for a day this week, the husband, some family, and I are heading up to stay overnight in a four-bedroom villa at an indoor water park about an hour away. Nothing like breaking out the bikini a few months early and enjoying some time indoors in 80+ degree temperatures. Perhaps by the time we come home, spring will have arrived. It sure has been taking its sweet time.

American Idol Conspiracy?

If you haven't watched Thursday night's American Idol results show, you missed out on one crazy night. Take a look at my episode recap here.

With the shock of Casey being the one with the lowest amount of votes this week, something simply doesn't seem right. How does a guy go from the top to the very bottom? Check out the gang's Twitter follower count, as of Thursday night a couple hours after the show:

1. Scotty McCreery: 44,001
2. Casey Abrams: 41,640 
3. Paul McDonald: 35,661
4. Lauren Alaina: 31,149
5. Pia Toscano: 30,378
6. James Durbin: 28,619
7. Thia Megia: 28,609
8. Stefano Langone: 26,949
9. Jacob Lusk: 17,766  
10. Haley Reinhart: 14,230
11. Naima Adedapo: 13,662

Not too much has changed. Scotty moved right up to the top, James moved up above Thia, and overall, everyone's follower numbers increased. So, if the same people are voting every week, why would things change so drastically that Casey would have been voted out if the judges hadn't used their only save...with 11 people left in this competition?

At first, I was skeptical. I've watched this show for years, and there have always been shocking exits...but they typically come once they reach the top six. Never with this many competitors! It was my husband who commented that the show was rigged. I denied it. Why would American Idol rig the votes? How can they do that?

When you think about it, there are a few reasons they might have wanted to do this. For one thing, they lost out on ratings last season to Dancing With the Stars. So, maybe they want to ensure the ratings are better this year. For another thing, ticket sales for the American Idol tour were abysmal last year. In fact, they even ended up cancelling some of their shows altogether. What better way to spice things up than to take 11 contestants out on tour after a controversial episode early on in the season? Finally, the judges save is completely out of the game this early in the season. Now, they can work the angle that America has to vote in order to keep their favorites in the competition - there is no back-up plan. After all, when the show first started out, the judges save never existed. That was a recent addition from just a couple seasons ago.

On the flip side, maybe America just thought Casey was safe and didn't need their votes, so they voted for others instead. Maybe they didn't like his performance. But, I guarantee you the same exact people vote week in and week out. How do you explain that drastic of a drop in votes for a fan favorite and possible Season 10 winner? You can bet all his fans will be voting for him like crazy and this guy won't be in the bottom three anytime soon after what happened Thursday.

What do you think? Was the vote rigged? Did American Idol put poor Casey through hell just to get a ratings boost? Or, do you think he just didn't get enough votes because America didn't like his performance or thought he didn't leave them? I'd like to hear your thoughts. To weigh in, leave a comment!

Has Emily Maynard Been Cheating on Brad Womack?

Women across America fell in love with Emily Maynard during her stint on Brad Womack's most recent season of The Bachelor, and many think she can do no wrong and is the victim in her rocky relationship with Brad. Others think she is a big part of the problem after watching the couple interact on After the Final Rose, which aired immediately following the finale special in which Brad proposed in South Africa. The couple admitted to having their fair share of arguments and having broken up once during their engagement.

If you've read the March 28th copy of In Touch Weekly, you more than likely saw the whopping two-page, (four including pictures), article claiming Emily has actually been seeing another man while engaged to Brad.

As for the other man in Emily's life? A guy by the name of Brett J. Barniske-Bertolami. (And I thought my last name was rough). Apparently, Brett owns a car dealership in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is where Emily is from. He has pictures of Emily on his phone that are "a couple years old." Supposedly, she had scheduled a dinner date with this Brett fellow right before going on After the Final Rose with Brad, but cancelled at the last minute because she was sick.

Do we believe it? Is sweet little Emily really a cheater? In Touch is convinced and wants you to be as well, but I don't buy it. Seems like the guy can easily just be an old friend or ex-boyfriend who conveniently (and creepily) has some old pictures of Emily saved in his phone. I need some solid evidence before I can be convinced.

Emily recently posted a cute picture of her and Brad on her Twitter page and said this:

"Don't believe everything you read! And by everything I mean anything."

I assume this is her way of saying all the rotten things coming out in the tabloids about her and Brad is false. I think these two left a lot of doubt in people's minds of whether or not their relationship will actually work, and the tabloids are going to take advantage of that. Anyone can go to North Carolina and take a look at some ex-boyfriend's cell phone pictures, but until I see some actual proof, I'm not buying it.

This couple obviously has a lot to work on in order to make their relationship work, and I'm sure articles like this one have not made it easy. Not to mention, given The Bachelor's track record - one married couple out of 15 seasons - their future looks pretty bleak. (The Bachelorette has produced one married couple and one currently engaged couple out of its six seasons). They thought once the show finished airing, they wouldn't have as much to argue about, since they wouldn't have to endure Brad making out with 10 other women every Monday night, but articles like this one make it clear the couple has an uphill battle ahead. Whatever happens, I wish the best of luck to Emily and Brad. Or Brett. Whoever makes ya happy, lady.

Guys Are Lucky

Today, I attended a friend's baby shower. Let me tell you - this was one of the best showers I've been to. For one thing, it wasn't for me. I got to sit and talk and catch up with some ladies I haven't seen for quite a while, eat some delicious food (which included wraps and tasty cake), and I even won a $10 Target gift card. I wasn't the center of attention, I didn't have to open presents in front of everyone, and I didn't feel pressured to talk to every person in attendance or wonder if I'd missed someone. For another thing, we didn't play a single game. Not one. Awesome.

Do you have any idea how much I despise wedding and baby shower games? Okay, you probably don't. I don't like them. At all. Some have been pretty painless, I must admit. Wrapping someone up in toilet paper to make them look like they're wearing a wedding dress? No problem. Slightly annoying, but not a big deal. (As long as I'm not the one being wrapped like a mummy, of course). But, the mash-up-a-candy-bar-in-a-diaper-and-then-shove-what-looks-like-a-poopy-diaper-in-everyone's-faces-so-they-can-figure-out-what-candy-bar-it-is game is awful. Definitely not painless. It has quite possibly scarred me and my love of candy bars for life. (Maybe).

The fact that today's baby shower was game-less was a definite plus, but I couldn't help sitting there and thinking how lucky guys are that they don't have to partake in any of these experiences. Maybe when they get married or have a baby, they make an appearance to help unwrap a couple gifts or load up the car. More often than not, they aren't a part of the process. No game-playing, no present-opening in front of a large crowd - no appearance necessary! Why do guys get off the hook so easily? It's the women who go out and buy the gifts, wrap the gifts, go to the shower, and play the ridiculous shower games. Guys can sit home, play video games, watch television, and enjoy an afternoon without the wife or lady friend around.

I am just entering into a life full of wedding and baby showers. Most of my friends aren't even married yet, so I'll have all those, plus when they start popping out kids of their own, I'll have even more. Thankfully, the husband and I plan to wait a few years before we have kids. Until then, I hope to attend many more showers like the one I did today. Short, sweet, and game-less. With cake.

Will Twitter Give Away Season 10 of American Idol?

For "The Remix" season this year, contestants on Season 10's American Idol each have their own Twitter page fans can follow them on throughout the journey. While at first, I hadn't given this much thought, after catching part of The View this morning (I'm sorry. I watch it sometimes. I'm ashamed.), they brought up an interesting point. Can the amount of followers each contestant has on Twitter predict when they will go home?

Last week, Ashthon Jones was sent home, and she had the least amount of followers. Tonight, however, Karen Rodriguez was sent home, and the person with the least amount of followers was actually Naima Adedapo.

If you're weird like me and wonder if something like this could actually work, here are the follower counts as of...about 30 minutes ago:

1. Casey Abrams: 34,215
2. Scotty McCreery: 34,077
3. Paul McDonald: 27,972
4. Lauren Alaina: 24,278
5. Pia Toscano: 23,419
6. Thia Megia: 23,299
7. James Durbin: 22,281
8. Stefano Langone: 20,295
9. Jacob Lusk: 13,892
10. Karen Rodriquez: 12,160
11. Haley Reinhart: 12,143
12. Naima Adedapo: 10,931

This seems relatively accurate, but we just saw Karen go home tonight and go against the "system." I just want a place to monitor this concept throughout the season and see where things go!

To read my recaps of the show, check out my articles on examiner.com!

Angela's Wedding Advice: Know Your Guest Count!

I have started a new blog for all my wedding advice and tips. Please visit this article at its new location: http://angelasweddingadvice.blogspot.com/2011/03/know-your-guest-count.html.