JT and JAY Z

While the tickets for the first show in Boston sold out in twenty minutes while my sister was in two virtual waiting lines, this morning she got us tickets to the second show they added for August 11th! Heck yes.

- From the desk of Mrs. M

FEED

I recently purchased a bag from FEED. FEED was created in 2006 by Lauren Bush Lauren, as a way to sell a product, fund raise, and raise awareness, specifically to benefit the United Nations World Food Programme's School Feeding program. FEED has since raised enough money to provide over 60 million meals to kids around the world.

If you're interested in purchasing a bag or other FEED item yourself, visit their Shop. The product description of each item tells you exactly what your purchase will be contributing; my bag (the original) gave school meals to a kiddo for a whole year. Of course, the whole price doesn't go toward WFP, it is a business after all, but that's still pretty good.

I was thinking of doing a hunger awareness campaign paired with a FEED bag giveaway; would anyone be interested in joining with me for something like that? The more people involved and aware the better, and covering the cost of a bag would be more manageable with several folks participating. Let me know! Leave a comment or email me at sarah.f.mcpherson@gmail.com

- From the desk of Mrs. M

This is an unsponsored, unfunded post. I just want to help end hunger. Do you?

2nd Anniversary

For our anniversary we did our usual meal at IHOP :). We were in class and at work all day, and we're generally not big celebrators, so it was low key. I guess it fits, considering our wedding day involved a court house, IHOP, waiting in lines at Army all day, and a night sharing a twin in the barracks. Oh, and we watched Away We Go; it's our special movie. Maybe we will watch it this weekend; and I think we're taking a trip out to the Salt Lick to try something new and spend some time together before I head to Boston on Sunday.

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Two Years Ago

I married a good man.

- Mrs. M

Week in Photos

 lovin' leopard (but I look white?)/ colorful peppers/ cute kittens turn 2!/ first time taste

 hello, March!/ I spend a lot of time here/ doing this/ Texas!

watch this!/ Shipley do-nuts/ The Office season 3/ lots o' kale (to make up for the donut)

Kyle's new slippers/ tired kittens after running around in the backyard/ Hux tries kale/ Sis and I didn't get JT/Jay-Z tickets, but they added another show in Boston, so there's still hope! 

napping/ simple rings/ dinner prep/ Huxley using the curtains wrong

cooking breakfast (mushrooms, kale, onion, pepper)/ gold-tipped wedges on sale/ maple bacon cupcake/ Anniversary card from the in-laws 

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Monday Movie: A Place at the Table.

"50 million Americans exist without enough to eat in a nation with more than enough food."

Today I'm bringing you the wonderful documentary about hunger in the USA, A Place at the Table. I rented it on iTunes this weekend as it's not showing anywhere near here, and hunger has kind of become my area of interest. I am trying to organize a viewing at Baylor for at least social work students, and hopefully beyond, with a discussion and maybe someone from THI to talk about hunger in Texas and answer any questions that may come up. My mind is running, and I hope to get others running, too.

While watching I took three pages of notes, of facts, quotes, and anything that stood out to me, answered questions I had had, or brought up new ones. I'll share some of that with you now, but I highly recommend you watch it for yourself. Here we go:

- 1 out of 6 people say they don't have enough to eat.

- Mississippi has the highest rate of food insecurity AND obesity. (Texas is #3 in food insecurity, by the way)

- 2.3 million people live in food deserts, and 75% of food deserts are urban

- Obama proposed $10 billion over 10 years to increase child nutrition programs, and the money would be taken from the least-justified payments to affluent land holders. That was shut down, and instead we ended up with the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act (2010), which allowed for a $4.5 billion increase over 10 years, coming out to an ONLY 6 cent increase per meal (for lunch/breakfast meals at schools for kiddos), most of which probably won't even go towards actual food but administrative, transportation and other costs. Oh, and over HALF of the bill was paid for by cutting Food Stamps. 

- "The great temptation in Washington is to always take something away from those who, frankly, can't defend themselves." Bill Shore (Share our Strength)

- "If another country was doing this to our kids we would be at war." Jeff Bridges

- "Charity is a great thing but it's not the way to end hunger. We don't fund our department of defense through charity."Jeff Bridges

- experts in the film addressed that we have no food policy, and there needs to be a way to make healthy food accessible, "widespread governmental programs that are focused on the human individual."

Just some things to think about...

If you're interested in finding out more or taking action, you might start here. Or ask me! :)

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Shipley Do-nuts

Kyle convinced me to rearrange my schedule on Saturday (put off work? well if I must), so we could go pick up his dry cleaning and do a little shopping earlier in the day. I requested a stop at Starbucks for a beverage on the way, and he suggested stopping at Shipley Do-Nuts, so that's what we did! We've both tried the regular glazed donuts before, but I've never been to a shop, so it was a new experience worthy of documentation (I don't get out much, people). I also worked at Dunkin Donuts for a while in Pittsburgh, so I consider myself something of a former donut professional.

I had sprinkles and half a maple, and Kyle had a maple and a cinnamon sugar and the other half of my maple. They were all tasty, and it was fun watching them baking while we ate. There was a daddy-daughter duo sitting near us, and it was funny watching the bakers reactions to the little girl's wonder about it all.

- From the desk of Mrs. M

2nd Birthday

You're my favorite. Thanks for being awesome kitties.

- From the desk of Mrs. M

The Week in Photos

Huxtable/ eat fresh/ Kyle's 2nd attempt beer bread/ working

burgers and broccoli slaw/ Darwin/ at work!/ end hunger

free lunch/ looking up flights.../ library time

group work/ national margarita day!/ trying a new restaurant in Temple/ drowning in cheese

 Huxley watching me work/ kale chips- so good/ Huxtable/ pretty good for $2.77 wine

hey birdie/ napping Darwin/ husband project/ funny faces

sunshine/ busy March!/ Huxley is ready for dinner/ coca-cola 

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Monday Movies: Oscar Edition

Also called, Monday Movies: Sunday Edition. I thought I'd do a recap of the Best Picture nominated films I've seen, offering few thoughts on each (short and sweet). I've seen six out of the nine, not bad for a busy lady like myself. I'm impressed I got this posted before the awards are given out tonight!

Zero Dark Thirty

via

I was very captivated by this film. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was gripping, thoughtful, and well-paced. It was the only movie of the nine that portrayed "real" events that we have all been witness to from the outside, and so there was a heightened intrigue and fascination. I love how they shot and edited the film, and I'm happy for Jessica Chastain.

Lincoln

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I'm writing this one last, and trying to gather my thoughts on it, considering I saw it first of the bunch, and I was sleepy while watching it, unfortunately. This one made me feel a lot of feelings. I know very little about Lincoln as a living, breathing person, but I felt like I was watching the real president up on the screen. I loved the struggle and the story of what motivates political change, and the supporting cast.  Who doesn't love the 16th president (well, aside from the obvious)?

Django Unchained

Oh, this movie. It was, what, 70% comedy, in my opinion. Dark comedy, but still. It was not as bloody and unbearable as I had been prepared for, and I think that much blood, done in that way, was more ridiculously comical and made it seem not so disturbing. (Personally, not much gets to me in movies, except torture scenes). The music was great, as were all the actors. I don't understand the criticism it has received for it's time-appropriate language (rather I applaud it); I thought it was a very fun movie to watch.

Les Misérables

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Unfortunately, I didn't much care for Les Mis. It was the only film of this bunch that I didn't really enjoy watching. Try as I might, I never felt the emotion of it or got to the point where I really felt and cared for the characters, even though I'm familiar with the story and the struggle (is that why I didn't get into it?). I was not expecting every word would be sung, so that was a surprise I would not have preferred. I think that Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway overall did well. Russel Crowe annoyed me; I feel like his face was always the same and said "I'm acting!" and his death was...weird. This movie, above all, should have made me feel, and it did not.

Silver Linings Playbook

This movie was my favorite if going by pure emotion. I was so looking forward to it for a while, and I'm glad it did not disappoint. I loved Bradley Cooper's character. I loved how real it felt, and very personal, due in large part I believe to the style in which it was shot and the acting abilities of the entire cast. It touched on how mental health does not just touch an individual, but the groups and systems that individual is a part of. It portrayed a struggle, suffering, light and realization. And what an acting departure for Bradley Cooper! The only thing that bugged me was the lack of consistency with his necklace position; it was always switching from shot to shot from being under his clothes to out of his clothes, in front to in back, and I noticed it! I've started reading the book on my Kindle; I'm curious to see how it compares in message and tone.

Argo

Luckily this came out just a little while ago, and I rented it and watched it on iTunes yesterday (I almost did the same with Life of Pi, but I would feel guilty for not doing homework)! I don't have a lot to say about it, it was just lovely. What a story, eh? Well done.

Overall, I feel there is a lot of subtlety in these movies (except for Django. It's not so subtle, but even so...) that brings a great quality to them. They are quiet and thoughtful and bring the viewer in rather than push them away in amazement. Which has my vote to win? I think Lincoln or Argo. The pups on Jimmy Fallon chose Argo, kinda sorta. ;)


- From the desk of Mrs. M