Oops.
Here in the Valley of the Sun I talk about heated topics such as religion, politics and parenting, with a little food mixed in, while maintaining a sense of optimism.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
PSA: Project Runway Season 5's Kenley

And now, a Public Service Announcement by your host, the Sunshine-y one.
Dear Kenley. You are not the end-all and be-all of fashion. Honey, you are only 25 and have about 4 years of experience as a working designer.
We all get that you are incredibly talented and have a great, albeit predictable, style. I even like vintage. But honestly, do you have to use tulle on every outfit? I like tulle, but come on! Every outfit. And usually part of it is exposed. Every time. Seriously girl, try something a little different. If you make it to Bryant Park it won't be because Nina Garcia actually likes your style, it'll be because somehow your outfits just don't seem to suck! (Which, while trying to find pictures, I discovered that she somehow made it to Bryant Park. Whatever. I hope Korto or Jarrell wins, so there!)
Anyways, back to the issue at hand. When Tim Gunn (pretty much the God of Parsons) suggests that maybe the exposed tulle isn't such a professional look, maybe you could actually take it as what it is, a critique, from someone much wiser than yourself. Instead you get incredibly defensive and say to the cameras, "I'm not going to listen to that" with your little snotty attitude. Where do you get off girl? I know that Tim Gunn doesn't need me to defend him, I'm just trying to help you understand, dear Kenley, that you are your own worst enemy. Your complete innability to take criticism, from either Gunn or the judges, will not help you in the future.
You do not get to put on the Karl Lagerfeld air until you are at least 60, have been wearing the exact same outfit for at least 30 of the past years, and have a multi-million dollar label. When you are showing in Paris, then you can refuse to listen to Tim Gunn's advice. Until then, dear Kenley, shut up and take some criticism like a FREAKING ADULT!

This has been a public service announcement from the Valley of Sunshine. We will now return to our regularly scheduled program.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Blogging Block
Yep, I've got it. I need to post a couple of book reviews, so those are going to get done tonight. Thanks to my faithful readers. I can't wait to tell you about the books I've just finished.
Toodles.
Toodles.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Community Organizers Unite!
One of the best lines from Sarah Palin's speech on Wednesday night. "I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a ‘community organizer,’ except that you have actual responsibilities."
Classic. Here's an article in defense of community organizers.
Classic. Here's an article in defense of community organizers.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Thoughts on the Sarah Palin Drama
I don't really like personal drama, but I have to admit I've been addicted to absorbing as much information as possible about the Governor.
First off, all of those rumors about the baby being the daughters were horrible and I knew immediately they were not true. Unfortunately, it turns out that the eldest daughter, Bristol, is pregnant. Unfortunate in the sense of what this means for their family. Not unfortunate for how this plays out in the arena of public scrutiny.
I have thought this through pretty carefully over the last couple of days and I would like to offer my analysis to those of you readers.
The eldest daughter, only 17 years old, is pregnant. What does this say about their home life? I have to admit that this has crossed my mind. But then I'm reminded of my own adolescents and early adulthood. And to be quite frank, how in the world did I get out of high school not pregnant? I know it was God's grace over my life. (Not that those who are pregnant teens are not within God's grace, it just wasn't apart of his plan for my life.) I did not end up pregnant, but I made some bad decisions. Should my parents have shouldered the blame for the consequences of those choices? I think not. Teenagers have the tendency to make adult decisions WAY before they should. Who is responsible for those decisions? Not the parents. My parents were not responsible for the promiscuous behavior of their eldest child, as Sarah and Todd Palin are not the bearers of Bristol's decision. As parents we only have so long to impress upon our children the values and morals that will keep them from making decisions which will forfeit a piece of their future. In the current American culture, that time is shrinking so that our kids now need to know everything by what, 8 -10 years old? They can't even fathom long-term consequences at that age.
So, with that defense out of the way, I am still pro-Palin. I think she has sufficient experience to be Vice-President. I think that whatever her and her husband have decided about the rearing of their kids is their decision and need not be questioned by the likes of me, or anyone else who is not them or their Lord.
I ache for Bristol. I have recently started working with a teenage moms program through my church, and to see that kinds of trials these girls are going through is humbling. Like my girls, Bristol's life will be tough without public scrutiny. With a 24 hour news cycle, I can't imagine. It may seem hoaky, but I lift them up in prayer. They need it.
I'll get into the experience in a later post.
First off, all of those rumors about the baby being the daughters were horrible and I knew immediately they were not true. Unfortunately, it turns out that the eldest daughter, Bristol, is pregnant. Unfortunate in the sense of what this means for their family. Not unfortunate for how this plays out in the arena of public scrutiny.
I have thought this through pretty carefully over the last couple of days and I would like to offer my analysis to those of you readers.
The eldest daughter, only 17 years old, is pregnant. What does this say about their home life? I have to admit that this has crossed my mind. But then I'm reminded of my own adolescents and early adulthood. And to be quite frank, how in the world did I get out of high school not pregnant? I know it was God's grace over my life. (Not that those who are pregnant teens are not within God's grace, it just wasn't apart of his plan for my life.) I did not end up pregnant, but I made some bad decisions. Should my parents have shouldered the blame for the consequences of those choices? I think not. Teenagers have the tendency to make adult decisions WAY before they should. Who is responsible for those decisions? Not the parents. My parents were not responsible for the promiscuous behavior of their eldest child, as Sarah and Todd Palin are not the bearers of Bristol's decision. As parents we only have so long to impress upon our children the values and morals that will keep them from making decisions which will forfeit a piece of their future. In the current American culture, that time is shrinking so that our kids now need to know everything by what, 8 -10 years old? They can't even fathom long-term consequences at that age.
So, with that defense out of the way, I am still pro-Palin. I think she has sufficient experience to be Vice-President. I think that whatever her and her husband have decided about the rearing of their kids is their decision and need not be questioned by the likes of me, or anyone else who is not them or their Lord.
I ache for Bristol. I have recently started working with a teenage moms program through my church, and to see that kinds of trials these girls are going through is humbling. Like my girls, Bristol's life will be tough without public scrutiny. With a 24 hour news cycle, I can't imagine. It may seem hoaky, but I lift them up in prayer. They need it.
I'll get into the experience in a later post.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Sarah Palin for V.P.!
Yes, I am thrilled with the Palin pick for a couple of reasons.
First, and most importantly, because she is a conservative. A NRA-card-toting, abortion-refusing, pro-drill-in-Alaska, kill-Bridge-to-Nowhere, Conservative. That's my type of girl!
Secondly, I am thrilled that he picked a woman. Now, I do not go for identity politics. And there may have been part of this decision which was identity based. And yet I'm willing to overlook it since it shows the GOP as willing to step up to the plate. No matter what I think, there are Americans who do vote for candidates of the basis of sex, race and religion. So, what are you going to do? I wish the GOP didn't have to play the identity politics game, but alas, this is the field we are on and we better start playing or we're going to lose.
The most brilliant thing about this pick was the timing. I LOVE MCCAIN FOR THIS! He announced his pick the morning after Obama's speech. Essentially nullifying everything Obama spoke on only 12 hours earlier. Sure he gave a good speech, but who is talking about it today? Not that he said anything which hasn't been said over the last 40 years. But at least the media isn't regurgitating on it.
So, yes, I'm happy about the Sarah Palin pick. What say you?
First, and most importantly, because she is a conservative. A NRA-card-toting, abortion-refusing, pro-drill-in-Alaska, kill-Bridge-to-Nowhere, Conservative. That's my type of girl!
Secondly, I am thrilled that he picked a woman. Now, I do not go for identity politics. And there may have been part of this decision which was identity based. And yet I'm willing to overlook it since it shows the GOP as willing to step up to the plate. No matter what I think, there are Americans who do vote for candidates of the basis of sex, race and religion. So, what are you going to do? I wish the GOP didn't have to play the identity politics game, but alas, this is the field we are on and we better start playing or we're going to lose.
The most brilliant thing about this pick was the timing. I LOVE MCCAIN FOR THIS! He announced his pick the morning after Obama's speech. Essentially nullifying everything Obama spoke on only 12 hours earlier. Sure he gave a good speech, but who is talking about it today? Not that he said anything which hasn't been said over the last 40 years. But at least the media isn't regurgitating on it.
So, yes, I'm happy about the Sarah Palin pick. What say you?
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