Sandy Hook Elementary School

It's been a few days and I am still having trouble coming to terms with what happened in Newton, CT on Friday morning. Living in today's society I feel as is I have come to be somewhat desensitized to the horrible things that seemingly happen everyday in our world. Perhaps it's my coping mechanism that allows me to go on with my everyday life. These past few months and years have been filled with all sorts of horrible atrocities but none of these things have affected me in the way the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School have. Perhaps it's because so many of my friends have kids now or that I hope to someday as well. Whatever the reason I am in complete disbelief and can not really comprehend how someone, no matter how sick or twisted, could look in the eyes of a 5 year old and shoot 20 of them without hesitation. These past few days, every time I see a small child laughing and playing with their families I find myself fighting to hold back tears and thinking about how 20 families will be without their children, brothers and sisters these holidays. I also mourn the teachers and adults who also lost their lives on Friday, hearing the stories of their bravery gives me hope for humanity.  Things like this really make me realize just how precious life, family and friends are.

I am not going to sit here and debate gun control laws. I know the 2nd amendment grants the right to bear arms. I just do not think that when the amendment was written they were referring to automatic assault riffles that allow you to possibly kill hundreds in mere minutes. I also have a hard time understanding why anyone outside of the militia or perhaps law enforcement need them. The sad fact is that Friday's incident was not just about gun control, it's also about the sad state of the mental health systems in place in our country. People are often not able to get the help they need because of the cost of treatment or medicine, and often people are not forced to get the help they need because it's almost impossible to commit someone. I think as a country we need to set aside our differences, especially in DC, and work together to somehow find a way to make this country a better, safer place not only for ourselves but for our children and their children someday. How many of these atrocities have to happen before things change.

I have been so out of it I have not even really been able to watch football, go on twitter or really even write much on this blog. It all seems so trivial and petty. I never imagined a day where I would say I was not in the mood to watch football.

I did manage to come across this gem from the opening of SNL last weekend. It really is a perfect and poignant tribute to everyone who lost their life much too soon in Newton. Silent Night sung by the amazing New York City Children's Choir.

                                       http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTbhVlHuONo

What was she thinking? - Kristen Stewart

Up until last night Kristen Stewart has been rocking it on the red carpet as of late. However, for some reason she chose to wear this horrible ensemble to the NYC premiere of On The Road last night. She is wearing a satin blue crop top-high waist short with a bright embellished sheer overlay by Erdem. Kristen is a very beautiful and thin young woman but this outfit make her look a bit pregnant and reminds me of something I would have purchased at Contempo Casuals in high school. The icy blue color of the satin short is doing nothing for her pale skin color. I usually am a sucker for Louboutin heels but am not a fan of this neon stiletto's. Perhaps if they were paired with a summer or spring outfit in the correct season I would feel differently. This look is just too sweet and prissy for KStew, I prefer her in the edgy pieces she usually rocks.

I really prefer the way this looked on the runway model. Sometimes looks are better left on the runway.

And the Jets circus continues...

Welcome back to the fun Braylon Edward's, perhaps you and the Jets are a match made in heaven after all.


December 4, 2012

Just last week Braylon was waxing poetic on Twitter about how management and the coaches were to blame for the Jets problems, not Mark Sanchez.

Braylon Edwards‏@OfficialBraylon

Don't blame Sanchez. I played there. Blame the idiots calling shots. Mark is a beast and will probe it when given a proper chance

 

 

Later that day Braylon seemed to realize that perhaps that was a sentiment he should have kept to himself and not shared with the whole Twitterverse (especially since in the NFL one never knows if you may end working for one of those idiots again).

 

Braylon Edwards‏@OfficialBraylon

I would like to apologize to the Jets family and my fans for my emotional outburst. Mark is a friend and former teammate, who I...

Braylon Edwards‏@OfficialBraylon

...wholeheartedly support. Nonetheless, I have disrespected and insulted an administration that I have the utmost respect for.

 

 

As luck would have it for Braylon later that same day the Seattle Seahawks released him. They claim the  release wasn't connected to his twitter rant.  He was waived with an injury distinction (but no specific injury was cited. It's been speculated that it was knee injury). Braylon seemed to take it all in stride.

 

Braylon Edwards‏@OfficialBraylon

Business is business. My knee is great, im in tip top shape, make plays everyday in practice, ready to make them on someones field. Progress

Braylon Edwards‏@OfficialBraylon

I love the seahawks and 12th man, couldve retired here, but life happens...u gotta roll with it. Now time for GOD's next challenge for me..

Braylon Edwards‏@OfficialBraylon

In Life you can only control what you can control. Im working out, staying ready, everything in my control. Yall have a blessed day!

 

 

December 11, 2012

 

Flash forward to today and Braylon has come back full circle to those idiots at the Jets.

 

Braylon Edwards‏@OfficialBraylon

It feels great to be going home. Thanks to all of jet nation that continuously supported me and pushed for me. I'm back and it's go time

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000109824/article/braylon-edwards-claimed-off-waivers-by-new-york-jets                      

 

 

 

Say what you want about the Jets, they may not be as talented as the NY Giants but they certainly know how to put on an entertaining show. Can't wait to see how long this match made in heaven lasts.

 

 

Look of the Day - Houston Texans Letterman Jackets

This is a brilliant idea. I can not believe it took so long for someone in the NFL to come up with this. Houston Texans nose tackle Shaun Cody and teammate LB Connor Barwin are the genius's behind this. Every member of the team will be sporting these tonight en route to their game vs the Patriots and will wear them the rest of the season. Every jacket has their number and position and they will continue to add patches for any future division titles and conference and Super Bowl championships.

I love the look and idea of it all, it's a great team unifier. Brilliant gentlemen! I am sure these will be available for purchase by fans as well shortly.


http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/entire-houston-texans-team-sport-custom-made-letterman-165214617--nfl.html


http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000107397/article/houston-texans-bust-out-letterman-jackets-before-pats-tilt

Look of the Day - Camilla Belle aka Tim Tebow's GF

I should hate her since she stole my future husband Tim Tebow.....just kidding, I am trying to curb my cougar ways nowadays. Camilla wore this amazing Ferragamo sequined minidress and pale wool coat to the opening of the Ferragamo flagship store in London last night. She is styled immaculately. Great frame clutch, neutral makeup with a bright lip, minimal jewelery and I love that she pulled hair her back to keep the focus on the incredible dress. I am a sucker for sequins so I just adore her look.

Life must be really hard when you are this beautiful and have Tim as you beau (please note the sarcasm here). Well done Camilla you look amazing.

Crush of The Week - Andre Johnson

Andre Johnson is a wide receiver for the Houston Texans and one of the best in the NFL. He has a reputation for being a really nice guy and this just solidifies it. Andre went to Toys R Us and spent over $19,000 on toys for kids in custody of the Texas Child Protective Services. Thanks to him some well deserving kids will be having a very merry Christmas. Well done Andre.


 http://deadspin.com/5965628?utm_campaign=socialflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow


UPDATE

Found an even more indept article: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/73936247.html


Here's an NFL story designed to warm your heart and terrify your wallet. Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, one of the league's unquestioned good guys, on Tuesday performed what's becoming an annual ritual for him: a Toys R' Us shopping spree for at-risk youth in Houston.

Johnson's Foundation, the Andre Johnson Charitable Foundation, funded the spree, in which 12 children selected by Child Protective Services had 80 seconds to fill up their carts with as many toys as they could. And oh, could they fill those carts.

"You hear a minute and twenty seconds, and you don't think that's a long time, but you'd be surprised by what these kids can put into their buckets," Johnson said afterward. You can see his gargantuan receipt in the photo at right.

The children, ranging in ages from 8 to 16, have all suffered parental abuse in some form and now live with extended family members. But each child made sure to purchase toys for siblings and other relatives as well.

Johnson's foundation performs several works throughout the year for children in both Houston and Johnson's Miami hometown. But he told the team's website that it's the Toys R' Us event that he enjoys the most.

"I think it's probably the best one because you get to see the kids really enjoy it," he said. "That's what this season is about. It's something I look forward to. The kids are happy, they get what they want for Christmas, and that's all that matters."

After the spree, Johnson also joined the Houston Police Department's Blue Santa program to surprise 800 students at Houston's Bastian Elementary School with Christmas presents.

Johnson stressed that he had traveled the path many of these kids were on, and he hoped they could learn from his example: "I grew up in a single-parent home and I was fortunate to achieve my goals," he said. "So, whatever goals you have, just keep them out in front of you, don't let anybody distract you away from them, because there will be distractions that try to detour you away from your goals. That's the biggest thing."
Read more at ONTD: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/73936247.html#ixzz2E9C0fFCm

Things that make me laugh - Cam Newton Play60 commercial

This commercial has been all over TV lately and every time I see it I have to laugh. The little kid is adorable and the look on his face and delivery of the line at the end when he says "I'm just warming my arm up" is priceless.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aKYZFcmAmU

Words for Thought - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lately a lot of the quotes I have come across and taken inspiration from have been by Ralph Waldo Emerson so I decided to dedicate this blog entry to his words of wisdom.

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” (One of my favorite of all time)

“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.”

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”


“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”


“Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think.”


“Always do what you are afraid to do.”


“Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.”

 

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”

“We must be our own before we can be another's.”

“To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

“Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.”

“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be.”

“What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.”

Chickstrong for Cancer

Kudos to these to cheerleaders for doing what many of us ladies would probably be afraid to do for someone we really didn't know. They shaved their head to raise money for cancer in honor of the Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano.

Personally I think they look stunning without their hair.

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/0ap2000000100359/Colts-cheerleaders-shave-heads-in-honor-of-Pagano?campaign=Twitter_videos_chuckstrong

My Crush of the Week - J.J. Watt

 Decided I would start a new weekly posting called My Crush of the Week. As anyone who knows me knows, I have had a crush on Tim Tebow for about 6 years. My girlfriends all though it was funny last year when Tebow-mania went wild because I have been talking about him non-stop for years (what can I say, I am a trend setter). Not only is he handsome, athletic, kind and intelligent, he also seemingly has a heart of gold when it comes to his charitable work. These are the types of guys I will be dedicating this weekly entry to; guy who are more than just their looks and use their celebrity for a greater good.

  This week's inaugural recipient is J.J. Watt, defensive end for the Houston Texans. When J.J. isn't busy sacking QB's or swatting down passes (how many of Mark Sanchez's did he swat down?) he spends time bonding with 3 orphan's he befriend earlier this year when their parents were killed in a head on collision. The accident left the sister Willa severely injured and the 2 boys paralyzed from the waist down.

The article reads as follows J.J. Watt Sack Celebration


A connection with a local family prompted J.J. Watt to alter his signature sack celebration Sunday.
After the Houston Texans star brought down Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne during the fourth quarter of a 43-37 overtime win, Watt mimed the motion of moving a wheelchair. He did it in honor of Willa, Aaron and Peter Berry, three children who were orphaned in July 2011, when a head-on collision killed their parents.
Willa, who was then 6, was severely injured in the accident. Aaron, then 8, and Peter, then 9, were paralyzed from the waist down. Watt has developed a close relationship with the Houston-area children.
"I was eating dinner at their house on Friday night," Watt said, via the Houston Chronicle. "They said they're going to be watching the game. They said give us a signal. I said OK, when I get a sack, I'll do the wheelchair."
Watt and the children came up with the idea for the sack celebration while playing a game of wheelchair basketball last week. When Watt got his opportunity, he didn't disappoint.




Below is the link for the foundation that was set up for the Berry Children, lots of adorable pics of J.J. with the boys.
https://www.facebook.com/BerryChildren


So not only is J.J. attractive and talented, he also has a heart of gold. What more could a girl ask for? Well done J.J., it’s always nice to see someone using their celebrity for a greater good.

That's all for now,

Sassy

P.S. Please send any suggestions for next weeks crush of the week, who and why.