Buying Our First Home

February 24, 2017

It's been too long since I've posted!  Brian and I just moved into a new house, plus being pregnant has thrown me off my usual routine.  Between the move, planning for the arrival of our daughter, and doctor appointments, I've stayed pretty busy.  Things are calming down a little before our whole world is flipped upside down by the miracle of life, so I thought I'd take this time to share the story of buying our first house.  It has been a slow roller coaster, but we finally feel settled.  For the first time since we've been married, we feel like this is not a temporary living situation and there is something very peaceful and comforting about that.  It has taken a lot of praying, patience, and trust to get us here.

Brian and I lived with our parents before we got married.  A couple months before the wedding, Brian moved into a one bedroom apartment.  It was closer to his work, still close to our families, and was in a nicer part of town where things were expanding.  After the wedding, I moved in with him and we lived there for about 3 and a half years.  During that time, we decided to start looking for a house.  In early 2015, we began working with a realtor to try and find a home in an older part of town.

Prayer has always been a part of my life, especially in my marriage.  I believe God answers us, often in ways we never expected.  When Brian and I started looking for a house, we prayed for God to lead us on what to do.  After being pre-approved by the bank, we looked at several houses.  Most of them needed a lot of work, but we came across one that stood out.  It was a cute two story house with a gorgeous backyard and we really liked it.  We decided to put an offer on it and were accepted.  We signed papers with the realtor and were very excited.  Our prayer was that if this was the right house for us, everything would go smoothly, but if it wasn't, we asked God to throw in a monkey wrench.

Brian went to meet with a loan officer to begin the process while I was babysitting.  After the meeting, he called me and was trying to stay composed, but I could sense how upset he was.  Since I hadn't been at my current job for at least 2 years, we would not be approved for the loan we wanted to use.  Our only two options were to let the house go or use all our savings to get it.

We were both really disappointed because we had come so far.  Part of me wanted to just do what we had to do to get this house.  But Brian convinced me that would not be wise.  We decided to look at this as the monkey wrench we had prayed for and let the house go.  I remember feeling guilty because it was my fault it didn't work out.  But God had us the whole time.  It's times like these I'm glad I don't follow my heart.  "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it." Jeremiah 17:9  

This is a picture I found around the time we let the house go.  It was a reminder to trust God.

After a time of sadness, we came out of this experience with a refreshed mindset.  We gave thanks to God for protecting us from making a spontaneous decision.  We realized the area we had been planning to move was becoming quite run down.  We would have been settling because we really didn't want a two story house anyway.  Looking back, we're so happy it didn't work out.

Even if we weren't going to buy a house, we still felt it was time to move out of the one bedroom apartment we had lived in since we got married.  In April 2016, we moved to another apartment down the road.  It was a newer two bedroom place and we felt good about having more space.

Around this time, my sister and her husband had also been trying to find a house.  They ended up building in a new development right across the street from the apartment complex we had just moved from.  I loved the neighborhood and location and dreamed of being able to build in a place like that.  But I felt like it wouldn't happen because of our financial situation.

Several months went by and we watched my sister's house being built.  She had been trying to convince us to at least check into the process of building there.  We started looking into to it, not too seriously, and praying about what God wanted us to do.  On July 31, 2016, we started the process of building a home in this brand new neighborhood.  I remember driving home that day talking to Brian about how this felt different.  

It took about 7 months for our dream home to be built.  It's a one story, 3 bedroom, 2 bath house and I'm extremely happy with how it turned out.  The whole process went very smoothly.  My parents ended up selling their home and building in our neighborhood as well, so now my whole family lives here.  

I can't give enough credit to God for orchestrating all this.  The main point I wanted to get across was we do not have a full picture when going through struggles.  I don't want to sound cliche, but I believe everything really does happen for a reason.  God has provided for me time and time again and He blesses those who trust Him.  Relying on our own limited understanding is not enough to navigate through this complicated life.  Peace comes when we surrender everything to Jesus and choose to trust in His plans for our lives.

Food Sensitivity: Curse or Blessing?

People are becoming aware of food allergies and sensitivities now more than ever.  There are more vegan and gluten-free options at restaurants and grocery stores and hopefully people are starting to realize what you put in your body affects every aspect of health and beauty.  

I have been sensitive to certain foods most of my life.  I was a kid the first time I realized I was limited with what I could consume.  I was at a church sleepover where sodas were being served.  My mom never kept soda in the house, so I took advantage of this new exciting drink.  My tiny body was not used to the chemicals and sugar so I had jittery, uncomfortable energy.  Once that wore off, I crashed and felt awful.  I vowed to never drink soda again.

As a young teenager, I discovered every time I drank coffee, my stomach would hurt, my heart would race, and I'd feel shaky.  I found out I'm super sensitive to caffeine and even decaf coffee would hurt my stomach.  So coffee and soda became big no nos for me.

One of the worst experiences I've ever had with a food sensitivity was with the artificial sweetener, aspartame.  It was in the gum and mints I was using at around the age of 14 and I discovered this fake sugar was causing visual migraines that terrified me.  Please read all about this in My Aspartame Horror Story and share with everyone you know.  These fake sugars are toxic and should not even be on the market.

I've also had bad experiences with processed foods.  While on my honeymoon, I noticed my husband was drinking coffee with a hazelnut creamer that looked delicious.  It was the International Delight brand.  At this point in my life, I hadn't had coffee in years and thought I'd give it another try.  I literally had 3 small sips and it wasn't long before I was on the toilet with a severe stomach ache feeling nauseous and jittery.  I believe it was the chemicals in the coffee creamer, and of course the coffee itself, that made me feel this way.  Needless to say, I plan to stay away from both for the rest of my life.

Another time, I ate dinner at a friend's house and about an hour later developed a red skin rash.  I was used to eating all the contents of the meal except the tortillas.  The only thing I can think of is there was something in that tortilla that did not agree with me.  The rash was gone the next day, but now I have to be careful to avoid processed foods.

Finally, I strongly believe dairy was a huge contributing factor to why I struggled with acne for so many years.  The dairy industry wants us to believe we need dairy to be healthy, but this is not true.  The human body is not meant to digest dairy, so it causes all sorts of problems like skin issues, low energy, and weight gain.  Since cutting dairy out of my life, I look and feel so much better, and I'd never go back.  Plus, there are so many other options like coconut and almond milk products, I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.

Others with similar or worse dietary restrictions sometimes see these limitations as a curse because they can no longer enjoy the foods they used to.  But what if this "curse" is really a blessing in disguise?  Our body's reactions to what we eat are communicating something extremely important to us.  I tend to view my limitations as blessings, because that means I shouldn't be putting junk into my body anyways.

If you're struggling with a health or beauty issue I'd encourage you to look at what you're eating.  Research nutrition on your own and try to keep an open mind about what you discover.  The main goal of many companies is to make money and your health is not their concern.  Do what is best for your health and your body will thank you for it!

How I Survived My First Trimester

Recently, I announced my husband and I are expecting our first baby.  I'm kind of a private person so I wanted to wait until I was pretty far along before I posted it on social media.  I'm currently 5 and half months and so happy to be through with the first trimester!  Today, I wanted to share my personal experiences with being pregnant those first few months.

Brian and I have been married over four years.  Last year, we decided we were ready to have a baby.  Those first few years of marriage without kids were great and I'm glad we got to enjoy that time together.  In May of 2016, I went off birth control and it took about 5 months before we got a positive test result.

On September 25, we both stared at the result window with shock and excitement.  I remember feeling shaky and overjoyed to be carrying life inside me.  It was extremely hard, but we decided to keep this a secret from our families for a while so we could do something really special when we made our announcement.

On October 29, it had been a little over a month and we were finally going to tell our families.  I didn't want anything extravagant, but I also wanted to surprise them.  My sister and brother-in-law already found out because they accidentally saw something on Brian's phone.  They helped set up the camera so we could record reactions.  We invited both of our parents, sisters, and brothers-in-law for dinner and when everyone got there, Brian said we had an announcement. 

I made up a bogus story about how we were going to be building a vacation home in Georgia and we wanted them to help us decide on the plans.  We handed each couple an envelope with 4 pictures, the last one being the ultrasound.  My mom jumped up and hugged me so tight I couldn't breath.  Some were shocked, while others had their previous suspicions confirmed.

The picture in the top right is a reaction shot of when I told Brian to come look at the pregnancy test result.  He was testing his game camera and when we saw this, we died laughing.

I didn't show much at all in the first trimester, so I was able to wear all my normal clothes.  I used a hair tie to make my pants a little looser, and that was a great fix since I didn't want to buy maternity clothes yet.  I did have some emotional and physical symptoms.  I was nauseated almost everyday, but thank God I never threw up.  My eyes got even more sensitive to the sun, I had no energy, and I was often depressed.  Brian went on a lot of hunting trips during this time too, so I was alone more.  Usually this wouldn't bother me, but for some reason I felt more lonely.  Unfortunately, as a result of not feeling well, my family got the worst of my mood swings.

I did have a few weird cravings and got off track a little on my Beauty Detox diet, but I quickly realized I couldn't keep that up because I would feel sick after eating "cheat" foods and my skin broke out a little too.

I ended up losing some weight, which the doctor said was normal due to the nausea.  I got a few pounds under 100, but once I got past the first 3 months I got my appetite back and started gaining.  Now that I'm in my second trimester, many things have changed, which I will update on once I enter my third trimester.  I'll also be posting about my terrible experience with my former OBGYN, so look out for that soon!

I feel like my first trimester could have been better, but it could have been way worse.  I'm thankful to have such a loving family who is always there for me.  It took a lot of praying and taking it one day at a time, but I made it through.  The second trimester is definitely a lot more fun!

How to Easily Meal Plan for the Week

Part of living a healthy lifestyle is cooking at home.  I love discovering new recipes and cooking them for me and my husband.  A huge part of cooking is planning ahead so you have everything you need when you're hungry.  Many people are very busy during the week, so planning your meals from the beginning will reduce stress and prevent you from making unhealthy choices when you just want a quick meal.  Today I'm going to share the steps I take every week to keep me and my husband satisfied and nourished!

Step 1: Designate a Planning/Grocery Shopping Day For Each Week

Getting into a grocery shopping routine on a day you have some free time is key.  Every Sunday, my husband and I go grocery shopping together.  We go to Native Sun for our food and Publix for toiletries and other miscellaneous items.  It's actually become a fun tradition.  Before we go, I have everything planned so I'm not wandering the stores trying to think about what I need.

Step 2: Write Down Your Meal Plan

This step is fun because you get to discover new recipes.  Sometimes it can be frustrating, especially if you're having to plan for a lot people, but I've found this technique very helpful.  Write down each meal category like this: Breakfast, Lunches, Dinners, Snacks, Desserts.  Then under each category, write each person's initial and what they want to eat for the week.  Brian and I usually have the same thing for breakfast, so that's easy.  I always have smoothies for my snack and we try to not have a lot of desserts unless it's a special occasion, so those categories can be checked off pretty quickly.  That just leaves lunches and dinners that require a little more effort.  I either go to my Beauty Detox Books or Pinterest for recipes.  Sometimes I'm in the mood for something specific and other times I want to try something new.  Either way, these tools are lifesavers for meal planning.  You can usually find quick and easy recipes for whatever you're craving on Pinterest.

Step 3: Write Down the Ingredients You Need

Once you have all your meals planned, it's time to figure out what you need for each meal.  Go down the list starting with breakfast until you get to desserts.  If I'm using a recipe book, I'll write down the page number next to the recipe so when I go to make it, I know exactly where to go.  If I'm using Pinterest, I screenshot the recipes on my phone for the same reason.  As you're looking at each recipe, check to see if you already have any of the ingredients.  Finally, try to think of any other miscellaneous items you may need.  I use the reverse side of my meal plan list to write down the ingredients because it saves paper and it makes it easy if I need to refer back to anything while in the store.

Step 4: Go Shopping!

Now that you've got everything planned and written down, you're ready to go shopping.  Try to stick to your list if you can to prevent impulse buys and save money.  If you have a budget you need to stick to, round up prices for each item and write them down on your list as you check things off.  Then you can total everything at the end.

That's it!  Making this a weekly routine is a great way to stay healthy because you know exactly what you're putting in your body.  Planning ahead is always better than waiting until the last minute when you're starving!

Products to Ditch Today (and Awesome Alternatives!)

As a minimalist, I'm always trying to discover new ways to save space and money.  We live in a world where someone is always trying to sell us something, but the truth is, we don't need all this stuff!  I used to buy into this mentality and try new products just for something different.  But many products are not necessary, take up precious space, are full of chemicals, and cost a lot of money.  I've done a lot of research on all these topics, and I'd encourage you to do your own.  Today, I'm sharing my list of products I no longer use.  I'll also give convenient alternatives if needed.

Shaving Cream/Gel

In one of my first blogs, I discussed How I Cured Itchy Irritation From Shaving My Legs.  I discovered my skin was reacting to the shaving cream I was using.  Shaving products are often full of toxins that cause skin irritations.  You don't need to waste money on them.  I now shave with Dr. Bonner's Castile Soap, which I also use as body wash.  It's gentle on skin and I no longer suffer from irritation.  Plus, now there is one less product in my shower, so I'm happy!

Antiperspirant

Please, Please, Please, DO NOT USE ANTIPERSPIRANT!  Our bodies are supposed to sweat!  By blocking sweat glands, you are keeping toxins your body needs to get rid of inside.  Please check out my blog, The Best Chemical Free Deodorant, where I share my story about how bad I used to stink.  I share the deodorant recipe I use, requiring only 4 simple, inexpensive ingredients.  My husband and I share the deodorant and it lasts for months.  Even if we're sweating, we don't have to stink!

Dryer Sheets/Fabric Softeners 

Last year, I started hearing how dryer sheets and fabric softeners are full of chemicals and should be avoided.  I heard about alternatives, such as wool dryer balls you can add your favorite essential oils to if you want a chemical free smell on your clothes.  I had about a half a box of dryer sheets left, which I used up and have never replaced.  I don't miss them at all.  Please check out this EWG article, Don't Get Slimed: Skip the Fabric Softener, for more information about the dangers of these products and other natural alternatives.

Loofahs

At one point, I had 3 different loofahs I used in the shower.  One day, I decided I didn't need them anymore.  This turned out to be a great decision because loofahs hold a lot of bacteria.  This is another product you can ditch and not replace, thus giving you more free space.  I just wash my body with my hands now.

Chewing Gum

If you haven't checked out my blog, My Aspartame Horror Story, please do.  I discuss how I discovered the artificial sweeteners in the gum and mints I was using were causing migraines and neurological issues.  Artificial sweeteners are poison, but thankfully, there are gum and mints with natural sweeteners such as xylitol, which are safe.  I love the mints from the Spry brand and use them regularly.  Recently, I decided to give up gum.  Gum is something we don't really need and it actually tricks our bodies into thinking we need to start digesting, thus causing imbalance.  Gum can also cause bad breath.  This is one habit I sometimes miss, but I can live without.

Air Freshener Sprays/ Plug-Ins

Once again, this is another product full of chemicals.  If you actually read the ingredients in these products, it's really scary.  People spray these into the air of their homes and breathe them in all the time.  This is not only an unnecessary product, it's also harmful.  If you want your home to really smell good, invest in a diffuser and let essential oils fill your space with healthy, natural scents and ditch the fake stuff!

Kitchen Sponges

This is similar to loofahs because kitchen sponges hold a lot of bacteria as well.  You're cleaning your dishes with something that can never really be clean.  I've never liked touching a kitchen sponge, so I use a dish scrubbing brush with a handle so I don't have to feel anything nasty while washing the dishes.  This brush is under $10 at Bed Bath and Beyond and it's very easy to clean.  I throw mine in the dishwasher every time I do a load and it dries quickly.  They only need to be replaced every year or so.  Easy!

I hope this inspired you to look into the products you use and really consider making a change.  You'll be saving space, time, and money when you reduce purchases, therefore making your life more simple.  Remember, less clutter means less you have to deal with, resulting in less stress and more time for what's really important!

Pierce the Veil's Misadventures Album Review

I've been a fan of Pierce the Veil since A Flair for the Dramatic came out in 2007.  Now, almost ten years later, they're one of my favorite bands.  Every record they release is better than the last and none of the songs are throwaways.  It's obvious they spent a lot of time working on Misadventures, their latest album that came out in May of 2016.

Misadventures is a masterpiece in my opinion because it takes everything I've loved about PTV's sound and made it even catchier, more emotional, and more powerful.  My husband and I pre-ordered the vinyl without hearing any of the songs because we knew to expect greatness from this band, and they did not disappoint.

I love every song on this album, but my favorites are "Floral & Fading", "Circles", and "Today I Saw the Whole World".  I think "Floral & Fading" is the most unique song they've ever written.  It gets me every time I listen to it and it's always in my head.

Last year, I was thrilled to see PTV perform on Conan.  It's rare these kinds of bands get the recognition they deserve.  I remember watching them perform "Circles" and thinking this was the perfect song to play off the new album because it's catchy, there is a lack of screaming, and the subject matter is relevant.  "Circles" is about the Paris attacks, a current event we all remembered.

I have to mention the genius of Vic Fuentes' lyrics.  I've always felt such an emotional connection to his poetic words on every album.  He has a way of making lyrics sound so romantic and powerful.  Some of my favorite lines include "You say you wanna chase the moon like fire, well, together we can fake our own death here..." from "Floral & Fading", "Crashing once again into the center of your moonlit face..." from "Texas is Forever", and  "your undressed spine.." and "My heart is on a pendulum tonight..." from "Today I Saw the Whole World".  

For me to really love a band, I have to love the singer's voice.  Vic's voice is so dynamic and his performances always bring the unique intensity that makes this band so special.

Overall, I would give Misadventures 5 out of 5 stars.  I really think the album is perfect and wouldn't change a thing about it.  I enjoy music that you can tell the artists have put their hearts and souls into.  I believe every member of Pierce the Veil does just that when they write.  Please check out this album if you haven't already!

The Joys of Serving Your Spouse

Disclaimer: I understand everyone is in different situations.  I am speaking in generals here.  

When Brian and I got married, we obviously had to get used to living with each other.  Being the clean freak I am, I went through our whole apartment every morning and straightened up anything out of place.  This included Brian's Bible he left out after leaving for work.  I didn't mind putting it back in his nightstand, but he didn't understand why I had to.  In his mind, there was nothing wrong with leaving it on the table.  But to me, everything should be put in it's place.  I admit I got my way because now our Bibles are kept in our nightstands where they belong and he understands if his things are left out, I will put them away.

Recently, I read an article called Stop Being a Butthole Wife (awesome title by the way).  It has inspired me to write about my own experiences serving my husband.  In her article, this wife describes her nagging attitude towards her husband who she constantly had to clean up after.  Then, when her husband passed away, she realized how ridiculous her behavior was.  I was almost in tears while reading this, because she speaks so much truth.  Why are we as wives so easily annoyed by a few clothes laying on the floor or a few dishes left in the sink?  

Before I go on, I have to acknowledge I am in a unique position because I don't have a full time job and my husband is not a messy guy.  The only times I have to clean up after him are picking up a pair of shorts off the floor or cleaning his dishes.  I'm also an alien because I truly enjoy housework.  I'm serious.  I love it.  My husband works his butt off all day to provide for us, so when he gets home, our house is immaculate, his laundry is done and put away, and there is a home cooked meal ready for him every night.  He shouldn't have to lift a finger.  I absolutely love serving him, because I know if I really needed him, he would help me without complaining.

I'm not trying to depict ours as a perfect relationship, because, of course, we have our disagreements.  I simply want to share my experience, because I see so many people struggle in their relationships because they don't want to serve one another.  I know you're tired.  I know you're overwhelmed.  But what if instead of nagging your spouse the next time you have to clean up after them, you simply complete the task in silence, even if you're cursing them in your head.

Try to think about a positive aspect of this scenario.  You actually have the ability to do this for them.  You're able to take care of the person you love in this way.  They might even notice you've done all that work and not complained once.  It may take a few times for them to acknowledge it, but think about how grateful they will be and how this could positively affect your relationship.

God intended husbands and wives to serve one another.  It has to be give and take.  I'd encourage you to consider all your spouse does for you.  Tell them how thankful you are and strive to serve them without complaining.  This would also be a great example for your children.  Growing up, my mom never complained about having to do housework or clean up after me, my sister, or my dad.  She did it in love and joy.  Watching her serve our family this way and my dad's grateful reactions made it easy for me to step into my role as a housewife.  My mom kept up with the house, cooking and cleaning with two kids, so I know it can be done.

I was specifically touched by the woman who wrote the article above, because she actually lost her husband.  This could happen to any of us at any time.  The work has to be done and you can either complain or choose to be joyful and thankful.  By simply shifting your attitude to one of joy that you're able to serve your spouse, imagine how much less stress you'll put on yourself!

Sometimes it's easier said than done, but what do you have to lose?  Just try and see how your relationships with your spouse and children improve, creating a healthier, happier home life.

My Weekly Hair Care Routine

Since beautiful hair is a sign of health and vitality, I believe it's very important to do everything we can to treat our hair well.  Eating a proper diet to include a variety of fruits and vegetables is a significant aspect of hair health because our hair is nourished at the root.  We should also be cognizant of what products we're using on our hair.  With so many hair care products out there, it can be overwhelming to find a routine that is affordable, effective, healthy, and simple.  That's my goal for my hair and today I'd like to share what I've discovered with you.

Before I get into my current hair care practices, I'd like to share that it hasn't always been this simple.  I used to lather my hair with all kinds of conditioners, hair masks, and heat protectants.  I felt like I was doing all this work to try to improve my hair texture, but it was still dry and frizzy.

I realized less is more and started researching hair care, focusing on products that are chemical free.  I found an affordable brand called Acure and that's what I use for shampoo and conditioner now.  The ingredients are pure and it's effective at cleansing and smoothing my hair.  You can find this brand at health stores or Amazon.  Everyone's hair type is different, and since I have very thick, course locks, I only wash it twice a week.

On Mondays, I coat my hair with coconut oil and let it sit all day while I do my house work.  Check out my blog, Why You Should be doing Coconut Oil Hair Masks, to learn how you can do this yourself.  I wash out the oil that night and let it air dry.  I ditched all the hair products I used to use and because the coconut oil makes my hair soft, smooth, and shiny, I have no use for them anymore.  Please check out my other blog, Could Hair Products be Causing your Breakouts?, to learn more about the damaging effects of commercial products.

I haven't used a blow dryer in years and that has definitely helped reduce damage.  I used to straighten my hair every other day, about 4 times a week.  Now, I only straighten it once a week, which has also helped reduce heat damage.

Another trick I picked up is called The T-Shirt Hair Drying Trick.  After washing my hair, I wrap it in an old t-shirt instead of a towel.  In the article above, it explains this helps reduce frizz because the fabric is more gentle to your hair when it's wet and more vulnerable to damage.

If you have thick, frizzy hair like me, you know that brushing your hair when it's dry can increase frizz and make you look like you have a lion's mane.  It's also not good to brush your hair while it's wet because more breakage is possible.  The only time I use a brush is a few days after I've washed and straightened it (also right before washing it to get the knots out).  That way, there is a little oil at the roots that can be brushed through the length of the hair.  Distributing the natural oil reduces frizz and smooths the shaft.

On Thursday nights I usually wash my hair again for the weekend and I'm good until the following Monday.  Of course, sometimes I have to adjust this routine according to my schedule, but in general that's how I do it.

I hope this has helped you to simplify your hair care routine.  I would love to hear if you have any suggestions to improve mine!

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Fall Review

I'm so conflicted about the final episode of the revival because it includes some of my favorite scenes and scenes I absolutely hated.  It opens with Lorelai in a motel trying to fit all her supplies into her pack for the big hike.  This is an example of a very funny part that didn't last too long.

Throughout the beginning of this episode, Rory keeps seeing strange signs about something coming.  I found this very out of place for the show.  The old people at the Gazette continued to be hilarious and I wish we got more of them. 

Jess shows up at Luke's and it got my hopes up we might get more of him in this episode.  We do, but it's still not enough!  He tries to help Luke think through what's going on with Lorelai.  He seems to be a better therapist than the lady Emily and Lorelai were seeing.  I also loved the part where he rips out the WiFi.

The dreamlike Life and Death Brigade scenes with Rory, Logan, and Logan's friends were the worst part of the revival.  This is what all those signs were leading up to at the start of the episode, and it's even more out of place.  This show is founded in realism and these scenes felt like a fantasy.  I really didn't understand why so much time was wasted here.  While watching it, all I could think was how I wished they had used this time to build Jess and Rory's relationship.

Logan showing up and whisking Rory away while he has a fiancee at home is so selfish.  Especially when we consider these people are in their 30's.  The way they're acting is immature and annoying.  Rory and Logan don't seem to be in love.  They just want to do what feels good and have fun, not caring who they hurt in the process.  They end up staying at a small Inn, and of course Rory and Logan spend the night together.

The next morning Rory is sadly peering out of a bedroom window.  It feels like she really is saying goodbye to Logan, but I don't feel bad for her.  I also thought her goodbye with Logan's friends was weird because they all seemed too clingy for what we saw in the original show.  I don't remember them all being such good friends.  And I have to say, it drove me crazy when they were touching the steak without washing their hands!

Now we can get to the better parts of Fall.  Lorelai ends up not being able to hike because she can't find her permit.  She finds her own private spot with a breathtaking view of trees and mountains.  It only takes a few moments for her to realize what she needs to do.  The phone call to her mom was so well acted by both women.  The story Lorelai shares about her father was very touching and it made up for her drunken speech in Winter.

She abandons her pack and we get that energetic music from the original show when something big is about to go down.  She goes home to Luke and it's clear she's excited to talk to him.  He's surprised she's home early and before she can speak, he delivers an amazing speech about how much he loves her, how he would do anything for her, and she shouldn't leave him.  Then, Lorelai proposes again.  I loved this scene because it was electrified with passion and we get to hear them say all the things they should have said years ago.  Luke gives her a ring and the wedding is set.

The best Rory scene of the whole revival is when she goes to her grandparent's mansion and relives scenes from the original show.  It was very emotional to see those past scenes with Richard.  She begins writing her book at Richard's desk, which I thought was very fitting.

My favorite Michele scene comes when he and Lorelai are interviewing people to replace him.  He's his usual grumpy self and it's clear he won't be impressed with anyone.  His best line is when he says to one of the girls "Your name is Molly.  Why?"  I laughed out loud.

Rory comes home and we see her first interaction with her mom since they had the fight about her book.  They are both quiet at first but warm up to each other over junk food.  They talk excitedly about wedding plans and Rory asks her mom to read the first 3 chapters of the book, promising if it's too invasive, she won't finish it.

Emily's disruption at the DAR meeting was so fun to watch.  This show is famous for showing stereotypical rich white women being awful and Emily finally stands up to them and says what we all think of their ridiculous antics.  She's kicked out and walks happily away from that part of her life.

It wouldn't be complete to show wedding planning without an appearance from Miss Celine.  I also enjoyed Luke and Lorelai getting excited about the wedding because it feels like they are both fully committed and there's no trace of impending doom.

Rory goes to see her dad in a particularly sad scene.  She tells him about the book and asks him how he felt about Lorelai raising her alone.  He seems regretful, but says knows that's how it was meant to be.  This scene reveals to be even more significant once we get to the final four words.

Lorelai visits Emily and finds out she is selling the house and moving to Nantucket.  It's understandable she would want to get away since the mansion no longer feels like home without Richard there.  I loved the way many things get resolved in this scene because there are so many loose ends that don't get tied up in this revival.  Lorelai wants to expand her Inn and Luke has no interest in franchising the diner.  She asks her mom if they can use the diner money for the Inn instead.  Emily is surprisingly agreeable, but of course, it comes with a deal about her and Luke coming to visit in Nantucket several times a year.  The theme of the circle of life comes up again and there's a rare moment where Emily and Lorelai simply enjoy each other's company.

Jared Padelecki's short scene with Rory was perfect.  We find out Dean is happily married with kids and even though he and Rory reminisce a little, there's no romantic tension.

Melissa McCarthy's cameo was of course hilarious and her cakes, with the exception of the milestone cake, were gorgeous.  Her interaction with Michele was funny too.

Emily's story line has a satisfying ending because she is so content.  She's teaching at a whaling museum in Nantucket and it was funny seeing her scaring the tourists when talking about how the whales are killed.  I also enjoyed the idea that she kept the same maid and has  embraced her family, giving them jobs and shelter.  This shows a lot of personal growth and by the end, she's a completely different person for the better.

Lorelai gives Rory the first three chapters back and without reading it, gives her the okay to finish it.  Her one suggestion is to change the name from "The Gilmore Girls" to just "Gilmore Girls" in a cheesy nod to the fans.

I really enjoyed the dynamic Luke and Jess have in this revival.  We get one more Jess scene when Luke is modeling his suit for the wedding.  Jess tells Luke he's over Rory but then looks longingly through the window at her.  Honestly, I'm torn because I really liked this scene and what it could mean, but at the same time, I feel like Jess is too good for Rory now.  She needs to grow up before entering into a real relationship.

The night before the wedding, Luke and Lorelai are discussing how they will feel relieved once they're finally married.  They grab Rory and have a secret night wedding.

Kirk has decorated the town square in lights and we get a gorgeous montage of Luke, Lorelai, and Rory discovering different parts of the set up while "Reflecting Light" plays.  I was happy with the wedding even though we didn't get to see the actual day with everyone there.  It was very fitting for this couple.  The only thing I didn't like was how it seemed to focus on Lorelai and Luke was in the background.

The final scene of the revival occurs where it began.  The girls are sitting on the gazebo the morning after the wedding.  Rory receives a break up text from Paul and it reminds us how terrible she is to have still not broken up with him.  We then get the final four words.  "Mom?" "Yeah." "I'm pregnant."  The first time I watched it, I was caught off guard when it ended.  I instantly felt like there had to be more episodes, because it can't possibly end there.  This also makes the scene with Christopher much more meaningful because Rory is trying to decided whether or not to tell Logan.

This revival had some very satisfying moments and some very disappointing moments.  Overall, I'm happy they made it and with the exception of Rory's story line, I'm very happy with how everything turned out.  I still feel like there is still a lot to explore in this world and would not be surprised if they made more.  

Let me know what you thought of the Gilmore Girls revival and check out my reviews for Winter, Spring, and Summer!

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Summer Review

It's summer time in Stars Hollow and this episode opens at a community pool where Rory and Lorelai are sun bathing.  I've always liked the playful friendship between Rory and Lorelai, but they were very unlikable in these pool scenes.  They made fun of people who were overweight and acted like they were better than everyone there.

April comes to visit and acts very confident in her new college lifestyle in front of Luke and Lorelai.  She talks about pot and is dressed in an ugly baggy outfit.  Later, she breaks down in front of Rory and confesses she only tried pot once and is struggling to make friends or be a normal person at all.  I was glad she got some screen time, but was disappointed with how she's turned out.

We get another town meeting where we find out the Stars Hollow Gazette is closing down and Rory is the only one upset by this.  She ends up volunteering to take over the paper since she's got nothing else going on.

The Stars Hollow Musical was also brought up in the town meeting and Lorelai volunteers to be on the review board.  When they first started discussing this idea, I had high hopes it would be entertaining.  I especially loved Miss Patty and Babette reacting to the attractive men trying out for the musical.  

The secret bar bit was great.  I felt bad for Lorelai and Michel when they were discussing him leaving the Inn.  Zack and Lane playing background music was a nice touch.

The paper delivery scene was funny at first, but I feel like it went on for too long.  Also, the 30 something gang was super annoying.  The only part I thought was funny was when their parents tried to get Lorelai to join them and she couldn't get away fast enough.  

The Stars Hollow Musical takes up ten minutes of screen time, which was way too long.  Even though I did laugh at some of it, we got the point at two minutes.  The best part was Lorelai's reactions because she seems to be the only one who sees the insanity of it.  This musical and the scene where the review board shares opinions was a waste of valuable time we could have spent on Jess or Lane?  Just saying.

Speaking of Jess, I was very happy with his scenes in this revival, even though there weren't enough.  I like how he has clearly grown up and he looked great.  Once again, he encourages Rory.  He says she should write what she's passionate about and suggests she write a book about her relationship with her mom.  It's obvious that up to this point, Rory has been struggling to find a successful writing topic, and it's kind of weird she didn't think of this on her own.  The hug between Luke and Jess was great and I cracked up when Jess threw his hat.

The old people at the Gazette were some of the best additions to the cast because their jokes were subtle.  I also loved the short scene where Rory finds an old article from when her and her mom arrived in Stars Hollow.  This was one of the few Rory scenes I connected with.

Emily is still grieving and is shown sleeping in until noon.  I'm glad they continued to show her still struggling with the loss of Richard.  She's also shown at a DAR meeting gradually caring less and less about the frivolous affairs they discuss.  This is foreshadowing for one of my favorite scenes in Fall.

Lorelai visits Emily and a friend of the family named Jack is there.  Lorelai freaks out because she thinks Emily is dating him and this is never clearly confirmed or denied.  Another fight in the kitchen ensues and Emily is delighted to know Luke never told Lorelai about going to look at franchise properties.  Lorelai is obviously caught off guard and unfortunately Emily uses this against her.

When Rory tells her mom about the book idea, Lorelai is not at all supportive.  She doesn't want her private life on display for the world to critique, which I totally understand.  Rory does have a point that this is something she could thrive at, but she's not considering her mom's feelings and once again acts selfishly.

Lorelai's day gets worse when she has a third fight, this time with Luke.  She confronts him about keeping the diner property outing a secret.  He responds by pointing out she lied about Emily not going to therapy anymore, escalating the fight.  These communication issues come to a head and they start to wonder why they have kept their lives so separate.

Lane finally gets another scene, but is unfortunately overshadowed by Rory and Logan drama.  Rory "breaks up" with Logan over the phone and is once again jealous of Odette- LOGAN'S FIANCEE!

After feeling overwhelmed and lost, Lorelai attends a last minute addition to the musical and I was a little afraid of what we'd be in for this time.  The song speaks to Lorelai in a personal way because the theme is "never or now".  She has an epiphany during the song and we get the final scene of this episode.  She tells Luke she is leaving for 3 weeks to go hiking in California in order to clear her head and think things through.  Luke is shocked and warns her of all she'll have to endure in the woods, but she insists and that is the conclusion of summer.

Between the lengthy musical, more selfish Rory moments, and cheesy bits like the 30 something gang, summer is definitely my least favorite episode of the revival.  It did have some great moments as well and the stories building up for the conclusion made moving on to Fall all the more appealing.

Check out my Winter, Spring, Fall reviews and look out for Fall coming soon!

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Spring Review

Spring opens to an awkward silence during a therapy session with Lorelai and Emily.  They have several sessions throughout this episode and most of that time is spent in silence or bickering as the therapist sits uncomfortably listening.  She doesn't seem to contribute much at all.

The townies are on full display at an around the world food festival where Kirk and Taylor are being melodramatic about it being perfect, which was funny.  This is the only scene with Mrs. Kim, which is a shame because she's hilarious.  I laughed at the tambourine scaring the Korean students while they're singing.  We get a brief glimpse of Lane's father, Mr. Kim, who has never been shown before.  It was like a little nod to the fans that he's been here the whole time.  I'm still not sure how I feel about it yet, but I did laugh.  We also see Jackson, but no Sookie and no kids.  I really wish we could have seen how their children turned out.

Naomi, the woman Rory is writing her book with, continues to be difficult.  Rory is trying to stay focused but Naomi cannot.  I started to relate to Rory's obvious frustration during their meetings.

There was bad blood between Rory and Logan's dad, Mitchum, in the original show.  When Rory and Logan are eating lunch together, Mitchum shows up and there is still tension between him and Rory.  Rory gets nervous because now Logan's dad has seen them together, which could be a problem because Logan is engaged to a French heiress named Odette.  

At this point, I can't stand Rory's behavior.  She's sleeping with Logan knowing she's the other woman.  In the original show, she was furious when she found out Logan was with other women when they were on a "break", so she knows what it feels like to be cheated on.  Yet she still appears jealous when Odette comes to town and we get some awkward scenes between her and Logan trying to make plans about when they can sneak around to see each other.

Unfortunately, this isn't out of character for her because of course, she lost her virginity to Dean while he was still married to Lindsey.  Has she not learned anything from her mistakes?  She didn't want to marry Logan, but now they are carrying on a secret affair.  This has to be the most disappointing aspect of the revival for me.

I was also disappointed Liz, TJ, and Doula were not shown.  There is a phone conversation about them accidentally joining a vegetable cult, but that's all we get.

In one of the therapy sessions, Emily brings up how she's still hurt by Lorelai leaving at 16 with Rory.  After all this time, she hasn't let it go, which is perhaps the underlying source of all their conflict.  

The movie theater is still open and we get to see Kirk's second film about his pig, Petal.  He and Lulu are still together and I enjoyed the joke when she offers Luke and Lorelai the love couch stating "Kirk and I have had some great times on this couch" right after they've sat down.

This is also the episode of the Gilmore Guys cameo at the Dragonfly Inn.  I didn't know they were in it so that was a great surprise.  They're probably my favorite cameo.

Luke and Lorelai go to dinner at Emily's and we find out Richard left Luke money so he could franchise Luke's Diner.  We know from the original show Luke has no desire to do this and is content to keep his business small.  I am totally on Luke's side because I've personally been around people who act like being content with what you have is not enough and you should always want to be more successful.  But not everyone has that desire and this scene shows how people of privilege don't even consider how one might be content with a simple lifestyle.

The scenes with Rory and Paris at Chilton were nostalgic.  I'm guessing Rory's lame speech about music composition was just to contrast Paris' scary speech because there was really no substance to it.  Headmaster Charleston offers Rory a teaching position and she dismisses it pretty quickly.  Paris freaks out over seeing Tristan, and even considers she's still in love with him.  The discussion this causes between Rory and Paris does further the story, but I don't think Tristan should have been the catalyst for it.  It seems like Paris would be stronger than to break down at the sight of a guy she had one date with over fifteen years ago.  But maybe it's just because she misses Doyle.

The scene at Paris' house made me sad because her kids are being raised by the nanny.  This is an echo of Paris' relationships with her mother and nanny.  Paris and Doyle argue in the only scene we get of him and their chemistry is still hot, even when they're fighting.  I almost expected them to start making out like in the original show.  Paris is complaining about having to figure out what to do with the kids since Doyle didn't feed them and it made me wonder why Paris couldn't just spend time with them? 

Rory finally gives in and takes Mitchum up on his offer to talk to Conde Nast, so her interview with them will finally stick.  The interviewers were annoying and it was so awkward to see Rory struggle to talk about the things she's working on.  Everything is left up in the air after this interview.

Emily quits therapy and Lorelai is irritated but stays and talks to the therapist.  We get a little more insight as to why she and Luke aren't married, but it's still pretty vague.  We also get a great emotional story of how she felt when she got the news of her father's death.

Emily drags a reluctant Luke along with a real estate agent to look at potential franchise locations for his diner.  Emily also tells him she quit therapy.  That night, Luke asks Lorelai how therapy went and she lies saying "mom did most of the talking like usual".  Why does she lie?  Is she too lazy to explain Emily quit or is she embarrassed she ended up staying and talking to the therapist by herself?  Either way, this seems pointless.  Luke neglects to tell Lorelai about looking at property with Emily and their lack communication strains the relationship.

Jason Mantzoukas gets a short cameo as Naomi's lawyer and I was excited to see him as well because I've heard his podcasts on Gilmore Guys.  Naomi has him call Rory to tell her the book deal is off and she must relinquish all her research.  Rory seems relieved to get out of this project so she no longer has to deal with Naomi's drama.  She immediately calls Conde Nast insisting she take the stupid "lines" story they suggested in the interview.

This leads to an overnight trip in New York for the Gilmore girls.  I didn't care for all the scenes with the people waiting in lines, and I especially hated the scene where Rory reveals she had a one night stand with a guy dressed in a Wookiee costume.

She does finally tell her mom about the affair with Logan and Lorelai's reaction is very nonchalant.  Rory becomes more unlikable in this scene with all her complaining.

She gives up on the lines story and gives in to Sandee Says, an online website that has been begging her to work for them.  I thought the interview between her and Sandee was annoying all the way through.  I couldn't stand the way Sandee talked and Rory was ridiculously unprepared.  She didn't have any ideas and unsurprisingly didn't get the job.

This episode ends with Rory declaring she's moving home.  All her career endeavors have dead ended and her love life is a mess.  She still hasn't even broken up with Paul!  

We're left with a lot of unanswered questions by the end of Spring, which is why I couldn't stop there when watching it for the first time.  Check out my reviews for Winter, Summer, and Fall!