Last week, we did romance in honour of mine and Matt’s wedding anniversary. I think the links are helpful for everyone - new couples, couples that have lost their “spark”, people who are looking to get into a relationship and aren’t quite sure of themselves…

As I mentioned a bit over a week ago, Matt and I are planning to start a DVD collection. We’ve bought our first DVD for the collection, and I supplemented it with one (technically three, in one case) that I bought him for our anniversary. To get an idea of other films to buy, I’ve been on the lookout for links regarding to movies. I found it only fitting to save them to share with you in this week’s weekend wrap-up!

• The Weirdest Movies in the World - This is a list of user-voted movies, chosen because they’re out of the ordinary and just, well, strange. I have to admit there’s quite a few that I haven’t seen on the list! There are some well-known movies on the list, such as the classic A Clockwork Orange, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Love this movie!), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Donnie Darko (voted number one!) and then there are some lesser-known movies!
• Best Online Documentaries - This is a list for Matt if I’ve ever seen one. He loves documentaries. From anthropology to technology and everywhere in between, it seems there is a ton of information here, just waiting to be learned!
• 100 Greatest Comedy Movies - Another “best of” list, this one goes to the movies that you’ll want to get if you need a good laugh! Some of my favourites on the list include Monty Python and the Holy Grail, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Mrs. Doubtfire and Tommy Boy (Did I hear a niner in there? Were you calling from a walkie-talkie?). The list not only lists the top 100, but goes on from there with thirty “honourable mentions”!
• 10 Sci-Fi Films You Should See (But Probably Haven’t!) - Are you sci-fi fan? Check out this list. I have to admit I don’t think I’ve heard of a single film on the list! I will say they all seem very interesting and come well-recommended, so I suggest you look them up!
• “A truly lucky and blessed bastard has seen THE DARK KNIGHT and damn… I’m so frickin’ jealous!” - This was posted in June, before the Dark Knight came out, and it’s an incredible review of the movie. I have seen it, and I have to agree with the review posted here. As the writer said, “This review avoids major spoilers but does reveal the basic framework - so if you don’t like to know a thing… why’d you even click here.” Don’t click the link if you haven’t seen and don’t want to know about the movie!
• Everything Horror - Buried.com - I have to say I can’t handle looking through this site for more than a few minutes. There’s nothing wrong with the site, but I am a huge baby when it comes to horror movies. I’d prefer a nice romantic comedy, or even a stupid comedy (think Half-Baked and the like) over something that’ll make me afraid to sleep for months. However, this site is worth mentioning as I know not everyone is as big a baby as I am! It’s a list of reviews for horror movies, amongst other things - trailers, fonts, audiobooks and more.

That wraps up this week’s Weekend Wrap-Up. I’m sure there’s a million movie sites out there that I haven’t listed here, but those will come in a later installment! For now, get out the popcorn, grab a blanket and your sweetheart (or best friend!) and curl up on the couch for a movie night!

For more information about Weekend Wrap-Up, click here. To suggest a site, email me with your suggestion and why you think it should be included!

I had an “adult” moment the other day. I used my first coupon - ever. I never quite understood the concept of using coupons, to be honest. I still kinda don’t. I’ve found one site that I get them mailed to me from, but other than that I don’t even know where to get them! I felt so proud of myself, though. It was only for a dollar off of some toilet paper, but I figure in the grand scheme of coupons, a dollar is a lot!

What are your favourite sites for getting coupons from? Do you find them in newspapers or anything like that? I’m looking specifically for Canadian ones, because those are the ones I have a hard time finding.

I think a few other defining moments in adulthood are worth mentioning. Some I haven’t discovered yet, and some I enjoy. One of the ones I haven’t experienced yet is ordering meats/fish/cheeses from the deli. I usually just buy the pre-packaged stuff. I remember growing up that my mom always went to the deli counter and had our lunch meat sliced there instead of the packaged meat, and let me tell you, it makes a difference. I just don’t have the nerve (or what I consider the know-how) yet to do this.

I will say that an amazingly “adult” moment in your life is when you’re handed a key to a home that you owned. I remember when I purchased my first home, I nearly cried when they gave me the key. I couldn’t get over the idea that I owned a home - I owned floors and walls and doors and could do anything that I wanted and nobody could tell me otherwise! I’m looking forward to that feeling again in a few years, once I’ve got a stable job and am settled here. At least I get a little taste of it in the summer when Matt’s parents are out of town!

Another adult moment worth mentioning is the day you decide to make a decision for yourself that changes your life. Whether it’s the decision to lose weight, to stop smoking or to have children (No, they’re not really comparable decisions, but they are alike in the fact that they’re life changing!), it’s a moment where you take charge of your life instead of waiting for someone to do it for you. It’s empowering, it’s impressive, and it’s scary, but you usually find it’s worth it in the end.

So, what do you consider an “adult” moment worth mentioning? Is there a moment when you sat down and thought “Wow, I’m not a kid anymore!”? Tell me about it!

Every day I get six challenges for My Weight Loss Coach. Some of them are minute challenges and therefore I do them and then forget about them. These usually include situps, pushups, jumping jacks, or like today, “Hold your arms out straight for ten seconds, then put them down. Repeat five times.” I figure I’ll post a few of them here when I think to, because then I have yet another thing holding me accountable for it!

Today’s Challenges

• Walk More: Don’t use any elevators or escalators for an entire day.
• Walk More: Find a staircase and walk up, then down, 30 steps.
• Safe Sport: Warm up for 5 minutes before your next physical activity.
• Safe Sport: Cool off for five minutes after your last physical activity.
• Move Around: Put an energetic CD in the player and dance for two whole songs.
• Walk More: Go out for a walk. Come home only after you spot a yellow or brown car.
• Walk More: Go for a thirty-minute walk at lunch.

I do realize that there’s seven challenges there, and that I’ve already completed one for today, but two are leftover from yesterday’s challenges. They’re 24-hour challenges and the clock on the DS hitting midnight starts a new day, even though I have 12 hours left on two of my challenges. Make sense? I hope so.

I quite like this theme. It’s roomy without being overbearing and there’s enough space for everything I want. I feel a bit weird about not having a links bar in the header but to be honest, it’s a good change. I weeded out a few useless links and made a little paragraph about me, and whatever I could fit into that comfortably, I left and linked.

I’ve been playing a lot of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass lately. It was one of the anniversary gifts I got! I’m a HUGE Zelda fan, way back to the NES days, so I’m enjoying it. I have to say that they’ve done an incredibly good job at integrating the touch screen and all of the features the DS has to offer. They’ve done it in a creative way, that has me saying “Oh my goodness, that’s so freaking cool” no less than twice a day when I’m playing it.

The other game I got isn’t so much of a game, but I can say I definitely enjoy it. It’s My Weight Loss Coach and it’s so incredibly cute. There’s a little stick figure on my screen patting me on the back for everything good that I do. They’ve taken advantage of the fact that you can plug in GBA games at the same time as DS games, and made a pedometer that syncs with your game by plugging it into the GBA slot. It’s almost a light-weight approach to weight loss. They give me six challenges per day (no more!) that range from “Do X amount of sit-ups” to “Over the next twenty-four hours, put your salt shaker in the cabinet and leave it there” and if you don’t finish a challenge, instead of beating you over the head with it, they say that there’s no harm in taking easier challenges first.

Speaking of weight loss, I’m pretty sure I won’t be renewing my gym membership for the next year. Don’t get me wrong, I loved going - when I’d go. Because it involved either walking (made difficult by shin splints) or driving there, I’d make excuses not to go. Once the shininess wore off, I was able to justify not going and it didn’t help. Not to mention I’d get there and I’d already be tired, so I would only do a small workout. I lost ten pounds last summer working out at home, and gained it back and ten more while at the gym. While I’m pretty sure there’s a medical reason behind my constant gain and failure to lose, I know that something’s not right when I’m paying bi-weekly for something that isn’t working for me. I figure I’ll work out at home and focus on getting the most I can out of it, and once I’m back on track and have picked up momentum, I’ll consider going back to the gym. That money could be used for better (or more fun!) things. Besides, one of the main reasons for joining was because it’s a social atmosphere, and I’m not getting the social vibe.

So that’s my life lately in a nutshell. I’ve also purchased a new planner, but I’ll be writing more about that in another entry that’s in the making. It’s a planner; it’s like a child to me! I couldn’t just leave it as a footnote!

Last week, we did lists. Various lists that, as I put it, just make sense.

This week I’m doing something a tiny bit more personal. On August 25, 2006, I married my husband. Two years later, I’m still as happy and as in love as the day I married him, let alone the day I met him. So in honour of our special day, this week’s Weekend Wrap-Up is relationships.

• Get In Her Head - This is a very interesting little site I found that takes the guesswork out of certain aspects of a relationship. You put in your sizes, preferred dates, preferred gifts, special dates and other things, and your significant other can look them up when they’re stumped for ideas. It makes romance less of a puzzle, which is good when you’re short on time or just plain lost on Christmas Eve.
• 101 Ways To Show Your Husband You Love Him - This is from the Get In Her Head blog, but it has its own separate entry on my list because it deserves it. It’s an awesome list with little ideas to spoil your husband and make him feel special. Not every idea is for every husband (things like number 2: “If he normally gets up with the kids, give him a morning off.” don’t really apply to us) but some (like number 24: “When he gets home from work, greet him at the door wearing lingerie or nothing but a smile.”) are bound to add excitement to anyone’s day!
• 101 Small Things to Keep the Wife Happy - This is the post that, as I understand it, was the inspiration for the husband list above. I found this post to be so good and truthful that I even forwarded it to my husband! Some seem natural (Give her a hug every day, Say “I Love You” at the end of every phone conversation) and some are just incredible and heart-melting (Give her a back rub (or massage her feet. Or shoulders. Or really, whatever she likes), Bring home a gift certificate for a pedicure or massage) but the whole list is awesome and should be read.
• 100 Great Date Night Ideas - A list of lists, this is fantastic for those nights that you feel like you’re in a slump. They’ve got anniversary ideas, date night tips, a sexy must-read list and even recipes for your special night!
• 20 Key Ideas for a Happy Marriage - Another list (Yes, I like lists!) with tips on everyday appreciation and romance. Instead of tips on what to do, where to go, or what to say, it tells you what to think about to keep yourself happy in your marriage. Tips including remembering your finest moments, writing a list of your spouse’s positive patterns and qualities and being a good listener are all things that will make a marriage last longer and be generally happier.
• Cheat Codes to Have a Happy Marriage - This takes a slightly different perspective on the idea of marriage, with talk of “score cards” and how to raise yours. It’s probably sparked some controversy with people who take their marriages almost too seriously, but it is in good fun and if you look past the “score” thing, it’s got some great advice and tips that apply even when you’re not out to increase your partner’s “score”. A good read!

This wraps up this week’s Weekend Wrap-Up. I hope these links help you gain a new perspective on your relationships, or at least make you think a bit. I know they’ve helped me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an anniversary to plan!

For more information about Weekend Wrap-Up, click here. To suggest a site, email me with your suggestion and why you think it should be included!