An Early Valentine.

Dear Love O' Mine,

I'm going public to make an announcement: I take you for granted.

You're one of the biggest parts of my life. Always faithful. Consistently meeting my needs. Ready at a moment's notice, without complaint. By my side every single day. Yet I've failed to give you the respect and admiration you've rightfully earned.

Please forgive me.

I tend to be dramatic when it comes to my obsessions loves. Make no mistake...you are my favorite. I depend upon you, I love you, I do not know what I'd do without you. From henceforth I shall properly appreciate you.

You've earned it, indeed.

Forever grateful for the past 10 years,

Lula

xoxo

It can't be wrong...when it feels so right...

'cause you...you light up my life!

Y'all know I love me some 70's Mellow Gold...
Serenade us, Debby.

Amen.

Do You Realize The Street Value Of This Mountain?

This is my life. This has been my life for the past 10 days. Seriously.

And if it's not clear...let me reiterate...DONE. OVER. SICK OF IT.

I need Starbucks in my life. Target. A good movie. A meal I didn't have to cook. ANYTHING which gets me out of this house. My sanity is dependent upon it.

Oh yes, global warming in full effect. Riiiiiiiiight. (Thanks, Cara.)

p.s. Name the movie from which I stole this post's title. Lauren, you cannot participate in this one and you know why. Nor can Cara or Heather. But I love y'all...

Better Than The Mullet, I Guess.

So...

You're starting over!

As what?

*Middle-aged Barbie?

*The "they need a token-blonde" on Jersey Shore?

*The Twilight Saga's Rosalie? (Nikki Reed, I've never loved you more than I do now.)

*A Scandinavian pop star?

*A new girlfriend for Hugh Heffner?

*Vegas showgirl?

*Prospective date for Tiger Woods?

I shouldn't criticize...who am I to judge? After all, it is better than that gross mullet she's been sporting for the past year.

But seriously? New hair is a fresh start for Kate? How's she gonna manage extensions and her eight children?

Please allow me to quote this fine gentleman:

"Lord, I apologize for that right there...

be with the starving pygmies in New Guinea.

Amen!"

Sometimes I Just Don't Get It.

Almost a billion dollars earned in revenue and people are still going to see this:

Avatar

Really?

No offense, James Cameron, but Scott and I were not impressed with the blue people. Oh yeah, Sam Worthington is rather enjoyable to look at, and the CGI was top-notch. But the storyline? Eh. The liberal propaganda? Eh. The run time of 2 hours and 42 minutes? Eh.

Whatever.

Now here's a movie which deserves to earn a billion dollars:

Up in the Air

But it won't.

Sigh...

There's nothing I didn't love about this film...the screenplay, direction, cinematography, and soundtrack were top-notch. And the acting? Oh. My. Stars. George Clooney--the last of the real deal movie stars, in my opinion*--deserves the Academy Award for his portrayal of Ryan "What's In Your Backpack?" Bingham.

Also, if you thought Anna Kendrick was just some fly-by-night young actress in the Twilight saga...well, you're wrong. Her performance in Up in the Air is simply superb.

I'm a fan of classic black and white films. Remember real movie stars, such as Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jeanne Crain, and Jimmy Stewart? Pure class, I tell ya.

Up in the Air employs no gimmicks...no crazy special effects...no shoot 'em up scenes, no tasteless jokes. Oh, and no blue creatures. It's merely good storytelling. And classy performances from a cast that includes honest-to-goodness real life people, as well as talented actors.

Avatar, for me, was mind-numbing. Up in the Air, however, was stimulating...a cinematic breath of fresh air. Honestly, we need more movies like it.

But that's just my opinion.

How long until Lost returns? Just seeing if y'all are paying attention--you know, to what really matters.

*

Don't wanna leave Denzel out...

he and George are, for me, the last of a dying breed.

The very definition of "movie star."

 -----------------------------

We're not going to speak of this. 
This.  
That happened last night.
Because I realize none of you watch Doctor Who.
But it happened.
The 10th Doctor has regenerated.

I love you David Tennant.
You were a brilliant, perfect Doctor.

But give me a while to get used to this Eleventh stuff.
SOMEONE PLEASE HOLD ME.
I have never cried as much during a TV show.
HOW WILL I EVER MAKE IT THROUGH LOST'S ENDING?

No Expiration Date.

A few weeks ago Time magazine's cover declared 2000-2009 "The Worst Decade Ever!" Really? Sorry, Time, but this decade was pretty darn special for me. I married my soulmate, became mother to the two most beautiful children on the face of the planet, grew to love my Jesus even more, made wonderful new friends, rekindled old friendships, and nurtured relationships with ladies I've known most of my 35 years.

See? Special. Indeed.

The tunes of these most recent 10 years were pretty hard rockin', as well. There's no way I could list all of my favorite musical offerings of the past 3,650 days...but I will highlight 10* of them. For your listening pleasure. Because I'm cool like that. And because music is my thing, of course.

"Lovestoned/I Think She Knows," by Justin Timberlake

2006

It makes me dance. It's also Tiffany's ringtone. 'Nuff said.

As my husband relates,

"If you say you don't like JT, you're a LIAR!"

Word.

"Set the Fire to the Third Bar," by Snow Patrol & Martha Wainwright

2006

Utterly & completely romantic.

"Your words in my memory, are like music to me..."

"Roslyn," by Bon Iver & St. Vincent

2009

My favorite song of this past year...

...brilliantly written, performed, & produced.

It's ethereal.

"My Party," by Kings of Leon

2007

I've loved these guys for years, long before they were uber famous.

It's just good, real, raw rock & roll. Plain and simple.

"Hysteria," by Muse

2003

From one of my favorite bands comes one of my favorite songs.

It's edgy and glamorous, passionate and pleading...

everything I love in angsty rock!

"I want you now...I want you now...I feel my heart implode..."

"Run, " George Strait

2001

There's a reason this is the ringtone for my husband...

"...straight in a straight line, you can't get here fast enough."

"I Am Trying To Break Your Heart," by Wilco

2002

Sigh...a song that tells a story...and a heartbreaking one, at that.

Genius, Jeff Tweedy. I applaud you.

"Love, Where Is Your Fire," by Brooke Fraser

2008 (the Live at the Aotea version is my favorite)

The sound of my soul...the desire of my heart...the words of this song.

"Till the time when You come and I'm whole and we are one,

and the fire in me is complete..."

"Ghost In This House," by Alison Krauss & Union Station

2002

It's hauntingly beautiful, and I'm certain Alison's voice

is how angels sound.

"Reckoner," by Radiohead

2007

Never before have the tambourine & cymbals made their presence known

so eloquently in a song.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I've played this song

over 500 times in the past two years.

"Because we separate...it ripples our reflections..."

"Teenage Dirtbag," by Wheatus

2000

*Yes, this makes song #11. But it's a story song--and, as previously mentioned, I love story songs. Plus this one was released when I was a newlywed and I'd drive around Spartanburg, South Carolina, singing it at the top of my lungs. Oh, the memories. Good times.

Honorable mentions:

--"Bounce," by Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Dr. Dre, and Missy Elliott

Yes, it's dirrty, but it's my jam of the decade, with the best hook ever.

--"Mad World," by Gary Jules.

His cover of Tears for Fears' original is sublime. Still listen to it almost daily.

--"Sweet Sacrifice," by Evanescence

Because when I grow up, I want to sing like (and look like!) Amy Lee.

"It's true...we're all a little insane..."

"Winter White Hymnal," by Fleet Foxes

They're like the 2nd coming of Simon & Garfunkel. Love this band.

--"Say Please," by Monsters of Folk

My 2nd most favorite song of 2009.

Now I wanna know...what songs/albums/artists have you enjoyed this decade? Please share!

In Which We Keep It Real.

Receiving mail is the highlight of my day during the month of December. I know, it takes so little to keep me happy. Opening Christmas cards from friends near and far is like opening a tiny present from each family the card represents. 80% of the cards we receive are photos, and if we're super lucky, the card will contain a newsy "our year in review" letter.

I love these letters.

I especially love the letters from Perfect Families.* You know, the ones where we read that Bill received a substantial raise, Mary was named Hottest Housewife in the Tri-County Area, Billy was nominated for the Heisman, and Sally was not only valedictorian, but also prom queen, class president, and 1st runner up to Junior Miss North Carolina. (Hey, can't win 'em all, Sally.)

Every year I ponder sending out a "Litton Family Newsletter 2009" with our Christmas cards. I mean, I'd love to brag share our family's accomplishments:

*Litton Family Medicine was named local business of the year by the Chamber of Commerce, and continues to grow daily.

*Leigh Anne was invited to speak at a blog conference in Las Vegas.

*Libbey made the All-A Honor Roll for the second year in a row.

*Caroline memorized 20 Bible verses this Fall.

SNOOZE!

How boring! And really...who cares?

Maybe this family cares:

Who can attain such cheesy perfection?

Wouldn't it be far more intriguing if, unlike The Perfect Family, our "Litton Family Newsletter 2009" was brutally honest?

How would it be received if I were to mail the real dope deal to our family and friends? You know, stuff such as...

*Our town's beloved pediatrician relocated to another part of Virginia, hence the reason Litton Family Medicine continues to grow. ("Well, if my kid can't see Dr. Ahsan, might as well go to that Dr. Litton, since I don't wanna drive to Kingsport, TN.")

*Leigh Anne was invited to speak at the blog conference because said event was being run by two of her best friends. Nepotism at its finest, y'all!

*Libbey made her first "B" this year--on a Math test. We fully fussed at her, which, in turn, made her cry for an hour. We make "A's" in this family, ya hear? No "B's" shall be tolerated! (Parents of the year. Yep, that's us. She's 7, by the way. We've since asked her forgiveness.)

*Caroline will only say her Bible verses while in Awana. After being bribed with lollipops and juice boxes. And who can blame her? Reciting God's Word is hard work for a 4 year old.

This is real.

Libbey's 1st Christmas, 2002

I'd also love to include even more personal tidbits such as:

*Scott plays way too much Xbox Live with Robbie, our brother-in-law.

*Leigh Anne gained weight, despite having a home gym equipped with an elliptical machine, treadmill, and Bowflex. Apparently one has to use the gym in order to see results. Gotcha.

*Libbey's Obsessive Compulsive Disorder seems to grow stronger with each passing year. Any hope for her to inherit the laidback "Roth genes" is fading fast. She's pure Litton.

*Caroline's strong-willed nature continues to drive our family closer to Jesus. We pray a lot. So that we don't kill her.

And...

*2009 found the Litton family journeying on fun and educational field trips, to places such as Mt. Airy, NC, (where "Mayberry" is brought to life, because The Andy Griffith Show is beloved by Scott and the girls), and Hilton Head Island, SC, where we taught our daughters to appreciate a sunny day and the She-Crab soup at Charley's Crab.

Ahem.

Even more highlights:

*Allowed the television to babysit our daughters while we cleaned (and by "we," I clearly mean Leigh Anne), or napped (Scott).

*Pawned our children off on Nanna & Poppy or "Papaw" Bill & "Memaw" Kim Cress so that we could have regular date nights. A meal, Starbucks, and frequent trips to Target our vital to our marriage.

*Fed our girls a nutritious supper of Honey Nut Cheerios more than once. Or Twice. A month.

*Took naps, drank peanut butter milkshakes, watched Andy Griffith 9342 times, baked cookies, and listened to Lady Gaga, all with our daughters, in the name of Litton Family Togetherness.

*Oh, and we also traveled to Austin and Las Vegas. Without our children. 'Cause it's not all about them.

*GASP!*

I'll say it again...it's not all about our children.

*GASP!*

Christmas 2006...we were all over the picture-taking by this point.

We may not be the perfect family, but we follow a perfect Savior. And, as Linus so succinctly put it, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." Indeed. Now that's the real dope deal.

Merry Christmas from the imperfect Littons!!!

*If you've sent me a "newsletter" this Christmas, please know I am NOT referencing you with this post. The families of which I speak do not read my blog. And if they do...then...rock on! I'm just keeping it real.

Please Caption This Hilariousness...

This is my niece, Helen, whom I adore. (And who adores me--seriously--I'm one of her faves. Which I'll continue to brag about until she has nothing to do with me.) Helen is 18 months old, and clearly so ahead of her game:

Boys, schmoys...

That's right, baby...

you just keep that attitude until you're 22.

"Don't pay him any attention..."

*Mandy, please let me know whose child this is. His hair is killing me. So is his Adidas. And do we love that Helen is completely nonplussed in his presence? We do. Of course we do.

Hey, Y'all!

So...
Last Friday was my birthday and without going into detail, trust me when I share with y'all that it was not exactly the finest day of my life. In fact, it sucked. Plain and simple.

Thank God for friends like The Sits Girls, also known as Heather and Tiffany, who come to my rescue with encouraging, loving phone calls, and virtual hugs across the miles that separate us. Oh, and fabulous birthday gifts. Really fabulous gifts.

I'd be lost without these girls. Seriously. They have my heart.

They've given me yet another gift today--I'm being featured over on SITS! To Heather and Tiffany I say, "Thank you--I love you--V4&After!!!" To the rest of y'all, I say..."I'm so sorry I had nothing clever/inspiring/heartwarming/salacious to share with y'all today. Please forgive me, and as Heather is famous for saying, 'love me through it!'"

Oh, and welcome to Lulaville! I get kinda crazy up in here...with my love for Lost, angsty rock, all things Sci-Fi, YA novels, Paula Deen, distinguished British actors, and my boyfriend...Jason Statham.* But stick around for a while and become my new BFF. A girl can never have too many BFFs. Amen!

Tiffany, Lula, and Heather.

In Mexico.

Yes, I said Mexico.

We brought the boys to the yard. Clearly.

(Without the aid of a Miracle Bra, for the record. Cough-cough.)

*Please love him with me.

Hi, Jason.

You can be my birthday present.

Ahem.

Christmas is December 8.

I'm 35 years old. But right now I feel as if I am 5 years old, as I'm bouncing from one foot to the other...because it's December 8 and I've been anticipating this day for quite some time.

When Scott and I were dating, the fourth movie in the Star Wars franchise was released and we saw The Phantom Menace on opening day. The lights dimmed, the theater became eerily quiet in anticipation...and moments before the film started, some dude ran down the aisle singing, at the top of his lungs, "Star Wars, Star Wars, we've waited a million years for a new Star Wars!" His fellow nerds--me and Scott included--burst into laughter and applause.

I feel exactly the same today. I may or may not be running around the house, singing, "December 8, December 8, I've been waiting so long for December 8!!!"

"Why?" you may be asking. Are you asking? 'Cause...duh, I'm so gonna tell y'all the reason behind my glee...

Speaking of Glee...

The Music of Glee, Volume 2.

It's only my favorite new show of 2009.

Volume 1 is amazing.

Volume 2 releases December 8.

You should really own both.

I saw this with my friend, Lacey, at midnight on July 15, 2009...

I will view it again (and again!) on December 8, 2009,

after it arrives on my doorstep.

Simply brilliant...simply devastating...

simply...adorable...

Harry+Ginny=LOVE

(I still love Snape. I don't care what any of you say.)

My love of angsty rock runs deep.

That's what she said.

My love of this band

runs even deeper.

That's what she said.

We 30 Seconds to Mars fans

have been waiting over 4 years for a new album.

Thank you, Jared Leto & company, for finally delivering.

(In other news, I fully believe Jared Leto is a vampire.*)

Ahem.

No words are necessary.

I love you.

My words are not necessary, but the great Entertainment Weekly

just named Lost as the #5 greatest "item" of the decade:

"Plane crash. Smoke monster. Polar bear. Crazy French lady.

The Others. The hatch. The Dharma Initiative. Time-travel flashes.

Name another network drama that can so wondrously

turn a ? into a !"

Precisely.

Amen.

All this goodness...oh, it's just too to contain. December 8 is a very big deal for me. Clearly.

What are you looking forward to this week? Please share...

*Tell me Jared Leto's not a vampire.

He Makes Me Smile.

There's nothing I love more than an actor who is extremely grateful to be working.

There's nothing I love more than a performer who is multi-talented.

There's nothing I love more than a man who doesn't take himself seriously.*

There's nothing I love more than an extremely attractive dude.

There's nothing I love more at 9:00 on Wednesday evenings than Glee.

Mark Salling, you will be my complete undoing. I kind of dig you a whole, whole lot.

If you're not watching Glee, you're missing out. This video made me smile...and it also makes me want to be friends with Mark Salling. With this homage he's proven that he is my people.

He is also gorgeous. 'Nuff said.

*He sings, "I pee, poo, text..." Come on, y'all...that's just awesomeness.

Settle Down, People!

WARNING: If you have NOT seen New Moon, please read no further. If you have viewed the movie, please continue...and please comment accordingly.

For the record, I would like to praise God. Don't ever even hint that He doesn't answer prayer. Truly He does, as the fasting and praying completely paid off.

I loved the movie.

Yes, I'll say it again.

I loved it.

New Moon was fantastic.

From henceforth, the first movie shall be renamed

SUCKLIGHT.

Now, the movie wasn't perfect...I have very small, very minor complaints about stuff that's better thought of as bygones. No big deal, y'all. We'll agree to move on and realize that no book to film adaptation is perfection. Not even my dearly beloved Gone With the Wind.

However, the Twitters and bloggers and general inhabitants of the intrawebs all seem to be dissing one particular scene in New Moon. A scene I happened to really enjoy:

The "frolicking," as it appears to have been named

by Twilight die-hards.

Whatever.

Yes, the wardrobe is cheesy...I admit that. But seriously, people...what part of Breaking Dawn (which this scene references, of course) wasn't cheesy? Esme gifts the couple with a freakin' cottage! Bella hunts in a blue silk dress! And what part of their child's name didn't clue you into this story becoming one huge Swiss Colony fromage fest?* And clearly, Bella & Edward are wearing Valentino's Cottage Collection, available Fall of 2011.

Just love them through it, y'all. Love that we got a teeny taste of Bella Cullen...all golden-eyed (thanks, Jamie!) and sparkly and flushed from delicious vampire lovin'.

Is all I'm saying.

Because I loved it. The expression on her face, in this scene, is nothing short of pure satisfaction. Bella is all but screaming, "Yeah, I tapped that. Deal with it!" Word.

When you really break it down, some woodland "frolicking" is minor when compared to the monstrosity that was Sucklight. I mean, really...

My work here is done. Discuss amongst yourselves, please.

*I am not dissing Breaking Dawn. I loved the final chapter of Bella and Edward's story. I'm not a hater, just a recognizer of ridiculousness. Ridiculousness that I deeply loved. That is all.

The Sound of My Soul.

One year ago I was fairly obnoxious in sharing my love for a particular series of young adult books written by a thirty-something housewife from Arizona.

One year ago I spent hours reiterating, to naysayers, "It's not a book about vampires. It's not a 'teenage' novel!"

One year ago I wrote many blog posts begging y'all to read what I deemed the greatest love story of our generation.

One year ago I flew to California to view the big screen version of said love story, with two ladies I'd met in early 2008. Women I'd befriended because of our shared love of a particular book, which, at that time, was still rather obscure. We bonded over a sparkly vampire and an ordinary, yet spunky girl. (Heather & Tiffany, I love y'all. Deeply. V4&After.)

One year ago I was proud to to identify myself as a "loud and proud fan" of four books in a Saga too fantastic for words.

What a difference a year makes!

Have you ever had a favorite cosmetic? Let's say...a lip gloss. This particular lip gloss is fan-freakin'-tabulous. It glides on perfectly, shines like the top of the Chrysler building (name that movie!), and never ever traps stray strands of hair on your perfect pout. I mean, this is the lacquer to end all lip lacquers.

So you tell the world about it. "You MUST buy this product--it will change your life and add so much delight to your existence!"

The world heeds your advice and soon this lip gloss enrobes the pucker of every other mouth you see. Fantastic!

Alas...one fine day...some unfortunate gal decides to paint on the gloss with a heavy hand. Oh, woe the sloppiness! Or perhaps you see a well-intended woman wearing frosted pink eyeshadow, along with the gloss to end all glosses.

Frosted. Pink. Eyeshadow.

Your gloss has been ruined. It's intended effect is cheapened. Cheapened like a working gal at a truck stop.

"Hey baby, you lookin' for date?"

This, my friends, is how I feel about the fandom that encompasses The Twilight Saga.

The fiending (a phrase coined by the genius Kristen Stewart in last week's Entertainment Weekly) have taken my beloved love story and frosted it with tacky, sparkly, really offensive pink eyeshadow.

Countless merchandising fails too numerous to mention (I refuse to enter a Hot Topic, on principle alone), a bojillion websites* devoted to the movie and its cast, and seemingly every magazine cover of the past 52 weeks. One cannot escape the phenomenon that is Stephenie Meyer's tale of Bella and Edward.

It's too much. For me. To say I'm over it is putting it mildly.

Cheapened. Heather described it thusly, many months ago. It's truly the best description. And it deeply saddens me.

When sweet Fran inquired earlier in the week, "Are you so excited for New Moon in a few days?" I hung my head. Sighed heavily. And admitted to myself...

"Eh. Whatever."

Will I see New Moon this weekend? Sure! I've heard it's remarkably better than the first film. This makes me happy. Maybe this means all the fasting and praying has paid off. Maybe Chris Weitz reads Lulaville. He is a down dude, after all.

So while the embarrassingly overwrought fandom ("My life is complete because I've been in Robert Pattinson's presence!" Really? Um...OK. No wonder the poor dude is afraid to walk around without 43 bodyguards.) has stolen a bit of my Twilight joy over the past year, I am resolute in my refusal to hand it over completely. Because in the end, my love for this story is remains intact. It's still Edward and Bella. The Edward and Bella I fell in love with almost three years ago. And no one can take that brilliance from me. Even if its shine is slightly murky, I'm able to peer past the fandom flaws and continue to appreciate the love story dreamt by one Stephenie Meyer. I'll even appreciate it for not being well-written literature. 'Cause...uh...it's not.

Yeah. This is hot. I don't care who you are. It is delicious.

Well, if we rid Rob of a bit of that grease paint.

If you see New Moon on the big screen this weekend, please let me know what you thought of it. If you are not seeing New Moon, I won't judge you. Promise!

*Before someone feels as if their Cornflakes have been peed upon...I am not knocking any Twilight-related fansite. I've met some of my most favorite people in the world because of a few, very special websites devoted to The Twilight Saga. Sites run by "normal" people. Ahem.

However...I have, and will continue to judge any website run by grown women who attend "Twi-conventions" dressed in vampire capes. Capes bought at Party City for $9.99.