What people told me about 50 Shades

A couple of years ago I wrote an article on the 50 Shades Boycott. I also blogged ALOT on the subject. The second movie in the Series, 50 Shades Darker, came out a few weeks ago and I wondered:


How do people really feel about these movies?


So, I interviewed people on the street and asked them. I got some very interesting responses, and ended up doing some looking around to see how the responses compared to the research on the franchise.


You should go check out my article published by Deseret News HERE. Or paste this link into your browser:

  http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865674797/Jenelle-Stone-I-asked-people-on-the-street-how-they-feel-about-Fifty-Shades-Darker-Here7s-what.html

 The article has a link to the video I made from the responses and research.

Review: Florence Foster Jenkins

Warning: this post is full of spoilers. If you have any interest at all in seeing Florence Foster Jenkins, don't read this post.


So, I was excited to go see the movie Florence Foster Jenkins. It looked fun, interesting, and like one of those "feel good movies."


On the surface, and what I understood from the trailers, is that the movie is about a woman who wants to sing, but can't. Her attempts to sing, however, are inspiring.


The movie itself was visually beautiful. It was also very well made. No expenses spared.


What I didn't realize before I went to see it, is that the whole movie is about her husband's affair. Yes, the WHOLE movie. If it was purely a show about her singing, they could have had it over in 20 minutes. Instead you were either watching her husbands affair, watching other people find out about his affair, seeing the affects of his affair, or wondering about his affair.


Even while she was singing I was thinking, "But what about his affair?!!"


The worst part is that there was no resolution. There was no "I shouldn't have had an affair" or "Wasn't she an amazing woman for working this out with me" or even a "look at all the things I missed out on because I was wrapped up in my affair."


I felt like the whole point in the husband's character was that he felt like he could be completely devoted and in relationships with both his wife and his girlfriend.


If there was any real resolution, I missed it.


The movie was based on real people. However, not all real couples should be broadcast on the big screen.


The movie was not poorly made. The costumes were great, the characters were interesting. Visually, it was a beautiful movie. I also love Hugh Grant and Meryl Streep. There were many times I laughed out loud, there were many times I enjoyed watching the musical parts.


But the overlying message was awful. Even watching Florence's success at living her dream was dampened by also watching her husband's affair.




So... well made, poor message.

Introducing: Captain Jack Sparrow!

Welcome to the 2nd annual Individual Worth Week! 

To kick off the week, I thought we'd visit Jack Sparrow. Ehem, sorry: Captain Jack Sparrow. 

Ignore the part where he lies and steals (not the best message for individual worth week), and focus on the boat. Or lack there of. Even when things are going south, even when the boat is literally sinking, Jack never lets go of his sense of self. He knows who he is, he has his goals, and he isn't going to settle or put himself down.

Think back to the time when you first saw this movie. The opening shot of Jack standing boldly above the sails, insinuated that he was standing on some grand ship. But why? It isn't like they really showed any of the ship itself. No, you think he's on a grand ship because of the way he is acting, his boldness, his confidence. He is taking what he has and making the best of it, sticking to who he knows he is.

Then he jumps down and you realize that he is in a tiny, sinking boat. I bet you laughed the first time you saw it. And yet, did it lessen your views of Jack? You might have been surprised, but in the end you knew that Jack was serious. That he took himself seriously, and that he had a strong sense of self.

Throughout the movie you know that Jack is a pretty big deal because of the way he treats himself and views himself. Not because of the way others viewed him

Overcoming Obstacles | Olaf's Frozen Shorts

2016 Fake Therapy Week Day 3: "Death Therapy"

Last year we visited "Doctor Leo Marvin" (From What About Bob), and this year we are happy to welcome him back to our Fake Therapy Week!

Note: Death therapy might get you life in prison or maybe even the firing squad. It isn't actually a thing.

However, finding a way to conquer your fears can be a good thing, right?

That depends on what your fear is, I suppose. 

Fears:

Fear of hard work :            Conquer it!                - Hard work brings better things

Fear of 1970's music:        Don't conquer it         -Don't bother. It isn't worth it.

Fear of failure:                   Conquer it!                -If you don't try, you won't succeed

Fear of man buns:              Don't conquer it         -Man buns are truly disturbing

Fear of Spiders:                 Conquer it!                 -That thing is like, 1 bazillionth your size. Step on it!

Just my opinion. :) 

2016 Fake Therapy Week Day 2: When Support Groups Go Bad!

Welcome to day 2 of Fake Therapy Week! Today we are visiting the toy support group led by . . . the mermaid?

I once went with a friend to her any and all issue support group (She was nervous to go, and I was the emotional support). I was shocked! The group leader had no qualifications, and the session turned into one big complain against religion meeting.

I was sick inside. What kind of support group was that? 

There are all kinds of support groups. Everything from support groups for people who have lost a spouse, to support groups for people who are adopting, etc. etc. etc.

It isn't therapy. It's a support group. It may be therapeutic, but it isn't therapy. In my opinion. 

The point should be to uplift, support, and maybe give ideas.

My personal view is that you shouldn't stay in a toxic support group. If I were to find a support group for gardeners who hate weeds and I got there and the whole session turned into people always blaming their problems on garden gnomes, I would leave. Why would I waste my time with that?! And then I'd go find a gardeners support group that focused on finding ways to weed your garden happily.

I'm just saying.

2016 Fake Therapy Week Day 1: "I'm a veritable cornucopia of high octane maladies..."

Welcome to the first session of this year's "Fake Therapy Week!"

Today we are joining "Nurse Mackaroy's" group therapy session.

Watch the video and then we'll talk...

"Goodness! I've never encountered a patient who suffers from so many diseases that don't exist."

-Nurse Mackaroy

Haha! So funny. 

And then in the end, to convince her that he really does have issues, he tells her that he's from the future.

...

Here's the thing. Even the most normal of normal person in the world is a "veritable cornucopia of high octane maladies." 

Whether they be big or small issues, we are all figuring something out. Like, maybe you aren't a good listener (I believe that is called Earsclosed-a-titis). Or maybe you are grieving over the loss of a loved one, maybe you have insecurity, you may be overwhelmed by a situation. Maybe you are having a rough time at work or school. Maybe you wish you weren't an introvert. Maybe you are stressed, sad about something, impatient.

That's life. We all have things we are dealing with. I mean, who hasn't had issues at work or school, right?

It's normal.

Take a deep breath, and don't feel the need to tell people you are from the future just so they will care about what you are going through.

Men don't always have the best ideas when it comes to women . . .

I love old musicals! This one, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, is a hoot! In this scene, the seven brothers were talking about how they each had girls they loved down in the town. Their problem is that soon their mountain home would be snowed in and they wouldn't get to see the girls for months and by that time the girls might be married.

So, their "brilliant" brother tells them a story about a group of Romans who snatched a bunch of girls and made them their wives. The idea being that it worked for them, why not for us?

It is good to remember that men don't always have the best ideas when it comes to women . . .

Yeah. Of course their plan doesn't go as smoothly as they imagined it would. Shocker. They had to go through a period of banishment to the barn and begging forgiveness.

I highly recommend this movie. It is fun in a "Everybody has to learn the true meaning of love" kind of way.

What is the most important thing our society needs?

So, what would you say is the most important thing our society needs?

World Peace?
Harsher Punishments for Parole Violators?
Empathy?
A deep breath?
More common sense?
A longer memory?
A healthy appreciation for 1980's pop music?
Thicker Skin?
Or D: All of the above?

The ideas are endless!

It's a tough question, really. And your answer will probably be influenced by your life experiences.

Personally, what I think the most important thing that our society needs is the truth and bravery to stand up for what is right. Ok, so that is 2 things. But, still. If everyone had a B.S. meter in good working condition, if everyone told and knew the truth, and if everyone had the strength to act on that truth?

Holy crud. We'd have a different world.

I also think that everyone should own an ice cream machine. But, that's just me.

How would you answer the question? What is the most important thing our society needs?

Happy Monday / the simple things make us happy/ Calamity Jane!!!!!

I thought I'd wish you a happy Monday with this awesome song! (warning: If you know this movie, spontaneous singing may occur. It's that awesome.)

This is one of my favorite musical numbers ever. In this scene from "Calamity Jane," Calamity just got home from Chicago to her small town of Deadwood City. She sings about all of these new and different things that they have Chicago, but in the end she'd rather be in Deadwood. 

Because, while all of those fancy things were fun to see, it's her life in the wild west's small town that makes her happy.

On a side note, I used to work at a store that had a long, wooden counter in it. Cowboy hats lined the wall behind it. Every time I would walk into the store this song would go through my head. So, pretty much every day for the entire time I worked there.

Making the best of an awkward situation - Advice from OLAF

During this winter season, I figured we could learn a little from Olaf. Especially since we all have awkward situations to deal with.

"Hang in there, Guys!"

PoP! Goes My Heart Music Video

This was one of my favorite videos in College. It is a spoof music video from the movie "Music and Lyrics." Do you recognize Hugh Grant there?

So, why am I sharing this? Because we all need a laugh sometimes!!!!!!!!! 

Enjoy. And you're welcome.

Update: It had been a while since seeing this show. So, after posting this I watched it and realized it wasnt as clean as I remembered. Mainly due to 1 character. So, this is not an endorsement of that movie as a whole.


And, don't forget to enter the contest to win an e-book ef Shadows of Angels. The contest ends on 12/17/2015 and details can be found here.

"I feel so low and your head is high"

WARNING: THIS POST AND THE LINKS ARE FULL OF SOME VERY SERIOUS TRIGGERS FOR THE SPOUSE OF AN ADDICT. TREAD WITH CAUTION, OR DON'T READ.

For those of you who don't know my very well, I am a major fan of 80's music! I was listening to a compilation of 80's songs the other day and T'Pau's "Heart and Soul" came on.

I loved the sound of this song, but had never really known the words before. So, I looked them up.

And Whoah! This song is totally relateable for anyone who has ever been in a "complicated" relationship, had a spouse with a pornography or sex addiction, had a spouse that participated in affairs, etc.

The whole song is about how she loves this guy but he isn't reciprocating that love back to her. She realizes he never did, and that he's been lying to her. The songs says he left her for another. Part of her wants him to make it right and give her "love, heart and soul." But the other part of her doesn't want him around. Her blood runs cold when she realizes that he is coming back.

Part of me is mad. Couldn't this song just have been a fun, 80's song and not some deep meaning, heart felt ballad?

But, this song hits the spouse of an addict predicament on the head of the nail.

Check out the lyrics- http://www.metrolyrics.com/heart-and-soul-lyrics-t-pau.html

And then listen to it as you read the lyrics. If you've been through something like this, I'll bet you'll get the shivers.

I still love this song anyway.

Jessica's "Daily Affirmation"

Ok, you knew it was coming eventually. "Jessica's Daily Affirmation!" If you have not seen this in the past six or so years since it was posted, you desperately need to.

I always cringe when I see this video, because I'm always afraid she's going to fall. That aside, I wish we all had this same enthusiasm!

What would you say if you did this?


Hmmm...

"I can do anything good!"
I love my family!
I love my home!
I love my Diet Dr. Pepper!

Ok, I don't know that I'd get that excited over my Diet Dr. Pepper...

What would you say?

"You Is Smart, You Is Kind, You Is Important"

Self Affirmation time!

You is smart, You is kind, You is important.

And don't you forget it!

Day 5 of Fake Therapy Week: "And how do you feel about that?"

It's Free -Fake- Therapy Week! Disclaimer: This is NOT real therapy, and I am NOT a real therapist. This is just a GOOD excuse to watch GOOD movies.

It's been a fun week, thanks to everyone who came!

Today we are going to visit "Dr. Tess Coleman." Or at least her daughter... Spoiler alert!





So, I have a question for you. How do you feel about that? That as in whatever you are going through.

Sometimes people quarantine their feelings, suppressing them from others and themselves. Maybe because it is easier to just disregard your feelings than to deal with the pain you are experiencing? I don't know.

What I do know is that how we feel definitely matters. We may not be able to do something, we may not be able to act, maybe we even shouldn't. We may need to work through how we feel. Every situation is different. But how we feel definitely matters. It will affect your actions and your abilities.

That's one reason why we are constantly told by therapists, church leaders and even memes to try and find joy despite the trials.

So... How do you feel about that?

Day 4 of Fake Therapy Week: Bad therapists!

It's Free -Fake- Therapy Week! Disclaimer: This is NOT real therapy, and I am NOT a real therapist. This is just a GOOD excuse to watch GOOD movies.

For today's session we are visiting our local hairstylist!

Ever get your hair done at a salon and and get a heavy dose of advice while you're at it?

Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's...






Moral of the story is: choose your therapists - and who you take advice from - well!

Recognize when advice should not be taken seriously.

Fake Therapy Week Day 3: Confronting your Fears

It's Free -Fake- Therapy Week! Disclaimer: This is NOT real therapy, and I am NOT a real therapist. This is just a GOOD excuse to watch GOOD movies.



Today we are visiting with "Dr. Archibald" for a lesson on confronting our fears.




Do you have any fears that you know are irrational but you have them anyway? Or maybe you have fears that are totally rational but there isn't anything you can do about it?

I think victims, addicts and spouses of addicts deal with both of those on a constant basis.

So, what is to be done? How do you work through the fear?

I am not a therapist, but I think that a huge step is recognizing whether or not a particular fear or worry is rational. If you can acknowledge that your fear of losing your lips is irrational, then maybe you are on a better track than if you couldn't. Or if you can acknowledge that your fear of your spouse relapsing is rational but other than supporting good standards in your home there is nothing you can do about it, then maybe that will bring you a bit of peace.

Do what you can, try to find peace for the things you can't.

Day 1 of Fake Therapy Week: Baby Steps (What About Bob)

It's Free -Fake- Therapy Week! Disclaimer: This is NOT real therapy, and I am NOT a real therapist. This is just a GOOD excuse to watch GOOD movies.

For Monday I figured we'd visit Dr. Marvin and learn about "Baby Steps."





Ever heard the phrase, "Rome wasn't built in a day?" Well, neither was your well-being. If you can't do something big, take baby steps.

Baby steps to courage, baby steps to bravery, baby steps to recognizing your worth.

"Baby Steps!"

What baby steps can you take to accomplish your goals?

Don't Let In The Worldly Bird!

Just a thought.

Some people go to extensive lengths to protect them and their family from the bad influences in the world. Some put up computer blocks against pornography. Families have the "drug-free" talk with their kids. Families have rules, standards, etc. etc. etc.

Sometimes we put up extensive protections against something in particular, but then forget about protecting something else in another area. Like, putting a filter on your computer and then not setting restrictions on what kinds or standards of movies your family watches.

It's like this picture here:

You go to extensive work to protect your family. Just like the bird spikes (whatever those things are called on the window). But, just like the bird, worldly things will try to find another way to sit on your wall.

Or, you know, get into your home. 

Think about what you can do to further protect your home and family. Don't let in those worldly birds!