Engagement Pics are Here!!

Just a little preview until we get the full disc. More to come!

Emily and Ryan's Engagement Photos from Emily Rearick on Vimeo.

Banana Pancakes

I woke up this morning and walked into the living room. I saw him sitting there next to it, sheepish and loving. A huge grin spread across my face and my eyes filled with tears. I am so blessed.

And then, our morning turned into a Jack Johnson song...except mine were heart shaped. :]



Wishing you a love like this for Valentine's Day!

What Defines You?

Listening to Kelly Clarkson’s newest single My Life Would Suck Without You on repeat over the last week has forced me to ponder a few introspective questions. If you’ve heard the song than you should get where I’m coming from and if not, stop everything you’re doing right now and go listen to it here. No really. Stop. Click. Listen. Then return. I’ll wait.

. . .

You’re welcome.

Now as I was saying, no one would ever question my undying love and adoration for Miss American Idol herself, however the lyrics of this song seem to beg a major question.

How much of ourselves are defined by the person we’re with?

This song implies that our self-worth is in direct correlation to who we are with. Proportionally, if you find yourself without someone does that mean you are worthless, nothing, or inconsequential?

Carrie Bradshaw would be appalled.

Lines such as “I’m nothing without you” seen here and in countless other pop/country/emo tortured love songs, give the impression that our lives are meaningless without someone else in it. That until we find that one elusive soul mate our lives will forever drone on in a fog of worthlessness and monotony. That it is up to someone else to make us complete.

What the eff is that about?

I get that it’s overdramatized for the song. I get that Ms. Clarkson likely didn’t even write it. And I get that most of us don’t take the message literally. However, I can’t help but think that this ideology reverberates with some of us from time to time. Particularly when we’re in between relationships. Beaten down, heart-broken and alone. It’s easy to feel like you’re life really does “suck”.

But I think the important thing here is to remember that while love and happiness are inextricably linked, that LOVE doesn’t necessarily have to come from a significant other. First and foremost it should come FROM yourself TO yourself. You must learn how to love you and who you are as an individual before anyone else can successfully love you as well.

Who you are as a person is NOT defined by the man you come home to every night or the woman on your arm. No more so than you are defined by the clothes you wear or the car you drive. Strip it all away and what you’re left with, raw and naked and vulnerable, that’s you. And that’s enough.

You are someone. You are significant. And most importantly you are complete.

Adding a boyfriend or girlfriend to the equation admittedly may enhance or compliment who you are but it does not solidify you’re existence. And being head over heels in love with yourself (in a non-narcissistic ego-maniacal sort of way) with confidence radiating from your pores, it’s highly likely you’ll have plenty of plus ones to choose from should you wish.

My point is: YOU are important with or without someone else. And don’t let anyone else (even Doll face Clarkson) tell you any different.

Now excuse me, I’m going to go drive around the city blasting this song with the windows down and singing these incredibly misguided and delusional lyrics at the top of my lungs. What? I never said it wasn’t catchy.

I Less Than Three Britney

With her new CD hitting stores yesterday and her highly acclaimed documentary airing just days before, Britney Spears seems to be everywhere right now.

Whoever would have thought Hollywood would be gracious enough to allow someone TWO chances at a comeback?? I mean really? That seems very generous in a town that predicates itself on perfectionism personified (like the alliteration?) and revels in the detriment it causes to one’s character and their subsequent demise because of it. Usually we all get a good laugh and then once it’s over you get maybe one chance to come back…if you’re lucky. But two, well you must be pretty damn special to merit that.

And pretty damn special she is. I really do adore the girl and I think it’s because a large part of me can sympathize with her

(I mean minus the whole shaving my hair off attacking the Paps with an umbrella walking thru crusty gas station bathrooms barefoot thing).

She’s been around since my TRL days. I’ve watched her grow up (and grown up with her). Her songs resonate throughout my youth, reminding me of a different place in my life with each varied syncopated melody and catchy lyric (and, of course, accompanying dance moves. Lest we forget.)

I’ve been happy when she succeeded, embarrassed when she effed up, pissed when she couldn’t pull her shit together, and finally hopeful that it’s all starting to look up for her. Again.

With so much Britney on the brain, I set my iPod to all things Ms. Spears as I set out for my run this morning and let me tell you, I was able to do a full hour of non-stop hits before the tunes ran out and the run concluded.

(There were even a few I skipped over in lieu of other up-tempo classics. Gasp. I know.)

So in honor of the pop princess I’ve decided to compile my own completely biased, completely unofficial list of Britney’s top 10 songs. (P.S. Alot of the videos were embed disabled so I just linked it. KTHNXPREESH.)

10. Crazy – I loved this song when I was in middle school. I loved the shiny green cut off shirt and crimped hair. Of course, the chair dance is classic. And the way she did the juvenile-ish head bob throughout the majority of the close up shots. Oh and the cameo from Sabrina the Teenage Witch is completely arbitrary and wonderful.



9. Sometimes – Another cut off shirt and some seriously kick ass choreography for a slower-ish song makes this number 9.

Sometimes video

8. Lucky – Something about this little diddy just makes me smile. I think mostly because it’s so not a Britney song (and possibly because she says “doe” as in “door” in the first verse.) Either way, I definitely used to sing my little heart out to this song back in the day. (Who am I kidding? I sang it today.)

LUCKY VIDEO

7. Me Against The Music – LOVE the outfit, the beat, the severely ridiculous choreography once again. This song reminds me of my days as a sales associate at Wet Seal (yea, yea, get your laughs in now) when me and my sisturkey (aka bff #2) would literally do ALL of the choreography FULL out in the middle of the store regardless of if there were customers around or not. Yea, we had a great work ethic and clearly knew how to conduct ourselves in the workplace.




6. Stronger – Before we had Kelly Clarkson’s Since U Been Gone, we had this. Women everywhere would, and surely still do, sing this anthem out at the top of their lungs to every worthless, lying, no good son of B. Gotta love Britney. She’s such a proponent of independence. And again, another chair dance. All of which, makes this number 6.



5. Womanizer – Her newest hit has really solidified her comeback. This one is for real, people. Her body looks ridiculous, the poppy lyrics and sound that get stuck in your head all day are most certainly there. Looks like the road to reestablishment is paved.




4. Piece of Me – This one showed us that she could venture another comeback and I think the awards speak for themselves. I was so happy for her when I heard this song. She finally told everyone to just F off and leave her alone. Finally. It was about damn time.

Piece of me video

3. Hit Me…Baby One More Time – Ah the first single. The cute little pig tails, the not so innocent school girl outfit that looks like she should be working a street corner rather than doodling away in a freshman Biology class. Who cares. I definitely remember some cheerleading moves in this video. (Ah, there goes a round off. And was that just a herky?)

HIT ME BABY VIDEO

2. Oops!...I Did It Again – Albeit the red patent leather suit is a bit much, I heart this song borderline inappropriately. It is Britney at her finest. Even with the cheesy Titanic voiceover and all.

OOPS! VIDEO

1. Slave 4 U – Of course, I saved the best for last. Although the video does seem to promote mass orgies, copious amounts of bodily fluids and unprotected sex, it still remains the greatest. Everything Britney is epitomized in this song and you can bet your sweet ass I still know every dance move. Watch the video and see if you can keep up.


Slave 4 U video

Cultivating a Positive Mental Outlook

I woke up this morning and was in grump mode. The Boo knew it, I knew it, hell, even the dogs knew it (and were a little offended by it.)

So after wallowing in my funk for a few, I gulped down my coffee, put on my sweet new running shoes, grabbed the iPod and set off for the park.

The ride alone was stress relieving. Windows down, breeze blowing in my flustered face, new favorite Katy Perry song blaring on the radio. (If that song doesn’t make you want to sing-a-long at the top of your lungs and dance around in your underwear then you have no soul. Or something like that.)



I set my iPod to shuffle and set off on my run, somewhat begrudgingly as I was still very stressed and just downright moody.

Let me tell you. That run was probably the greatest thing I’ve done all week.

Although the actual “running” part wasn’t so fun the feeling afterwards was fantastic. My iPod inspired me to run an extra lap as it shuffled through tunes such as James Brown’s “I Feel Good”, Rascal Flatts’ “Life is a Highway”, and C+C Music Factory’s “Gonna Make You Sweat” (yes, I do have this on there and every time I hear it I can’t help but think of this infamous rain dance. Skip to 4:15 for the good shit.)



Side Note: Was JTT not the cutest little effing kid in the world in the 90s?? I know I don’t stand alone when I say I had dreams of marrying him one day and may or may not have mailed him a perfume scented letter declaring my unconditional love and devotion (and virginity) should he choose to accept it.

No? No one else? I’m alone on that one? Ok. Too far.

But back to the real point of this post (is there ever really one?), the run and my personal soundtrack was just what I needed to readjust my mindset. I came home in a much better, rejuvenated mood and it resonated throughout the day.

I’ve realized that as much as the actual action of running sucks it does help to relieve stress and help cultivate a more positive mental outlook on the day. And life in general.

So as much as my lazy, food loving, beer aficionado-ish ass would love to forego the cardio it really is doing wonders for my constantly overwhelmed mental state. And anything that can do that is worth doing. And doing again.

And the Soundtrack of the Day is...

So today's been one of those days. You know. The rough kind where everything seems to go wrong and make you upset. Many little problems culminate into one huge overwhelming mess and before you know it you're reduced to a sobbing heap of tears (and I may or may not have had aforementioned weep fest earlier today...at my desk.)

But regardless of how you express these emotions, stresses, fears and anxieties, the truth remains the same. We all have those days.

And it seems like more recently than not, those closest to me are experiencing numerous days (right along with me). In some instances, I/we are even having "those" weeks, months or worse case scenario, years making it hard to cope and easy to feel overwhelmed.

It took me a long time to post today because I just didn't think I had it in me. Who wants to hear about my work issues, financial problems, or health woes? Hell, I even get sick of hearing about them. But then I realized that I can't possibly be the only one feeling like this. In the wake of such an extreme economic catastrophe in which gas is exorbitantly high and employment is next to impossible to find, it dawned on me that we're all fighting the same fight.

And the key is not to lament your fate. Submit to the powers that be and accept this as the life you must lead. Nay (haha. Sorry, I've always wanted to use that word!) it is a time to realize what you're made of. Realize that you control your own destiny. Things will never be perfect. They will never be the way you always envisioned in your wildest of dreams. Life's not like that. It's hard and unfair and essentially, a MESS.

But it's up to us to sort through that mess and glean from it the good. To recognize what we have and be grateful. To realize what we can do to make our lives better and more fulfilling. To acknowledge that our current circumstances do not validate our existence or self-worth. To resolve to make things better, work harder, persevere further until we see change.

So today's soundtrack explains just that (except in a much better more inspirational way.) I hope you all enjoy it and find as much encouragement and hope in it as I do.



"Stand"
You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless
Like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright, you'll be alright

[Chorus:]
Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause its all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you Stand, Then you stand

Life's like a novel
With the end ripped out
The edge of a canyon
With only one way down
Take what you're given before its gone
Start holding on, keep holding on

[Repeat Chorus]

Every time you get up
And get back in the race
One more small piece of you
Starts to fall into place

Here's to a better day right around the corner!