I say "like" and "soundtrack" way too much, but I really did like this soundtrack.

You know how sometimes you get excited about seeing a movie, but then it's kind of a total letdown? But you don't feel so bad about wasting nearly two hours of your life because at least you got to see a little bit of action and listen to a pretty rad soundtrack.

Enter: The Lucky One.

Zac Efron just isn't my cup of tea. And Nicholas Sparks movies are pretty unbelievable and unrealistic. I liked some of his earlier stuff (A Walk to Remember and The Notebook) but the past few years I've really lost interest in his books/movies (Dear John, The Last Song, etc.)

So, yeah, The Lucky One is a "meh" movie. It's alright. Nothing spectacular. Nothing I'd really sit down and watch again. That is unless I really was in the mood to listen to the soundtrack.

Because the soundtrack? Oh my god, the soundtrack. Yeah, it's that good.

My favorite pick?

I know Dobby had a favorite and Cassie told me her favorite (sorry I can't remember girls!) but I think we all walked away liking at least one of the songs.

From the soundtrack. Did I mention it's the soundtrack? Yeah, The Lucky One soundtrack.

Go buy it. Now.


Soundtrack. 

When It Hits You, Then It Hits You

I could complain about how he drives me crazy, how his nagging and nit-picking push me to the brink of sanity. I could whine that he's unfair sometimes, inflexible. He doesn't know how to roll with the changes or fall into a new routine easily. He's so different from me sometimes, we're like two opposite puzzle pieces trying to make it work together.

I could say he's grumpy and moody. He has a way of crawling under my skin like no one else. He can push every button I've got and make me cry in two minutes. He can annoy me. Hurt my feelings. Make me want to tear my hair out.

But I love him. And he's here with me.

It shouldn't take someone else's loss to remind me that what I have is precious. And fleeting. And it can all disappear at any given second.

A girl I went to school with lost her husband yesterday. She is pregnant with their first child, a daughter.

My heart breaks for those deeply affected by this loss. I am but a distant member of this community, and it has rocked me to my core.

Today, and hopefully every day hereafter, I promise to love him a little more. My wonderful husband, who for all his faults, is a good man. My best friend and the absolute love of my life. Today, I'm going to squeeze all of my loved ones a little tighter. 

{11 months}

Yesterday our little ballerina babe turned 11 months - we're just one month away from that big first birthday!

I've got so much more to say about her, but not enough hours in the day today to do so. Catching back up with reality has not been so fun, and there's so much more to do before things get back to a state of "normal".

At least when it comes to Rhealen Jo, some things stay the same. She's happy, healthy, full of laughter and surprise. It's only a matter of days now (it seems) before we think she'll start walking - she's pulling herself up onto everything and walking around furniture like it's no big deal at all.

She loved the beach. LOVED it. Ate more sand than she could stand, played in the waves and enjoyed every minute of sunshine. But more on that later.

Life is good and life is busy. And our 11 month old just makes every day more and more enjoyable.

You are so loved, our little mischievous explorer RJ. 

We Made It!

After nearly seven in hours in the car, we finally made it to North Carolina early this morning (sometime around 4AM) - the kids did awesome! Even though it makes for a rough morning, driving at night is the way to go with littles.

The girls slept the entire way. Justin drove, and I managed to sneak in a two hour nap just before we got here. There's so much less traffic at night, and it's just the easiest way to do it all-around. I highly recommend traveling at night if you're going long distances with kids. Best idea we've had in a long time!

Today we're hitting up the beach (about 30 minutes away from where we're staying) and hanging out with Matt & Fanny. They were nice enough to let us crash here at their house, which is way easier than holing up in a hotel with the girls. We've got room to sprawl out and good family to keep us company!

Feel free to follow along our travels with me on Twitter (@mommaruthsays) or on Instagram (username: mommaruthsays) - yay for the beach, vacation, family and our first official trip as a family of four!

Don't Bother Telling Me to Grow Up: My First Declaration of Love for Norman Reedus

I don't think I've mentioned this here on the blog yet, so I'm just going to get it out there.

Completely random and pointless, but I feel like you need to be kept abreast of all my current obsessions. Because I know y'all live to read about that sort of thing, right? Right.

I have a deep, unwavering and newfound love for Norman Reedus. There, I said it. I'm obsessed. Just like those teenage girls falling over their feet for One Direction.

Norman Reedus is my One Direction.

It all started with the Walking Dead. Justin got into that show after watching season one on Netflix. I watched a few episodes but didn't really think much of it. Then, it just sort of grew on me. Now, we watch it religiously.

And from that show stemmed my love for Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus' character, obviously) - and now, I spend too many minutes hours days looking through the archives of Tumblr and Google images just staring at this beautiful creature.

(source)

Let's face it, you can't NOT love him. And if you happen to not love him, well then, just move along. You and I can't be friends, sorry.

Night before last, a good buddy let me borrow The Boondock Saints - and now my life is complete.

I want to consume every movie, show, thing he's ever done - the good, bad and ugly. Because as long as Norman Reedus plays a part in it, it can't be all bad.

I think I've watched Lady Gaga's "Judas" video about 10,000 times now. It's not my favorite song, but hey, I'll give you one guess who's in it.

And I'm desperately trying to find some sort of convention within a 500-mile radius of me where NR will be speaking. Just so I can be a total fangirl and *maybe* someday get a picture with/of/near him. Any of him. All of him.

Yes, my husband is aware of my obsession. And while he may not understand, at least I've got his approval. As long as we get to keep watching The Walking Dead non-stop.

Yes, please. This scene here?

My god. I have a secret hope for Daryl + Carol. Justin thinks I'm crazy for seeing anything happening with these two. But I see it. It will happen. Sooner or later.

So, there you have it. My unabashed, completely ridiculous lovefest for Norman Reedus. Yes, I'm a twenty-three year old married mother-of-two. But I can still crush on celebrities like I'm 12 years old.

AND LOVING IT.