Merry Christmas!

“Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; 

that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.”

- G.K Chesterton 

Hart of Dixie - Season 2

     Character development would probably be the most apt description for the second run of Dr. Zoe Hart's chronicles in Bluebell, Alabama. Characters that I initially thought were boring really came into their own, disasters can become life changing miracles, cliche relationships took unexpected turns and unexpected love stories came from absolutely nowhere. Season 2 was exceptionally good and like with season 1, the drama, romance and humor were all equally balanced out. 

Zoe Hart: Zoe's year in Alabama has really brought about a new type of woman. She's no longer the demanding and at times snobbish city doctor she was when she arrived. As typical in shows like this, romance and relationships are at the forefront. At the end of season 1, Zoe finds herself caught between two men. George Tucker, who has literally sacrificed everything for her and Wade Kinsella, whom Zoe has begun to see is more than he initially shows. However, Zoe takes the unexpected path and swears off all dating...while pursuing a very intense Friends with Benefits relationship with Wade. Eventually her and Wade come to a crossroads in their 'casual sex' agreement and both find that true and real love takes great responsibility, of which neither of them have been able to obtain.

Lemon Breeland: Great change takes time and in the case of Lemon Breeland it could have taken 30 years or 5 minutes. When Lemon is left at the alter (actually she was left in the dressing room) she could have just shut down and died. However, she surprises everyone, including herself, when she gets up and forges a new life. A new life meaning, moving out of her father's home, finding a job and trying to understand other people and their problems, not just her own. Not to say that Lemon has changed entirely. She can still be the same sarcastic, catty, headstrong, no bars hold southern belle she was in season 1. Yet, this new Lemon (or Lemon 2.0 as everyone calls her) seems to be making more of a likeable impact on the citizens of Bluebell. 

Wade Kinsella: While Wade may not have advanced in growth like everyone else, the first part of growth is acknowledging the harmful flaws in your life. In Wade's case, it's his recklessness, philandering and drinking. His relationship with Zoe becomes paramount in his character development. Before, no one really cared about what Wade did with his life, including Wade...at least that's the image he projects. However, Zoe Hart has caught glimpses of the struggling and hurting young man, who is desperate for a respectable life. Yet, there is one thing forever standing in Wade's way. His drinking. And his drinking may bring about bi-polar disorder which can probably explain his recklessness and his promiscuous lifestyle. All of these combined in one night damages his and Zoe's blossoming relationship, but also makes Wade look at the true damage he has done to himself.

George Tucker: Good ole' George Tucker. Bluebell's favorite son and golden boy. And I who thought was the most boring character in the whole show. My opinion of George has changed greatly since season 1. After George leaves Lemon for Zoe, only to have Zoe turn him down, George has begun to realize that he has never actually done what he wants to do. Everybody else from his parents to Lemon have planned out George's life. And while his and Lemons love story was real and genuine, the plans you make at 14 years old together, can change overtime when you're adults. George spends season 2 trying to figure himself out. He actually becomes fun and relaxed, not always worrying about Lemon, his parents or even his image. While George isn't necessarily lost, he's finding his way as to the man he's really meant to be. 

Lavon Hayes: Lavon has changed the least. Because when you're as awesome as he is, why fix what's not broken? Like with everyone else, Lavon struggles with love and companionship. When his old childhood sweetheart returns, reigniting his love for her, Lavon becomes the center of a battling conflicts between several woman in Bluebell. It's difficult to see such a wonderful guy like him get heartbroken over and over again. And while he struggles with the matters of love, it does not deter him from his duty as mayor of Bluebell. Whether it's mending broken friendships, giving sound counsel and wisdom or just being an honest and loyal friend. (And he still does speak about himself in the 3rd person, which I will always find hysterical.)

    I loved this season! Everything and everyone was just written perfectly! I especially enjoyed Zoe and Wade's continuing romance. It's not perfect, it's flawed, it's passionate and has been badly damaged, but they move on and become stronger people in spite of it. Wade and Lemon were the absolutely best written characters in the show! Lemon has become quite the heroine in her own right, while Wade just gets better and better as he comes to terms with his own detrimental life mistakes. And Zoe...well Zoe just continues to adjust to the oddities of the town of Bluebell. The ups and downs, the good and the bad, the strange and the even stranger.

Hart of Dixie - Season 1

    If you were to take Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman and mix it up with Sweet Home Alabama, then you would most definitely get this little gem of a show. Of course the storyline is as obvious as a Hallmark Christmas movie.

---> Big town surgeon, Zoe Hart, movies to the obscure little town of Bluebell, Alabama

--->Where she unexpectedly inherits the medical practice

--->In a span of 24 hours...

---> She meets George Tucker, an irresistible (but already taken) lawyer

---> Lemon Breeland, queen bee of Bluebell and Zoe's arch rival

---> The town mayor and former NFL player, Lavon Hayes who becomes her landlord and best friend

---> And finally, the annoying--but insanely hunky--Wade Kinsella who is intent on making Zoe's time in Bluebell a misery.

Totally cliche and predictable right? But absolute comfort and fun. One reviewer said that Hart of Dixie is like one continuous romantic comedy. However, despite the humorous storylines, the characters all have their dark undertones of fear, loss, regret, anger, indecision, past mistakes, and future uncertainties. 

Dr. Zoe Hart: Born and bred New Yorker, Zoe Hart has had her future plans set on becoming a cardiovascular surgeon, just like her father, since she was a child. However, when her surgical future very quickly goes downhill, she does the unthinkable. Dr. Harvey Wilkes of Bluebell, Alabama has offered Zoe a position in his small medical practice for years. Finally Zoe agrees to join Dr. Wilkes' and hops on a bus to Alabama. 

     Zoe is not particular welcomed by Bluebell; however, her sharp and opinionated nature that borders on blunt and rude causes a great deal strife between herself and the town residents. Overtime, Zoe begins to understand the lives of these generous and interesting small town people. While she may feel like a New York duck out of water, Zoe is determined to prove herself to Bluebell and make a difference as a doctor and even more so as a free thinking woman.

Lemon Breeland: If there was anyone who could put the Belle in Southern Belle, then it's certainly Lemon Breeland. Beautiful, charming, intelligent and a downright force of nature, Lemon knows how to go after what she wants and fight to the death to get it. Upon meeting Zoe Hart, Lemon immediately marks her as a threat to her own social standing and her own personal enemy. At first glance, Lemon is a catty and superficial bully that'll run over anyone who stands in her way. As her story progresses, Lemon's true character is that of a woman who is frightened and insecure. She's had to deal with the early loss of her mother, the demands of a family legacy and dark secrets that threaten her future.

Wade Kinsella: Zoe's next door neighbor who has had it in for her from day one. While Wade isn't what you would term a 'bad boy,' his oftentimes mischievous nature, love of fun and merciless teasing of Zoe tends to land him in constant trouble. Zoe and Wade spend most of their time bickering about anything and everything. Yet, like Lemon, Wade hides a great deal of his own personal life. The son of the town drunk, who lives in the shadow of his older brother, Wade has always taken care of himself and will rarely ask for anyone's help. While Wade might have a lot of growing up to do, he has never had a solid figure in his life to look up to and is wandering day by day just trying to figure himself out.

George Tucker: While Zoe may have an immediate distaste for Bluebell, she is instantly smitten with its lawyer, George Tucker. After spending a couple of years in New York, George is the only person who understands Zoe's city girl nature. As a matter of fact, George seems to be the only person who understands Zoe at all. Yet, George for all his charm is a taken by none other than Lemon Breeland, his girlfriend of 15 years and now fiance. Needless to say, this is a punch in the gut to Zoe, but she it doesn't stop her from wanting him any less. George himself is the picture of the perfect southern gentleman whose determined and generous nature has won him the love and admiration of all of Bluebell. It's not a wonder why Zoe falls so hard for him.

Mayor Lavon Hayes: Former NFL player, Lavon Hayes returns to his hometown of Bluebell and subsequently becomes mayor, a job he loves dearly. Forever speaking about himself in 3rd person, Lavon Hayes is the first Bluebell resident who befriends Zoe after she becomes his tenant on his plantation home. Lavon's warm and friendly nature helps Zoe to adjust to small town southern life and his own oddities (such as owning an alligator named, Burt Reynolds) adds to his likable personality. As mayor, Lavon has to deal with issues and drama around every corner, but that doesn't allow him to escape from his own private problems as well. Especially a previous love affair that could damage him and his relationships if found out.

     Quirky and cute, Hart of Dixie has become my go-to feel good TV watch. I certainly wouldn't call this 'family friendly' as Wade and Zoe deal with constant onsets of sexual tension, but for the most part, the show is surprisingly clean. I love the characters, their stories and the whole crazy town of Bluebell. After watching Hostages, I needed some humor, whimsy and romance and I got the whole package here.

2012 Was Lit

     As this year draws to a close (I can't believe how fast it went!), I like to think back on previous years and I remembered specifically how great 2012 was. One primary reason was that I started college that year which was probably the best decision I ever made. It was primarily a great year for media and entertainment. Multiple blockbusters and the beginning of the British drama revival as well as some great hits that were dropped. The London Olympics was on fire and is still my favorite Olympic Games so far. I was also just a year into my blog and was really beginning to rekindle my love for blogging and writing. And I discovered Pinterest...and there's been no looking back since! 

Television

2012 was the year of Downton Abbey mayhem. It swept the Emmy awards and everywhere you turned, whether it was late night television or the catwalk, Downton Abbey was used as inspiration. With the onset of Downton Abbey, there was a Renaissance in British Drama as well as a newfound interest in Edwardian and WWI history. Season 2 premiered earlier that year, and it was safe to say that Downton Abbey fever was alive and well.

While Downton Abbey may have reigned supreme in the British Drama Renaissance, Sherlock was gaining rapid momentum as well. Sherlock hysteria was on the same level of Downton Abbey mayhem. Both programs were explosive successes and unexpected juggernauts for the revival of BBC and ITV entertainment. In spite of people's initial hesitation to accept the updated detective, Benedict Cumberbatch's breathtaking performance as the handsome, but enigmatic detective took the world by storm. Both Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman went from well-known English actors to overnight successes. This new and cool Mr. Holmes was here to stay.

Movies

Even though the MCU had been receiving moderate success since the introduction of Iron Man in 2008, followed by Iron Man 2 in 2010, and Thor and Captain America in 2011, the culmination of the heroes (and the addition of several others) made for the box office success of The Avengers. I actually had no interest in Marvel or it's extended universe franchise until I saw The Avengers and strangely enough, it was same story for many other people. However, it was Tom Hiddleston's performance as the tortured and lonely Loki that truly won over Marvel fans and skyrocketed the once unknown actor's career.

Oddly enough I didn't see Les Miserables until the next year, but it was on the top of my '2012 to see movie list.' Excited hesitation was pretty much the feeling for all Les Miserables fans. Bringing together an all star cast, of which most didn't have a stage background, might have been a risk. There was great deal of anxiety regarding the casting of Anne Hathaway as Fantine. However, after her performance of I Dreamed a Dream she broke hearts all over the world and helped her grab the Oscar for best actress. It was also the introduction of Eddie Redmayne to American audiences and who has now gone on to star in many exceptional and successful films (including The Theory of Everything where he won best Oscar for his incredible portrayal of Stephen Hawking).

The most anticipated movie of the year. It certainly met my expectations, and I was thrilled that it was going to be a trilogy series. The Hobbit was a great way to end the year. I remember creating my Pinterest board for The Hobbit and getting so excited every time a new picture or video surfaced the internet. I read the book and managed to memorize the names of all the dwarves before the movie. Martin Freeman nailed it as Bilbo Baggins. Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner and Dean O'Gorman did what many thought impossible and made the dwarves the irresistible heartthrobs of the story. Well, done on all fronts. 

Music

2012 was the year for great summer music and these were the top hits that were blaring from every car stereo, Starbucks, Wal-Mart and i-pods. 

Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepson

Wide Awake by Katy Perry

Catching My Breath by Kelly Clarkson

Diamonds by Rihanna

Some Nights by Fun

Brokenhearted by Karmin

Live While We're Young by One Direction

Songs that were actually released in 2011, but I didn't really get into them until the next year

What Make You Beautiful by One Direction

Domino by Jessie J

Want You Back by Cher Lloyd

Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson

The 2012 London Olympics

     I've grown up watching many Olympic Games, but the London 2012 Olympics has to have been one the best Olympics to date. England brought their pride to the front and America wasn't too far behind. We dominated in swimming, gymnastics and track and field. I did some major Olympic binging when the nightly news recaps from the sporting events aired from 6:00 P.M. to midnight. You can read my highlights from the Olympics -->here<--

Do you have any years that are particularly memorable? 

Hostages (Bnei Aruba) 2013-2016

     I had never heard of this show before until I was scrolling around on Tumblr and it was brought up. Looking it up and seeing that it was on Netflix I was intrigued. As a fan of 24 this seemed to have the same vibe and I wasn't wrong. Within the first couple of episodes of season 1 I was hooked and finished the first season (all 10 episodes) in two days! The first season is entirely filmed in Hebrew with English subtitles, but that didn't bother me at all. And really it's what prohibited me from getting up and leaving the room, you have to stay and watch so you don't miss anything. 

     Season One: The Danon family are your typical, run-of-the-mill family living in the suburbs of Jerusalem. Dr. Yael Danon is a successful surgeon who has received the exciting news that she's going to perform surgery on the Prime Minster, much to the annoyance of her elderly mentor. Her husband, Eyal is the headmaster at the local high school where their teenage son, Assaf, seems to be hitting a run of trouble. Finally, their seventeen year old daughter, Noa, has come across some terrifying information of which she is unsure how to tell her family. While they may look the picture of regularity, the Danon's have secrets that will come to the surface when their own lives are at risk.

     The night before Yael has to perform the surgery, her family is attacked and held hostage by four masked intruders. Their demands are that Yael is to kill the prime minster. The reasons are withheld from Yael, but if she does not meet with their demands, her family will be killed. With her family's well being on the line, Yael must walk a dangerous tightrope that will challenge her morality as a doctor and her devotion as a mother. To save her family (and possibly her career), Yael begins to search for the identity of the group leader. And who she discovers is beyond anything she could have expected.

     Meanwhile, Adam Rubin, chief of the Special Police Unit in Jerusalem, is ready to have his final mission before he retires. Adam has spent his career working in intense hostage situations and has made a respectful name for himself in Jerusalem. He is well known for his calm and capable nature when dealing with threats and an extraordinary ability to negotiate to avoid violence. Needless to say, Adam is one of the few people who knows how to do his job well. After he successfully apprehends his final hostage threat, Adam is done with his police service.

     And later that night, it's Adam and a group of associates that hold the Danon family hostage and demand the Yael take the life of the prime minister. Why would this hometown hero become what he has spent his entire career fighting? There is more than one reason as to why the prime minster is wanted dead. Some for money and revenge, but for Adam it's deeper, personal and as he puts it to Yael, "Think of it as saving your family." However, Yael soon realizes that it's not her family that Adam is necessarily referring to. 

   

     Season Two: Picking up literally hours where season one ended. Adam Rubin is once again caught in a hostage crisis, this time one of his own making. For five days, Adam and his family and friends are held up in a run down synagogue, desperate to flee the country. Yet, Adam's actions from the week before have caught up with him. While this hostage situation outside of Jerusalem is making news, the 'death' of the prime minister has sent waves beyond Israel; and this event brings to the forefront unlikely people caught up in a web of political lies and coverups.

     A beautiful young lawyer who arrives in Jerusalem to make a business deal.

     A ruthless mercenary with no compassion, just a desire to get the job done.

    A rookie security agent who comes across startling information about the murder of a man close to Adam Rubin, but her bosses refuse to let her investigate.

    All of these people are caught up in Adam's life and the hostage threat that he has created. 

********

    Unfortunately that's all I can say without giving away the entire, very complex storyline of season two. However, I will warn you that the last episode may leave you emotionally distraught for the next several hours. Yet, it's absolutely worth the watch!

Handsome, wonderful Adam...

     I've tried really hard to review this series without giving too much away! I will say that Adam Rubin is seriously the primary reason I kept watching the show. Within five minutes of meeting him, I was absolutely in love with him! His ever calm demeanor when dealing with life threatening situations, unwavering compassion, devotion to his family and friends, a history of absolute good will and above all, immense courage that effects everyone around him. 

     He's kind of a mix of Jack Bauer-just without the emotional damage-and Captain America, only he's Israeli. Not to say that's he's perfect, he's far from that and he makes some terrible mistakes (including threatening to kill a fourteen year old boy), but it's his flawed nature and his desire to be better that the criminals he's hunted down that makes all the more admirable. 

     One other aspect that I enjoyed about Hostages (and other reviewers brought this up too) was being able to see Jerusalem in its absolute beauty. You get some stunning views of rural and urban landscapes and just being able to view another culture in their day to day life was intriguing. I didn't know that the city was so metropolitan and incredibly breathtaking. 

     I'm still recovering from the end of season two, but seriously this was a very good series. If you don't mind watching the show in English subtitles, while swooning over a very well written hero and at the same time trying piece together a story that makes no sense until the very end, definitely watch this show. 

Mirror, Don't Lie....

Original Instagram post: Here

In spite of losing 30 lbs. I look in the mirror and still tend to underestimate the progress I’ve made. My legs still aren’t thin enough, my stomach not flat enough, my arms not tone enough. I’ve spent so long accepting how I looked when I was at my highest weight that I’m finding it hard to to adjust my thinking to how far I’ve gotten and how much I've actually lost, and that my appearance has changed dramatically. 

Because I’ve been unable to adjust my mindset, I’ve become incapable of contentment with the weight I’ve lost and have continued to lose. My goal was 135 and then 130 now it’s almost 125. That’s the thinnest I’ve been since 2012.

It also doesn’t help--at times--that I’ve always compared myself to beautiful female celebrities that do inspire me to work out and eat healthy, but I can become too hard on myself to strive for a look my body type was not made for.

L-R: Vikings actresses Kathryn Winnick and Georgia Hirst,
 and Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman)

Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with finding inspiration with public figures. 

Kathryn Winnick is just gorgeous and absolutely fit (at 41 years old)! And I found myself somewhat intimidated at how stunning she is and feeling my own insecurities come to the surface every time I saw a picture of her. 

Georgia Hirst may not be a well known name, but I saw her Instagram posts of her workouts and healthy eating and I would think to myself, "Why can't I do that? Why can't I take care of myself like that? She's so beautiful. I could be doing so much better."

Gal Gadot is almost 6 ft tall and is an iron railing, but she weighs in at 130 lbs. At my highest weight, I was 30 pounds heavier than her and I'm only 5'5". I'm smaller than her and so I needed to weight less than her.

My general ambitions was to care for myself the way these women did by working out and starting to eat better. And believe me it really has worked. However, I can't fall into the obsessive thinking of wanting my body to look like theirs.

So now the question is how far do I keep going before I become so overwhelmed with the number and the excitement of the weight loss? I was 157 in July of last year. Now I’m (as of this morning) 126.2. That number is nothing to balk at, but to get to the next number has almost become an adrenaline rush for me.

The scale is not my enemy, it’s tool for my development. The mirror shows me what’s there. I’m not writing this to have people feel bad for me. Rather just to come to the acceptance that I have to learn where my limits are and how to practice the hard art of contentment with my hard work

Aren't you on the ministry team? Not today!

 If you are a need of a good laugh, I highly recommend this painfully accurate video about church life. I watched it three times last night and each was funnier than the last. This guy has totally nailed the American southern church.