Beauty and the Beast

I thought Beauty and the Beast was wonderful. I don't usually like to watch movies more than once, (I am really weird, I know) but I would pay to go see this movie again. The music was enchanting, the imagery was beautiful, and over all it was a very moving film.

There was a lot of character development, and I loved being able to see the back story of Belle and the Beast. Without spoiling anything, I will just say, their back stories made their characters more real. Disney did such a good job at bringing them to life for me. Their love story seems so genuine. They connect on a deeper level rather than a superficial "love at first sight" kind of way. Their pasts seem to give them something in which they both can relate. Belle grows to love the Beast for who he is inside despite his alarming appearance. Their story is a true love story, a true Fairy tale!

There were so many "Feel good moments" where characters sacrificed for the good of others. Belle takes her father's place in prison so that he can be free. She later stays and helps the injured Beast when he has done nothing to deserve her care and she could have easily escaped. The Beast lets Belle go so she can help her father, even though he knows his last chance at breaking the spell would disappear just as she would. When you see a glimpse into Belle's past, you also see her Father's incredible love towards her. I may have cried more than once during this movie.

Belle's Gown:

I was especially impressed by the beautiful yellow ball gown Belle wore. It managed to be more modest than the dress worn in the cartoon version of the movie. Emma's dress had sleeves covering her shoulders whereas the cartoon version had sleeves hanging off her shoulders leaving them completely bare. Her dress was modest and gorgeous in this film. Again the imagery was absolutely beautiful.

Overall this movie was a sensation to the eyes and ears, as well as the soul. It was a movie that made me go home and think, I want to be a better person. I want to be as brave, as selfless, and as confident as Belle. The opening song goes,

"the girl is strange but special

a most peculiar mad'moiselle!"

She really is different from the other townsfolk, and I love her all the more for it.  She doesn't let their opinions change who she is inside. She is full of so much personality and goodness, and I left this movie feeling happy, energized and motivated to be a better person.

 

WORK. It's a Four Letter Word. Well you don't say... Of course it is, anybody who knows how to read and count could tell you that. Why do people like to tell you how many letters are in words? I don't get it. I can imagine myself having a conversation about that with my 3 year old, but it just sounds weird coming from a grown man. He says, "WORK. It's a four letter word." I'm all like, "Wow! This guy really knows what he is talking about! I better listen real carefully... He probably has something important to say." I wonder if it is kind of like when people ask themselves easy questions to make them sound smart.  Let's try it.

• Do I want to go grocery shopping with two kids again? No.
• Do I think having my 3 year old go potty before we leave  the house is going to keep him from having to "Go!" three more times at the store? No.
•  Am I going to make him try anyway? Yes.
•  Why? Because I am a mom. It is what we do. 

Okay, now I get it. That was fun. I do feel smart!

 Anyway, I don't have a job outside of the home. But I still work. I am a full time stay at home mom. I am my kid's mom and my husband's girlfriend. (Thanks Dr. Laura!) I am on the clock twenty four hours a day, seven days of the week. Many days I work through lunch, and sometimes I get literally screamed at when I take a potty break. My job description includes, budgeting, paying bills, doing dishes, folding laundry, meal planning, grocery shopping, meal preparations, changing diapers, wiping tears, rocking children to sleep, nursing, entertaining children, taxi driving kids to activities, teaching preschool, lots of hugs and cuddles, repeat, repeat, repeat! Sometimes my job is lonely, sometimes it is fun. It can change from calm to crazy in seconds, but it is always worth it. I love my job!

 My husband works incredibly hard so that I can stay home with our two kids. My family is my treasure and we feel that our family benefits best when I save my energy for them rather than being distracted by work. This week has confirmed to me that I am exactly where I need to be right now. This is in no way a slide to working moms, I think you are incredible! This is just what we have decided for our family. Having a hardworking husband, and budgeting with the everydollar app have made it possible for me to stay at home, and I feel very blessed to do so.

I am really grateful for the opportunity I had to work this week. My Husband and I have some financial goals we are working together to meet, and this brought us a little closer to reaching them. That is another story for another time. All I am going to say about  our financial goals today is;

1. Taxes are the worst!
2. Hiring a tax man is worth the money.
3.  I am so glad we take advice from Dave Ramsey 

My dad was in a bind this week since he had a 2 man job he needed to do while his business partner was out of town. He actually asked my husband Anthony if he could do it, but he has had so much extra work lately that he just didn't have the time. It was only a 3 day job so we figured, I could step in and help my dad out. Plus the paycheck would push us closer to our goal. We did outside labor in direct sunlight with the temperature reaching 106 degrees. It was exhausting, but it felt good to work hard. It felt good to see the project when it was completed. It felt good to earn money. But most of all, it felt good to be home with my family when I was done.

(Me and my dad at the end of our last day of work together. It feels so good to be done!)

While I was working, the hubby caught up on kitchen chores I didn't have time to complete, fed the kids dinner, and put them to bed. All after working a full day. He is Super Dad! We both did double duty this week. We both were stretched thin. We both were tired. But we did it! And next week we will go back to our normal routine. Hopefully our 8 month old will start sleeping through the night again. It is crazy how much it rocks these kid's world when I am not around for 5-6 hours. I am their world, and they are mine! I definitely feel important and needed at home, and that is a good feeling.

(My life may not always be glamorous, but it is real. I especially love the way my husband is looking at our daughter in this photo. My kids are so lucky to have a dad that loves them so much!)