I Want To Be Amish.

I know that sounds crazy, I wonder if they even allow those not born and raised Amish to come into their “world”? So what inspired my desire to want to become Amish? I watched last night’s Primetime special called “The Outsiders” which followed four teens and their journey of deciding whether or not to stay Amish or depart from their religion, culture, and family in order to enjoy and participate in modern society.

The stereotypes of being Amish are that you do not drive a car (horses are their main mode of transportation), electricity is forbidden , dress is extremely conservative, and education past the 8th grade is nonexistent. Video games, cell phones, Ipods, and computers are for the most part, not a presence in an Amish upbringing. So as young adulthood approaches, many teens begin to contemplate whether or not they too will take the path their parents have chosen and commit themselves to God.

Unlike myself, baptized as a baby, the Amish believe that children cannot meaningfully accept God as their savior at a young, ignorant, and unknowing age. And so the Primetime special followed four Amish, about-to-be young adults, as they approached a crossroad in their life – commit to God and the Amish community or leave. I must add, the Amish are extremely forgiving people – always willing for the most part, to welcome back their sons and daughters so long as the come home ready to pledge their life to ways of the Amish.

Most watching probably thought, “Run…break free.” My response was “Stay…and take me to your world!”

The Amish strive to live a life where the outside world does not impact their home – the stresses and pressures to have a lucrative career, to remain competitive and always connected to work, to raise a family with two parents regularly not present – these are the variables the Amish eliminate from their lives and from the lives of their family. They do not wish to win lotto or to make a million dollars. They have remained true to the concept of the American Dream – have a home, raise a family, and provide for your children. A simple concept that may have lost its originality by an expanding need for society to want and demand more outside our basic needs.

Being Amish I suppose is like being on a year round vacation with some hard labor mixed in – yes typical chores that may be more difficult without electricity must be completed; however the ringing phone, bombardment of emails, stresses of work, and pressures to perform are eliminated from your daily routine. Isn't this one of the reasons we all leave our own homes and head for vacation?

As a society we have become accustomed to the demands and pressures of everyday existence that the Amish simple way of living seems unfathomable to us –Not answering the house, work, and cell phone? Shutting off the computer and not checking emails? No TV? What would we all do?

Imagine a life disconnected from everything around us except from our family? How would the world be different?

Can You Afford A Baby?

Many of my closely approaching thirty-year-old-friends have come to realize that timing will probably never be perfect when deciding to start a family. There will never be enough money, never enough time, never enough house to suit the needs and demands of a child. So with a bit of hope and a surge of excitement coupled with slight unease and nervousness many have thrown away the birth control and ridden their draws of condoms. But before you become spontaneous, acting on impulse and the dream of what it would be like to have a baby take this quick quiz by U.S. News and first see can you even $$afford$$ one!

The quiz told me “3 to 5 points: You are on the right track, but additional planning could help ease the transition to parenthood”. I think that is just about right! Find out if you are financially ready for a baby – CLICK HERE.

New Parker.TV Video Blog

HAVE YOU HEARD?
17 high school girls made a pact to get preggers and raise their babies together

Who is to blame? How about YOU AND ME?

Check out my video blog on Parker.TV discussing my feelings about this unfortunate occurrence

To hear me on-air, LIVE every Wednesday check out:

www.parkersunshine.com

Health Tip 104 From a Non-Health Fanatic

Oh boy, you are not going to like this tip.

Stop making excuses! No, this tip is not about exercising more, counting calories, eliminating carbs, or taking vitamins. This tip is about your desire to loose weight, get healthy, and become confident and comfortable in your own body.

Trust me, I understand the busy days packed full of work, errands, chores, and other obligations that take away time for you to invest in working out or cooking meals. But life is never going to slow down and pleasantly make time or space for you to incorporate getting in shape – you must make loosing weight a priority. By simply committing to set this goal and go after it, you will find the time (whether by waking up early or going to bed late) to exercise, eat more wisely, and enjoy your changing body.

Almost a year later, I still have to remind myself that just as I lost the weight, I can regain the weight. It is a scary thought and sometimes exhausting as I many times do not want to prioritize working out or eating healthy – sometimes it feels easier to give into the temptations around me than to remain dedicated to my self commitment. But when the scale slightly raises and the clothes fit a bit snuck I remind myself of my happiness when being thin. I remind myself of how hard it was to get to where I am and that by reversing this great goal I would experience heartache my self-esteem and health could not bare.
I have stopped making excuses.

When it is hot out. When I am exhausted. When I get home at 8 PM. When in a hurry and unable to find 30 minutes. When on vacation. When PMSing. The excuses are so easy to find, so easy to speak to, so easy to use – I remind myself they are just that – excuses. No real reason as to why I can’t exercise or eat the salad instead of the pasta. This week I ran 5 times and only enjoyed it once.

Find the time to love yourself and love your body. Stop making excuses and commit to becoming healthy and getting in shape.

Poor Jessica Simpson?!

Is a picture really worth a thousand words? I hope for Jessica Simpson’s sake it is not, as this candid photo shows Tony a bit too close to a pretty blonde (at least we know what type of hair color he likes best). Of course we can think of all the possible scenarios in which this photo was shot but like most celeb magazines I quickly jump to the conclusion that:
--Tony is out in Chicago at the hot lounge Manor where he and his buddies throw a couple back – no ladies allowed weekend. A bunch of twenty-something girls quickly recognize him and start playfully flirting across the room with less than shy smirks. A couple of shots and shared drinks later Tony forgets he is in a serious, world-known relationship. The blondest of the group compliments Tony on his body, on his game, and on landing Jessica Simpson, but promises a young girl from Chicago knows a lot more tricks than a use-to-be Southern Bell. He doesn’t cross the line per say, as he only verbally flirts with his teasingly nature and frequent love taps – never kissing, holding hands, or dancing in close proximity. But as last call is announced and the two depart in separate cabs, those left behind know this night will end with a heavy secret Tony will carry.

That was good right??!! I mean come on, we know what the media will do with these images – the comments, captions and outright fibs they will add in order to suggest more than what we can literally see. So how should we probably view this photo?

--Tony is out in Chicago at the hot lounge Manor, leaving Jessica behind in Nashville as she works long days to finish up what he believes, will be a hit country album. Tony and his buddy throw back a few drinks, and as usual, many girls at the bar take notice to his good looks and well-known face. Several cute college chicks approach Tony – sharing with him how much they love Jessica and are a fan of their relationship. They of course interact with some innocent flirty behavior (which is healthy) and Tony kindly poses for some photos. Tony and the guys buy the girls a couple of rounds and at the end of the night “I love Tony Romo” can be heard shouted across the bar with Tony’s checks turning bashfully red. Tony catches a cab, calls Jessica and reminds her how much he loves and misses her.

Which scenario do you think is more likely?

*Photo obvioulsy from Perezhilton.com

Wishing Every Day Were Derby Day

The Kentucky Derby – it is more then big hats, lavish sundresses, twenty horses, endless bets and mint juleps galore. It is the one event in the United States where your salary, profession, and social status mean the least because regardless of who you are or where you’re from everyone relates to the joys of a little booze, warm weather, and an opportunity to win big! Couple that with friendly southern hospitality and strangers eagerness to know one another and you have a modern day Woodstock event.

And so this past weekend my mother and I traveled for our second trip to the great Derby and once again it did not disappoint. Here are a few highlights:

Where else do people fancy big hats with feathers and lace in all shades and colors? And I can’t forget to mention my most favorite one – the horse-head hat that made almost every local Kentucky news channel (please take a look)!

The Derby of course has most dress up in their Sunday’s best but these two guys had a different idea about style and attention getting:

What about meeting the winning Jockey who rode Big Brown in the 2008 Kentucky Derby? Yep, that is me and Jockey Kent Desormeaux.



To add to my collection of famous meetings I could not pass up the opportunity to meet Jockey Edgar Prado, who rode the winning and late Barbaro.

You can’t help but notice nor forget the people you meet at the Derby that help to make your experience so memorable. Here is Apple and I – her and her boyfriend (who was quite a bit older I must add) sat in our box on race day. She wore a beautiful, and of course, big hat, that was cocked sideways and pinned on her head. But her dress was the eye stopper, hat or no hat. It was bright satin green and gathered in front – it screamed antique, Great Gatsby wear. Unfortunately for Apple with every move, applause, or quick step to the bathroom the dress ripped, ripped, and ripped some more! By the end of the day she was simply wearing material hanging on by literal threads kept together with a few close-pins!

And where else to meet the interesting faces that makeup the Derby crowd? The hotel bar of course! So as I sit between my mother and a handsome pilot who has solicited her counseling services free of charge, I beg the bartender (who we’ll call “G”) to lighten the mood with more appropriate conversation that can be understood while under the influence of alcohol. What I heard I almost did not believe as “G” pulls up his right arm sleeve and shows me several bandages wrapped around his bicep pointing to where his almost ex-wife shot him two weeks prior! Yes, you read that correctly. Dressed in garbage bags and perched outside the ally of his window she waited to get an opportunity to call him a bastard and cock her pistol (she is pissed that he has moved on and she hasn’t). “G” was hit and began to run. He said, “Just like in the movies, after a few steps I fell” while she continued to shoot. With the shots running loud neighbors phoned the police and his almost ex-wife now sits behind bars charged with attempted murder! For sure, an unforgettable story.

And for my mother's sake I must add a picture of my feet. Yes, my feet! The day before the Derby is called the Kentucky Oaks - and oh how I had such a cute outfit with adorable shoes that once rained on, caused my feet some serious pain! So I went "MacGyver" and created an invention that allowed me to at least walk the rest of the day throughout the track (I must admit my mom was quite embarrassed - but I wasn't!).

The flat lands, green grass, warm welcome, offbeat encounters and memorable personal stories are all small touches that make a huge event and a short weekend filled with memories of a lifetime.

If only every day were a Derby day…

DC Metro - Fav Vendors

I can't help but offer advice to all the "almost brides" of the coming months who live in the DC Metro area. Here are some of the BEST vendors I suggest you use when planning your wedding!

Mywedding.com is a wonderful online resource that allows you to post as much or as little information that you want to share with your guests in advance in order to make their attendance most comfortable. You can post pictures, provide locations, times, and directions and add any bit of guidance you think a guest would need to know in order to be stress free. Did I mention that this service is for FREE and the templates are very easy to use?!

It has become the norm nowadays to send out a “Save The Date” long before your wedding day. Families and friends are spread across the country and people’s lives are busier with days and weekends booked far in advance. I used and am a big fan of Magnetstreet.com (note: they are not limited to just magnets and offer other announcement styles). The representative assigned to me over email was easy to work with and allowed me to request several changes that she promptly made. Nothing goes to printing until you are 100% satisfied with the draft of what your item will look like. Magnets are a smart choice for a Save The Date because they are unlikely to get thrown away or your date be forgotten about as the message on the refrigerator is a constant reminder!

Rosalin’s Bridal in Falls Church will negotiate all final prices with you. In fact I know several brides who found their dresses elsewhere but came to Rosalins’ to determine if they could have their dream dress for a little bit less! My bridesmaid dresses were $40 cheaper per dress ordering them through Rosalin’s. I also purchased my tiara from Rosalin’s and after I found another that I loved more dearly, Rosalin’s was kind enough to allow me to return the product even though that is not their formal policy. I searched high and low to find affordable pocket fold invitations that had a little bit of personality and matched my color scheme. At one point I was so desperate I considered making them myself (which would have been a bad idea considering I can barely draw stick figures).

Although a bit out of my way (The Hawthorne House, located in Occoquan, VA) I decided to find out, after several recommendations, whether or not they had what I was looking for so badly. And yes they did! They had a large assortment of pocket fold styled invitations at better prices then most.

If you are top heavy, busty, or have big boobs, your saving grace to making your wedding complete is finding a bustier that will hold you in and make you look as beautiful as you had hoped in your wedding dress. I dreaded this search as I can barely find bras that fit me comfortably and support my “twins.” But then on theknot.com I read rave reviews about a store in Vienna, VA called Trousseau. During one of my mom’s visits we arrived at what became my favorite store ever! Besides the fact that they understand all boob sizes and shapes, and even more impressive that they will alter any piece for FREE, the women who worked there were so accommodating, patient, and helpful – making me feel normal and ensuring me they would find the right bra for my dress. One bustier and several bras later I departed the store thankful that the apparel for my big day was now complete.

Last stop – bathing suit (which is just as dreadful as finding the right bra for us big boobed women). I wanted to look sexy on my honeymoon and be able to frolic along the beach in a two piece like all the other just married wives. I did not want spillage or a top that fit but bottoms that were too big. I wanted to feel like a perfect summer beach babe. And then I was just as thankful to find Lions Lair Designs as I was when I found Trousseau! Lions Lair is located somewhere in Florida. They are a store that specializes in carrying lingerie and bathing suits for big boobed females. This is the key – get measured at Trousseau for the Freya and Fantasie brand bras. Lions Lair sells suits from these designers so once you know your bra size in these brands then you will know the exact size you are in the swimsuits. In fact, my bikini top fits more perfectly than my bra top! All orders can be placed by phone to Lions Lair. They overnight whatever you have ordered and they do not charge you shipping if your purchase is over $90 (pretty positive that is the dollar amount but not 100% sure). On several occasions the bottoms were too big, too small and each time Lions Lair was gracious enough to not charge me the cost of shipping! I have never had suits that fit so perfectly! This is