Find Out What it Means to Me

I am not sure when back to school got so expensive.  I remember when I was going to school, back to school shopping with my mom was much more exciting and definitely more fun.  As an adult I am starting to see it is because I wasn’t paying for it.

When you fund the back to school shopping it is actually overwhelming and you start to think of all of the nice things you could buy for yourself if you weren’t buying 12 hand sanitizers, 20 reams of paper, 36 composition notebooks and so on.

To be clear: I am not complaining about the teacher’s list.  Teachers- if you are reading this…. you are taking my kids for 8 hours every day.  Tell me what you need and I will climb to the top of the highest mountain to get it for you.  You want 6 purple glue sticks.. DONE! You want 4 packs of Ticonderoga Sharpened Pencils… CHECK! You need 4 Expo find dry erase markers… HERE are 12! I will get you whatever you want, girl! You’re teaching my kids!

But taking heat from your husband for back to school shopping at Target doesn’t even seem fair.  You spent that much because you actually had to buy all of those things.

My husband had promised my kids they could each have a toy at Target if they behaved for the week, and so when we went yesterday to make good on the promise I got a stern look and a “stay close and do not wander” order.  I don’t know what I could have done to merit such treatment.  If the man could have put a leash on me he would have.

I had tried to explain to him that this month was actually not my fault.  I tried to show him the lists and make my case, but I guess all those other times I blacked out and bought things like place holders for dinner parties we never have had earned his distrust.  Read my I Blacked Out Again… at Target article.

Until next week…
xx
Cristina

Koko, do you love me? 

This is not a new Drake song, but this story does have me a little in my feelings {you see what I did there}.  My husband and I were watching a comedy special [which I will tell you all about below], and the comic told the story of  Koko a rather famous gorilla that had learned to communicate with sign language.

The story really pulled at my heart strings, so I fell into a deep dark internet hole, and here’s what I got for you:

Koko and her caretaker/friend Francine Patterson, became rather famous years ago for their special friendship.  Francine taught Koko over 1,000 signs of modified American Sign Language- comparable to the vocabulary of a 3 year old child, and the two of them would communicate and complete lessons.  This is the most successful attempt to teach human language to animals in history.

Koko and Francine really rose to fame when Francine introduced Koko to a pet kitten which Koko named “All Ball”.  It is heart warming to watch this huge gorilla be so gentle and loving to a little kitty cat.  What really touched me was when Koko had to receive the news that All Ball had been hit by a car.  Koko communicated to Francine how sad and mad she was over it.  You would never expect a gorilla to care and love for a pet at all, but to see that they are capable of this level of deep connection was so moving.  It is enough to warm even my cold heart.  Watch a quick video HERE

You can see Koko’s full story by clicking the image below, and meet Michael, the silver back male gorilla they have also show to sign.  If you want to read an article from The Atlantic about little Koko Click HERE.

Around the Internet 

 

Ariana Grande performed a moving tribute to Queen Aretha on Jimmy Fallon’s TonightShow by singing “Natural Woman”.  Check it out HERE.

In love with the Coco? Well don’t be, because apparently… Coconut oil is BAD for you!  Figuring out what is good for you and what is not has taken a turn for more complicated.  In THIS viral video, Karin Bichels, director of the Institute for Prevention and Tumor Epidemiology and professor at Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, she says coconut oil is NOT healthy at all and is “pure poison“. For the article and link to video click HERE [her lecture is in German]

Alec Baldwin is all of us.  Alec Baldwin was on Instagram (probably a little too much) and came across a sexy picture his daughter had posted.  Naturally, he commented.

Calvin Harris and Sam Smith just released a new song, Promises.  You can catch thatHERE.

Since I am still on the back to school kick.  Catch this mom, who speaks only the truth while shopping at Target for supplies.  I’m with here God Bless the teachers– give them whatever they want! Click HERE.

Crazy Rich Asians is out and getting AMAZING reviews. For those who haven’t read the book, which is almost impossible to put down, click the image for the trailer.  Anyone want to invite for me to a girl’s night to watch? No? No one… sigh

TV Addict Update  

What’s on my list to watch next? 
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before: [Netflix} I got a DM from a fellow TV addict I met on Instagram {I’m not a loser- I swear} who insisted I watch this immediately! I saw the preview last night which you can watch HERE and it looks so good! I’m abandoning Insatiable to watch something that seems way more up my alley.  Check my Instagram for my review or you can find it here next week. HERE is an article with a rave review about the Netflix Original movie..

Have a suggestion? Let me know! Or find me on IG and send me a DM

Bill Burr: Walk Your Way Out: {Netflix} I cried laughing during this special. It’s a little over an hour, and while there were moments I thought for sure I would become offended- I ended up laughing hysterically.  He taught me about Koko the gorilla, rants about McDonald’s, and draws a sports comparison to Hitler that you will not see coming.  Check the trailer HERE.