Daily Mish Mash

And this time they were holding hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, I will try to contain my excitement and not use so many exclamations.

Thank you to JP at Celebrity-Skewer for the heads up on this story.

Ok, remember how I told you a few weeks ago that Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling were spotted leaving The Green Door after his DJ gig. 

Everyone was saying how nice it was that they were still friends, but I just knew there was more to the story. 

According to Lainey Gossip, Rachel and Ryan had dinner last night at a restaurant called Grace on College Street in Toronto. 

And they walked into the restaurant HOLDING HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I just can’t contain my excitement.  I can barely type this because my fingers are shaking so much on the keyboard.

I have no pictures of this new sighting so I will just leave you with some old McGosling goodness.

It may be a little premature for this, but I’m saying it anyway: 

IT WASN’T OVER!!  IT STILL ISN’T OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are still in the diaper buying stage (thankfully, I am not), please make an effort to purchase specially marked (with the sticker pictured left) packages of Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive, Swaddlers, Cruisers, and Easy Ups diapers and Pampers Sensitive, Swipers, and Clean ‘n Go wipes.

For every one of these products purchased in the U.S. and Canada through August 31, 2008, the Pampers brand will donate 5¢ to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to provide one tetanus vaccine to a woman in the developing world. 

If you have no reason to buy diapers (lucky you, those things are expensive) then there are still two other ways to help:

• Follow this link to buy a package of diapers for a needy family in America.  That same diaper purchase will provide a vaccine through UNICEF to a pregnant woman and baby. One purchase = two donations.  
• Or, follow this link to make a direct, secure, tax-deductible donation to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, supporting UNICEF’s maternal neonatal tetanus programs.  Donations of any amount you can give will make a difference.  

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I mentioned last week that I was thinking of changing Make a Difference Monday to a monthly feature.  A few of you commented that you would prefer this, and I agree.

So, go out and find a cause you feel passionate about, and then figure out a way that you can get involved.  It may be volunteering your time, donating to the charity or just writing about it on your blog.  It really doesn’t matter how you get involved as long as you do something.

I know how much you love giveaways so I thought I would bribe motivate you to come back and participate.  During the first week of September, I will announce the prize and how you can be a winner.

It is at this time that I would like to ask Ryan Gosling to donate two of his worn t-shirts as prizes.  Now, Ryan, I know you like to wear your t-shirts until they are just about falling off of your body in shreds.  While we all appreciate this act of charity on your part, I think it would be even better if you would donate the shirts to be a prize for Make a Difference Monday.  Don’t you think it would make an even bigger impact?  Why two shirts you may be asking yourself?  Well, you know I would have to keep one for myself.  So, have your people get in touch with my people (and when I say “your people” I really mean you and when I say “my people” I just mean email me).

Then on Monday, September 8th, I will put up the Mr. Linky and everyone will join hands and sing Kumbaya put up their posts sharing their important cause and what steps you have taken to make a difference. 

(And hopefully someone will win one of Ryan Gosling’s shirts.  A girl can dream, right?)

Ryan Gosling is so hot…he burns holes in his shirts.  See evidence below:

Today’s picks come from one of my oldest and closest friends, Tonya.  I blogged about her here.

We have always been alike in so many ways.  I think of her as my female soulmate, if there is such a thing because we have so many similarities.  She even puts pictures of her cute celebrity guys in her laundry room to brighten her mood as she goes through the endless cycle of sorting, washing, drying and folding.  If that isn’t a brilliant idea, I don’t know what is.

Then she went and sent me her Friday Eye Candy list and I just don’t even know what to say. Her top picks are so completely and utterly different from anything I would ever choose.  She tends to go for the bad boy type.  Me, not so much. 

I thought it would be fun to do a little comparison:

Tonya’s #1 Pick:                                                             Jen’s #1 Pick:

Tito Ortiz, UFC, dates porn star                                       Ryan Gosling , actor, dates sweetheart    

Tonya’s Favorite Reality TV Judge:                                               Jen’s Favorite Reality Judge:

Napoleon D’Umo                                                                         Piers Morgan

Judge on So You Think You Can Dance                                       Judge on America’s Got Talent

(Note to Carol and everyone else:  Please don’t stop reading because Piers Morgan made it to Friday Eye Candy.  I know, I know, but I just had to do it.  I just find him so irresistable with his snooty accent and condescending attitude.  He’s my kind of bad boy.) 

And here is the rest of Tonya’s list (I guess since I agree with a few of these, we can keep being BFFs):

Uriah Faber

Matt Damon

Justin Timberlake

Channing Tatum (I don’t know you but I’d like to.)

Who are your your favorite “bad boys”?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  I’ll make a compilation of your answwers in the upcoming weeks.

Did you hear the news?!!  It is big huge MONUMENTAL news!! 

For the first time in almost a year and a half, Rachel McAdams    and Ryan Gosling have been photographed together!!!!!!!!!!  They were trying to be all sneaky by going out the back door of the Green Door Lounge in LA last night when the pesky paparazzi caught them.

Let’s all jump up and down and rejoice together! 

I know this picture really doesn’t mean that they are back together.  Sure, Rachel could have just been there as a friend going to support her ex as he made his debut as a DJ (This is peculiar news alone, but I have no time to worry about minor plot details like this.  Ryan likes playing with music.  That’s nice, but we have bigger fish to fry here people.)  

Anyway, a normal person wouldn’t jump to conclusions.  A normal person wouldn’t think that there was a secret wedding being planned.  A normal person wouldn’t look at the way Rachel is holding her purse over her belly and think that maybe she is trying to conceal a baby bump.  No, normal people don’t have these thoughts.   

I am choosing not to be normal.  I’m choosing to believe in true love and happily ever after.  I’m choosing to believe that this is just the beginning of many more good things to come.  Who’s with me?!!

 Note:  This is not a recent picture, but just one of my old favorites of the two of them back when all was right with the world.

Photo Credits:  Ryan Gosling Online

**Please note:  This giveaway is now closed to new entries. 

I’m feeling extra generous today, so I am going to offer another giveaway.  This one has two purposes.

1. I am a comment junkie and love to hear from my readers (Did you see the cute little sunflower I just added to try to encourage more comments?)

2. I like to talk about myself.

When I’m not giving my kids reasons they will need therapy and stalking Ryan Gosling online, I am a professional travel planner. 

I have been doing this for over 2 years and I absolutely LOVE it. 

While I have experience with planning honeymoons, all-inclusive getaways, cruises and more, I spend most of my time helping families with their vacation plans.  My specialty and absolute first love is Walt Disney World. 

(The photo below is of me receiving my diploma at the Disney College of Knowledge Graduation Ceremony in January of this past year.  Can you tell how excited I am?!)

It is such a great job because planning vacations is almost as much fun as taking them.  I can help my clients with choosing their hotel, activities, dining reservations and itinerary.  It is like I am vicariously planning my own vacation and it doesn’t get much better than that!!  Plus, I get to stay home with my kids which is an added bonus.

Most of my travel clients are local and I try to provide them with the absolute highest level of service.  I’ll meet with them to give them tips and tricks to make sure that their vacation will be one they remember forever. 

I guess that is why I’m still a little leery of marketing my business online to strangers (although many of you I now consider new friends).  I’m not sure how this personalized service that I am used to giving would translate to the internet, but I guess I can figure that out as I go along.

This is my passion (behind my family, friends and Ryan Gosling, of course). 

If you are in the market for a vacation or think you may be in the next couple of years, please consider bookmarking my website and utilizing my services.   The best part is that it is totally FREE to work with a travel agent.  I charge no fees because I am paid directly from the supplier (Disney, Apple, Carnival, etc…)

What on earth does all of this have to do with a giveaway?  Well, I have decided to offer an amazing prize to you today. 

A $50 Disney gift card

I use the word amazing because to me anything related to Disney is amazing, but I’m biased since they pay me.  This really is a pretty cool card because you have your choice of so many places to use it–the Disney Store at the mall, the Disney theme parks, the Disney cruiseline and Disney Shopping online. 

Here is what you need to do to enter to win:

1. Leave me a comment telling me your favorite ride or other attraction at Disney World or why you love the place as much as me (if you have never been to Disney World, just leave me a comment telling me your favorite Disney character).

2.  For a second chance at winning, leave me a comment letting me know that you would like to be signed up for my travel newsletter.  Please only ask to be signed up if you are interested in receiving occasional special offer emails.  I send them out usually about once a month, but absolutely no more than once a week.  ****Please leave me another comment letting me know so you will be entered a second time. 

3. For those of you with a blog, you can earn another entry by posting about this contest on your blog.  Just make sure you leave me another comment with a link to your post so I know that did this and you will be entered again.

This contest is open to anyone (non-bloggers too) and the last entry must be received no later than Monday, August 4th at 10pm EST.   I will pick only one winner for the gift card.

Good luck!

Before I start my Make a Difference Monday post (go here to read more about this) I want to take just a quick minute to answer a few questions that have been asked about this feature.

My husband asks: 

 Aren’t you afraid of sounding preachy and condescending?  People don’t come to your blog for a sermon. 

Yes, I am a little worried about this, but I assure you that I am in no way trying to come off this way.  I only talk like that to my husband (probably why he asked the question).    The other thing that I don’t want is for this to be political, religious or controversial in any way.  My hope is that it is just a fun way to share ideas about making a difference in the world. 

Marie says:

I have to admit that when I go blog shopping, I’m turned off by the serious make-a-difference ones. I like your blog BECAUSE of the Gosling stuff, and I’m not even a fan of the guy. I guess I enjoy PerezHilton for the same reason, because it’s NOT news or anything important.

Not a fan of Ryan Gosling!! That’s just crazy talk.  Anyway, I totally know what you mean.  This kind of goes along with my husband’s question.  I think it is funny that you bring up Perez because I can’t stand his “A Good Cause” posts.  I think it is because the guy can go from drawing gross things all over celebrity faces and then try to be all innocent.  I’ve never drawn things on my pictures (Although I would have liked to on Ryan’s girlfriend, but I have some decency. It may also have something to do with the fact that I don’t have Photoshop, but I’m going with the decency thing.)

Amy asks:

Will you be doing this every Monday?

I’m not sure.  I would like to do this weekly but I will have to just wait and see how many people are interested in participating.

 Jen asks:

Where’s the cute little banner for us to grab to put on our blog?

That is such a good question, Jen.  I would love to have a cute banner for this.  If there are any Photoshop Fairy Godmothers out there who would like to wave their magic wand and create one for me I would be forever grateful.

Until then, just link back to me if you decide to participate.  Thanks!

Let’s get started. Sign the Mister Linky here if you wrote up a post on your blog: 

This post is brought to you by the Libra in me wanting to create a little balance on my blog.

(Note:  I went looking for pictures of the Libra scale and I saw this one and couldn’t resist.  That is not me pictured left.  If it were me, I wouldn’t need a chicken cutlet bra, now would I?  I’m not a big fan of tattoos but I’m even a tad bit impressed by this one.)

Anyway, back to the balance thing. (Stop looking at her boobs!)  When I originally started my blog, I really had every intention of writing about things that would be meaningful, relevant and inspiring to other people.

 It seems I have gone far away from my original goal and am blabbing on and on about him:

 (He looks mad at me.  Doesn’t he look sexy when he’s mad?  Oops, I’m doing it again.  It’s a disease.)

Not that there’s anything wrong with talking about him, but I think Ryan is best in moderation.  Since my Gos Stalking has gotten completely out of hand and I feel that I need to do something to redeem myself I am going to start a new feature on my blog called:

Make a Difference Monday

I interrupt this post with a song from John Mayer about trying to make changes in the world. I thought it would make good mood music for the rest of this post. So push play and then keep reading.

 
Make a Difference Monday is going to be a place for me to talk about the things I’m doing in my life or plan to do this week to make the world a better place.  Or just the causes that I feel are worth talking about. 

I just feel like it is the small steps that we take that can make a big difference and if even one person reads a post and gets inspired to take action then I will have felt like I am doing my part.

As Gandhi says,

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

(Isn’t that a great quote?  Why can’t I come up with clever little phrases like this?  Probably because I eat too much junk food.)

I’m pretty lazy so it really will be small steps.  I doubt I will be holding any rallies for world peace or anything like that, but I do hope to cover a wide variety of topics and ideas on how we can be the change.  

I would also love to hear what you are doing in your own life (remember we’re talking about little things).  I know if we put our heads together we will inspire each other.

Many of us are busy with the most important job in the world, raising the future (our children, in case you didn’t get that Whitney reference).  Parenting is our calling, our mission, our life’s purpose.  That is why I’m totally fine with that being one of the topics of discussion.  Also, if you can get your kids involved in some sort of cause, that is double points (not that there will be points).

If you are interested in joining me but aren’t sure where to begin, I suggest taking a look at the Every Monday Matters website.  They have 52 weeks of great ideas.  Their vision is to create a collective action of ordinary people - a national movement - making a difference that benefits our society.  

 I can get behind that.  How about you?  Are you in?

Plus this will give me the opportunity to put a Linky on my site.  Ever since I successfully figured out how to put a Mister Linky on my blog (and let me tell you that it was no small feat) I have been dying to wield my Linky powers.

I know I have the Movie Madness Carnival coming up on August 5th, but that just seems like forever away when I have the power of the Linky at my fingertips right HERE, right NOW!!

I hope you’ll join in.  If so, leave me a comment and let me know.  I’ll only put the Linky up if I get at least a few responses.  There’s nothing more sad to me than a lonely Linky.  Ok, so starving children in Africa is way more sad, but you know what I mean. 

So let me know if you will join me on Monday.  Then get your post ready and come back here to link up.  Ryan and I will be waiting.

There is an interesting twist in the Ryan Gosling and his mysterious new girlfriend story .   Are you ready for this?

SHE’S MARRIED!!!!

According to the (insert sarcastic tone here) very reputable Star Magazine, her name is  Angel Picard-Ami, and she was an extra on his upcoming drama, All Good Things.

When Star contacted the 23-year-old, she insisted the two were just friends. “He’s an amazing person, but he’s not my boyfriend. I’m married.”

Um, how many of you walk down the street holding hands with your guy friends?  Did she need help crossing the street?  Was he worried that he would get lost?  I don’t know about you, but I’m not buying it.

Well, at least there is one positive thing to come out of this very bizarre story.  I now know that Ryan will hold hands with a married woman. 

Now that’s what I call progress.  I will sleep better tonight knowing that I still have a chance with him.

I’d like to thank Jen for introducing me to the wonderful world of Polyvore.  This is a website where you can put together outfits complete with all the matching accessories. (My friend Kate will LOVE this!!)

When I first started playing around with it, I made up a few outfits and then got bored with that.  So, the logical next step was to begin to fantasize about what I might wear on a date with Ryan Gosling. 

Well, don’t even really bother looking at the outfit because I lost interest in that real quick (Clothes are not my thing at all.  Do you believe that skirt retails for almost $1800!!!  CRAZY!!).  So, I began adding other “elements” to my scene.

Here is how I see our date unfolding:

He picks me up and takes me back to his place in NYC.  Of course there are flowers waiting for me.  He cooks me dinner and it is the most delicious meal that I have ever eaten in my entire life.  Naturally, there is lots of wine and chocolate.   After dinner he reads some poetry to me and then we go up to his rooftop loft (remember it is NYC) where we dance the night away.  Yes, it starts raining.  So, of course there is lots of kissing. In the rain.  On the roof.  And that is where I will leave this fantasy. 

So, I’m tagging anyone else who would like to play along.  How would your dream date go?   What would you wear?  Where would you go?   What would you do?  Go over to Polyvore and make up a fantasy of your own.  Have fun, but don’t include Ryan because he’s mine all mine (trying hard to forget about his new girlfriend).  Don’t forget to come back here to let me know if you played along.