Another wonderful contribution from Erica's Sweet Tooth, only she made hers with mixed berries. I did that the first time I made a batch but they were far too moist-- even though I kept the strawberries to 1 cup-- and turned to mush after a day. I highly recommend keeping it straight blueberries AND sprinkle a bit of sugar on top for crunch. Yum!
With the exception of Harry Potter, I can't justify spending movie theater prices for the less than entertaining films Hollywood has released lately. So this review round is for RENTALS.
Burlesque: Normally, a concoction of Xtina, Cher, Stanley Tucci, stilettos, and peek-a-boo outfits all wrapped in a musical package with an over-the-top glittery bow is a recipe for fantastic. And let me say, Burlesque has its moments (not really) BUT... I was bored. It's the same Cinderella story about the same small town girl with the same big talent (hey! this gal can sing-- give her a record deal!) trying to make it in show business-- all of which I knew-- but the lack of Cher and overabundance of Xtina made the film more painful than fun. See it if you like this sort of thing, but have your fast forwarding finger ready.
Faster: Originally we rented Faster as a "Good Bad Film" rental, aka a movie that takes itself seriously yet is completely ridiculous and cheesy. Surprisingly... it was actually a serious film with a powerful story about revenge and a great performance by Dwayne Johnson (how far he's come from Smackdown). If you like a darker, grittier story then check it out.
Dylan Dog: Oh my... what can I say about this movie... don't bother. It's not horribly offensive, gory, scary, funny, entertaining-- nothing. Dyaln Dog is simply boring. It's so dull I can't even make the review interesting. The jokes fall flat and I'm not sure if that's because of the writing, directing, acting, or everyone was hoping for a quick buck. Brandon Roth is usually great. I have a feeling the graphic novel about an investigator for the undead "living" among us is far more interesting than the film.
Limitless: First let me say-- Bradley Cooper is the type of guy who will become more and more delicious as he gets older... and those eyes. Back to the point, Limitless was a good film and has me intrigued for the book (yes, like most interesting plot-based movies, this too was an adaptation). It's intense and has you asking: what would you do if you could take a pill that made you limitless? And I wasn't entirely sure about where the film was going and if it would work out, but the last 30 minutes really brought everything together. A must rent.
Source Code: If you love Chicago and have a blu-ray player... SEE THIS IN BLU-RAY! It's beautiful. At first I really liked the film-- I became invested in Jake's character, the story (even though it was incredibly predictable... all the way through the end)-- but then it ended. The ending went just one step too far and that's when I became confused... like Inception confused. But with Inception I'll allow it because you know going into the film that there are layers upon layers of realities to be discovered; with Source Code they take the time to explain what's going on throughout the movie... then contradict it at the end. ARGH!
If you like to think about films after you watch them, avoid this movie-- it will just make you angry.
Sucker Punch: This film is HORRIBLE. Being from the director of Watchmen (awful) and 300 (good) you can expect great visuals: color themes, unique costumes, and lots and LOTS of slow motion. While slow motion can be a great visual accent in action scenes, Zack Snyder's overuse of it made the action boring and repetitive-- we fast forwarded after awhile. And then there's the sad sack of a story: you need a stiff drink after watching this film. Yikes. Part of the problem could be that Snyder wrote, directed, and produced the film; in other words, he bit off way more than he could chew. Definitely felt sucker punched after watching this movie.
And finally...
The Mechanic: That's right, it's Jason Statham in a typical Jason Statham film! How can you not love Jason Statham doing what he does best: kicking ass and taking names? Well... he didn't kick that much ass and took almost no names in this film. It's more about him training a younger "Jason" to be an assassin-- nothing we haven't seen before. And then there's the usual random sex scene. This is definitely not a worthy "Good Bad Film."
Even if you live under a rock-- though you wouldn't read my blog if you do-- you are probably aware of a small movie premiere last weekend: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. It's the eighth and final film in the Harry Potter movie series, opened in over 4,000 theaters across the country in 2D, 3D, and IMAX, and had the largest box office opening of a film ever in the history of the world. No big deal.
Being a film and fantasy nerd, I, of course, had tickets to the midnight release in 3D. Normally I prefer 2D as the 21st century interpretation of the third dimension is a joke, but 3D was all they had left and beggars can't be choosers, right? Thus my husband and I arrived at the Appleton movie theater two hours before our showtime to snag decent seats... and it's a darn good thing we did because the place was hopping! I know this seems like common sense to you cool urban and suburbanites, but northern Wisco doesn't always jump on the Geek Train like you'd expect. When we saw Part 1 up here a couple years ago, we didn't buy midnight tickets until the day of and got in without a hitch. So I was pleasantly surprised to see an array of kids, teens, and adults sporting Trelawney glasses, homemade T-shirts, and full on costumes hours before the bell tolled twelve. My favorite costumes in our theater were an older man (like in his 50's older) as Dumbledore-- he even had a wand from the Harry Potter theme park!-- Professor Trelawney and Tonks (dyed hair and all), and finally Mad Eye Moody, complete with walking stick and glass eye. Amazing.
Unfortunately our actual film watching experience wasn't too great. My husband had some annoying too-cool-for-school jock next to him making snide comments the entire time (dumb ass should've left), the 3D glasses were especially annoying to wear over my real glasses, and the speakers buzzed (like BZZZZZZZZZZZZZ) the whole time-- and if you've seen the film you know there are several key moments that are super quiet. Needless to say we should go for one more theater viewing. Though I liked much of the film, it seemed to dwell on scenes that didn't require extra time and placed little to no emphasis on a few key parts (like Fred's death). I'm not going to do any type of review because you've probably already seen the film; all I have to say is, if you're a fan of the films and books then just see the movie so you too can relate to everyone else. :)
I would, however, like to briefly reflect on this magical journey provided to me by J.K. Rowling for more than half my life. On Friday I turn 26 (hooray for birthdays!) and this milestone coupled with the release of HP7P2 made me realize that I've had a relationship with Harry Potter (I promise I'm not a pedophile) and his adventures for 15 years! I began the books at age 11-- the same age Harry was when Hagrid broke down the Dursley's door on that secluded island and said, "Yer a wizard, Harry"-- and am one of the small but fortunate generation that actually grew up with Harry Potter himself. I love that I have such an experience; it brings the books and Harry's story that much closer to my heart.
The story of how I got into the books is similar to most: my brothers and I received the first three books as a Christmas gift from an aunt (who had a reputation for giving odd presents). We were less than thrilled, especially since we'd never heard of J.K. Who and Harry Whatshisname-- plus books rank right above clothing as "Presents Kids Love to Get." Thankfully I enjoyed reading even as a youngin' so I took advantage of the time off Christmas allowed and the rest is history. It's funny to remember a time before Harry, Ron, and Hermione became household names and wearing black rimmed glasses was cool, but how exciting to see literary history made before our eyes. My children will never know life without Harry Potter and that's okay, but it's a shame future generations won't get to experience the anticipation for the next book in a series, hanging out at Borders (so sad they're closing) for a BOOK's midnight release-- I was working there when the 7th book came out-- dressing up for movie premieres... we're truly lucky to have known such a phenomenon. I wonder what the next one will be...
It's that time of the month again! No... not that time... here are my CURRENT FAVORITES!
Teavana Loose Leaf Tea-- One of the perks of working here is unlimited free drinks on your shift. How much tea can you really drink, you ask? A lot when it comes to the tasty variety of teas offered by Teavana, not to mention the unending combinations. I'm obsessed.
Starbucks Iced Coffee-- Because I adore the JavaVana Mate iced tea lightly sweetened with a teaspoon of cream... I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try iced coffee. It's delish with a bit of flavoring and a tiny amount of Half and Half! A refreshing summer boost.
Thread Earrings-- I have these in coral with a gold frame from Charming Charlie's. I just wish I had more outfits to wear them with.
Shark Bite Tanks-- This is a nice one from Lane Bryant, but the one I got from there is gray with a lovely black and silver rose print. They're figure flattering (for me anyway), comfortable, and an easy look to accessorize.
Jessie J-- You might be more familiar with her song "Price Tag" but "Do It Like a Dude" (this specific rendition of it) is awesome. Jessie J is one of a few artists who is BETTER LIVE than recorded. Hopefully I can see her in concert over and over again!
Graham Norton-- Whenever I'm feeling blue or having a blah day, GN never fails to make me laugh out loud. Never. The new season on BBC America just started but I record the reruns as well because this show is that much fun. Of course I do have quite the Brit obsession...
Hope you check out some of my faves and have a great July! Are you into anything new?
So I'm adding or altering my list... I haven't decided yet. While out and about with my husband today, I made the mistake of going to Barnes & Noble. After collecting a stack of young adult novels, reading summaries and the first couple chapters of each, I now find that there are some books I'd like to add to the top of my list. I know I know... I do this to myself every year! But what can I say, I still had leftover gift card money in my Amazon account.
Here are the new titles--
(Book 6 in the Sookie Stackhouse series-- thanks for tempting me, Lori!)
Also, I'm dropping The Cookbook Collector for now. I've read several chapters and well... I'm BORED. There's some kind of romance in there but the author-- who critics claim writes like a modern day Jane Austen (liars!)-- is doing her damnedest to get into it ASAP ("As SLOW As Possible"). Well now, it's time to keep reading so I'll talk to you soon!
June.
After what seemed like an endless winter-- blizzard in April, snow in May-- the sun started shining, the days have grown longer, and despite the gray skies and temperatures in the 50's this weekend, warmth has finally reached Wisconsin. Watching the water shimmering on our quaint "lake" (I think of it more as a pond) inspires me to reassess our library along with recommendations from friends and create my annual summer reading list. Though I begin a new job June 20th that will keep me fairly occupied, here is my list to share with all of you.
Feel free to contribute your own thoughts on the books or add to the list-- I'd love to know what you're reading!
Currently I'm reading The Emerald Atlas and The Cookbook Collector.
This is #5 in the Sookie Stackhouse series and what better book to read during the summer than a sexy supernatural romantic thriller. So excited.
First: I've seen the film. Second: I saw the interview on Oprah with Elizabeth Gilbert. Thus, I have an expectation that Eat Pray Love (the book) will read more like a travel journal than a narrative story with plots, subplots, and well-formed characters. Hopefully I'll learn something and be INSPIRED.
I love the Mitford Series-- if you're looking for a great character driven story set in a small mountain town I HIGHLY recommend the books <3-- and this is, to put it in TV terms, the spin-off series from Mitford, following the lovable Episcopalian preacher Father Tim and his free spirit wife Cynthia to Ireland. The first book is Home to Holly Springs and worth a read before continuing with this one. Can't wait!
The Complete Works of John Donne. What can I say, his poetry is beautiful.
Love and Friendship and Lady Susan are early works by Jane Austen and although I'm an uber Austenite, I must confess I haven't read these. Not for long...
Ever read the super popular Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan? No?! Stop reading this and go get the books! This is the first book in the second Greek mythology demigod series by Riordan-- should be a blast for summer. Oh, and you really should read Percy Jackson before stepping into The Lost Hero.
Got this as a birthday present a few years ago and I'm FINALLY going to read it. I promise. Never read an Oprah club book before and I have no idea what this is about... so yeah, I haven't seen the film either. I'm so bad.
Usually Jane Austen fan fiction follows an Austen romance plot and is a light read. A murder plot should be interesting. Ooooo suspense!
The reason I want to read this novel is because I fell in love with the Masterpiece Theater Miniseries (if you have Netflix it's on Instant Play). It took me a long time to watch the film because I thought it'd be really depressing BUT turns out there's a great love story intertwined in the complex story. Score.
This was recommended by a classmate because I loved North and South. Also it was free on the Kindle. Sadly the Masterpiece Theater miniseries is NOT on instant. I'm going to send an email about that...
I've heard good things about this and the movie comes out in August. Must... feed... curiosity.
I bought the first 2 books in this trilogy 3 years ago and it's high time I read one of them. That's all.
And if I have extra time...
A Wrinkle in Time (series?)
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Jane Eyre
Cranford
The Last Apprentice: Attack of the Fiend
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe
Usually my summer reading list is unrealistically long-- and it was after my first draft of this blog-- so I'm hoping I will actually get through all of the books listed.
When unable to think of an interesting Facebook status, I will occasionally update with my current favorites (I like to think of myself as the poor college graduate's Oprah). Thus came the idea for a new segment on the HPG blog. This is also a testament to my indecisiveness and inability to choose concrete faves-- they are always changing.
Let the first round of favorites begin!
1. Food
Salted Sweet Caramels
After discovering I loved pretzel M&M's, my MIL recommended the above chocolates from Vandewalle's sweet shop... and boy was she RIGHT. Salt brings out the sweetness in desserts and makes for a delectable treat.
Iced White Mocha from Starbucks
To further my Starbucks addiction, I switch from hot to iced beverages during the summer and find the White Mocha to offer the best combination of sweetness and coffee. Here's the "Jamie" version: Iced Grande 2 pump, nonfat, no whip white mocha-- delish!
Tofu Pad Thai
Rice noodles, peanuts, lime, scallions, tofu, and spices... Perfect.
2. Fashion
Dexter - Loop Twisted Wedge (Payless)
Kassidy Huarache Sandal (Payless)
Who doesn't love a good wedge shoe? And since you can't keep this 5'11" frame out of heels these are both a must for my summer wardrobe. Sadly, I own neither pair (the bane of unemployment until the 20th then bills to take care of... boo to adulthood), but they're on my wish list.
Ring Strap Sleeveless Knit Dress
Embellished Sleeveless Top
I received these two amazeballs pieces from Lane Bryant as early birthday presents: my husband got me the dress and my mom got me the top. There were a few other pieces-- like the World's Most Comfortable Crop Pants-- but these are definitely my faves. Also, I got the dress in a deep purple, not black, because the consensus from my shopping buddies was a big "WOW!" when I stepped out of the dressing room in that color. The best part? I won't have to stop wearing these clothes come Fall.
For all things accessories...
Francesca's Collections
Charming Charlie's
For the woman on a budget (or the woman who just loves to purchase purses & jewelry on a consistent basis), these shops are where it's at. They both have clothes and shoes as well, but since my clothes shopping is greatly limited by my size, I'll focus on the accessories. Francesca's has great BoHo style and is the place to find statement earrings, necklaces, and rings. Charming Charlie's has EVERY style, affordable prices, and is sorted by color so you can shop easily for that new coral top you just bought for the season. I warn you, when you walk in the door of CC the first time, you will gasp at the size and variety of the place... heavenly.
3. Fun
Sarah Jarosz - "Follow Me Down"
I heart Sarah Jarosz. This album is beautiful, from the fast-paced "Anabelle Lee" to the haunting "My Muse" and is worth every penny on iTunes or Amazon. Sarah is a young singer/songwriter with an old soul, talented in a number of instruments in the guitar family, and writes in the styles of bluegrass/folk/country. Such a beautiful, soulful sound...
Ke$ha - "Blow"
Yes this is the second time I've posted a Ke$ha song on my blog, and I should know better than to listen to music by someone who substitutes a dollar sign for the 's' in her name-- but I can't help it! Her songs are catchy, and she can actually sing (heard her perform live at the Billboard Music awards). She might be on the ridiculous end of the spectrum, but I've shed a lot of calories to this song.
The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens
This is a great young adult fantasy adventure novel with one of the more horribly creepy villains I've come across in YA Lit, and three different yet dynamic and layered main characters. Loving it.
Amazon Kindle
And I've been reading the book on my Kindle (a Christmas present) and I'm more and more enthusiastic about this device as the months progress. It's convenient, easy to use, stores a TON of books, and I love all the options for text size, annotating, and playing games. Plus I never have to worry about losing bookmarks (this happens to me more than it should). For you old school book lovers, the switch will be an adjustment-- still is for me-- but it's worth saving the storage and money-- did I mention all pre-1923 books are FREE?! I'll never get rid of all my hardcovers, but I like having the option of a tangent as well as a digital library that saves space.
4. For the deeper side of me...
Long Walks
On my seemingly never-ending quest toward weight loss, my husband and I began walking. It's become an almost daily activity of ours. Walking, talking, enjoying the beautiful open spaces in our area (we live near a nature preserve and a little out of the way of civilization)-- it's been therapeutic. Though we haven't walked anywhere near a beach, I chose this photo as a foreshadow of the new life awaiting us in California. You bet your ass there'll be long walks by the beach.
Coffee Talk
Can you believe I found a coffee talk photo with "marriage" on it?! How perfect is that! One of our favorite past-times is journeying to a local coffee shop (or Starbucks), ordering a latte (or macchiato), and discussing... well... EVERYTHING. Our plans for Cali came to be while sipping coffee, as well as choosing an apartment, working on our webisode series, purchasing a minivan, and all other manner of creative & life-altering conversations.
Cooking
Though I don't cook all the time, I find myself more and more dissatisfied with restaurant food and their prices, and am turning more and more to my cookbooks for a solution. And honestly, there's nothing like creating something beautiful and delicious from scratch. As my skills and courage with recipes progress, I'm loving the idea of me as a grandmother chopping, simmering, and baking away in my kitchen for children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren (God willing).
