So, thanks to my good friend Amanda Bishop and Starbucks coffee, I recently and randomly became a MARY KAY consultant!! WTF, right!? I still can't believe that I am a Mary Kay gal now, but I am very excited and nervous at the same time. And no, it's not just for old ladies. Their makeup is pretty great!
I met Amanda and her MK director, Melissa Smith, so that I could be supportive of her new business venture when I asked so many questions about the company that I was super intrigued. After convincing Tony to get a free facial at her weekly meeting that night with me and after loving the products we tried (hello satin lips!) I signed the agreement and ordered my "kit" to become a consultant!
The reason it sounded so appealing was for the money. We are always struggling and can use any extra that comes at us. Someday we will be out of this mess we're in, but we have to do something drastic about it for it to change. I will get to pocket 50% of everything I sell with MK and that also means we get 50% off all their products and once I run out of my Oil of Olay, I'm going Mary Kay!
The best part of this extra money is every penny is going towards our schooling! Oh, did I forget to mention it is really happening this time? This January, as in 1 month from now, Tony and I will be in school part time and working full time (talk about the stress!) We need to get out of our current jobs to actually begin real careers and this is the first huge step.
contact me...
emilybarrettrodriguez@marykay.com
or at my normal address
emerald622@msn.com
to order...
http://www.marykay.com/emilybarrettrodriguez
Remember, if you ever want to order anything for yourself or as a gift all the proceeds go to our school fund, which is VERY important!
Also, if you have never tried any of their products you can get a free facial from me anytime. Every Tuesday night we have our weekly meetings and I would love to get some good practice by bringing guests for the free facials.
I will never pressure you to buy anything (because I HATE feeling pressured), but if you love it please do order!!
Thanks for your support!!
P.S. Duh! I forgot to mention that if you are also interested in hosting a Mary Kay party they are fun and depending on how much your guests order you get credit towards your own purchase! Always a plus!
05 December, 2010
15 November, 2010
wish list...
Here's just a little hint at my Christmas list on Amazon!! To see everything on my list... My Amazon wish list
Ok so it's the most random list ever but I would love to own everything listed here!!
Sew Retro
Nine West pumps
Lost: The Complete Collection
Drowning Girl poster by Lichtenstein
Dexter season 4
Audrey Hepburn Collection
Schwinn Cruiser
Ok so it's the most random list ever but I would love to own everything listed here!!
What do you want for xmas?
03 November, 2010
quiltin time...
I told myself I would never quilt again! Not true, but that was only bc I was working on 4 at one time last year and got so burned out. I love quilting and will never quit. Now it is one year later and I am ready to get back in the game!
I found one style a long time ago in a book that I loved and got it all planned out with my graph paper, colored pencils... And I finally bought all the fabrics! I'm very excited. It's called the flower vase and involves lots of flowery fabrics in different colors creating a vase full of flowers set on a table top. I tried to find all fabrics that looked kind of vintage and still modern. I am very, very picky about my fabrics and spend waaaaay to much time at Joann Fabrics. But I am the master of my coupons at crafty stores!!
Here is what the book quilt looks like...(YUCK)
Ok Gross! But this is mine...
It's just the top so far but the backing will be a solid light teal. I can't wait until it is finally finished as it will be my first finished quilt for me!! YAY!!!
I found one style a long time ago in a book that I loved and got it all planned out with my graph paper, colored pencils... And I finally bought all the fabrics! I'm very excited. It's called the flower vase and involves lots of flowery fabrics in different colors creating a vase full of flowers set on a table top. I tried to find all fabrics that looked kind of vintage and still modern. I am very, very picky about my fabrics and spend waaaaay to much time at Joann Fabrics. But I am the master of my coupons at crafty stores!!
Here is what the book quilt looks like...(YUCK)
Ok Gross! But this is mine...
It's just the top so far but the backing will be a solid light teal. I can't wait until it is finally finished as it will be my first finished quilt for me!! YAY!!!
01 November, 2010
Halloween week...
I have had a fantastic week! (And this is the start of my new at-least-once-a-week postings.)
-saw my dad twice in Portland on layovers
-my bestie, Anneliese, from elementary-high school came here on vaca for 6 days
-good shopping at nordstrom rack (love my new Harajuku pants)
-Halloween party on Tuesday
-Project Runway watch party for Denver native and runner-up MONDO (who is way better than Gretchen, arrrgggghhhh)!
-went to boulder to see some waterfalls but the roads were blocked due to a forest fire which is why the sky was smoky and red
WOW! Busy, busy.
First off, the Halloween Party this year did not get snowed out and we had a huge turn out. We had about 25 people and every single person dressed up. Four of the guys dressed up as ladies. What are the odds?
Secondly, Thursday night was the season finale for project runway and since one of the finalists is from Denver there was a huge party to see if he won. The Beauty Bar was packed to capacity and basically standing room only for 4 hours. Sadly, Mondo didn't win but he was gracious for the opportunity and all his fans that showed up.
I enjoy weeks like this but I my laundry is piling up badly and I need to get cracking on those xmas gifts!
P.S. Visit my new movie review blog... Tothetheater.blogspot.com
-saw my dad twice in Portland on layovers
-my bestie, Anneliese, from elementary-high school came here on vaca for 6 days
-good shopping at nordstrom rack (love my new Harajuku pants)
-Halloween party on Tuesday
-Project Runway watch party for Denver native and runner-up MONDO (who is way better than Gretchen, arrrgggghhhh)!
-went to boulder to see some waterfalls but the roads were blocked due to a forest fire which is why the sky was smoky and red
WOW! Busy, busy.
First off, the Halloween Party this year did not get snowed out and we had a huge turn out. We had about 25 people and every single person dressed up. Four of the guys dressed up as ladies. What are the odds?
Secondly, Thursday night was the season finale for project runway and since one of the finalists is from Denver there was a huge party to see if he won. The Beauty Bar was packed to capacity and basically standing room only for 4 hours. Sadly, Mondo didn't win but he was gracious for the opportunity and all his fans that showed up.
I enjoy weeks like this but I my laundry is piling up badly and I need to get cracking on those xmas gifts!
P.S. Visit my new movie review blog... Tothetheater.blogspot.com
31 October, 2010
Another new blog!!!
Go check out my new blog all about movies!!!
To The Theater
I want people to branch out with their movie choices. Enjoy my reviews. Let me know what you think of the films as well with your comments.
-EMILY
To The Theater
I want people to branch out with their movie choices. Enjoy my reviews. Let me know what you think of the films as well with your comments.
-EMILY
19 September, 2010
family news...
Apparently I don't post anymore. Hmph. I keep starting posts and never finishing them. Maybe I am bored? Too lazy? Too A.D.D.? Probably all of the above.
I really have been up to lots of fun adventures in the last couple of months. But this last week is really worth posting.
My Grandma Kemm, who is almost 85, has had some back problems lately. So bad that she can't do her day-to-day cleaning, cooking, crafting, and everything else she always does. They didn't really know why her back was in such pain, but turns out she had fallen a couple of times and a few discs in her back slipped and a couple were stuck in her spinal cord! After weeks of horrible pain (and no meds!) she finally had surgery this week.
During this time, my 89-year-old grandpa has been doing all her chores including running errands, bills, going to the bank and post office. He has been running himself ragged due to her injury.
So, my mom and I flew to Tulsa to help them out for about 5 days. We left Wednesday and got back this afternoon. We cooked, cleaned, laundred, trimmed bushes... My grandma can barely stand or walk which makes dressing, using the restroom, and bathing very difficult, so we obviously helped out with her and made her as comfortable as possible. Her serious pain meds and muscle relaxers helped a ton.
I fell so good about helping them out knowing they have taken care of so many people in their lives including me. I love spending time with them and they truly appreciated it. I did get to see almost all my family there as well as my sis who came for the whole weekend. Although it was a rewarding trip, I am exhausted and really glad to be home.
I really have been up to lots of fun adventures in the last couple of months. But this last week is really worth posting.
My Grandma Kemm, who is almost 85, has had some back problems lately. So bad that she can't do her day-to-day cleaning, cooking, crafting, and everything else she always does. They didn't really know why her back was in such pain, but turns out she had fallen a couple of times and a few discs in her back slipped and a couple were stuck in her spinal cord! After weeks of horrible pain (and no meds!) she finally had surgery this week.
During this time, my 89-year-old grandpa has been doing all her chores including running errands, bills, going to the bank and post office. He has been running himself ragged due to her injury.
So, my mom and I flew to Tulsa to help them out for about 5 days. We left Wednesday and got back this afternoon. We cooked, cleaned, laundred, trimmed bushes... My grandma can barely stand or walk which makes dressing, using the restroom, and bathing very difficult, so we obviously helped out with her and made her as comfortable as possible. Her serious pain meds and muscle relaxers helped a ton.
I fell so good about helping them out knowing they have taken care of so many people in their lives including me. I love spending time with them and they truly appreciated it. I did get to see almost all my family there as well as my sis who came for the whole weekend. Although it was a rewarding trip, I am exhausted and really glad to be home.
16 June, 2010
100th post hooplah!!!
In honor of my 100th post I thought I would begin a series of posts it with a bunch of big things going on in our lives. I will be writing these over a couple of weeks to show some progress at our house and events that will be taking place.
**Sunday, June 6th, 2010.
On July 22nd it will be our 2 year anniversary in our house! We have done lots of painting, decorating, re-arranging, making over the laundry room... But nothing major. Our #1 thing to fix around the house is the backyard. It is a HUGE dirt lot that has been time-consuming and is just looming over our heads as a mega-task that we didn't want to deal with. I (and Matt) tackled the spider-housed bushes 2 years ago, roots and all. We planted a lovely garden, last year, with wildflowers that will bloom every year. This year, SOD!!! Tony has been working non-stop the last few days with the dirt and the tilling and the heat. He is so amazing. Here I am just sitting in different cities doing nothing (well, shopping and eating) and he is being wonderfully productive! My turn begins Monday-Wednesday.
**Monday, June 7th - Wednesday, June 9th, 2010.
By the time the sun came up Monday morning I was finally able to see all the hard work that Tony put into the yard... Partially tilled yard, a new garden with mulch and border, cleaned out side yard to discover yet another pathway.
So this week the job was tilling the entire yard, planting trees, planting a couple of other plants, and finishing off the new little gardens. We tilled our butts off. It is such hard work. The damn machine wants to go to the soft tilled earth instead of the hard pressed dirt, so it's constantly falling to the side. We planted our very first tree in the backyard, a smoke tree. They have a different look every season and it "produces pinkish, airy flower clusters in early summer that appear like puffs of smoke." I can't wait to see it in full smokey bloom next year! We also had to rake the yard to get it fairly smooth and level for the upcoming sod.
**Friday, June 11th - Monday, June 14th, 2010.
RAIN! We never get days and days of rain. It is so rare here in Denver. But it is also just a few days early since we hadn't put the sod down yet. Poop. It made the temperature quite nice though.
**Tuesday, June 15th, 2010.
SOD. SOD. SOD! The day has finally come! We drove to Brighton, CO to a sod farm (I don't know what they're really called) to get our sod. We decided on 2 pallets, knowing it wouldn't be quite enough for our enormous yard. Tony's dad brought his truck and 2 other friends with 2 more trucks. We bought 2 pallets, but actually ended up with over 2.5. It's always good to know people to give you a little extra. We also got it for a steal (under $300!!) With the 5 of us working we had all the sod laid in about 3 hours. I still can't believe that we actually have a wonderfully green backyard.
**Wednesday, June 16th, 2010.
So now that the sod is in and the backyard looks swell, we decided to put in a sprinkler system. Apparently backwards backyard is out motto. So right this second a dude is digging, laying, and doing all that is needed for a sprinkler system!! He has to dig all the way to the front yard to hook it up with that system and there were about 5 flower fatalities in the process :( But it will be worth it.
Now for some before and after pics of the yard...
Stay tuned for the next big events to come...
**Sunday, June 6th, 2010.
On July 22nd it will be our 2 year anniversary in our house! We have done lots of painting, decorating, re-arranging, making over the laundry room... But nothing major. Our #1 thing to fix around the house is the backyard. It is a HUGE dirt lot that has been time-consuming and is just looming over our heads as a mega-task that we didn't want to deal with. I (and Matt) tackled the spider-housed bushes 2 years ago, roots and all. We planted a lovely garden, last year, with wildflowers that will bloom every year. This year, SOD!!! Tony has been working non-stop the last few days with the dirt and the tilling and the heat. He is so amazing. Here I am just sitting in different cities doing nothing (well, shopping and eating) and he is being wonderfully productive! My turn begins Monday-Wednesday.
**Monday, June 7th - Wednesday, June 9th, 2010.
By the time the sun came up Monday morning I was finally able to see all the hard work that Tony put into the yard... Partially tilled yard, a new garden with mulch and border, cleaned out side yard to discover yet another pathway.
So this week the job was tilling the entire yard, planting trees, planting a couple of other plants, and finishing off the new little gardens. We tilled our butts off. It is such hard work. The damn machine wants to go to the soft tilled earth instead of the hard pressed dirt, so it's constantly falling to the side. We planted our very first tree in the backyard, a smoke tree. They have a different look every season and it "produces pinkish, airy flower clusters in early summer that appear like puffs of smoke." I can't wait to see it in full smokey bloom next year! We also had to rake the yard to get it fairly smooth and level for the upcoming sod.
**Friday, June 11th - Monday, June 14th, 2010.
RAIN! We never get days and days of rain. It is so rare here in Denver. But it is also just a few days early since we hadn't put the sod down yet. Poop. It made the temperature quite nice though.
**Tuesday, June 15th, 2010.
SOD. SOD. SOD! The day has finally come! We drove to Brighton, CO to a sod farm (I don't know what they're really called) to get our sod. We decided on 2 pallets, knowing it wouldn't be quite enough for our enormous yard. Tony's dad brought his truck and 2 other friends with 2 more trucks. We bought 2 pallets, but actually ended up with over 2.5. It's always good to know people to give you a little extra. We also got it for a steal (under $300!!) With the 5 of us working we had all the sod laid in about 3 hours. I still can't believe that we actually have a wonderfully green backyard.
**Wednesday, June 16th, 2010.
So now that the sod is in and the backyard looks swell, we decided to put in a sprinkler system. Apparently backwards backyard is out motto. So right this second a dude is digging, laying, and doing all that is needed for a sprinkler system!! He has to dig all the way to the front yard to hook it up with that system and there were about 5 flower fatalities in the process :( But it will be worth it.
Now for some before and after pics of the yard...
Oh dear god! Just the most disgusting before picture.
And a glorious after!!
before. the back of the house. boring and gross.
after. the back of the house. lovely and not-quite-finished.
Stay tuned for the next big events to come...
when it rains. it pours... and hails!
I never talk about work on here, but last week's adventure is worth repeating. But it's a LONG STORY!!
Friday, June 12th was supposed to be a normal, excruciatingly long but normal, day. A 12 hour day with 4 flights. It also didn't help that Thursday night's overnight was cut 2 hours shorter.
This is how it was SUPPOSED to go down...
Yuck right? Yeah, it didn't even happen that way. Here is the real day...
OK. So we didn't make it to Denver. The weather, hail, rain, thunder, lightning and such closed the whole airport.
-So, after 1 hour in a divert situation you give out water.
-After 2 hours you break out the emergency divert kit, ie. granola bars.
-After 3 hours, due to the new passengers-stranded-on-planes-for-hours law, the airline gets fined per passenger still remaining in the plane. We are talking about over $20,000 per passenger. And in Pueblo there were 4 Frontier planes so it would cost us about $3.7 million per plane!
Our amazing pilots got us off the ground with 15 minutes to spare. I felt like we were racing against the clock in some action movie. More tiring than exciting though.
At this point we had no idea if we were still going to Kansas City for our overnight or not. Where is our plane? How late are we going to be? Won't this be too long of a day if we go?
We found our gate, plane, passengers to head right back to Kansas City. We boarded and headed out into the outrageous line of planes. We drove around for an hour, still waiting in line, and finally the captain told us we were 4th in line and to be seated for take-off. About 5 minutes later his next announcement went something like this...
You should have heard the passengers grumbling. I just sat on the jumpseat and cried. If we had taken off it would have made it a 16 hour day and that is illegal for us. I was so tired I could barely walk or talk and I felt so aweful for the passengers since they had been waiting for us and now who knows when they were going.
So our last "flight" of the day was just driving around the tarmacs and runways of Denver International Airport.
It was too brutal of a day. But the best part was that once we got to Kansas City we were supposed to do a Cancun turn back to Kansas City the next day, well we got the rest of the weekend off since our day had been too long we couldn't go back to KC.
Tony and I had an entire Saturday off together and even got to go to a party down the street that some neighbors had!
We had to come back on Sunday for a Jackson Hole turn. And if you know me at all I would go and see the Grand Tetons any day of the week. I brought my camera and we all walked around the plane to take in the spectacular sight.
So all in all one rough day turned into a great weekend and I guess it's kinda cool that I got to experience my first divert. I just don't want to do it again EVER!
Friday, June 12th was supposed to be a normal, excruciatingly long but normal, day. A 12 hour day with 4 flights. It also didn't help that Thursday night's overnight was cut 2 hours shorter.
This is how it was SUPPOSED to go down...
*Seattle 8:50am - Denver 12:25pm
*Denver 1:20pm - Kansas City 3:50pm
*Kansas City 4:30pm - Denver 5:20pm (wait for 2 hours)
*Denver 7:10pm - Kansas City 9:45pm (overnight in KC)
Yuck right? Yeah, it didn't even happen that way. Here is the real day...
*Seattle 8:50am - Denver 12:25pm
*Denver 1:20pm - Kansas City 3:50pm
*Kansas City 4:30pm - PUEBLO, COLORADO!! 5:45pm
OK. So we didn't make it to Denver. The weather, hail, rain, thunder, lightning and such closed the whole airport.
-So, after 1 hour in a divert situation you give out water.
-After 2 hours you break out the emergency divert kit, ie. granola bars.
-After 3 hours, due to the new passengers-stranded-on-planes-for-hours law, the airline gets fined per passenger still remaining in the plane. We are talking about over $20,000 per passenger. And in Pueblo there were 4 Frontier planes so it would cost us about $3.7 million per plane!
Our amazing pilots got us off the ground with 15 minutes to spare. I felt like we were racing against the clock in some action movie. More tiring than exciting though.
*Pueblo 8:28pm - Denver 9:07pm
At this point we had no idea if we were still going to Kansas City for our overnight or not. Where is our plane? How late are we going to be? Won't this be too long of a day if we go?
We found our gate, plane, passengers to head right back to Kansas City. We boarded and headed out into the outrageous line of planes. We drove around for an hour, still waiting in line, and finally the captain told us we were 4th in line and to be seated for take-off. About 5 minutes later his next announcement went something like this...
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are number 2 for departure, but we just got a call from operations and they said your crew timed out for the day."
You should have heard the passengers grumbling. I just sat on the jumpseat and cried. If we had taken off it would have made it a 16 hour day and that is illegal for us. I was so tired I could barely walk or talk and I felt so aweful for the passengers since they had been waiting for us and now who knows when they were going.
So our last "flight" of the day was just driving around the tarmacs and runways of Denver International Airport.
*Denver 10:15pm - DENVER 11:22pm!!
It was too brutal of a day. But the best part was that once we got to Kansas City we were supposed to do a Cancun turn back to Kansas City the next day, well we got the rest of the weekend off since our day had been too long we couldn't go back to KC.
Tony and I had an entire Saturday off together and even got to go to a party down the street that some neighbors had!
We had to come back on Sunday for a Jackson Hole turn. And if you know me at all I would go and see the Grand Tetons any day of the week. I brought my camera and we all walked around the plane to take in the spectacular sight.
So all in all one rough day turned into a great weekend and I guess it's kinda cool that I got to experience my first divert. I just don't want to do it again EVER!
28 May, 2010
I need a new job. ASAP!!!
I must confess... I HATE my job! I know there are tons and tons of people out there that hate their jobs and that have terrible profesions, but I think mine is gonna make me crazy! It is also making me sick. I have developed Vertigo over the last year and a half and flying everyday and feeling nauseated is crap! I have to take meclizine before I go to work. Not only is it making me sick its really killing my spirits.
I am a flight attendant. Sounds like a dream job, right? NO! Long hours, low wages (that keep dimishing due to cut backs and bankruptcy), cruddy passengers, being alone all the time, rushing here and there, sitting and waiting for hours, ass-hole pilots hitting on you, forgetting things in hotels, eating cold meals bc there is no access to microwaves.
There are great perks too (loads of down time, being in a different city every night, free flights, tons of days off, great friends, a beautiful view from the windows!) but I am soooo over them. I have been everywhere I want to go and any new places I want to visit I want to experience with my husband. I am ready to be home everyday. I don't mean not working, I love to work and will always work full time, but I want to be HOME every night! I want to eat home cooked meals, be with Tony more than just 3 days a week, work in the yard, play with the pup and cat, and sleep in my own bed and take a shower in my own bathroom.
I have applied to a bunch of places, but of course no luck.
And the real reason for this whiney post... I WANT YOUR HELP!!
Seems like a lot to ask for, but I am willing to work something part-time to split up the time I have to be away. I can work part-time with Frontier and part-time somewhere else.
Does anyone know of anything in the Denver area?
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know if you know of anything. I am going to dress up one day and go door to door at the mall since I have no idea what else to do.
I am a flight attendant. Sounds like a dream job, right? NO! Long hours, low wages (that keep dimishing due to cut backs and bankruptcy), cruddy passengers, being alone all the time, rushing here and there, sitting and waiting for hours, ass-hole pilots hitting on you, forgetting things in hotels, eating cold meals bc there is no access to microwaves.
There are great perks too (loads of down time, being in a different city every night, free flights, tons of days off, great friends, a beautiful view from the windows!) but I am soooo over them. I have been everywhere I want to go and any new places I want to visit I want to experience with my husband. I am ready to be home everyday. I don't mean not working, I love to work and will always work full time, but I want to be HOME every night! I want to eat home cooked meals, be with Tony more than just 3 days a week, work in the yard, play with the pup and cat, and sleep in my own bed and take a shower in my own bathroom.
I have applied to a bunch of places, but of course no luck.
And the real reason for this whiney post... I WANT YOUR HELP!!
*26 year old female searching for a full-time job with benefits earning about $15/hour. Job can involve retail, office work, bank, hotel, library, shoe department at Nordstrom's, cosmetics, anything. Server/waitress positions will not be accepted. 10 years customer service experience.
Seems like a lot to ask for, but I am willing to work something part-time to split up the time I have to be away. I can work part-time with Frontier and part-time somewhere else.
Does anyone know of anything in the Denver area?
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know if you know of anything. I am going to dress up one day and go door to door at the mall since I have no idea what else to do.
20 May, 2010
Thursday's wish list...
This is my wish list! (I stole this idea from my friend Kirsten's blog.) It's just a portion of the many MANY things I want. I add more things all the time so I will update this from occasionally.
Oh and since my birthday is coming up... you can get most of them at Emily's Amazon Wishlist
OMG! There is so much more, but I won't overwhelm you. Hope you enjoyed!
Oh and since my birthday is coming up... you can get most of them at Emily's Amazon Wishlist
vigotti boots size 8
A Single Man. One of my favorite movies of all time.
lomography colorsplash camera
This is my new favorite series and I have to wait until the 25th to read the final book!
subscriptions to Vogue and Instyle magazines
OMG! There is so much more, but I won't overwhelm you. Hope you enjoyed!
21 April, 2010
higher education...
Sewing. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy it. I don’t only love to sew, but I love trying to figure out how the logistics of clothing work. If I stitch here will it fit better? What happens if I dye this fabric? I really can’t get enough of the fun!
This is why I am going back to school (eventually) at Emily Griffith Opportunity School for their Professional Sewing/Design program. They offer classes from beginning and serger sewing to alterations and advanced sewing with everything in-between. I am trying to decide which electives to complete; alterations, design sketching, menswear, lingerie and lycra, and patterns will all be a must. It will take at least 18 months to complete and I hope I can survive working at a job not suited for me for another 2 years until I can do something I love. And the fact that my homework will probably involve a sewing machine while I am traveling around… yikes!
I hate school and the thought of me going back hurts my insides. It is the history, science, math and so on that I feel is unnecessary (albeit good knowledge in general) for an art/design student. I suck at those subjects anyhoo. So I am going to a trade school to just get what I want!
I have been planning this for a very long time and I have been telling everyone about it, but my finances keep getting in the way. No, I can’t use financial aid because I have to go to school full-time to receive it and that just isn’t going to happen when I have to work full-time from out of town. Aaaarrrggghhhh! It’s a huge stress for me but I think I have a solution.
Because I don’t have the money to begin classes right now (but hopefully in the fall (fingers crossed)) I have a fall back plan for the time being. There is a little place called a library filled with magical books on any subject possible. So I am using my FREE resources and now have about 20+ books with me about sewing, crafts, lingerie, fabrics, textiles, fashion design, beauty, history and more. I am studying!! I never thought I would see the day that studying could make me so excited. Some of the books are hilariously outdated but others are such wonderful gems to assist in my knowledge.
Along with these books I have decided to obviously practice with anything I can get my hands on. So far I have…
and this is all before I actually got the books or schooling! I will add pictures of my craftings later.
I think I have finally found my niche and I am so excited to begin!
busy crafting... try again later.
This is why I am going back to school (eventually) at Emily Griffith Opportunity School for their Professional Sewing/Design program. They offer classes from beginning and serger sewing to alterations and advanced sewing with everything in-between. I am trying to decide which electives to complete; alterations, design sketching, menswear, lingerie and lycra, and patterns will all be a must. It will take at least 18 months to complete and I hope I can survive working at a job not suited for me for another 2 years until I can do something I love. And the fact that my homework will probably involve a sewing machine while I am traveling around… yikes!
I hate school and the thought of me going back hurts my insides. It is the history, science, math and so on that I feel is unnecessary (albeit good knowledge in general) for an art/design student. I suck at those subjects anyhoo. So I am going to a trade school to just get what I want!
I have been planning this for a very long time and I have been telling everyone about it, but my finances keep getting in the way. No, I can’t use financial aid because I have to go to school full-time to receive it and that just isn’t going to happen when I have to work full-time from out of town. Aaaarrrggghhhh! It’s a huge stress for me but I think I have a solution.
Because I don’t have the money to begin classes right now (but hopefully in the fall (fingers crossed)) I have a fall back plan for the time being. There is a little place called a library filled with magical books on any subject possible. So I am using my FREE resources and now have about 20+ books with me about sewing, crafts, lingerie, fabrics, textiles, fashion design, beauty, history and more. I am studying!! I never thought I would see the day that studying could make me so excited. Some of the books are hilariously outdated but others are such wonderful gems to assist in my knowledge.
Along with these books I have decided to obviously practice with anything I can get my hands on. So far I have…
-bleached pants Alexander McQueen style
-made a floor length size 20 skirt into a high waisted skirt in my size
-made 5 skirts with pockets for me, Carly, and my mom
-used Rit dye for the first time
-made cafe style window coverings for the kitchen
-embroidered several birthday gifts for the ladies in my life
and this is all before I actually got the books or schooling! I will add pictures of my craftings later.
I think I have finally found my niche and I am so excited to begin!
busy crafting... try again later.
15 April, 2010
birthday, easter, and los angeles...
We have had quite a busy week!
*Friday, April 2nd... Tony's Birthday!
He is now 29. Yikes! We are getting old. We had a really exciting day and he claims this to be his best birfday evah! He received an iPhone (from me!), new bowling ball, a Wii, GQ magazine subscription, and the series "the States" from the History Channel on DVD. I think he did pretty well! Of course Tony, Matt and I went bowling with his new ball and ate some great bar food while we were playing. For dinner, we decided to try something new with tapas. If you aren't familiar, tapas are spanish style appetizers and are FANTASTIC. We tried The 9th Door in LoDo and just happened to be there during happy hour! Basically $70 got all three of us drunk, stuffed and happy! If we went for normal dinner it would have been outrageous. All in all a fantastic day!!
*Saturday, April 3rd... Flying to Los Angeles
We decided to take a vacation just to get away and it was great timing with Tony's b-day. We have so much family in L.A. and thought it was a perfect opportunity to crash couches. I have an aunt, an uncle, six cousins, and many friends to see. We arrived at 8:30am and were ready to go...
-picked up by cousin Bo from LAX
-while leaving Bo and Hannah's house in Silverlake, saw January Jones at a restaurant
-to Chinatown, bought me a fantastic (cheap) oriental robe
-Olvera Street where it was "Bless Your Pet Day" and, yes, we saw dogs, birds, cats on leashes, iguanas, turtles in carts, and even a huge snake on a little girls shoulders
-attempted to layout by the pool at KK and Trudie's house (aunt and uncle), but it was too cold :(
-the Griffith Observatory for sunset with the most spectacular view of all of Los Angeles
-a late dinner at Malo with Bo, Hannah, and our good friends Elena and Shannan
*Sunday, April 4th... Easter
We have so many cousins here that it takes some serious planning to see everyone. We stayed with Bo and Hannah in their crazy house on Avocado St. But we needed to see the others. We decided on brunch for Easter.
-Gladstone's on Santa Monica Beach (very pricey seafood place) for brunch with the Kemm family cousins, Josh, Chiara, and Jessica. And we saw a dolphin!
-driving back from the beach along Sunset Boulevard, through Beverly Hills, detoured to Rodeo Drive, then the Sunset Strip
-an Easter cookout was in order with tons of roommates (from the Avocado house), more family (KK, Drake, Bo, Beata, Josh), Dodger Dogs, and kebabs
-not only did we have a great cookout there was also an Easter Earthquake! Tony's first!
-we met a friend of Bo's named Bill. Now Bill was super familiar to me. Turns out he was on How I Met Your Mother which of course we love and watch religiously and we knew his part very well (and of course we could quote his line back to him)
-apples to apples, a game of celebrity and talking late into the night rounded out the day
*Monday, April 5th... Lazy day
We didn't do much of anything and had no plans.
-got coffee at the Coffee Bean and had to run back to the house in the pouring rain
-had breakfast with Bo and Hannah at Fred 62 and happened to see the kid who played Elliott from ET. He is all grown up with a little girl and a wife. I think he knew we were talking about him. But apparently its his fault for being a child actor.
-the rent was due at the Avacado house and due to roommate drama we were hiding upstairs when I came up with our new names of Anne and Frank!
-to get away from the drama, we got a beer at the Cha Cha Lounge. A rediculously furnished, dank bar with the greatest vending machine items (jiffy cornbread mix, 21 Jump Street trading cards, naked lady greeting card...)
-to Elena and Shannan's for pizza and beer. My Tony got to meet their cat Tony!
*Tuesday, April 6th... To the beach!
-we took off at about noon and headed to Santa Monica Beach for a day in the sun!
-lunch at Hot Dog on a Stick, only my all time favorite corndog eatery!
-a stroll through the arcades and boardwalk
-off to Venice Beach to see the crazies and the drunkies
-dinner at Red Lion, a great German restaurant, with Hannah, Bo, Elena, and Shannan
*Wednesday, April 7th... home again
We had such a wonderful and relaxing trip and we got lots of great family time in. We did come home during the drama with the "Shoe bomber/smoker" on the tarmac at DIA. But luckily we landed fine and all was well!!!
*Friday, April 2nd... Tony's Birthday!
He is now 29. Yikes! We are getting old. We had a really exciting day and he claims this to be his best birfday evah! He received an iPhone (from me!), new bowling ball, a Wii, GQ magazine subscription, and the series "the States" from the History Channel on DVD. I think he did pretty well! Of course Tony, Matt and I went bowling with his new ball and ate some great bar food while we were playing. For dinner, we decided to try something new with tapas. If you aren't familiar, tapas are spanish style appetizers and are FANTASTIC. We tried The 9th Door in LoDo and just happened to be there during happy hour! Basically $70 got all three of us drunk, stuffed and happy! If we went for normal dinner it would have been outrageous. All in all a fantastic day!!
*Saturday, April 3rd... Flying to Los Angeles
We decided to take a vacation just to get away and it was great timing with Tony's b-day. We have so much family in L.A. and thought it was a perfect opportunity to crash couches. I have an aunt, an uncle, six cousins, and many friends to see. We arrived at 8:30am and were ready to go...
-picked up by cousin Bo from LAX
-while leaving Bo and Hannah's house in Silverlake, saw January Jones at a restaurant
-to Chinatown, bought me a fantastic (cheap) oriental robe
-Olvera Street where it was "Bless Your Pet Day" and, yes, we saw dogs, birds, cats on leashes, iguanas, turtles in carts, and even a huge snake on a little girls shoulders
-attempted to layout by the pool at KK and Trudie's house (aunt and uncle), but it was too cold :(
-the Griffith Observatory for sunset with the most spectacular view of all of Los Angeles
-a late dinner at Malo with Bo, Hannah, and our good friends Elena and Shannan
*Sunday, April 4th... Easter
We have so many cousins here that it takes some serious planning to see everyone. We stayed with Bo and Hannah in their crazy house on Avocado St. But we needed to see the others. We decided on brunch for Easter.
-Gladstone's on Santa Monica Beach (very pricey seafood place) for brunch with the Kemm family cousins, Josh, Chiara, and Jessica. And we saw a dolphin!
-driving back from the beach along Sunset Boulevard, through Beverly Hills, detoured to Rodeo Drive, then the Sunset Strip
-an Easter cookout was in order with tons of roommates (from the Avocado house), more family (KK, Drake, Bo, Beata, Josh), Dodger Dogs, and kebabs
-not only did we have a great cookout there was also an Easter Earthquake! Tony's first!
-we met a friend of Bo's named Bill. Now Bill was super familiar to me. Turns out he was on How I Met Your Mother which of course we love and watch religiously and we knew his part very well (and of course we could quote his line back to him)
-apples to apples, a game of celebrity and talking late into the night rounded out the day
*Monday, April 5th... Lazy day
We didn't do much of anything and had no plans.
-got coffee at the Coffee Bean and had to run back to the house in the pouring rain
-had breakfast with Bo and Hannah at Fred 62 and happened to see the kid who played Elliott from ET. He is all grown up with a little girl and a wife. I think he knew we were talking about him. But apparently its his fault for being a child actor.
-the rent was due at the Avacado house and due to roommate drama we were hiding upstairs when I came up with our new names of Anne and Frank!
-to get away from the drama, we got a beer at the Cha Cha Lounge. A rediculously furnished, dank bar with the greatest vending machine items (jiffy cornbread mix, 21 Jump Street trading cards, naked lady greeting card...)
-to Elena and Shannan's for pizza and beer. My Tony got to meet their cat Tony!
*Tuesday, April 6th... To the beach!
-we took off at about noon and headed to Santa Monica Beach for a day in the sun!
-lunch at Hot Dog on a Stick, only my all time favorite corndog eatery!
-a stroll through the arcades and boardwalk
-off to Venice Beach to see the crazies and the drunkies
-dinner at Red Lion, a great German restaurant, with Hannah, Bo, Elena, and Shannan
*Wednesday, April 7th... home again
We had such a wonderful and relaxing trip and we got lots of great family time in. We did come home during the drama with the "Shoe bomber/smoker" on the tarmac at DIA. But luckily we landed fine and all was well!!!
19 March, 2010
movie reviews...
You are probably sick of hearing so many posts about the movies I am watching so I thought I would make it easier on everyone. At the bottom of this blog I have removed the photos and replaced them with a movie review. I will be able to share with you what I am currently watching or just watched. Should you watch The Way We Were? Maybe you should read the review!!!
ENJOY...
The Way We Were (1973) **** Barbra Streisand + Robert Redford. A wonderful love story about complete opposites trying to make their lives work together. I watched this because I love Sex and the City and Carrie compares her relationship with Big to Katie and Hubble's relationship. I guess the curly haired girl with the open mind and mouth never really win (well, until Sex and the City: The Movie!)
Lifeboat (1944) ***1/2 A German Sub torpedoes an American ship. There are just a few survivors. The spend the next few days deciding how to survive. Much drama ensues. Typical Hitchcock. Very good.
Private Benjamin (1980) ** Goldie Hawn. Judy is rich girl whose husband dies on their wedding night. She is sick of living how her family wants her to live and thinks the army sounds glamourous. Boy is she wrong. This is a very 80's movie, but I wasn't that impressed with the entire movie. Maybe Judy Benjamin needs a hobby she actually likes.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) *** Elizabeth Taylor + Richard Burton. A husband and wife basically fighting for the whole movie and seeing which can hurt the other more. The performances are fantastic, sadistic, and entirely entertaining.
The Ugly Truth (2009) ** Katherine Heigl + Gerard Butler. I am not a total movie snob. I do like the occasional chick-flick over the top 100 winners. But this one... not so much. Wow. Predictable. I won't even bother with the synopsis. It was fun, just not something I would even suggest to a girlfriend.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) (currently watching)
So keep up with my movies down below. Just keep scrolling...
ENJOY...
The Way We Were (1973) **** Barbra Streisand + Robert Redford. A wonderful love story about complete opposites trying to make their lives work together. I watched this because I love Sex and the City and Carrie compares her relationship with Big to Katie and Hubble's relationship. I guess the curly haired girl with the open mind and mouth never really win (well, until Sex and the City: The Movie!)
Lifeboat (1944) ***1/2 A German Sub torpedoes an American ship. There are just a few survivors. The spend the next few days deciding how to survive. Much drama ensues. Typical Hitchcock. Very good.
Private Benjamin (1980) ** Goldie Hawn. Judy is rich girl whose husband dies on their wedding night. She is sick of living how her family wants her to live and thinks the army sounds glamourous. Boy is she wrong. This is a very 80's movie, but I wasn't that impressed with the entire movie. Maybe Judy Benjamin needs a hobby she actually likes.
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) *** Elizabeth Taylor + Richard Burton. A husband and wife basically fighting for the whole movie and seeing which can hurt the other more. The performances are fantastic, sadistic, and entirely entertaining.
The Ugly Truth (2009) ** Katherine Heigl + Gerard Butler. I am not a total movie snob. I do like the occasional chick-flick over the top 100 winners. But this one... not so much. Wow. Predictable. I won't even bother with the synopsis. It was fun, just not something I would even suggest to a girlfriend.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) (currently watching)
(Star ratings are out of five)
So keep up with my movies down below. Just keep scrolling...
05 March, 2010
previous academy awards recap...
Movies. What would I do without them? I revolve so many aspects of my life around them (its sad, but true.) Why, no wonder that I would love the academy awards as much.
The red carpet glamour. The importance of winning. The wonderful achievements of the actors and filmmakers.
I am gearing up to watch this Sunday, but I thought I would think back through some of my favorite moments from previous award’s ceremonies (and yes, way back in 1996 is when I can really remember the awards vividly)…
+Roberto Benigni. Best actor 1997 for Life is Beautiful
+totally annoyed with the amount of awards The English Patient won in 1997
+totally psyched with the amount of awards Titanic won in 1998
+Halle Berry. Best Actress 2002 for Monster’s Ball
+Adrian Brody. Best Actor 2003 for The Pianist (and of course Adrian kissing Halle in sheer bliss from the win)
+Chris Cooper. Best Supporting Actor 2003 for Adaptation
+Cate Blanchett. Best Supporting Actress 2004 for The Aviator (only one of my favorite actresses portraying one of my other favorite actresses)
+The entire costume sequence during the 2007 awards ceremony when Marie Antoinette won
+Dustin Lance Black. Best Screenplay 2009 for MILK
+Kate Winslet (finally). Best Actress 2009 for The Reader (although she could have been nominated for Revolutionary Road and won just as easily)
+Heath Ledger. Best Supporting Actor 2009 for The Dark Knight
+Slumdog Millionaire. Best Picture 2009 (too much hype and by the time I finally saw the movie it wasn't best picture worthy)
+Hugh Jackman as host? Duh! Brilliant! It was the most entertaining ceremony in years.
I do have a few of my own opinions on this year's nominees...
*Really? The Blind Side for Best Picture? (haven't seen it, nor do I really want to, but it seems so vanilla.)
*I love the idea of the wonderfully interesting and new sci-fi thriller District 9 being nominated. Definitely the most original of the 10.
*Does Up need to be nominated for Best Picture and Animated Picture? It's animated. Let's stick with that category.
*Big shocker, but I am still mad that A Single Man only has one Oscar nomination. Did you see the costumes, set decoration, hear the beautiful score? Come on! But good luck to Colin Firth because he can win it!!!
*I am a little biased about Where the Wild Things Are (with my uncle as production designer and all) but the sets were fantastic, original, and gorgeous and really should have been nominated.
*I have a severe love affair with Meryl Streep (more her acting ability and her characters). Her performance as Julia Child is fantastic and spot on. Plus she is the most nominated person in the history of the awards with 16, but only 2 wins. Sandra Bullock will probably win and I will be supremely annoyed.
*Love Steve Martin. Like Alec Baldwin.
*I really hope Kathryn Bigalow wins for The Hurt Locker. Great movie and she deserves to be the first female director to win an Oscar.
*Avatar will probably win. But that's OK because it was pretty cool and super innovative. So I will be OK with that.
Roll out the carpet...
The red carpet glamour. The importance of winning. The wonderful achievements of the actors and filmmakers.
I am gearing up to watch this Sunday, but I thought I would think back through some of my favorite moments from previous award’s ceremonies (and yes, way back in 1996 is when I can really remember the awards vividly)…
+Roberto Benigni. Best actor 1997 for Life is Beautiful
+totally annoyed with the amount of awards The English Patient won in 1997
+totally psyched with the amount of awards Titanic won in 1998
+Halle Berry. Best Actress 2002 for Monster’s Ball
+Adrian Brody. Best Actor 2003 for The Pianist (and of course Adrian kissing Halle in sheer bliss from the win)
+Chris Cooper. Best Supporting Actor 2003 for Adaptation
+Cate Blanchett. Best Supporting Actress 2004 for The Aviator (only one of my favorite actresses portraying one of my other favorite actresses)
+The entire costume sequence during the 2007 awards ceremony when Marie Antoinette won
+Dustin Lance Black. Best Screenplay 2009 for MILK
+Kate Winslet (finally). Best Actress 2009 for The Reader (although she could have been nominated for Revolutionary Road and won just as easily)
+Heath Ledger. Best Supporting Actor 2009 for The Dark Knight
+Slumdog Millionaire. Best Picture 2009 (too much hype and by the time I finally saw the movie it wasn't best picture worthy)
+Hugh Jackman as host? Duh! Brilliant! It was the most entertaining ceremony in years.
I do have a few of my own opinions on this year's nominees...
*Really? The Blind Side for Best Picture? (haven't seen it, nor do I really want to, but it seems so vanilla.)
*I love the idea of the wonderfully interesting and new sci-fi thriller District 9 being nominated. Definitely the most original of the 10.
*Does Up need to be nominated for Best Picture and Animated Picture? It's animated. Let's stick with that category.
*Big shocker, but I am still mad that A Single Man only has one Oscar nomination. Did you see the costumes, set decoration, hear the beautiful score? Come on! But good luck to Colin Firth because he can win it!!!
*I am a little biased about Where the Wild Things Are (with my uncle as production designer and all) but the sets were fantastic, original, and gorgeous and really should have been nominated.
*I have a severe love affair with Meryl Streep (more her acting ability and her characters). Her performance as Julia Child is fantastic and spot on. Plus she is the most nominated person in the history of the awards with 16, but only 2 wins. Sandra Bullock will probably win and I will be supremely annoyed.
*Love Steve Martin. Like Alec Baldwin.
*I really hope Kathryn Bigalow wins for The Hurt Locker. Great movie and she deserves to be the first female director to win an Oscar.
*Avatar will probably win. But that's OK because it was pretty cool and super innovative. So I will be OK with that.
Roll out the carpet...
27 February, 2010
food poisoning, jury duty, and thrift stores...
*Yes. I had all food poisoning on Super bowl Sunday night. First time ever. It sucked. And it lasted for days.
*Yes. I had jury duty. First time ever. It did not suck. I actually really wanted to be on the trial (the murder trial of Denver Bronco Darrant Williams. Very big news around here!) But, alas, I was not chosen :(
*Yes. I was off for the last two weeks due to both of these incidences. So I went to thrift stores!
It was so wonderful to actually be home on the weekends. Although I was sick for the first weekend, I did still get to enjoy Tony's Grandma's 91st bday, our friend's band playing at a wine bar, and the grand re-opening of our hair salon, The Big Hairy Monster.
In the last week we have gone to 3 really great thrift stores and we got a ton of great stuff...
-a pair of Coach mens-style shoes for me
-bicycle for 10 bucks
-a pair of Nine West silver flats (to replace my disgusting old ones from Old Navy)
-a pair of huaraches
-a pair of grey Brazilian wedges (I did really well with shoes)
-four new books (The Kite Runner, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Atonement, and something else)
-the board game Clue (the 80's version that we love and remember)
-a sweet purse that resembles the original Chanel 2.55 quilted bag ($2.99 is just a little more $2,500)
-a gaming chair (for Tony, obviously)
-one plain cream tank and one J. Crew gold and cream tank
I would show you pics of all my amazing new finds, but I have no digital camera :( Boo Hoo!
All in all, I think we did pretty well. I am kind of obsessed with thrifting right now, and could go to stores everyday! I did remember my hand sanitizer bc I do feel disgusting touching every ones old junk and my new treasures! Maybe I will hit up one more this week...
Hmmmm, sounds perfect!
*Yes. I had jury duty. First time ever. It did not suck. I actually really wanted to be on the trial (the murder trial of Denver Bronco Darrant Williams. Very big news around here!) But, alas, I was not chosen :(
*Yes. I was off for the last two weeks due to both of these incidences. So I went to thrift stores!
It was so wonderful to actually be home on the weekends. Although I was sick for the first weekend, I did still get to enjoy Tony's Grandma's 91st bday, our friend's band playing at a wine bar, and the grand re-opening of our hair salon, The Big Hairy Monster.
In the last week we have gone to 3 really great thrift stores and we got a ton of great stuff...
-a pair of Coach mens-style shoes for me
-bicycle for 10 bucks
-a pair of Nine West silver flats (to replace my disgusting old ones from Old Navy)
-a pair of huaraches
-a pair of grey Brazilian wedges (I did really well with shoes)
-four new books (The Kite Runner, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Atonement, and something else)
-the board game Clue (the 80's version that we love and remember)
-a sweet purse that resembles the original Chanel 2.55 quilted bag ($2.99 is just a little more $2,500)
-a gaming chair (for Tony, obviously)
-one plain cream tank and one J. Crew gold and cream tank
I would show you pics of all my amazing new finds, but I have no digital camera :( Boo Hoo!
All in all, I think we did pretty well. I am kind of obsessed with thrifting right now, and could go to stores everyday! I did remember my hand sanitizer bc I do feel disgusting touching every ones old junk and my new treasures! Maybe I will hit up one more this week...
Hmmmm, sounds perfect!
19 February, 2010
wedding, yet again...
It's only been 1.5 years since our wedding and I finally finished our wedding scrapbook! I want to hate scrapbooking (and I do hate the REAL way of doing it), but mine is awesome and I have all my saved wedding related crap in one handy awesome place.
I am also making a wedding photo book through Blurb. So far so good. I have the showers, rehearsal dinner and of course the wedding it self! I hope to have this done by our 2nd anniversary. It will probably be longer, seeing how long the scrapbook took.
Now that the scrapbook is finished I really have to do laundry. Crud.
I am also making a wedding photo book through Blurb. So far so good. I have the showers, rehearsal dinner and of course the wedding it self! I hope to have this done by our 2nd anniversary. It will probably be longer, seeing how long the scrapbook took.
Now that the scrapbook is finished I really have to do laundry. Crud.
15 February, 2010
Movie reviews...
Yes. I am still working on finishing my movie lists. It is going to be a while until I have them all completed, so bare with me. I have the Academy Award Best Picture Winners, AFI's Top 100 Movies, and the 82nd Annual Academy Award Nominees, plus many more lists which we need not get into today.
I have seen Inglourious Basterds, Up, An Education, Avatar, District 9, and A Single Man. But I have much more nominees I need to see in one month!
Here are some movies I have seen recently...
Tombstone (1993)
-Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer.
Wyatt Earp, his brothers, Virgil and Morgan, and Doc Holiday are retired in Tombstone, AZ when trouble comes a knockin. The Cowboys (the bad guys) are shootin women, newlyweds, sheriffs, bein scoundrels and they need to be stopped. But who could tame such unruly curs? Wyatt Earp, of course! Val Kilmer as the tuberculosis stricken Doc Holiday is amazing! I am really shocked he didn't at least get an Oscar nomination.
The Sting (1973)
-Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
These two actors together are just amazing. I personally like them better together in Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, but this is just a great movie. Two con men team up to seek revenge on a fallen friend. There are great twists and turns and you have know idea who is friends with whom. The ending is classic with the greatest Sting ever played!
Defiance (2008)
-Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber.
This is a true story of four Jewish brothers who escaped the Nazis in Russia during World War II. They set up camp in the forest to survive. Their story got out and Jews went in search of living in freedom with them. Hundreds of Jews lived in the forest together and fought off the Nazis. In the end thousands of lives were saved because of the brothers' will to stay alive and help others.
The Last King of Scotland (2006)
-Forest Whitaker and James MacAvoy.
I am usually not a Forest Whitaker fan but he is fantastic as the Scottish obsessed Ugandan President, Amin. James MacAvoy, as Nicholas Garrigan goes to Uganda to be a doctor after graduating from a Scottish medical school and soon becomes Amin's personal physician. Amin turns out to be one of Uganda's worst rulers. This is based on the true events during his rule in the 1970's.
Yentl (1983)
-Barbara Streisand and Mandy Patinkin.
Musical. Check. Inigo Montoya. Check. Babs. Check. Even with all these great features, it is just an OK movie. Girl wants Jewish knowledge. Its forbidden. Girl pretends to be a boy. She falls in love with boy. Trouble ensues. Predictable.
Bright Star (2009)
-Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw.
A wonderful story about the poet John Keats and his love and muse, Fanny Brawne. This is a true love story about a poor writer in love with a beautiful fashionable girl. He is of course too poor to marry her, then tragedy hits and he becomes very sick. Her mother allowed them to be engaged at least. He died at the young age of 25 after just knowing Fanny for 3 years. The poem "Bright Star" was written about their relationship. This is a real tear-jerker.
District 9 (2009)
Before I saw this movie I thought, "Why did this get an Oscar nomination for best picture?" And then I saw it. WOW! It is such a new style of movie. It's like documentary, sci-fi, thriller, and love story all rolled into one. The editing and cinematography styles alone are so fantastic! Aliens land in Johannesburg, South Africa. They are kept in districts, but its now too over populated so they are moving them to a new camp. In the process, the man in charge of moving the "prawns" gets badly injured, and he begins to transforms into an alien. Still, I can only say WOW to describe this movie. I was pretty shocked it wasn't a video game first!
Phoebe in Wonderland (2008)
-Elle Fanning, Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Bill Pullman
This is a total sleeper film that I don't even remember hearing about when it came to the theaters. Thanks to Netflix insta-view I was able to watch it! Phoebe, Elle Fanning (who is fantastic), is a special little girl with a wonderful imagination. She is getting in trouble at school, until the unconventional theater teacher casts her as Alice in Wonderland. Her parents try to keep her happy while she tries to survive in the rule-stricken world around her. This is such an honest movie with heart about accepting people for who they are. Highly recommended!
Funny People (2009)
-Adam Sandler and Seth Rogan
This is a Judd Apatow movie? Named Funny People? So you think its gonna be hilarious, right? Not so much. Yes, there are dozens of funny people thrown around in the movie, but it's not that funny. I do like the fact that it's a nice dramedy about living life and no regrets, but maybe you shouldn't have named it something so obvious when the movie clearly isn't. All I can say is "Humph." Although, the classic Adam Sandler clips strewn about the movie are amazing!
I am now off to see A Single Man again so that Tony can see it this time! Again, it's the best movie I have seen in a really long time...
I have seen Inglourious Basterds, Up, An Education, Avatar, District 9, and A Single Man. But I have much more nominees I need to see in one month!
Here are some movies I have seen recently...
Tombstone (1993)
-Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer.
Wyatt Earp, his brothers, Virgil and Morgan, and Doc Holiday are retired in Tombstone, AZ when trouble comes a knockin. The Cowboys (the bad guys) are shootin women, newlyweds, sheriffs, bein scoundrels and they need to be stopped. But who could tame such unruly curs? Wyatt Earp, of course! Val Kilmer as the tuberculosis stricken Doc Holiday is amazing! I am really shocked he didn't at least get an Oscar nomination.
The Sting (1973)
-Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
These two actors together are just amazing. I personally like them better together in Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, but this is just a great movie. Two con men team up to seek revenge on a fallen friend. There are great twists and turns and you have know idea who is friends with whom. The ending is classic with the greatest Sting ever played!
Defiance (2008)
-Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber.
This is a true story of four Jewish brothers who escaped the Nazis in Russia during World War II. They set up camp in the forest to survive. Their story got out and Jews went in search of living in freedom with them. Hundreds of Jews lived in the forest together and fought off the Nazis. In the end thousands of lives were saved because of the brothers' will to stay alive and help others.
The Last King of Scotland (2006)
-Forest Whitaker and James MacAvoy.
I am usually not a Forest Whitaker fan but he is fantastic as the Scottish obsessed Ugandan President, Amin. James MacAvoy, as Nicholas Garrigan goes to Uganda to be a doctor after graduating from a Scottish medical school and soon becomes Amin's personal physician. Amin turns out to be one of Uganda's worst rulers. This is based on the true events during his rule in the 1970's.
Yentl (1983)
-Barbara Streisand and Mandy Patinkin.
Musical. Check. Inigo Montoya. Check. Babs. Check. Even with all these great features, it is just an OK movie. Girl wants Jewish knowledge. Its forbidden. Girl pretends to be a boy. She falls in love with boy. Trouble ensues. Predictable.
Bright Star (2009)
-Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw.
A wonderful story about the poet John Keats and his love and muse, Fanny Brawne. This is a true love story about a poor writer in love with a beautiful fashionable girl. He is of course too poor to marry her, then tragedy hits and he becomes very sick. Her mother allowed them to be engaged at least. He died at the young age of 25 after just knowing Fanny for 3 years. The poem "Bright Star" was written about their relationship. This is a real tear-jerker.
District 9 (2009)
Before I saw this movie I thought, "Why did this get an Oscar nomination for best picture?" And then I saw it. WOW! It is such a new style of movie. It's like documentary, sci-fi, thriller, and love story all rolled into one. The editing and cinematography styles alone are so fantastic! Aliens land in Johannesburg, South Africa. They are kept in districts, but its now too over populated so they are moving them to a new camp. In the process, the man in charge of moving the "prawns" gets badly injured, and he begins to transforms into an alien. Still, I can only say WOW to describe this movie. I was pretty shocked it wasn't a video game first!
Phoebe in Wonderland (2008)
-Elle Fanning, Felicity Huffman, Patricia Clarkson, Bill Pullman
This is a total sleeper film that I don't even remember hearing about when it came to the theaters. Thanks to Netflix insta-view I was able to watch it! Phoebe, Elle Fanning (who is fantastic), is a special little girl with a wonderful imagination. She is getting in trouble at school, until the unconventional theater teacher casts her as Alice in Wonderland. Her parents try to keep her happy while she tries to survive in the rule-stricken world around her. This is such an honest movie with heart about accepting people for who they are. Highly recommended!
Funny People (2009)
-Adam Sandler and Seth Rogan
This is a Judd Apatow movie? Named Funny People? So you think its gonna be hilarious, right? Not so much. Yes, there are dozens of funny people thrown around in the movie, but it's not that funny. I do like the fact that it's a nice dramedy about living life and no regrets, but maybe you shouldn't have named it something so obvious when the movie clearly isn't. All I can say is "Humph." Although, the classic Adam Sandler clips strewn about the movie are amazing!
I am now off to see A Single Man again so that Tony can see it this time! Again, it's the best movie I have seen in a really long time...
27 January, 2010
tv shows...
Im always writing about movies. Why? Why do you need to ask? Because Im kind of obsessed with them. Thats why! I love watching them, reading about them, movie trivia, characters, commentary, costumes, and on and on.
For instance...
I have seen Titanic about 7,000 times (very rough estimate) and I have watched every bit of all 3 commentaries (director's, cast's, and crew's). I have even owned all 3 versions (2 tape set, 2 disc dvd set, 3 disc dvd 10th anniversary edition). When are you coming to blu-ray??? I know I am totally ridiculous. But, I craft and get other things done while I am watching, so it isnt a total waste of time!
So, this time I thought i would talk about TV shows. I really try not to get sucked into too many tv shows, so that i dont have to play catch-up if i have missed them. We made a conscious decision not to have a DVR for precisely this reason. Plus there are sooooo many ridiculous shows out there, I only need a few to follow!
current series...
-Big Love (2006-present)
-Dexter (2006-present)
-How I Met Your Mother (2005-present)
-Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present)
-Lost (2004-present)
-Scrubs (2001-present)
reality series...
-America's Next Top Model (2003-present)
-Dirty Jobs (2005-present)
-Project Runway (2005-present)
shows no longer running...
-Dead Like Me (2003-2004)
-Friends (1994-2004)
-Futurama (1999-2003)
-Sex and the City (1998-2004)
-The Simpsons (1989-present) [Yes I know its still running strong, but honestly the best seasons end somewhere around ten or eleven. You know I'm right!]
For instance...
I have seen Titanic about 7,000 times (very rough estimate) and I have watched every bit of all 3 commentaries (director's, cast's, and crew's). I have even owned all 3 versions (2 tape set, 2 disc dvd set, 3 disc dvd 10th anniversary edition). When are you coming to blu-ray??? I know I am totally ridiculous. But, I craft and get other things done while I am watching, so it isnt a total waste of time!
So, this time I thought i would talk about TV shows. I really try not to get sucked into too many tv shows, so that i dont have to play catch-up if i have missed them. We made a conscious decision not to have a DVR for precisely this reason. Plus there are sooooo many ridiculous shows out there, I only need a few to follow!
current series...
-Big Love (2006-present)
-Dexter (2006-present)
-How I Met Your Mother (2005-present)
-Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present)
-Lost (2004-present)
-Scrubs (2001-present)
reality series...
-America's Next Top Model (2003-present)
-Dirty Jobs (2005-present)
-Project Runway (2005-present)
shows no longer running...
-Dead Like Me (2003-2004)
-Friends (1994-2004)
-Futurama (1999-2003)
-Sex and the City (1998-2004)
-The Simpsons (1989-present) [Yes I know its still running strong, but honestly the best seasons end somewhere around ten or eleven. You know I'm right!]
23 January, 2010
A Single Man (2009)
Tom Ford. The great Tom Ford made a beautiful movie. He put this wonderful story to the silver screen and made it shine. It is one of the most visually pleasing movies I have ever seen. I have told many many people about it in the last 3 days, since seeing it in the theater, and when professing my love for this movie I described it like this...
It is like living in a realistic 1962, going to see a fashion show, a classical concert full of strings, and visiting a wonderfully glamorous art gallery all within 2 hours.
I am just in awe of the vision this movie has. Not only is it a perfect love story between two normal people with different views in the wrong decade, but it shown and told so very well.
I couldn't get enough of the sadness Colin Firth's character, George Falconer, felt. No one could quite understand him or grieve with him, since he was forced to live his true life in private. His happy moments in the film were brought about by bursts of brilliant color and vibrance. It is now one of my favorite movies of all time and by far the best visual movie I have ever seen.
I kept expecting to be let down in some portion of the movie but it kept getting better and better. By the end of the movie, it was whole and complete with nothing left to wonder about. Carly and I just sat through the credits in awe. We just kind of stared at each other with the same feelings about what we had just experienced.
If I happened to be a film critic, I would recommend this movie to anyone who has felt love in their lives. I give it two thumbs up, five stars, and an A+.
Just last week I wrote a post about my favorite fashion in movies... this one is now at the top of the list.
I am writing this on both blogs because it not only has to do with fashion but life and the beautiful things there are to see.
12 January, 2010
Good Riddance 2009...
and Hello, 2010!
I can honestly say I have never been so happy for a new year to come about. I am ready for a great year. Do you hear me 2010? Seriously!
Yes, of course, there were some great things about 2009...
- 2 fantastic weddings between 4 great friends, Carly & Matt and Phil & Alicia, including an awesome road trip through the northern plains
- a Barrett family reunion in Breckenridge
- the newest addition to our little family, Kafka, our dog
- being able to spend the holidays with the entire Kemm family for the 1st time in 5 years
- 2 amazing babies joined our lives Daphne Bingham (Jan. 2nd, 2009) and Aiden Aerts(Dec. 31, 2008 @ 10:30pm, so basically 2009)
- my dad moved to Portland which is such a wonderful place to visit
- celebrating our first wedding anniversary!
- I finished 4 quilts this year! I also started cross-stitching which is smaller to travel with than a queen sized quilt!
I have decided to spare you our list of terrible 2009 happenings for the umpteenth time. Be grateful! There are even a few (very few) good things that came out of the bad...
- lower car insurance (from having only one car)
- new movies, comforter, cameras
- adding our doggie as an extra security measure
- life lessons, which we will never forget
In the first week alone, I have been in a splendid mood! I think I am making my self happy just thinking about the new year and all to come. There are still plenty of things that are going to happen which I am totally unsure about, but I will try to take it in stride from now on.
Not a whole lot has happened this year in the first 12 days, but so far so good. I did have horrible delays on a Puerto Vallarta turn (that's why I don't work Mexico). I also went hiking with my pops in Portland to 3 different waterfalls. I have seen Avatar (pretty good) and I'm seeing Nine today. We have deep-fried 3 meals with our new deep fryer, so we are starting out really healthy.
I want to thank everyone out there for your kindness and support in 2009. We have such wonderful friends and family and we may not have survived without you. Even just kind words meant the world to us. I apologize for being quite the sad-sack this year, but hopefully it's over and you will see a happier couple of Rodriguez's this year! And if you ever have any kind of troubles we will be there for you, because we know how important it is to have the support. Thanks again!
Here's to the best year ever...
Cheers!!!
I can honestly say I have never been so happy for a new year to come about. I am ready for a great year. Do you hear me 2010? Seriously!
Yes, of course, there were some great things about 2009...
- 2 fantastic weddings between 4 great friends, Carly & Matt and Phil & Alicia, including an awesome road trip through the northern plains
- a Barrett family reunion in Breckenridge
- the newest addition to our little family, Kafka, our dog
- being able to spend the holidays with the entire Kemm family for the 1st time in 5 years
- 2 amazing babies joined our lives Daphne Bingham (Jan. 2nd, 2009) and Aiden Aerts(Dec. 31, 2008 @ 10:30pm, so basically 2009)
- my dad moved to Portland which is such a wonderful place to visit
- celebrating our first wedding anniversary!
- I finished 4 quilts this year! I also started cross-stitching which is smaller to travel with than a queen sized quilt!
I have decided to spare you our list of terrible 2009 happenings for the umpteenth time. Be grateful! There are even a few (very few) good things that came out of the bad...
- lower car insurance (from having only one car)
- new movies, comforter, cameras
- adding our doggie as an extra security measure
- life lessons, which we will never forget
In the first week alone, I have been in a splendid mood! I think I am making my self happy just thinking about the new year and all to come. There are still plenty of things that are going to happen which I am totally unsure about, but I will try to take it in stride from now on.
Not a whole lot has happened this year in the first 12 days, but so far so good. I did have horrible delays on a Puerto Vallarta turn (that's why I don't work Mexico). I also went hiking with my pops in Portland to 3 different waterfalls. I have seen Avatar (pretty good) and I'm seeing Nine today. We have deep-fried 3 meals with our new deep fryer, so we are starting out really healthy.
I want to thank everyone out there for your kindness and support in 2009. We have such wonderful friends and family and we may not have survived without you. Even just kind words meant the world to us. I apologize for being quite the sad-sack this year, but hopefully it's over and you will see a happier couple of Rodriguez's this year! And if you ever have any kind of troubles we will be there for you, because we know how important it is to have the support. Thanks again!
Here's to the best year ever...
Cheers!!!
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