New Movie: While We're Young

Have you seen the preview for the new movie While We're Young? It looks really good to me. Is it weird that I relate more to the older couple than the younger one? 30 is kind of that in-between age I guess, not a “carefree” twenty-something but also not a full blown adult yet. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking….

Will you see the movie? Check out the preview below, I hope it gets good reviews. 

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New Movie: "The Theory of Everything"

Have you seen the preview for the new movie "The Theory of Everything" about Stephen Hawking's life? I've never read any of his books but I have to admit the trailer makes the movie look really good. Maybe I'm just a sucker for handsome Brit Eddie Redmayne (Les Mis). I Googled Hawking after watching it and I'll be curious how they take his fascinating but tumultuous life and translate it into a (love?) story on screen. Will you watch it? 

Belle

Have you seen the preview for the new movie Belle? It is based on the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, daughter of a slave woman and a Royal Navy Admiral, living in 18th century London with her uncle and cousin. It's getting great reviews from critics and friends alike and is a breakout role for the star, Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Can't wait to see it!

Saving Mr. Banks

Last August I wrote how excited I was to see Saving Mr. Banks. Have you watched it yet? Patrick and I snuck away for an evening when we were in California and saw it at the Chinese Theater in LA. It did not disappoint!! We both loved it. The movie is much deeper and more inspiring than I expected from the previews. Tom Hanks, Emma Thompson and especially Colin Farrell were so wonderful to watch on the screen.

Also, the movie portrays the premier of Mary Poppins back in 1964 which we realized took place at the very theater we were sitting at in Hollywood! We had no idea, it was a fun little coincidence.

I'd highly recommend this movie for the whole family, bring your Kleenex!

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

The trailer for Wes Anderson's newest film is out today. It looks really good!

Fall Favorites: Oscar Season!

Although it's sad to see summer come to an end, Jenny and I are trying to see the bright side of the fall season that is upon us. One thing I love about September - January is that most of the Oscar nominated films are released into theaters. It sounds like the film getting the most buzz so far is 12 Years a Slave staring a talented cast of newcomers alongside seasoned vets like Brad Pitt. The preview looks great, check it out.

What are you looking forward to about fall? We'll be continuing this series for the next couple of months.

Mary Poppins

Were you a big Mary Poppins fan as a kid? I loved that movie growing up, Julie Andrews is such an icon. Have you seen this preview for the new movie about the making of Mary Poppins staring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson as the writer PL Travers. I think it looks pretty cute, I hope it gets good reviews.

PS. What "Tuppence the Birds" means and Buzzfeed's funny (and unsettling) list of why Mary Poppins is actually a pretty messed up movie.

Grease!

Hello from Vegas! I've seen a couple of signs around here, and ads on TV for the 35th anniversary of one of my favorite movies, Grease.  June 16th is the official date, but I thought we could start celebrating early. 

I wore out my CD of the soundtrack when I was in middles school. Who else remembers the first time they watched Grease, and even better, watching it when you were a little older and being shocked/ embarrassed at all of the sexual innuendo that you missed due to youthful innocence? Yikes! 

I think a Grease themed movie night might be in order this summer...

Daisy for Vogue

How stunning are these pictures of Carey Mulligan in her Great Gatsby attire for Vogue?! I am so excited for this movie, love all the actors and Baz Luhrmann.

(images via)

Post-Oscar's Monday Morning Recap

Did you watch the Oscars last night? What did you think? I wasn't crazy about Seth MacFarlane as the host, I hope they can convince Amy Poehler and Tina Fey to do it next year. Loved seeing Argo win, what a great movie. Also, how cute are Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner?

What were your favorite dresses? I loved Nicole Kidman's whole look, Amy Adams' crazy princess dress and Kerry Washington's bejeweled number.

PS. Did you see Bradley Cooper brought his mom, Gloria, and she wore sneakers?? So cute.

(Nicole, Amy, Kerry)

Rainy Day Teacup Entertainment

Last week my friend Brittany and I attempted to read our tea leaves. It was sort of a making lemonade out of lemons situation when we discovered our tea leaves were smaller than the teapot filter. We ended up with cups full of tea leaves, immediately thought of Harry Potter and Brittany whipped out her iPhone to google "reading tea leaves".

Naturally, we mainly "saw" happy things in our tea leaves. According to my cup, a strange visitor is going to bring me lots of money!

Anyway, the point of this post isn't to tell you all to go out and try reading your tea leaves, but more to say, I hope you're making the best of your day and remembering to find fun in the little things.

Watch This: Monica & David

I've been on a documentary kick lately and just watched this lovely, award winning film on Netflix. 

Monica & David is a love story. It follows two young adults with Down Syndrome through their wedding and first year of marriage.

It's one of the best things I've watched in a long time. I definitely recommend you check it out. 

Have You Seen "Les Mis" Yet?

We saw the new Les Misérables on Christmas Day with my family, have you seen it yet? It's definitely a LONG movie so prepare yourself, but some of the singing is fantastic and the message is as inspiring as always. I also thought Hugh Jackman was an incredible Val Jean!

Since I saw the movie I've run across a couple of interesting links around the web with different perspectives or interpretations of the movie/story. If you're nerdy like me and interested here they are!

Putting Les Mis in historical context - the story is not about the French Revolution.

Loving the movie despite it's miserable gender stereotypes.

Amazing photo shoot by Annie Leibovitz of cast in character for Vogue.

And a couple of wacky ones: a college parody and parenting lessons from Les Mis.

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Guess the Accent!

Are you good at guessing where people are from based on their accents? I thought I was until I took this test! Try it out and let me know how you do, it's not as easy as it looks. :)

Also, have you seen this kid's amazing talent for impersonating a ton of accents? Mesmerizing. (Warning: there is some swearing, NSFW). Makes me think about how much effort must go into actors mastering different accents. I had no idea that both Stringer Bell and Officer McNulty on the Wire were played by British actors until like season 4!

PS. Top 10 fake American accents and five American actors that can actually do a British accent.

(Map available on Etsy)

Cornbread & Cracking Eggs

The other day, as I ran to take my cornbread out of the oven once it began to smell amazing, I suddenly realized, that's a trick I learned from Weeds. Really, Weeds, the show about a pot dealing soccer mom taught me that cornbread is done when your kitchen is suddenly filled with the scent of it.

Also, I learned how to crack and egg with one hand from Sabrina:

PS. Unlike the cornbread on Weeds, mine is drug free!

(Vintage Kitchen image via Gold Country Girls)

Mindy Kaling and Diablo Cody

Have you read Mindy Kaling's book yet? Jenny gave it to me a while back and I'm laughing my way through it, definitely a good read if you need a smile. Check out the below interview of Mindy by the hilarious Diablo Cody (of "Juno" fame). Also, if you haven't seen "Young Adult" yet (Cody's latest) check it out on DVD, a great dark comedy and excellent acting from Charlize Theron.

PS. An excerpt from Mindy's book if you're interested. 

Your Thoughts on Premiere Weekend?

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

So what did everyone think of the big premieres over the weekend?! 



I actually really enjoyed Hunger Games for the most part, although the group I went with was generally underwhelmed by the movie. I do wish they would have chosen a different Peeta and Gale and was disappointed by the fashion (or lack thereof) but overall I thought they did a decent job of bringing the book to life on screen. LOVED Stanley Tucci as Caeser Flickerman and thought J.Law did a good job of portraying Katniss. How did you like it?


Did you all love the premiere of Mad Men as much as I did?! So excited for this season. Loved seeing how the fashion and decorating trends are changing as the season's progress


The fabulous gif of Lane Pryce’s reenacting Megan Draper’s “Zou Bisou Bisou” birthday burlesque is from Gifulmination.  Caeser Flickerman gif from Huffington Post.

For the Hunger Games Skeptics

I get it, "The Hunger Games" trilogy and new movie out on Friday isn't for everyone, but before you write this off as teen fiction,  check out this great New York Times review of the books . This trilogy has a lot more substance than Twilight, that's for sure. 

According to CNN, author Suzanne Collins came up with the idea for the plot while flipping channels between Iraq war coverage and a competition reality show and you can definitely see both of those influences in the final product.  

In the society of Panem, the privileged live in the Capitol and use the 13 districts that make up the rest of the country solely for resources, not caring about what it takes to get their fashion and gadgets produced, controlling the people by keeping them in poverty. Is that really very different from how our goods and raw materials are produced in the developing world today? 

In another vain entirely, it offers a great look at where reality TV might one day end up, from Survivor, to a very REAL version of it in the post-apocalyptic future. Hunger Games is 1984 for a different generation. 

Need more convincing?

Check out ABC News' Five Things You Need to Know. Comparing The Capitol to the 1% in America, speaking of the role model characteristics of the main character and more. 

The New Yorker has an interesting piece on why teens are into dystoptian societies.
An interview with past Survivor  contestant, comparing his experience to The Hunger Games. 

If you're a music fan, it looks like the soundtrack is going to be awesome, with songs by The Decemberists, Kid Cudi, Neko Case, The Arcade Fire, Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars.

Perhaps you just want to see a good movie. It's gotten great reviews from Entertainment Weekly, Rotten Tomatoes, E!, and The Washington Post has a collection from other reviewers.

(Image Murray Close/Lionsgate via E! Online)

Hunger Games MANIA

So, theres' a movie coming out this weekend that some people are pretty excited about.
Teresa and I might just have tickets for opening night...
Anyway, here's a conglomeration of all things Hunger Games, to get you in the spirit.

Check out photos of the Premiere here.

You can watch the trailers here. Or re-watch them, as would be the case for many of us...Get your own Mockingjay pin, necklace, bracelet, iPhone case, t-shirt, bracelet, bag, earrings, etc. all available on Etsy. I could actually see myself wearing this Mockingjay and arrow bracelet.

China Glaze has a Hunger Games line of nail polish called "Capitol Colors" out now.

A ton of people have created maps of Panem, they are all vastly different. Lets just say, it looks like some people did their research, some did not and some chose to use crayons.

Become a citizen of Panem

"May the odds be ever in your favor"

Unofficial HG cookbook

HG inspired pencil set

Hob shopping bag DIY.

Capitol Culture



The New York Sports Club is offering the "Train Like a Tribute" Hunger Games Workout, plastic bows and simulated tree climbing included.

Meet the Tributes, see photos of the actors playing tributes from other districts and descriptions of their characters. WARNING: don't click if you haven't read the books yet. Spoilers involved.

A couple of pastors even created a Hunger Games Bible study.

(Photos via Seattle Times and Pop Sugar)

Oscar Fever!

Did you catch the Academy Awards last night? What were your favorite moments of the show?

I loved seeing both of the Best Supporting Actor awards presented. Octavia Spencer had me tearing up when she won for her fabulous performance in The Help. Then Christopher Plummer got Best Supporting Actor for his role in Beginners at age 82, the oldest ever to receive the award. If you haven't seen Beginners yet, I'd highly recommend it, one of my favorite movies I've seen as of late.

Who did you think was best dressed? I loved Jessica Chastain's look, her hair is so gorgeous. 

Gwyneth also looked amazing! It was cute hearing her talk about getting ready with Cameron Diaz in her red carpet interview.

Loved the color of Viola Davis' dress

How adorable is Best Actor winner Jean Dujardin?

This was a funny moment between Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, plus Brad and Angie are looking fabulous as always in the fore-screen.

(both gif images from paralysedbeaver.tumblr.com)

Check out the winner for Best Animated Short Film, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore on YouTube, it's worth a watch. 

PS. Apparently Angie's right leg has it's own Twitter account already. :) 

(Top image from ihave4catz.tumblr.com/)