Seven on a Saturday- What I’m Watching Lately

People are always making posts on social media wondering what they should watch next. I always scroll the comments before posting, and I get so many recommendations. However, I didn’t watch Bird Box like most people recommended. I’ve also yet to watch You on Netflix with Penn Badgley, but it’s most definitely on my list. Have you watched that one? Will I be afraid to go outside alone? I hear it’s super creepy. Anyway, I’ve watched some great shows from scrolling those comments, so I thought I’d drop seven of them here in a post with a little description so you can decide if you’d like to start watching one of them on this lovely Saturday.

Grace and Frankie (Netflix)- This show is hilarious. I don’t particularly relate to the characters who have moved in together in their 70s because their husbands left them for each other! However, it makes for some funny TV. Both Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda are downright quick-witted and fun to watch. All of the characters are funny in their own way and bring their own depth and element to the story so that you get very attached to them. There’s also been some fun guest stars like Craig T. Nelson, Lisa Kudrow, and Sam Elliot to name a few. I’m in season four (out of five), and it’s just pure entertainment that makes me laugh out loud. It’s light-hearted and pretty mindless, so it won’t make you cry or anything. Just good fun. It’s not for the kiddos, though, so make sure you watch this one without little ears and eyes.

Stranger Things (Netflix)- I’m about a year and a half late to season two of this show, but it was worth the wait! Paul and I randomly decided to watch it after putting it off for so long, and we are so happy we did. I have a love/hate relationship with shows like this one. I don’t get scared of the alien stuff, but the suspense is killer to me. I do love how well the show is written and how it caused me to get invested in the characters. Eleven is one complicated little girl, and I absolutely loved her story line and that we got to know a little about why she is the way she is. If you haven’t watched it, do it! And if you haven’t watched any of Stranger Things, you are seriously missing out. It is truly more than the suspenseful alien invasion, but it definitely lives up to it’s name because it is the strangest television show I’ve ever watched.

I am the Night (TNT)- I’ll go ahead and say this show was a big thumbs down for me. I wanted to like it because of Chris Pine. I think he’s actually a great actor, but let’s be honest, he’s hot and watching him for an hour each week wasn’t going to hurt at all. It was said to be based on true events about a reporter that supposedly solved the Black Dahlia murder, but obviously the killer goes free. I suppose if you’re interested in this particular murder case and are more informed that I, give it a go. However, I did not understand many parts of the story and how they were relevant. When the last episode went off Paul and I looked at each other with absolute confusion. We thought it was kind of stupid, but it had just enough suspense to keep you wanting the next episode. Overall it was a let down.

Rachel Hollis Presents: Made for More (PRNewsfoto/Fathom Events)

Made for More Documentary (Amazon Prime Vidoe)- This documentary is from Rachel Hollis of Girl, Wash Your Face. It was basically her book in documentary form. She has previously released this film to select theaters around the country that had only one or two showings. A friend of mine in Baton Rouge had tickets to see it and loved it. She’s the one that told me about the book, too. When she posted to her social media that Made for More was out on Amazon Prime Video, I knew I had to check it out. Thanks, Whitney! It was great. If you like her motivational spirit and have read Girl, Wash Your Face, you’ll enjoy this film. It was cool to see the behind the scenes operations of her conferences, and you truly get a sense of her heart behind this mission she has to help empower other women. I thought it was very nice and worth the watch.

Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Movie)- Melissa McCarthy (you know, the funny one) gave a very serious and dramatic performance as Lee Isreal in this movie. It tells the story of how Lee Isreal fabricated and sold letters written by other famous people in order to make money because she was so broke. It had funny elements that McCarthy plays to perfection, but it is not a comedy. It was very heavy, in fact, and had many deep issues to work through. I really enjoyed it and understood her award nominations, including that Oscar. It’s definitely not a feel-good movie, but if you like Melissa McCarthy and interesting movies, I recommend this one. I got mine from Red Box, but it might be at the library now.

BlacKkKlansman (Movie)- This Spike Lee film was pretty great. It tells the story of Ron Stallworth, an African-American detective that infiltrates the KKK. It had excellent comedic performances, but it also really showed how things were in the early 70s with the hatred toward black people. I enjoyed the movie and the story. I’ve never seen a Spike Lee film, so I have no idea if the ending was true to form or not, but as the credits are rolling he shows footage of the attacks that happened in North Carolina this past year. I know the point was to show that racism is still an issue in our country, but I just couldn’t watch people being killed knowing it was real and not part of the movie. That’s the only issue I had with this one. Otherwise, I really liked the story and how it was told and recommend it. This one’s at the library.

Bohemian Rhapsody (Movie)- You guys, this was my favorite movie in a long time. Rami Malek was excellent as Freddie Mercury. I knew something unfortunate happened to him, but I didn’t grow up with Queen playing in our house, so I didn’t know the extent of his story. I’ve been familiar with their music from, I think, D2 The Mighty Ducks. Remember that movie? When they played We Will Rock You and We are the Champions? Then my friend once told me she wanted her family to play Another One Bites the Dust at her funeral. 🙂 Haha! I can’t believe I still remember that. And I distinctly remember head banging my way to Montgomery while listening to Bohemian Rhapsody when I was about fifteen. This movie brought new-to-me songs that are now on regular rotation on my playlist. I thought the movie was very well done. I laughed, I cried, and I sang. Highly recommend it if you haven’t seen it. Not sure if it’s at the library yet, but it’s at Red Box.

What have you watched lately? We attempted The Umbrella Academy on Netflix the other night, but I’m still forming my opinion and need to give it a few more episodes. I’ll report back. Have you seen any of the seven I shared here today? What were your thought? Tell me in the comments.

Happy Saturday, friends!

Currently Loving October 2018

We’re skipping the regular Seven on a Saturday post to discuss the things I’m currently loving from the previous month. I love sharing things with you guys, and I’ve got several things that were on my mind to share with y’all from October. Continue reading “Currently Loving October 2018”

Movie Set Monday- The Intern

MOVIE SET MONDAY- THE INTERN

Happy Monday, friends! I’m off work today for Presidents’ Day. Woo Hoo! Anyone else get the day off? I could get used to regular three day weekends. 🙂 I was also able to use the long weekend to paint my bathroom. That deserves another Woo Hoo! I love the way the white paint on the walls turned out, and the vanity looks incredible painted black. I can’t wait to put the finishing touches on it and show you. But that’s not why we’re here today. I’ve got another installment of Movie Set Monday for you.

The Intern

Nancy Meyers is one of my favorite filmmakers. I’ve been a fan of hers for as long as I can remember. And one of the reasons I love her movies is because of the beautiful homes she showcases. I recently watched The Intern with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. It’s the cutest movie, and I totally cried in the scene where they watch Singing in the Rain together. It was the sweetest.

I just realized that if you haven’t seen this movie, then maybe you’re thinking Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway have a romantic relationship. This is not so. But they do develop a very lovely friendship, and I recommend this movie to all the ladies. Paul watched it with me and didn’t love it. I can’t blame him, though. It’s definitely geared toward the girls.

Anyway….

My favorite home in this movie was Anne Hathaway’s character’s home. It’s a classic Brooklyn brownstone that is full of character. And the decor is pretty awesome too. That’s the kitchen. The floor to ceiling windows are showstoppers. I love how they stand out with the molding around them painted the same as the cabinets and island. The open shelving on both sides of the kitchen is genius for both storage and displaying beautiful dishes. And I love a good stripe, so that runner is speaking my language.

Ok, we should first mention the range and vent hood. Very sleek and a nice modern touch to such a classic house. I also really like the arch architectural detail. The subway tile makes it really pop, and it also ties in perfectly with the wall of open shelving to the left. Look at those floors. The pattern gives this room so much character. It elevates the space to a whole new level. I just thought those windows were good. This view is my favorite view of the kitchen. More open shelving and that fireplace. A fireplace in the kitchen might seem a little weird, but it sure does look nice. The artwork over the mantel is really interesting too. And scroll back up and look at that ceiling and the molding. Oh. My. Word. These are the kinds of details that make me fall in love with a house. And how cute is that little table for her little girl? There’s even a teeny tiny lucite chair for her stuffed animal. Adorable.

Living and Dining Rooms

I know I just said it, but the architecture is just stunning. The arched opening is so pretty. And there’s pocket doors in there too! Aaahhhh! And the crown molding, which has always been a favorite element of mine, is equally as pretty. I love those built-ins too. I’d want to put some sort of bookshelf on either side of that opening anyway, so the fact that they’re built in is perfect.

My favorite non-architectural part of this room is the light fixture. I think it’s so interesting and adds a little whimsy to the space. Another beautiful fireplace. I love the detail in the matel. So intricate.This is the same sitting area but shot from as if you were sitting in one of the chairs. You can’t see it well, but that mustard yellow sofa is so good. I don’t love yellow. It’s never been my color, but I sort of love it as the accent color in the mostly black and white room. Also, I love that the large piece of art is leaning against the wall on the other side of the black chest. I think it’s a fun way to display a piece of art that you like. It didn’t fit into the gallery already hung on the wall, and you absolutely cannot take away from the beauty of those windows, so I think a wall prop is brilliant. I might try that. Hmm… Don’t you just love finding new ways to decorate your home?

Master Bedroom

I swear one day I’m going to have a sitting area in my master bedroom. I’ve found this to be a reoccurring thing about the movie homes that I love. The settee is so cute at the end of the bed, and the chaise lounge is begging for a book to read on it.

Architecturally speaking, this room is so good. It’s almost as if the nook was carved out especially for the bed and nightstands. I love the drop down with the corbels. Such a delightful detail. First, I love a sconce. I think they’re the perfect things for reading in bed. Not too much light for the person next to you who might be sleeping and such visual happiness when you see them hanging on your wall. Second, there’re lamps too! I thought it was odd at first, but there’s no overhead light in this part of the room, so it makes sense to have the lamps for extra light instead of just the sconces. In other words, I like it. Third, what is that beauty in the window? Is it just the detail of the wall because the window is further out than the actual wall? Or is it a shutter that folds back? Whatever it is, bravo! Another fireplace. Seriously, what’s not to love about this home? The place is dripping with character. And even more was added when they put in that incredible armoire. And the medallion on the ceiling. Even the bedroom door has character. Gosh, I love this room.

The Office

Even though I really love the brownstone the most, the office where they all work is truly beautiful. It’s a warehouse that was converted to an office for an online clothing company (storyline, not real life). It’s very industrial but charming and comfortable too. It’s very chic and open. Lots of windows (exterior and interior). I love the light fixtures and that sign below. Major work motivation.

Well there we go. Isn’t it gorgeous? This one is significantly different than the set of Home Again, but I love this one just as much. I apparently could have all different kinds of homes all over the place. What about you? Do you like the city brownstone type? Or are you more of a sprawling farmhouse type? I can’t decide. I love the city life, but I’d also like to sit on my front porch and watch my goats play and eat grass. Good thing I have movies to keep me entertained on both fronts and give me ideas along the way.

Have a great week!

Currently Loving- June 2017

CURRENTLY LOVING

How is June over?! That means summer is halfway over. For teachers July always means you have to really start thinking about school again. Because, contrary to popular belief, teachers really do have to do work in the summer. There’s a lot of planning and putting your classroom back together. It’s no joke. So don’t hate on your teacher friends during the summer. They do a lot of stuff in those two months to prepare for your kiddos to come into their classrooms the next school year (on their days off, no less).

Watermelon

Another favorite this month- watermelon. Oh my goodness. There’s a man selling watermelons for $10 across the street from the country club, and I first thought it was steep for a watermelon, but I’ve changed my tune because they are absolutely worth every penny. Watermelon is maybe my favorite thing ever about summer. So delicious!

The Tony Awards

It’s no surprise to people who know me that I love award shows. I am a major lover of The Golden Globes, The SAG Awards, and The Oscars. But probably my most favorite award show is The Tony Awards which honors the accomplishments of people in theater. I have been fortunate to see Bernadette Peters in Annie Get Your Gun on Broadway. I saw The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway as well on Mr. W.S. Godwin’s trip he used to take every year to D.C and New York. I was thirteen years old and did not know how huge this was to see such icons on stage. I wish I had kept the Playbills! And then while in Louisiana I was able to see Wicked when it toured through New Orleans. Holy crap! When is this movie coming out so more people can love it?! Someone please make a movie!!!

The reason the Tony’s are one of my favorite things is because Ben Platt, the lead actor in Dear Evan Hansen won for best actor in a musical. You may remember him as Benji, the weird roommate of Jesse in Pitch Perfect. He performed in their finale in the first movie and reprises his role in Pitch Perfect 2.

Google Images/ Click the image for a link to his acceptance speech.

But during his acceptance speech at The Tony’s he said, “The things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful.”

I thought that was such a profound statement. Perhaps I’ve watched too many teenage/high school dramas lately, but being strange is often something that really hurts people and something they try to hide because others don’t seem to understand their “weird”. But Ben says to do it anyway. And I agree. If you’re the theater nerd in your group of friends and they think that’s crazy, let them think that. One day, that strange thing is going to help you do something that makes you happy. I’m here doing it now by writing a blog that probably only a handful of people read.(Thanks, Mom, Mrs. Robyn, Aunt Sharon, and Christy) 🙂 Ha! But you know what? I don’t care. If it makes me strange then that’s okay, because who knows? One day it could be the most powerful thing I’ve ever done.

Google Images/ This is actually an image from a blanket. I need it!

Home Improvements

My next two favorites come in the form of home improvements. I don’t go too many places over the summer. This is a pretty busy time for Paul’s line of work, so I spend a lot of time at home relaxing, reading, watching Netflix (I’ve gotten into even more shows, y’all.) I think I’ve officially got a problem. But I also get projects on my list out of the way in the summer because I have lots of time to do it. So, I can’t let June go by without mentioning my two favorite home improvements:

The Rug Switcheroo

The Leopard Curtains

More TV

So, I said I’ve gotten into more shows, but one that I’m rediscovering as an adult is Designing Women. Y’all…..I can’t get enough! It is so witty, and I am loving the strong woman that is Julia Sugarbaker. She is fierce. And how funny is that show? I know some of y’all remember it, and if you don’t, just search it on your cable box. I bet it’ll give you the times and channel that it’s on. And look at that 80s hair and fashion! Love!

Google Images/ Click this picture for a link to a “Where are they now?” article.

The Shack

I also have to reiterate my love of The Shack. I posted a review of it on Thursday, but it has been sticking with me since I finished the book. And I encourage you to watch the movie too. The library here has it available to check out for one night. And it’s free! Support your local library!

Professional Golfer

Cam with his mom and dad, Todd and Ginger.

Lastly, I was able to watch my husband’s cousin win his first professional golf event. Paul has been coaching him through videos, countless texts and phone calls, and every now and then in person while Cam was at college and we were in Louisiana. It was great when we moved back that they could do more lessons in person. So when Cam went to the regional competition for the NCAA and then on to the national championship competition in Chicago, it’s an understatement to say how proud of him we were. Cam knew he wanted to go the pro route, and Paul has been able to be there every step of the way since we’ve moved back. It’s been a lot of fun to watch. Then Cam was able to win his first event as a pro! I shared a golf cart with Paul and his Aunt Ginger, Cam’s mom, to see him win, and it was very cool. I feel very honored to have been allowed to be there. I’m not sure if Cam knows how proud Paul is. He didn’t stop laughing and smiling until we got home from the tournament. He was in the best mood and all because he was so happy for Cam. Can’t wait to see what else is in store for this guy. He’s the real deal, y’all!

So, my June was fun. How about yours? I’d love to hear about it in the comments. Here’s to another month in the books and to a great July!

Thursday Thoughts- Movie Reviews

MOVIE REVIEWS

Welcome back to Thursday Thoughts. I should welcome myself back; I haven’t written a TT post in a while. One thing I have done is watch a lot of movies, and I wanted to share my thoughts on two of them.

La La Land

I remember reading something when this movie was coming to theaters by Tom Hanks that said this is what movies are all about. Someone else told me it was so beautiful and would change your life.

Then, I never made it to the theaters to see it. (womp womp)

I knew that seeing this movie was going on my summer to-do list. So when I stumbled across it at our local library, I picked it up and decided I would watch it that night since Paul was at poker night. (He’s not so much into the musicals.)

It immediately made you feel like you were watching an old movie just because of the way it was shot. The opening musical number set the tone for the film in that there were several song and dance sequences. All were beautiful, and all of them sucked you right into the story and swallowed you whole. I tend to get very lost in musicals. I get caught up in the emotion and the talent and the feeling. There’s nothing like that feeling. It was truly a moving film and deserved every award and nomination it received.

Ryan Gossling and Emma Stone have so much chemistry together on screen. People have compared them to Fred and Ginger and Bergman and Bogart. Theirs is a believable romance and relationship. There is a scene when they go to the movies, and it is the very beginning of their relationship. They are stealing glances at each other and inching their fingers closer and closer until they are holding hands. It so accurately depicts that new, butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling you get when you’re about to enter that territory with someone new that you really like. I was smiling the whole time from the nostalgia that crept up inside because you know you’ve been there too. Those early, excited feelings with your significant other. That thrill it is to touch their skin in such an intimate yet innocent way for the first time. Like I said, they’ve got chemistry.

I can’t end this review without talking about the music. The songs are beautiful. Ryan Gossling and Emma Stone have great voices and then they threw in John Legend. So…yeah…winner in my book! And it’s not just the singing that is great, but there’s some amazing piano music, mostly jazz, that is all throughout the movie. Gossling plays a jazz pianist trying to make it, and the piano playing is a huge part of the movie.

I realize musicals are not for everyone. But I feel that even if it’s not really your speed that you’ll enjoy it. It’s definitely not something being done regularly in Hollywood, and I love that.

Hidden Figures

I realize I’m much too late to this party, but this was one movie I will not soon forget. I was left completely moved by this film.

These three women were looked over time and time again. They were the best at what they did, so unbelievably smart, witty, strong, and determined. I knew a little about the story just from all of the publicity it got when it came out and during awards season, but I didn’t know everything. I have to say I was truly inspired by this story, by all three women, and by the portrayal of these women by the actresses who played them: Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, and Taraji P. Henson.

One of my favorite things about the movie was the backstory they told on all the women. Mary Jackson, played by Janelle Monae, was such a spitfire! There’s a scene where she puts her husband in his place at a church picnic, and I laughed out loud at her assertiveness and how he closed his mouth so fast. And she stayed like that the whole movie. I loved her outspokenness and her determination to never give up and to get into a course she needed even when it wasn’t geared toward women and certainly not African American women. She was smart and capable, and she knew it.

Dorothy Vaughn, played by Octavia Spencer, was a genius. She got the IBM computer for the space mission up and running correctly and effectively and was later put in charge of that. Another victory for women and African American women. And in the movie she was portrayed as being self-taught in programming. That just blows my mind! I know we live in a digital age and it’s almost expected that each new generation be more technologically inclined, but in the 60s? I was so impressed and inspired by her drive and mental capacity. Smart girls are awesome!

Katherine Johnson was a math wiz. Taraji P. Henson played her flawlessly. She was a widow with three young daughters trying to make a living. Then she got sent up to the land of white men and had to fight her way to prove that she was worthy of that desk and that her math skills were up to par and even better than they ever expected. She played an integral part in putting John Glenn into space. She is a true roll model for girls of all ages.

I cried watching this movie. It moved me in ways that made me proud to be a woman. It broke my heart to see how they were degraded for being women and for being black. It didn’t matter that they were wearing skirts or using a “colored restroom”; they were the smartest, most capable people for the jobs at hand. And they proved themselves to be successful and perfect for their jobs. In this modern day wave of women’s liberation, it’s stories like this that make me proud to be a woman. And stories like this one that inspire me to go after what I want and not back down because I may not have the skills or be qualified. It inspires me to take the opportunity to educate myself and acquire those skills to be successful in whatever I want to do. Isn’t there a meme that says, “In a world of Kardashians be a ___________________”? Well, in a world of Kardashians, be a Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, or Mary Jackson. Because these are the women you should strive to be.

Thanks for sticking around for my long post. I get so passionate about movies and entertainment. I hope you have a fabulous rest of your week and a wonderful weekend. Hope to see you back on Sunday for more home decor projects. I’m off to work on more curtains! 🙂

Happy Thursday, y’all!

Thursday Thoughts- Let’s Go to the Movies

Happy Thursday and welcome back to Thursday Thoughts.

2017 is shaping up to be a good year for movies. I have found some great trailers for some of the upcoming movies and wanted to share the ones I’m most excited about.

First up- The Zookeeper’s Wife. I love a period piece. And Jessica Chastain is such a wonderful actress. I’m looking forward to seeing this movie. It tells the true story of Antonina Zabinska, a Polish zookeeper’s wife, who hides Jewish people from German soldiers in her zoo during WWII.

Next up- The Circle. I think this movie seems intriguing. I stated in an earlier post that I loved movies. All kinds. I know this one in cult-ish, but the cast looks pretty stellar. From the trailer I gather that this is a story of a girl, May, that gets a job at The Circle. Everyone that works there tends to know everything about her and her family, the good and the bad. It seems the people closest to her (family and friends) wonder if her involvement with The Circle is a good thing.

The Shack. I had every intention of reading this book during the month of April and seeing the movie before it left theaters here, but I was lent another book that I really wanted to read too, so I put The Shack on the back burner. I’m excited to pick it up, though, and I intend to before I see the movie. This story is about a man who endures a very difficult and traumatic event in his life and is visited by God. I’m told this book is life-changing and quite beautiful. I’ve talked to people who saw the movie, and I’ve heard nothing but good reviews. I’ll probably grab this one from Redbox, but I’m excited to see it nonetheless.

The Case for Christ. I am a big fan of the movies that the company, Pure Flix, puts out. God’s Not Dead was one of them. I am a Christian and believe in the Bible and the gospel of Jesus Christ, so these movies are always wonderfully thought provoking and inspiring. They are so full of truth, and I always walk away feeling like I have been blessed. God definitely has his hand in these films. I’m feeling like this is true for The Case for Christ as well since I learned that two of the songs on the soundtrack are from the band, The Church Vessel, of The Church in St. Amant. This is the church I attended in Louisiana, and their album, Rekindle, is amazing. It is perfect worship music, and it’s great music to play during your quiet time if you’d really like to take it to another level. The songs are powerful and annointed. I think it is amazing that they will be performed on a platform for so many people to experience. Those people will be blessed, no doubt about it. The movie looks quite interesting.

Wonder Woman. There’s no doubt in my mind that the only reason I want to see this is because it is a woman superhero. I can take or leave all of the other comic book, superhero movies. I haven’t seen any of them, I don’t think. Maybe bits and pieces here and there, but I’m not one that has to go to the theater to see them all. But when I saw the trailer for this one, I thought, I’d like to see this one in the theater. How beautiful does her home land look? And hello, Chris Pine! He’s so dang cute. Paul and I saw the trailer for it when we went to see Beauty and the Beast. When I turned to him and nodded my head and widened my eyes with approval and excitement, he met my expression with a furrowed brow, a shake of the head, and a, “nah, I don’t think so”. (Insert eye roll.) Looks like I’ll be going solo for this one.

The Book of Henry. This movie looks a little dark and scary, but I am very drawn to it. It stars Maddie Ziegler. If there are any other Dance Mom fans out there, you’ll know who I’m talking about. I will say I haven’t watched it in many seasons, but I did watch it for 3 or so seasons. Crazy ladies! No doubt that Maddie is a talented dancer, and I believe we’ll get to see her dance in this one. This movie is about a boy, Henry, who lives with his mom and brother and seems to be gifted in some way. He learns that Maddie’s character, his next door neighbor, is being hurt by her stepfather and decides to do something about it. Looks intense.

Gifted. I have seen this movie advertised lately, and it looks so good! Chris Evans’ character is caring for his niece and people are trying to take her away. She is a very gifted child, but he wants to keep her childhood “normal”. It looks inspiring and uplifting. I’m looking forward to this one.

Ferdinand. I am so excited for this movie. It is one of my very favorite children’s books. There will be more elements added to the story to make it long enough to be a movie, but I love this story overall. I’m so glad that children will get to experience it. In my 9 years of teaching, there hasn’t been one class when the majority of the students had no clue who Ferdinand was and had never heard this beautiful story. It’s a lovely tale of not having to be what everyone thinks you should be. It’s okay to just be you even if you’re the biggest, baddest bull in Spain and all you like to do is just sit and smell the flowers.

Tulip Fever. This was a book I was actually interested in reading. I just haven’t gotten around to that because it’s number 1,927,462,938 on my to-be-read list. However, I’ll watch this one before reading the book. It looks so scandalous. And again, I love a period piece.

Same Kind of Different as Me. This looks like a feel good movie. I really like Greg Kinnear, and this one doesn’t look like it’s going to disappoint. Just the trailer reminds me to look beyond the surface. The title eludes to the notion that people are so complex and deep. It’s good to pay attention to that.

And finally……Pitch Perfect 3!! I was perhaps the last person to jump on board the original Pitch Perfect bandwagon. (Not sure why…but I was.) I watched Pitch Perfect 2 in theaters with my neighbor in Louisiana, Megan, and we laughed our heads off and, remember Megan, we were the only ones in the theater. See…

Anyway, I always watch the movies when they’re on TV. I even have the Pitch Perfect station on my Pandora. I can’t wait for this new one. There’s no trailer yet, but there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll be in for lots of laughs and some great tunes.

I’m definitely looking forward to being able to see these movies this year. Are there any others coming out that you’re excited about that you didn’t see here? I kind of want to see The Boss Baby. That one looks pretty funny. How can you not love Alec Baldwin?

I hope that everyone has had a great week. Here’s to tomorrow being Friday and to a great weekend!

Thursday Thoughts- Movies

Welcome back to Thursday Thoughts!

Today I’ll be sharing my 10 favorite movies. If you’re not a movie lover, we can’t be friends. I’m kidding! Paul is not a movie lover at all, and I still keep him around. 🙂 For real though, I love movies. I love cartoons, dramas, comedies, romantic comedies, musicals, thrillers, old movies, new movies, kid movies, black and white movies…pretty much all movies except for horror movies. I’m too chicken to watch those. I used to, but like I mentioned about The Grudge in this post, I’m just not cut out for all that. Not to mention, who wants that bad juju in their house? Not me. Let’s get to it, shall we?

The Family Stone– I can’t say enough how much I love this movie. I absolutely love a story about a dysfunctional family. And the cast in this movie is just phenomenal. Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dermot Mulroney, Rachel McAdams, Claire Danes, and Luke Wilson just to name a few. The eldest son, Everett (Dermot Mulroney), is bringing home his girlfriend, Meredith (SJP), for Christmas. His sister, Amy (Rachel McAdams), has already met her and hates her, so naturally, she’s already told everyone how awful she is. It turns out to be am awkward introduction to the family and an even more awkward few days as Christmas approaches. I kind of love the awkwardness about it, though. It surely makes for a very entertaining story. The house that the Stone family lives in is just gorgeous. Diane Keaton said in an interview that she hated the cluttered mess of the house and how lived-in it was, but it was such a great feature to the movie. It was totally believable that all of those kids grew up in that home and were coming back to a place of comfort and familiarity for a few days. It was superb acting for sure, and you should definitely check it out if you’ve never seen it. And here’s another fun fact, the music is AMAZING. In the scene when Diane Keaton’s character looks out the window while it’s snowing, there is orchestral music playing. That bit of music was playing as I walked down the aisle. So, yeah, it’s safe to say that I have a real love for many things about this movie. Go watch it!

A League of Their Own– Who doesn’t love this movie? “There’s no crying in baseball!” Don’t we all know that part? This is a movie I can pretty much quote from start to finish. I watched it so many times as a kid. I could sing “It Had to be You” just like Marla did when she was drunk at the bar. I can still sing “We’re the members of the All-American League. We come from cities near and far. We’ve got Canadians, Irish ones, and Swedes. We’re all for one. We’re one for all. We’re all American.” I could go on, but I won’t. Gena Davis and Tom Hanks are obviously the stars of the movie, but the whole cast was just incredible. Despite how things have progressed for Rosie O’Donnell, and despite what your current opinion of her may be, I still would want to go up to her and ask to go have a “steak dinnah” with her just so we could talk about her experience filming that movie. I may have never giggled so hard on a film before than when Jimmy Dougan goes into the bathroom before their first game and pees for forever in front of all the girls. I remember being embarrassed to watch that with my mom and dad because I didn’t want to laugh too hard and them think badly of me. But it was so dang funny!

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes– It’s no secret to people who know me that I’m a Marilyn Monroe fan. I used to be quite obsessed and had two posters of her hanging in my bedroom, a purse with her pictures on it, a book chronicling her life in pictures (I probably still have this), and several of her movies. She was so beautiful and sexy and blonde, and I just wanted to be her. The movie is a musical, which is maybe my favorite genre of film, and I don’t care what people say about her not having a good voice. I loved it. “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” is an iconic song and has never been covered as well as she sang it in my opinion. She is known for being irresponsible and some might have said a pain to work with, but the end result was always amazing. She was a great talent gone too soon.

Funny Girl– Another musical to add to the list. Barbra Streisand. Need I say more? The woman is other-worldly talented. Fanny Brice is a wonderfully complicated, quirky, strong, funny girl. She goes after what she wants and holds on for dear life until she gets it. And she sings one of the greatest love songs of all time, “My Man”. I cry and cry every single time. It’s a long one with an actual intermission in the film but please do yourself a favor and watch it.

Elf– Okay, I love me some Christmas movies. But who doesn’t love this? This is such a funny movie with so many great quotes. Every year during the Christmas season two of my friends from Louisiana, Tina and Rochelle, and I get our group text going when one of us is currently watching Elf and we all proceed to text quotes back and forth to each other. We are grown women, but we always laugh about this movie, and quite frankly, I hope we never stop doing that.

When Harry Met Sally– I just love this movie. I think that Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan were so great together. I know Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are another great pairing, but this movie was my favorite of the Meg Ryan trio (When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail). I love that Harry and Sally are practically enemies when they meet and drive to NYC and then come together as friends later in their lives. It’s was a unique take on how two people fell in love. One of the greats.

The Way We Were– More Barbra. Katie and Hubbell, the song, the fashion, her hair, heck his hair, Robert Redford. Watch it. That is all. (Seriously, y’all…look at these pictures. They are two of the most beautiful people ever. So many heart eyes for their gorgeousness, their work, and this movie.)

“Your girl is lovely, Hubbell.” Google Images

Singing in the Rain– I love this movie so much. I think Gene Kelly was one of the most handsome men there ever was. And what a talent? He could sing and dance and act-total triple threat. Also, the late Debbie Reynolds was perfect as Cathy. I thought she was so pretty and “Good Morning” is one of my favorite numbers from the movie. (The girl can dance!) I always play the clips of “Make ‘Em Laugh”, “Good Morning”, and “Singing in the Rain” for my students every year as a get-to-know-me exercise. At the beginning of the year we are learning a lot about each other and I let them know that I like movies, especially musicals, through this movie. “Make ‘Em Laugh” is always their favorite. 🙂

The Harry Potter Franchise– I know this is technically more than one movie, but I am a fan of the whole franchise, so I had to include them. Paul and I watched the movies when we first got married (up through The Deathly Hallows Part 1). We were able to go see The Deathly Hallows Part 2 in theaters, and I was so excited to be an actual HP fan going to the movies to see it. I don’t know why I never jumped on the bandwagon when I was a kid and the books were coming out, but I just didn’t. After watching all the movies I decided to get all the books and spent a year or so reading all of them. To say I loved them is an understatement. I think that I really enjoy the fact that you become so invested in the characters and the story line when you’re reading the books or watching the movies for that matter. And once you get into it, everything and everyone becomes familiar. The movies were so well made and the actors were just expertly cast. I don’t have to tell you this. If you’re a Potter fan, you already know.

The Holiday– Nancy Meyers is a fabulous film maker and has a fun Instagram account with behind-the-scenes looks from the movies she is currently filming. I believe she’s just wrapped one called Home Again that stars Reese Witherspoon. Can’t wait to see more about that one. And let’s not forget Something’s Got to Give and It’s Complicated. Both hilarious! This movie was just fun for me. I love a good romantic comedy, and Cameron Diaz and Jack Black in the same movie? Comedy gold. Let’s not forget how gorgeous Jude Law is and how stupidly talented Kate Winslet is. Everything she does is phenomenal to me, and she didn’t win that Oscar for nothing. I enjoyed the interesting concept of switching houses with someone half way around the world. I would have definitely reacted the same way Iris did when she got to Amanda’s house in L.A. It was incredible. However, I totally loved the English cottage. It’s pretty adorable. The soundtrack is fantastic too. I considered a song from this movie to be played at my wedding as well. And I may have (more than once) taken a picture of Cameron Diaz from that movie into the salon to get her haircut. Most people have seen this, but if you’ve been living under a rock for the last, oh 10 years, watch it when it comes on TBS or Freeform at Christmas.

BONUS: I’m a huge Adam Sandler fan. So just about any of his movies are ones that I’m almost always going to sit and watch. I did it today when Blended was on tv. There’s another great movie pairing: Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. I didn’t so much care for You Don’t Mess with the Zohan and never saw Little Nicky or Anger Management. But I feel like those weren’t his best anyway. Give me Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, Grown Ups, or Just Go With It any day. He’s hilarious. I even loved him in Spanglish.

I hope you’ve seen some of these movies already or maybe now you’ll add a few to your To-Be-Watched list. These aren’t all the movies I’ve enjoyed. I quite enjoyed the new Beauty and the Beast, and I really love Annie, and I kind of like The Blind Side (okay, not kind of…I REALLY like that one). And let’s not forget The Help and The Sound of Music and Trolls and Sweet Home Alabama and Mrs. Doubtfire. I could go on and on and on. Like the quote above by Laura Dern, I love movies. They have this ability to take you away to a completely different world (The Hunger Games) and inspire you (War Room) and make you sad (Steel Magnolias) or happy (The Little Rascals) or want to sing (Pitch Perfect 1 and 2) and some even make you feel alive (Life is Beautiful). Again, I love movies. I hope you do too.

I hope Friday treats you well (extra well if you get the day off) and that you have a great weekend! Happy Easter!

Currently Loving-March 2017

Can it be April already? I feel like this has been the fastest year ever. In an effort to slow down and reflect on this past month and what I enjoyed, I’ve come up with a list of things that I would like to share with you. My hope is that these things bring some happiness into your life as well.

One thing I’ve recently discovered (and I know I’m a little late to this party) is Kari Jobe’s new album The Garden. If you’ve never had the pleasure of listening to this mega-talented woman sing, please go to YouTube and have a quick listen, then head over to iTunes and download The Garden or any of her other amazing music. I tend to listen to praise and worship music during nap time at school and one day I was scrolling through my usual list of instrumental praise music and decided I wanted to listen to some Kari. (Sidenote: Her Pandora station is pretty fantastic too.) There was a playlist for The Garden, so I decided to listen. I’m so glad I did. The song, “The Garden”, almost had me in tears. It’s so beautiful. It will bless your soul. Go listen!

Switching gears to beauty. I got Sarah Jessica Parker’s new perfume, Stash, for Christmas. I’m still loving it. It’s technically a unisex fragrance. I love it so much for myself, though, that I’d be intrigued to smell it on a man. There’s a warmth to it that I just love. I wear it day and night but like to spritz on a little extra when going out in the evening. It’s just so lovely. Stash is sold at Ulta and is available in a rollerball if you’d like to try it without committing to a whole bottle. I know fragrance is so individual, but if you like warmer scents, you might like this one.

Can we just talk about these for a second? Perhaps my favorite candy of all time. Let’s just say that I love them so much I’ve been known to say that these better be in Heaven when I get there.

This month brought the return of Designated Survivor. We recorded the show when it originally started but never got around to watching it. One night when our DVR was cleared of everything else that we watch, we pushed play and were hooked. The season premier was so great and last week’s episode!! Y’all!! Are you watching too? You need to go catch up if not!

Paul’s not a huge movie watcher, but if I can get a “guy movie” in his sights, he’s going to at least consider it. Cue Hacksaw Ridge. Mel Gibson may have a reputation of being a bit crazy, but the man can make a movie. It is a war movie with its fair share of gore, but the story was so beautiful. And one I had never heard before. It tells the story of Army Medic Desmond Doss and his heroic actions to save 75 of his fellow soldiers ALONE. He did all of this without firing a single weapon and was awarded a Medal of Honor. It was an inspiring story of standing up for what you believe in and not backing down even when the odds are tremendously stacked against you. It’s a must watch.

I’m a pretty avid reader, well, more so in the summer than during the school year, but from August through May I like to listen to audio books. This month I listened to The Girl in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. Boy, was it a good one! I am not a scary movie person or a ghost story person. Not once in Louisiana did I want to go on one of those ghost tours in New Orleans or in St. Francisville. When I watched The Grudge in college, I was so thankful that my dorm roommate was not in town because I slept with the lights on for three nights. I do not do scary stuff. This book, though it had some scary parts, is a thriller which is slightly less scary to me. I can do thrillers most of the time. This one is about a woman who goes on a cruise and thinks she hears and sees something horrible, but when she tells the people in charge of the cruise, no one believes her. Everyone thinks she’s crazy…or do they? That’s all I can say because I don’t want to give anything away if you’re intrigued and want to read it. If this is your genre, you’ll like it. I did figure out the ending before it all unfolded, but that’s okay. I got to have that moment of victory in the last chapter when my suspicions were confirmed.

As a teacher I am so fortunate to get to still have a Spring Break. It was glorious to sleep in and be lazy. That’s me in PJs and slippers mid-morning.

I finished a series I was watching on Amazon called Z: The Beginning of Everything about Zelda Fitgerald. I didn’t know she was originally from Montgomery. Thought that was pretty cool. It was a fun show, and I love that it’s a period piece. I am a sucker for that 1920’s fashion. Zelda was a real spit-fire, and I kind of liked that about her.

I also got to go shopping with my mom to a new store (well, new to us) called At Home. Y’all, it was like Heaven. We had made our way around the store, though not all the way through, and I stopped and looked at my mom and said, “This is what Heaven is going to be like for me: home decor, Cadbury Mini Eggs, and Jesus.”

March also brought a reunion with some very special old friends. I have been friends with these people for nearly 20 years. They are the kind of friends that even though all four of us hadn’t been together in almost seven years, we fell right back into our pattern of easy conversation, jokes, and hilarity that may or may not have involved a belt that contracts your abs for you. We went around the circle talking about our current life situations including jobs, relationships, children, and even some crazy neighbors one of us has-I mean REALLY crazy. It was good for my soul to see these people that feel like family, and I pray we get to do it again before seven more years passes us by.

Well, that’s what I’m loving this month. Have any of you also discovered some of my favorites from March? Do you have some great music, books, beauty items, or T.V. shows you are loving lately? Tell me about them in the comments. I hope March was great to you and here’s to an even better April.