movie watcher part 2

now that the oscars are behind us, it's time for an update of my previous post and some follow up thoughts.

BEST PICTURE

• american sniper - politics aside, this movie was fascinating and so difficult to watch.  i thought bradley cooper's performance was perfect.
• birdman - still on my list - more so now that it won.
• boyhood - we thought the concept was amazing, but we were not crazy about the story or lack of.
• the grand budapest hotel - was pleasantly surprised.  oscar wins for costume, hair & makeup and production design were well deserved.
• the imitation game - my favorite movie. and the screenwriter's speech at the oscars was one of my favorite moments.
• selma - fell asleep. not that it wasn't good just started it too late.  will give it another try.
• the theory of everything - great movie.  eddie redmayne was brilliant.
• whiplash - loved it!! saw this in toronto and again when we took the boys. jk simmons was intense and genius.

in addition there are a few movies nominated for other categories that i would like to see.

• still alice - i didn't expect to be so emotional but at the end of the movie i was speechless and crying like a baby.  wonderful performance.
• gone girl - this movie was spooky.  i had a hard time with the book and the movie stayed pretty true to it, just with more intensity.  
• wild - enjoyed the movie more than the book.  i love stories about self discovery and this one was good but kind of missed the mark for me.
• foxcatcher - waiting to see it.
• into the woods - made a better stage musical.  just didn't love it.  but the music is memorable.

and a few to add to the list.

• citizen four - winner of the documentary feature. started watching this on hbo and already feel paranoid.
• feast - winner of the animated short.
• big hero six - winner of the animated feature. i didn't see this with the kids.
• cake - it looks like a dark story with great performances.

not oscar nominated but i saw jiro dreams of sushi and i loved it!  it came out a few years ago and i watched it on netflix.  this 85 year old man has been making sushi everyday of his life and still trying to find ways to improve it.  the tiniest detail of everything that he does is inspirational.  there are so many life lessons in this film.  highly recommend it.

looking forward to seeing what comes out this year.  

movie watcher

i'm always excited to find out the list of nominees for the academy awards.  i am a sucker for this hollywood event.  i've watched the show (pre-show, after party, what they wore specials) every year since i was little.  movies are a big part of our lives.  it's what bobby does, it's what i love. we've studied it, enjoyed them and critiqued many.  it's what we know.

i thought i would try to watch the movies nominated for best picture before the awards ceremony on februrary 22.  the list is good, which should make it easier to get through.

BEST PICTURE

• american sniper - bobby already saw this but i want to see it too
• birdman -bobby watched this last night and really liked it
• boyhood - we thought the concept was amazing, but we were not crazy about the story.
• the grand budapest hotel - ummm, i would rather not. 
• the imitation game - loved it!!!
• selma - this is the perfect weekend to see it.
• the theory of everything - wanted to see this in toronto.
• whiplash - loved it!! saw this in toronto and again when we took the boys.

in addition there are a few movies nominated for other categories that i would like to see.

• still alice - julianne moore for best actress - i wanted to read the book
• gone girl - rosamund pike for best actress - read the book
• wild - reese witherspoon for best actress - haven't finished the book
• foxcatcher - steve carell  for best actor and mark ruffalo for best supporting actor
• into the woods - meryl streep  for best supporting actress - saw the live musical and looking forward to seeing the movie

it's a good thing we have a 3 day weekend coming up. looks like i'll be eating lots of popcorn.

a surprise concert

i love a good surprise.  well, actually i don't love surprise parties.  they are too much work, you have to deceive the ones you love and i don't think all of that work and hassle is worth the five minute surprise.  but that's just me. i do love mini surprises though; buying the kids donuts after telling them they couldn't have any, putting a love note in bobby's car (which i haven't done in a long time), and planning a little big surprise for the boys.

it all came about in a bizarre way.  we were given some awesome tickets to the clippers vs. lakers game last wednesday night.  we never go to games so this was a treat.

basketball is not big in our house, and we haven't been to a game in years, but we couldn't pass up vip seats.  it was a blow out game but we had a good time. i was more interested in watching fergie perform and seeing what the kardashians were doing courtside.  they were eating popcorn and texting in case you were wondering.

during the game, bobby got an email that the foo fighters were putting on a surprise benefit concert on saturday at the forum.  he ran out to the lobby for better reception and was able to score 4 tickets for the show.  it was then that we decided not to tell the kids.  i organized a sleep over for sofia at her friend's house - thanks debbie - and we were set.

it's hard for me to keep secrets.  i was excited for them and i wanted them to know so they could be excited too.  but i also knew that it would be cool to drive up to the forum, hand jordan his foo fighters t-shirt and tell them we were going to see them live.  i even had to act surprised when we heard the commercial on the radio about the concert.  "i thought they weren't going to be here until september?" i listened as they explained.  i felt bad, but so good.

on saturday, we dropped sofia off and then told the boys we were going to see interstellar at a cool movie theater in hollywood - it helps that they don't know the difference.

we went to eat at a mexican restaurant and that is when we decided we had to tell them.  at first they were confused, then they thought we were kidding, then they were stunned and excited and quiet.  as we made our way to the forum the traffic was unbearable and it was raining constantly.  we made it in with enough time to get some t-shirts and find our seats.

not the best seats but none of us were complaining.

it was a concert in the round and the stage rotated which gave everyone a good view of the band.  jordan actually liked when the band had their back to us because he could get a better view of taylor hawins, the drummer. win-win.

we were sitting close to the ramp that led to the stage.  dave grohl would walk up and down playing his guitar and wowing the crowd.  this was also the runway that his special guests used to make their entrance. guests like paul stanley, slash, tenacious d, alice cooper, perry farrell,

and david lee roth!  when he came out on stage the crowd went crazy.  i may have been a bit excited too.  i listened to van halen growing up because i had/have two brothers who lived and breathed rock music.  they played in bands, had electric guitars painted like eddie van halen's and played their music over and over.  i don't think i had a choice but to be a fan too.  it was awesome to see dlr on stage dancing around like he was 20 and singing "panama" and "ain't talkin' 'bout love".

it was also dave grohl's birthday. so the audience, led by jack black, sang happy birthday as hundreds of balloons fell from the sky.  that turned the atmosphere into a party.

i haven't been to a concert like this in a long time.  every single person was singing and in awe during the three and a half hour show.

and he watched in amazement.  it's moments like this that i realize he has a dream of being on stage and playing the drums to a sold out crowd.  he wants to make music and entertain people and have a good time. i know that it's a tough insane road if that's what you choose to do with your life and very few people make it.  but i also know that dreams are for chasing.

we were both happy, and a little deaf, at the end of the night.

andrew and bobby had their own experience at the other end of the stadium.  it was andrew's first concert and he was a bit stunned by what he saw. i'm not sure he's ever heard the f-bomb dropped more times than that night. it would have been fun to sit together but we were grateful to be able to give them this little surprise.

showered with love

i love a good party.

i especially love a good shower.  it signifies the beginning of something special, a marriage, a baby.  food, gifts, flowers, what's not to love?  and if our family had a shower committee i would be one of the co-chairs.

i love researching and coming up with ideas.  but more than anything i like to make the shower a very personal experience.  i've been asked before if i would ever consider starting a party planning business.  yes and no.  i think it would be fun, but i'm not sure i would be willing to give up my weekends with my family.  i enjoy putting it together but mostly because i know the person and want them to feel loved.  not sure it would work for people i don't know.

over the next year our family will have 5 weddings.  and with that comes 5 showers.  and over the next few years many baby showers, we hope.

i thought it might be fun to share some of these ideas.  don't worry, i'm not giving away any secrets about what is being planned for these amazing brides.

it really all starts with one little idea.  maybe it's an invitation that catches my eye.  or a theme i see in a magazine or website.  but it all kind of flourishes from there.  sometimes i take charge and others pitch in.  other times i just lend a hand where needed.  my mother in law is usually my partner in crime.  in fact i call her "the ethel to my lucy".  if i need help she's always there to give it.  and she never tells me how crazy i am until after the event.

i have collected dishes, napkins, table cloths, silverware and party supplies throughout the years.  i even have those mini salt and pepper shakers for the table that nobody ever uses.   i could have my own rental business at this point.

my sister and i put together this "baby" shower when i was pregnant with sofia.  after having two boys i really wanted to celebrate having a girl and the wonderful women in my life. so we put together a tea.  my sister and sister-in-law found each guest a tea cup and saucer at the second hand store.  we had tea sandwiches and little desserts.  no games, just fun times hanging out together.  we made a cd with music about girls/women with songs like "isn't she lovely" by stevie wonder and "this ones for the girls" by martina mcbride, to take home with their tea cup.  a very simple but lovely party.

one of the things i loved about this bridal shower was the game we played.  sarah, the bride, loves the cookie decorating station at the annual cookie bake.  so as a game we had gingerbread men and women.  the guests had to decorate them and sarah picked the one she liked the best as the winner.  steve and sarah holding their 4 babies.  we packaged the cookies and included a cookie cutter as their party favor.

food has to be amazing at showers.  we usually end up making the food ourselves.  we decide on the menu and everyone signs up to bring something.  there are some amazing cooks in our family.  i like to experiment and try out new recipes.  like fried ravioli.  and there are the must haves, pasta salad, lemon bars and brownies.  we even invested in a chocolate fountain.

for this tea i made the sandwiches.  chicken and apricot salad on rolls, caprese canape and egg salad sandwiches.  most of these are recipes i have collected over the years or found on the web that are tasty and look pretty, they have to look pretty.

favors are one of my favorite things.  i like useful gifts that go with the theme. i love this favor from a wedding shower.  one of the other hostess put lemon drops in small mason jars.  i made the tags for the jars with my scrapbooking supplies.  so cute and easy.

for another baby shower we came up with the idea to do a book theme.  i looked on the web and found this idea.

i printed the book covers and glued them to lollipop sticks.  then inserted them into the chocolate cupcakes.  they were a hit.  once the theme was set i just googled "book themed baby shower" and i got lots of ideas.  guests brought books for the baby's library and we gave bookmarks as party favors.

my mind is racing with ideas for my sister's bridal shower.  i've already shared them with some of the bridesmaids and i think we have a theme set.  now it's just gathering ideas, recipes and items.  i'll be helping out with a few of the others this year and look forward to capturing it all on camera.

here's a list of some of my favorite sites.
martha stewart
oh happy day!
one charming party
good life eats pretty food
utterly engaged makes a beautiful e-magazine

there are a ton of resources.  but i find that setting the theme or color scheme helps to narrow down the choices.  then a simple google search brings thousands of ideas to choose from.

looking forward to a year of celebrations.

five on friday :: oscar favorites

sunday we will be watching the oscars, at home, with some friends.  thinking of having a taco bar, margaritas, chips and salsa and five kids running around like crazy.  it's such a glamorous evening, isn't it?

bobby and i saw a lot of the films and performances that are nominated this year.  it helps that he works in the "business" and seeing the films is part of his job.

here's how i would vote this year.  these aren't predictions, just my favorites.

1. best actor in a leading role - colin firth in king's speech. he was incredible as king george vi.   he embodied who this character was, in speech and emotion.  this is a performance i will not forget.

2. best actor in a supporting role - christian bale in the fighter.  we saw this over the weekend and his performance made a huge impression on me.  he was funny and stupid, dependent and desperate, proud and ashamed all at the same time.  a truly moving performance.

3. best actress in a leading role - nicole kidman in rabbit hole.  let me tell you i cried like a baby in this movie.  she nailed it as a grief stricken mom trying to come to terms with the death of her son and watching her marriage suffer because of it.  beautiful performance.

4. best actress in a supporting role - hailee steinfeld in true grit.  one confession, i fell asleep during this movie.  but it was towards the end so i did get to see most of the performances.  i am a sucker for young actors.  it's amazing that they have enough life experience to look back on a pull a performance like this together.  and she really carried the movie.

5. best picture - king's speech.  i fell in love with this movie when i saw it.  it's a simple story, all about relationships and overcoming adversity.  who doesn't love that?  it was a great film.  i love a movie where i can walk away feeling good.  that was king's speech for me.

other stand outs for me were:
127 hours - gross but had me suffering right along with him.
social network - so smart.  great dialogue and intensity.
geoffrey rush in king's speech
natalie portman in black swan (i'm pretty sure she'll win)

looking forward to seeing ann hathaway and james franco host.  wondering if they will pull it off.

will you be watching?