A Collection of Thoughts

On my screen

What ya been watching?

I have been totally sucked into the bachelor! I know I should be embarrassed to admit it but seriously have you seen it? What on earth were the girls thinking? If I wasn't already glued I then came across Rosie Waterford's recounts on mama mia. Hilarious. I think I look forward to them as much as the actual show.

I read last week that he is still single and it doesn't work out but I wonder how much of that is publicity. With just three girls to go you really should tune in if only for one night. I'd love Allie to win she is deadset crazy but my money is probably on Anna though Ithink he was a bit scared by her family! I was happy to see Dani sent home. It's on tonight!




In more serious viewing I am loving Suits which was recommended to me by a friend from work. I've just finished the first series but I haven't been able to find season two at the DVD store.

Straight from wikipedia because I'm hopeless at writing a show synopsis LOL
Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) is a brilliant college dropout. With his natural intelligence and eidetic memory, he makes a living taking the LSAT for others. Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) is one of New York City's top corporate lawyers and is promoted to senior partner at Pearson Hardman - a law firm that hires only Harvard Law School graduates. He is forced by company policy to hire an associate attorney. Mike discovers that the drug delivery is a sting operation and escapes the police by accidentally sitting for an interview with Harvey. Harvey is impressed with Mike's quick wit, encyclopedic knowledge of law, and genuine desire to be an attorney; he hires Mike and pretends that Mike is a Harvard graduate. Totally worth the watch.

Another friend suggested I might like House of Cards but I couldn't get past the first episode. Any other recommendations??

500 Days of Summer

As I went to flick off the TV last Sunday night this movie caught my eye. 500 days of Summer. I hadn't heard of it at all and when I mentioned at school how much I enjoyed it I had my senior girls rolling their eyes and telling me they couldn't believe that I hadn't heard of it. I thought I might share it here too just in case any of you my lovely blog readers have been living under the same rock as me. It came out in 2009.

It's sweet and whimsical and I found myself holding my breath for the next scene to start and wondering where it was going to end up. I do love Zooey and Joseph.

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Source

Plot --- > After it looks as if she's left his life for good this time, Tom Hansen reflects back on the just over one year that he knew Summer Finn. Despite being physically average in almost every respect, Summer had always attracted the attention of men, Tom included. For Tom, it was love at first sight when she walked into the greeting card company where he worked, she the new administrative assistant. Soon, Tom knew that Summer was the woman with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life. Although Summer did not believe in relationships or boyfriends - in her assertion, real life will always ultimately get in the way.

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For those readers who always ask about suitability   - I wouldn't my two watch this one as the themes are too adult but for teenagers it is most likely fine. You can read up  over here on the Kids in Mind site.

The Bletchley Circle

I stumbled acorss this new series purley by accident  and I am so glad I did.  It's called the Bletchley Circle and is set in 1952. It's a mini series drama. These four ladies used to be codebreakers for during the war and have since returned to their normal lives. However a series of murders in their area show a pattern which leads them to start investigating themselves.

You can still see the first episode on Iview ( I think it's there for another week ) and then it shows on the ABC on friday night 9.20pm.

I'm loving it can't wait for the next episode!

 

Hip Hip Hooray For Winter - Day Seven

Today marks the end of our little Hip Hip Hooray series and what better way to finish than with some movie reviews.

Last night the girls and I snuggled up with popcorn and a DVD - it's a long weekend here in Australia so plenty of time for some extra viewing I say.

We watched Lifted which is under the family category at the DVD store but was rated M because of the content -Its about a 13 year old boy but his mother is a drug user ( and she does relapse). I let the girls watch and there was only one scene that I had to explain.

I just checked Kids in Mind but they haven't reviewed it.

Here is the blurb from IMBD

Henry Matthews is an exceptionally talented young R&B singer whose happy family life is disrupted when his father, a marine, is re-deployed to Afghanistan. Despite all the obstacles including losing the family home and being forced to move in with his grandfather who hates his music, Henry is inspired to enter a teen singing competition in the hopes of winning and escaping a world that is falling apart.

It gets slow as you go through the song contest and I was thinking blah this is a bit ordinary but then all of a sudden there is a big change and its totally worth watching. It's a tear jerker especially for anyone who has family in the armed forces. We loved it because the girls really enjoy anything singing related and hes really good :)

What's a movie without popcorn? I'm afraid we aren't very fancy here - it's just airpopped corn in our Kmart $12 popcorn machine and if I'm feeling very adventurous I'll add some salt or very kind then I'll add icing sugar.

But if you want something really good check out this link with 40 popcorn recipes that sound more like biscuits that popcorn. I'm thinking I'll have to try the smores one at some stage :)

via www.pixel-whisk.com

 Maybe sometime soon?  If  Lifted isn't your style of movie we have also recently watched  Cowgirls and Angels which we also enjoyed ( family movie). I was tempted to get this documentary too called I am Eleven. Maybe if we get all the  jobs I have in mind done tomorrow ;)

Don't forget to visit Mel- she has a lovely felt banner for you today.

We hope you've enjoyed this little creative start to winter. Keep warm!

 

 

 

 

Rise of The Guardians

   Today we headed to Robina to see the third installment of Whimpy - it was good - we had a real laugh in some spots.

But we were very excited to see a special trailer with Hugh Jackman for a movie called Rise of the Guardians. It looks fabulous and is definately on our to watch list.
Santa, The Easter Bunny ( Hugh Jackman)  and The Tooth Bunny( Isla Fischer )  who are the guardians of children. They have to rope Jack Frost ( Chris Pine )  in to help them guard against Pitch ( Jude Law )  ( Pitch Black who is the baddy ). 

That  is about all I could gather from the trailer but it looks really good.
 



Here is the trailer :) Santa has the coolest sleigh ever. I love it when great kids movies are created :)

Random 7

Tonight I'm sharing a few new loves and things that are happening.

Watching----> I have watched a beautiful movie - Sarah's Key - I had it on my mental to watch list for some time and finally got round to it. So glad that I did.

Julia Jarmond is an American journalist married to a Frenchman, is commissioned to write an article about the notorious Vel d’Hiv round up, which took place in Paris, in 1942. She stumbles upon a family secret which will link her forever to the destiny of a young Jewish girl, Sarah.

 source

Eating ----> On our rotation in everyday meals are these yummy salmon burgers by Teresa Cutter. So good.

via www.thehealthychef.com

Playing ---> I'm sorry to say I have become a little addicted to Farm Story and Bakery Story both Team Lava games - do you play ? If so let me know :) My Storm Id is tarisota

via www.google.com.au

Super cute games  - and umm not alot of thinking required :)

Wearing ----> ( wishful )  - I have fallen in love with the clothes from Review. I am however not in love with their price tag.

via www.review-australia.com

 

Feeling ----> Like the worst mother in the world -  My second daughter decided she wanted her ears pierced this weekend - her sister had them done some time ago and Tals said she was ready. It ended in tears of course.

Excited ----> Overwhelmed with excitement actually that it looks like the latest iphone is to be released this week - FINALLY I can have a new phone - though Richard is telling me that it'll be sometime before we can have them-- whhyyyyyy? I want it right away.

via www.google.com.au

Loving--->  that last Friday morning I cracked the 5 km at 40 minutes  ( I know real runners are laughing at that but seriously for me its like running a marathon- I'm soooo stoked.

Tomorrow I'll be back with a check in for September Sort it - we are over 1/3 of the way through - is your list 1/3 done ?

How's things ? What's news with you ?

 

Ingredients - Movie Review

Tonight I went to the Gold Coast Art Centre to see the documentary Ingredients. It was put on by Life Changing Events who screen documentary films focused on health, food, social responsibility and our environmental impact on our planet. They are just based here on the Gold Coast and are doing amazing things in the organic community.

Ingredients came out in 2009 and while it was set in Portland, Oregon,  it's not a hard stretch to see the parallels in our local area. Ingredients illustrates how eating seasonal, locally produced foods improves our health and the health of our community.

Life Changing Events have a series of films planned for the rest of the year and after each film they also have a panel of speakers who run a Q and A session. Tonight we heard from a bio-dynamic farmer from Mudgeeraba I think, a raw foodie - aged 22,  two chefs who from what I could understand  embrace the clean eating concepts and a lady who is running a thriving market garden. They gave their perspective on the film and also  took questions. Really interesting.

Part of the whole experience is also a lovely menu to choose from. Tables are set up so you can sit and eat and chat and have a glass of wine before watching the film (or during).  I had eaten before I went but there was dessert on offer - A chocolate fudge brownie with warm yogurt - I chose not to have it and settled for an organic cappuccino instead  (yum).  You can imagine my dismay when they announced later that it had been made from whole ingredients ( clean eating ) and was processed sugar free ( more clean eating) . Insert sad face  :( :(  - really sad face LOL.

September 3rd is the next event - called Forks over Knives I'm keen to see that one too. Tonight I went by myself as I don't have any local friends who are interested in this topic but if you are local and would like to go let me know I'd love to meet up with you. Oh and I'll definitely be having dinner - or at the very least dessert.

 

Jig - Movie Review

We needed a movie to distract us this afternoon and Jig caught my eye at the DVD store.

It's not a movie but a documentary and if you ( like us ) are drawn to the drama around shows like  Dance Mums and Toddlers and Tiaras then this is NOTHING like it. That being said we loved it. It's a close look at competitors of  different ages ( girls and boys) from all over the world and how they train and what their life is like as they give their all to compete in the world championships for Irish dancing.

The only tears are when some don't win but there are absolutely no tantrums. You can't help but be in awe of their dedication to their craft. One little girl says "Oh no I don't have private lessons that's not fair on everyone else who can't afford it." - Bless her.

A lovely sunday afternoon watch.

It's been a while since we watched some DVD's - I also got out London Boulevard for myself ( just saw the "Keira Knightly" and missed the coarse language warning) which I had to switch it off - yuck -  and Melancholy - I so couldn't follow it and turned that off too. Not my best trip to the DVD store.  I'm definately in need of movie recommendations please!

 

Brave

Yesterday was the start of school holidays and we have the girls booked into vacation care for some days but other days it's just them and me. We decided to hit the movies to see Brave.  Monday RACQ tickets are awesome - less than $8.00 for each person and I have worked out how to use them online so I can book seats now too instead of joining the queue.

Anyhow the movie was fab its our new favourite taken over from Tangled. Lovely for girls and their Mummas - especially if they fight LOL.  Plenty for boys too. There was even a scene Richard would  have loved with a cauldron and a witch and a joke on call centres :) I highly recommend it.

But a hidden jewel was Pixars latest animated short film La Luna which played just before the movie.

 It is so so beautiful and sadly isn't available online yet - here is a snippet

 

I tell you it's worth going to see a movie just to see this! The whole cinema gasped in the ending moments when we realised what was happening. SO so beautiful.

A fable of a young boy who is coming of age in the most peculiar of circumstances. Tonight is the very first time his Papa and Grandpa are taking him to work. In an old wooden boat they row far out to sea, and with no land in sight, they stop and wait. A big surprise awaits the little boy as he discovers his family's most unusual line of work. Should he follow the example of his Papa, or his Grandpa? Will he be able to find his own way in the midst of their conflicting opinions and time worn traditions?

source

Watching

I thought it might be time for a little update on what we ( umm I ) are watching - I have to confess I watch waaaay more TV than I ever used to. Trying not to dwell on that and just enjoy it LOL. There are some very very good shows on at the moment.

Some are fluff.  Just saying.

Hart of Dixie

Total fluff - but my most enjoyable watch of the week - It's on a Saturday night ( I tell ya it's an exciting life I'm leading! )  Hart of Dixie is set in Bluebell Alabama - a totally quirky loveable cast.  Even Lemon who I love to hate LOL.

Homeland

Homeland has been promoted as the show of the year - it is intense and my husband even watches it with me - That's big. I am really enjoying it - twists and turns - I think there are only two episodes to go till the end of the first season but if you've missed it it's available online or at itunes.

Revenge

 My most favourite current addiction is Revenge - I want it to be on every single night -but it's not -just Mondays -which is today. YAY If you haven't watched I think it's about 4 weeks in and you can easily catch up online - Quick go do it now. Right now you won't be sorry.

 

My Kitchen Rules

As an avid Masterchef follower I was never going to get suckered into MKR- But umm well with all the promos about the "boys" and the "princesses" I couldn't help myself - and started recording it - now I'm totally hooked - I want Carla and Thomas gooooone

Project Runway

It's into Season Nine - and I always watch - Love the American version more than the Aus version -eeek am I allowed to admit that ?

 

It's a Brad Brad World

In it's first season and Brad is the assistant who left Rachel Zoe and has set up his own styling agency. He also managed to nab Demi Moore apparently as a client. It's a much watch if you love Rachel Zoe - The same style - lots of sitting around with them all stressing about how 'crazy"  busy they are.

A Gifted Man

I don't think this one is doing so well- but I'm liking it - It's now been moved to some mad late hour so it's just queued on my record thingy. A Gifted Man is about a neuro surgeon - who sees his dead ex wife - not where near as feel good as Hart of Dixie but still interesting characters and plot each week.

Next Great Baker

I love these style of cooking reality shows and The Next Great Baker is the same format as Top Chef and Top Chef Desserts - except Buddy is in charge and it's his way or the doorway.

Miss Fischer's Murder Mysteries

I stumbled across these by accident -  still available on Iview if you missed them - the first three have already aired  on ABC - 13 part series lady detective Miss Fischer -set in the 1920's - costumes are fab casting is fab - love love love.

Once Upon A Time

and this is just a heads up -  Once Upon a Time - is coming soon to channel 7 - the promos are on now -  a lovely reader sent me a disc with episodes on so we have already watched some and we ( girls and I ) LOVE this show so much - It's just too good.  You can read up on it here - every week is a new part to the fairy tale.  Can't wait for it to air so we can start watching again.  You definitely need to keep an eye out for it.

 

So that's it my viewing pleasure - what have I missed anything I need to know about ? I'm tempted to watch  Gossip Girl from the start - what do you think?? too trashy ??? or is it one of those suck you in series ???