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Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Movie Monday!! Reds
This movie was directed, written in part, produced, and starred in by Warren Beatty (not neccessarily in that order) in 1981. It is about the life of John Reed, author of Ten Days That Shook the World. His book reports the events of the Russian Revolution.
Idealistic, communist journalist, Reed (Warren Beatty), meets Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton), also a writer, and they begin an exhausting affair that spans the length of this 3 hour film. Reed gets involved with the American Communist Party and labor strikes putting a strain on his relationship with Louise. She then begins an affair with playwright Eugene O'Neil (Jack Nicholson). When Reed returns and discovers the competition, he proposes marriage.
The couple end up in Europe as war correspondents despite his health problems. He then writes his famous book. He soon becomes disillusioned with the new government in Russia and when he tries to leave Europe, is imprisoned. When he is allowed to return to Russia, he is reunited with Louise but his health has deteriorated and he can not go back to the US for better medical treatment so he dies in his early thirties.
This movie was waaaaaayyyy too long! I'm not exaggerating when I say it was over three hours long!! Of course, it felt more like ten hours the way this thing dragged on..
I was very disappointed with the quality of the acting even though this film was full of big name actors and actresses! The neat parts about this movie were the interviews with people who lived in that time period that were injected throughout. This film gets thumbs down.
Idealistic, communist journalist, Reed (Warren Beatty), meets Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton), also a writer, and they begin an exhausting affair that spans the length of this 3 hour film. Reed gets involved with the American Communist Party and labor strikes putting a strain on his relationship with Louise. She then begins an affair with playwright Eugene O'Neil (Jack Nicholson). When Reed returns and discovers the competition, he proposes marriage.
The couple end up in Europe as war correspondents despite his health problems. He then writes his famous book. He soon becomes disillusioned with the new government in Russia and when he tries to leave Europe, is imprisoned. When he is allowed to return to Russia, he is reunited with Louise but his health has deteriorated and he can not go back to the US for better medical treatment so he dies in his early thirties.
This movie was waaaaaayyyy too long! I'm not exaggerating when I say it was over three hours long!! Of course, it felt more like ten hours the way this thing dragged on..
I was very disappointed with the quality of the acting even though this film was full of big name actors and actresses! The neat parts about this movie were the interviews with people who lived in that time period that were injected throughout. This film gets thumbs down.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Movie Monday!! State Fair (1945)
State Fair was made into a movie a few times. The first was in 1933 starring Janet Gaynor, Lew Ayres, and Will Rogers and it was not a musical like the two following versions.
I watched the musical 1945 version recently but it was remade again in 1962 with Ann Margaret and Bobby Darin.
But back to the 1945 version..Jeanne Crain is Margy Frake, a restless young woman in need of something different. Her father, Abel, is preparing his hog for competition and his wife, Melissa, is perfecting her mincemeat recipe all in the hopes of taking home the winning ribbons from the State Fair.
Once they arrive, Margy and her brother take off to get a start on the fun! Margy meets a handsome reporter, Pat (Dana Andrews- my heart throb), and they fall in love over roller coasters and cokes. Her brother Wayne wastes no time either, meeting the female singer in the band. But she has a secret and Pat gets called off to Chicago for a promotion leaving poor Margy unhappily waiting for the date that never came.
The end is a sweet one but you'll have to watch to find out how it works out.
Apparently Jeanne Crain couldn't sing so they dubbed her in with Louanne Hogan's voice. It was such a hit, that Jeanne became known as a singing actress so Ms. Hogan was signed with 20th Century Fox just to be her voice!
Also, Dana Andrews was dubbed in this movie even though he originally came to California to be an opera singer! They didn't know this about him, however, and hired someone to sing for him. He never let on that he could sing because he thought his voice over needed the work. That was nice..no wonder I'm so taken with him!
This movie was pleasant enough but not my favorite musical (despite its having Dana Andrews in it). I wasn't impressed with the musical numbers. My thumb is hovering somewhere in the middle on this one. It is a classic Rogers and Hammerstein, though, so why not see it anyway?
I watched the musical 1945 version recently but it was remade again in 1962 with Ann Margaret and Bobby Darin.
But back to the 1945 version..Jeanne Crain is Margy Frake, a restless young woman in need of something different. Her father, Abel, is preparing his hog for competition and his wife, Melissa, is perfecting her mincemeat recipe all in the hopes of taking home the winning ribbons from the State Fair.
Once they arrive, Margy and her brother take off to get a start on the fun! Margy meets a handsome reporter, Pat (Dana Andrews- my heart throb), and they fall in love over roller coasters and cokes. Her brother Wayne wastes no time either, meeting the female singer in the band. But she has a secret and Pat gets called off to Chicago for a promotion leaving poor Margy unhappily waiting for the date that never came.
The end is a sweet one but you'll have to watch to find out how it works out.
Apparently Jeanne Crain couldn't sing so they dubbed her in with Louanne Hogan's voice. It was such a hit, that Jeanne became known as a singing actress so Ms. Hogan was signed with 20th Century Fox just to be her voice!
Also, Dana Andrews was dubbed in this movie even though he originally came to California to be an opera singer! They didn't know this about him, however, and hired someone to sing for him. He never let on that he could sing because he thought his voice over needed the work. That was nice..no wonder I'm so taken with him!
This movie was pleasant enough but not my favorite musical (despite its having Dana Andrews in it). I wasn't impressed with the musical numbers. My thumb is hovering somewhere in the middle on this one. It is a classic Rogers and Hammerstein, though, so why not see it anyway?
Monday, August 22, 2011
French Ladies Skirt
Here's my latest project- making my plain, old skirt pretty!
This is the sketched design I put on it. The tough part was deciding which color to use!
This is the sketched design I put on it. The tough part was deciding which color to use!
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| I finnally settled on Blue thread and outlined the French Ladies design. |
Now there's a stylish skirt. No more plain Jane for you!
I also went to a friend's wedding last weekend. Don't tell anyone but weddings get me all teary eyed. I didn't feel any actual tears come out, though (managed to get that under control, which is good since my younger brother was there too! That would give him more to pick on me for..).
I had a great time (the open bar helped) and danced the night away. Brittany was stunning in her fabulous gown and the bridesmaids were all lovely as well. I truly hope she will be happy in love for the rest of her life.
That cake was amazingly delicious. I'm not usually impressed with the cake at weddings (except for how gorgeous they are) but I could have gone for another piece of this one!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Swing Time!
On Wednesday, I went to my first Swing Demo at the Community Hospital! I met many seasoned dancers and was lead through some really cool moves! Dancing on bricks instead of a smooth dancefloor took some getting used to but once I got the hang of it, it was smooth sailing!
Going into it, I honestly did not know what to expect at one of these functions but I had a great time and was made to feel very welcome among this group of dancers. That's the best part (aside from the dancing) about the dance community- they've never met a stranger!
Here are some of the pictures I took of the dancers! There was a live band and the patients were lining the lawn in large numbers. I wish I had taken some shots of the faces on the patients watching! They were priceless..
I really thought it was sweet that the nurses were going around and interacting with the patients holding their hands or trying to get them to dance a little- even if they were in wheelchairs the nurse would dance around the chair! So precious!
Going into it, I honestly did not know what to expect at one of these functions but I had a great time and was made to feel very welcome among this group of dancers. That's the best part (aside from the dancing) about the dance community- they've never met a stranger!
Here are some of the pictures I took of the dancers! There was a live band and the patients were lining the lawn in large numbers. I wish I had taken some shots of the faces on the patients watching! They were priceless..
I really thought it was sweet that the nurses were going around and interacting with the patients holding their hands or trying to get them to dance a little- even if they were in wheelchairs the nurse would dance around the chair! So precious!
This was a truly rewarding experience being able to bring joy to those people simply by doing something that brings me great joy! I can't wait to do it again next year.
Of course, this post would not be complete if I didn't show off my new used shoes in which I blissfully danced away the night! No really, I danced from 7pm until 1am.. Pass the advil please!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Adorable tea towels!
Here they are (drum roll please)...the lovely tea towels!
well, one of them anyway, hehe! I was so excited about them that I just couldn't wait until I had finished them all. It was just begging me to post and I couldn't take the pressure anymore!
And yes, those are my delicious homemade snickerdoodles sitting on it..YUM!
It was super easy. I simply drew the design I wanted and then used a basic embroidery stitch to outline it. Any book on embroidery can show you the basic stitches so you can do this too!
And yes, those are my delicious homemade snickerdoodles sitting on it..YUM!
It was super easy. I simply drew the design I wanted and then used a basic embroidery stitch to outline it. Any book on embroidery can show you the basic stitches so you can do this too!
Monday, August 8, 2011
Super Easy No Bake Cake
I made the most amazing cake and I didn't even have to light the oven. You're gonna love this in the summer heat. All you need is a box of instant chocolate pudding (the bigger size box or two small sized boxes), milk, and graham crackers!
First, make the pudding according to the directions on the box and let it set in the fridge.
Meanwhile, lay out a single layer of graham crackers in a baking pan (I used 9x13 pan). When the pudding is ready, spread a layer of it on top of the crackers (approx. 1/8" thick). Put another layer of crackers and pudding. Keep layering until you run out of crackers and put the remaining pudding on top.
Stick the pan in the fridge for the night and tomorrow you'll have a moist, delicious treat! The pudding soaks into the crackers and makes them soft! It's really cool, try it!
As for movies, this week I saw Extraordinary Measures with Harrison Ford and Brendan Fraser. It was about a man trying to find a cure for his children's disorders before their time is up. This movie bored the pants off me. There is nothing more to say but: Thumbs down.
First, make the pudding according to the directions on the box and let it set in the fridge.
Meanwhile, lay out a single layer of graham crackers in a baking pan (I used 9x13 pan). When the pudding is ready, spread a layer of it on top of the crackers (approx. 1/8" thick). Put another layer of crackers and pudding. Keep layering until you run out of crackers and put the remaining pudding on top.
Stick the pan in the fridge for the night and tomorrow you'll have a moist, delicious treat! The pudding soaks into the crackers and makes them soft! It's really cool, try it!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Art work in progress, Marilyn Monroe additions
I've been working on this piece for 6 years off and on but I have recently done some more work on it that I want to share with you! This is part of my colored pencil tribute to Marilyn..
Someday it will be finished and hang on my mantel or somewhere she can be admired for the great beauty that she was. I will post more as it comes along. Thanks for looking!
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| ...in progress... |
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| ...and done! |
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| ..and this section I worked on a couple of months ago. |
Monday, August 1, 2011
Movie Monday!! Gigi
I totally scored an extra point or two for womankind this weekend when I introduced no less than one man to my all time favorite musical...and he actually LIKED it!! He was laughing along, enjoying the witty lyrics, and even got a kick out of all the wild hats those French ladies wore. LOL. He was a bit resistant when I first suggested this movie but I think he feels much better about it now.. that or he's a really good faker ;)
Gigi is the story of girl being raised by her poor grandmother (Hermione Gingold) in France who goes to "lessons" at her well-to-do Aunt's house to learn to be a lady. The very eligible and very wealthy Gaston Lachailles (Louis Jordan) is a friend of the family who happens to be there when she blossoms from gawky teenager to a beautiful young woman. But Gigi (Leslie Caron) is more interested in the things that money can not bring her. Gaston's young at heart Uncle (Maurice Chevallier) brings humor and gaiety to the story as he constantly has a new "heavenly creature" on his arm and a twinkle in his eye.
The Lerner and Loewe songs are not to be missed. The lyrics are witty and clever, rhymed, and are able to express a wide range of emotion in the most delightful way! This movie always gets a thumbs up in my book! In fact, it is a staple in my video closet.
Gigi is the story of girl being raised by her poor grandmother (Hermione Gingold) in France who goes to "lessons" at her well-to-do Aunt's house to learn to be a lady. The very eligible and very wealthy Gaston Lachailles (Louis Jordan) is a friend of the family who happens to be there when she blossoms from gawky teenager to a beautiful young woman. But Gigi (Leslie Caron) is more interested in the things that money can not bring her. Gaston's young at heart Uncle (Maurice Chevallier) brings humor and gaiety to the story as he constantly has a new "heavenly creature" on his arm and a twinkle in his eye.
The Lerner and Loewe songs are not to be missed. The lyrics are witty and clever, rhymed, and are able to express a wide range of emotion in the most delightful way! This movie always gets a thumbs up in my book! In fact, it is a staple in my video closet.
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