My Oscar Picks

Over the past three weeks I have seen three incredible movie, all of which should get an Oscar nod.


Black Swan: Beautifully dark. Wildly tragic, crazy and psychotic. At times-- awkward. There were moments that made me cringe. Any scene featuring nail picking, scratching or scissors made me turn my head and look away. I was convinced not doing so would make me feel pain. The special effects were incredible, especially when Natalie Portman transforms into the black swan. It's not a film I want to watch over and over, but Portman's performance was definitely Oscar-worthy.

Creations of an Insomniac

I can't seem to fall asleep, so I created these little collages on Polyvore. ★


The first is inspired by Marie Antoinette, dreaming about cuddling up on the couch while eating cake and being surrounded by pretty pastels. All while falling in love with Noah Calhoun or Tom Hansen (for about the millionth time), both of who- let me just say- I partially blame for my high expectations of men.

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows ϟ

I had to post something in anticipation of seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at 9:35 p.m. I'm sure there will be a longer post to follow. SO. INCREDIBLY. EXCITED! I've watched the trailers dozens of times today to hold me over for the next nine hours. & Think I just might watch The Half-Blood Prince for the second time this week. ϟ

the last film will be epic

I was in seventh grade when the first Harry Potter film came out. I can remember sitting in a dark theater with my cousin and parents. We were on the far side of theater, the second or third row back from the row where you can place your feet up on the bar- {do all theaters have this row? anyway...} My mother loved the film as much I did, whereas my cousin could care less about the wizarding world. After that I sat in study hall every day, reading as much as I could about the boy who lived. Several of my peers read it as well.

when all else fails, make a list

It has been too long, my friends. I've been wanting to blog this past week, but honestly wasn't feeling all too inspired. Truth be told, I still have nothing brilliant to say. So when all else fails, what do I do? Compile a list. So here's a list of the random things I'm loving at the moment.

1. The A-Team. Have any of you seen this yet? One word: HILARIOUS. So far I would say it's the most entertaining movie of the year. The entire cast was brilliant, including Bradley Cooper, who I usually dislike. Yes I know, I'm odd. & I absolutely love Aslan Liam Neeson.

films that shaped my childhood

Best $10 I've spent in a while: The Mighty Ducks & D2 The Mighty Ducks DVDs. Was I the only one who had a crush on Charlie Conway? I'd say he ranked up there with Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez from The Sandlot, Junior from Little Giants and Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Anyway, these movies were childhood favorites, along with many others. It has me thinking about all the great movies I grew up watching.

{Continue reading for a list of movies that shaped my childhood...}

the truth is, i am iron man

RDJ, why are you so cool? This past week I’ve seen Iron Man 2 in theaters, twice. Iron Man on DVD, twice. Sherlock Holmes. Rolling Stone cover stuck to my magnet board. When my mother confessed to throwing the magazine in the trash, I simply couldn't believe it. Between the two of us, we found it still sitting in the trashcan. No stains, no smell, good as new. I already admitted I was obsessed, okay? Okay.

With thirty minutes to kill before watching The Vampire Diaries finale tonight (side note: two words- Damon Salvatore), I drove to Wally World to purchase the Iron Man 2 soundtrack. Windows rolled down, my cheap aviators covering my face, Back in Black blasting through the speakers. One can try to be bad-a, right? Sigh. Tony Stark has really gone to my head. What are you obsessing over these days, readers? ★

{More RDJ perfection if you read more...}

One more day until Spring Break is here. Today was spent at Borders, where I purchased three childhood favorites- Ribsy, The Boxcar Children and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Then I went to the advanced screening of Remember Me with my best friend Gwenie. I wasn't expecting much, but I walked away pleasantly surprised. It was fantastic! The film has a beautiful message, one that can't be described without spoiling the plotline. I loved all the characters- Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper, Emilie de Ravin, Robert Pattinson and even Rubin Jerins, who plays Rob's little sister. I'm still stunned at how much I truly loved the film. It's my favorite so far this year. There's much more to the story than what is shown in the trailer. And I definitely prefer Rob as Tyler Hawkins, instead of Edward Cullen. I definitely recommend seeing it this weekend. ★

my western weekend adventures

{1. Superstition Mountains 2. Jerrica & I 3. Dad at Tortilla Flat 4. Dollar bills on the walls of the restaurant at Tortilla Flat; we decorated our own as well 5. Church at Old Tucson 6. Goldfield Ghost Town with booths serving chili 7. Old Tucson 8. Gwen & I eating ice cream on the train 9. Sitting at the (fake) train station at Old Tucson where the original 3:10 to Yuma was filmed 10. Dad & I at Goldfield ghost town 11. Jerrica with cactus 12. Worker at Old Tucson; sweet man 13. Old Tucson stunt show 14. Me aka Horse Thief 15. A Titanic moment with Gwen at Old Tucson}

{More Pictures}

This past weekend was an adventure. Jerrica arrived from Nashville and Friday was spent antique shopping and hunting for records. Money was spent on Louie Armstrong, Peter Pan and Grease; sheet music was purchased from the downtown music store; and we had dinner with a friend I hadn't seen in six years.

Friday was a day of endless chili, dollars bills and drops of rain. The desert was a beautiful shade of green and the clouds floated below the mountain tops. Jerrica, the parents and I traveled to Tortilla Flat. Population: six. After taking our picture with a toilet seat (see above), we had lunch at a restaurant with walls covered in dollar bills. We traveled to Goldfield Ghost Town, where we purchased a $1 foam cup and went around to dozens of booths serving chili. A charity chili festival? We were in luck. The day ended with pie at Village Inn after seeing Shutter Island with Gwen.

On Sunday Gwen, Jerrica & I took a two-hour road trip to Old Tucson. We walked the dusty streets, where many westerns were filmed back in the day. The same streets where my childhood hero (and favorite actor of all time), John Wayne, once stood. Sadly much of the original sets were burnt down in the 1990s. Today other western-themed buildings stand in their place. Still neat. We saw a gun show, stunt show, short comedy, a short John Wayne film and can-can dancers. We took a "haunted" gold mine tour, rode the train and acted like outlaws throughout the day. Gwenie wore her Little Mermaid backpack; I wore my Jonas backpack. We were 10 again. Once we were home, we watched Rio Bravo, starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Walter Brennan and Ricky Nelson. And I've been listening to the above song ever since.★

Holy cats, a veggie thief! This must be investigated thoroughly.

"I want to remember everything. And I want to know everything."

"Well, you must realize, Harriet, knowing everything won't do you a bit of good unless you use it to put beauty in this world. True or false? "

"True."

"Good friends are one of life's blessings. Don't give them up without a fight."

"You know what? You're an individual, and that makes people nervous. And it's gonna keep making people nervous for the rest of your life. "

"There are as many ways to live in this world as there are people in this world, and each one deserves a closer look."

"I will always have a notebook."

When I was a little girl I wanted to be Harriet the Spy. In some ways, I still do. ★

na, na, na, sheets of Egyptian cotton

Pretty movies such as this. Gingerbread cocoa that makes me say “mmm” after every sip. I received a cocoa box for Christmas and it holds a dozen yummy flavors. Bubble baths of strawberry soap that smells of Lipsmackers chapstick. Listening to the Harry Potter soundtrack, the Lumos! song specifically, while writing- you’d never know how inspiring it can be. I imagine I'm in a magical land far, far away. Rediscovering books I read as a child, such as 100 Dresses, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and The Boxcar Children. Band of Brothers marathons, no matter how much it may make me cry. Finding (and purchasing) vinyl records at antique stores to add to my collection. I only wish I'd had the Dean Martin Christmas collection a few weeks earlier. Madre’s freshly made salsa dressing with homemade tamales. Knowing school doesn't start until the 19th, though I know it will be here sooner than soon. These are just a few of my favorite things at the moment. ★

I wish for courage

lauren withrow

I've sat here, staring at a blank 'new post' several times this month, unsure of what to write and wanting to write something real or significant. Needless to say, I gave up and signed off blogger. But I've decided to give it another go after one of my best friends said I should blog more. So here I am, sipping on cold coffee and watching Seven Pounds. Which, for those who don't know, is one of the saddest movies in the history of sad movies. Think the bee sting in My Girl for a comparison of how sad. Despite it's sadness, it's one of those movies that makes me put my life in perspective.

Do you ever think about how truly fragile our lives are? Or how easily it would be for us to be born with different circumstances? I often wonder why I was placed where I am. My mom asked me the other day if I ever thought about how if two people had made love just a few minutes earlier or later and ended up having a child, that it would be a completely different child than what the one they would have had at that moment. I thanked my mom for this splendid image (sarcasm), but I knew what she meant. If my parents hadn't made love at the moment that produced me, and had waited a few moments later, I wouldn't be here. Do you ever think about such things? Or how easily it would have been for God to have placed me in a third world country, where I would live off beans or rice every day, with limited access to clean water? Or how easily it would have been to be placed in poverty? Or how about a country that has to worry about suicide bombings daily? Or how about being blind, like the man Ezra in Seven Pounds? Or how about living in a place where I could be sentenced to death for believing in Jesus? When I think about such things, I think about how selfish I am for ever taking my life for granted. Or for forgetting how immensely blessed I am. I also find myself pondering the mystery of why we are all placed where we are.

Then I think about how tomorrow it could all change. After my mom got sick seven years ago, I realized how it only takes one second to change your life forever, how easily illness can effect you. We are all so fragile. In Seven Pounds, the character Emily has a congenital heart defect. She tells Will Smith's character how there is so much she wants to do with her life, how she wants to travel and see the world. It makes me wonder why we are so afraid to take chances. And then one day it's too late.

It's just something I've been wondering. I don't know the answer. But I hope I have the courage to live my life and not live one that is selfish. Well, enough rambling for now.

"God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us." -1 Corinthians 12:6

How to spend my Valentine's Day

I'm excited for my sob fest this weekend. Sounds strange, I know. But I'm looking forward to a night in, cuddled up under my blanket and relaxing after a stressful week. It'll be especially wonderful if the rain keeps up. There is something inspiring about rain. It puts me in the brightest of moods, despite the absence of the sun. I also think I will treat myself to Dove chocolate.

I've come to the realization for quite some time now that I am much happier without a man. I am not the type who is bitter toward couples, rather I wish them happiness and pray one doesn't screw over the other. But I, for one, am thankful for my singleness on this upcoming holiday.

Now two nights ago I found myself watching the end of The Notebook. It's been several years since I watched the movie, especially after my grandmother passed away. Any plot involving Alzheimers brings me to tears. But the movie is beautiful, as are all Nicholas Sparks movies.

I've realized that both The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe are beautiful not only in plot, but also visually. The swan scene in Notebook, for instance, is simply breathtaking. And the sandy beach in Rodanthe is stunning, despite my dislike for the ocean. And that old bed & breakfast? Charming as all get out! And isn't Diane Lane cute as a button? Along with Richard Gere who is strikingly handsome. I plan on purchasing the film later this week.

No need for cheesy chick flicks when I can watch the movies that are so real, so true- the ones that show how beautiful life can be despite tragedy. I might hold off on A Walk to Remember, just because I have seen it more times than I can count. But The Notebook and Nights in Rodanthe will go perfectly with chocolate. If I were of age, I'd probably consider a glass of wine as well. I'm just in that mood.

This Valentine's Day is about celebrating being independent and being a strong, beautiful woman. And I am embracing the holiday.

It is the possibility that keeps me going … and though you may call me a dreamer or a fool or any other thing, I believe that anything is possible. {The Notebook}

oh the horror.

Those who know me know that I hate horror films. In my life I have watched a total of five. It all started when I was five years old and my uncle let us watch Friday the 13th. I can still see the serial killer's eyes, staring out onto the misty lake where, of course, the only survivor left is sleeping (yes, sleeping!) in a canoe. And I can also still see canoe girl's friend lying bloody in the shower after being murdered. I'm embarrassed to say, but the movie resulted in me not making it to the bathroom. If you know what I mean.

Next on the list is House of Wax. Now why would I see a horror film after my scared-for-life experience? Because Jared whats-his-face and Chad Michael Murray were both in the film. Now many people have ranted and raved at the apparent lameness of this movie, apparently viewing it as mediocre compared to other scary flicks. To those people I ask: Are you kidding me? I was terrified. Creepy brothers living in a deserted town. Brothers who torture and coat the bodies of those who trespass with wax and place them in a wax museum. But also, who would follow a disgusting smell into the woods? And likewise stay in a tent after a creepy, mysterious trucker comes by and shines his lights on your location? Sheer stupidity! People always talk about how horror films are unrealistic because the people are so stupid. I have no problem admitting that I think people are, in fact, that stupid.

Then there was some stupid horror film that did not scare me: Pulse featuring Kristen Bell. This movie was lame. It involved something about the internet and computers and people becoming possessed and committing suicide. I must say, the technological movies do not scare me. Movies where it's about some evil thing coming through the computer or TV. It's unrealistic to me. The phone, on the other hand, is quite frightening. Movies featuring a murderer's voice on the other line- not pleasing.
Killer: "Hello. I can see you right now. *loud breathing* I'm now going to kill you."
Actor on the other line: "Perfect, I'll just stay inside and wait for you. Oh, and I have no gun or weapon, so you'll probably succeed. See you in a bit."

Now for Disturbia. I'm a fan of Shia LaBeouf. And the movie was actually quite good. It's probably the only 'scary' movie that I would call good. I didn't get frightened, too much. That is until the serial killer neighbor gets a hold of LaBeouf's mother and there are dead women in water located underneath the house. The creepy part: when he comes up to the girl in the parking garage. And, of course, she was stupid enough to keep her windows rolled down.

Then, to top off the list: The Strangers. Perhaps the scariest of them all since they live in the middle of nowhere. And my summers as a child, and still up to this day, involve me staying in the middle of nowhere. Not to mention, clowns are scary, which means clown masks are equally scary. Such a liberal film, though. Anti-guns. The man hardly knew how to use the stupid thing! See people, this- this!- is why I am anti gun control. Come to think of it, I thank my mother for making me take shooting classes at the shooting range when I was about 11 years old. People need their weapons to kill the dirty psychos who try and terrorize us. Back to the film: I saw this movie sometime last summer or spring. A few months after I visited my lovely family in the wonderful South. They live in about the same size neighborhood as that in The Strangers. And of course, they believe in keeping their blinds open... at night. Needless to say anytime I got up to use the restroom or get a class of water I refused to look out into the dark night. I swore that, if I did, there would be a creepy model chick (model Gemma Ward played the young, creepy daughter) in a clown mask, just staring back at me in the middle of the front yard.

PS: This is a must-read and inspired the writing of this entry: {Apricot Tea; scary movies.}

Fashion Fix: The Devil Wears Prada

One of my top favorite movies with the the best of fashion. Anne Hathaway looked simply stunning {post-makeover} in The Devil Wears Prada. Listen to: Sleep by Azure Ray & Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall {from The Devil Wears Prada soundtrack}