A Book and a Movie

Once upon a time I used to blog about books and movies. I just checked, the last post I did about a book was Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt in  August 2011. The last movie was when The Help came out the same month. I have actually seen quite a few movies and read a lot of books since then. I can't say any that I loved quite as much as The Help but I am going to try and blog some favorites more often because I like having an ongoing list of books and movies I like on this old blog. So in that spirit this is a post about a book and a movie.  I have lunch with some dear friends every Wednesday. We discuss and attempt to solve all the world's problems. Let me tell you, it hasn't been easy lately. I have been reading this book, Safe Passage lately. It is the story of two sisters, unmarried due to the small numbers of men who came back from World War II, who are able to use their resulting independence as single women to acheive amazing things. First they discover opera in the 1920's which sounds like an amazing, beautiful world. They don't have a lot of money so they wait in line for long periods of time to get cheap galley seats. As they do this they meet some of the opera stars, eventually getting to know them well and become friends with some. These friendships eventually morph into a huge refugee project to save people before the outbreak of World War II. They would have their opera friends plan performances in Austria and Germany to give them an excuse to go over so often. They would wear people's jewelry out so that when they got out they would have some money to live on. They also arranged sponsers so people could get out of Germany to England. They saved 29 people. It was an inspiring book, a little heavy on the opera in the first hundred pages for someone who knows very little about it but still really enjoyable.

While reading Safe Passage and during those conversations with my friends I found myself wondering if people are still like that. How many will risk their lives, use their personal funds to save someone they don't know just because it is the right thing to do. Would I? Then I went with my mother to see the movie The Impossible. Amazing movie. Exhausting movie. Just in case you aren't familiar it is the story of a family vacationing in Thailand when the Tsunami hit. The kind of story that has to be true to work because no one would believe it otherwise. Fair warning though, during the tsunami scene I kept wondering why I was putting myself through this. Hard to watch, you feel like you are drowning yourself. But there were some answers to my question as to whether people are still good like they were during World War II. There is a scene where the mother and one boy are trying to get to a safer spot in case there are more waves. Severely injured, she and her son hear a child crying. Her son tries to talk her into continuing on arguing that she doesn't even have the energy to move herself let alone save another person. But even though she may be dying she tells her son they have to, even if it is the very last thing they do. There are several instances like this throughout the movie, I guess that is part of what made it so good!

A Couple of Good Ones

It is not often I have a week where I find two movies I really liked. But William was out of town last week so I watch quite a few and then because he had been out of town I went to the movies with my mom and sister.
My mom, sister and I went to The Artist. I don't know that I would have made it to this one without them. They were the perfect companions for this movie. Children or husband would have ruined this one. Literally. I kept thinking, " I would not even take a sleeping child to this movie". I knew it was a silent movie, I just didn't get how silent. There are places where there isn't even music. That said I loved it because I felt transported to another time. I have always been fascinated by eras of the past and this movie allowed me to trick myself into believing I was in the early 1930's. It is a similar plot line to Singing in the Rain; sound comes to the movies and some actors were not excited about it. In fact the main character really, really reminded me of Gene Kelly. No singing, it is a silent film remember? But there is a fun soft shoe number. That is a reason to see it right there. It was really a beautiful movie and a unique experience.

Then I rented Midnight in Paris. I am not a huge Woody Allen fan and Owen Wilson did not seem a natural partner for him but after the Golden Globes I decided to give it a shot. I am glad I did. Even if I had only watched the first five minutes of shots around Paris in super saturated color it would have been worth it. But then throw in more costuming from the 20' s in Paris and you have a really beautiful film. This one was sort of light on plot but it was fun to watch Owen Wilson's character meet famous people in Paris from the past.

I have thought a lot about both of these movies in the days after I enjoyed them. That is one of the measures of a good movie to me. Recommend them both!

The Help

Today was the day I have been waiting for. I got to go to the movie The Help. One of my favorite books last year, I have been excited but nervous that they might ruin it. They didn't. It was great! The casting was perfect. Skeeter wasn't quite the way I pictured her, I think she was better. The maids Minnie and Abelienne were perfect. Perhaps best of all was Hilly, the villain. Who knew Ron Howard (aka Opie)'s daughter could be so evil? She was, she was perfectly awful. Made me grateful for my kind, lovely friends. But let's talk about the clothes. Loved them! I did mention to Brittany I felt like I should dress up to attend this movie. Sort of like the Harry Potter fans do. I still feel bad I didn't at least amp up my hairspray use and add a headband. Seriously, it was the kind of movie I love. Set in another time period which is always fun but wonderfully thoughtful. There were times I was embarrassed to be a white person, even though the events portrayed happened before I was even born. It also made me proud to be a human being, especially a woman. The maids who tell the stories are so courageous and also share a certain sisterhood. Beautiful movie, based on a wonderful book!

The New Jane

My mom, sister and I went to see the new Jane Eyre movie Saturday. It was fantastic. Beautiful, dark, tragic and just perfect. The girl who played Jane, Mia Waskowska, was also Alice in Alice in Wonderland. I think it is definitely proof that the girl can act when she can be luminously beautiful in Alice and perfectly plain as Jane. Okay, it might have a little to do with the make-up and costume people but still, she is amazing. I am not usually a fan of darkness in a movie but lets face it, I think Charlotte Bronte would have loved it that way. Granted half the fun was getting to go with my mom and sister but this really was a great movie. I highly reccomend it if you can find it. It is a limited engagement so far and only available at one theater in our area but well worth the effort to find!

Gidget...Or I Wish I Was a Teenager

We just watched this as a family. Now I am all nostalgic thinking of the days when I was a teen-ager. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't in 1959 when this movie was filmed. But when I was a teen-ager in the 80's I had a friend named Leslie and we spent many a hot Summer afternoon in her perfectly air conditioned house watching all the Gidget movies we could lay our hands on and dreaming of the days ahead that would surely be filled with romance and boys. The cute old clothes didn't hurt either. So there I sat tonight with my three kids scrunched around me and hubby across the room. Not quite what I pictured all those years ago but still good. I think we may have to watch Gidget goes Hawaiian next!

Family Television

Over the Christmas holiday we watched a fair amount of television as a family. Family Movie night we call it. When the kids went back to school they were really bummed that we had to quit watching a show together in the evenings. I am not a huge fan of Prime time television. Lets just say there is a lot of garbage out there and my kids have enough vices without adding more. The little I can stand are longer shows than I want us hooked on close to bedtime. So I had a stroke of genius. There are a lot of old television shows available on netflix through our trusty Wii. A little searching and then perfection! The Dick Van Dyke Show! So every night since the kids have returned to school we have gathered at 7:30 to watch our show. I wondered if the kids would get the 40 year old humor, if they would be irritated by the lack of color in the show. Matthew did ask me why it was in black and white but there has sure been a lot of laughter at the old jokes. The best part is there are 5 seasons worth of shows for us to enjoy together!

Aaaah...Alice!

We did go see Alice with our Grandma yesterday, just as planned. It was lovely! I was a little nervous-Tim Burton can be a little out there for me. But I thought Alice was just perfect, maybe the little bit of weirdness didn't bother me because the original Alice's story was a little out there itself. We did not see it in 3-D and I am glad, I think that might have made it too scary for Josh. It was so lovely to look at. Such fun to watch Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter's colorful faces. I loved how Alice kept changing size so she kept changing pretty dresses. I plan on buying it on DVD and I don't do that very often anymore so that is the highest praise I can give!

Leap Year

I went to this movie this week with some of my girlfriends. It was perfect. Light and funny, cute clothes and Amy Adams. Love her. So if you are looking for a movie to make you smile this is the one.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Hi! I haven't completely vanished. Just busy playing with new toys, figuring out the Wii, eating lots of evil food and watching movies with the family.I took the kids to see this movie today. It is playing at our local discount theater which we adore, movie, popcorn and a drink for four bucks. Happy, happy me. However, I think I would actually have been happy to pay full price for this one. It was just so fascinating to watch the animation, I loved that it looked so different from your usual kid movie. And I think George Clooney must have a really unusual, dry humor in real life because that he seems to deliver that in all the movies I like him in, he is the voice of Mr. Fox by the way. I told my mom for some bizarre reason this movie made me think of his O Brother Where Art Thou. Maybe it was just the same sort of quirky soundtrack. So if you are looking for a fun movie that is probably at your discount theater I would highly recommend this one. I might even buy it, I'm sure it will be out on DVD soon! Hope you are all enjoying this holiday week!

Snow Ballerina

I just finished this pretty little ballerina for a friend. The recipient is going to be playing the part of snow in our Nutcracker. I tried to make her costume as close to the real thing as I could.

The tiara is my favorite part!

There have been quite a few late nights this week while I tried to finish the batch of Christmas Gingham Girls I have been working on. They should be in the shop this weekend by the way. So I have watched a few movies while I was working. I don't even remember putting this one in my holds at the library, I must have seen it on someone's blog. It was rather fun, a moment or two of crude language but over-all entertaining. The premise is that there is a door in the bathroom of a modern-day Londoner who love all things Austen. Elizabeth Bennet comes through the door and they change places. Of course major changes in the story of Pride and Prejudice ensue. Not as good as my beloved Cranford that I also watched, it just never gets old, but still I would recommend it.

New Sense and Sensibility

Did you know there is a new version of Sense and Sensibility? You probably did but I didn't. I discovered it at my library so I took it home to try. Honestly I wasn't sure I really needed to see another version of this old favorite but William was out of town and I was working on the scrapbooks I am so far behind on. I told myself I would give it 30 minutes and then if I wasn't enjoying it I would move on to something else. Three hours later I was very happy. It was so well done, with more detail than other versions. As much as I love Emma Thompson and her version this was at least equally enjoyable.

The set the library had also included Miss Austen Regrets. I had just watched that from Netflix last week on Miss Vanessa's recommendation. It explores Miss Austen's possible love-life. I enjoyed it too and would recommend it.

Glad I'm Not!

I went to this movie with my friend Circe last week before she had her baby. Interesting choice for two girls who have know each other since we were nine, went to high school together and married guys we went to high school with. Interesting too that the movie begins in 1989, Zac Effron's character's senior year. Also our senior year. Which we will be celebrating next month at our twenty year reunion. I have to say the movie was more enjoyable than I had expected. Really, I had only expected to be lightly entertained and amused by a cute Zac Effron. But I actually went home so grateful for the choices I made "back in the day". Unlike Zac's character who felt trapped by mistakes he had made back then I am perfectly happy with mine. It made me reminisce about the friends I had back then, many of whom I still have. I was looking around on the website they have made for our reunion and it really left me feeling like if I could recreate my teenage experience for my kids it would be a great gift. I would recommend the movie, especially if you feel like being a bit nostalgic. Also if you would like to be reminded that we are all ultimately responsible for our own choice and what we make of our lives. However, I would not recommend it for your High School Musical Fans at home, unless you want to have a conversation about teenage pregnancy.

Some Fun Movies

When I read or go to the movies it is a bit of an escape for me. I want to go somewhere different from where I am. Preferably somewhere nice. Have you seen the previews for that new Nicholas Cage movie? Something about predicting all the horrible things that could happen to the earth in the near future. Why on earth would I want to see that? The world is a scary enough place right now without our inventing more! But that is just me. I have actually seen several cute films that fit in this category for me.

Marley and Me. One of the fun things about moving back here is I get to go to late movies with the girls I grew up with sometimes. Circe and I saw this one last night. I can't imagine that you haven't heard about it, we have been waiting for it at our house all winter being big fans of the adult book and the kid version. It is basically the story a couple, their dog and how they all grow up. Very funny, but although Circe and I had both read the book and were sure we wouldn't cry-we did. I did a lot. But I also wanted to come home and kiss my hubby and kids. I am glad I previewed it though. Brittany loves the kid version of the book and has been dying to see it. There are a couple of scenes that were a little inappropriate for a nine year old but it is just not targeted at kids. I think she might get a little bored in places when they are exploring the people relationships. But I will rent it for her someday and do a bit of editing, she will love the dog scenes.

Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day. I love a good period movie. This one is set in the 40's and stars Frances McDormand and Amy Adams. You know, the girl from Enchanted? Had to point that out, she is just so cute. Oh, and the Pie Man from Pushing Daisies for those of you like me who are still in mourning for that show. To quote Netflix: After losing yet another nanny position because of her gruff demeanor, Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) mistakenly lands an assignment as the assistant of an American starlet (Amy Adams) and finds herself swept up in a dizzying world of glamour and high society. It is fun, because you see Mrs. Pettigrew accomplish things for this Delysia ( the starlet) just because Delysia is so certain that she can. If it weren't for the unnecessary showing of a bare bum (why do they do that?!) I would say it really reminded me of an old classic film.

And last but not least Leatherheads. William and I watched this last weekend. I figured the football in it would counteract the romantic comedy for him . Netflix again: Hard-nosed sports reporter Lexie Littleton finds herself at the center of an acute 1920s love triangle when an aging football hero and a rising college star go head to head to compete for her affections. It was a little predictable, but light and fun. I think it is such a kick when George Clooney does stuff like this, not taking himself very seriously. He directed this one and it did remind me of Oh, Brother Where art Thou.
So there you are, if you are looking to escape all the incessant talk of the economy. Try a movie!

A hysterical movie!

William, my mom and I watched this movie last night. We were laughing so much that we woke the kids up! Josh woke up saying, "What funny?" It was that good. I have not watch a movie that was honestly smart and funny like this in a long time. It probably did earn its PG-13 rating but it wasn't the stupid, nasty humor you usually see with that rating. The idea is this really obnoxious dentist dies during a routine procedure. After they bring him back he can see dead people around New York. I know, it doesn't sound that funny, but trust me!

The Reason I am Looking So Tired This Week

I discovered this BBC series at my library this week, they also have it on netflix. I think Miss Vanessa recommended it to me. I am a sucker for pretty much anything set around the turn of the century or earlier. I have been staying up late this week because I just can't seem to stop watching the Forsyte family, and I do have a few projects I am trying to finish up. It is kind of a Victorian soap opera but well acted and nicely put together. There is a second half I started today. Luckily I don't think it is as long so I should get some sleep soon!

Dealing with Stress

Thank you so much my lovely friends! I wish I could move onto the same street as all of you! We are very excited but the fact that we did just move here 14 months ago and I feel like I just got us settled dampens the joy a bit.
So how exactly is Miss Michelle dealing with the stress in her life? Well first she ate this

Yep, the whole bag. By myself. At least it did take me a few days. These are my favorite chocolate chips in the world. They don't have them here in California. They are sold in the Thriftway grocery stores in Utah. They are green and minty and wonderful. I have been hording them since we came back from Utah this summer and now that we are moving back I felt justified in eating them. All. Myself. What can I say, I am a stress eater. You know what? It really did make me feel better!



This movie. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I don't think I have enjoyed John Cusack this much since we were both teenagers and he was in Say Anything. Heartwarming true story about a science fiction writer who adopts a little boy who thinks he is from Mars. I loved at the end when the father points out that we need to remember that all kids are sort of from another planet, trying to figure out how things work on this planet. The kid in it was so good I found myself wondering along with the father if there was any way this kid really could be from Mars! Watch it, it will make you want to hug your kids.

So don't worry about me too much, I will still be sneaking in some little tiny bits of crafting and watching a fun movie or two. Even if I have to both late at night. It is that or start taking Valium. Oh, and I may feel the need to whine about things here periodically.

Mamma Mia!

Okay, so I finally got to go see the most fun movie of the summer! A few of the girls from church called and asked if I wanted to go to the sing-along version at the local theater. It was so fun! I want to be Merle Streep when I grow up. Oops, too late! Oh well, she was just so fabulous. So now my two favorite Merle Streep movies would be Out of Africa and Mamma Mia. Very strange. But the lady is such a great actress, so pretty and now we find out she can sing. I mean really sing! I could have lived without a crude comment or two, and I am still not sure about Pierce Bronson, but nothing is absolutely perfect. I have to say going with a bunch of Mormon soccer moms was a blast. I'm sure the other folks there must have thought we were drunk as skunks (yep,having that much fun!). Little did they know it was bunch of non-drinking Mormons! I had forgotten how good it is for me to act like I am 17 on occasion. Of course that may have been a little more pleasant for my friends had I a been a good dancer or singer at 17 but oh well! So instead of a face-lift or botox go grab some girlfriends and go sing your head off at this fun movie. I promise you will feel much younger!

Kit Kittredge and some projects

I have meant to tell you about this movie. Brittany and I had a little date last week and went to see this, just us girls. It was really fun! Loved everything about it. The plot and acting were actually quite good and it was just so fun to look at. I love the way they made the time period look. I think I will wear a pretty apron every day now!
While we were out we did a bit of shopping. Brittany spotted this fabric and said she wanted a dress made out of it. She is nine and the fact that she wasn't asking for a "tween" item or Hannah Montana shirt pretty much guranteed I would go for it! So I cut out the dress out yesterday and am working on it.


This is another project I started yesterday. I won't tell you what it is going to be, hopefully it will be something I can show in a day or two. Don't you love these colors?! Thanks so much for your help on deciding which dolls I should work on first. I think I will be cutting out some mini's and regular gals to get to work on soon!

Sunday Update!

Boy has this been a busy week! So much going on with the kids at school and me at church. And I haven't messed up an forgotten anything yet! Now watch I just jinxed myself and now I will never get through this next week! So here is what we did last week. I had to spend the first couple of days of the week getting ready for a mother/daughter activity at church for our enrichment night. It was really fun and I think everyone had fun but boy am I glad it is over! The next day was the Hoe down at school. Our area used to be pretty rural and they have a rodeo that is in it 90th year this year. So as part of the end of school activities all the grades learn a different square dance and then perform them on the playground for the parents. It really was a fun morning.

Here are my little cowboy and cowgirl on their way to dance their boots off.

Here is Brittany's class dancing.

And Matthews class.

He and his friend got just a little bored waiting though.

I was really impressed with all the kids. Of course costumes make the whole thing more fun!

By the time we got to Saturday we were all glad to have a day to just hang out I think.

Brittany gave Josh some scooter lessons.

I think he may be a natural!

We all went and saw this movie. It was pretty good. Really pretty to look at, the way they portrayed China. Not real heavy on plot, but who really expected it to be. I don't know that we will buy this one on dvd but Matthew really enjoyed the Karate

And today after church the kids picked cherries off our own little tree. They are a different variety than we are used to. Yummy though!

So now we are going to bed early to be ready for the last crazy week of school. Tomorrow Brittany has a swim party at school(well the rec center really), Matthew gets to try school lunch, Brittany has a daddy daughter date with her dad, there is a field day and kindergarten graduation and of course the marvelous last day of school! Man, I am really sleeping in on Friday when it is all over!

A couple of good flicks!

I watched Iron Jawed Angels this afternoon while I worked on the project I had hoped to have finished to put in the shop today. I will have it tomorrow. This is an HBO film that start Hillary Swank, Patrick Dempsey and a few other faces you will recognize. I decided to watch it after Tif reviewed it last week. You should read her review here, it is much better than mine will be. I didn't know too much about the suffrage movement and I kept thinking that although I knew these women has fought for the right to vote for many years, I didn't think the movie would get too rough. I mean I guess I think of the turn of the century as a somewhat more civilized time. They didn't contend with porn on the Internet, nuclear bombs, terriorts and such. So surely, although I knew no one was going to roll over and just give women the vote I didn't think it would get too brutal. I was wrong. Those women really did literally fight for us all to have the right to vote, something I know I have taken for granted. It was really a good movie, made me think a bit and that is always good! Needless to say I will definitely be voting in the next election!

Last night I stayed up waaaaaay too late watching the end of Cranford, the PBS masterpiece theater series. Loved it! It just might be my favorite Judy Dench movie, and I really liked Mrs. Brown. If you missed it add it to your netflix Que. You can still see it here online too. Some of the witty little one-liners in here just killed me!