JALAPENO MASCARPONE GRILLED CHEESE

I tweeted about discovering cooking with mascarpone cheese recently and my friend noticed it and sent me this recipe. Unfortunately, that evening, my beloved put the kibosh on eating jalapenos. He’s generally staying away from all things spicy until we get a full handle on what is going on with his stomach issues. I put it out of my head, deciding that I was still going to attempt to enjoy these. So during our weekly shopping trip, I added jalapenos to the cart, as well as medjool dates (slice ‘em in half, take out the seed, spoon in the mascarpone and you have some sweet deliciousness!). Guess what else was in the cart! Another tub of mascarpone cheese that Don had put in there without me asking. I guess he is completely aware of my love affair with this goodness!

I followed that recipe mostly. I used whole wheat extra grain bread. I used colby jack cheese that I’d shredded instead of cheddar. I only used 3 jalapenos, which allowed me to make 2 sandwiches. Plus, I don’t know what is going on with the suggestion of putting the jalapenos in the plastic bag. I don’t know if I was supposed to wait to put them in there, but my baggie started melting and then I nearly burned my fingers, so yeah, going back to loosening the skin/veins/seeds the old way.

This sandwich was soo unbelievably good! Yummy! Just enough heat for my tastes. Still very much a grilled cheese for my girls that they kept returning for bites. And I may or may not have slightly burned one side of the sandwich because I may or may not have been doing some of this instead:

Never miss an opportunity to dance, folks. Never, not ever! You should also try out that recipe. it is good stuff!

HUMP DAY MOVIE REVIEW

I’ve not done a hump day movie review in a long time. I won’t do an in-depth review here, but I will give you a bulleted list of movies I’ve recently watched and let you know whether or not you should invest the time in ‘em.

• Hotel Transylvania – loved it!
• Hatfields & McCoys – loved it!
• 10 Years – Not so much
• The Bourne Legacy – fell asleep, so not really sure, but I guess I didn’t love it
• End of Watch – loved it…gut wrenching, but honest and good
• Silver Linings Playbook – LOVED IT!!!

 

I’m doing my best to lift my melancholy. Today would’ve been the 13th birthday of my little Guapo. I’m sad about it, indeed, but I’m reflecting on what I do have and his spirit. So with that, go out and do something kind today! Hope you all have a jolly Wednesday!

hdmr: What's Your Number?

Valentine's evening, my beloved had to work his part-time job. Truth be told, I was TOTALLY ok with it because I'd been wanting to see What's Your Number? I'm an Anna Faris fan ever since House Bunny & Just Friends.


After an impromptu dress up session with my girls, I put the Sugarbean to bed early. Tesla and I hung out since she was insistent on latching herself to me. I popped in the movie, made a big bowl of the Indian inspired lentil goulash that Don made before work, had my vin cotto chocolate nearby, and settled in for a night of laughs.

This movie had some laughs, but overall, I was more than disturbed by it all. It isn't uncommon for Anna Faris to run around barely dressed, but some of her outfits were more than forced. I had a brief hint of hope for her in following her dream of creating these beautifully artistic sculptures, but sadly, they didn't develop that storyline. It was more centered and focused on her landing the guy (which, duh, it's a RomCom), but still. In House Bunny she elevated beyond the obvious. I was hoping for some similar magic here, but no. I didn't get that. I was more excited about my phone telling me the battery was dying than I was about watching this movie.

Sidenote: The port that allows my cell phone battery to charged has gone kaput. My phone died in the middle of this movie. I was paranoid, used my Google Voice Number to text and stay connected. Thank goodness for that. I am using my spare phone and it is JUST a phone. I can't believe how dependent I have become on my Smart Phone. I feel like someone has severed a cord. It's refreshing, though, to be disconnected. Truthfully, though, while I do miss my phone camera, it is great to have a break!

Anyway, if you have a free rental, then feel free to rent it. I was disappointed, but not completely un-entertained. Just not quite the barrel of laughs that I wanted.

HDMR:

I'm not feeling all that sassy with my remarks. Feel free to utilize IMDB for the summary. I have a few others I've seen, but these were the most recent three.

Dolphin Tale 
Remember when I told you the Sugarbean was sick? Well, that means movie marathons. I rented this one, courtesy of a free pass from Redbox. Verdict, halfway through she stopped watching it. Obviously, it wasn't a winner for her. I thought it was cute, in that cutesy Hollywood movie type. I do want to visit Winter someday. She's quite inspirational. I think this is a great movie for older kids.

The Ides of March
Hellooooo hotness. Sad that it is the first thing out of my mouth, but yes. This is full of yummy deliciousness. Oh, and George Clooney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, and Marisa Tomei...and yeah, it was nominated for some awards. No big deal. I wanted to see this one in the theater, but well, we didn't make it. I was really happy to rent this for free thanks to another Redbox gift (my anniversary of being with them! thank you!) It was an engaging movie and I caught myself getting really involved with it. I can see why it was nominated! You need to check it out and not just because Ryan Gosling is in it. That's just bonus!

Moneyball
As a self-confessed baseball lover, I'm frankly apalled that I haven't read the book. Seeing as how it took me 3 years to finish my last book, that's why I hadn't yet attempted it. I think I will make it my mission to actually finish it before the end of the year. Anyway, this, my friends, is dear to my heart. I want to own this movie. The movie line..."How can you not be romantic about baseball?" So.freakin'.true. Well, it is for any lover of the game. Brad Pitt, Johah Hill (ohmahgahholyacademyawardnominationdon'tsmokeajeffrey), Philip Seymour Hoffman (yes, again!) do a wonderful job in this tale. I love it! If you have any bit of respect and appreciation for the game, and you haven't seen it, stop reading this blog right now, go out and rent it! Go, shoo, go!

HDMR: Fast Five

We like muscle cars and unrealistic car chasing scenes. It's no wonder that we enjoyed this film as well. I think what we enjoyed the most about this one, though, was the reappearance of our favorite characters from all of the other shows. This cast was PACKED with all sorts of star power. I mean, Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel in a movie. It was so much fun. Albeit, a little awkward for the director to shoot, I'm sure. I liked how they worked that Hollywood magic to make them seem like a similar size, knowing Dwayne Johnson towers over him! Seriously, I know he's a big dude! In hind sight, it probably would have been more fun to watch on the big screen instead of on our regular ol' TV (yes, we still don't have a hi-def TV, whatever). If you like action, if you like adventure, if you like cars, and you don't really care about cheesy dialogue, then you will totally enjoy this movie. It's definitely a fun way to pass 130 minutes. My only gripe is that (spoiler alert) Jordana Brewster's character, Mia, is pregnant. She goes through some pretty intense scenes, and quite frankly, other than them saying she was pregnant, you never would have known that she was at all pregnant. No symptoms, no cautious maneuvers, she was still running around as if pregnancy is a walk in the park. For some it is, but still (really Bianca, because so much of the rest of this show is realistic and believable). Like I said, taking that out of the picture, it's a fun ride and I would definitely recommend the rental! I rate this a hefty slice of pie with a giant scoop of Blue Bell vanilla...a la mode, baby!

HDMR: Win Win

Win Win
Mike Flaherty is a lawyer in a small town, who suffers from high anxiety, surrounding his financial situation. He moonlights as a wrestling coach for the high school. He is surrounded by colorful characters, who are broken in their own way. When a less than ethical opportunity arises for him to get a bit of extra income, he jumps on the opportunity. Because of that, he ends up befriending a young, talented athlete (Kyle) who is a free spirit and determined. Unfortunately, he comes with a whole load of baggage because of his upbringing by a young single mother who has a history of addiction and poor choices in men.

This movie is definitely a dramedy. There are parts that are flat out hilarious and other parts where Giamatti is so vulnerable and broken, you can't help but identify with the very real human experience. More of us than not can relate to financial hardship and difficulty, some of us even taking on additional roles to keep our family afloat. However, his friend Terry is so broken and in many ways stereotypical, you can't help but laugh. I love how the family rallies around Kyle and accepts him as one of their own. The performances were great and endearing. It is definitely worth watching, but don't expect this to be an uplifting film. At the end of the film, I felt happy, but didn't leave with the feel-goods. Regardless, I would recommend watching the film, maybe not run out to the theater, unless of course you are a Paul Giamatti fan, but if that's the case, you've already gone out to see it. I rate it a 15 minute hand massage...still great, but not an hour long full body massage. ;)

HDMR: Love & Other Drugs, Life As We Know It, & Due Date

I've watched an inordinate amount of movies lately, but I will narrow down this HDMR to some movies that I told myself I was going to wait to watch until after I had the baby, but 'eh, we all know that sometimes I have the patience of a gnat. I guess all of these movies could be classified as "chick flicks" maybe? Who knows. Anyway, on with the reviews...

Love & Other Drugs
Ok, this movie is centered around two highly attractive people, both of whom spend the first part of the movie in various undress. And then it takes a spin and well, it got entirely too serious. I was in the mood for a mindless comedy with fun and whimsy. Well, it kinda started out that way. Very cliche, but like I said, it started to take itself way too seriously. Maybe that's what it was meant to do, I'm not exactly sure. However, there were also gaps in the character development and too many details that I wanted to know, but they went unanswered. If the movie was just the first half and kept its momentum that way, then I suppose I would get something that was like A Lot Like Love or the upcoming Friends with Benefits. Oh well. It was ok, I guess it was worth the "free" rental, but honestly, when I had to get up, I didn't pause the movie. I just wasn't that engaged. I rate this a jello pudding snack.

Life As We Know It
First off, this movie WILL pull at your heartstrings if you are a parent. At some point or another, you wonder "what if" when you have a child. Who will they live with and who will raise them in the event you and your partner separate. This movie does a really great job of putting that question front and center...and be sure to let those people know that they are in your "what if" plan. I like Katherine Heigl. I didn't like her and then I did, and then I really liked her in Knocked Up. She plays type-A so well! Josh Duhamel is his typical adorable self, not deviating far from his typical roles. However, Josh Lucas was channeling that awesomeness from Sweet Home Alabama. *sigh* There were some believable real-life parts in this film (and some over-the-top overacting), which every new parent can relate to. You know the ones I'm talking about, where your life has switched from everything that you remember it being, but then nature takes over and you are immediately reminded why you've made those sacrifices. I enjoyed this movie. Not enough to buy it, but I did enjoy it very much. I rate this devil's food ice cream cake.

Due Date
I rented this movie for two reasons: Robert Downey Jr. & Zach Galifianakis. I love them both and I was curious to see how their on-screen chemistry would be. I found myself feeling sorry for Zach's character and having that uncomfortable laughter. Kinda how it was during The Hangover, but multiplied by 5. It was just awkward. Robert Downey Jr. played his character like a typical straight edge type-A executive. Most scenes were uncomfortable because of circumstances surrounding the way it was set-up. Especially if you've ever been the victim of gross exaggeration and miscommunication. There was one scene that was absolutely hysterical, though! Don and I were both gasping for air because we were laughing so hard. Basically, RDJr is trying to get back to his pregnant wife for the birth of his first child. ZG acts as someone who gets in his way of getting back. You will also see the likes of Jamie Foxx and Juliette Lewis, who both do a fun job. It's worth a rental, sure. If just for the random dog and his "talent." I rate this some homemade upside down pineapple cake.

HDMR: Gulliver's Travels, The Fighter, Black Swan, Green Hornet, & Tron

Thank you modern technology and that's all I'm gonna say about that. This week's HDMR is brought to you by my cousin, who just so happens to be our photography intern. Woot-woot! Since I feel like a zombie, I will rate these movies by types of beverages found at a coffee shop.

TRON: LEGACY
First up, Tron. Yeah, this is rated tap water. Why? Well, aside from the fact that I wasn't really into the first one. Let's face it, every time I tried watching the first one when I was younger, I passed out. This one failed to grab my attention. Quite frankly, doing a load of laundry and cooking a meal appealed to me more, so I didn't watch it. It was on, but I totally didn't pay attention. I do remember thinking that I liked some of the music they were playing and was totally fired up that they were going to have a dance off in the club, but they were just getting ready for a fight scene while wearing costumes that resembled something from this year's Super Bowl halftime routine with a nice beat in the background. If you liked it and are offended, I'm sorry. It just wasn't my thing. I bet there are loads of movies I've watched and loved that you probably shuddered at the thought of sitting through 5 minutes of it. moving on...

GREEN HORNET
I went into this movie for fun. I wasn't expecting amazing acting, but definitely wanted some awesome special effects with fun banter. I really enjoyed this movie except for Cameron Diaz. I think she was not a good fit for the part. However, Seth Rogen and Jay Chou's chemistry was FABULOUS!!! The gadgets were great too. I had fun with a movie, like the first time I saw the revamped Batman and like the Joker, I thought to myself, "Where does he get all of those fantastic toys?" Plus, that movie had me wanting a fierce cup of coffee. This is definitely worth the rental. I'm not sure if it is worth going to the movie theater, but worth the rental for SURE! I rate this a double shot cappuccino!

BLACK SWAN
This movie was creepy. Definitely one of those more psychological thriller types and I wasn't really sure what to make of it. Natalie Portman definitely did a wonderful job. She plays that special kind of crazy normally reserved for the Winona Ryders and Angelina Jolies. Seriously, she would win Best Actress because there's a part of me that wonders if the sweet person who I thought was Natalie Portman is actually teetering on the edge of the looney bin. One thing that I really appreciated and stuck out for me were the ballet scenes. I could totally just watch their practices and then the actual ballet. We watched the first part of it with Mari, and my brother would warn us when there were some more inappropriate parts that could potentially freak her out. Turns out that she really seemed to enjoy the ballet and now I not only want to enroll her in dance class, but also take her to go see a performance. That was totally an aside. Anyway, I rate this coffee black. If you like artistic films and appreciate a good performance, then you will enjoy this film. If you crave action and adventure, this is not for you.

THE FIGHTER
I have wanted to see this movie ever since I saw that Christian Bale was attached to it. He's another one of those actors that is so darn method and interesting to me that I can't help but gravitate to anything he's done. Then, when I saw that both Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams would be a part of the cast too, nombre...it was on! Unfortunately, it took a bit longer to add it to my I've-watched-this list, but that's ok. First off, Christian Bale...holy cow! How much weight did he lose for this role? And seriously, I more than did his research for his character Dicky. There was an awards ceremony where Dicky had gone up to give Christian a hug and I remembered it. In that one moment, I recognized something on the screen of his portrayal. Incredible to catch that sort of thing. Not just the mannerisms, but the essence of a person. I don't know Dicky personally, but I think he approved. Amy Adams did a great job too. I loved seeing her a bit grittier...quite a contrast from her Giselle character in Enchanted. Then Mark Wahlberg, ahhh...he managed to portray that splitting sensation we get when we are pulled in two different directions of things we love. You know that tough, part where you feel guilty if you go in either direction, but you feel guilty for not making a choice to go in either direction? Yeah, good stuff. I loved all of the sisters and the mother too! She was awesome! Definitely check this out! This is one that I want to own. I rate this a grande caramel macchiato!

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS
We saw this movie more for Mari's sake. We'd gotten our adult fix, so why not let her enjoy some fun too. However, this movie has Jack Black in it, and well, like to admit it or not, we are fans of him and his silliness too. This was a really cute movie that had us laughing together and adopting another signature Jack Black catch phrase. If this happens to be on TV on a Saturday and Sunday afternoon and you are tired of watching Yo Gabba Gabba or Wonderpets, then this will be a welcome break for you! By the way, Emily Blunt and Jason Segal are absolutely adorable. I rate this a kiddie hot chocolate.

Have you seen any of the movies I mentioned? What were your thoughts on them?

HDMR: Wall Street Money Never Sleeps & For Colored Girls

Alrighty, so it is time for another round of HDMR, that's right Hump Day Movie Review. I'll be reviewing two movies available for rental and I'll be using baked goods as my rating level.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
I liked the original, but honestly, I don't remember much of it, I just remember Michael Douglas was a force to be reckoned with. I had a free coupon for Red Box, so I used it on this. I'm sorry, but after the first 15 minutes I just wasn't captivated. I kept watching it and frankly I'm a little pissed off about wasting that time watching it. Maybe some of you loved it, but I just didn't really feel like there was much depth to the characters. There was a scene in there with Josh Brolin and Shia LaBeouf where they were racing bikes. Frankly, it was lame. And the soundtrack...what in the world? It didn't enhance the show, it was actually a downer. If you liked it, then let me know why. I'm open to other perspectives. I rate this a week old grocery store cupcake.

We had another icy/snow day today, so I was able to sneak in another show before the blog. I knew this was going to be dramatic, but wasn't really sure to what degree. Wow, no wow! I know why this movie didn't make a big impression at the box office. It just wasn't that type of movie. However, I have NOOO idea why not one of these ladies was nominated for an award, especially Kimberly Elise or Thandie Newton. This movie shook me to my core and I found myself wanting the poetry in hand to follow along. I like really tough dramas chock full of the dirty gritty unimaginable things we do to one another humans. Anyway, there were parts that were a bit artsy, but it was part of the film, so it was ok. The acting was amazing and the storyline was captivating. I really enjoyed this film and I would recommend it if you like those deep and heavy dramas. I rate this the pineapple upside down cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory.

And speaking of, despite being late, I'm jonesing for some pineapple upside down cake, so maybe I'll run and bake some. :)

HDMR: The Social Network & The Town

What is this Bianca, you are actually going to keep up the HDMR schedule? Why yes, I do believe I will endeavor to do so. With that said, here are two more flicks that are available for rent at Redbox, Blockbuster, and will soon be On Demand if they aren't already. On with the reviews:

The Social Network

I'd been going back and forth about watching this movie, but 'lo and behold I was given a free coupon code for Redbox, so I figured I would give it a go. Everyone knows this movie as a movie about the story of Facebook, or The Facebook Movie. What you don't know is the "history" of Mark Zuckerberg and other players in the Facebook game. Written by Aaron Sorkin, early on, it received much critical acclaim, even earning  4 Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture - Drama. This movie is captivating and I found myself in subconsciously trying to psychoanalyze the character that is Mark Z. Was her purposefully socially awkward or just that way? And I know many people are going to disagree with me on here, but I never saw past Justin Timberlake as Justin Timberlake. Don't get me wrong, he played sniveling, scheming devils' advocate very well. But I still saw him as Justin Timberlake. Anyway, the supporting players were great. I particularly enjoyed Andrew Garfield's performance as Wardo! This was a very interesting story and it was great to see everything that I had read on Wikipedia come to life. I would definitely recommend this as a rental, but I'm not exactly sure if it deserves Picture of the Year. Then again, I haven't seen all of them, but still. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out.

The Town

First thing you must know is that I watched this when I was beyond delirious because I'd only gotten about 5 cumulative hours of sleep. I wanted a gritty and abrasive drama filled with all sorts of colloquial dialect and intriguing mannerisms. Instead, I got a melodrama and a forced history lesson shoved down my throat, where the only redeeming quality wasn't the eye candy, but Jeremy Renner's performance as James Coughlin. That dude is fantastic! If you only watch the movie for his performance, then you won't be disappointed. He plays the special kind of crazy that I really appreciate. ha ha! But the rest of it...well, sorry Ben Affleck, but I was too disappointed with your performance. I kept waiting for that certain punch and well, I just didn't get it. Meh. I guess if this is on TNT as the afternoon show, then go ahead and watch it. If you have a free Redbox code (score!), then check it out. And if you just need a bit of new action and you are desperate, then check it out. If you are a fan of Jeremy Renner, then check it out. Like I said, he made the movie for me.

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Coming soon, a review for a new TV show called Working Class brought to you by an opportunity from the One 2 One Network.

HDMR; Tangled

TANGLED
Today's HDMR is brought to you by a cold that doesn't want to quit. All week, the Sugarbean has had a perpetual runny nose and last night starting at 1:30, the coughs came around and they were these deep rooted coughs that I knew were painful. This went on until 6AM. It made for a long night and day. When she emerged from her sleep cocoon, I was spent and needed mindless thought. We opted to go to the early show, knowing that it wouldn't be full and we probably wouldn't expose anyone else. She was wrapped up tightly in her comfy clothes, plus she had her favorite blanket, it was almost like we were at our couch at home. Sure enough, we were the only ones there for the first part of the film.

I'd wanted to take her to see this for a while. I have always like Rapunzel and even when I was a kid, I had really long hair. There was a time that I didn't want to cut it! Anyway, the movie is a spin on the classic tale on Rapunzel. What I really enjoyed about this film is that they really tried to highlight dreaming, regardless of where you come from. Also, Rapunzel was a very strong character in her own right. There's a point where she's gleefully happy, then blubberingly sad the next moment. That's real life highs and lows for a gal. I loved her sidekick Pascal too! He was not only cute, but a wonderful best friend too! I did not like Mother Gothel. There is sinister and then there is downright mean and malicious. That's the point of the character, but there were really high levels of deviousness that I wasn't sure how I felt about Mari seeing that. Weird, I know. Tthe colors were bright, the songs were beautiful, and most of the storyline was good. I do wish they would have spent more time developing the male lead's story. But the ancillary supporting characters were fantastic! I loved Max the horse and I know I already said it, but that Pascal is adorable. :)

Overall, I really liked this movie and when it comes out on DVD, I intend to purchase it. It captivated Mari, even though she was sick and she kept talking about it for 15 minutes until she passed out for a 4 hour nap. This was ok to watch with our family and no where nearly as frightening as Enchanted. Check it out for yourself! Thumbs up!

HDMR: Salt, Flipped, The Kids are All Right, Going the Distance, & The Other Guys

Well, I haven't done a hump day movie review in quite some time, but that isn't to say we haven't been watching movies, because we have! :) I just haven't been writing about them.

Without further adieu....

SALT

This movie is action packed from the get-go. Once I resigned myself to this being an action flick and nothing more, then I enjoyed it a whole lot more. First off, I like Angelina. I don't like Angelina as a runner. It was painful to me watching her run in this show. Seriously, I have a crazy run, but in this show, where she's a bonafide BAMF, kicking all sorts of tail and such, why oh why couldn't she be a better runner? Another thing, there was a scene where she's balancing on the edge of a building, climbing from window sill to window sill and you later learn there's a dog in her backpack. REALLY? I don't know about you, but I have only carried one creature in a sack that wasn't moving around and yelping, throwing me off balance, let alone, trying to quietly escape, exhibiting world class rock climbing move while barefoot, and in a skirt. Again, don't take it too seriously!  Was it fun to watch and entertaining? Yes. Is it everything you expect from an action packed blockbuster? Yes. I don't intend to own the movie, but it was fun watching and trying to figure out her motivation. Don pegged it early, but I was in disbelief. :D Anyway, it is worth the rental, so enjoy!

FLIPPED

I rented this movie just because it was from the same director of When Harry Met Sally... and Stand By Me. First off, you need to know that I was attempting to watch this on Christmas day when I was in the sick trenches. I didn't watch it in one sitting. It took a few times to watch it and I missed about 15 minutes in the middle, and honestly I don't remember the end. From what I remember watching, though, I liked it. I liked how the story was told from each perspective. It started off a bit slow for my liking, but it was cute. It is a story about your first love and how one moment, you are crushing on someone, but then once you forget about them, they story is flipped and they are crushing on you. Isn't that the way those first loves tend to go? :)  It is a charming tale and if it happens to be on a Sunday afternoon movie matinee, then I would recommend it. Or if you are having your own movie matinee marathon using a video streaming device, then go for it! 

The Kids are All Right

There is some serious wit going on in this movie. It features Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, and Mia Wasikowska (Alice from Alice in Wonderland). The brother implores his older sister to seek out their sperm donor father shortly after her 18th birthday. The kids are raised by two women (obviously lesbian), who are in a serious committed and married relationship in California. Mark Ruffalo plays an adorable guy, albeit, a bit too laid back for his own good. This movie further perpetuated a false reality of how everyone in California is incredibly gorgeous, with the exception of Annette Bening, who is incredibly beautiful, but for whatever reason, she appeared to be more aged than her partner. I loved how real this movie felt. At times it was raw and heart wrenching, which is why I have a difficult time seeing it nominated as a comedy. They were times where it was funny, but there were many more times where I felt extremely uncomfortable. The two mothers are in a very real relationship, with very real marital problems. Then, the cherry on top is when they take their daughter to college and drop her off. I honestly found myself crying more in this movie than I was laughing. Blame it on the hormones. Was it funny? yes. Was it entertaining? Yes! Was I totally jealous over their kitchen in their home? Heck yes!  I can see why this film has been nominated for awards. I would recommend it for sure! Best of all, when I was pent up in my room sick and recovering, I got to see this on Amazon Video on Demand for free! I had purchased some music from them and they gave me a credit. Talk about awesome. Even if it wasn't free, I would still recommend you watch it!

Going the Distance

This is another freebie courtesy of Amazon on Demand. Seriously, if you are stuck in bed and you don't have a TV in your room (like us) and Netflix streaming doesn't have the movies you want to immediately see streaming on their site, then use them. It is super, duper easy! Anyway, what was I saying, oh yeah, Going the Distance starring Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. First off, how adorable are these two together. It was totally no surprise to me that their chemistry carried off the screen because it was quite evident on the screen. Yes, it is a classic RomCom, but there were plenty of hilarious parts too. I think I enjoyed the lines of the supporting actors more than the actors. Big kudos go to Christina Applegate who played the over-the-top OCD sister. Wow, she played it so well!! The gist of the story: Boy and girl meet in NYC, but the gal only has 6 weeks until she moves across the country back home to San Francisco. When they initially got together, they were just going to keep it fun and light, but as we all know, best intentions screw things up and well, you end up caring more than you thought you would. There were some very real moments of struggle especially when it comes to long distance relationships. Anyway, it is a lovable tale and I was glad that I didn't have to pay full price for it. When this shows on TBS, definitely watch it, but should you shell out the $5 at Blockbuster? Nah, you can wait. Maybe spend the $1 at Redbox or use your free code there, but still. Grab some chocolate and settle in for some laughs with a dash of tears and enjoy the ride.

The Other Guys

First off, holy moly...Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Derek Jeter!?!?! With that said, I had no idea what this movie was about. Well, I knew it was a cop movie that played up the not as good cops. That's it. What I didn't expect it to be was a movie full of awesome one-liner quotes and random hilarity! Seriously, this movie is totally something to watch when you are feeling silly, need to feel silly, or some pick me up...if you like that kind of humor. I just kept thinking to myself, are you for real? Is that really happening? Does Mark Wahlberg really take himself that seriously? And wow, he really is a good actor because he is playing a guy who is insecure and over-the-top macho, who takes himself and his role way too seriously, and no one gives him any credit, but you know he isn't really like that in real life. Funny. Breakdown: Will and Mark are the kinds of cops that aren't really a part of the A-Team, heck, they wouldn't make the B or C team either. Will Ferrell's character is really great at auditing financial records and is meticulous about crimes that really aren't as big of a deal as murder. Mark Wahlberg's character would like to be a super cop, and is pretty good, but because of an earlier mishap in his career, he's been downgraded to partner up with Will Ferrell, who by the way, is married to Eva Mendes. This is a funny movie and I totally would recommend it. Heck, I'm even considering a purchase because we enjoyed it that much.

HDMR: Burlesque

Holy moly Bianca, this thing doesn't even open until Thanksgiving, how in the heck are you doing an HDMR right now? Well, special thanks to my friend who invited me because she scored a ticket (plus 1) from Gordon and the Whale. Backstory: I had to bend time tonight because I had a work dinner in Uptown. I inhaled my food and thanks to an amazing server at Victory Tavern who put my order in early and got it out just as fast, I enjoyed dinner before zipping down the Toll to West Plano Cinemark. Of course there was a bit of traffic. Of course I had to park near the end. Of course the winds were blowing 30 MPH against me. But I made it in line (the 2nd to last line, mind you, but near the front of it, so I had hope!) I scored our wristbands when I got a call from Val letting me know she'd gone to the wrong spot, but she'd make it. Sure enough, moments after they called the line before ours, she ske-daddled in and I slapped on the purple wristband. Not 5 minutes passed when the manager of the theater came to us and told us the disappointing news: the theater was full. WHOMP WHOMP...BUT...We were welcome to go watch any movie for free. We went to get in line and were trying to figure out which movie to watch when I cop approached a rather angry (and flamboyant) man who was more than upset about being left out. His gesticulations were over emphasized by the Cher face held in his hand by a large Popsicle stick. Both he and Cher were pissed! I was worried that things were about to get out of hand in the theater and this poor guy was going to take a ride of a different sore, when all of a sudden, he scurried away like a happy rat who discovered cheese. I was intrigued and followed suit, because there could only be one reason to go from bitch to bliss in .5 seconds. He and Cher were gonna have some Cher! We hurried along and scored entry!! The two rows in the absolute front were not occupied, so that's where we had to sit, but I was grateful to just have a seat. :) Alright, alright, I've punished you enough with the backstory. On to the review.

Wow. Seriously. Wow. I hadn't been this excited to see a show since The Devil Wears Prada. I was hesitant to show my excitement because the probability of me getting to see this in the theater were slim to none. Also, not all musicals (especially the ones featuring famous singers) are great. But I had hope. I adore Stanley Tucci. Thanks to this season of The Good Wife I have a greater appreciation for Alan Cumming. This is probably the closest I'll ever get to seeing Cher in concert and I'd heard rumors that the ever adorable Kristen Bell actually played a semi-villian. Oooh...juicy. And then there's the gem of the show, Christina Aguilera, who has always held a special place in my heart because that little thing can sing, but it doesn't ever seem like she ever gets near the spotlight of some other chanteuses in the industry...and frankly it's a darn shame. She is completely and totally adorable in this film and not only that, but you believe in her spunk and the character. You find yourself pulling for her and craving more and more. That voice!! Aaack, I love that voice. Cher, oh momma, you more than got it going on! I only recall seeing her sing two numbers, but whoa! Finally, Cam Gigandet and Eric Dane, whooo, you guys make some nice eye candy to look at. The guys behind us were oogling and making comments that had me quietly giggling. Cam Gigandet's body reminded me of the way Don's body was when I met him, just not as tatted up, nor as tan, but wow. I fell in love with my husband all over again and for the rest of the movie, I didn't see Cam, I saw Don. So much so that I was a little more than jealous that Christina was kissing him. Talk about having to put the hormones in check!

My next favorite thing in the movie were the costumes. Oh the glorious glitz and glam of burlesque costumes make you wanna dress up, but with very little. *wink* I wanted to run right out of there and grab my glue gun and some sequins because surely there's something in my closet that needs bedazzling! (Sidenote: hate you...Louboutin for making a cameo with some gorgeous shoes...hate you! Making a gal drool with envy.) The movie itself is so sensual, visually and melodically. One tiny tidbit just for my dear friend Mandi, you will enjoy and appreciate the make-up! Girl, that's my inspiration for my company holiday party!

Finally, there's the music. Seriously, I want the soundtrack, stat. Unfortunately, not every song featured in the movie is actually on the soundtrack. However, every song they sung is on there, so that's definitely good enough. I can't wait to sit alone in my car and belt out the tunes in my own way. ha ha!

I highly recommend this movie, especially if you are fan of those powerful soulful solos of Christina's, that amazing snarkiness of Stanley Tucci and his eyebrows, and of the ever fantastic Cher. It will not disappoint. (and if it does, don't tell me because I don't want this bubble to pop).

HDMR: Megamind & The Walking Dead

Yes, yes, yes! Another HDMR!! Bianca, are you going to make this a regular thing again? Well, I'm not exactly sure since we haven't really gone to see many movies while they are still in the theater, but if I do have a rental that I feel the need to comment on, then I might try.

Megamind
Mari had been looking forward to this. Every time she saw the blue head advertised on television, she would immediately holler, "Megamind! Megamind! Megamind!" After sufficiently freaking out about advertising and the effects it had on my child, I decided to so dome research since, after all, we do seem to like many of "her" movies. (Seriously, we can't seem to get enough of Monsters v. Aliens!) Honestly, we hadn't planned on seeing this one in the theater. Because of the guests we had coming in to visit us, we REALLY wanted to go see Due Date, but we seemed to have misplaced Mari's iTouch (we were going to let her watch one of "her" movies with headphones while we went to see ours) and we had heard wonderful things about this movie. I read a quick snippet of how hysterical some of the references were, so we figured, 'eh, why not. Lucky for us, priMo and A did not mind one bit going to see this movie. We loaded up and headed out for Studio Movie Grill. I indulged in a vanilla shake with Oreos, mushroom sausage pizza, and a couple of sweet potato fries. Mari nibbled on some pizza and a couple of corn dog bites. Don was good and had a salad with vinaigrette on the side.

Oh yeah, the movie review...we really liked it. We didn't love it, but we certainly liked it. And you know what, I've not-so-secretly wanted to be blue, so I was even more appreciative of Megamind. Plus, the Minion character was a hoot! I loved the strong leading lady role, Roxanne Ritchi! She was marvelous! However, Tighten (Jonah Hill) was annoying, but I think that was the point of that character. Mari liked the movie. There were times where Don and I were laughing and she shushed us, telling us that it was not funny. For a kid, it probably wasn't funny, but for us, the inside joke relating to some super heroes (and famous characters) of our childhood was funny. I think I also liked this flick because there was a bit of a love story and I'm always a champion for the underdog! If you want some good family fun, feel free to take your kiddo out to this movie. It will not disappoint.  

The Walking Dead
Those of you not aware, this is a zombie TV show. I mean right, with the vampire hoopla, we were bound to start having zombie hysteria too, right? It was this year that I started watching True Blood not knowing if I would like it or think it was hokey, but you know what. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, so my mind was open to watching The Walking Dead. Let it be known that I don't like zombies. I don't like zombie movies. They give me the creeps and seriously, it took a lot for me to muster up enough courage to watch Zombieland, even though people told me it was more of a comedy instead of a horror film. Fast forward, and AMC created this series called The Walking Dead. Two things: 1. I have great respect and admiration for AMC, especially because of Mad Men. 2. I love Don with all my heart, soul, and being, and he likes zombies, and his excitement for this show led me to suck it up and just deal. We missed the first showing because the sugarbean was still awake at the time it premiered, and we really didn't think this was something she should be watching. (yes, we do have limits!) Each day during the week, we'd click through the On Demand section on our cable, giddily anticipating the first show to be watched. No such luck. Don stayed up late and used his "extra" hour to watch it when they replayed it at 2AM. We later learned that they had it online for him to watch. Who knew? We certainly didn't.

There we were, Sunday night, waiting for the show and I sat there with Snuggie nearby, while all of the lights within sight were clicked on. My heart raced and I sat through the show. It was almost painless. There were a couple of times where I sat in utter suspense, heart racing, and I found myself attached to the characters. This is a good show and yes, at times heart wrenching. I'm curious to see what happens and learn more about it. I don't feel like I'm as much of a chicken. Who knew that watching a zombie TV show would make me feel braver. ha ha!

HDMR: Angels in America, Planet 51, Titan Review

Today, I'm blogging for Breast Cancer Research. My friend Jackie has challenged herself to raise $5000 this year in the Susan G. Komen 3 Day walk! I think this is a wonderful idea, so today's HDMR is brought to you by the letter "B" for breasts! They are life saving devices, you know! She has asked her blogging friends to donate their post today in honor of her effort and is requesting that each reader go out and donate $10 to the cause. Can you donate $10 to the cause? I know I can. I know I'm going to. Not just to her walk, but all of my friends walks. Whoa...that's gonna be a lot of money going towards the SGK 3Day, but it'll be a great thing! Today, you can be a part of something much greater than yourself, so go on and join in with the others. For fun, today's ratings will be made in bra sizes. P.S. Don't forget to do your monthly self-check!

Angels in America
Al Pacino, Emma Thomson, Meryl Streep, Mary-Louise Parker, Michael Gambon, James Cromwell, and my new favorite, Jeffrey Wright all star in this political epic about the the AIDS crisis in the 80s. (taken from the IMDB page found here.) This is a 6 part television series that is very serious, but doesn't take itself too seriously with the outlandish "visions" and dream sequences. This is very gay, duh. Hello, it's about AIDS in the 80s. It is very, very moving, riveting, captivating and will have you questioning a lot about how you view/judge others in all realms of life. There were parts of it that were very, very difficult to watch. And there were parts of it that I fell completely in love with the characters. I wish I knew the Belize character in real life. He had such a tender way and on a turn could cut you sharp with a mere glance or voice inflection. Seriously, who knew Emma Thomson could do a thick American accent as Nurse Emily. I LOVED this series. I'm adding it to my list of must-haves. Rating: DD Cup...the cup over runneth

Planet 51
We rented this little movie because Mari was so brave at her doctor visit, she deserved a reward. Instead of letting her watch one of her other movies for the bazillionth time, we opted to rent Planet 51. There were parts of the movie that were fun. I really enjoyed how the aliens were in a '50s era. They dressed that way, their transportation was familiar, and even the drive-in's were popular, along with the kitschy horror films of the day. The robot dog was endearing, as was the dog. Overall, this movie was ok. It didn't captivate Don or myself, but it did hold Mari's attention. We weren't surprised when she didn't ask us to watch it again. I did like their message of acceptance and getting to know things before assuming they are a certain way based on the way they look. Rating: Training Bra...gettin' there

Titan Peeler
Those of you who are infomercial junkies like I am will know what this little gadget is. For $14.99 you get all this, but wait there's more!! Actually, I bought this guy at the grocery store. They had an end cap with the infomercial on loop playing and a nice display of the peelers happily smiling their sharp, slick smile, taunting me to purchase it. I remember being excited about it when I saw and even Don had remarked about wanting to try it out. They had it on sale for $11.98, so I picked one up. That night, I got home, took it out of the package carefully, washed it and grabbed a potato to peel. I did it just like the infomercial, but used the same force I would use with any potato peeler. IDIOT!!! Folks, this is a razor. This is an old-school-no-safety-device-in-sight-exposed-blade-I'm-gonna-shank-you kind of razor. I had nicely peeled that potato, along with a lovely sliver of skin from my thumb. Yes, it slices human skin equally perfect as a potato skin. I didn't immediately bleed. I stood there, in awe and amazement at the sheer perfection of skin I held in my hand, then I realized, "I'm holding a sliver of flesh in my hand!" Then the blood began to gush and it wouldn't stop. I'd exposed a very delicate part of my epidermis that even water made it burn. Wow! No really, wow, it hurt! It really, really freakin' hurt. I was finally able to clot properly after soaking through 3 band-aids. I was seriously contemplating on wrapping my thumb in a sanitary pad.

After the fiasco was cleaned, Don picked up the Titan and I shrieked from across the kitchen and thrust  the instructions in his face, while showcasing my bloody thumb that was about to completely envelop yet another band-aid. (sidenote: oddly enough, the band-aid that worked best was the Finding Nemo band-aid, not the regular flesh toned or clear band-aids) He nodded at me and I held on tightly to the counter top as if him using the Titan would cause the earth to open us and swallow us. I kept muttering over and over that we'd have to take it back and we just couldn't have such a thing in the house with the toddler around. Well, if he didn't pick up the thing and whip out two peeled potatoes in no time flat. I felt like a total moron. For now, the Titan stays, but it is going to be stored up high, out of mine and the Sugarbean's reach. Rating: B Cup...a handful is just enough

Thanks again folks! And please check out Jackie's site!

HDMR: How to Train Your Dragon, An Education, and Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging

This week's installment includes a couple of films from our friends across the pond,  a product review as well as a link for an opportunity to win some cool stuff! Ratings are done in leftover Easter Candy.

How to Train Your Dragon
This is the latest Dreamworks animation film, still out in the theaters. Like I previously mentioned in the prior (ahem, embarrassing, cough, cough) post. Truth be told, I really only saw the first 10 minutes and the last 20, but that was enough. This was a cute movie. I think Don liked it more than I did, but I can honestly say that by the end, Mari had enough. This surprised me for two reasons: 1. She LOVES movies, especially in the theater. 2. She LOVES dragons. Movies with dragons seemed like a no-brainer, but she had absolutely no interest in the end. We should've waited for the rental and taken her to see Alice. She still asks me to play her the trailer on youtube. Anyway, if you have kiddos and you like dragons, I would recommend this film. It was very cute and there was a moment in the film that got me a bit choked up as a parent. I can totally see us adding this to our video collection. I just wish I would've waited to see it while on video instead of in the theater. I rate this 3 mini peanut butter cups.

An Education
This powerful film is set in the 60s in England. It surrounds the life of a 16 year old gal who is on the fast track to Oxford when she meets an older gentleman who woos her and gives her a very different sort of education. I didn't know much about this film going into it other than Carey Mulligan was nominated for an Oscar, was/is involved with co-star Shia LaBeouf, and is slated to be Eliza Doolittle in the remake of My Fair Lady. I knew Alfred Molina and Emma Thompson were in it, but I didn't get to see them nearly as much as I would have wanted. Also, Peter Sarsgaard does an incredible job as a silver tongued conniving leading man. He's a mother's worst nightmare and every school girl's dream. *rolls eyes* It was slow at times, but definitely worth watching, even tough at times because everyone can relate to disappointment and heartache. But my most favorite thing about the film...THE COSTUMES!!! This includes the hairstyles and make-up as well. ooooh how I wish I knew how to fix my hair like they had in the glammed up bits because it would so love it. I rate this Robin's Eggs with a single Dove Chocolate egg.

Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging
Ok, this is a waaaay teenie bopper flick. With that said, I loved it. Mari and I watched this together, well, in the sense that she sat on the floor and played Barbies while I watched. Anyway, this is a total cutesy film about a 14 year old gal and all of the antics that surround being 14 going on 15. It was very teen angsty, but it was fun to learn new British slang terms. I swear, I feel like I'm going mental most days. (that was one of the obvious ones.) My other favorite one was Sex God. Don is my total Sex God! I digress. I fell in love with the lead actress in this micro-woman chick flick. I rate this a chocolate bunny with the ears bitten off.

Lush Retread
Ummmm...ok, for those of you not in my inner e-circle, you weren't aware that I spent last weekend in East Texas romping around outdoors. Lucky for me, my hair LOVES the outdoors in Texas in the Spring. You know, it shows this by being SUPER frizzy, and outrageously curly, and unruly. I <3 my hair. Seriously, I do have big love for my hair, and often, my hair shows me BIG love. After the rehearsal on Friday night, I spent part of the evening indulging in a bath that lasted longer than 10 minutes. I know, I know, I was out of control with my bad self. Lucky for me, my gal pal gifted me with a nifty sample of this stuff. Since I didn't pack any bit of hair product (who does that?), I opted to use my sample instead of resorting to making that late, late night trek to the Wal-mart in town. I generously worked it in my hair and I could honestly feel my hair slapping my fingertips while it said shutyomouf. Then it relaxed and actually was pleasant the following day. I would've worn it down had I not been hot and working. (everyone who knows me knows that when I work, I work...which means the hair is pulled back. I can't think creatively if the hair is down. Just can't do it.) So if you have amazing awesome frizz-tastic hair that has a total mind of its own, treat it to a spa day with this amazing elixir! It ain't cheap, but then again, magic does cost some money. Go out and have a bake sale if you need to. --->and let me know so I can enjoy some cupcakes. No, wait, no cupcakes for me. I have a bridesmaid gown to fit into in less than 3 months. YIKES!

Peanut Butter Contest Time
(do any of you watch Family Guy? did you get my reference?)
Finally, the contest! You may have skipped all of the rest of the nonsense and came directly to the bottom to figure out how you can win free stuff. Ok, ok, ok...here you go: Remember the gal who recommended the magical elixir from above? Well, she's having a contest over at her blog. Rules are simple. Become a follower and leave a comment. Easy peasy. And the prizes...wowsa! I want to call on my multiple personalities just so I can have multiple entries! Ha ha! Good luck to you.

Sorry if this blog was unusually wacky. I'm hopped up on some serious pollen, mixed with a healthy dose of amazing homemade pot roast infused with delicious demi, and a splash of Bianca's Special Allergy Medication (squirt + Titos=gitouttamuhfacepollen!). I hope you were enjoying this amazing weather despite all of the plant sex going on. I thought it was beautiful even though I couldn't really breathe. Small blessings!

Soon enough, you'll get your Mari-J fix too. We have some rockin' pics to share!

oh and P.S. in the even the FTC actually catches wind of my little blog, I wanted to be in compliance. In no way am I being compensated for stating my opinions. If I EVER get the delightful opportunity, I'll be sure to say it, but for now, no one has willingly paid me for my opinion.

HDMR: Amazon Subscribe & Save, Ocean Prime Restaurant, & When in Rome

First off, instead of doing the typical HDMR (I know you are all disappointed), I opted to review an online retailer and a relatively new restaurant near me. Oh, and maybe for kicks, I'll throw in a movie review too. Then again, based on the title, you already know that I'm going to review a movie, so I guess I ruined the surprise.

Amazon.com Subscribe & Save

Ok, so when we first had Mari, she was strictly a gDiaper baby. After her first diaper rash (aka the rash from Satans wrath), we switched to BumGenius. However, during the week, she would wear disposable diapers after the lady we were taking her to during the day raised such a funk about having to deal with the gDiapers and all of the added stress it was causing her. We had some 7th Generation diapers and used them up. At a shower, we were given a case of Huggies to use, so we figured, 'eh, why not. After the 3rd one (not 3rd day, 3rd diaper) the allergic reaction was so apparent that we had to go strictly old school cloth until the store opened for us to buy more 7th Generation. I was very happy to find an owner for the rest of the 153 remaining diapers. Anyway, at our couples shower, one of our friends clued us in to Amazon.com. I vaguely remember her mentioning something about subscribing or what have you, so I got on to Amazon and clicked around and found the case of diapers. Not only that, but I noticed the subscribe and save option. Okay folks, this is where it is genius:

1. The diapers are delivered to my house when I choose. 
2. There's no tax on the diapers.
3. They are cheaper on Amazon.
4. Sign up with Subscribe and Save and they are even less expensive.
5. Free shipping!

What a deal, right? Well, after a year of using this feature on diapers (because we've recently moved over to training pants...and that's a post all on its own), Amazon calculated our savings. Folks, we've saved around $900 in a year from using this feature and buying on Amazon! That's 1 month of daycare. That's nearly a vacation! That's 9 bottles of our favorite wine! Anyway, this isn't just on diapers. This can be for anything you need that Amazon sells. Unfortunately for us, we don't use anything besides diapers on a monthly basis, but still. So keep that in mind! I highly recommend it!

 

Ocean Prime Restaurant

Next up, we have my review on Ocean Prime. My little hermana Dani and Primo and I met up before D had to return to San Diego, culminating her sojourn spring break to Dallas. This was a fitting end to an amazing visit. I had watched this building from the ground up. I remember the groundbreaking and witnessed throw up this cement bohemoth across the street from my office building. Then, I further remember when they started putting on these polishing details for a fabulously blue colored restaurant. Not far from it is a high rise aptly named Azure because not only of the color, but the amazing hue. However, the LED (at least I think they are) lights emit such a swank and calming effect, you can't help but feel fancy-sexy when you walk in. I remarked, "this is the kind of place I need sunglasses! Where are my sunglasses?" as they stared blankly back at me with their own eyes shaded from the sun. Now folks, this place isn't cheap. If you are looking to spend $5 on a meal, then you are in the wrong part of town. However, if you want delicious and fulfilling, then this place is for you. I ordered a flavored iced tea and Primo requested a sharp white, or at least that's what I think he said. He didn't even order from the wine menu, but rather put his trust in our server. Well, Max returned to the table with my tea, which was amazingly filled with fresh squeezed blackberries and blueberries and garnished with 4 blueberries across the top. Now if that wasn't a perfect spring drink, then I don't know what is. Wait, the most perfect NON-alcoholic spring beverage! Then, Max turned to Simon and poured the wine from a small glass decanter. When our server turned his back, Simon was a little less than pleased that our server didn't first offer him a taste to be sure he'd like it. He was in the middle of his dismissal statement when he put the glass to mouth and that first taste of white wine piqued his taste buds and whipped his neck in Max's direction in complete disdain. "How dare he pick the perfect wine!" Because, yes, Max was rather knowledgeable in their wines that he chose the right wine that would pair well not only with the outdoor setting, but with the meal. Simon opted for the chicken with asparagus and truffled mac & cheese. I got the crabmelt and paired it with the she-crab bisque. Danika ordered the Red Snapper with wilted spinach and jalapenos au gratin. All of it was rather enjoyable. At first sight, Primo's plate reminded me of a really, really high end LuAnn plate from Luby's. Yet, when I tasted it, it was like eating grandma's cooking al fresco. INCREDIBLE! Then I was jealous that I didn't order that. My crabmelt was good. The field greens paired well with the jalapeno tartar sauce. The she-crab bisque, however, was disappointing. It was more like a chowder. There were far more clumps of corn in there instead of crab. It was so far off that I actually didn't even finish it. I knew that Don would enjoy it, so I had Max set up a to-go plate for it and also ordered a side of that truffled mac & cheese. (Which both Don and Mari happily devoured later!) I didn't try Danika's dish, but it did look pretty good. However, we all agreed that three sauces on a plate was a bit much and for people like me to who don't really like their foods to touch (I JUST got over my issues with the banana split), this wouldn't be a dish for them. Food excellent. Ambiance excellent. Service, incredibly excellent! If Don and I ever make it over to the opera, I'm going to insist that we grab a bite to eat at Ocean Prime before because it definitely was a joy!

When in Rome

I didn't put up the movie poster because quite frankly it was super cheesy and had absolutely nothing to do with the movie. Do you hear that hollywood? Romantic Comedies are fun and great, but c'mon graphic designers, step up your game when designing the poster! Ok. Off my rant. This is an older movie. Not like years old, but certainly not a still-in-the-theaters-shiny-and-new release. We had plans to see How to Train Your Dragon, but Studio Movie Grill had sold out, so instead, we headed out to grab a nice big bowl of Pho. Don agreed to watch Mari, so I could get my chick flick fix at the dollar theater. Yaaaay! $3 and we had a very good seat to settle in and watch our movie. You know what my favorite thing about this movie was? Not just the awesome-ness that is Rome, nor the beauty that is the Guggenheim, but Kristen's outfits. Holy cow her clothes were utterly divine. Each item was perfect for her tiny frame, down to her running outfit. And you know what, it was refreshing to see a gal running in a movie and she was really running! Girl was getting into it, for real! It was a total romcom, with a hefty portion of cheese, but I still liked it. Definitely worth a netflix rental or red box rental with a free coupon!

Now I really want to go to Rome. I asked Mari if she wanted to go and she responded with a quick "yeah." I asked her again a day later and her response was again, "yeah"  with an enthusiastic head nod. I need to save my pennies. I have to take baby girl to Rome and fulfill a promise I made to my nephew/godson as well.

HDMR: John Adams mini series & The Help

This week's reviews are a mini series and a book. The first book review here at biasia. Enjoy! And the ratings this week are in relation to medicine since I've been quite poorly for the past week. For those of you in the same boat as myself, I pray that you are healed soon and your suffering (or someone close to you who is suffering) is soon diminished and your health renewed.

JOHN ADAMS
This is a mini series put out by HBO. I knew Don would really enjoy this mini series since the key players were ancestors of his (John Adams and John Quincy Adams). Interestingly enough, there were parts where Paul Giamatti isn't donning the wig and he sports a bald head and there are some very distinct features that they share. I understand they tried to be as accurate as possible. Don and I both conjectured which dialogue/actions are accurate and which are based on letters exchanged over the time. It is definitely a fun history lesson to watch for all of those who didn't pay attention in History class. The only disappointing thing I can say is that I didn't like the costumes as much as I wanted to. Definitely worth the rental! And both Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney's performances are incredible. BTW, Linda, if you are reading this, that Thomas Jefferson is quite a looker! Rating: Full dose of nyquil...cherry flavored.

THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett
RUN, don't walk to buy this book. If you are near me and want to borrow it, first one to call dibs is welcome to borrow my copy. I INHALED this novel in the course of a sickly weekend, more than half of it in one afternoon. Kathryn has such a way of adding such vibrant colors to her characters, you can see the key players walking around in front of you. I heard about this book from The Daily Lit's weekly newsletter. They had sent an excerpt which I gobbled up immediately. My absolute favorite thing about this book is the author's final note about why she wrote the novel. Indeed it added a personal touch! So what is the book about? Well, it is told in 3 different perspectives, with one chapter told in omniscient voice. Each of their voices ring loud and clear. I found myself hooked at the end of the chapter and wanting to fast forward to the next part to read more about what would happen. It all flowed rather nicely, though, and I was lucky to see the different perspectives. I found myself being more compassionate, pausing to analyze different perspectives of those around me. If you read this, maybe we can have a virtual book club in April, if you are interested. Let me know! I rate this a double shot of cough syrup with codeine and a healthy side of amoxicillin!

have a great week!

*By the way, check out my photo blog to see some awesome before and afters from the photo shoot this past weekend!

HDMR: Alice in Wonderland

To keep myself accountable, I wrote out a list of all of the things I wanted to accomplish on my "vacation" day. Well, I did pretty good at tackling the list. I didn't get it all done, but I got quite a bit completed.

• Run
• Laundry
• Postcards
• 13bfoto:
• additional images
• rss feed for blog and connect twitter
• email signature
• presentation
• Alice in Wonderland
• Grocery Shopping
• Special Surprise for Destinee (started)
• Evite for Pearl Trunk Show
• Bought running shoes
• Ikea trip for organizing essentials and bought a new wall lamp for Mari

In a separate post, I will chronicle my day in the life in pictures. Until then, here's my review of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.

Absolument brillante! I have no idea why I felt the need to say it in French. It is a wacky sort of day, folks. Anyway, I LOVED this film. Truth be told, I wasn't going to watch it until it came out on DVD. But when Sivje did her movie review on the film (mainly the costumes and such), I made a mental note to not completely dismiss it. But then...when the resounding reviews from my friends came in about how they loved it (some watching it multiple times and a couple of  'em NEVER watch a movie in a theater, let alone twice), I had to watch it. 

We set off to Studio Movie Grill and saw in 3D. Initially we were going to watch the regular film, but because it was lunch time and we thought we'd be hungry (*ahem* thankyousomuch Starbucks for the appetite suppresant), so we didn't have much of a choice because that is only way they were showing it. I nibbled on an order of sweet potato fries and fell into a fantasy land that I hadn't seen since my childhood.

As a hyper-imaginative child, I was often ridiculed for thinking impossible thoughts, and teased for seeing the world in more vibrant colors than it actually was. It built character, indeed. Lucky for me, I had both a mother and a father who supported this unique viewpoint. Anyway, I firmly believe that if I knew Tim Burton and/or Helena Bonham Carter we'd be best of friends. I ADORED this film. Each character brought out a vibrant personality, except Anne Hathaway. I know she did as best as she could, but I just wasn't feeling her as the white queen. Alan Rickman was a CGI blue caterpillar and threw up a better performance than she did. I wish I had a patch in Absylum's likeness. I realize not everyone was in love with this film as I was, but it was truly amazing to see a near perfect replica of my dreamworld on the big screen. 

I must admit that I have never seen any Alice film, nor have I read any of the books. Bad Bianca! Truth be told, I took it for face value. I thought the Mad Hatter was truly angry, not insane. Had I known of the insanity before, I'm sure that I would've been a loyal follower from the get-go. Speaking of, can Johnny Depp do any wrong? Noooo! He's adorable. I loved the relationship he and Alice form on-screen. After the first 3 minutes, I quit seeing Elijah Wood and started seeing the Mad Hatter. While there were parts of it that were frightening, there are certainly elements that are truly magical and wonderful, that children should be exposed to immediately. With that, I'm considering taking Mari to see it, not in 3D, but regular. She really likes the Wizard of Oz and isn't freaked out by it. Nor is she scared by Monster v. Aliens or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. If you were an imaginative child, I highly recommend you go out and see this RIGHTNOW if you haven't already.

Cheers to all of you who may have lost your muchness...then later went on a journey to re-discover it.

For the rest of you...OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!

HDMR: Valentine's Day, Precious, & Up in the Air

Alrighty, time for another round of Hump Day Movie Review. In typical fashion, most of these are older movies. Sorry folks, I'm not part of the bajillion of you who were able to make it out this past weekend to see Alice in Wonderland. Another time, though. This week, because I'm dying for a monster spa day (ahem, weekend), the ratings are in spa services.

VALENTINE'S DAY
I was able to go out on a Sunday afternoon with my girlfriend to see this movie. (Thanks Studio Movie Grill for the free passes!) Going into this movie, I expected super cheese. C'mon, it's called Valentine's Day and it came out the mere days before Valentine's day. Mindless romantic comedy drivel, but the sort of thing that's perfect to eat up on a Sunday afternoon with no worries. And because I am a sucker for cheese (good cheese, mind you, none of that processed stuff, ooooh yeah, gimme some of that amazing manchego), I liked this movie. All of the character's stories intertwined, similar to the way they did in Crash. I know that type of film making has a specific technique, but I just can't remember the name right now. Anyway, it was a good story, with some genuine laugh out loud moments that aren't forced. You don't get lost in the movie though. Ashton Kutcher's character reminded me of the one he played in A Lot Like Love. Julia Roberts was still Julia Roberts. So was Jennifer Garner, Jessica Beal, and Jessica Alba. (whoa, that's a lot of J names!) Despite all that, it was still worth the time. I am glad that I didn't watch it when it first came out and also that I didn't have to pay for it. I would definitely recommend it for the rental. If nothing else, than for the little boy who stole the show. A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e with a capital A for sure! 15 minute hand massage

PRECIOUS
I'd first heard inklings and ramblings of this film a long while back. I was eager to watch it. When I later heard it had the backing of both Tyler Perry AND Oprah, well, I knew I had to be there. I desperately wanted to go on opening day when it first showed at the Angelika, but I was unable. Then later, I just couldn't make it. Imagine my excitement when Don had it waiting for me on the night it came out on DVD. Long after Mari was asleep, I was in a place where we could watch. Did it captivate me? Yes. Was I moved at my core? YES! Every single player in this film was perfect, even the children. I fell in love with her classmates. I fell even more in love with her teacher. Lenny Kravitz was a doll. And Mo'Nique!!!! Wow, I haven't hated a character and somewhere deep inside of me, feeling a tiny sense of compassion towards her. Every fiber of my being wanted to choke her, but then I needed to forgive her. This movie was thought provoking. Long before I watched it and read an excerpt from Push, I was thinking. I'm still thinking. 1 hour Swedish massage with a half our scalp massage and add a bit of reflexology for kicks. If you haven't seen it yet, be prepared to be get a little uneasy and have a box of Kleenex on hand.

UP IN THE AIR
I'd heard mixed reviews about this movie. Some of my friends loved it. Others of it though it was just plain 'meh. Since we are catching up on movies, and the Oscars were just shown on Sunday, this was on the list to watch. So, here we are. Anyway, it was fun. Light-hearted and sometimes, it took itself a little too seriously. George Clooney played typical George Clooney. Poor Anna Kendrick, I just couldn't look past her Twilight persona. She tried the best she could, but I couldn't see past it. I did, however, really enjoy Vera Farmiga's performance. I had a greater appreciation for all of those corporate travelers. I would be very excited just to reach 100K miles, but it'll take what I can get. In any case, it was worth the rental. Basic mani/pedi.

Also, for you Twilight fanatics, who all is heading out to buy their copy of New Moon tonight? ;)

HDMR: Zombieland, 17 Again, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, & The United States of Tara

Howdy-do! To keep in the same tradition as all of my other HDMR posts, I will rate with something random, yet useful. This week's ratings will be brought to you by different versions of lip protection and color. And if you don't know what I'm talking about or referencing, I will try to post a link so you too can educate yourself on all things related to your kisser. :)

I Can Do Bad All by Myself

In honor of black history month, I aim to watch at least one movie by a black filmmaker a week. First up is Tyler Perry. I'm a huge fan of him and he's on the short list of people I'd like to meet someday. Anyway, when I first saw the previews for this film I was so excited because I LOVE Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, and Taraji Henson (even though she did make some comments that I wasn't too happy about it, but she's still pretty good). Aaaand this film has Adam Rodriguez...yum! Those of you who watch Ugly Betty know him as Betty's sister's love interest. Anyway, when I was waiting to pass the time, I rented this movie and the music was very uplifting. The thing I appreciate about Tyler Perry is that he does a great job of capturing the spirit of a strong woman. They aren't perfect women by any means. They have imperfections, flaw, not just on the surface, but deep, deep brokenness that they've somehow overcome to be better. Unfortunately, like many of his films, there isn't a smooth cohesion. I don't know if it is with the editing or what, but they just don't flow as effortlessly as some other movies.

Regardless, one of the best parts of this movie was when Madea is talking to Jennifer about Peter who is one of the 12 disciplines of Jesus who walked on water, but then looked away and was distracted by the whale, so he had to swim. Except, that Jaws started chasing him, so he had to swim away from Jaws, but then right when Jaws was about to eat him, Noah came by on his arch, the St. Louis Arch, mind you and then picked him up. And in the VIP section of the arch was Eve from the Garden of Eden. LOL!!! OMG...I had to rewind that part and watch it again because it cracked me up!!! Ahhh...good stuff.

And then when Taraji Henson's character is so moved, she sings out, "Oh Lord I want you to help me. Oh Lord I want you to help me on my journey, help me on my way. Oh Lord I want you to help me." It's just like when Shug sings her song in The Color Purple. Every piece of sinew in her chest and neck is on full display like diamonds under the ambient lighting at Tiffany's, the small crevice in her forehead grows deeper as she sings from the deepest point from her soul. You feel it. You feel the pain, the hope, the love. Then, Gladys Knight sings out too. I'll admit, tears came to my eyes. It was very moving.

Anyway, it was worth the rental. I rate this Chicken Poop.

The United States of Tara

This isn't a movie, but rather another television series on Showtime. I have to pause for a moment and declare my crush on Diablo Cody. Ahhh...she's another on my list of people I'd like to meet. .....

ok, anyway, I also admire Toni Collette and John Corbett. We first saw a preview of this show as the special features on another show we'd rented. I was hooked, but since we didn't have Showtime, I didn't know the fate of this series. Until one day, I was browsing through Netflix when this came up as a recommendation. I was soooo excited! It came in two discs and I watched each half hour episode. With each one, I became more and more connected to the characters. All of them, including her alters. Wow! Does Toni Collette nail it as an actress or what?! This show is based on a a wife/mother who suffers from multiple personality disorder.

As with most of the characters Diablo has created, each one has depth. They are witty and funny. Plus, every detail in the show is perfect. Not just the music that plays in the background, but down to the underwear of the different alters. It's like when you used to play dress up and you'd pull out various props to further enhance the characters, except, this is the reality of Tara. And there are people out there who really suffer from this. Similar to many of the shows I like (ahem, Dexter), there are many layers to the Tara character and the supporting cast is just as colorful. I'm eager for the next season!

I rank this Chanel rouge allure passion.

17 Again

Yes, I watched this. I'll admit it. I do not, however, have a crush on Zac Efron. He's cute and all, but meh. Anyway, I was curious to see if they just remade Big or what. Anyway, it was cute. As an adult, you can't sit there and honestly tell me that you've never wondered that ol' question, "what if." Yet, if given the opportunity, we'd probably make the same choices and decisions as we did because it leads us to the path where we are today, right. Yet, if you can affect change for your children, then what?

So yeah, like I said, it was cute. I could totally watch this on TBS or TNT on a Saturday afternoon with my niece or nephew. By the way, that Zac Efron is a pretty darn good dancer. I rate this your regular Vaseline. Because sometimes when you need some lip protection, the only thing that will seem to work is Vaseline.
Zombieland

Finally, here we are with Zombieland. Going into this movie, I had so many expectations. I must admit, that when I saw the previews for this, I'd rolled my eyes, but yeah, I was slightly intrigued. We didn't run out to the theater to see it, although, we came really close a couple of times. Anyway, I don't typically like to watch movies about Zombies. They scare me. I couldn't even watch Shaun of the Dead. I heard it was funny, but still. Couldn't do it, just couldn't do it. I was creeped out by the Reavers in Serenity! eeeech...jibbly jibbly (that one's for you Jenna)

So anyway, being a fan of Woody Harrelson, I said, 'eh, why not. And yes, there are several parts that are funny. Lots and lots of downright gore. And I think that's what is supposed to happen in these types of movies. I loved the narrator's take on how to survive a zombie attack. Knowing this set of rules, I think I've grown less chicken and I'm open to watching the forthcoming Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, but we'll just have to see when the time comes.

I rate this Burt's Bees Lip Balm.

So that's it for now. Maybe I'll actually catch a movie in the theater over the weekend. We'll see though. Not holding my breath since it's a whirlwind weekend, with celebrating Mari's birthday, while simultaneously trying to knock out this mess I have going on in my throat and chest.