Randoms, I guess.

I have so many smallish things I'd love to talk about so I guess I'll just file them together in a mishmash of a randoms post.

1. Pinterest has been treating me well lately. On Sunday I made two recipes, balsamic pork and the accompanying green beans with olives, sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts that is linked to in that pork recipe. Both were smash hits and also very easy, and I know they will be regular features in my fall recipe portfolio.

Portfolio! Miss Piggy! Lady Holiday!!!

Aside from those, you'll recall my latest food post, the Israeli couscous with chicken and peas. So good! And before that, I made an absolutely delicious chicken yakisoba and a great garlic dijon salmon too. So, yeah. Pinterest has been delighting me lately.

So has Epicurious!

Epicurious is a great app I have on my iPhone, and I've so far gotten two great recipes from it, a grilled butterflied leg of lamb recipe that Todd absolutely knocked it out of the park, and just last night I made chicken with a sauce originally tied to Chilean sea bass. Supremed lemon wedges, kalamatas, rinsed capers, oregano and olive oil on top of pan seared chicken tenders. It was delightful!

P.S. I now know how to supreme a lemon.


2. BREAKING BAD.

Okay, so I can't talk much about it because Todd and I literally JUST started it two nights ago, and are only into the fourth episode. But holy shit! I know we're late to this party considering there are only two episodes left, and I'm scared of the internet after that because I will likely get spoiled on so many things, but I'm glad we finally bit the bullet, took the plunge, got off the dime, etc.

And I'm so impressed by the acting. Bryan Cranston is a genius, and Aaron Paul deserves the role that he got extended. Apparently his character was supposed to get killed off in the first season, but the powers that be loved Paul's job so much that they made him a permanent character. That is a testament to his acting skills.

I have this weird urge to spoil myself on basically EVERYTHING I get into. I did it with the books The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, and a slew of other books too. I do it with all the shows I watch, scouring the internet for tidbits and rumors, or reading the wiki pages of TV series that are no longer playing so I can read ahead and keep myself in the story without having to wait until Alex goes to bed that night to get back into that world. I become obsessed with and starved for new worlds that are created for me and other readers/viewers to enjoy.

But not now. Oh, no. I'm not spoiling myself for this show. And that is very, very weird.


3. Exercise, man. So it is very, very true that it takes just 12 weeks of inactivity to lose all progress in a particular sportt or exercise. I all but quit biking during the summer. After a bike ride in 108 degree heat that had me nearly vomiting after just seven miles (with three left to go), I locked up my dad's bike for the season.

At that time, I had whittled my time down to 48 minutes for a 10.25 mile ride. Once I think I even got it down to 46. Well, for the past two, maybe three weeks I've been biking again and my God man, my time is so sucky. Consistently at 52 minutes and yesterday was even worse, clocking it at 57 minutes. WHAT THE HELL MAN. I was prepared for some set backs but to lose nine minutes on my time? Gross.

I'm glad summer is coming to an end, even though we'll hit 100 at least once more this week (who knows what next week has in store), because I'm ready for more moving around outside. Even the dog walks stopped, thanks to the heat and my plantar fasciitis. Oh, those HIIT workouts? Can't do them if they include any sort of explosive jumping movements. They murdered my feet worse than a weekly run did. So when I do my strength workouts, all movements have to have my feet planted firmly on the floor, save for walking lunges (which I still have to do slowly, carefully).

These past two weeks have seen a return of both bike rides and dog walks, for which I'm grateful. It feels good getting back into my regular routines again. I think it will be good for Alex, too.


4. Alex's potty woes have for the most part abated, I'm delighted to say. Wow. That trip to San Diego really and truly threw one hell of a wrench into things. Her sleep is still a liiiittle wacky (still requiring lights to fall asleep), but she's back in underpants and I'm back to being happy. Just like incorporating dog walks back into our routine, I see things are settling for her, that she's getting back into the swing of things. It's taken over three weeks, but it's happening.

I know everyone is different when it comes to parenting styles but this little glitch in the system proves to me how children thrive on routine, rules and parameters for everyday stuff. That's not to say it isn't good to shake it up every now and then to strengthen them and prepare them for a life that is more chaos than control, but it did show me that a happy kid is one who knows, for the most part, what's coming down the pike for them in their little worlds.

And it shows me that taking a vacation three weeks after potty training is insane.

Things I'm Into Right Now

Man, what a difference it makes when your contacts aren't messing with you in the morning. Yesterday they were being a pain in the ass all morning, and it made me feel bleary from head to toe. But today, they're clear and in place and not blurry at all, and that feels good. Plus, Alexandra and Todd both woke up when I did before I left for work, and it's so nice to kiss smiling faces instead of sneaking out like a bandit, trying not to wake anyone up.

Anyways!


1. Kiss My Face shampoo and conditioner in Green Tea and Lime.

It's light and refreshing, doesn't have all those nasty things like SLS and parabens, and from what I could tell, some pretty spot on ingredients. One thing I've learned from ingredient checking is that the first ingredients are the most abundant. Here is the list right off their website:

Aloe Barbadensis*, Rosemarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract*, Chamomilla Recutitia (Chamomile) Flower Extract*, Melissa Offcinalis (Lemon Balm) Leaf Extract*, Urtica Dioca (Nettles) Leaf Extract*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Leaf Extract*, Calendula Officinlis (Marigold) Flower Extract*, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract*, Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract*, Olefin Sulfonate, Cocomidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride (Sea Salt), Caprylic Acid, Glycine, Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Oil, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Tocopherol, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid. *Organic

Now, nearly all of the run of the mill commercial shampoos out there like Pantene or whatever, will have water, then SLS as the first two ingredients. Which is why when I realized the first NINE ingredients listed were all organic plant matter or extracts, I was like hell yes. Both of the weirder ingredients, Olefin Sulfonate and Cocomidopropyl Betaine, are components or derivatives of coconut oil, so while it could be synthetically created (and lacks the telltale organic asterisk), I really don't give a shit. They're not stripping agents like SLS and other detergents, so Imma let it slide.

I will stop a moment and bitch that the shampoo calls itself Green Tea and Lime but those ingredients are pretty close to the bottom. However, I think they're mostly there to perform as fragrance, and since there is no ubiquitous and suspicious "Fragrance" listed, Imma let that slide too.

Jesus Jil, way to write an essay about a shampoo. Anyways, you can find this stuff at Whole Foods or even better, on Vita Cost.



2. Neutrogena Body Oil

And now for below the neck! I have a feeling I've posted about this stuff before, but back then it was used more sporadically in my moisturizing routine (I was hooked on Jason products then but something changed in their formulas for both lotions and hair care and I'm no longer as impressed). Now, however, I use this oil, and only this oil, every single day. I LOVE IT. The scent is light and slightly exotic thanks to the sesame, but never overpowering, never cloying. I never ever get sick of it, and when I hang my towel up after getting dressed and get a whiff of the scent, I smile involuntarily. That's how lovely it is. It never mingles with your perfume either. Just make sure to apply when your skin is still pretty damp. I just lightly pat my skin after showering or bathing and then apply the oil very promptly. One thing I've found though is that after shaving your legs, apply a second time after your skin is fully dry, and that will keep moisture on your gams.



3. It's Always Sunny in Philedelphia

Oh, man. Okay, look, I know that humor is subjective, and perverse, shameless humor like this is VERY subjective, but my God this is some of the funniest shit I have ever watched in my life. Just when you're fairly certain they won't go there, they go there, balls out (Dee Dates A Retard is an actual episode title). It's kind of like Seinfeld in which no one is truly likeable, they're all horrible people, and they all seem to hate each other deep down, so even for me this show is best in smaller doses (I could, however, do an hours-long marathon of How I Met Your Mother). It's like a super rich sinful dessert, and nothing caps off a night of mild mannered television like a show where in order to stay on welfare, Dee and her brother Dennis actively choose to get hooked on crack.



4. Mussels!!

Or moules au vin blanc, which is my absolute favorite way to make them. Nothing compares to a big bowl of these delicious critters, steamed in wine, shallots and garlic. They're also insanely quick and easy to make for a romantic dinner for two:

3.5lb mussels, scrubbed and de-bearded (absolutely crucial to the flavor)
1 cup wine
3 shallots, finely chopped
1 Turkish bay leaf
1 tsp dried thyme
4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
3 tbsp butter

Bring wine to a boil in a six quart pot and let simmer a few minutes. Add your mussels, put the top on your pot and let them steam for about five minutes. Give the pot a good shake to redistribute the mussels, and then open up and give them a quick stir. If they're all open, they're done and should be removed promptly into large serving bowls. If they're not open, have no fear and just steam a little longer, two minutes more. After placing the moules into the bowls, add the parsley and butter to your wine and stir to melt the butter. Once that happens, turn off the heat, pour the delicious broth over the moules (making sure to spoon up all those delicious shallots and garlic pieces), and serve with crusty bread and a couple of glasses of the same wine you used to steam them.

An added bonus: you don't need utensils. Just use the shell of one mussel like mini tongs and pluck the meat from another mussel.

SO GOOD. Todd is always mildly reluctant when I start clamouring for these, and every single time I serve them he's like, damn, these are so good. We had them Saturday and we're sitting there, happily digging into our bowls, and Todd just goes "Well, you and your lousy moules! These are delicious!" and proceeded to devour the entire bowl.



5. Trader Joe's Block Red Wine

A friend of mine turned me on to this wine because she knows how much I love wine that comes in box form. But this wine is so much more than that. I mean, yes, it is box of wine, and yes it's only $10 which is actually cheaper than the Corbett Canyon box of wine I buy whenever I want pinot grigio. But it's actually a super decent wine. The reason I know this is because A: I drink a lot of wine and can tell and B: Todd, who gave up his wino status long ago after it started kicking his ass, will actually have a glass or three of this with his steak dinner. He does not do that unless it's pretty damn good, so that's why I'm here to tell you that this wine is pretty damn good, only costs you $10 and comes in a cool looking box.

What's not to love?



6. Freesia!

Another delight thanks to Trader Joe's. I've never before gotten freesia until this spring, and my goodness, now I understand why every other lotion in Bath and Body Works is freesia. They're poor attempts at harnessing the light and delicate fragrance of this flower, though. I was absolutely blown away when I got the first batch; it took a couple of days but suddenly every time I'd walk by the vase of flowers on the table, I would be overcome by this teasing, barely there floral scent that is just divine. It reminds me of a far milder version of a magnolia blossom. Anyways, this shade of the freesia flower is what I'm currently hosting at my house, and I just love it. I always get sad when Trader Joe's is out of them; my heart sinks just a bit when I realize they're nowhere to be found. Next time you find yourself with an opportunity to get some freesia, I strongly recommend you take it.



7. Kingdom Rush

So I'm a little embarrassed to be raving over a game app on my smartphone but I JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF. Plus, again I refer to Todd's enthusiasm as an accurate measure for levels of awesomeness: He was more than happy to watch me play Plants vs. Zombies, but is all too eager to play Kingdom Rush for himself. Last night we had to take turns for God's sake, each playing a battle before reluctantly handing it off to the other person.

It's right up our alley, with knights and archers and mages and artillery, tools and weapons to help boost your fighting power, heroes and fireballs falling from the sky, trolls and wulfs and ogres and shamans and all kinds of cool shit that you're trying to kill in the name of the king. Have at you! Attack! Reinforce!! YAAARRRRRGH.

Plus this shit is free.



8. The Darling Strumpet by Gillian Bagwell

Part historical novel, part bodice ripper, this is a 17th century story about one of England's very first actresses, Nell Gwyn. I've gotten about halfway through and what I'm loving so far, apart from some very blushworthy scenes (she started off a prostitute after all, at least in Bagwell's novel), are the historical moments that are brought to life, such as the great fire that took place in the city of London during her lifetime, as well as The Great Plague. I also love the language used to illustrate the time period, and of course I love Nell's brazen wit and her strength and courage to not only become an actress but to simply survive.

And I just love a good historical novel. I love learning about real people who lived so long ago. Thanks to the author's diligent research, I'm able to see into the past, and especially for women in history, this is such a treat.

Plus those love scenes! Whew!!

Review: Vikings Series (The History Channel)

The Walking Dead ended and we're waiting til October. Game of Thrones is nearly over and we'll have to wait a year for that. And quite frankly, I'm sort of checked out emotionally after this past Sunday's episode.

So what are we watching in the meantine? Why, Vikings of course!

It all centers on a well known Norse hero, Ragnar Lodbrok, and, so far where we are, his attempts to sail west instead of east, as his grumpy narrow minded Earl would have him continue to do. He's got a hot bad ass for a wife, Lagertha (played by Katheryn Winnick) a shield maiden who actually accompanies him and his crew on one of the raids to England. He's got loads of bad ass friends, too, who help him to build a better longship and then help him sail it on those raids. He's got an interesting haircut and a couple of fiesty kids (and a farm but even he's bored with that).

It's extremely addicting and wildly interesting. In my opinion it's also very well cast and the acting is great across the board. It's dramatic and violent, sexy and gritty with a bit of romance when you catch a fleeting glimpse of Odin in the forest.

And, okay, the cast is hot. Gabriel Byrne is the only mild disappointment as the Earl (aka chieftan), because he is not the hot BAMF I recall from the movie Stigmata. Age catches up to us all, I guess. Someone who only seems to become more of a badass with age is Vladimir Kulich, the actor who played Beowulf (or a version of him) in The 13th Warrior. The main character Ragnar is played by a smoking hottie, Travis Fimmel, and his brother Rollo (played by Clive Standen) while we're not sure what his end game is, is also a babe (but is hotter in real life). Don't I sound mature!

Anyways, I guess what I  mean is there's something for everyone here. Hot men, hot women, intrigue, fighting, exploration, godlore, adventure. If you don't like at least ONE of those things, then I got nothin' for ya!

I will say there are some issues I have. Mainly, sometimes Ragnar can't understand Anglo Saxon, and other times, without explanation, he and an Anglo Saxon priest can communicate. He did capture a monk from an earlier raid so all I can think is that this monk taught him Latin? But we never saw that. At least I didn't (obviously I got distracted).

We're only four episodes into this bad boy, and it's the last show we watch at night so even though it's bedtime and our heads are not filled with visions of sugar plums but with killing and raiding, we still want to watch more. In fact since we have some catching up to do, I wager we'll watch episode five (and six?) tonight.

Review: A

Snapseed and Afterglow.

So since I recently got an iPhone I've also recently developed a thirst for apps. I've also really enjoyed getting to take some decent pictures of stuff, especially of things I want to blog about (I'm relieved to report that I no longer take greenish brownish food pictures). And then there was the perfect timing of a Dooce post all about photography apps, specifically Snapseed and Afterglow. So since I absolutely fangirl over Dooce (AKA Heather Armstrong) and also want to learn more about taking pictures with my phone, I whipped out my iPhone and immediately downloaded both of them.

I can already tell you that Snapseed is my absolute favorite. It doesn't rely so heavily on filters alone, and in the different sorts of filters you DO have, you can manipulate the outcomes with much more control.

That's the original. And can I just pause here to say how much I adore white tulips? Crisp and clean, and then the stems do their funky thing and get all twisty and artsy. Anyways, I futzed around in Snapseed and came out with this:

There are different sort of textures you can apply through Drama, Grunge, and Vintage, for example. You can mess around with the focus points, the amount of lightness and brightness in the center of the photo or on the peripheries. SO cool. The saturation, brightness, focus, texture, all can be played with. The end result of my tulip photo looks creepy and old and like it was found stashed in an old shed or attic.

That's the original and isn't she ADORABLE?

This is Snapseed again. I was really getting into it with this photo, and you can tell I messed with the light and the focus on the edges and in the center. I am absolutely a complete and utter photography noob so all this is probably old news and boring as hell for anyone with an ounce of experience. But I really enjoyed learning how to manipulate the images and seeing how the mood of a photo can be completely changed by a just a few tweaks.

This is Afterglow. There's not a whole lot that I did to it but I did like the warmth of the filter I used and I think I made the shadows a little richer. The filters are loads more subtle than in Instagram. I will admit that I haven't fully explored Afterglow but you can mess around with highlights, brightness, contrast, shadows and exposure.You can even add lens flares, twist the photo around. And both apps are really easy and really fun to play around with. That is not an advertisement either, they don't know I even exist.

This is me playing Angry Birds.

I once read that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I fundamentally disagree with this idea. I think that doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of hope.

-Debbie Millman

My Favorite Tumblrs.

For the longest time, Tumblr was as mysterious as Pinterest came to be for me. I was like, so it's like Live Journal? But it's mostly pictures? And gifs and stuff? I don't get it, I see plenty of gifs and pictures in the posts and comments on Oh No They Didn't. But eventually I found some really hysterical tumblrs and I figured I'd share them.


Suri's Burn Book

This is all fictional snarking from the point of view of adorable Suri Cruise, who uses the blog to bash the fashion choices and mishaps of fellow celebrity children. While it might seem cruel since it's a grown woman who writes the blog, imagining the ever-stylish Suri Cruise saying that baby Harper Beckham has "let herself go" is undoubtedly hilarious.

Robert Pattinson Says Stuff Sometimes

So, Robert Pattinson, that guy from Twilight. He's just as painfully aware of how the Twilight franchise is absolute utter bullshit and how insane/slightly disgusting Stephenie Meyer is for imagining c-sections-by-teeth, grown men falling in love with newborn babies, etc. And the best part is that I know this because of all the stuff he says without a care in the world for how it might piss other people off. For that brutal honesty to come out of a world of professional liars and self-serving silences, I applaud him.

Fuck Yes Once Upon A Time

Surely you must know why I frequent this site. It's all about my super favorite show (aside from Doc Martin) and is a great source of gorgeous gif collections, links to spoilers and articles, photos and interviews with the cast. They have humorous spins on the show, serious fan tributes, and everything inbetween. A must have for people who like immersing themselves in a favorite television show, and for people who know how fucking hot Captain Hook is.

Review: The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (aka AAAH I LOVE IT)

I am a crazed and rabid fan of Pride and Prejudice and though I did read P&P in school, it was really the TV mini series by A&E, starring the stunning Jennifer Ehle and the ravishing Colin Firth that got me hook, line and sinker. Yes, I had understood it in high school, and could even appreciate the witty dialogue and the parallels between Elizabeth's own pride and the pride of Darcy. But the magic, I will admit, was lost on me until watching the series. It helped me appreciate the story that much more, and prompted me to re-read Austen's book with far more affection and attention than I had done so when I was 15.

Another contemporary version, a movie starring Keira Knightley as Lizzie and Matthew Macfayden, was okay for me, although it does reign supreme for my bestie Kendra. I was too hooked on the loveliness of the A&E version to get really engrossed in the movie, although the scene where Darcy is walking purposely towards Elizabeth though the misty, dewy fields that separate them, all the while bathed in a misty, dewy English sunrise, absolutely swept me away. But on the whole, it didn't captivate, not in the way that Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle had done so all those years before.

Now, though, and in a completely different way, I've found something that is so entertaining, so charming and hilarious and witty and FUN: The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. It's a web video series that retells Pride and Prejudice in an very modern way. Lizzie Bennet is a grad student studying mass communications, her sweet sister Jane is an underpaid minion in the fashion world, and the only other sister is the irreplacable Lydia, an oversexed community college student who wears a lot of Victoria's Secret Pink! casual wear (she once tried to give Lizzie a kiss on the mouth, and when stopped promptly by Lizzie, says "What, don't you want more viewers?"). There is no Kitty or Mary in the immediate family, though they do have a cousin Mary who, if memory serves me, has a cat named Kitty. At least someone has a cat named Kitty, who follows Lydia around wherever she goes. Clever!

Lizzie's best friend is no longer Charlotte Lucas but Charlotte Lu, the director and editor of Lizzie's vlog and an aspiring director. She's cool and collected, much like Charlotte Lucas, with a very logical mind and outlook on life. She's also hilarious and cool in a nerdy but not quite hipsterish way (thank God), and reels Lizzie in during her frequent rants and ravings over people like Darcy and Caroline.

Mr. Bingley is actually a med student named Bing Lee, a very handsome young man who is as sweet as the original Bingley, but with an extra dose of comic value that is a delight. His sister Caroline is a surprise; so far into the series (we're on episode 35 of 60) she hasn't shown the original Caroline's bitchiness and oozing approval for Darcy, though we can tell she's a snob. And we know she's a snake in the grass. She has to be! There's also Mr. Collins, an annoying old schoolmate of Lizzie and Charlotte's who, thanks to the financial backing of Catherine de Bourgh, has started his own web video business.

That brings me to Darcy. We've yet to see him but as of now we are in the midst of Lizzie's utter dislking of him, which is hilarious in its own way as she groans and pulls faces for her video diary, despite Jane's insistence that it isn't criticism Darcy is displaying, it's affection. But when we do see him, and I know for a fact we will, it's going to be so exciting. Especially considering how freaking hot Bing is. Darcy has to be comparable. RIGHT?

What I really appreciate about this web series is how well they mirror the troubles that plagued Austen's Bennet family, but in more modern times. All three Bennet sisters still live at home due to crippling student loans and, in Jane's case, a sadly underpaid but much adored job. The Bennets are facing the reality of losing their home in the bad economy, which somewhat explains Mrs. Bennet's mad dash to get her daughters married both quickly and richly. It all makes sense. And when she decides to remodel the house, in order to get her daughters invited to Bing Lee's house (Netherfield, natch), it is done under the guise of improving the value of the home in order to sell it and make more money to help the family stay afloat.

Look, I am basically retelling the whole damn web series up to episode 35, because that's how into it I am. The videos are 6 minutes or less, most of them hovering around 3:35 minutes long, so before you know it you've ripped through 20 of them and are out of wine. There's a tumblr, a twitter and a you tube channel all dedicated to the series, but the link I gave you up above will take you to the offical site, and you can get all the nitty gritty on that page.

"You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love" this series.

Grade: A+++++

5 Things I'm Into Right Now.

1. OPI's I'm Not Really A Waitress



Arguably OPI's most hilarious and badass name for a color, I've always assumed it was more candy apple hooker red, and not this lovely, Christmassy shade. I am currently wearing it and I can tell it's going to be my holiday season color.

2. Doc Martin

Yes, another BBC show! This is easily my favorite new show and I look forward to Thursdays now more than I did even when I still watched Grey's Anatomy. Taking place in the absolute most gorgeous place EVER in the entire WORLD, a small village in Cornwall named Portwenn, it is all about Doctor Martin Ellingham, a brilliant surgeon who develops a fear of blood in the middle of a basic operation. He moves from London to Portwenn (where he had spent his holidays with his aunt Joan) in order to take up practice as the village's general doctor. He's brusque and painfully blunt to the point of rudeness, but we see many moments of genuine concern and empathy as well as loads of hilarious dialogue and commentary. Every single thing about this show delights me: the location (I now want to live in Cornwall), the acting, the snappy British humor and all the colorful villagers. There is chemistry between Martin and the school teacher, Louisa, but of course his lack of social skills will often ruin the moment before any hot making out happens.

It's on Thursdays on PBHS at 9pm.

3. Market Warriors

Um, yes it's more TV and you can shove it! Todd and I are unbelievably hooked on this show and I can't explain why. We're fans of Antiques Roadshow so maybe that's it, but for some reason this show just snagged us. The four crazy people shown above, John, Miller, Bob and Kevin respectively, are all different types of professionals when it comes to antiques and collectibles. They all have different styles and personalities, each is hilarious in their own way, and it's just fascinating to see them navigate through flea and antique/furniture markets. They each get $1000 to buy stuff that they turn around and sell at auction, and whomever makes the most profit wins. For some reason it's insanely addictive, and we get unnaturally excited right before it comes on. I love seeing what they find, I love seeing how much they pay versus how much they get and I love knowing that the shit they sell in antique stores and antique malls are ridiculously overpriced. I look forward to the day when I can walk into an antique mall and offer some seller like 60% of the asking price and get it. Cash money!

Mondays on PBHS at 9pm

4. V8

No, I'm not putting vodka in it. I'm actually really enjoying having a glass with my lunch. Just add some celery salt and cayenne pepper and bam! A tasty, healthy drink that actually fills me up quite a bit. Once I drank the whole glass while making my salad and found I was more than full. Poor salad.

5. Neutrogena Body Lotion Light Sesame Formula

Oh, man, I am in love with this stuff. I am a huge fan of their sesame formula body oil but sometimes I want a lotion instead of oil. Then I saw they had this, with the same delightful fragrance, and I about died of happiness.

I used to use a ton of Neutrogena stuff and sort of fell out of it after switching from using facial toners and cleansers to just using a Dove beauty bar on my face. But now, with the oil, this lotion and my lip balm, I'm thinking I should just buy stock and be done with it.



The Cheese Stands Alone.

I swear, I'm the only person woman on the planet who doesn't absolutely love Pinterest. I just don't fucking get it. Like, I got started and it seemed fun, there are so many pretty things on there. But it seems designed to keep you there on the Pinterest site. Yes, I know about the Pin It button and that I can pin stuff while looking around the internet, but... I don't know. I screw around on the internet to read Oh No They Didn't, check out recaps and the forums on Television Without Pity and play Words with Friends. I can't really re-pin that sort of stuff.

I loved some of the recipes I saw on there though and I'd like to check them out again so maybe I'll go back and discover the magical spell of Pinterest. I'm starting to wonder though if this is a sign of mental retardation or something though. Almost all my girlfriends are on it and obsessed with it and whenever they explain it to me, I'm like "I don't get it" or "That sounds like a microcosm of the internet" or "Isn't that like bookmarks in Google Chrome?" Maybe it's just prettier? I don't know. I don't know because I DON'T GET IT.

And part of it feels like a big race to get your things pinned and re-pinned, like there's a pressure to get followers or to have your stuff pinned. Because the more you pin, the more often you show up on the main page. Me, I am lost in obscurity down in Pinterest's nether regions. It's not even the last thing I think about, pinning stuff I find online, because I literally don't even think about it. I messed around with it one evening, and Todd was like "OOOOH so it begins, the infamous Pinterest" but after the weekend was over, so was my dalliance with it.

Even the ladies who write the blogs I love are going on about Pinterest. Even Heather Armstrong of Dooce got into it which, since I am a huge fan of hers, sort of stung. I really felt alone and stupid after that.

Oh well. I mean if this isn't the epitome of a first world problem, then maybe I'll have to complain about how I smudged my otherwise perfect home pedicure even though I waited like THIRTY MINUTES for that shit to dry. It's a wonder I can even get out of bed in the mornings, with these sorts of crippling setbacks.

Randoms.

1. I'm still pretty sick. I can't believe how hard this cold hit me. I know, I know, it's just a cold but damn. It knocked me on my ass on Tuesday, but I had symptoms all weekend; I just figured they were allergies. So technically I've been fighting this thing for a straight week. I've felt like shit Tuesday through today, a Friday. This just seems so wrong and not fair at all.

Can I just say that on a first world problem level, there's just nothing worse than being sick as a parent. Because you don't get to rest. You are still ON, so even if you stay home from the office, you don't get to clock out on parenthood. I realized this sad fate one time when Alex was less than a year old. It was such a hard day, and I think it made me sicker. I got a lot more rest time during this cold only because Alex is older, able to entertain herself easily, and loves the hell out of the movie Tangled. But still, it sucks and it's hard and it's life, and there you have it. Cookies crumble, etc.

2. I've re-watched almost the entire first season of Once Upon A Time and I'm even more in love with it now. I'm so excited for the season premiere on September 30th. We've recently gotten hooked on Boardwalk Empire too. It's been awhile since I've been in school but am I supposed to italicize TV shows too? Hey, I Googled that shit and I am CORRECT. And apparently you need to italicize the names of ships.
It makes me happy that this site included Starship Eterprise.

In other news, we watched Midnight in Paris and started Water for Elephants. I feel very neutrally about both Robert Pattison and Reese Witherspoon in the latter. I also don't know how I feel about whether or not I spelled their last names correctly. But I DO know that I don't care enough to Google.

3. My baby girl floated in a starfish formation ALL BY HERSELF yesterday at swim school. And she's putting her entire face in the water to "swim" which is code for "letting the teacher drag her through the water because she still won't kick." But still I am SO proud of her, omg. The kids in her class are a lot older than she is, but she's still hanging in there. I registered her for another five week session, with the same kiddos, so I think we'll get real progress. Hell, we already have! The first few lessons were full of tears and now she prances around the house doing "monkey walks" around all the coffee tables and she loves to show off her kicks in the tub. Now, if only she'd do them when she's in three feet of water instead of three inches.

4. Fall is creeping in and I can feel it, and see it, so much easier than the last time I blogged about it. There is a watery quality to the sunlight, and we've had a relative cold snap in the weather (lower 90's), AND it rained yesterday. It makes me wanna shiver, y'all!

Actually, it makes me really excited for Christmas. I can't yet decide if I want to do another Christmas Eve open house or another Christmas Eve dinner. But I definitely know I won't be doing both again. Jesus, that was horrible. But, anyways, yeah. Christmas! Christmas carols, homemade gifts, fires in the fireplace... Such a thrill!

5. Okay, I'm done now. HAPPY WEEKEND

Being a Girl: We Have Power.

Found this over at The Frisky and by God, it brought tears to my eyes. Life right now is sort of up in the air and scary/depressing, both in the personal and professional spheres. I am frequently consumed by a feeling of helplessness, and the inability to assert myself in situations over which I have no control.

Not because of my gender, but just because life is a total challenge and that is sometimes the way it works. So it's nice to see that a little eight year old girl can sum up the awesomeness of girlness, and help remind me that while life throws a lot of curve balls and likes to play dirty, there is still an awful lot to be proud of, as a woman.

We have veginas [vaginas]. We get jobs. We are creative. We have stuff that makes us preanet [pregnant]. We have milk in our bobes [boobs]. We are smart. We have power.

Ugh, I still have those tears in my eyes. We are smart. We have power.

Yes we do.

My New Jam.

Love this song, love her, love this whole album.

Randoms.

1. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split! I am so happy for her. Normally, Hollywood divorces, especially when children are involved, make me very sad. But due to Tom Cruise's utter creep factor and his spooky Scientology hard-on, I am just so happy Katie is getting out of there. I hope she wins full custody of Suri like she wants. I feel like such a loser for writing about this, but it's on my mind and won't get out.


2. My forearms are freaking blasted from this week's Wednesday Workout! God, burpees are intense. I highly recommend giving that workout a try or at the very least, throwing it at least three sets of 10 burpees between moves in your regular workout. Speaking of workouts, I only got in three this week and thanks to the pizza I had for lunch yesterday and the fast food breakfast I had this morning, I feel like a lardass. Next week, DO ALL THE WORKOUTS!

3. Hey people who wink: CUT IT OUT. I hate it. Unless you are 85 and a grandpa (yes both are required), it is creepy and gross and perverted. It doesn't convey charm or openness or swagger, it is just lame as hell. Each wink is like a bee sting to my senses.


4. Last night Todd and I had salmon burgers and it made me realize that there are people out there who do not know about these blessed creations. So I share them with you. They are Trident Salmon Burgers and we get them at Costco but I am sure they exist in other locations. Try that link, the website has an online store. Not sure how well frozen salmon patties travel but I'm sure they figured that shit out. After all, refrigerated train cars were invented like three hundred years ago.


5. I finished editing my book! I even drafted my first query letter. Of course, after doing that I realized it would add depth AND length (oh god am I talking about sex right now?) if I added the POV of one of the main characters. Then I realized that if I'm serious about publishing it, I should probably get some books and research life in the 1500s for the flashback scene. And then I had to change the names of three of my characters and thanks to one character's nickname being Eli, MS Word changed ALL the "eli"s in the story. Like "believe" for example. It was just one big clusterfuck. So now on top of research and more writing, I also have to comb through 70k words to manually change all the names that need replacing.  But, hey! Bright side is, I did all the editing!


6. I should really have a Randoms tag, I think.

Movie Review: Shaolin

Todd and I watched this film on Netflix streaming. We started it during Alex's nap one lazy Sunday, and just wrapped it up last night.

The story takes place during the warlord era of early Republic of China (early 1900s). The main character, Hou Jie, the man pictured in the top center row (hello hot stuff, might I add), is one of the aforementioned warlords. Without spoiling too much of the plot, let's just say there's some plotting on his part, plotting on the film's Big Bad, Cao Man (the hottie on the left in the top row), and Hou Jie ends up left with nothing.

Though he initially had mocked Shaolin, after meeting the Temple's cook, Wudao (hey there, Jackie Chan! don't worry, you're a cutie too), he decides to remain there, become a monk and atone for his sins. There, he slowly wins the respect and admiration of his fellow monks, most specifically the Senior Brothers.

Naturally, there is a big old showdown between Cao Man and Hou Jie, all while European soldiers, who are of course evil, and there to purchase old relics under the guise of building a railroad, do their best to be stereotypically evil (the main bad European guy even does an evil laugh as he blows stuff up).

It's a good movie with a great theme of forgiveness and repentance, but even though there is tragedy as with most Chinese hero films, this one did strike me as particularly sad, but that is coming from me and my Western perspective. There are of course badass fighting scenes, but since it takes place in the early 1900s, there are guns and that shit just isn't fair. There is also humor in the film, which I think is mightily important in an otherwise heavy story. I was particularly pleased to see Jackie Chan taking a less prominent fighting role in the movie. Oh, he gets his moment, for sure, but it's an inspiring one; he is no goofy hero in this movie like he tends to be in others.

If you enjoy kung fu movies (mandatory in our house), then I think you'll enjoy this. If you're not, I still think this film is accessible enough to pique your interest.

Grade: B++ (extra plus for all the epic eye candy)

You Go, Girl.

Well, this is nothing short of absolute badass. Looks like the UK has a new HBIC.

First Woman to Command War Ship

I was going to blog about this ginger pork recipe I made, but I will save that for another day.

That's Sarah West, the new captain of HMS Portland and the only female captain of a Royal Navy war ship. It only took 500 years!

Review: Girls

Ok, fine, I admit it, I freaking loved Sex And The City. I watched every single episode. I love all four characters and the first movie (I refuse to see the second one, after learning that Carrie is basically rewarded with a diamond after cheating on her husband - that ruins it for me).

So I figured I'd give Girls a try. People were calling it the down to earth version of my beloved SATC, the more realistic side to living in NYC. Ok, great! So one afternoon while Alex napped I watched it online.

I hated it. Well, the first episode wasn't hate-worthy, but all of the characters were. I don't even know their names, but in one episode we have an intern who tries to get hired and instead gets let go, naturally right after her parents pull the financial plug on her.

So of course this is the time to go have incredibly awkward, visually disgusting sex with a man who won't text her back. Not grab her laptop and go fire off resumes to every company in the city. Not march into a restaurant, bar, cafe, what EVER to get at least some sort of job secured.

Then because she's so busy getting negged by this guy, she is hours late to her BFF's dinner party thrown for horrible people who then cook opium tea, which our heroine of course drinks in order to get the courage up to visiting her parents' hotel room to insist she deserves 1200 bucks a month for two years to, what? Fuck this guy and do these drugs and then collapse on their hotel room floor?

The next day, having been left in their bed (where did THEY sleep?), she then takes the housekeeping's tip money and leaves to go stagger around the city.

Her friends aren't much better. The pretty "sweet" one is in a loveless relationship with a man who adores her yet she doesn't want to dump him. So later when she gives sound advice (get a job), it just doesn't resonate because hey, you make shitty choices too.

Don't get me started on the British bohemian who is knocked up and doesn't want to, or her annoying, Sex And The City-obsessed cousin/roommate is. I understand it was a way to show the ~omg differences~ between SATC and "real life" but who the fuck drinks opium tea and how is that realistic?

That was the first episode. I soldiered on, giving it my fairest shot, but when the second episode begins with such a nauseating, awkward, condescending, bullying sort of sex scene between the jobless wonder and her creepy, ugly, freaky booty call, I just closed the window and shut the computer down. It was enough for me.

A cast of unlikeable characters, non-profound conversations and seriously, zero lines that struck me as humorous or wise or ANYTHING other than empty-headed whining makes me grade this series with a D.

I guess the thing that made SATC work for me was the lack of reality. But even in Girls, their world of so called reality seems tinged with lunacy, idiocy, borderline sociopathic behaviors and leaves me wondering how they even like each other, because I sure as shit don't.

Randoms.

1. Alexandra fell asleep on me last night while I watched Once Upon A Time, and made me think back to her infancy. When she'd fall asleep on me I'd just sit there in heaven, desperate to pee, ravenous and thirsty. It didn't matter; I was happiest just soaking up the baby love, slightly sweaty from the little baby furnace curled up on me. It was absolute heaven last night, watching Snow White kick ass while Alexandra dreamed away on my chest. And it was super rad how Todd and I changed her into an overnight diaper without even waking her up. But I will admit it was also pretty nice peeing after we placed her sleeping little body in her crib on a commercial break.

2. I am officially over that "Somebody That I Used To Know" song by Gotye. It's on every goddamn channel on the radio, and it's played every single day on every single one of them. I no longer care that she had her friends collect her records, that she treats him like a stranger, or that he screwed her over and couldn't get over an old flame. Go screw yourselves, Gotye and Kimbra. You were in my head on repeat this morning from 5am to when I finally fell back asleep by forcing myself to think of the Harry Potter theme.

3. Speaking of 5am this morning, I had an attack of my allergies. First I was so stuffed up I couldn't breathe. So I blew my nose a couple of times and then had to go use some Afrin. Then I apparently blew my nose another seven times (Todd, moved by a pity that is shocking considering I woke him up at 5am to blow my nose, counted how many times I had to do it) after a sneezing fit. Thankfully I didn't sneeze out the Afrin awesomeness, because I finally was able to breathe. I hate you allergies. Flowers, you suck. Trees, you're all a bunch of jerks.

4. We had pizza last night from Papa Murphy's. I strongly urge all of you, ALL OF YOU, to go there and get the taco pizza. Holy crap, that thing was like heaven. It was two indulgences, pizza and Mexican food, combining forces to create what can only be described as another wonder of the world, or to my diet plan, maybe another Horcrux. I told Todd last night, if only they could have found a way to include a ribeye steak and some pasta carbonara. Although had they figured that out the sun probably would have went nova from the sheer epicness.

5. Saturday, as I furiously scrubbed out more butt stains from another piece of furniture, I was back to hating the cat. But then this morning he lounged on the bathroom counter, purring, hanging out with me while I put my makeup on so I guess I'm back to kind of liking him. I need to find kitty diapers I guess.

Randoms.

1. I fell in the gym last night. Yep. I was that girl. There's this machine where you do backward/upward leg curls to get your hamstrings and glutes. You step up on a plate, rest your stomach on a padded rest and lean over, grabbing handlebars and resting your forearms on two other padded rests. Then you place one foot on the um, the foot plate, so it looks like you're about to kick a ball or something? Adjust the weight and push your foot back, activating the hammies and the butt muscles.

Ok, so the important part here is that you step up on a plate. I'd used this machine before, and so I wasn't scared. I was honey badger. I put down my water bottle, draped my towel where my stomach was going to rest, and did two sets on each leg until I couldn't fathom doing another rep. Then I got down.

By "got down" I mean I stepped down onto my water bottle, slipped off of it, twisted to try and catch myself, slammed the side of my right butt cheek into a protruding handle on the machine next to me (WHICH WAS CURRENTLY IN USE BY A GYM PATRON) and managed to regain my balance before face planting onto the floor. Did I mention this was during the post-5pm rush? Did I mention that the row of machines I was in was completely full of people so that I had no other place to hide and look busy? Did I mention that everyone was looking at me yet the only person who asked if I was all right was the man on the machine into which I had slammed my butt? Yeah, well, all those things are true. Moving on.

2. I've really managed to rein in the cussing around Alexandra. Now instead of saying "SHIT" after I say it, thanks to word replacement on my part now she says "Oh doggone it!" which is of course, adorable, especially these days when she correctly says "balloon" (instead of "baboon!!!") and "lotion" (instead of "sho-shin"). "Oh doggone it" comes out like "Oh dodogone it" or something.

However, now she's telling Patton to "LIE DOWN" and "SHUT UP" and I am like "Oh my God, I verbally assault the dog and am teaching Alexandra to do the same" so I guess it's back to the drawing room to work on sweetly telling Patton to "be quiet" before Alexandra picks up on my saying "Would you shut the fuck up forever before I pull all your fur out?" said in a stage whisper every time our neighbor slams his car door.

3. Downton Abbey season two finally cropped up on Netflix and we're already one disc deep into the series. SO happy we have this show in our clutches once more. Oh! And Game of Thrones is next on the list. Now if they could only get their crap together and put the second season of The Walking Dead on there, because I am so bored by having dreams with no zombies in them, and bored from lying in bed not wondering if the rolling shutters would hold up to a zombie attack.

4. After some slight setbacks (Chinese takeout, Greek Easter celebration, Easter itself, anyone?) I am ready to get serious about doing this Paleo diet. I noticed the other day after eating one of Alexandra's cheese sticks, in a fit of post-workout starvation, that I felt really gross and uncomfortable afterwards. Since I had eaten it in a lettuce wrap with nothing more but chicken, and since I eat chicken nearly every day (don't get me started on lettuce), I'm concluding it was the cheese. I actually don't eat a lot of dairy, and after the initial "OMG GIVE UP MY CHEESE??" it dawned on me that the only cheese I'd truly miss is parmesan which, as a hard cheese, isn't nearly as hard on my system.

Anyways, I've realized that what I don't want to give up are these: parmesan, pad thai and legumes. I know legumes are only edible if cooked and therefore off the Paleo list, but since I won't be eating a raw grean bean or yam any time soon, I'm counting them in. Pad thai, mmm. I love the noodles but they're not necessary. The sauce though... I don't know off the top of my head what is it in, but I won't give it up, no ma'am. Not even if it's full of flour and soy.

I did realize, however, that I also need more tools than just the internet for this one. I want to get a Paleo book, and then a Paleo cookbook. I need to be armed with more than just a 3/4-hearted desire to make a switch and nothing more, especially since we still have all these breads and crap in the house (you can only push a man so far; asking to take away his quesadillas is too far, I guess). So on payday this Friday, I'll be hitting up some bookstores.

5. You guys, I cannot BELIEVE I fell down at the gym. There is this huge raised ugly bruise on my side-butt and I would have had Todd take a photo (real close up so the bruise was all you saw) but then, everyone would know that was my butt, and I guess a photo would just add insult to injury (literally).

See you tomorrow for Wednesday Workout! And no, it won't include falling on your ass in a room full of strangers.

Mish Mash.

I had a few ideas for blog topics this morning, and since I can't decide which one to run with, I'm going to run with all three of them. I guess I could call it a Things I'm Into Right Now but Mish Mash is looking cuter and cuter the longer it stays up there in the subject field.

Being Human (U.K. version)

My dear friend Caryn has been recommending, and recommending, and recommending this show to me so finally, last night, since pbs.com has THE SLOWEST PLAYER (ok, so maybe our Qwest internet connection has something to do with it) and therefore watching Downton Abbey is an impossibility, we checked out Being Human on Netflix.

We haven't even finished the first episode yet, since we started after finishing Up (omg rad) at like 10:15pm. But I can tell you, it's a great premise for a show, and the actors are charming and seem well-suited for their roles.

The show is about three roommates: Annie, a ghost, George, a werewolf, and John, a vampire. Naturally, the vampire works in a hospital and naturally he's a sweet kind of guy, but not vomit-inducing like Edward Cullen. Like I said, we've not even finished the first episode, but we're already hooked, much in the same way as Walking Dead and Downton Abbey (both shows whose second seasons are not available on Netflix which makes me want to send hate mail but I just don't have the time or energy).

Here is the premise, as stated on the show's wiki page:

The central premise of Being Human is that various types of supernatural beings exist alongside human beings, with varying degrees of menace; that three of these supernatural beings are opting to live amongst human beings rather than apart from them; and that these three characters are attempting (as much as is possible) to live ordinary human lives despite the pressures and dangers of their situations. They are constantly threatened with exposure or persecution, with pressure from other supernatural creatures, and with problems caused by their attempts to deal with their own natures.

It's really an interesting idea for a show and I'm looking forward to watching more. All I gotta say is, bitch better have ALL seasons on Netflix or I am going to cut someone.

Oven Fried Eggplant

Holy crap y'all, this was absolutely delicious, and you save so many calories from not deep frying it, yet you achieve that heavenly crispy-outside, succulent-inside balance. I got the recipe from this site and was delighted to find that it is extremely simple and extremely delicious. I highly recommend it to anyone but especially to those partaking in Lent's meatless Fridays, because my goodness, you do not even miss meat with this dish. I know I put up the link but here is the rundown with a few minor changes I made:

Set oven to 450. Thinly slice eggplant, about half an inch, and place in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle liberally with salt and wait 15-20 minutes so the moisture is drawn out. Wipe off the water and salt with a paper towel.

Dredge slices in flour, beaten egg, and then panko bread crumbs, pressing to make sure the panko sticks. Coat the cookie sheet with cooking spray and place the eggplant slices in a single layer. Spray the tops with cooking spray and toss in the oven for 15 minutes. Flip them, spray again, and return to the oven for about 5 minutes. Top with parmesan or mozzarella if you so desire (you desire it by the way).

I served mine with spaghetti, more cheese and a tomato sauce I made by combining Trader Joe's low sodium bell pepper soup, tomato paste and red wine. So good! We have leftovers and I'm so going to eat a slice or two in a sandwich.

image courtesy of cookwithkerry.com

Bike Riding

So I ran on Monday and my knee is still bothering me. It's below the knee cap, and below that band of tendon, right where the tendon meets the bone. It sucks. I don't think I can run on asphalt anymore, until the triathlon. And after the event, I'm not going to run for at least a couple of months. I'd be more heartbroken about it if I hadn't recently fallen deeply in love with biking around town. Specifically to downtown and back which is about 12 miles round trip, an excellent work out that is fun to boot.

Hahaha, I typoed and wrote booty instead.

Anyways, while I suspect that my knee problems started with the combined efforts of running and biking, each of them twice a week, I am determined to keep biking. It gets me out of the gym and onto the street which is far more challenging than just sitting on an indoor trainer, both physically and mentally. I used to be terrified to bike on the streets because hello, cars, and also, I had no idea how to share the road. But I just said fuck it and did it, and was surprised to find that it's easy, provided you find a bike route, from which we are lucky to live three houses away, and actually kind of fun.

My father has loaned me his super rad mountain bike for the triathlon and my mother in law has loaned me her super safe bike helmet, and Todd bought me super rad biking gloves for Christmas so I am a total badass out there. I just hate seeing people riding without helmets. Don't they care about themselves? I have to bite my tongue every single time I see one of them out there. I just want to yell "SOMEONE LOVES YOU, WEAR A HELMET." Helmets aren't the sexiest things out there, but being brain dead isn't too sexy either. Sorry, Mrs. Von Bulow.

Kick Ass Romantic Comedies.

Recently on The Pioneer Woman, there was a survey done to determine the best/favorite romantic comedy of all time. I was saddened and disgusted when all of my favorites were either knocked out of the park or not even mentioned (Princess Bride where WERE you). So since it's Sunday, and may very well be movie night in some households tonight, I thought I would share my favorites that are, as a bonus, mostly very male-friendly. All of these are Todd-tested, Todd-approved.

In no particular order:

Pride and Prejudice

This wasn't even a contender over on PW's site, which left me shocked and appalled. I'd say it was perhaps due to not using literary adaptations, but another of my favorite's 10 Things I Hate About You was on the list, and that is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, so still I sit shocked and appalled.

Todd loves this movie by the way. Less for the romance, though he can appreciate a kiss after months and months of sexual tension as well as any female can, and far, far more for the celver dialogue or as he puts it, insulting the shit out of someone all while sounding very elegant. It's also why Alan Rickman's Snape is his favorite Harry Potter character.

This particular adaptation is an exquisite and very thorough companion to Austen's novel. And hello, Colin Firth! The chemistry between Firth and Jennifer Ehle is a masterpiece, and silly old Bingley is adorbs as can be. Men will enjoy Mr. Bennett's dry and witty criticisms of Mrs. Bennett, and will enjoy the fact that they are not married to Mrs. Bennett. Everyone will laugh at Lady Katherine De Berg.

Moonstruck

I love, love, love this movie. There is not only hilarious dialogue, but beautiful, poignant dialogue.

Funny:
"A bride without a head!"
"A wolf without a foot!"

Beautiful:
"... like moonlight in a martini."

Funny AND beautiful:
"I see a wolf in everybody and I see a wolf in you."
"Yeah, well you know what I see in you?"
"Wha?!"
"The girl I married."
::smooch::

There are so many little storylines going on here, but the most central to the movie is of course the love blossoming between Loretta and her fiance Cosmo's brother Ronny. But what I love about this movie is that it's not two hard-bodied gym rats taking their clothes off and finding chemistry out of absolutely nowhere (Hello, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days). There is more tenderness and love and romance in the scene where two old married kids, wrinkled and grey, get a little frisky in the bedroom, and the moonlight, while they remember themselves as young lovers, than there is in many of the contemporary romantic comedies out today. It's actually giving me goosebumps, remembering that particular scene. This is not some vapid movie for women who just want the two protagonists to get together, not in my opinion anyway. This is a love story that revels in new relationships and old ones, happy unions and troubled ones. And it's also hilarious.


It Happened One Night

I knew Todd would love old black and white movies because he is an old-fashioned kind of guy, but it's taken some time. We both adored IHON, however, and for that reason it goes up on the list. Talk about witty dialogue!

"Shapely's my name, and that's how I like 'em."

Ha! Plus, this movie has Clark Gable in it! It's sort of like Roman Holiday in that there's a rich girl and a reporter here. But the hijinx of Ellie and Peter are a little more kooky, including a charmingly funny hitch hiking scene (back when that shit was still safe I guess). It's a sweet little movie, men and women alike will enjoy the old school dialogue and wit, and once you see it you can see where a lot of other movies might have gotten the idea, sort of like...

French Kiss

Now, Kate is not a rich heiress and Luc is not a reporter, but she's on her own little mission and he's there to take advantage of the situation, until... Well, you know what will likely happen. Love! Amour! Le Romance!

I love, love, love this movie, and honestly, no offense to Meg Ryan who, as we know, is a Romantic Comedy alum, but I think this movie is made by Kevin Kline as the swarthy Frenchman Luc. And of course, his and Ryan's chemistry is absoltuely wonderful to watch. But there is such funny dialogue, too. Add in a great soundtrack and the amazing backdrop of Paris and the French countryside and Riveria and you're hooked.

Roxanne

Here's another one that is absolutely sold on the man's performance. Based on the play Cyrano de Bergerac, this movie is a tale of a man with a huge nose who falls for the prettiest gal in town, Roxanne who also happens to be, get this, a goddamn rocket scientist. Anyways, she is played by the lovely Daryl Hannah, and she is played well, but come on, when the main man is Steve Martin? You can't hold a candle.

Anyways, he's CD, the fire chief in a small town (get it with the initials of his name?) , and he is in love with Roxanne, but is too chicken to tell her, and too self concsious of his shnoz. So when she falls for the super hunky Chris, played by I Don't Care Who, who also happens to be completely inept with women, CD decides he can pour out his love in steamy, sexy, intelligent letters that he will write on behalf of Chris. Why, yes, mayhem does ensue.

Roman Holiday

Oh, this movie!! I saw this awhile back and don't remember too, too much of it, but Audrey Hepburn is a fed up princess who runs away from her duties while in Rome in order to get a chance to be a normal person. Gregory Peck plays the reporter, hot on her trail for a great story about a good girl gone MIA. Guess what happens? With these two amazing actors and a cute plot, plus the Rome of yesteryear (not BC, I mean like when they like, had black and white movies, like), it's charming, funny, and a little bittersweet.

Princess Bride

This is probably the one movie in this post that needs no introduction, explanation or justification for being billed a Kick Ass Romantic Comedy. This movie is one love story that no man complains about, because it is so fucking awesome. Enough said.

10 Things I Hate About You

"There's a difference between like and love. I like my Skecher sneakers, but I love my Prada backpack."

"But I love my Skecher sneakers."

"That's because you don't have a Prada backpack."

This movie is chock full of one liners and hilarity. It was actually difficult picking just one. I love so many members of this cast and not just because they're all so pretty. As I said before, this movie is based on Shakespeare's Taming Of The Shrew, and it's an excellent adaptation. Smart, funny and adorable, it's one of the first romantic comedies that I thrust upon Todd and he loved it enough to say, once it was over, "So, some of these chick flicks aren't so bad. What else do you have?" 

And I died.

When Harry Met Sally



I'm sorry, but this movie is king. It's the ultimate rom com. Unlike a lot of movies out there, it has a message about relationships between men and women and whether or not you agree with that message, you still have to admit that the movie does a great job of arguing the case. Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are absolute perfection. The way they personify the male and female perspective is honest and realistic and you feel for each of them, sympathize with their individual struggles. They're also so incredibly funny. Watching their journeys, both together and separately, is an absolute joy. To me, this movie is the pinnacle of romantic comedies, and it achieves what they all set out to do, what so many fail to do. Well done, Rob Reiner. Well done.