Borrowing a Movie from Japan

Got a text from a friend saying they were going to see this movie on President's Day. When I told Eric he said he had been wanting to see it and he thought the kids would like it too. So we decided to go! 

'The Secret World of Arrietty' is a retelling of 'The Borrowers' and  is an animated film from a Japanese director so it has that 'Voltron' look.

Some background: Our kids have only seen 2 movies in the theater (Toy Story 3 and Cars 2). At home, we hardly ever watch a whole movie in one sitting and pretty much NEVER on the first viewing. They get restless; they ask to turn it off. In the theater Everett said 'This is REALLY long!' and Evie said 'I'm getting tired'. But, they both made it through.

And they both gave it a 'I liked it'. I think Evie liked it because she said the borrowers were like fairies! :) And if it hadn't been for the cat I'm not sure Everett would have made it the last 30 minutes. (He LOVES cats).

The adults agreed on the word 'slow' as our overall impression. But, it is very beautiful and COMPLETELY appropriate for kiddos. It is rated G which is just about unheard of these days!

Confession: Eric and I already LOVE this animator/director. His name is Hiromasa Yonebayashi, famous for movies such as 'Howl's Moving Castle', 'Spirited Away' and 'Princess Mononoke' (All of which we have seen and enjoyed). I have my sister Kacie to thank for recommending him to us long ago. We really enjoy this style movie. 

I think the 'slow' comes from the fact that there are often large gaps without dialogue. However, it reminds me of reading a book. When you leave out dialogue it's as if you can communicate all the description and landscape of the movie and it really gives it a peaceful, calming effect. We are just not used to this in our movies. But, maybe we should GET used to it. It is a wonderful type of movie experience.

Check it out. And take the kids!

Photo credit here

I am Superman?

I think I just watched Superman. Except he was blond and so was Lois Lane and it was called 'I Am Number Four'.

This movie was a nice balance of drama and action and the fight scenes, really all the effects, were FANtastic (shout out to Kacie!).

I am starting to understand how the Brits must have felt when Renee played their Bridget Jones. I keep watching the behind the scenes stuff and being SHOCKED that these dudes, Alex Pettyfer in this case, are Brits. This was my first exposure to Pettyfer and he struck me as a young Henry Cavill. I actually think this guy would have made a better Edward than Rob (if you don't get this sentence, believe me, you DON'T want to).

Dianna Agron plays the same character she always plays in everything *yawn*. But she does the part well (as she should by now!). She's so pretty-- but I am just about over her already.

Speaking of the blonds--LOVE LOVE LOVE number six! Teresa Palmer rocked her part. I even enjoyed watching the extras where she talks about her training to do the stunts.

And people (channelling Tim Gunn here), let's find a role for Timothy Olyphant. He needs a movie of his own. Whatever Matt Damon or Nicholas Cage is up for next, give it to this guy. I think he needs more screen time.

I would be remiss not to mention that this is based on a book by Pittacus Lore. A book I have not read. It's on the list-- but it was too far down and I had the movie from the library so I just went ahead and watched it. Well, I may NOT go back and read this one, but I do think I will pick up #2 in the series sometime soon and go from there.....they've got me curious now!

Bottom Line: Recommended for date night. Romance for the girls. Action and hot chicks for the guys.

Google, can I borrow an egg?

I'm sure it has happened to you. You start dumping ingredients into bowls and half way thru you discover something is missing. Something important, like....the eggs. Your eyes pop open as you start to remember that you used the last egg in some other way. But you STILL go to the fridge. You still look to see if by SOME chance you remember wrong. Alas, no eggs. That's what happened to me. Right in the middle of our weekly cookie day.

But no fear, I will simply borrow one from a neighbor. Oh wait, we don't talk to neighbors these days. We don't borrow cups of sugar anymore. Because THIS is the internet age and we only have virtual friends. We don't have to actually talk to anyone ever again in person! I can't even strike up a conversation about the book I see someone reading at the airport anymore because everyone has a Kindle, ya know what I mean?!?!

Oh, wait, we were talking about eggs & cookies. Right. So, anyway, what I did was Google it. Because if Google doesn't know then NO ONE knows right? I'd like to meet that Google dude. I guess he is a computer like in WarGames. Well, if that computer could be friends with Matthew Broderick then maybe Google could be friends with me!

Eggs.....RIGHT......so I found out that you can replace an egg LOTS of ways. I chose this one: 3 Tablespoons water and 1 Tablespoon Cornstarch for each egg. It worked great! I thought the consistency was gonna be a bit off but by the time the whole recipe was put together they were perfect!

So, I hope this helps you if you ever find yourself needing an egg halfway thru a recipe. Now you know that my friend Google will help you out. Tell Google I sent you and that I say hello!

Photo credit here

While the Cat is Away

Eric was out for the evening and so I had some time to kill....ok, I wanted to watch something I KNEW he would mock: Abduction (aka 'that movie with the Twilight guy'). He was already mocking ME for even wanting to watch it. He said I wasted a $1.20 to rent it at Redbox.

Rotten Tomatoes gave this movie a rating of 4%. But, you may already know, I KINDA have a Jacob obsession. Needless to say, I went into this with just about the lowest expectations possible.

However, lo and behold, this was actually a pretty good movie. If you squint your eyes you can see a young Tom Cruise playing a 'Matt Damon in the Bourne series' type character. I have to say I'm not really sure why this movie didn't do better. It has alot of the elements of any thriller franchise. The cast is ALL substantial: Maria Bello, Sigourney Weaver, it goes on and on like that. I felt the adrenaline in the chases, the frustration of the characters trying to figure things out, and the romance was believeable (and I could NOT say that for Bourne, btw!).

Now, given, it does start off like a version of Footloose, or any teen drama where the scenes scream 'here is where we are establishing the characters folks so pay attention!!'. And clearly, they are using all the things Jacob  *ahem* I mean, Taylor, is already known for to launch him. But, I thought he carried it. The love interest was a cutie, hope we see more of her. I think she could have possibly pulled off Katniss in Hunger Games.

Sure it wasn't a 90% movie, but 4%??, I think some people are down on my boy Jacob *ahem*, Taylor. If anything I am the one who should be jaded by all my YA romance/sci-fi books. I admit, you HAVE seen this movie before (see: the oft mentioned Bourne franchise) but that's no reason to toss it in the dumpster. I mean it seems like every movie OUT there is a remake. I say, give it a shot. You know, if you like Jacob...darn it, I mean TAYLOR! :D

Photo credit here

Lukewarm

So, here are some books I do NOT recommend. I'm not saying they are bad. In fact, most would say they are good (if not great). There was nothing disturbing or vulgar in any of them. Their fault was that they were lukewarm. They were interesting but in most cases I can think of an author who does it better. I do not regret reading them. I just wouldn't again and I certainly would not say 'read THIS one' to anyone. Please feel free to disagree with me.

 The first two are book club books. 'Major Pettigrew's Last Stand' is a TERRIBLE book for a book club. The problem: everyone liked it. This makes for a very UNinteresting meeting. Why I didn't love it. I think Maeve Binchy writes this type of 'love at any age' story with a much better pen. Recommend: Maeve Binchy's Evening Class

We all agreed that it was a bit hard for us to understand what exactly made my second book on the list, 'The Maltese Falcon', a classic. Perhaps it was groundbreaking at the time. However, we all agreed we have seen this story done better and certainly so many times over that this book seemed like a cliche. I will say: The guys LOVED it! Hahahahahha. Recommended: Just watch the movie. It's pretty much straight word for word from the book.

I have actually met the author of my next book (Sue Grafton) and I have read from A to V (so far) in her series. Despite this review, I have no intention of stopping now. This installment, V is for Vengeance, seems like something that could have been a draft and should have been left aside. The whole book had me wondering what the point was. I just thought it felt unnecessary. Recommended: Just skip this one.

And finally, Incarceron by Catherine Fisher. This book has a sequel called Sapphique and I admit (proudly wearing my Team Jacob necklace) that I picked it up in my post BD part 1 hangover. (Breaking Dawn for the non-Twihards). It was listed on IMDB.com as the next project for Taylor Lautner so I thought I would get a head start on reading the book. Well, I'm sorry to say. It COULD be good if 1) they combine both books together and 2) they get a decent screenwriter. As it stands it's very very very slow and I had a hard time finishing the first book. Honestly, the second book is better. So, it remains to be seen. Recommended: YA Hunger Games, or the Junior level Gregor Series both by Suzanne Collins

All Summer In a Day

Two days ago it rained and today is overcast and misty again. But yesterday, YESTERDAY was heavenly. A perfect spring day. The ground was still damp, the plants all seemed plumped up, and the trees just on the verge of bloom. The sun was coming in at that magical angle, not quite summer, and not still winter. In the sun, you were warm, in the shade you were cool. Gorgeous. My pup and I took a lovely mid-day walk and I got just a hint of a sunburn from my 30 minutes or so outside. I felt like blooming like the trees.

It reminded me of the first story that ever broke my heart. Ray Bradbury's short story: All Summer in a Day. I had had an emotional response to books and stories up to that point but I don't think I had ever been truly and deeply affected to this degree. It's horrible and beautiful. I remember wanting to stop, thinking 'make it stop' but you can't. You have to finish. I remember actually feeling like I wanted to go back to before I had ever heard this story, rip it out of my head. I wanted to yell at my teacher 'Take it back!'. I suppose that is actually the kind of thing every literature loving teacher wants to hear. That the person is changed by the story.

That reminded me of two books I wanted to tell you about that can be read IN a day! Ok, maybe YOU can't read it in a day because you actually don't neglect your children and family by saying things like 'uh huh, get whatever you want from the fridge....uh huh, you can watch a movie....no, I don't have anything planned for dinner' so you can keep reading. :)   I don't do that either *ahem* that is just....awwwww, I forgot Eric reads this....that's EXACTLY what I do.

Our first book up is 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry. a- MAZE-ing. And Hello, the layers, the applications, the messages. You are gonna want to read this book if you somehow missed it in school like I did. It was recommended to me by a great book friend. (Thanks DeeDee!) I understand this author wrote two other books that are loosly considered sequels. I have them on my 'to read' list. Just a word about the cover art. What is UP with that? Is that not the WORST? Why do they have to make it so bad? Who would just pick up this book while they were browsing the shelves. I almost put it back myself just based on the cover. I was like YUCK, what kind of book is this. Answer: Awesome! (guess that's where they get that whole 'don't judge a book by it's cover' eh?)

Second book is Divergent by Veronica Roth. This would be a recommendation for my fellow YA SciFi fans. It goes in the catagory 'if you liked Hunger Games.....'. There are alot of similarities and I can see where there will be some haters just on that score (even the cover art is like a total Hunger Games knock off) but alot of the story undertones are unique and the main character is definately worth getting to know in her own right. Pick it up!


Have you read any of these items? What's your take? I'd love to hear what YOU have to say!

Photo credit here, here, and here

Bread Queen Unseated

HELP! I have been the crowned bread queen around here forever. Who thinks they can just swoop in here and take it? How did this happen? Well, I will tell you! It's Jorge's fault!

Photo credit here

 My journey began about 2 years ago when I found Jorge Cruise's book and Amber's website. She chronicles her experience following the Belly Fat Cure. It was great! She had little how-to videos and food lists and lots of product reviews. She had done a great job of slow and steady weight loss and I felt after reading the book that this diet was FOR REAL!

I lost 20 pounds and kept all but 5 of that off over the 2 years. Jorge recommends low sugar and low carbs. It's actually pretty straightforward. The thing this really did was open my eyes to all the hidden sugar in our diet that I honestly had not considered or noticed. I changed over to alot of salty rather than sugary snacks and found that the kids actually felt/behaved better and they weren't missing a thing.

I, however, was struggling, not with the sugar, but the carbs. If I filled my house with healthy foods I didn't crave a cookie. I wanted toast! :) But, regardless of that I had made so many EASY and SIMPLE changes that the weight still came off if I stuck with it - which I did!

Photo credit here

Building on this theme I picked up a book by Jeff O'Connell. He has diabetes and he explores what diabetics should be eating (less or NO sugar and carbs) versus what all our doctors and health associations are telling them to eat (fruit, oats, whole grains) and why what is recommended just isn't working because it is the wrong information. We have ended up not only with poorly controlled diabetic all over the world but also with more and more total diabetics by following all of the 'healthy diet' recommendations our county endorses. It was an interesting read but I had already cut alot of sugar from my diet and that was not the struggle, it's those darn carbs!

Photo credit here

Which brings me to this book. A book I KNOW is the next step for me. It's a step I do NOT want to take. I love love love my carbs. I have cut them back, I have changed to 'better' ones (this will make more sense to you when you read in this book that there really AREN'T any 'better' ones). But I have resisted the work that needs to be done for me to continue on my healthy weight loss. That is to eliminate the gluten and replace it with vegetables and NON blood sugar raising carbs.

 *please hold while I let out a cry of pain at the thought* Alright, I am ok now.

Basically. I need to live like a diabetic celiac. Bummer! Now, I'm not actually sensitive in the sense that I have celiac (like my brother-in-law) so I can actually not worry about the whole contamination and 'getting a little bit here and there' thing. But we are still talking about a GIANT step for Tracie-kind here.

Photo credit here

The irony is that I have actually simply circled back to Jorge's amended or what I call 'step 2' Belly Fat Cure. See, he came out with this 'BFC Fast Track' just as I was stalling out on the weight loss and I didn't want to do it. Get ALL your carbs without grains?? I wanted to find another way. But, alas, my research has led me back where I started. It's what my mother always said: 'Eat your veggies'. I guess I have some salads to eat and some cooking to learn.

Have you read any of these books? Have you even heard of them? Are you gluten free? I'd love any pointers or recipes you love. And here's the big question---Is anyone going to join me? Besides Eric, of course! (Eric got suspicious when he saw the wheat belly book and said 'Uh oh, what are we doing NOW?)

Chronicle of a Valentine's Day

Photo credit here

I had a REAL fear that this movie was going to be disturbing and scary and leave me with nightmares. But Eric wanted to go and it got a good Rotten Tomatoes rating (which most true horror movies don't) so I was game. *No Spoilers in this*

What little we had heard before we went was true. It's kind of a concentrated version of Heros Season 1 with camera work done by the folks who did Blair Witch Project. Ok, it's not THAT bad (hahahahaha, I have motion sickness and couldn't even make it thru a half hour of blair witch and this didn't bother me at all). Eric tells me this video style is called 'found footage' if that helps you- just alot of unclean edits.
We agreed that the special effects could have really taken away from the movie, breaking the spell the movie was casting, but they REALLY did not. It was all very seamless. I think this movie poster really sums up the visual feel of the film- a bit desaturated.

Now, the soundtrack, I imagine, would lead you to believe that this WAS a horror movie, alot of really disturbing noise and anxiety producing sounds. But, it works within the movie and you don't really notice the background outright until the credits start to roll.

This movie is a great date movie as long as you can go to dinner or take a quiet ride home afterward and really get into the plot, the characters, and the messages in the movie. LOTS to discuss. It gave me the feel of having just finished a really good book and you don't just want to say to someone 'read this' you want to say to them 'CALL ME when you finish this so we can talk about it!'.

Maybe not what YOU are going to see for Valentine's Day....but it worked for us! :)

Big Love and a Big Question

When I first noticed Big Love I admit that my primary reason for picking it up was as guilty pleasure. I was intrigued. I have a love/hate relationship with Bill Paxton. He plays characters I don't really like. But, he infuses them with such passion that I am always getting caught up in them. The other thing it had going for it was that I have always liked Tom Cruise's wife from The Firm movie (I can NEVER remember her name) and I thought it was an interesting project for her to choose. I pretty much had no idea who the other two wives were played by (at the time) but as soon as I watched an episode or two I was hooked. Should have know Bill would suck me in :D 

What appealed to me, deep down, is that I have an obsession with odd behavior. Particularly behavior people feel they have to hide. I think I want to understand it. And I like to get it from the source-- I prefer a first person account. Eric turned to me at the end of an episode and with sincerity asked 'WHY do you want to watch this?' In an instant I knew I had heard this same question with the same deep level of sincere concern from my mother years ago. See, as a teen I used to read as many books on bulimia and anorexia as I could get my hands on. Again, first hand accounts. Much to the confusion of my mother. I think she thought I was actually doing research on how to do it and how to hide it! I wasn't!! But, I can totally see why she thought this and I can only imagine how her imagination must have been running away. 

So, while waiting for Big Love's Final Season to come to video, (I should mention here we don't have cable) I had a trial membership to Netflix (side note: LOVE Netflix instant streaming! LOVE it!) and my sister mentioned a show called Sister Wives to me. Now, HERE was a first person account. A TRUE version of Big Love. I didn't think that would ever happen except maybe on 20/20. WOW, I really can't believe they got them to agree to do this because, you know, it's illegal and they are on TV blatantly doing it. Crazy. 

So, to answer Eric's question: Firstly, to me bigamy is interesting to look at especially for the Christian. I mean it's all over the place in the Old Testament. I find it odd that we are SO opposed to it now like we can't imagine people would have EVER participated in it. It almost strikes me as if we are distancing ourselves from it. Like slavery, or Nazi Germany. I mean, granted that is WAY back compared to those events, but it's still a part of our history. It's in the BIBLE people.  

Secondly, it seems to me the marriage equivalent to Socialism. A beautiful theory that couldn't quite play out. It SHOULD work. It SHOULD be more efficient.The wife who wants to work can have children and go to her job knowing they are loved and cared for. The wife who wants to have alot of babies around her all the time can do just that. But, human emotions get in the way. For Socialism, it was greed and competitiveness. For bigamy, jealousy and self-doubt begin to creep in. 

I think it's interesting. I like to study it. I don't want to try it (so don't get any ideas Eric!). But, that's how my mind works. I like to play with ideas and then just move on. I truly believe that it's ok to look into something that may be dangerous or unhealthy. I am like a spelunker, tethering myself to the truth while I take my rope and venture into the unknown. But, I don't cut the rope and stay in the dark cave-- I follow my rope back out.  Not all who wander are lost. 

Let me know your thoughts. Do you watch these shows? Did you read about bulimia and anorexia as a kid and freak out your parents? Do you have deep social implication thoughts about what is supposed to be mindless escape tv? Or is that just me? :D 

Photo Credit here and here

One for the Money worth MY money

I get book recommendations from LOTS of great book friends (you know who you are) but the greatest influence on my love of reading HAS to be my mom. :)

I am so thankful that I can think of many moments growing up that I found both my parents' current reads laying around the house. I can recall seeing them excited to discover a new author or a new book by an author they already loved. I hope my kids see the same things in me. I have a hunch it's already happening.

Anyway, one day my mom told me about a fun book series that was making her laugh out loud (periodically scaring my dad half to death). She said the first book was One For The Money by Janet Evanovich. Well, I dove right in and became a fan. Before long I was constantly awaiting the newest in the series when.....what's this?.....they are gonna make a movie of the first book? OH YEAH! That is gonna be SO awesome! That's what I thought and then I saw the cast. Hmmmm....not what I was thinking...at...all (Don't you hate that feeling?)

Fast forward to last week: Thru a series of unfortunate events (another series reference...did you catch that?) my mom was here in Pearland with me AND we were free of children mid-day AND both in definite need of some escape from reality. To make the whole 'stars are aligned in our favor' thing MORE incredible, the movie was playing at my favorite theater in the next 30 minutes and would get us out in time to pick up the boy at MDO. WHAT???? YES!! You are not even gonna believe that on top of all this the price for the movie?.....wait for it....$3. I am SO not kidding.

Review: It was great! I even liked the cast! It was a perfectly silly, happy, fun movie experience. Which is exactly how I would describe the books by the way. These are not the books you pick up to solve a serious mystery. You pick them up to take a break and laugh at someone being worse at her job than you are at yours.

I don't know if you would feel the way I do about the the movie if you had NOT read the book. You tell me! Leave a comment with your own review of the books OR the movie.

Hello 2012 & Glazed Donut Muffins

Well HELLO!

 I don't know if anyone is still out there reading this little old blog but I am back. Where were you, Tracie? Well, I will confess...I have, let's say, a bit of trouble handling December due to my anxiety issues. Although, sadly, it took me a few YEARS to figure out what the root problem really was and get it under some sort of control. Each year is getting easier (at least in my opinion hahahahaha! I guess you would have to ask my husband and kids if it's really true). But, I feel that a year without overwhelming sadness, or an ER visit due to a migraine is progress and I will take it!

Well, Tracie, that's all fine, but, um......did you know it's February? Why, yes I did. Truth is, I need January to recover from December. Last year I needed till April to recover from December so I feel pretty good about only needing ONE month this year.

Now disclaimer here: You might wonder what the HECK goes on in December to mess me up so bad. You may think I have the family or the in-laws from HELL but let me assure you they are all the salt of the Earth and it just isn't so. What it boils down to is me. It wouldn't really matter WHAT happened to me in December. I just work myself up (not on purpose) and then FIND something to latch onto and freak out about. Some have suggested I get away from it all in December, skip Christmas, and just head for the islands. But, the truth is the problem with that plan is that my mind would still be there with me making me crazy over the weather, or the room, or a cocktail gone wrong or SOMETHING. I would FIND something. So, unless I can go away and leave ME here that plan won't work either :)

It's just the way I am. And I'm working on it. And that's all I can do. And of course blog about it. I can do THAT :D Hehehehehe. Aren't you glad I'm back?


MOVING ON :)

This post is supposed to be about my Glazed Donut Muffins. But, let me just clairify they are not MY Glazed Donut Muffins, they are from My Baking Addiction and I found them via Pinterest where they were MISlabeled 'Krispy Kreme Donut Muffins' (not by Ms. Baking Addiction, just by some random Pinterest-er).

My take: They ARE yummy! I followed Ms. Baking Addiction's instructions and they turned out just as she said they would all awesome and puffy! However, they are NOT like Krispy Kremes. They are like super fresh, moist, and tasty cake donuts with a glaze. I would definately make them for a breakfast or brunch. They are not too sweet but just sweet enough with the usual hearty and salty breakfast fare. (or in our case for a late night snack since I made them tonight for Sunday School class tomorrow).

I hope that if you NEVER wish to attempt making/frying up actual donuts at home (I have always thought 'WHY when there is Shipley's like EVERYWHERE??') then you will whip up a batch of THESE delightful muffins.

Pros: easy, no weird ingredients, feels like a dessert with being TOO sweet like a cupcake, and finally-- makes a  single 12 muffin batch so even if you go insane and eat them all the damage in minimized :)

Do you like my photo??? I am so pleased with it. This is the first time I have played around in Photoshop with one of my own photos and I really like it. (Please feel free to slather on the praise and encouragement)

I'll be seeing you soon...I mean I have like TWO months of stuff to talk about people!! :)