Tinseltown Tuesday: Crazy Heart

The endless road of drunken nights and shattered dreams, traveled in so many country songs and movies, is good for one more trip in Crazy Heart.  Playing a washed-up music legend reduced to playing small-town bowling alleys, Jeff Bridges steals the show as a cowboy crooner wrestling with his demons in ways that charm an audience's sympathies.

At the outset, when seen bellying up to the bar in said bowling alley with his bushy gray beard, and hauling his heavy frame around on legs that seem on the verge of collapse, Bridges' Bad Blake momentarily triggers the image of an errant older brother of Dude in The Lebowski. While Crazy Heart isn't quite the timeless classic Lebowski is, Bridges playing the perennially soused is, once again, award-worthy.

 

He's a man with a blurry past, even if its one that closely skirts generic norms. Licing "up" to the rugged country singer ways of the old, Blake's had several wives and a slew of women, a son he hasn't seen in years, and a relationship with a young protege - current country sensation Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrel) - the one subject he refuses to speak of when interviewed by young New Mexico writer Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

Adapting a novel by Thomas Cobb, debuting director Scott Cooper sets the tale in a recognizable Southwest that's a touch more modern than your stereotypical rural town. Plotwise, there's nothing entirely surprising; more smitten with Jen than he might have imagined, Blake tries to build the relationship, but he soon hits a wall on several fronts.

The roughly 30-year age difference raises some eyebrows, but Gyllenhaal makes it clear that Jean takes the plunge with Blake of her own volition. Further, it takes a minute to adjust to Colin Farrell portraying a country sensation, but he quickly convinces by playing against all expectations. However, these are mere foils for Bridges' performance, which proves his place as one of Hollywood's great old pros, incapable of making a false move.

My Rating: a "must-see"

Content taken from Variety

It's the Small Things...

Halle-freaking-lujah! Girl scout cookie season is finally upon us! I pulled up to our local grocer this week and was thrilled to find a group of girlies out front selling all of my preferred flavors (well almost). I bought a box of Peanut Butter Patties for myself and Thin Mints for the hubby! Unfortunately, they were already sold out of our favorite Caramel Delights. Tear.. :( But... I was promised there would be LOTS more to come! Hooray!

Enjoy the remainder of the weekend and go support your local girl scouts!

Dating 101: The Boy Does the Asking

When I became single, everyone and their dog suddenly had "the perfect guy" to set me up with. Don't get me wrong, I HEART this! It's so much easier than having to get my own dates. Also, my dating experiences have made for some extremely humorous stories. I thought I'd share one with you today.

One of my dear friends and roomies from college, KEP, wanted to set me up with a friend of hers. We can call him Boy. KEP lives in Austin, but was in town to celebrate a friend's birthday. When I arrived at dinner, I met Boy for the first time. As we sat down, I tried to engage him in playful conversation, but he seemed tongue-tied. I completely understand this and thus didn't hold it against him. When I first meet people, I either overtalk or become mute - I probably implemented the former in this situation. However, as the night progressed, I found him to be a super nice guy, but the chemistry didn't really develop. Consequently, I didn't think I would ever hear from him again.

About a week later, he called and asked to meet up for drinks after work. We went to Benjy's for cocktails and appetizers and had a great time. (plug for benjy's pinnapple champage cocktail...its to die for). This surprised me after our first meeting, but hey - I'm game. For our next date, he took me to dinner at a great new restaurant in The Heights. The conversation flowed, we had many things in common, and he made me laugh. Laughter is key for me. The attraction wasn't amazing, but it was a great date nonetheless. I had no doubt there would be another - he even mentioned "our next date."

I never heard from him....but here's the clencher.

I ran into Boy at a party about a week later and he says, "Hey stranger, where ya been - I never heard from you." As the conversation progressed, I learned he expected me to call him. Direct quote from Boy: "I asked you out twice, I figured it was your turn to ask me." WHAT??? My mama taught me right....no calling boys. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but when dating someone - I want him to do the calling and asking, at least in the beginning. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this way of thinking. Don't get me wrong, texting is fine and I did my (appropriate) fair share to let Boy know I was interested.

Oh, and lest I forget to add, Boy is 31. This is not his first dating rodeo.

Anywho...the conversation at the party escalated into a bit of an argument (very wierd). After this, I felt 100% sure I would not be going out with him again. Honestly, this was fine with me. I had no desire to continue dating after being semi-yelled at by him. A guy who so adamently demands to be asked out is not exactly my cup o' tea. Sidenote: he was wearing acid washed jeans. Welcome to the 21st century! I think we can all agree: acid washed for men is a big fashion "don't."

Let's use our heads, gentlemen. Girls don't ask boys out. Any guy requiring this should re-think his expectations.

Next, please!

Battle of the Sexes: Furniture

This past November, the hub and I jumped on the new homeownership bandwagon and purchased our very first home. Honestly, I was a tad worried when we first started searching that we wouldn't agree on basic requirements: location, size, etc. But...I was completely wrong. From number of bedrooms to neighborhoods, we were totally insync. The perfect house came along rather quickly and before we knew it, it was moving day. We had amazing luck and didn't encounter any of the nightmarish scenarios that often accompany purchasing a home.

But alas, life can't run THAT smoothly, can it? Once all the boxes were unpacked and the dust settled, it became clear we were sorely lacking in the furniture department. You see, we moved from a 2/2 apartment with one living space to a 3/2 house with two living and two dining spaces. This equals insufficient furniture in my mind!

I brought this to Mr. Rabbit's attention and he responded, quite confidently I might add, that he viewed our new open living situation as, "more space for the dogs to run around." I love my dogs to death, but no.....our home was not going to double as a doggie playground.

When broaching the idea of new furniture to fill the empty void that was now our living room, he suggested getting "nice" folding chairs and plastic bins with drawers. The man is efficient, I'll give him that. Obviously, this was not an acceptable compromise pour moi (if you can even call plastic furniture a compromise).

Luckily, for the sake of our marriage, my parents offered to buy us a new couch as part of a belated wedding present. Soooo on Tuesday, our FABULOSO new couch arrived to go along with our (previously purchased, non-plastic) new chairs. I'm totally in love with it and can't wait to find some equally wonderful accessories to compliment it. My husband's response: "I guess I understand why we need furniture there but I really liked how open it all was."

Baby steps people, baby steps.

Handcrafted sofa with hardwood frame and shiny bronze fabric

27 of Life's Small Pleasures

1. Email chains with friends that go back and forth all day
2. Peanut butter on a spoon
3. Naps where you wake up with creases on your face
4. Having someone write on your Facebook wall
5. The most comfortably perfect pillow
6. Mail addressed to me thats not bills or junk
7. Not immediately ruining a manicure
8. A perfectly fitting pair of jeans
9. Drinking outside on a gorgeous day
10. Re-watching my favorite movie
11. A good bread basket (with olive oil!)
12. Exclaimation points!!
13. Leaving the mall with multiple shopping bags...success
14. Long lunches
15. Singing in the car
16. Mixing the sugar and lemon in my iced tea juuuuust right
17. Summer sundresses
18. Having my dog curl up right next to me
19. Finishing a great book and wishing it wasn't over
20. Consciously throwing calories to the wind
21. Laughing uncontrollably when you're supposed to be quiet
22. Writing with an exciting colored pen at work
23. Fizzy cocktails
24. Reading gossip magazines in the sun
25. Crying happy tears in a movie
26. A really soft tshirt
27. Driving with the window down

Tinseltown Tuesdays: "Valentine's Day"

I saw this movie last night with my girlfriends. In some ways I agree with the critics; however, I did find the film amusing and entertaining. Sometimes, there is nothing better than a mindless chick-flick after a busy work day. "Valentine's Day," in my opinion, was exactly that. It has fluffy and over-crowded parts, but overall I enjoyed it. Not every movie can amount to Oscar status.

P.S. the guys in this movie are deeee-licious!

My rating:

Who Loved It?

Honestly, I couldn't find a single positive review other than for individual actors.

"Swift makes the most of her limited screentime and is--quite unsurprisingly--a dynamic screen presence whom the camera clearly adores. You might think of her extended cameo as a high-profile, low-pressure screentest for bigger and better roles, and she passes with flying colors." -CMT News

"Emma Roberts (Julia's niece) handles her role as a teen grappling with her sexuality with convincing, understated grace." - The Washington Post

Who Hated It? (mostly everyone!)

While Valentine's Day is allegedly the busiest time of the year for the delivery of mush messages and corny love trinkets all around town, the same should never be the case in a movie. Hyperactively busy in the extreme while negotiating endless crisscross plot lines between way too cute celeb cameos that include geriatric infidelity. Worse, Garry Marshall's Valentine's Day is skits-ophrenic moviemaking when less would have indeed been much more.

In other words, where does one begin. It's Valentine's Day morning in LA, and shy guy florist deliveryman Reed (Kutcher) wakes up extra early to propose marriage to ambivalent girlfriend Morley (Jessica Alba), who seems more attached to her blackberry. Literally. Which means Reed has to figure out just how to pry her fingers loose from the addictive gadget in order to find that spare finger for his engagement ring.

While on another side of town, anxious television news anchor Kelvin (Jaime Foxx) has just been demoted to puff piece patrol to sniff out human interest holiday stories. And which Kelvin needs to wrap up, before jogging over to a press conference at which a famous athlete will announce he's gay.

Elsewhere, giddy grade school teacher Julia (Jennifer Garner), who is otherwise fairly luckless in romance, daydreams between classroom lessons about her current surprise requited crush on a possibly too good to be true affectionate physician (Dempsey). This while a more sensible and stern army captain (Julia Roberts) shares a phiosophical plan ride with a mysterious tranger...who will actually get to have the last word in wrapping up these overly crowded scenarios. The movie seems less like a smoothly paced script than a rush hour traffic jam.

Oh, but there's more. Also getting in on the act for some dubious comic relief, is Jessica Biel as a thoroughly unconvincing sad sack who can't get a date. As a frantic Anne Hathaway appears to be revisiting her presecuted workplace drudge in The Devil Wears Prada, with Queen Latifah seemingly preempting Meryl Streep this time around.

And while Hathaway moonlights on the sly during work hours as a phone sex operator to make ends meet and pay for her health insurance, her dirty talk is so lame PG that the actual phone sex industry may end up losing business. Though Queen Latifah's boss from hell secretive impluse to move in and take over Hathaway's seductive operation with virtual bullwhip in hand, couldn't be funnier and saves this collaborative mayhem from looming movie overkill.

substance taken from http://newsblaze.com

A Very Merry Mardi Gras!

As a HUGE fan of Nola, I can't let today pass without wishing everyone a very merry Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday for those of us who don't speak French! So grab some friends, head to your nearest Cajun or Creole restaurant, and have yourself a hurricane (or four) along with some jambalaya, seafood gumbo or crawfish etouffee in celebration of this great tradition and ville magnifique! (Photo: E, Lucy and I enjoying hurricanes on-the-go in Nola)

Vday Update

The day started ordinarily enough… we went to brunch (which we do religiously every weekend morning/afternoon-ish), we nursed our hangovers, and once we got to feeling normal again, we played some tennis.

I will preface by saying that the hub and I are not fans of going out to dinner on Valentine’s Day. We don’t so much enjoy the fixed menus and couple-y type meals that tend to plague restaurants on the actual Vday. We tried this once at our favorite restaurant and the food was not nearly as yummy as it usually is... BUT Mr. Rabbit took extra care to make it a special evening at home.

He began by preparing a lovely little bubble bath for me while he made dinner, complete with wine and a wonderful cheese plate. He cooked steak with baked potatoes and lemon broccoli, which we enjoyed with bubbly and of course, a little romantic candlelight. He sent me flowers (from an actual florist this time)! Hooray! He made brownies and bought me chocolate covered strawberries. Double hooray! He ordered the Blu Ray DVD of Pride and Prejudice (my fave movie of all time which just happened to be recently released on Blu Ray) and then even had the patience to watch it with me! This last bit may not seem all that impressive to the average bear, but he has seen this movie no less than 15 times. Of course, I have also watched The Dark Knight with him around the same number of times… so we may be even on that front.

All in all, a great day spent with a great guy.

P.S. – For all two of our followers, he didn’t leave empty handed. I promise!

P.S.S – Anyone needing a good chocolate fix, please come by and pry these brownies out of my hands… I do not need an entire pan of brownies sitting around, beckoning me to devour them.

Love, Me

Ooh Valentine's Day. As Hallmark fabricated as it may be, I adore this holiday. Its not so much that I expect grand romantic gestures, but more the giddiness of the whole day - complete with all the chocolates I can consume (which is probably the source of my giddiness). And, who doesn't love a good prix fixe meal? Dessert included? Yes please!

I think its fairly accurate to say most girls love Valentines Day. Or, at least enjoy being told they are adored and admired by someone they care for. If you're not one of these people, perhaps you're simply not admitting it, all the while secretly wishing someone special would send flowers or a sweet card.

I remember the V-Day when I was a senior in high school. My sister was on the couch with her Dominos pizza while I primped to go out with my "very serious" high school boyfriend. I told her, with all the authority of a 17 year old, "You're single. This holiday doesn't really apply to you." Talk about arrogant big sister moments! I'm not sure she's ever fully forgiven me for so candidly pointing out her singleness. Sorry Squirt!

Earlier this week, I was beginning to feel the karma of that particular comment. This year, the holiday "doesn't apply" to me. No doubt about it, I would love to be wooed with flowers and a box of chocolates or maybe some sort of sour gummy candy, but alas I will settle for a card from Dad. (which I always love, don't get me wrong!)

I dutifully sent cards to all my friends and family members, but quite frankly- I'm not feeling the "love." While this was moderately depressing at first, I think I've gained a new perspective. Instead of wishing for someone else to say "Be Mine," I am saying "Love, Me." I intend on doing this in the form of a good bottle of wine, my own pizza, a girly movie, and a freezer full of frozen mini-Snickers. Who's jealous?

I feel peachy about this. I realized, I am happy just to be happy. I have amazing friends, a loving family, a job that pays, and some fabulous shoes to cap it all off. Its a warming thing to look up one day and find that right now, life is simply good. Other than the occasional lonely moment that comes with being single, I am perfectly content - flowers and chocolate be damned. There's no doubt Mr. Right will come along soon, but until I find him, it's just me and my wine.

Happy Valentine's Day to ME, from ME!!

Hallmark, where's your card for that?

His and Hers Valentines

If it were solely up to me, I would go all out for Valentine’s Day. I would hop on a plane to Italy, rent a room with a beautiful view and drink copious amounts of Perrier Jouet. If only our bank account would allow for it… oh yeah, and the not so small factor of my husband.

My better half, on the other hand, thinks Valentine’s Day is the best marketing ploy ever conceived. Every year he argues that he prefers to show his love for me on a daily basis and doesn’t need a “stupid fabricated holiday” to do so… I think this is half his true opinion and half his way of telling me to keep my expectations in the zone of reality instead of in a Candyland dream world. And if I’m trying REEEEALLY hard to be fair, I guess I can kind of see his point.

The other half of me; however, wants to scream into his ear with a megaphone, “YOU’RE A ROMANCE COPOUT!” I have to say, while in theory, he makes a good argument, it has pretty much lost all credibility with me… especially considering our past two V-days consisted of 1) an e-card (that year my expectations were way up in the clouds, so you can imagine my disappointment) and 2) a bouquet of brightly colored carnations he bought as an afterthought at Kroger on his way home from work. I think it’s safe to say that Valentine’s Day is not my hub’s finest moment.

Although I would've been thrilled had Mr. Rabbit put in a bit more thought and effort into our past Valentine’s Day celebrations, I have to say both attempts are SOOOO my husband. And, I can’t help but love him for his complete and utter clueless-ness sometimes. It makes me laugh just thinking about how a man can be so pleased with himself upon sending his girlfriend (at the time) an e-card.

Despite his lackluster performance on Valentine’s Day, he can actually be pretty thoughtful on other occasions…. like annual pumpkin carving parties, unexpected trips to NOLA (my fave city in the US) and scavenger hunts on Christmas Day. So this year, instead of lusting over fantasy vacations, I look forward to what he’ll “surprise” me with down here in the realm of reality.

To my lovely Hub: I’m so glad I’ve found someone who not only embraces my silliness but participates whole-heartedly. Love you mucho, Mrs. Rabbit

Hurray for MJ!

A great big THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Mary Jacqueline for helping us create our blog layout. You should've seen it when we first started.....es not pretty! She put up with all 900 of our requests with a smile. We love you MJ!!!