Sundance Day 2

We saw two movies on the second day of the festival, and they were very redeeming after our bad movie watching day previously. 

Manhunt
Documentary Category

Synopsis from Sundance Website-

On May 2, 2011, Osama bin Laden, America’s public enemy number one, was killed by Navy SEALs in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The raid, a watershed moment that gripped most of the world, lasted a mere 40 minutes. But the hunt for bin Laden took two decades.

The search began with a team of mostly female CIA analysts, known in intelligence circles as the Sisterhood. These women were trying to take down bin Laden before most of us even knew his name. Piecing together scraps of intelligence, they uncovered a secret terrorist organization, Al Qaeda, and warned Washington of this new impending threat. Their warnings were repeatedly ignored…until the 9/11 attacks, when all the rules changed.

MANHUNT unfolds like a thriller. Renowned filmmaker Greg Barker garners unfettered access to the inner circle of a clandestine war on terror and creates a riveting tale of espionage and the moral choices of war.

This was produced by HBO, so look for this to come out at their channel eventually. I would highly suggest this movie. Sometimes the confusing foreign names and places become a cluster, but this is beautifully pieced together so that it's easily understood. It was also neat watching this after watching Zero Dark Thirty because you are able to see some of the real life people behind the movie. 

After the movie had ended, the director and two ex-CIA members came up for a Q&A, and it was extremely interesting. One of the CIA members was a higher up in the counter-terrorism group who worked in the field in the Middle East for years while the other was an analyst who worked on tracking terrorists from CIA HQ. They both had some interesting perspectives on the thing, and let's just say that the counter terrorism guy has some different ideas on enhanced interrogations techniques than what you might see on CNN.

Afternoon Delight 

US Dramatic Category

Synopsis from Sundance Website-

Rachel is a quick-witted and lovable, yet tightly coiled, thirtysomething steeped in the creative class of Los Angeles’s bohemian, affluent Silver Lake neighborhood. Everything looks just right—chic modernist home, successful husband, adorable child, and a hipster wardrobe. So why is she going out of her gourd with ennui? Plagued by purposelessness, Rachel visits a strip club to spice up her marriage and ends up meeting McKenna, a stripper whom she becomes obsessed with saving. She decides to adopt McKenna as her live-in nanny, and this bold move unleashes unimagined and colorful waves of change into her life and community. It becomes clear that Rachel is feverishly, desperately trying to save her own sense of who she is.

In a perfect storm of hilarious writing, performance, and direction, first-timer Jill Soloway pinpoints the ambivalence of privileged, educated women seduced by an idealized vision of marriage and motherhood, yet deadened by the stultifying realities of preschool auctions, lackluster sex lives, and careers that have gone kaput. Afternoon Delight compassionately revels in the existential trials of a Peter Pan generation battling too many choices, resisting adulthood, and distractedly tapping their iPhones instead of tuning in to what matters.

This has not yet been picked up by a studio, but I definitely hope it gets picked up. Some of the parts were pretty raunchy, but overall, it was a hilarious and thought provoking movie. The dynamic between the down-on-her luck stripper and the upper middle class women in this movie was very interesting and hilarious at times. The interaction with some of these women's husbands got even more interesting and tense at times...and for all you "Glee" fans, Jane Lynch was hilarious as a therapist who tends to share too many personal experiences with her patients.

 

What I Wore....and some randoms

Yes, that is an ironing board behind me. I moved it and retook the pic, but I looked dumb. So you get to see my ironing board because I like to iron while watching tv. This is real life guys.

Gingham shirt: J.Crew

Sweater: Target

Skirt: Cabi

Shoes: Nine West

Necklace: Glamour Me Jewels

 I saw this on a car this weekend. Please tell me someone else thinks this is funny too.

Have you signed up for ebates yet? I forget to use it half the time, but in the past two months, I've earned over $15. That's not a huge amount of cash, but it's free money y'all. You sign up on their website, and next time you are shopping online, you go to the ebates website first. Search for the company you plan to buy from, and when you click the company name, a new window pops up with the website just as if you'd gone there yourself. When you check out, a percentage of your sale is credited to your account in ebates. They sent me this Target gift card too in addition to the money I've earned. Win-win!

 My sister sent this video to me, and I've died laughing every time I've watched it. Hope it makes you laugh just as hard!

Linking up with Shanna & The Pleated Poppy! 

Sundance Day 1

via

Breathe In
Premiere Category

Synopsis from Sundance website-

As summer turns to fall, music teacher Keith Reynolds privately reminisces about his days as a starving artist in the city. While his wife, Megan, and daughter, Lauren, look forward to Lauren’s final year of high school, Keith clings to those evenings he’s asked to sub as a cellist with a prestigious Manhattan symphony. When Megan decides the family should host foreign exchange student Sophie, the British high school senior soon rekindles an impetuous aspect of Keith’s personality.

Drake Doremus, winner of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Like Crazy, reunites with actress Felicity Jones and cowriter Ben York Jones for this passionate ensemble drama of family dysfunction. Ditching the hand-held aesthetic of his past works, Doremus conceives a grander story of love and heartache, only heightened by his lead character’s symphonic avocation, while maintaining his keen eye for intimate performance.

I didn't like this movie at all. It was extremely slow the majority of the movie, and you kept waiting for something to actually happen. The relationship between Sophie (exchange student) and Keith (the dad) made me feel weird and awkward. 

I was glad to see Entertainment Weekly agreed with my assessment and said it was one of their least favorite movies of the festival.

Nothing was mentioned in the movie about it getting picked up by a studio, so maybe you'll never be forced to sit through this awful movie. Consider yourself lucky.

After Breathe In, we were supposed to watch Mud, but this debacle happened. That movie was a no-go. 

 

Weekend Whirlwind

  This is seriously how I feel every Sunday afternoon. Where has the weekend gone??   Friday   For those that didn't know, Friday was National Margarita Day. As a coworker said, it would be unpatriotic not to celebrate, so we celebrated!        How cute is the Lilly Pulitzer picture that Mary Margaret found?! Made me long for a warm summer day!     Saturday   Rodney and I spent Saturday morning volunteering at a VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) site. It was interesting to say the least.  One lady waited until we were almost finished and about to walk out the door to let us know that she forgot to give us one of her W-2s, so we had to re-run her entire return.  Because of her, we didn't get to leave the facility until about 2 in the afternoon. We hadn't had anything to eat since 8, so I was about to pass out from lack of food.

We ate super late lunch at Young Avenue Deli in Midtown. I had never been before, but we will definitely be going back again! It was delicious!! The homemade french fries were to die for!  

I was supposed to go to my very first blogger meet up, but I ended up getting sick. I'm guessing it's because I ate so late and then ate a lot of food when I finally did eat. I was extremely jealous of all the ladies that were there and so upset that I missed out!! So we just spent a lazy Saturday night at home.   Sunday  

 I was feeling much better thankfully, so we went to church. It was breakfast Sunday for our SS class, and I made this Pinterest recipe for cheesy bacon biscuit pull aparts. It was pretty yummy and super easy.

  After church, I went to a home party for a traveling boutique in the area. They were also selling Stella & Dot, and I scored some pretty sweet deals.        The Stella & Dot saleslady was selling her samples, so I snatched up these at a very reduced price.  I can't wait to wear my new pretties!   Don't forget to go visit Tara @ Penniless Socialite to enter her amazing giveaway I'm lucky to be a part of!   Hope you all have a fabulous Monday!
 

Literary Junkies Unite!

  First, I've got to do some bragging.   

 Pork Chops with Apples & Garlic Mashed Potatoes Would you have guessed that my husband made this? Because I would have told you it wasn't possible. He's in trouble now because his chef abilities have been discovered. I was not very happy about him getting to stay home for President's Day while I got to work over ten hours. Even though he rubbed it in my face a few times, he has now made it up with the delicious dinner. Yum! Now for the monthly Literary Junkies linkup!
1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.   Well, I hate to be a fun sucker, but I'm not reading anything right now. I've been going to bed at 9:15 every night, so my bedtime reading has turned into watch Scandal on Netflix. There's less thought required to watch tv compared to reading a book. I just lay there watching it until I pass out which is usually pretty fast. Have you watched Scandal yet? I'm pretty addicted (but not enough to keep from falling asleep.)  
2. Give us the recipe for a great book.   This is a serious toughie! I can't really answer this because it just depends on what I'm in the mood for. There are certain ingredients that made a wonderful book, but you would never want them in the same book. Like how I love chocolate, but I would never put it on okra.
3. Tell us things you've learned from a book recently. Did you learn anything about history? Did you take away a deep & profound realization about the world around you? Or maybe even a beauty tip?    I have a tendency to forget what I read soon after I read it. The most recent books I read was the Matched series. Even though I wasn't super impressed with them (I guess I had built them up too much), the author really stresses how knowledge is power. The government had suppressed knowledge so that no one person knew too much. It really made me think about how it only hurts yourself if you choose not to be aware of the world around you whether it be music, art, literature, etc.
4. What was your favorite book as a child?    The Giver by Louis Lowry     I read this as a kid, but if you've never read this book, you should read it asap! It's sooo good! It has left such an impression on me that I would still say it's one of my favorite books ever.      

I have a Valentine...and I still hate today

Why do I hate Valentine Day, you ask? Pretty much because I have always built up these unrealistic expectations for the day, and they never fail to disappoint. Really..how romantic can you be when wifey is working over ten hours? Because the day obviously falls during the work week pretty often. So this year, I shall have zero expectations. (okay..I at least expect a card)

Two linky parties going on today. First up is thirty second Thursday (I honestly just realized when I typed this that it's Thursday..whooo hoo!! The weekend is closer!!)



Second is a quiz to show how well the hubs knows me. And I didn't answer these myself like you're supposed to. I enjoyed making fun of his answers more than answering them myself. :)

My "thoughts" are in pink (of course!)

How long have you been married? 
4 years +
Yep--good job!

Where was your first date?
Ricatoni’s in Florence, AL
Ding ding ding! Another one correct. 

Where was your first kiss? 
Outside Rachel’s old house
Um...I actually don't remember. oops!

Who first said, "I love you"? 
Me
And I don't remember this either. geez
 
What were your wedding colors? 
Hmmm – I wore a brown tux, you wore a white dress
What a cop out! Brown and orange. gah!

What is her most commonly used phrase? 
You are going to be mad at me, but…ha!  
Wow! Do I really say this phrase that often? Guess I need to pay more attentino. 

Who is her celebrity crush? 
Matthew McConaughey
He's definitely cute & all, but I wouldn't say he's my crush. He's too weird. 

If she was ordering drinks for both of you what would you each get? 
Orange Peel Martini / Beer
When have I ever ordered this drink? Seriously? Wrong answer. 

What is the best meal she has ever cooked you?
  Hmmm - Lasagna

Umm..thanks..I guess? The only time I ever made lasagna, I got tablespoon and teaspoon mixed up. It was very salty lasagna.
 
What is the worst meal she has ever cooked you?
  Chicken and Rice one time
Of course this happened when we had company. Glad to have outside witnesses to my extreme failures.
 
What would she say is your most annoying habit? 
OCD – I check everything
Hit the nail on the head.
 
What is the last thing she does before she goes to bed? 
Reads on a book
yep.
 
If you could throw out one item of her clothing what would it be? 
Furry vest
ugh!! really? I love that vest!
 
What would you say is your favorite thing about her?  
Her beautifulness and smartness
You have such a way with words...so eloquent.
 
What's her go-to drink at Starbucks? 
Grande Vanilla Latte or Grande Coffee with cream and two splenda’s
A++
 
What's her blog's name?! 
Front Row Seat
good job!

 

January ipsy Bag

Since I've already received my February ipsy bag tracking info, I suppose I should go ahead and post what I got in January.

1. Tuscan Blood Orange Mini Body Butter - $7

 This stuff smells wonderful! Even Rodney asked me what smelled so good after I put this on the other night. I saw that they're selling this in Target, so go right now and buy some. You won't be disappointed! 

 

2. Nailtini nail polish in frappe - $13 

I'm not a huge fan of regular nail polish (as opposed to shellac) because I always chip it within at least a day. All that work, and it's already ruined. This stuff didn't last very long either, but the frappe color (not pictured) is such a neutral, it's not very noticable if it chips. It did a good job of hiding my ugly nails in between shellac polishes. Very pretty!

 

3. big sexy hair travel size hair spray - approx $5

I was super excited to get this travel size hair spray because I'm already obsessed with this brand. It's a great hairspray that doesn't leave your hair feeling sticky. If you have never tried this, this is another that won't disappoint. Now I have a mini size to take with me while traveling. 

4. Josie Maran Argan Oil - $14

This stuff is pretty expensive, but I guess you get what you pay for! I had already been using Garnier Fructis Moroccan Oil which is a cheaper alternative. If you have dry hair, you must try some type of Moroccan Oil. It doesn't leave your hair greasy, and you can tell a difference in the texture of your hair for sure. My hair is not as dry and straw like when I use the oil. My favorite thing about the Josie brand is the dropper bottle. With Garnier, the oil comes out of the bottle so fast that I end up with way too much. With Josie, the bottle dropper keeps you from wasting any of the oil.

5. SOHO Crease Brush - $9

 Ok..let's be honest. I wish I knew more about makeup brushes. If I did, I would be able to paint some gorgeous eyes. The brush worked good in my opinion--but I would take that opinion with a grain of salt.

Have you ever tried any of these products? What did you think?

Boo hoo.. the weekend's over

Sorry to be Debbie Downer with my negative blog title, but geez..It's hard to get excited about working during busy season. blah     How I feel when my alarm goes off on Monday morning...   Thanks to #howshouldweaccountforme for some busy season humor.    So let's just focus on the positive and more interesting points of the weekend, shall we? We had couples bunco at our house Friday night. Even though we didn't win any money, we had so much fun!    Tucker was finally groomed, so he was able to actually see where he walks.

 

They put a Valentine's day bandanna on him. He's such a heartbreaker with the ladies.

I went shopping with this precious little girl and her momma.

She's teething and loves to chew on Starbucks cup sleeves.Her mom is already starting her on an expensive addiction...and I'm speaking from experience.

 I bought this top from Janie Rose Boutique. I didn't need it at all, but I can't say no to something that's pink and has polka dots. And a bow too? Yes please. 

The choir sang the most beautiful hymn Sunday morning with the most moving lyrics. 

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Love it!!

I can't keep a secret when it comes to presents, so I gave Rodney his V-day present already. I may have dropped a hint to him that I would like some Kate Spade jewelry, so after I gave him his gift he had an announcement to make. He was afraid to pick something out and I wouldn't like it. (Can you really pick something out that's not cute from Kate Spade?) Soooo...we took an afternoon trip to Kate Spade, and Rodney bought me these beauties.

I'm in love! (with my Valentine & the earrings too!)   Hope everyone is having a fabulous Monday. How was your weekend?    Don't forget about the giveaway I'm participating in going on over at Whitney's blog-Sippy Cups and Pearls. Go win you some Target money!  

Park City v. 3

I'm participating in my very first giveaway over at Whitney's blog--Sippy Cups and Pearls. Head on over now and enter to win a $100 gift card to Target. Seriously, who wouldn't want one hundred buckaroos to spend at Target? Because we all know you're going to end up spending that much regardless! :) 

Want to know what's been going on in my life this week? Other than swimming in a pile of tax returns, I've been driving a rental car all week. Yeah-- that brand spankin' new car had to be taken back after only a few days. I was not a happy camper. The screen just stopped working. We're supposed to get it back tomorrow, so fingers crossed that it is actually working properly. I don't really like making a car payment on a car that I don't actually have in my possession.

These are seriously the last pictures from Park City and skiing. Are you tired of my vacation updates yet? I've still got to do posts on all the movies we saw too!

 

Taking a rest--I'm so out of shape...my legs were killing me!

Our skis

Layered up

Okay..I'm done with Park City! Coming up soon--thoughts about all the movies we watched in SLC.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

What I Wore Wednesday

Rodney! Get the camera right!

Oversized Sweater: Oasap

Boots: Jessica Simpson

Socks: Etsy

Leggings: Niki Biki (best leggings evah--I bought them in a boutique. I can't find where to purchase them online.)

So, these aren't the best pics of me, but this outfit is too cute and the background is too gorgeous not to share.

Linking up with Shanna & Lindsey!