Tuesdays with Nora

Hey, you know what was fun? Counting down the 5 Romantic Comedies of Christmas. January flew by but I'd like to do something similar in February. In honor of Valentine's Day, I've decided we're going to recognize the queen of romantic comedies- Nora Ephron.

Nora is a film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, playwright, journalist, author, and blogger. (Via Wikipedia, but should be common knowledge here on CFC.) She's also friends with Reeg! Most importantly, Nora has brought us some of the most memorable, charming, and romantic romantic comedies over the past few decades.

Each Tuesday in February, I'll be recognizing a Nora Ephron movie. You'll learn a few fun facts about Nora's role in the production and read about the moments that make me laugh, cry, and totally swoon. ( I love you Tom Hanks.)

Get ready to brave the February chill with some heart warming chick flicks! (And maybe a few chic style notes too)

PS If you want to review CFC's Christmas countdown . . .

1. It's A Wonderful Life

2. Love Actually

3. Meet Me In St. Louis

4. The Holiday

5. Miracle on 34th St.

Find Me a Jumpsuit Party

Did you watch the SAG awards last night? Did you at least catch the red carpet? Best dressed, in my humble opinion:

Kyra Sedgwick

Sofia Vergara

Viola Davis

Emma Stone

My favorite, by far:

Completely OBSESSED with Rose Byrne in this Elie Saab jumpsuit. Can we think of some sort of event where this might be appropriate so I can find a knockoff version to wear?

Home Sweet Home

You know how some houses are just classic, instantly recognizable, iconic homes? That's how I feel about where I grew up.

Even though I never. . .

Had a wedding reception planned by Franc complete with swans in the front yard

Or defended it from the Wet Bandits on Christmas Eve

Or had to move before the St. Louis World's Fair

Or played hooky with my best friends and stole my dad's car

Or stood by the window while Mrs. Danvers looked on (thank goodness)

Or stayed up all night composing a song for Bella

Or threw a rock in the window to make a wish


Or completed some major renovations for a teenage love

Or bumped into a naked Ryan Reynolds (darn)

I will always think this was the greatest house in the entire world.

Goodbye 7230, I will love you forever. And welcome to SC, Mom and Dad! Thanks for making that house a really wonderful home. I think Miranda said it best.

Please pass the tissues.

Leather and Lace

So I sort of forgot that I owned this skirt, and then after discovering it in the depths of despair (underneath a pile of clothes to donate in my closet) I wore it twice in one week.

First, out to dinner and drinks downtown last Monday.

I think that should be a requirement for every Monday evening- helps immensely with the Sunday weirds.

And to work last Wednesday.

I guess I've been into cranberry colors lately? I got a new lipgloss called cranberry cocktail. Yum!

I bought this skirt a year and half ago at TJ Maxx. I tried to find it online to show you a more detailed pic but its no where to be found. Anyways its a leather and lace bandage skirt, which sounds more scandalous than necesssary. When I bought it, I was in the height of my Gossip Girl obsession, and I was kind of into Jenny Humphrey and the new mean girls bringing biker chic to the Upper East Side.

Happy 100th episode Gossip Girl! Please let Chuck and Blair get married instead, ala The Philadelphia Story, and call it a day.

"But I hope to make it up to you by going beautifully through with it now as originally and most beautifully planned."

It's An Honor

. . . to be nominated. Or so they say.

Academy Award nominations were released this week! You can view the full list of nominees here. I said I wanted to see as many movies that were up for Best Picture as possible, which brings my movie to-do list to:

The Artist (really excited about this one)

War Horse (eh, I'm sure its good but, as discussed with friends the other night, could there ever be a better horse movie than Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken?)

Hugo (not even out in theaters right now so that probably won't work)

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (I've heard its very polarizing- I'm excited to form an opinion!)

I also think Bryce Dallas Howard should have been nominated for The Help and Ryan Gosling for The Ides of March. Yay for Bridesmaids getting some recognition!

I'm declaring February to be Oscar's month on the blog, so you'll be seeing some posts on red carpet fashion, great acceptance speeches of yesteryear, and my own personal version of CFC movie awards. If only I could get Harry Burns/Miracle Max to host this year.

Any thoughts on nominee snubs? Anyone want to join me as I check movies off my list?

Happy Weekend!

Looking for a good movie to rent this weekend? Check out some of these flicks that have been nominated for an Academy Award and reviewed by yours truly! Not only are they great movies, but you'll have something to root for on Oscar night.

Moneyball- picture, actor, supporting actor (yay Jonah Hill!), adapted screenplay

The Help- picture, actress, supporting actress

Midnight in Paris- picture, original screenplay, directing

Bridesmaids- supporting actress, original screenplay

Ides of March- adapted screenplay, best performance by NoahCalhoun (okay, I made that one up)

Happy Weekend!

Joyful Noise Review

Well we went to see Joyful Noise last week and left early so we could catch New Girl and Parenthood on tv. That's really all their is to say, right?

Except, I will say this. I like cheesy movies that make you feel good, that critics tend to hate. I like re-purposed pop songs and I like Queen Latifah and I LOVE Dolly Parton. But I hate movies that put effort into designing a cute premise and securing a few stars and then stop there. We're left with a plot more ridiculous than anything that cost Schmidt a dollar in the jar.

And a script more awkward than Drew walking in on his mom and Mr. Cyr.

Joyful Noise, rated "PG," comedy/musical, starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton, "D"

Take Care of You

Once upon a time, my freshmen year of college, I lived across the hall from a girl named Tia. Tia introduced me to tanning beds (my forehead wrinkles thank you) and I used to sit in the chair by her window and eat her Cheeze-its (I gained the freshman 40) while we chatted. Despite this, Tia and I became really good friends. Sophomore year we moved to a new dorm but still lived across the hall from each other.

Junior and Senior year we lived in the same apartment building on campus. The summer after we graduated, I asked Tia if she wanted to interview for a job at my office and move into a room at the house I was renting with some friends. She did! Tia enrolled in a grad program and I followed the next year. Next we moved into an apartment together. Eventually this summer we moved across town into our own places . . . in the same building.

So, Tia has been my roommate, coworker, class-mate, and best friend. For the past 8 years we have gone on vacations

sang along at concerts

celebrated birthdays

partied for holidays

hung out with celebrities

and jumped for joy- together.

Eventually we got to that point in our friendship where saying goodbye on the phone took about 15 minutes. It went something like this “Ok well let me know how the staff meeting goes. . . good luck on your presentation . . .I’ll keep you updated on dinner plans . . . Oh, a package arrived for you today . . . Omg, did you see what she posted on Facebook? Wait, when are you getting home? Ok, I love you. Alright, I’ll talk to you soon. Oh wait a second, did I tell you about that email?” You get the point.

We decided that we needed a standard phone sign-off. And of course we drew inspiration from a movie. You know one of those meaningful friendships from a classic film.

Of course I’m talking about Vivian Ward and Kit De Luca from Pretty Woman. Two girls with similar jobs who share an apartment together- that’s us! A few minor differences. For about six months we would end conversations with “Take care of you”, just like Vivian and Kit. We agreed this summed up everything we wanted to say in a goodbye. Start watching at 2:10 for the last "take care of you" in the movie.

Since freshmen year, Tia has talked about going back to her hometown. Whether it was to see her family and boyfriend for a weekend, start a grad program for a few years, or take a new job, permanently. I have spent 8 years begging Tia to stay in town so I could drag her to a fraternity party (where all of the guys asked me who my hot blond friend was), or go the movies and buy candy at Target, or get takeout in our pajamas, or lay by the pool and share magazines, or work and live next to me every single day. In was a long hard battle but in the end I lost because Tia is moving this week. Of course, I could say that I won because look at all we’ve done!

And we finally got our hair under control- really a win-win overall.

T, I can’t even imagine trying to summarize all of the laughs, tears, late nights (for you) early mornings (for me), fights (just that one on the way to the office retreat!) and pure fun we’ve had. Nothing could sum up all I would want to say this goodbye. So, I’ll just say . . . take care of you.

Cinematic Reading

In case you think all I do is watch romantic comedies, take pictures of myself with my iphone and tweet people magazine, I wanted to share some great books I've read recently. After finishing one of them, I searched twitter for the author so I could tweet my compliments. (I'm nice like that.) He wasn't on twitter, but someone had tweeted that this book was the most "cinematic" book of the year. Well this made me happy because I find a lot of books, news stories, and everyday situations to be very cinematic. If I've learned anything from my grad program, it is to cite my sources. So thank you random person on twitter for giving me a word that is sure to become part of CFC vocabulary. Not only did I love these books, but they would all make wonderful movies.

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner wrote "In Her Shoes" which became a great movie. She also wrote plenty of other bestsellers including a short story collection which I love. And her live tweets during the bachelor are hilarious! However, Then Came You is my favorite book yet! Its about four different women and their connection to an unborn baby. I loved all of the characters, especially the descriptions of their thoughts and fears. I think women can be rather judgemental on each other and this book perfectly captured different opinions and the truth behind them. This book would make a wonderful movie with a stellar female ensemble cast.

Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland by Gerald Clarke

I'm going to be honest with y'all. It took me a while to get through this book. Not only is it gigantic but its a mesmerizing, tragic and very detailed account of Judy's (actually Frances Gumm) entire life. This book also serves as an insider timeline to Hollywood, especially MGM studios from the 30's-the 60's. I heard about it in the first place because it already is being made into a movie- starring Anne Hathaway! She signed on a few years ago and I haven't heard anything in awhile. I know Miss Hathaway is busy with wedding planning but I'd like to see this in theaters like, yesterday!

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

Ok, wow. I loved this book so much I am thisclose to naming it my favorite book I read in 2011, but then I think about One Day and . . . it's probably a tie. Anyways, Rules of Civility is about Manhattan in the late 1930's. It's about the class system and wealth and fate and love and omg its just SO good! It's one of those stories that has enough juicy drama to keep you interested but also some moments of reflection that keep you thinking. I would love to see this on the silver screen and see who was cast as bright, witty Katey, enchanting Evey, and sweet and mysterious Tinker Grey. I also want to see the clothes! I wore this fur jacket to a party the other weekend and when I first styled my hair down, it sort of blended in the coat, which weirded me out. I liked it better in a side bun, and I feel like it took on a little bit of a 1930's feel with the fur and the hair and the cocktail ring, right?

Of course I was wearing it with jeggings and nothing says classic glamour like stretchy denim from Forever 21.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling

Well my love for Mindy Kaling is no secret, I've written about her here and here and religiously follow her twitter feed. This book is fun and clever and totally relatable. After each chapter I really wished I had Mindy's cell phone so I could text her "OMG me too!" I love that she is a very talented writer but will write a chapter of her book about how guys put on shoes. It gives me endless inspiration for this little blog.

You know what I would do if I was you? Make some delicious cookies and curl up with a great book! Happy Saturday!

Beauty and Bravery

After my gush fest over awards shows, of course I had to make an airport run on Sunday night and miss the red carpet and first part of the Golden Globes. All caught up by Monday morning thanks to my trusty DVR! So let's get to it! My best dressed of the night:

Kate Beckinsdale- We can't blame you Seth Rogen

Viola Davis- goddess with a thigh-high sit

Sofia Vergara- she can do no wrong!

Nicole Richie- Hey, I like metallic dresses and hair extensions too!

Reese Witherspoon- Sexy and she knows it

and my favorite . . .

Charlize Theron- It's like she's not even human, in the best way possible.

via

I really liked the sparkly headband trend! I went a little headband wild during Blair Waldor's heyday and now that I'm older and Blair's going to marry a royal (not really, but I'll play along) she's been wearing fascinators galore! I love them but have nothing to wear them to, so I'll settle for some sparkly headbands.

Two great lines from acceptance speeches:

Christopher Plummer

"And lastly, a fair lady called Elaine - my wife of 43 years - whose bravery and beauty haunts me still."

Swoon, Captain Von Trapp!

Octavia Spencer

"With regard to domestics in this country, now and then, I think Dr. King said it best: 'All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.' And I thank you for recognizing that with our film."
Eloquent, timely, and basically saying "screw you controversy, I got my award!"

As for Ricky . . . he was nicer than last year and his jokes were obviously given to the presenters beforehand so they could make witty comebacks if they wished. This was fine, but dont insult our intelligence. I mean, we can tell who is capable of making an off the cuff remark (Colin Firth) and who isn't (Madonna and her new face.)

I dont even know what to say about The Descendants winning. I stand behind my review! And in case you're wondering (like me) if I was the only person who didn't like this movie, here's proof that I'm not.

Time Magazine

Village Voice

I'm really excited to see what is nominated for best picture by the Academy and I hope to see as many of those films as possible. It always baffles me that awards show producers and broadcasting networks are so concerned with ratings when they are recognizing movies that many Americans never even had the chance to see!

On my movie to-do list? The Artist which is supposed to open here soon! I have already decided I will either love it or hate it, as there can be no middle ground with a silent film that is released in 2012!