Happy Weekend- Coastal Living

I think we all have a fantasy life.  Mine involves living on the Florida gulf coast, going to the beach every day, wearing flip flops and never bothering to straighten my hair.  Basically I'd live out a Kenny Chesney song 24/7.

After spending the week in Naples, and doing some significant people watching/ lunchtime eavesdropping, I've realized that even people on a permanent vacation have problems too.  Like the women at Cheesecake Factory who debated how much botox is too much.  (I'd say five injections ago, ladies.)  And a grumpy old man who cursed an afternoon thunderstorm that interrupted his tee time.  

But check out that view . . .

What I've been up to lately:
Reviews of Hit and Run and Lawless
MTAD for Trouble with the Curve and The Big Wedding
Confessions and Style Aspirations

Behind the scenes clip of the week: 

Its going to change our lives, right?  I'm so excited.

Rental of the Week:

Speaking of movie musicals, the last one to win Best Picture was Chicago in 2002.  Love it?  Watch it again and sing along!  Never seen it?  What is wrong with you?
Look of the Week:

Speaking of little dresses and razzle dazzle, I saw this window shopping in Nordstrom and fell in love.  I want to wear it to a New Year's party with a faux bob, glitter headband and all that jazz.

Story of the Week:
Kanye and Kim get a Kat.

Is anyone else hoping Kim gets out of her marriage to Kris quickly so we can have a Kim and Kanye wedding?  The sheer absurdity of it actually gives me chills.  Cute kitty though.

Movie Ticket of the Week:

Justin Randall Timberlake on the big screen.  Don't let me down!

Happy Weekend!

What Makes Me Cry: Speeches at the Tony Awards

So last Saturday night I attempted to catch up on a week's worth of tv after being on vacation.  I can only imagine this is what it's like to work for a show like The Soup. The highlights were several fantastic moments from the Tonys ( I only watched the first 30 minutes live.)  Considering my affection for awards show speeches I think I've found my new favorite place to find them.  I suppose it makes sense that the talented actors who perform live each week would be the best at extemporaneous speeches.


First, Hugh Jackman accepting a surprise award for his charity efforts while his show ran on Broadway.  The blonde is his wife.  Is Hugh Jackman the greatest guy ever or what?!

Next, these clips from the year in plays.  I totally want to see One Man Two Guvnors and End of the Rainbow looks so tragic and good, especially now that I consider myself to be an expert on Judy Garland.

 

 I totally have a crush on James Corden after watching this wisecracking, voicecracking speech.

 

And an even bigger crush on Steve Kazee from Once. Holy crap.

Okay who wants to go to NYC with me to see a new play every night?

Rock of Ages Review

Based on a hit Broadway show, starring a talented and diverse cast, featuring hit rock songs from the 80's- Rock of Ages was my most anticipated movie event of the summer.  And just as your favorite band hitting the wrong notes in concert can burst your starstruck bubble, I left the theater feeling more than a little disappointed.


I'm not saying I didn't smile, or squeal over Sherrie Christian's adorable 80's fashion, or feel like applauding on occasion.  Tom Cruise (sorry, Suri) and Catherine Zeta Jones are especially ambitious in their roles.  But I don't understand how director Adam Shankman and phenomenal choreographer Mia Michaels couldn't manage to to create more exciting performances.  Most of the time the lead characters mope around singing ballads to themselves- think Glee's Lea Michele at her most annoying.  The two bright spots in choreography- ironically set in a church and a strip club- give us an idea of what could have been.


Like its predecessor on stage, Rock of Ages the movie doesn't take itself very seriously.  Most of the dialogue is tongue in cheek and the plot, like a rock god's hair, is overblown and absurd.  I didn't come looking for something serious, but I wanted to feel something.  I cried during High School Musical 2 for heaven's sake!  During the best moments of Rock of Ages I occasionally giggled.  I guess that's not a bad thing, but that's not rock and roll.


Rock of Ages , rated "PG-13," musical, starring Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin, Russel Brand, Catherine Zeta Jones, etc "C+"

April Showers and May Flowers

Last week I had the stomach flu and spent all day Tuesday shivering on my couch and watching classical musicals that I had saved on my DVR. It would have been really lovely, if not for the whole waves of nausea thing. In honor of April showers, here's a classic scene which I love because: it brings back fond memories of an 8th grade dance I did with my show choir, Gene Kelly is so dreamy and Jean Dujardin totally reminds me of him, and it just plain makes you smile.

And now that we're well into May flowers, I wanted to show you some floral inspired footwear I've been wearing lately. The only thing better than wearing shoes you really love is receiving compliments from people telling you that they really love the shoes that you really love. Does that make sense?

I wore these boots to run some errands and I literally had people chase me down the aisle at the grocery store to ask me about them. The woman at the checkout line said "You know should do? You should put them on Pinterest!" Wait . . . what?

Also these shoes were a huge hit at the theater. That sounds ridiculous but seriously we were at a production of Les Miserables and entire group of old women came up to me to tell me they had been admiring my heels.

Speaking of Les Mis, the movie is currently filming and the cast is filled with stars galore!! Except Taylor Swift, who lost the role of Eponine to Samantha Barks. No offense Taylor, but after watching this performance, I think its for the best. Now you can get a new album out sooner and we can finally find out what happened between you and Jake!

And for any singing and dancing you might want to do in May showers, here's a cute pair of rain boots I have my eye on.

So, there ya go. Spring footwear that will be a hit with your fellow Publix shoppers, elderly musical theater patrons, and Gene Kelly- thanks to CFC.

Happy Weekend- What Time Is It

So this is the first weekend in three years where I haven't either had something to do for grad school, or have been thinking about something I need to do for grad school. I'm done! I have that "its summer!!!!" feeling which I haven't had in forever.

Besides wrapping up my masters degree, here's what else happened this week:

I shared my getting dressed for a date tips- Gentlemen Callers

and celeb fitness tips- Just Workin on My Fitness

I saw The Lucky One

and The Five Year Engagement

As for movies:

In theaters:

The Avengers opened this week. Getting great reviews. Fanboys and Fangirls rejoice!

Think Like A Man is STILL doing well.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is also out this week. How do we feel about seeing this if you are under the age of 60?

Rental:

Let's reflect on Zac's early days as a teen idol before his all grown up love scenes in The Lucky One.

Hairspray, obviously.

17 Again is surprisingly cute and funny.

All three High School Musicals are fantastic, although the second one is by far my favorite. Thanks to Troy and the rest of the gang for expressing my feelings on wrapping up school and the start of summer!

Movie Quote of the Day

"If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter."- Principal McGee, Grease

In other news, I hate March Madness.

MTAD X 2

If someone were to ask me "what kind of movie would you love to see in theaters?" I would say:

A romantic comedy starring half of the cast of Bridesmaids, plus cute Ben from Parks and Recreation, and written and directed by a woman? ( Jon Hamm's lady!)

OR!

A musical set in the 80's, filmed in Florida, and starring 3 of my celebrity crushes- Julianne, Alec, and, yes, I have the hots for Russell Brand and I am not ashamed! Also, that cute guy who dated Spencer on Pretty Little Liars?

If someone were to tell me "those movies have been made! They'll be released in a few months!" I would say:

I've already watched the trailers 467 times.

Flair for the Dramatic

Speaking of great movie musicals . . . this weekend we went to see a production of West Side Story. Have you ever seen the movie?

Fantastic. I saw it for the first time in middle school and again when we were studying Romeo and Juliet. Side note: I remember thinking R + J was uber romantic as a teenager. They were so in love they couldn't live without each other! Now I'm like, what fools! Teenage love? Not worth your life! Cynicism and wrinkles: unfortunate side effects of aging.

Anyways, I decided to wear something inspired by the sassy ladies of the Sharks.

I told my boyfriend "maybe we should try a pic that doesn't look so posed?"

Yeah, not what I was going for.

Here I am, a tad dramatic.

But a rumble with the Jets is no laughing matter.

Did you know (morning commercials part II)...

that the song from the Tropicana "good morning" commercial . . .

is actually Debbie Reynolds, Gene Kelly, and Donald O'Connor from Singing in the Rain?

specifically "Good Morning", arguably one of the greatest dance scenes from one of the greatest movie musicals ever?




and that cute little Debbie Reynolds was only 19? Gene Kelly made her practice this so many times her feet bled!

Here's Debbie now, you may remember her from one of Oprah's last episodes!


Isn't her dress precious?



Reminds me of what the Duchess wore to Prince Edward Island . . .

Not to mention that her pleated skirt would totally be in right now. . .

pleated print skirt

sheer mesh skirt

lillith leopard print skirt

I just need that paisley skirt and some tap shoes and I'm ready for fall!

What's your favorite movie musical?