Movie Review -- Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Have you heard about this movie?

If you haven't, you should know it's based on book 1 of the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

My friend, Raquel, and I have a tradition. When our books come out in movies, we take off work and go see a matinee showing of the movie on the day it opens. This one opened on Wednesday, August 21, so we were at the theater for an 11:45 AM showing.

In case you want a brief description, you can view the trailer here

Here's my Top 10 Things you need to know about the Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

10. Read the book FIRST. All bookies know this, but you won't truly understand the characters without reading the book first. READ. It's good for you!

9. While many things were changed, I found myself saying "Oh yeah" and "I forgot about that". I read the book probably in 2008 so the movie helped bring me back into the world of the Mortal Instruments. Yep, I totally got pissed at the things that were changed but I loved the things that were on point - it made me want to re-read the whole series.

8. As what usually happens in a book turned movie, about 1/2 to 3/4 of the book was cut out. Why can't they just make 4-6 hour movies for us bookies? (Intermission people!)

7. Lily Collins was a great Clary.

6. While he wasn't given enough time to develop his character, (and originally I thought he was a poor fit for this role) Jamie Campbell Bower was a fantastic Jace. Jamie - you were tremendous and truly fit as Jace. I apologize for my hasty judgement!

(So sad that Lily and Jamie broke up in real life -- maybe they will get back together for the next movie)

5. Yes, Robert Sheehan, Kevin Zegers, and Jemima West: You were great too! Robert totally broke my heart in the movie! (I can't spoil it for you so I won't tell you why)

4. The set director and costume designer totally rocked the house on this one. The scenes were magnificent! The apartment! The institute! The vampire hang out! The club! MAGNIFICENT! The costumes were on point and EXACTLY as described in the book, if not better than I imagined.

3. CAUTION: CHEESE FACTOR! Ok, I'm a total mushy sap and I enjoyed the "garden" scene - BUT, let's be honest, it had a cheese factor of about 8.7. Lily was a great Clary - but not a great tripper, if you know what I mean. However, that's only a short part of the movie so don't let it stop you from watching.

2. The Book is MUCH better. I mean, really? When are movie makers going to figure it out?
Here's what I say to the creators/directors: DON'T CHANGE IMPORTANT PARTS!!! - like changing Hodge's journey, or completely cutting out Rafeal, nobody understands what Simon drank at the party because the movie didn't show what truly happened, and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD - please take the time to explain Magnus Bane! While, Godfrey Gao is a dream, the movie in no way let the watchers understand his true essence!

PS. I love you, Godfrey. You are pretty much the best looking man on the planet.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING:

1. PLEASE see it!!! I really want them to continue making the books into movies and they can only do that if it grosses enough money!


Directed by: Harald Zwart
Screenplay by: Jessica Postigo Paquette
Based on the novel by: Cassandra Clare:
Executive Producers: Bob Shaye, Michael Lynn, Martin Moszkowicz
Cast: Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan, Kevin Zegers, Lena Headev, Kevin Durand, Aidan Turner, Jemima West, Godfrey Gao

Here We Go Again

After locating my beautiful journal, it occurs to me that my best ideas/projects happen in summer. I start blogging again, I keep a journal, I set action plans, and I start new projects.

Forget January 1st -- July is my New Years -- and with that, my resolutions:

1. I will blog more
2. I will finish my home projects
3. I will become a marathoner
4. I WILL be that person who always has a clean house
5. Stella will get her groove back

Here I go again -- starting fresh.

Cross your fingers!

Manicure Monday - Red Hot

As you know, I'm a red nail polish freak. I wear red polish about 98% of the time. 

Favorites are: OPI I'm not really a waitress, OPI Big Apple Red, and OPI Danke Shiny.   

The color I'm currently rocking is this: 

It is "Sooki" by Zoya.

I most certainly recommend!

March Into a New Month

Everyone makes Resolutions at the beginning of the year, which often are forgotten by March.

Quite frankly, can you blame us? We are busy people! I know so far in 2013, I have been running around like a crazy person. Work is busy so I'm putting in a lot of hours, I'm back on the treadmill getting ready for 5k season (I'm determined to get in at least 2 this year), I'm working on another LOMA designation, and I'm up to my eyeballs in home projects.

So, I prefer to set monthly, quarterly, and yearly goals, each month, I spend a bit of time prioritizing and updating my list,

Yep. I'm a total nerd and boring.

However, there is a ceremonial way I'm now ringing in each new month. My friend recently shared this with me. Every first of the month - switch to a new purse. That way the months don't get away from you and it helps you focus on a new set of goals. Brilliant!

Without further ado: here I'd my February purse:

This beauty was purchased at the Buckle. I saw it in the display window and stopped in my tracks. I immediately thought of MSU and March Madness so it's perfect for March!

What do you think?

Wine and Cupcakes

Wine Review:

Who doesn't love cupcakes? And wine?

My favorite wine is Cupcake Vinyard's Moscato. The first time I had it was at my friend Amy's wedding. It tastes like grape juice and goes down just as easy. Sweet, but not too sweet. Just perfect.

Since I love the Moscato so much, I have been tasting the other flavors from Cupcake Vinyards.

The Red Velvet is a nice Merlot. I highly recommend.

If you like Chardonnay, you may like the Chardonnay from Cupcake Vinyards. I don't like Chardonnay, so I'm a no for this one.

Tonight, I tried the Angel Food Cake. Save your money; it is crap. It is supposed to be a sweet wine but it tastes like vinegar. I found it to be utterly disgusting and won't buy it again.

That's it so far.

As a side note: I have to say that the Fremont Party Store is absolutely amazing. They will order me any booze I want and it's in within just a couple of days. That means I have pretty much any wine access I need! ...a must in a small town

With that said, which one should I try next?

Misery...Round 2

Most of you would agree that the most terrifying experience is surely being robbed at gunpoint. I have been robbed at gunpoint. Trust me - that is NOT the most terrifying experience.

You know what is?

Yes, that's right. A bat.
Not just a simple bat in the forest. Oh no, a bat IN YOUR HOUSE.

Many of you know that last August I got a bat in my house. Dad came over and killed it.

That seems lack luster. "Dad came over and killed it". Seriously? Pardon my pun, but I went bat-shit crazy when that thing was in my house!!!

For six months after, I carried a tennis racket under my arm and searched every room I walked into.

Slowly but surely I became more and more comfortable with being in the house -- and I thought I was in the clear this year when fair week came and went (fair week is when they open the barns and all the bats fly out and find new homes)

I.Was.Wrong.

On Sunday, August 26th, (I need to remember the exact date for next year), I asked Mom to come to my house. I had some water damage in my guest room closet and it was raining. Mom and I removed everything from the closet and checked for damage. Later, we realized that by doing this, we probably disturbed the bat.

So...2 hours later I'm sitting on my couch watching tv and Niko is sleeping at my feet. All of a sudden, Niko jumps up and flies into the kitchen like a bat out of hell (pun intended).

At that moment, realization hit me. "Oh. Crap"

I turned my head...oh yeah...a bat was flying at my FACE!!!

The only thing I could do to quickly protect me was put a blanket over my head and scream - and scream.

Quickly, I heard Niko chase the bat into the dining room, which gave me the opportunity to hustle it outside. I ran out on my deck and watched the action through my sliding door. As I stood there shaking, trying to call Mom and Dad, I watched the bat fly circles around my house, and my beautiful alarm dog chase after it.

...finally the bat landed on my cabinet and Niko came to find me...

The bat was still hanging out on my cabinet when Dad arrived, so it was an easy target for him. Luckily, my friend Kirsti had come to visit that weekend. We played tennis while she was here, so my tennis rackets were still right next to the slider. Dad had quick access to a killing tool -- apparently tennis rackets are actually the most commonly used bat killing device.

It was terrifying watching Dad hit the bat and having it swoop around him. Gross. Just gross.

Long story short -- Facebook friends freaked me out that a colony was living in my walls, so I lived with Mom and Dad for a solid week after that. I slept SO well in their safe house (they haven't had a bat in the 27 years they have lived in that house)

Now, I'm back in the batcave, scared out of my mind. I have all the lights on in the house (trying to push them outside, not in). I'm constantly looking over my shoulder and I'm carrying around a tennis racket...or two. Work won't be done at the house for another month...and so I'm living in fear. Last night I slept with a tennis racket in my hand and my hoodie tied with the hood on.

I.AM.IN.MISERY ... AGAIN.


Sort of on the bright side: A family friend did come over and seal up some holes in the roof. He is coming back in a little over a month to fix the drywall, fix any remaining roofing issues, fix my exhaust fan, block my attic fan and make sure I have appropriate screens behind all my exterior vents.

Prayers are welcomed, for sure!

Thank God for Pinterest

Recently, I was painting some furniture in my dining room. I had put down drop cloths to prevent any paint from getting on my beautiful hardwood floors. Obviously, I was surprised when I pulled up the drop cloth and found this:

This picture is after a lot of time was spent trying to chip away at it with my fingernail.

I got to a point where my nail was no longer productive. Clearly, I was upset. I have absolutely zero interest in trying to refinish the area - knowing I could never match the rest.

In a fit of desperation, I went to Pinterest.

...well, ok, I was on Pinterest and thought I would search for a cure...but I digress

I found a remedy using "Clean and Clear" pads. Seriously?

So, tonight I was at Walgreens and decided to go for it...

And...sure enough, the little suckers worked! Like a DREAM!!!

Here is what the floor looks like now:

So friends, take note...but still use a THICK drop cloth