Feeling British

My obsession for all things British is obvious.

And probably annoying for people.

But I'm just in love with it all.

And then I feel bad because I'm living the dream in America. So many people sacrificed to live here and here I am choosing to watch Downton Abbey instead of the Superbowl.

But that's just my taste and I really do love the US of A . I am full of gratitude for all of my ancestors who sacrificed to be over here. 

So here's to my last British post for at least eighteen months.

I was introduced to Downton Abbey while I was in England and after Fall semester, I started to watch all the  episodes like a madwoman, dragging Mummsie and Dad along as well.

We finally finished the last episode this last weekend and I squealed with delight 

when I saw this castle pop up:

Why? 

Because I've been there!!!

So as the Dowager Countess of Grantham once said,

"Put that it your pipe and smoke it."

You Are What You Read

Someone was giving a really nice thought at FHE stating that you are culmination of who you hang out with and what you listen to, watch, and read.

Oh good. That makes me British. 

Obviously since my mission wardrobe consists of some of my favorite literary/cinematic ladies.

And let's not forget my favorite detective.

That's a Bit Theatrical

I guess leaving the country is a good excuse to watch an excessive amount of TV. 

Usually my time wasters are blogs, pinterest, and stalking...on Facebook of course.

Anywho, here are some of my more recent discoveries:

1. The newest Batman (I don't even know its name). 

I haven't seen the first two and yet I still understood what was going on. That's a sure sign that this movie is surviving purely on action and special effects.

Great, but like any other superhero movie.

2. Paris When it Sizzles

Every Audrey Hepburn movie is fantastic, right?

Well....this one was a bit different.

It was cheesy and weird, but I think they meant to do that. 

Why, I don't know.

3. The Man Who Knew Too Little

For any Pink Panther, Johnny English, Get Smart, etc fans.

In runs right with the whole clutzy guy solves the mystery and saves the day plot.

But with Bill Murray.

And the guy who plays Peter in While You Were Sleeping.

4. The Secret of Kells

Like any good artsy fartsy student who just returned from a study abroad to the British Isles, going to the foreign film was a must. Especially since this is based off of some Irish history.

I liked it so much, I'm going to share a trailer:

Ok, so the trailer is kind of weird, but this movie is incredible!

After you got use to the animation, the design was amazing and I love the story line.

It's not completely historical (if you watched the trailer, I'm pretty sure I could have left that comment out), but it is based on some facts about the Book of Kells.

Which I almost saw.

Almost.

5. Biezly and Goddfried

This was a play performed on campus and was written by one of the professors at BYU-I.

That being said, you probably will never get the chance to see it.

But it was great!

It was a mind churner which drew in and repulse the audience at the same time.

And I knew of half the cast.

I guess those theater folk and English majors run into each other a lot.

ESA- Videos

I'm not sure what the quality of these videos are, but enjoy.

Cliffs of Moher, View from a tower in Linlithgow Castle, Changing of the Guard/Marching Band, and Henry VII reenactment. 

ESA- Roman Holiday

Do you remember Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday? She's a princess who escapes the castle for a day experiences ice cream, cigarettes, motorcycles, and chopping off her hair. Well, I pulled a Roman Holiday..except for the motorcycles....and the cigarettes....

This is where I got my hair chopped off.

It was the first time I had a man cut my hair. There was pop music playing in the background and he would blow dry my hair to the beat. It was fantastic.

And ice cream is always a must no matter where you are. 

ESA- Theatre

I love my theatre so you can imagine my excitement when I got to see 6 performances within a week!

The Taming of the Shrew: London

One of my favorite Shakespearean plays was made even better because it was performed at...

...the GLOBE THEATRE!!! 

Luckily I was rich enough to afford seats and did not have to stand with the peasants.

Phantom of the Opera: London

It was flamboyant. It was extravagant. It was Phantom of the Opera.

I've been wanting to watch a live performance of it for a long time and it did not fail its expectations. Goosebumps appeared when the organ blared and the chandelier was raised to the ceiling and didn't disappear until the tube ride home. 

While we were housed in Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare's hometown) we were able to see 4 plays through the Royal Shakespeare Company. Three of them were all in Shakespearean language, but given a modern setting: Comedy of Errors, Twelfth Night, and The Tempest. The fourth play was a modern play called a Tender Thing influenced by Romeo and Juliet. The lady who played Juliet was Mrs. Figg in the 5th Harry Potter movie. I was freaking out just a little bit. 

Music Monday

We've had the Bourne Trilogy in our basement for 3 years.
I am now finally watching them for the first time.
And the Piano Guys are just awesome.

PSA for PCM made by JJ in ID

Made this little video for a class. Since I can't really put it on the fridge, I figured the blog would be good enough.

Movie Monday

If you haven't watched this, please enlighten yourself. 

Hungry?

Thursday begged me and Alex to drive down to Provo.

At midnight.

For the premier of the Hunger Games!

Shirts were in order:

Decca's I (shop) at the Hob

Neener's Boy with bread + Girl on Fire = Great Toast

Alex's Tengo Hambre

 Lots of girls had the signature Katniss braid so I tried my own rendition on Decca's hair

Sorry if you didn't get half the post because you're not on the same nerdy level as me.

I even have my own Nerd board on Pinterest.

Thoughts on the movie: They did a good job with it. It was a bit rushed and lacked some emotion. It is a bit graphic- not for children or anyone sensitive. My view on this whole plot is to look at it as thought provoking and not as an entertaining game. Overall, the book is always better. Always. Even a non-English major will tell you that.

The most entertaining part of the evening was our run to iHop afterwards. Not only was there delicious food, but entertaining customers including Joe over there discussing the politics of Dungeons and Dragons and predators of vampires with his date. Bless her soul.

Oh how I love my midnight premiers.

Music Monday

Gives me the goosebumps.

Break the Dawn

I making a midnight premier a semester tradition.

This semester: Breaking Dawn.

Ummmm.....

I don't really know what to say about it.

The other Twilight movies I could go and make fun, but this one I couldn't even do that.

The premier itself was fun:

Making shirts is a must. Mine says "Your Blood is my Drug."

Not only refering to Edward's own drug is Bella (yeah that's a healthy relationship),

but to Ke$ha's song.

Scott wanted to go, but in order to keep his manhood he had to use a bunch of girls as his excuse.

What lack of sleep and sugar does to a person.

Music Monday

Some memorable Halloween tunes:

Corpse Bride with Victor's Piano Solo and the Piano Duet.

Harry Potter Theme

Magic by B.O.B. (It has the word "magic" in it ok?)

Mufasa

Sorry to dash your hopes and dreams, but this is not a post analyzing the Great Lion King.

I just happened to watch The Lion King today and "Mufasa" is the name that sticks.

Mufasa, Mufasa, Mufasa.

*Sigh.*

Can it get any more classic than that?

I think not.

Speaking of classic, people + food pictures are some of my favorite.

Thanks Decca for collaborating these great shots for me:

I might even put this collage in my job portfolio.

Other productive activities today included eating, napping, teaching Zumba (I'm bustin some moves in Malta again for like 3 weeks!), arranging my candy into a colorful display and then eating the said candy, showering, naturally curling my hair, food delivery to all those hard workin' men in the field, picking peas in the garden, snapping green beans and then canning said beans, playing with the nephews,breathing.

If you read all of that you can say you've had a productive day.

Set the Wheels in Motion

Since I'm typing this before our actual trip....

If all goes well we should be biking this trail today.

In honor, this post is about bicycles!!

Story

I love to ride my bike. Or my mom's bike since its beyond chic. However exactly 10 years ago, I wouldn't tell you the same thing. Well, other than the obvious reason of riding my mom's bike. No, 10 years ago, I didn't know how to ride a bike. Or rather, I didn't really want to learn how to ride a bike. Maybe because I was shy and didn't like adventure in my youth. (Up to this day I still have not rollerbladed/skated. I'll go one day, just with the right date. Wink, wink.) That all changed the next summer. While causing mischief in our backyard with my sister, we grabbed and bike and off I went. I remember the look of amazement and joy in my sister's face that was mirrored in my face as soon as I rode a stretch in our yard. I jumped off the bike and ran towards her laughing with delight. Soon after I took my first official bike ride to a friends house about 1 mile away. I've been riding ever since.

Song

Lenka's The Show is the cutest music video ever. She's riding a bike of course. Not to mention that I LOVE this song. You can find it here.

Picture

Perfection achieved with books in the basket.

Video

Best bike video ever! We use to rewind the movie over and over again for this scene.

Food

Shoutout to local restaurant:

I love the bicycles for decor and the sweet potatoe chips.

Music Monday

Seriously slacking on my Music Monday I have.
Nothing that Hall & Oates, 500 Days of Summer, and dancing through the park can't fix.


For those who have seen this movie, what did you think?

The Place of Happiness

Today's trip will either be playing in Seattle or heading home.

Seattle would be the place of reference in my title.

Check out last year's trip to one of my favorite places.

So I just got off the phone with my friend, Alex. And his sister who I've never met.

We had a discussion which consisted of:

Harry vs Darth Vader

Darth Vader vs Voldemort

Voldemort vs Yoda

Gandalf vs Dumbldore

I'm a little biased with my Potter boys, but when fantasy worlds collide, who do you think will win?

Harry Potter Mania 5- Review

Fancy 3D glasses

 Snazzy Gryffindor Fingernail Polish and such

Slytherin vs. Gryffindor 

Signe (my roomie) and me ventured to the midnight showing for Harry Potter.

Lets just say the series ended on a bang...literally!

The movie was action packed and intense.

(Warning: This follows the book pretty closely and there's a war scene and lots of death especially towards the end. If that kind of thing bothers you, may I suggest taking someone with you to tell you when to open/close your eyes ((Like Me !!)) or get it on clean flicks or something like that.)
I can't say it enough.

This is the end.

(Cue the tears.)

Harry Potter Mania 4- Tonight

Wowsers.

Its tonight and I am stoked.

Ask my roomies about my random screams throughout the day.
I mean, I don't even know what to post about.

My outfit for tonight is not decided upon yet, but this blog has it all stylishly planned out. Check out their cute ensembles.

Some movie quotes:
"Actually I'm highly logical, which allows me to look past extraneous detail and perceive clearly that which others overlook."
Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane): “You’re a wizard, Harry.”

"I've never been to this part of the castle. Well, not awake. I sleepwalk, you see. That's why I wear shoes to bed."
"You know, I really hate children."
It's curious that you should be destined for this wand when its brother gave you that scar.

"Harry, Harry, Harry. Can you think of any better way to spend detention than by answering my fan mail?"
"Oi, Hermione… you’re a girl.”

"But I am the Chosen One.”

"I didn't mean to kill you... just maime or seriously injure.."


I can barely contain my excitement!

Harry Potter Mania 3- Oh Man!

Yesterday was dedicated to the ladies so today we will be drooling over my favorite Potter boy:

This would be Cormac Mclaggen. Pretty boy of Hogwarts. And I love every minute of it.