Watch 20 new-to-me movies (14/20)

Into the Wild-3 stars (innnteresting but maybe I should have read the book instead?  it felt slow and also I can't really relate very well)
City Slickers-2 stars (expected so much more, couldn't wait for this to end, maybe I should give it 1 star?)
The King's Speech-4 stars (really, really enjoyed)
Precious-3 stars (a little too "real" for me though I knew what I was getting into)
Easy A-4 stars (ha I enjoyed this random find on instant watch)
The Fighter-4 stars (really enjoyed)
Unstoppable-3 stars (this has been done before)
Inception-4 stars (glad I finally saw this. interesting concept)
Larry Crowne-3 stars (though funny, the characters were not well-developed)

Kick-Ass-4 stars (loved this and thought I'd hate it.  When Cliff picked it, I was all ready to turn it off.)
Grown-Ups-2 stars (too stupid to enjoy)
The Other Guys-1 star (also waaaaay too stupid to enjoy)
No Strings Attached-3 stars (enjoyed way more than I thought I would)
Black Swan-4 stars (I'm having flashbacks of this movie right now--creeeepy)

29. Get a regular doctor 30. Get an OB/GYN

Appointments next week! Hopefully we won't find out that I have some rare diseases or common diseases.  I'm glad I finally got this off my list.  It's been in the back of my mind for quite some time.

16. Attend at least 3 book readings

On May 23, 2011, I went to see Sarah Dessen in Staten Island!  I started going to author readings during college.  I even got to see John Irving who is one of my all-time favorite authors.  I felt like I really got to understand the books on a deeper level and that really strengthened my appreciation for the author and their books. 

I LOVE reading.  I always have.  I can't explain how much I love it.  If I have kids who don't love to read one day I'm going to be insanely sad.  So, it was really exciting to me to get to meet an author of books that I love.  I've read 3 (or 4?) of Sarah Dessen's books so far and though I've loved some more than others, they have all been really entertaining.  I own all but one of her books and thanks to paperback swap I'll be remedying that shortly.  Anyway, I really enjoyed the reading, though I did NOT enjoy the traffic or the fact that it was on a Thursday (whyyyyyyy).  Anyway, I was glad I went and I'll be on the lookout for some more awesome author readings in the near future.  At least 2 more, anyway!

Maybe not the greatest picture the world has ever seen, but Sarah Dessen really does look like her book covers!  That is a woman who ages well, my friends!

12. See a Broadway show

For my cousin Jon's graduation from 8th grade, we went to NYC to see Phantom of the Opera.  It was actually my parents' gift, but somehow my brother, husband, and I were roped in as well.  I've actually already seen Phantom and while it's good, if I'd have had my choice, I wouldn't have picked this show.  I would have picked Wicked or Jersey Boys because I've wanted to see them for like 2 years now.  I'll get there one day.  It's just so expensive!  Anyway, everyone enjoyed the show (although I was in the middle of having a 2 day allergy induced (I think) headache).  Jon was hooked and loved New York City.  I told him I want to see Wicked and when I saw him yesterday he was asking me when I'm going to take him to it.  The tickets for that show are RIDICULOUSLY expensive.  I told him he better start saving his money!

 

There have been better pictures of me taken but I had a wicked headache and I've never really been that photogenic =)

It's What's for Dinner

I'm going to attempt to use this blog more.  Hopefully it will keep me more organized (or rather keep my organization in one place) and help me keep track of that list I always have in the back of my head.

I'm trying to do more cooking because it's summer and I'm not working full time and Cliff deserves a break.  He usually does a lot of the cooking because he gets home before me and because I am often exhausted when I get home from school!  Here's what we're planning on eating this week!:

Sunday: Baked Chicken Chimichangas
Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Zippy Summer Shrimp
Wednesday: Leftovers
Thursday: Crispy Yogurt Chicken
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Grilled Pizzas


We eat a lot of leftovers because there are only two of us and we always end up making way more than we actually eat somehow!

46. Watch 20 classic movies (1/20)

A few days ago, I finally sat down and watched It Happened One Night with Claudette Colbert and Clark Gable (awesome names btw).  I'd had it from Netflix for probably a month, or two.  Wow, that's a pretty expensive movie if you think about it...Anyway, I just didn't feel like watching it and I don't actually watch that many movies or that much tv so I just hadn't been getting around to it.  But I'm so glad I did.  It was so cute and I loved it.  Cliff even watched it with me.  When it first came on he was like oh man, it's in black and white!?  But in the end, I think he really liked it too.  I decided to watch it because it was mentioned in Anna and the French Kiss and I knew I was trying to watch more classic movies, so really I went into it knowing nothing.  It was not exactly what I thought it'd be since I hadn't really known what it was about, but it was definitely a very good movie.  There's a reason they're called classics, I guess! 

47. Watch 20 new-to-me movies (2/20)

I've recently watched two movie theater movies, both with Natalie Portman.  Let me start by saying two things: first, neither of these are really the type of movie I usually go to see and secondly, Natalie Portman is an awesome actress.  She really outdid herself in both of her roles. 

So, Black Swan.

Wow.  Black Swan was something of a mindfuck.  Yes, I just used that term, and no, I don't usually use it.  But wow.  Just, wow.  I didn't know what I was in for when I agreed to go and see the movie with my mom.  Yes, with my mom.  Somewhat uncomfortable during certain parts...Anyway, I don't even know what to say about it besides the fact that she was amazing.  I don't think I'd want to see it again, but it was definitely worth going to see just because it was such...a mindfuck.  Yes, I said it again.  But really, I don't quite know how to describe this movie.  It was uncomfortable to watch but also amazing if you thought about how well Portman performed.


The other movie I recently saw was No Strings Attached. 

We had wanted to go see Just Go With It but of course, that was sold out since it was opening weekend...err, opening Tuesday?  Anyway, who doesn't love Jennifer Aniston?  And, I used to love Adam Sandler back in his Happy Gilmore days...ah well, maybe next Optimum Card free movie Tuesday!  Anyway, No Strings Attached was a really cute Rom Com.  I enjoyed it although I really was not on board with the premise of the movie.  I've never really liked movies or tv shows that just show mindless sex or worse, promote it.  I just don't go for the idea that you should just have sex with whomever seems to be around regardless of whether you like them, just met them, etc.  I always felt that it should be within a relationship of longer than a month...but then again, maybe that's just me.  So, anyway, even though it was a Rom Com and you basically know how it's going to end, it really was enjoyable and well done.  I ended up liking Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman's characters and was rooting for them to get together.  Anyway, for free, I'll go see a movie any day.  For $12, I'm not so sure...but that's why I love free movie Tuesday, I don't have to decide!

19. Own a house

On February 3 we became the proud owners of our own house once again!  We got to finally move out of Cliff's parents' house after 3 months!  Boy, is it nice to have a place to call our own again. 

Unfortunately, we have lots to do to make the house more to our liking/livable.  This house was in pretty sad shape in some ways--like the kitchen! 

Happily, this weekend we were able to get out to PC Richards where Cliff showed off his amazing haggling stills and we bought ourselves an entirely new set of kitchen appliances from GE Cafe collection. 

Hopefully we'll have them for many years.  And our kitchen will start looking more like the one on the GE website haha

And let's just say the previous owners' color choices left a lot to be desired...

There was a lot of green and yellow.  The green actually doesn't look that bad in the picture, but trust me, it had seen better days.

So we've been working like crazy to get this house into a livable state and while it's fun in some ways, it's quite tiring!  Luckily we had a lot of help over the last few weeks to help us get started...I'll get picture of our helpers up at some point...but for now, it's back to regrouting the kitchen floor.  Fun times!