M.I.A.

I've been M.I.A. lately when it comes to this blog, I know. I've decided to resurrect it though, give it some much needed LIFE.
In truth, though, after next week, I may lack the time needed to continue at all. Why? Because I finally got a job--a job I'm very excited about in an industry that I'm excited to dip my feet into--digital media. The only thing is, it's an agency, and agencies are energy and time suckers. So we shall see how this blog fits into everything.
I'm also excited because at some point in the near future, I can finally move out. Get an apartment like this one below. Can't wait.

On a side note, I received the novel, the MockingJay (book 3 in the Hunger Games trilogy) yesterday. Let me tell you, I tore open that Amazon package like a kid at Christmas. If you haven't read this young adult series, go out and buy book one NOW. You won't regret it. Like the Book Thief and Twilight, it definitely caters to adults as well, so don't feel embarrased reading it on the train. They're also making the series into a movie, so be sure to read it before it's on screen.

How Americans See Europe...

I think this is strangely accurate...


Except, I would say I'm pretty well-rounded on my knowledge of European geography now, so I know where Slovenia is. This is all thanks to Sporacle.com: the ultimate time-wasting/kill-time site. So, hats off to sporcle.

Great Great Grandparents

Francis Xavier Gamma and his wife, Rose Komatz, (circa 1940s)

I've been doing a bit of ancestral research lately... It's pretty fascinating stuff. These two are my great great grandparents--my dad's grandmother's parents. They were both born in Switzerland and died in Wisconsin.

Ondine

This upcoming movie starring Colin Farrell as an Irish fisherman who thinks he discovers a mermaid looks intriguing.

Check the preview out here:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3492152345/

The Pacific and Band of Brothers

I've just hopped on the bandwagon for these WWII-inspired masterpieces. I finished the ten part miniseries Band of Brothers only last weekend, and when it was finally over, I felt strangely tense, emotional and sentimental. Every minute of it just felt so REAL.

On a side note, I think Band of Brothers is the only program I've ever seen with a 9+ rating on IMDB--pretty impressive and well deserved!

Can't wait until next Sunday. Episode 3/10 of The Pacific.

Blizzard

This weekend the Midatlantic area was ambushed by the biggest snowstorm since 1996. Around here (the Philly 'burbs) we have somewhere between 28 to 30 inches. It's a whoozie, that's for sure...

It's Sunday night right now, and I have yet to leave my house because of the weather. So far my weekend has consisted of these domestic fun-filled activities:

-Friday night viewing of the Hurt Locker (2nd time seeing it and still so riveting)
-I made a gorgeous meal on Saturday, if I do say so myself... crash hot potatoes courtesy of the Pioneer Woman, roasted carrots, and lamb chops with a balsamic reduction. YUM.
-Today, I tried my hand at making homemade pasta. Though I'm pretty sure I did everything right, I wasn't all that impressed. I think I need to invest in a pasta cutter machine if I'm serious about this...
-Oh and of course the obligatory jigsaw puzzle with the pops.

Gotta love it. Anyway back to the madness that is outside. Here are some photos I took:

Backyard. Notice the submerged chairs.


Looking out the front door.



Looking out the back door.

The Razzie Noms Are Out!

These are just a few of the categories that I thought I'd put in my two cents for:

Worst picture
All About Steve, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra,Land of the Lost,Old Dogs,Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
*I haven't seen any of these because I had a feeling they'd be terrible. If I had to vote though, I'd go for GI:Joe. That looked simply AWFUL.

Worst actress
Beyonce Knowles, Obsessed;Sandra Bullock, All About Steve;Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie;Megan Fox, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen;Sarah Jessica Parker, Did You Hear About The Morgans?
*My vote is for Miley and/or Beyonce. The previews alone demonstrate how forced their acting is. They should stick with singing or at least get some formal training.

Worst supporting actor
Billy Ray Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie; Hugh Hefner, Miss March; Robert Pattinson, New Moon; Jorma Taccone, Land of the Lost; Marlon Wayans, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra
*Robert Pattinson. His over-the-top angsty performance made me cringe.

If I had only one hour to live...

I realize this was posted on Digg awhile ago, but everytime I take another look at it, I start cracking up all over again. It's just so clever. I only wish I was still in school so I could write this for the many horrible professors I had to endure. (International Relations 101 prof, Mass Communication Research prof, I'm thinking of you...).

What a Smile!

Read this woman's story here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6995708.ece

The picture really says it all, but I'm just blown away by this story and this woman's spirit and will to survive. Apparently, as she was rescued , she had a big smile on her face and began to sing. I find myself wondering what she sang... I also wonder what the atmosphere must have been like as the French resucuers pulled her out of the rubble. I'd imagine it was just electric and full of hope... Really just an incredible story:-)

Actors Under 25 to Watch

I LOVE films/movies. I'm a movie fanatic. I'm one of those people that goes out of her way to watch all the Oscar contenders. I'm also one of those people that IMDBs everyone. (That's right, I use IMDB as a verb.) I've also had a few internships in the film production industry, and despite the obvious cattiness and self-absorption that plagues so much of it, I still LOVE it. It's so creative, and I just love being around story-telling.

In any case, I've been IMDBing a lot of under 25 year-old actors lately, wondering if they're the next big talent. I've compiled a list, just for fun. Some you've probably already heard of/recognize because they're just breaking in now, while others have proven their acting chops but haven't yet become house-hold names. (Note: I haven't included under 25's like Keira Knightley and Shia Lebeouf, simply because they've starred and carried major films for awhile now).

Amanda Seyfried
Nationality: American
Year of Birth (Y.O.B): 1985
Where You've Seen her: Mamma Mia, Big Love
Upcoming Projects: Dear John (Co-starring with Channing Tatum, and based on the Nicholas Sparks tear-jerker novel.)

Isabel Lucas
Nationality: Austrailian
Y.O.B.: 1985

Where You've Seen her: The Pacific

Shareeka Epps
Nationality: American

Y.O.B.: 1989

Where You've Seen her: Half Nelson (Co-starring Ryan Gosling)
Upcoming Projects: Yelling to the Sky, a family drama that co-stars Gabourey Sidibe of Precious

Jamie Bell

Nationality: British
Y.O.B: 1986
Where You've Seen him: Defiance (a great one if you haven't see it!), Flags of Our Fathers
Upcoming Projects: The Eagle of the Ninth (a British period flick co-starring Channing Tatum)

Mia Wasikowska

Nationality: Austrailian

Y.O.B: 1989

Where You've Seen her: Defiance, Amelia
Upcoming Projects: Alice in Wonderland, Jane Eyre

Logan Lerman

Nationality: American
Y.O.B.: 1992
Where You've Seen him: 3:10 to Yuma, My One and Only
Upcoming Projects: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightening Thief

Carey Mulligan

Nationality: British
Y.O.B: 1985

Where You've Seen her: An Education (an upcoming Oscar contender), Public Enemies, Brothers

Upcoming Projects: My Fair Lady, Wall Street 2

Anna Kendrick

Nationality: American
Y.O.B.: 1985
Where You've Seen her: Up in the Air (another Oscar contender), Twilight
Upcoming Projects: Eclipse, I'm with Cancer (co-starring Seth Rogen, James McAvoy)

Saoirse Ronan
Nationality: Irish

Y.O.B.: 1994

Where You've Seen her: The Lovely Bones, Atonement

Upcoming Projects: The Way Back (co-starring Colin Farrell, Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris)

Olivia Wilde

Nationality: American
Y.O.B.: 1984
Where You've Seen her: House M.D.

Upcoming Projects: Tron Legacy (a sci-fi film co-starring John Hurt, Jeff Bridges)

Gaspard Ulliel

Nationality: French
Y.O.B.: 1984
Where You've Seen him: Hannibal Rising, Paris Je t'aime, The Vintner's Luck
Upcoming Projects: Nothing noteworthy...YET.

Christopher Egan

Nationality: Austrailian
Y.O.B.: 1984
Where You've Seen him: Kings

Upcoming Projects: Letters to Juliet (co-starring Amanda Seyfried)

Gemma Arterton

Nationality: British
Y.O.B.: 1986
Where You've Seen her: Quantum of Solace
Upcoming Projects: Wuthering Heights, Prince of Persia

Freida Pinto

Nationality: IndianY.O.B.: 1984
Where You've Seen her: Slumdog Millionaire
Upcoming Projects: You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (co-starring Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin).

Lou Taylor Pucci

Nationality: American
Y.O.B. 1985
Where You've Seen him: Fanboys, Thumbsucker
Upcoming Projects: Nothing Notable...YET

Juno Temple

Nationality: British
Y.O.B. 1989
Where You've Seen her: Atonement, Year One, The Other Boleyn Girl
Upcoming Projects: Greenberg (a drama/comedy starring Ben Stiller)

Paul Dano

Nationality: American
Y.O.B.: 1984
Where You've Seen him: There Will be Blood, Little Miss Sunshine
Upcoming Projects: Knight and Day (co-starring Tom Crusise, Cameron Diaz), Meek's Cutoff.

Ivana Baquero

Nationality: Spanish
Y.O.B.: 1994
Where You've Seen her: Pan's Labyrinth
Upcoming Projects: A New Daughter (a thriller co-starring Kevin Costner)

Anton Yelchin

Nationality:American
Y.O.B.: 1989
Where You've Seen him: Star Trek, New York, I Love You
Upcoming Projects: Star Trek sequel, The Beaver (a comedy co-starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster)

Karoline Herfurth

Nationality: German
Y.O.B.: 1984
Where You've Seen her: Perfume: the Story of a Murderer, The Reader
Upcoming Projects: Nothing Notable...YET

Dev Patel

Nationality: British
Y.O.B.1990
Where You've Seen him: Slumdog Millionaire
Upcoming Projects: The Last Airbender (an M. Night Shyamalan film)

Sofia Vassilieva

Nationality: American
Y.O.B.: 1992
Where You've Seen her: My Sister's Keeper (the cancer patient)
Upcoming Projects: Nothing Notable...YET

Thomas Sangster

Nationality: British
Y.O.B.: 1990
Where You've Seen him: Bright Star (incredible, if you haven't seen it yet!), Love Actually (he played Liam Neeson's son)
Upcoming Projects: He is set to play a young Paul McCartney in Nowhere Boy

Michael Angarano
Nationality: American
Y.O.B.:1987
Where You've Seen him: Lords of Dogtown, The Forbidden Kingdom
Upcoming Projects: Ceremony (a comedy co-starring Uma Thurman)

Tom Sturridge

Nationality: British
Y.O.B. 1985
Where You've Seen him: The Boat that Rocked/Pirate Radio, Being Julia
Upcoming Projects: Nothing too notable...YET

David Kross

Nationality: German
Y.O.B.: 1990
Where You've Seen him: The Reader
Upcoming Projects: Nothing Notable...YET

Emma Stone:

Nationality: American
Y.O.B.: 1988
Where You've Seen her: Superbad, Paper Man
Upcoming Projects: Easy A (co-starring Stanley Tucci, Amanda Bynes)

Keke Palmer:

Nationality: American
Y.O.B. 1993
Where You've Seen her: Akeelah and the Bee
Upcoming Projects: Nothing Notable...YET

Brandon Jackson

Nationality: American
Y.O.B.: 1984
Where You've Seen him: Tropic Thunder
Upcoming Projects: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Jennifer Lawrence:

Nationality: American
Y.O.B.: 1990
Where You've Seen her: The Burning Plain
Upcoming Projects: Winter's Bone (a Sundance hit), The Beaver.

Something Beautiful

I just returned from Boston, and I feel refreshed in every way. Seeing good friends will do that.

I admit that as my plane landed into Logan, I immediately felt as if I had come home after a long hiatus... I'm not sad about coming back to NJ though. In fact, I'm more determined than ever to take each day one at a time, and "enjoy the ride" of life that is my own. I'm thankful.

My friends now live in Brighton. It was nice because they all have cars, and thus, we didn't have to deal with the painfully unreliable Boston metro. If you've ever lived in Boston, you know what I mean. On Saturday, we were driving to some restaurant and Something Beautiful by Needtobreathe began to play. As we drove through the city with this song playing, I thought I want to stay and live in the place the singer describes in the song. These are the lyrics:

"In your ocean I'm ankle deep
I feel the waves crashing on my feet
It's like I know where I need to beI can't figure out
No, I can't figure out
Just how much air I will need to breathe
When your wave crashes over me
There's only one way to figure out
Will you let me drown

Hey now, this is my desire
Consume me like a fire
Cause I just want
Something beautiful to touch me
I know that I'm in reach
I am down on my kneesAnd waiting for
Something beautiful

And the water is rising quick
And for years I was scared of it
We can't be sure when it will subside
So I won't leave your side
No I can't leave your side"

It's a great, catchy song. Listen to it here: http://http://www.needtobreathe.net/music/something-beautiful/

Dream Home 2010

Every year, around this time, it happens. My mom yelps excitedly, "Greg, it's here! HGTV has just announced the dream home they're giving away!!!" And every year she tries to enlist my dad, and my brother and I to enter for it every day.

I've never been gung-ho about it, but this year I'm different. This year, I feel more domestic. I'm changing. I feel it. I even just bought wine glasses (see previous post), and I've come to love cooking, even though I'm absolutely hopeless at it most times... So, now everyday at work I enter this contest, knowing I'll never win, but still holding out just in case of a "miracle." You never know.

By the way, have you checked this place out? It's incredible, and certainly a "dream" home. It's located in New Mexico, and according to the web site, these are just some of the additional features:

-360 degree views
-open kitchen with an entire wall made from mosaic tile
-home theater
-$500,000 in spare cash

See more of this Southwestern gem:
http://www.hgtv.com/dream-home/index.html

Impulsive Buy

I'm definitely not someone who impulsively buys things, but today I did just that. Maybe I did it out of sheer boredom. In any case, I just bought these beautiful Nambe Wine Glasses from Ruelala.

Thoughts that ran through my head before purchase: "Would make a beautiful gift...Great to have when you eventually settle down."

I'll be sure to practice a bit more caution during future potential purchases.

Catherine of Siena

"Catherine of Siena is one of three women who have been honored by Catholic Christianity as Doctor of the Church, because of the depth of her writing on the spiritual life. She often began her prayers, 'O Divine Madman.' When this brilliant, fiery Italian woman was asked to describe the God of her journey, she whispered, 'He is pazzo'd'amore, ebro d'amore--he is crazed with love, drunk with love."

--Brennan Manning's Ruthless Trust

When I read the way this woman described God, I couldn't help but smile. So different from the way most view God today....

Chimichurri Sauce

I'm back from a lovely weekend in NYC where I visited my old roomies/best buds from Boston. It was so activity filled--a long trip to Top Shop, a stop at the Upright Citizen's Brigade and of course, lots of eating and catching up.

(I have to mention that if you ARE in NYC right now, Top Shop sale items are buy one, get one free...a little piece of heaven for any girl:>)

Anytime, I come back from NYC and return to the suburbs, it feels like the silence is incredible deafening in comparison. It's a weird feeling. In any case, on this lazy Sunday, I feel like cooking. I'm going to try this:

http://www.simplecomfortfood.com/2009/12/21/chimichurri-sauce/

CHIMICHURRI SAUCE.


Found this recipe using http://www.tastespotting.com/, one of my favorite food sites, thanks to Meems. I've always loved Argentinian steakhouses, so I'm hoping to grill some chicken or steak and then drizzle it with some of this delicious sauce.

Getting Started

I've never been interested in blogging. In fact, I thought it a bit silly, vain and wasteful of time better spent elsewhere. Last year, when I was forced to start a blog for a social media class, I grudgingly began writing, pulling my hair to try to stay true to my foodie-themed posts. "Stay on theme, get found, increase your SEO," said my professor. Well, that's just no fun, so as soon as the assignment was completed I abandoned my little "half-assed" (as my mother would say) blog.

Now, things have changed. I'm a recent grad with ample time, and little to challenge me at my current job. In fact, I'm bored, very bored. And, while reading other people's blogs, I've found blogging to actually be fun if it's done right. Why NOT blog about life today--tomorrow's memories? Why not blog about these things, so I can remember these memories and keep in touch with people? (I'm sorry, Twitter and Facebook updates just don't quite measure up:). Also, I miss writing, and this is the perfect remedy. So here I go. I will blog about everything and anything that suits my fancy, and in the process, I'll try to be a little bit interesting--I don't want any sagging eyes!:)