Category: Everything Else

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Everything Else

Freaking

Please tell me I’m not alone here.

You think you’re doing the “right” thing, replacing your beloved F word with a replacement, freaking. No, it doesn’t pack the same punch. No, it doesn’t perfectly describe your mood, or attitude, or pain at stepping on that toy (again). But freaking doesn’t turn heads said in the driveway by you as a 34 year old.

But you know what does turn heads?! Your 3.5 going on 17 year old daughter using phrases like “what the heck! My freaking cheese has a rip in it!” Or “Mommy, help me, I can’t get my freaking coat off.”

I mean what do you say? I had to bite my lip so hard to keep from cracking a smile. Part of me so proud of her correct usage in a sentence. Most of me like OMGosh did that just come out of her mouth?! & girl, please don’t say that! It’s not a good adjective for little ones!

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So yeah, anyone have (another) favorite, preschooler-repeating-friendly alternative to my beloved F word. And Eff doesn’t work either. Thankfully the real thing or “eff this” has yet to come out of this sweet face.

Don’t even get my started on “What the heck?”. I’m not sure why, but that phrase is in so many of L&Z’s current favorite movies?! Sigh. And OMG is Gosh or Goodness from me. But it’s become Zach’s favorite phrase for all his good, bad, exciting things & we don’t love that either. Sigh. Maybe I need multiple phrase advise!

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Everything Else

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

One of the fun parts of being a “blogger” in our area is the movies! And not much has been a more anticipated release than the final film in the Hunger Games series. With a quickly replied to email, Jason & I had our first date night in a while.
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It’s been years since I read the novels. And while I enjoyed the book trilogy but have to say, I think I liked this movie more than the last book.

Mockingjay Part 2 starts where Part 1 ended, in District 13 with Peeta in recovery after being held captive & the revolution on going against President Snow & the capital.

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Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson , far left), Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, center left), Boggs (Mahershala Ali, center right) and Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth, far right) in THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 2. Photo Credit: Murray Close

This film is action packed! I thought the effects were really good. I loved the characters & actors did a great job.
Jennifer Lawrence as Katiss shines as a strong, independent heroine. I loved seeing more of the Gale, Peeta, Katiss love triangle. And Boggs, leading the team in the photo above, was one of my favorites.

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Jennifer Lawrence stars as ‘Katniss Everdeen’ in THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 2. Photo Credit: Murray Close

As in the past films, the hair, make-up, costumes were awesome. The Capital residents like the beloved Effie’s outfits were over the top amazing!

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fie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks, left) and Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, right) in THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2. Photo Credit: Murray Close

Donald Sutherland does a great job portraying the loved to hate President Snow.

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onald Sutherland stars as ‘President Snow’ in THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY - PART 2. Photo Credit: Murray Close

Fans of this series, do not miss this film! Take advantage of this holiday weekend & go!

Thanks to Lionsgate media marketing for inviting me to go see this film. While Jason & I were able to get early passes to the movie, I was not otherwise compensated & my review is not influenced by the passes.

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Everything Else

The Age of Adaline

I recently had the pleasure of solo night out to see The Age of Adaline.

The Age of Adaline poster

I had heard little to nothing about the film before I cozied into the theater seat, & yet I was treated to quite a wonderful movie that night.

The Age of Adaline

Blake Lively portrays Adaline Bowman, a woman born in the early 1900s yet due to a freak accident, is permanently 28 years old. Her hair & costumes design were gorgeous (& so is she!) as we follow Adaline through memories & events in a decade of fashion.

Adaline’s love interest, Ellis Jones, is played by Michiel Huisman which I spent the film thinking “I know him from somewhere” & yes, he was in Game of Thrones! Quite the handsome guy!

The Age of Adaline Flemming

Ellen Burstyn co-stars in the film as Adaline’s daughter & as always, I love her warm characters. Harrison Ford shines as Ellis’ dad & has some stand-out, memorable scenes.

The Age of Adaline William

I wasn’t walking into this night out thinking much but The Age of Adaline made me laugh, gave me chills & I had to subtly wipe away a tear. This would be a great date night movie or a wonderful girl’s night out too!

The Age of Adaline came out nationwide April 24th. Thanks to Lionsgate for the ticket to see the film.

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Everything Else

Insurgent

Did you get swept away by the Divergent trilogy novels by Veronica Ruth like I did?! I flew through the books in a summer beach reading with babies then pumping working mom with time reading kicks.

And of course I joined millions of other women to see Divergent in film when it came out! I loved it, see my favorite characters played out in a movie was wonderful.

I was thrilled when I began seeing previews for the second movie, Insurgent! And thanks to husband staying home to keep L&Z in bed, I was able to see a showing of Insurgent last week.
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Insurgent in one word: suspenseful! I felt it was very action packed keeping up with the Divergent Tris & her allies. I loved seeing Octavia Spencer as the lead of Amity!
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The special effects were decent & lots of fighting scenes. Kate Winslet did a good job playing the power hungry role of Jeanine, evil Erudite faction leader. I love the actress & she made it easy to dislike her character!
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And just when I thought the teen romance between Tris (Shailene Woodley) & Four (Theo James) wasn’t quite holding my attention, they threw in a love scene that had my inner teenage self giggling a bit.
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It’d been long enough since I read the book that I didn’t exactly remember what happened. And that was kind of nice, except I don’t love surprises! In hindsight, it probably would have been helpful to re-watch Divergent or to re-read Insurgent so I would have not been surprised by a few scenes!

And now I’m left confused where this series will go next, I might have to read the final book again before that film comes out!

Insurgent is out in theaters everywhere as of last Friday March 20th. Have you seen it yet? What did you think?

In exchange for my review, I was able to see Insurgent early on behalf of Lionsgate.

Categories
Everything Else Motherhood

Cinderella Girls Night!

I had the pleasure this week to take a few rare bits of ‘me time’. First a work trip away from home one night where I was able to reconnect with coworkers & had a hotel room all to myself!

Next up was a midweek ladies night! I need to do these way more often & I was overdue to reconnect with my friend Kristen. Dinner & a movie one on one time was lovely when usually we’re either online chatting or juggling our 5 kids between us! I think the waiter came by 3 times before I’d stopped talking long enough to open my menu!
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We rushed our bills & made our way into our seats just in time though. And as I’d heard rumored, we were treated to seeing Frozen Fever as the 7 min short story! Lucy & Zach will love it & will think Anna’s birthday day & the new song are so funny & cute!
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Cinderella stars Lily James as Ella starting as a beloved child growing up in an idyllic small farm life with dotting, dear parents.

I loved seeing such a beloved fairy tale in real life live action. The set & scenery were gorgeous!
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The make up & costume designers for the step-mother & sisters (Cate Blanchette, Holliday Grainger & Sophie McShera) as well as Ella, did an amazing job. Those ladies did a great job playing disliked characters!
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Helena Bonham as the fabulous Fairy Godmother was spectacular! She was gorgeous & perfect for the role.
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Someone else gorgeous was the Prince (the handsome Richard Madden) & Ella! I want to try on that glass slipper! Her ball gown will inspire lots of girls in blue dresses this summer & fall!

Speaking of girls, moms take yours to this film! It opened everywhere Fri March 13th! Beware there are 3 deaths & it’s 105 minutes. I don’t think Lucy could sit through it yet, but there were a few older toddlers & many little girls completely enchanted with Cinderella. Make it a sweet mother-daughter movie afternoon.

Or go like I did with friends! You don’t want to miss seeing your childhood favorite on the big screen. Cinderella made me believe in magic, fairy tales & happily ever after. And as Ella’s mom said, to help me to remember to teach my children to always “have courage & be kind”!