Movie Review Monday - Julie and Julia

A few weeks ago I went and saw Julie and Julia...here is my review!

Synopsis from Screen It -

It's 1949 and Julia Child (MERYL STREEP) has moved to Paris with her husband Paul (STANLEY TUCCI). He's busy working as an exhibits officer with the United States Information Agency, but she's bored and needs something to fill her time. After some unsuccessful ventures, she decides upon taking up French cooking, what with her love of eating that cuisine but inability to find any French cookbooks that have been translated into English.

After getting into the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school run by the snooty Madame Brassart (JOAN JULIET BUCK), Julia eventually meets Simone Beck (LINDA EMOND) and Louisette Bertholle (HELEN CAREY), and the three women decide to write an English language version of a French cookbook.

Little do they know that their work will later inspire and change the life of someone many decades later in 2002. She's Julie Powell (AMY ADAMS), a government call center agent who responds to citizen inquiries about most anything related to the terrorist attacks of 9/11. That line of work gets her down, as does her recent move with her husband Eric (CHRIS MESSINA) to a small apartment above a pizza parlor in Queens.

It's Eric who convinces her she should blog about her experiences, and she decides she'll do one about cooking, what with thinking she's found a kindred spirit in Julia Child. Giving herself a one-year deadline, she sets out to make every recipe in Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking cookbook, getting support not only from Paul and her best friend, Sarah (MARY LYNN RAJSKUB), but also the growing number of readers following her blog.

As she continues her quest and must contend with various obstacles and setbacks, the story alternates between her tale and that of Child who strives to get her cookbook written and published.

Gina's take...I loved this movie - its just a feel good movie (for women, I do not think that guys would enjoy this). I went by myself to a matinee and was one of about 9 women in there. It had lots of laughter in it. As Ms. Gail in my office said, "it was delightful" and she was right!

Gina's rating...Will you regret seeing this at the movies (if it is still out)? NO! This movie will make you smile! Is it a must see at the movies? Yes! It came out over a month ago, so it is probably only showing during limited times or at the $1 theater - which is even better! If you cannot go and see it, rent it - you will not regret it!!!

Rated - PG-13 (language)

Show Me Your Life - Dessert

I have been finding all sorts of new blogs lately and I came across Kelly's Korner - she has a Show Me Your Life Series every Friday - I thought I would join in today - all you do is what the title says - show me your life and you post a link to your blog.  Its a great way to share ideas...today's theme is desserts...

I really do not have a name for it - so lets call it Vanilla Oreo Whip

1 gallon vanilla ice cream
1 package Oreo Cookies
1 tub Cool Whip

Crumble up the oreo cookies in a large bowl (I use a coffee cup to break them up)
Spread ice cream in pan (I use a glass casserole dish), layer oreo cookies on top of ice cream, then layer cool whip, continue layering until the pan is full and top with remaining oreo cookies.

This is so simple and so good.  Its always a huge hit with my friends and people at church!
Enjoy!

Flashback Friday....

I love doing these Flashback Friday's. You might not enjoy them or really care - but its been so fun putting these together....

Loved this cartoon on Saturday mornings...and Brandon loves their Christmas music!!

Movie Review Monday - Love Happens

I have been going to the movies a lot lately so I thought I would do "movie review Monday"!! Friday night some girls from church and I went to see Love Happens with Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart.

Synopsis (from Screen It)-

Burke Ryan (AARON ECKHART) is a widower of three years who accidentally parlayed his grief into a successful career as a grief counselor and motivational speaker. In fact, he's so good at what he does, his manager, Lane Marshall (DAN FOGLER), is on the verge of landing a potentially lucrative business deal to market Burke's work and brand.

Yet, Burke isn't happy that meeting or his next seminar will take place in Seattle. After all, that's where he and his wife once lived, and he's had no contact with her parents, including her ex-Marine dad (MARTIN SHEEN), since a car accident took her life. Even so, Burke is committed to helping his clients, such as Walter (JOHN CARROLL LYNCH), a former contractor whose 12-year-old son died in a past accident.

Knowing that Burke is solely focused on his work, Lane encourages him to get out there and live. Taking that advice to heart, Burke decides to approach Eloise Chandler (JENNIFER ANISTON) who runs a florist shop with her lone employee, Marty (JUDY GREER), and delivers arrangements to the hotel where Burke's A-Okay seminar is being held.

As they get to awkwardly know each other, Eloise eventually realizes that while Burke is successful at helping others, he's never fully helped himself. From that point on, she tries to convince him to take some of his own medicine and advice so that he can finally move on with his life.

Gina's take...I thought it was a great movie. It was a sappy romantic/drama. I went with 8 other girls and 7/8 liked the movie (I even heard some guys behind us say they liked it too). There were laughs and tears in this movie (yes some of the girls pulled the tissue out).

Gina's Rating...will you regret seeing this at the movies? no. Is it a must see at the movies? no - you can rent it and save the $.

Rated - PG-13 for some language

Next week...Julie and Julia (unless I go to the movies this weekend and see Fame)

Flashback Friday....

My parents loved this song...they had the record and we played it all the time...

Brandon-isms

Brandon started "big school" last month ~ its hard to believe he is in kindergarten ~ the years have flown by. We've always thought he was funny ~ but since he has started school ~ the sayings have come out (Tracy has even started posting them to her Facebook statuses now since they have been so funny and people are requesting them daily)...

Brandon~"Hey mom, you know what, its wicked when it rains and the sun is out at the same time."

Brandon~"Mom, how do you spell tree?"

Tracy ~ "t-r-e-e"

Brandon~"Now ask me how to spell tree."

Tracy ~ "Brandon, how do you spell tree?"

Brandon~"T-r-e-e. Do you know why I know that?"

Tracy~ "No, how?"

Brandon ~ "Because I'm smart, that's why!"

Tracy ~ "Goodnight Brandon"

Brandon ~ "Yep, I'm out!"

Brandon ~ while jumping on his bed with sunglasses on and looking in the mirror..."Oh yeah I'm famous, Oh yeah I'm hot, Oh yeah I'm cool, Oh yeah I'm a dork"

Brandon ~ "I got called a midget today at school..what's a midget?"

Tracy ~ "A really cool short person...what did you tell the kid?"

Brandon ~ "I told him to step off"

Flashback Friday....

This was the dumbest, yet funniest movie....