watch it: 21 jump street

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Notable Cast Members: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Brie Larson, Dave Franco, Ice Cube, Rob Riggle, Ellie Kemper, DeRay Davis

Overall Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (rating rationale)

Plot Summary: Schmidt (Jonah Hill) has his brains going for him. Jenko (Channing Tatum) has his braun. At the police academy, the two set aside differences from high school and join forces to help each other become police officers. In the process, they also become best friends and partners. After screwing up their first attempt at a major arrest, the deputy chief (played by Parks and Recreation's Nick Offerman) reassigns them to an undercover operation located at 21 Jump Street. The two prepare to go undercover at a local high school in order to stop the spread of a dangerous new drug (while living with Schmidt's parents in the house he grew up in). However, they accidentally mix up their newly assigned identities, and Schmidt, who was an academic outsider in high school, gets in with the popular crowd, while Jenko, who was an all-around jock unconcerned with learning, makes friends with the nerds. Add in the fact that their police work is not always top-dollar, and you get some hilarious, action-packed entertainment.

Personal Thoughts: I loved this movie! It's one of the funniest movies I've seen in awhile - definitely the funniest since Bridesmaids. I know I usually like most movies I review, but I claim it's not that I like everything and it's more that I am just good at spending my time on movies I like...although most people tell me it's the first option. I know I'm not alone on my 21 Jump Street opinion, though! Dan thought this movie was hilarious and worth seeing in theaters, as did a few other people with whom I discussed the film. That being said, if you enjoy movies like Superbad, Stepbrothers, Pineapple Express, Your Highness, etc., then you will probably enjoy 21 Jump Street. If you didn't like at least one of those movies, you may not like 21 Jump Street. If you can't handle violence, you might not like 21 Jump Street (or at least will need to avert your eyes for a few moments). A lot of my favorite movies are ones like the four mentioned above, and I am excellent at averting my eyes at any violence that gets to me, so I did enjoy this movie! Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum have an excellent rapport as weirdly-matched best friends, display awesome comedic chops, and nicely play the "serious" moments without any cheesiness. The supporting cast is superb, especially Dave Franco and Ice Cube. The story is a bit off-kilter, but just grounded enough. If you're looking for a movie to crack you up while also blowing stuff up, 21 Jump Street has got you covered.

weekly gems

Source: ladybirdln.com via Kelly on Pinterest

• Recipes I want to try: Sally's rum french toast with maple syrup rum, cinnamon biscuits, avocado apple and arugula salad, banana birthday cake, Lucky Charms treats, all of these recipes with blood oranges
• Great article on the new buildings on campus at my alma mater, BGSU, and what it means for the state of Ohio.
• Awesome apps for book lovers.
• Interesting post about Irish wedding traditions.
• I might need to try some of these Hunger Games-inspired nail polishes.
• Happy 100th Birthday to the Girl Scouts of America! (well, it was Monday. But still!)
• I'm in love with this series on Carrots 'n' Cake called Blog Dogs. Similarly, tips for photographing your pet!
• The best 35 cameos in movie history.
• Encyclopaedia Britanica is no longer releasing print books.
• The ten funniest comedic lady tweets of the week.
• I'll definitely be checking out this jewelry company, 31 bits, that works with women in Northern Uganda.
• Interesting article on earning money through blogging.
• I definitely want to try out some of these trainer-favorited abs exercises, as well as these leg and arms workouts!
• Favorite Hello Giggles posts of the week: 1, 2, 3, 4
• Favorite weddings of the week: 1, 2, 3

P.S. Happy St. Patrick's Day : )

weekly gems

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Kelly on Pinterest

• Recipes I want to try: chocolate caramel brownies or brownie squares, bacon cheddar scones, browned butter blueberry muffins, and bacon arugula pizza
• I love the idea of a pancake bar for any party!
• In honor of her birthday this past week, here are some rare and unpublished photos of Elizabeth Taylor.
• The photo diary of Uggie, the canine star of The Artist (and Water for Elephants!), is so cute!
• Do you watch Parks and Recreation? Its newest star is another canine actor - a three legged pit bull named Lucy. Also, check out this playlist inspired by the characters of Leslie and Ben.
• Great tips on how to style an entryway.
• Pumped up for Mackenzie's Design Darling Boutique!!
• I'm also loving these these Hello Giggles posts: 1 & 2
• The peplum is in right now, and I'm surprised to say I'm liking it.
• The best articles about this year's Oscars: best quotes of the evening & an interview with Christopher Plummer

LOL: muppets google+ hangout

In case I haven't made it clear on this blog, I adore the Muppets. This new commercial for Google+ (featured during the 2012 Academy Awards) just puts me in a fantastic mood. Watch it and I dare you not to smile!

oscars recap 2012

I love watching the Academy Awards. I seriously act like a kid on Christmas. Everything about the show interests me: fashion, montages, behind-the-scenes, host and presenter humor, touching speeches, etc. This year, in addition to avidly discussing the show as it happened with my family, I also shared my thoughts and followed others via Twitter. In fact, I created a collection of my favorite Oscar 2012 tweets that offer humorous commentary and brief recaps of stand-out moments. That collection does include any photos of the evening's fashion, however. For that, you can check out one of these three slideshows (1, 2, 3) or check out my personal top ten looks list below:

Source: news.instyle.com via Kelly on Pinterest

10. Miss Piggy in Zac Posen and Kermit the Frog in Brooks Brothers : )

Source: usmagazine.com via Kelly on Pinterest

9. Sandra Bullock in a gorgeous backless Marchesa gown

Source: peoplestylewatch.com via Kelly on Pinterest

8. Cameron Diaz in Gucci

Source: peoplestylewatch.com via Kelly on Pinterest

7. Penelope Cruz in Giorgio Armani

Source: celebmoon.com via Kelly on Pinterest

6. Milla Jovovich in Elie Saab

Source: peoplestylewatch.com via Kelly on Pinterest

5. Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli Haute Couture

Source: redbookmag.com via Kelly on Pinterest

4. Tina Fey in Carolina Herrera

Source: peoplestylewatch.com via Kelly on Pinterest

3. Kristen Wiig in J. Mendel

Source: peoplestylewatch.com via Kelly on Pinterest

2. Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji

Source: redbookmag.com via Kelly on Pinterest

1. Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen

It was really hard to narrow down to a single "Best Dressed," but I fell in love Jessica Chastain's look. She just looked so regal and beautiful. I love the colors of the intricately detailed dress and how it complemented her skin tone and hair color. She looked like she was glowing! Octavia Spencer was definitely a close second for me. Her dress flattered her perfectly, in addition to being totally gorgeous. I adored Emma Stone, Tina Fey, and Kristen Wiig's looks as well. I felt like the gowns all fit their personalities (well, at least the view I have of their personalities) and took their natural beauty to the highest level. Milla Jovovich, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, and Sandra Bullock all looked outstanding. Their gowns are what I imagine when I think "Oscar dresses" and they all pulled them off flawlessly. Lastly, I had to include Miss Piggy and Kermit. I just can't deny the Muppets, especially in formal wear. I mean, really - who can resist this?

Source: thefw.com via Kelly on Pinterest

What were your favorite moments of the Oscars? Favorite red carpet looks? What wins were you happiest to see?

weekly gems

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• Recipes I want to try: mac and cheese cups, beignets, peanut butter and jelly bars, dirty brown rice with shrimp, mini chicken meatball soup, orange spiced cashews
• I LOVE the Oscars and I can't wait for this Sunday evening! In anticipation of the amazing fashion always featured, I enjoyed looking through this slideshow of Oscar's best looks.
• This post by Emily made me feel so relieved. I'm glad to hear other brides who feel overwhelmed at a big wedding ultimately are thankful they are doing/did it!
• Check out this post if you need a smile!
• Adored Jess's inspiring and relatable post on "smurgging." This MML post on "the abs situation" is also a must-read.
• If I was offered the chance to live either here or here, I'd take it!
• How much it would actually cost to build the Death Star.
• Interesting: how the recession is affecting young adults, how marriage is becoming an economic privilege, wedding statistics, and the most loved states.
• Favorite Hello Giggles posts as of late: one, two, three
• Four ways to volunteer and help animals
• It's true, I actually am addicted to ice cream.
• Great tips for planning a vacation.
• Favorite weddings of the week: one, two, three

watch it: big miracle

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Notable Cast Members: John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore, Ahmaogak Sweeney, Ted Danson, Kristin Bell, Dermot Mulroney, Vinessa Shaw, Rob Riggle, James LeGros

Overall Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ (rating rationale)

Plot Summary: In 1988, Adam Carlson (John Krasinski) was on assignment in Barrow, Alaska as part of his "Adam Around Alaska" series for his Anchorage news station. Shortly before Adam was ready to depart, he and his young native Alaskan friend, Nathan, discovered three gray whales - a mom, dad, and baby - trapped in the ice. Adam's ex-girlfriend Rachel (Drew Barrymore), who also happens to be a major Greenpeace activist, immediately begins campaigning for serious rescue efforts. Her cause is helped when NBC picks up the story and airs it nationally. Suddenly, the country is experiencing whale fever. The U.S. government, major oil companies, Barrow locals, and reporters and volunteers from across the U.S. band together to rescue the whales. The movie is based on a true story.

Personal Thoughts: I loved this movie! To be fair, I had a feeling I would going into it as I (a) love John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore, Kristin Bell and Ted Danson, (b) the film takes place in Alaska, a major place on my "To Visit" list, (c) the movie is all about animals, and (d) the film is based on a true story and even features excellent Cold War tension and cheesiness. All that being said, the movie did not disappoint. John Krasinksi and Drew Barrymore had a wonderful chemistry and did excellently in roles that fit them well. Ted Danson was deliciously evil yet human as an oil baron, as was Kristin Bell as an aspiring journalist. All of the greater supporting roles, such as James LeGros and Rob Riggle as helpful inventors, were well-done and enjoyable. The story itself was compelling and poignant. A big softie, I didn't even wear masacra to the theater (despite the fact that I wanted to look cute since it was a date with Dan) because I knew I would cry at some point- which I of course did. The movie definitely ended on a positive note, though, along with some fun credits that included information about what happened to the main players in the rescue once it was completed. Overall, the movie was touching, funny, and interesting, and I highly recommend it.

watch it: red tails

A couple weekends ago Dan came up from Columbus to visit. We love history (we both earned degrees in social studies education), and thought the new movie Red Tails looked interesting, despite its possible cheesiness, so we went to the theaters to see it.

Notable Cast Members: Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Nate Parker, David Oyelowo, Tristan Wilds

Overall Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ (rating rationale)

Plot Summary:

While the Tuskegee program in the military allowed African-Americans the opportunity to be trained as pilots and take part in the U.S.A.'s WWII efforts, it did not initially allow them to participate in missions that put them in direct action against the enemy. Red Tails tells the story of these talented men and how they fought both the Axis powers and segregation within the U.S. military while stationed in Europe.

Personal Thoughts below the movie poster & CONTAINS SPOILERS

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Personal Thoughts (WITH SPOILERS):

I went into the movie knowing there would be cheesy parts based on what I saw in its trailer. I did not mind most of the cheesy parts of the movie. In fact, what could have been the cheesiest parts of the movie were not cheesy at all because of the amazing acting ability of Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Terrence Howard (Gooding, Jr., plays Major Emanuelle Stance, who leads the Red Tails, and Howard plays his commanding officer, Colonel A.J. Bullard). The parts I had the major issues with were the very beginning and the very end of the movie. The beginning of the movie made me cringe. It was poorly done, feeling like an awkward simulation rather than the opening of a story. The ending was just plain terrible. As far as I know, while this movie is inspired by true events, it is not actually based on any real individuals (please correct me if I am wrong!). That being said, I do not understand why the writers of the movie chose to conclude the story the way they did. Killing off the pretty much the only likable character not played by Terrence Howard or Cuba Gooding, Jr., or at least the only other character they clearly wanted you to cheer for, and then abruptly ending the film was like someone unexpectedly splashed my face with cold water. I think I actually turned to Dan in the theater and said, "What the hell?!" I did not feel that was a unnecessary turn of events for the story or the way to let it end. It pretty much ruined the movie for me. All that being said, I would not recommend seeing this movie in theaters. I wouldn't pay for a rental to watch it again, either (although if I had never seen it and had only paid $2 at Redbox to see it I wouldn't have been mad). I might settle in to give it a second chance if I ever happen to come across it on TV.

weekly gems

Source: oopsydaisy.com via Kelly on Pinterest

• Loving this new online shop run by Kendi of Kendi Everyday!
• Some inspiring responses to criticism by celebrities with curves.
• Favorite Hello Giggles posts of the week: one, two, three.
• I would like this sip/snack, please!
• The 10 best couples in sci-fi and fantasy TV and movies. Similarly, the top 50 romantic movies, as according to Redbook - do you agree?
• Enjoying the Matchbook Magazine blog's two new series On Her Shelf and Alphabet.
• How to drink tea and coffee like a European.
• Beyond excited for the special issue of Domino!
• Happy marriage secrets.
• Please let me live in this apartment - complete with the Ziggy the goldendoodle, as I'm sure Madison would love another friend!
• Adoring all the Valentine's Day inspired posts around the blogosphere. Some favorites: one, two, three

the 84th academy awards nominations

Yesterday was the day that movie and award show lovers alike were waiting for: the 84th Academy Award nominations were announced! I haven't seen all the movies and/or performances that were nominated (a list of 2011 movies I saw and my ratings of them can be found here), but I still had plenty of thoughts on the nominations as I read through them:

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Why was Moneyball nominated for so many awards?

Don't get me wrong, I saw Moneyball and thoroughly enjoyed it. The acting was certainly of a high quality and the story was compelling (at least if you enjoy baseball, sports movies, underdog stories, or any combination of the three). However, I did not leave the theater thinking, "WOW, Brad Pitt's acting in Moneyball was just AMAZING! Jonah Hill, he was just UNBELIEVABLE! Overall, that picture was OUTSTANDING!" In fact, if I was texting someone my opinion of the movie right after seeing it, I would not have written any adjectives in all-caps. Like I said, I did like Moneyball, and I do think Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill are great actors. I am just incredibly surprised Moneyball is being nominated for as many awards as it is. (As for film editing, I don't know much about that to know if Moneyball deserves it, and the same for sound mixing, but I'm guessing it probably does since there were a great deal of baseball-games-in-action scenes).

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Cars 2 wasn't nominated for Best Animated Feature.

I have no opinion on whether or not Cars 2 is a good film; I haven't seen it yet. I just found it very interesting that this was the first Pixar movie in what seems like forever that wasn't nominated for the big award.

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

I apparently need to watch The Help again, because my memory must not be serving me well.

I LOVED The Help and think it deserves all the awards it can get (well, clearly, since I'm using all-caps to declare my adoration for it). I am beyond thrilled that Viola Davis is nominated and so is Octavia Spencer (in photo above). While I felt like the entire cast was fantastic and worked together beautifully, I did not expect anyone else to be nominated for an acting award. I'm surprised Jessica Chastain (in photo above) keeps getting nominated as well, over stellar performances by Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, and Sissy Spacek (who's role was much too small to be nominated, but still well done). I also didn't expect Emma Stone to be nominated for Best Actress or necessarily think she deserved a nomination over the actual nominees, but I do think she deserves as much recognition for her performance in that film as Jessica Chastain does for hers.

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

There are some serious sins of omission here.

How did Jonah Hill receive a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Moneyball over the great Alan Rickman (photo above) in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II? And if Jonah Hill's performance was deemed Oscar-worthy, how in the world was Joseph Gordon-Levitt's performance in 50/50 not Oscar-worthy? How was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II not nominated for Best Picture when it was highly praised by critics and audiences alike, whereas a film like Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close has gotten lackluster reviews? Harry Potter should have, at the very least, been nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay in addition to the nominations it did receive. I was also greatly disappointed Super 8 was not nominated for a single Oscar, even though visual effects, film editing, sound mixing, etc., (though I don't know much about those categories to rate their quality) greatly contributed to the overall impressiveness of the movie.

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

The Academy did a decent job this year of recognizing comedy that deserves its attention.

I am mega-pleased that Melissa McCarthy was nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Bridesmaids (pictured above). Believe me, I love everything about that movie, but Melissa McCarthy definitely stole the show. Whether or not she deserves an Oscar over Octavia Spencer in The Help is yet to be seen. I guess it will boil down to whether the Academy wants to give this year's honors to an outstanding comedic performance or to an outstanding dramatic performance. That being said, I'm also psyched Bridesmaids was nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Lastly, I love that "Man or Muppet" (from The Muppets, of course!) was nominated for Best Original Song. The Muppets was quite possibly the best family, hands-down feel-good movie I saw all year (if not in the past few years) and it deserves some recognition. And recognition in the form of my favorite song from it, all the better! Plus, Jason Segel possibly performing it at the Oscars...with MUPPETS? Yes please!!

Which nominations do you support? What were your sins of omissions?

*If for some reason you are having trouble leaving a comment, please e-mail me at beagleandbear@yahoo.com or leave me a comment on Beagle and Bear's Facebook page. Thanks for your help with this issue!

things I've been meaning to blog about, watch it edition: 2011 movies

Today the 84th Academy Award Nominations were announced. Full of opinions, I went to write a blog post about my thoughts when I realized I had not done a full recap of the movies I had seen in 2011 and my overall rating of them (like I did for 2010). Better late than never, right? Especially since some of these have been nominated for an Oscar and a lot of them have or will be released on DVD soon. So, without further delay, today I'm posting about my favorite 2011 movies, and tomorrow I'll be discussing the Oscar nominations. Here we go!

My Top Movies of 2011*

(three instead of five because I saw

less movies this year than in 2010)

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Bridesmaids - This movie will always be one of my all-time favorite films. It makes me laugh, cry, and cry from laughing no matter how many times I see it. It is an excellent story about female friendships, the ridiculousness of weddings, and believing in yourself. Awesome writing and amazing acting (my full review can be found here)!

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

The Help - First of all, if you haven't read The Help, then you need to stop what you're doing and start right now. Once you've finished reading it, you then need to watch the movie immediately. The acting in this film was truly outstanding. Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis certainly give the knockout performances, but Emma Stone, Allison Janney, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sissy Spacek, and Jessica Chastain are all superb. The film tells an important and compelling story that everyone needs to hear, and does so with both hilarity and dignity.

Source: imdb.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Super 8 - I feel as though this movie was highly praised when it was released and then quickly forgotten, and I can't understand why. It takes place in the 1970s and is presented in a way that it really does feel like a classic Steven Spielberg sci-fi adventure movie (the best comparison I can say is that Super 8 is like a higher-quality The Goonies). The young actors were wonderful and their adult counterparts provided the perfect balance. It has everything a movie should: suspense, humor, action, love, friendship, family, mystery, stretches of the imagination, etc. Definitely worth a viewing - or a few!

Close contenders: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, 50/50, and The Muppets

*All the 2011 Movies I Have Seen & My Ratings

(five star movies are in bold and were the only
consideration for the my top three movies of the year list)

No Strings Attached ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Take Me Home Tonight ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Your Highness ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Bridesmaids ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Thor ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

X-Men: First Class ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Super 8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Bad Teacher ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Green Lantern ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Transformers: The Dark of the Moon ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Captain America: The First Avenger ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cowboys and Aliens ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Horrible Bosses ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The Help ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

30 Minutes or Less ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

50/50 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Moneyball ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

The Muppets ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

What movies did you see in 2011, and which were your favorite?

*If for some reason you are having trouble leaving a comment, please e-mail me at beagleandbear@yahoo.com or leave me a comment on Beagle and Bear's Facebook page. Thanks for your help with this issue!

LOL: the bark side

Happy Friday : )

*If for some reason you are having trouble leaving a comment, please e-mail me at beagleandbear@yahoo.com or leave me a comment on Beagle and Bear's Facebook page. Thanks for your help with this issue!

use it: usps 2012 stamps

Hello, everyone! How was your weekend? Mine was pretty great! I had Starbucks with a friend Friday night, spent literally all of the day Saturday at the conference championship meet with my swimmers (who did AWESOME!), and went to a bridal fair on Sunday.

I really enjoy "snail mail," for various reasons, and this week I plan on sending several cards and letters. Have you seen any of the United States Postal Service's 2012 stamps? I'm excited to head down to the post office and pick up some. My favorite ones are:

Source: beyondtheperf.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Cherry Blossom Centennial

Source: beyondtheperf.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Dogs at Work

Source: beyondtheperf.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Mail a Smile (Disney Pixar)

Source: beyondtheperf.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Bicycling

Source: beyondtheperf.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Earthscapes: Natural

Source: beyondtheperf.com via Kelly on Pinterest

William H. Johnson

Source: beyondtheperf.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Heart Health

Source: beyondtheperf.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Frank Capra

Source: beyondtheperf.com via Kelly on Pinterest

The War of 1812: USS Constitution

Source: beyondtheperf.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Santa and Sleigh

Do you enjoy sending cards and letters to friends? Which of these stamps or other ones listed at the link above do you like?