365 Question Challenge - No.5: What was the last restaurant you went to?

Last night, to celebrate my Dad's birthday, we went to see Jack Reacher at the cinema. 

Even though Tom Cruise wasn't exactly the Jack Reacher I had in mind, 

he was perfect in the role, and has still got his good looks and charm. 

He also has the ability to not just portray a character but to actually become the character, 

so I look forward to many more Jack Reacher movies!

After the movie, to answer the No. 5 question of the year, we went to Fast Eddy's, 

where I totally indulged, and had an American Milkshake (chocolate and stawberry flavoured with whipped cream and spearmint topping, oh my goodness - heavenly!) and a bacon burger. So naughty, but had to be done! Forgot to take photos but the milkshake was something like this:

Mmm, mmm!

Such a good night out- we had a ball!

Love to you

xxx

Film Love - Footloose

It's kinda weird that movie studios feel they have to remake movies, especially when they were successful the first time around, but I guess it means a whole new generation of people will enjoy the stories in a modern context. 

We watched the 2011 Footloose recently and were not disappointed. As soon as you hear the opening music, you can't help but be swept back to the 80s and the fun of dancing. The lead actors, Kenny Wormald and Julianne Hough are very cute, and had us oohing and aahing at their bods. 

You know the story; city boy, Ren, moves to a small town to live with his aunt and uncle after his mother dies from leukemia. He falls for the Reverend's wild daughter, Arial, whose brother died in a car crash 3 years earlier, leading the town council to enforce curfews and rules on the youth of the town, including no public dancing. Arial and Ren can relate to each other's grief and feelings of oppression, so they rally to have the no public dancing rule lifted.

As with the original film, the music and dancing in this version are so uplifting and fun, you just gotta sing and dance along. Even if you've never busted a move in your life, you'll feel your toes tapping with this one. Even the bootscooting scene made me want to take up dancing again!

This film could be enjoyed by kids, but just keep in mind that there are a few sexy moves between Ariel and her boyfriend, as well as a scene where they physically abuse each other. There's no nudity though, and I don't recall there being any swearing. Besides those two scenes, it's all pretty harmless fun, with some lessons about family, grief and trust, to add depth.

My favourite scene in the movie is this one, where Willard learns to dance.
 I loved this scene in the original film too!

The little girls are too cute!

xx

Sweet Little Things About Me - Something You Don't Know About Me

It's True Confessions time for me, thanks to Lisa at Sweet little Pretties. She is asking us to share
Something You Don't Know About Me. 
Only about 5 or 6 people know this about me, but
I'm pretty sure no one else knows my deep dark secret.

So here is my reveal:

I had a HUGE crush on John Travolta when I was about 12!

It all started with Grease, of course, and if you have seen that movie, you probably shared the same crush! Who wouldn't? He was adorbs!

I'm pretty sure we watched Grease at our house about 45 times! (or was that Rollerboogie? or Xanadu?) Anyway, it was summer and the 80s, so watching films, and learning all the song lyrics and the script by heart, was the thing to do!

Besides, this man wasn't just good looking, he could dance!
Although we didn't want him dancing with anyone but Olivia!)

Now, well, time has rolled on, and  he's gone all old, fat, bald and gay.  But we can still look back and remember him in moments like this:

and this:

and this:

where he was just the sweetest thing ever.

Aah...

Join up with Sweet little Pretties, to see everyone else's true confessions!

xx

Masquerade - A Snap, A Set and A Song

The theme for this week's Snap, Set and Song meme is Mask, and I just HAD to make my post about the Phantom of the Opera!  Here is a Snap of Christine and Raoul at the Masquerade Ball. 

I simply swoon over those candelabras!

My Song selection is Masquerade, one of my favourites from the musical and film. I think the movie version of this song is even better than the stage version, simply because of the amount of people in the scene (besides, you just can't beat that choreography from the 4 minute mark - adore!) 

I designed my Set to reflect the Masquerade scene from the film, and now I've got that recurring feeling that I want to visit France. Sigh!

Masquerade by wendysice featuring glitter heels

Poetic Licence glitter heels
amazon.com

Furniture\ Creations Ivory Elegance Candleabra
amazon.com

Mia White/Silver masquerade mask /req37430
etsy.com

Vintage Damask Wallpaper Brown | 1950 Wallpaper antiguas de la
designyourwall.com

Sparkling Cream Rose 12 x 12 Paper
scrapyourtrip.com

Pop over to Thea's blog to see some more Snaps, Sets and Songs about masks!

xx

The Hunger Games - Film Love

I'm back from my holidays in Melbourne!  I couldn't work out how to post from our iPad while away, so I'll be catching up on some pre-planned posts before I give my travel report. :)

Firstly, a film review for you:

After reading The Hunger Games series I had to watch the film. This film had a greater impact on me than the book. After watching years of  reality TV like Big Brother and Survivor, The Hunger Games made me realise how cruel it is to celebrate competition for our own entertainment, especially when people are placed in difficult circumstances, under the watchful eye of millions. Okay, so with normal television shows, the contestants volunteer, and they are trying to win prize money or fame, and they do not have to kill anyone, but the entertainment-at-other-people's-expense element is still there. 

And there are still moments of torture in those shows; ridicule, isolation, embarrassment and physical trials.

I had felt the Nazi Germany references in the Hunger Games book, but these became more apparent in the film, especially in the chilling, and deathly quiet reaping scene. 

It was sickening to see the people from the Capitol dressed in their outlandish costumes, congratulating the contestants, or tributes, for being chosen

and it was devastating to see the Gamemakers and technicians happily manipulating the games arena to add dangerous elements for more exciting viewing.

The terror felt by the contestants was more apparent in the film, the running and running to avoid fire and wild animals was heart-quickening, especially when their fast breathing and panic were so evident.

I felt the romance actually growing between Katniss and Peeta in the film, while in the book it was pretty much all fake on Katniss' part.

Jen Lawrence played the part of Katniss perfectly. Determined, but terrified. 

She reminded me of Emily Blunt, heaps.

You might remember Jen Lawrence as Mystique in X-Men:

Peeta Mellark was played by Josh Hutcherson, who was kind of hard to relate to, in a way, because I've seen him in so many kid's movies, that he still seemed like a kid to me.

Liam Hemsworth's role as Gale was short and sweet, but, by gee, he is good-looking!

Woody Harrelson played the role of the eternally drunk Haymitch to a T:

and the tyrannical Professor Snow was impressively portrayed by Donald Sutherland:

I hadn't heard anyone mention anywhere before that Cinna was played by Lenny Kravitz!
That was pretty cool.

The Effie Trinket costumes were spectacular, in a Lady Gaga kind of way:

But, ultimately, I didn't like the way this film made me feel; disenchanted and chilled. 

It is a powerful visual piece, that made me reflect on megalomaniac leaders from our past, 

and hope for a future that will be as far from this as possible. 

And I would recommend everyone to see it, for that reason.

Just don't expect to come away with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

xx

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Hello to all my bookish readers!

This week I finished reading Mockingjay, which, to be honest, I found a bit boring, until the last section when the action intensified. And I enjoyed the ending too. Surprising in a way, but also made sense.

I managed to pick up a copy of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas for $1 from the second hand book shop, and it was so well read, I loved the feel of the pages!  I had already seen the film of this book which was quite shocking, and I was interested to see how I felt reading the book. I do love to read a story written through the eyes of a child, and the naivety of the children was even stronger in the book. The ending of this story is just awful, but the twist is cleverly done, and the message powerful. 

This is a story that stays with you. Like, forever.

We're off for a trip to Melbourne tomorrow, so I will go back to reading books on my iphone. 

I am currently reading 

and 

so I have more than enough to entertain me!

I am linking up with Book Journey, too, to see what everyone else is reading:

Have a lovely week, full of real or bookish adventures!

xx

The Smurfs - Film Love

If you're looking for a fun film for the holidays for the kiddies, The Smurfs movie is as sweet as pie! 

I got all nostalgic watching this, remembering the Smurf cartoon 

and all the Smurf toys we got from BP when we were kids (remember that??) 

and adoring their little toadstool homes and bridges. Cute, cute cute!

The film is pretty much the adventures of the Smurfs in New York, 

and is a combination of 3D animation and actors, including the funny, Neil Patrick Harris, 

as Patrick Winslow: 

Jayma Mays as his wife, Grace:

Sofia Vergara as his boss, Odile and 

Hank Azaria, as the infamous Gargamel (seriously prefect casting!)

His cat had some great moments too:

Katy Perry features as the voice of the only girl Smurf, Smurfette,

and embodies the Smurf personality exuberantly!

This is a fun, fun, film and we (hubby, son and myself) all got right into it.  

I don't think the movie generated quite as much Smurf mania as the original cartoon and merchandising, 

(even though McDonalds produced Smurf toys this time around), but the kids of today certainly know who the Smurfs are. And they should! 

Uber adorableness!

xx