It’s Profound Thoughts Tuesday!

A co-worker recently told me that as he gets older, he starts to become more set in his ways with what he likes/dislikes, what he’s willing to try, what he prefers to eat, what he believes, etc. So he tells me that he makes a conscious effort to fight against that…to essentially drive his mind and heart in the opposite direction, to push himself to become more open minded, more willing to discuss ideas and try new things, and most of all, exercise a readiness to listen. A classic example of this was the fact that he just learned to ski about five years ago- in his mid forties! Having given the sport a chance and pushed beyond his comfort zone, he now looks forward to annual ski trips with his buddies.

I just thought this notion seemed like a really beautiful concept. Aren’t we all striving to be better people? While I grasp that it’s human nature to firm our ideas and opinions based on our years of experience, I also think it’s pretty powerful to know that at any point one is in control of his/her destiny. We can choose to push ourselves, to challenge the idea of becoming ’stuck.’

Unfortunately, I am ridiculously stubborn. But this is trait that I’m going to work on and I’m going to think of my co-worker’s life lesson when I feel like I am becoming too set in my ways, because I really like the idea of leading an ever-evolving life…

Kelly in San Diego, Fun Ensues

I was away over the weekend…miss me? Fitz and I attended a friend’s destination wedding in San Diego, California. It was soooo fun, and the weather was AMAZING. I’m pretty exhausted right now but here’s a little taste of the trip via photos:

Serenity at the Beach

Rooftop Terrace So Sweet

My Blog is Apparently Fabulous….Who Knew?!

I’ve been tagged by The Snarky Sparrow because my blog is FAB…ulous. Awesome, right??? That’s what I thought.

So here’s the ice cream- I need to list my five addictions (seriously, only five?) and then pass it along to my favorite blogs. Word.

My addictions (the abbrievated version, as you know I am loaded with both tissues and issues):
1. Sports (I am glued to the Pittsburgh v. Xavier game as we speak…I have 14 of the Sweet Sixteen teams)
2. Vampires (Like you didn’t know)
3. Writing (There will be a book. Oh yes, there will be a book)
4. Caffeine /Wine (It’s a tie- sue me, why don’t ya! Coffee, diet coke, chocolate, cabernet, merlot, this list is never ending)
5. Traveling (I am hopping a flight to San Diego tomorrow morning…do not stalk and meet me at the airport)

My fave sites:
1. The Snarky Sparrow (True story, I love Christa’s writing)
2. Jennslyvania (Chicago writer + Pi Phi sister = hilarious gal Jen Lancaster)
3. His Golden Eyes (Very dedicated fanpires)
4. Flickr (A visual blog of sorts…my heart belongs to photography)
5. Ben Garvey (Musician. Dad. Originality. All Around Bad Ass)
(If my sister would actually write on her blog, she would be included on this)

It’s Ab Fab, baby!

What a way to start the morning

Unfortunately, I came to work today (35th floor of a building along the Chicago River), and there was a LOT of frenzied commotion in the office, with everyone rushing toward the windows and staring out onto State Street. I took a deep breath, gingerly walked to the window, and curiously peered down onto the street…only to see a lot of police officers, fire trucks, and…a white sheet…with a dead body under it. I had to hold myself back from vomiting.

Not much is known now, but it seems as though someone committed suicide by jumping off an elevated floor of the Marina City Towers.

It just breaks my heart. I can’t imagine how one could feel so hopeless and helpless that he/she would come to the realization that suicide was the answer. It’s so, so sad. I’m going to pray for this person and hope that whatever pain he/she suffered is now healed…

It’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt & then it’s just funny

I’m kidding. I’m KIDDING!!! Relax…seriously, relax. I had an old college pal that used to say that and it cracked me up every time. Yes I am going to hell…

So word on the street is that Matt Lauer was riding his bike and ‘encountered’ a deer…

Now, I don’t want to laugh at someone else getting hurt, but that statement kind of makes me giggle…a lot. I mean, who has a duel with a deer while on a leisurely bike ride??? Did he flip the deer off not knowing the deer had a bad temper?! Did the deer neglect to look both ways before crossing the bike path and into Matt Lauer?! Seriously…he has to have surgery…BECAUSE OF A DEER!

Every morning I watch NBC news while getting ready for work to know what’s going on in current events, what the weather will be like, etc. At 7am NBC turns from local news to The Today Show in New York, and Ann Curry, Meredith Viera, Al Roker, and MATT FRICKIN’ LAUER pop into my life like old college pals I used to get drunk with. It goes without saying that I have one helluva crush on Matt Lauer. Before you get up on your high horse about the fact that I’m engaged, let me just say that ANY celebrity crush I have a crush on resembles my fiancee (tall, dark hair, and blue eyes…yeah, you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about). No one compares to my Fitz!

The moral of the story: beware of deer. Get well Matt Lauer! Come back to my morning ritual!!!

P.S. To celebrate the day and wish Matt Lauer a ‘get well soon,’ maybe you should  buy my stuff on eBay!

Twilight DVD: My Sweet A$$ Review

So after watching the Twilight Two-Disc DVD Special Edition…um, a few times in the past 24 hours (shut up), I’m here to share my delightful, thought-provoking, and awe-inspiring thoughts. Here goes…

I watched the bonus features disc first…to really delve into the juicy bits. So about the deleted scenes…I loved them. And actually, it would have been great to see them in the movie. My fave was a scene in which Carlisle and Esme watch Edward and Bella climb up trees and then have a sweet discussion about how hopeful they are, at long last, to see Edward with someone. They exchange smiles and a kiss, and for a brief moment you see how tight knit this coven is. Also adorable is a scene of Bella and Edward walking through the forest, flirting, chatting, and mostly getting to know one another. What I could have done without is the white denim jacket that Edward wears in this scene. I mean…REALLY??? This is 2009, not 1987.

The BEST part of all is a seven part documentary titled “The Journey from Page to Screen.” This part is LOADED with fascinating information- showing the magic of CGI (changing skies, adding trees, manipulating gold eyes, etc), the rehearsal scenes for vampire baseball (which humorously reveal that Rob Pattinson is SERIOUSLY uncoordinated), cast members barely getting through painful wirework, etc. Peter Facinelli (Carlisle) is beyond hilarious- after working with stunt coordinators on the super long slide into homeplate, he is covered head to toe in water, sand, silicon, etc. and dryly says, “Don’t even have to shower tonight. See how that works out?” (I adore the doctor)

Most impressive is truly comprehending the arduous task of directing- viewing the endless wall of illustrations, storyboards, and casting are enough to make my head spin! Truth be told, directing is no easy task…this not only makes one appreciate movie making in general, but even more so appreciate a well-made movie.

The music videos, Comic-Con feature, and trailers are cool but I’ve seen them all already…that is the magic of the Internet! I am also psychotic when it comes to these books/movies- I just chase endless details and information! Or does it find me??? What can I say…that’s what being a fanpire is all about. Word.

As for the DVD commentary with Catherine Hardwicke, Kristen Stewart, and Robert Pattinson…it was very interesting. I have to say that Kristen Stewart became FAR more likable in my book after hearing some of her thoughts about making the movie- she was mortified to see a close up of her ‘chapped’ lips saying the words ‘vampire’ in the trailer, and many times in the commentary said how embarrassed she was watching herself (I can wholly relate to this sentiment). I also loved that she mentioned how prominently red licorice was featured in the film- I thought the exact same thing! Turns out, there was a tub of it in Tyler’s van and during long shoots, the cast got hungry!

Rob Pattinson is painfully self-conscious, joking about his ‘bouffant hairdo, scraggly sideburns, perfectly plucked eyebrows, and butt chin.’ He is also hysterically funny, joking that vampires really only eat cheeseburgers. We learn that the reason why the initial kissing scene is so prolonged is because Pattinson was expecting Stewart to lean in further. When she didn’t, there was a looooong moment of lingering that resulted!
What’s a little bittersweet is that this movie is clearly a labor of love for Catherine Hardwicke. As much as I commend her passion, I feel as though she failed with execution. Regardless, it was very cool to learn a few behind the scenes tricks…turns out everything in Hollywood really is smoke and mirrors!!!

I almost forgot the ethereal shout out! Did you know that when Pattinson first enters the cafeteria (as Edward Cullen stepping into Bella’s life), Hardwicke discloses that it’s actually Pattinson’s sister Lizzie singing in a ’soft, ethereal voice’ in the background. Anything ethereal is cool by me…sigh.

There’s just one more thing- I saw this movie twice in the theater, and about three times on DVD. Um…am I the only one who noticed a few differences??? In the theater, when Edward rescues Bella in Port Angeles, he gets out of the car and charges quickly toward the ‘troublemakers’ (I know that’s lame but can’t think of what else to call them) and then glares. In the DVD, he just gets out of the car, walks a step or two, and glares. Um…what???

In my inital movie review, I mention how downright AWFUL the special effects/wire work is…at one point I saw Edward’s feet running about a foot off the ground when he had Bella on his back. In the DVD…I didn’t see it.

In the theater, Bella puts out her hand and says how nice it is to meet Jasper. Alice holds him back slightly, Carlisle mentions that he is the newest vegetarian, and all Jasper says is, “Pleased to meet you.” In the DVD, she doesn’t put out her hand to shake his. WEIRD.

I know these are little things, but I’m the queen of noticing little things…anyone else pick up on tiny differences? Maybe I’m just losing my mind…

In the mean time, I plan on submersing myself completely in the filming of New Moon. Here is your first look:

Let the games begin

Disclaimer: I do not own this image. Found via Flickr: ko.ttur’s photostream. Enjoy!

Twilight DVD Satiates My Vampire Hiatus

So I purchased the Twilight DVD today and after viewing the film and ALL of the features on the bonus disc, I have these two things to say:

1. My original review of the movie is still dead-on in my book…no pun intended. Parts that I hated before, I still hate. Though the parts that I loved are still 100% lovable!

2. It’s funny, but my life has changed so drastically since this film came out back in November. Two days after attending the midnight showing of this film, I checked my dad into a hospital. Two heart attacks, quadruple bypass, and months of recovery later, Spring has officially sprung. Winter holidays are long gone. I remember thinking  at the midnight screening how impatient I would be waiting for a DVD to come out in five months. Well five months flew by in a blink. My life all of sudden became fixated on my dad’s health and rallying around my family. I didn’t think about showering, let alone vampires. So today was kind of bittersweet…it felt pretty magical to slip back into Stephenie Meyer’s world. I also felt supremely grateful to have my dad back on his feet.

Cheers to all! My review of the DVD to soon follow…in the mean time, check out my shizz on eBay!

Office Aroma Eerily Evokes Childhood Memories

As I meandered around my office this morning, a sharp scent penetrated my nostrils and almost immediately my eyes lit up. This was something familiar….very familiar…

The aroma in the air was cinnamon (the origin being a hand lotion that the receptionist had just bought). This shizz was STRONG…imagine a fire hydrant bursting with water, knocking you off you’re feet. It’s a scent that practically slaps you across the face and loves it. It’s fabulous.

What was funny was my Pavlovian response upon encountering said scent. My mouth watered, my ears perked up, and my pulse raced (yes, I had practically become an f-in dog). This scent was EXACTLY the way my childhood home would smell around Christmas time.

My mom was really into the winter holiday- she adored the festiveness and relished in decorating, baking, and shopping all things Christmas. Our home may as well have been the North Pole as there was always Christmas music playing, holiday cookies baking, and the sounds of me fighting with my brother and sister in some capacity (par for the course when it comes to any holiday, my friend). There were lighted garlands with pine-like smells, multiple Christmas trees with their individual themes (gold, silver/cranberry, and miscellaneous/homemade crap), a ceramic Christmas village, handmade stockings with our names, and hot chocolate drank out of snowman mugs. There was a red Yankee candle in the scent of cinnamon that ties together all of those memories- biting into a homemade sugar cookie, belting out the hits of Amy Grant, and assembling the nativity scene (complete with ’spun glass’ which managed to cut and slice me numerous times over the tenure of my youth).

With one whiff, and in MARCH nonetheless, I was having a frickin’ moment.

It was kind of sad actually. Because that is a part of my life that is gone, locked away in a vault, and it’s never really coming back. But it was nice to get lost in the feelings of magic that the cinnamon scent represented. For a moment I wasn’t fixated on work, stress, finances, or the economy, but rather remembering what it was like to be a kid…to be happy about so many little things that mean nothing and everything all at once.

It was a nice moment of bliss.

It was a reminder of what once was…

Happy St. Patty’s ye lads and lasses!

Joy to the green, St. Patrick’s Day is here!

This year I created some really cool memories to stow away in the heritage portion of my brain and heart. Last Saturday Fitz and I joined our friends Stef and Kyle (a.k.a. ‘Style,’ their celebrity name) for brunch at their condo in the West Loop. The had vegetarian breakfast quiche, sausage, hash browns, fruit salad, mimosas, beer, coffee, etc. Basically a delicious spread of my favorite foods and drinks. After a rousing tournament of Wii Mariokart (which I surprisingly dominated), we packed up and headed north to Antioch.

Fitz and I grabbed dinner with my dad- corned beef, cabbage, and red potatoes for them, and a chicken Caesar salad for me (I don’t do beef, and I most certainly do not partake in cabbage consumption). There was an explosion of green in the town of Antioch- mostly because my family makes up about 78% of the population. It was fun and festive, and we were actually able to meet up with the Blarney Island crew that made the pilgrimage to Chicago for the dyeing of the river and the parade. Little known fact- my uncle’s boat is used for the dyeing process. Check out the photos on any news/media website and you’ll see a small boat with the words “Blarney Island” written along the side. Cool, right?

Then we went somewhere SUPER EXCLUSIVE and UNIQUE, known only to a select few in the WORLD. We went…to THE COBH (pronounced ‘Cove’). The Cobh is actually an Irish pub in my Aunt’s basement! There is literally a bar with chairs and benches and you step up and order a drink and she serves it right up. It’s pretty much the coolest thing in the entire world. She got the idea to have a place for family and close friends to gather and talk before making their way home (The Cobh would serve as a last port of call). And thus…The Cobh was born. The walls and surfaces bear family heirlooms, photos of trips to Ireland, shamrock paraphenalia, garlands, christmas lights (for ambiance, of course), a patriotic candle lit for soldiers away at war, and a lot of Irish spirit and love. It’s a truly special place where there is always great conversation, laughter, and good company. It was a memorable evening too because this was Fitz’s first time at The Cobh!

May today be festive and fun for all! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Twilight DVD Release Stirs Memories of Bliss

So I’m seeing all of these commercials advertising the Twilight DVD release and  I must admit that it’s bringing a smile to my face! I look forward to checking out all of the DVD features, as well as the Director’s Notebook (shut up; my nerdness was revealed long ago).

Oh and if you go to www.flickr.com and search “New Moon” and then narrow results to “most recent,” you will be able to check some photos of the cast in Vancouver as they shoot the sequel. My only issue? EVERYONE is smoking what appears to be an endless chain of cigarettes. I mean, if vampires don’t need to breathe, why do they need to smoke?! NOT COOL, bro.

Some must reads, some random crap

A fantastic article on the rise and fall of Bernie Madoff, courtesy of Vanity Fair.

My favorite vampire, Robert Pattinson, has been interviewed for GQ Magazine.

Some delicious details on potential directors for Eclipse, as told by EW Magazine. (A horror director possibly taking on this film? I LOVE IT.)

Jon Stewart vs. Jim Cramer on The Daily Show tonight. DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THEN THIS? No, my friend, it cannot.

Dakota Fanning, don’t screw this up

So Dakota Fanning has been cast in the role of Jane…it’s official! I’m down with this- she actually seems like a delightful young woman in addition to be supremely talented. But can she save this trilogy of movies? Here’s hoping that this star power will at least improve the script and cheesy acting. On to the next…who should play Alec???

Twilight DVD out in just over a week- can’t wait! As much as the movie let me down, it’s been a pretty grim turn back to reality…I need to re-embrace my inner vampire and submerse myself in that world again…at least, for a little while! Catherine Hardwicke has promised big things on the DVD so my hopes are still high.

I may tackle the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series sometime in the near future. Whatever satisfies the thirst!

On an unrelated and completely shameless note, check out my new eBay listings by CLICKING HERE.

Singin in the rain…

It is raining cats and dogs in Chicago. I’m ready to whip out my umbrella-ella-ella-ay-ay-ay and heel click my way down the street like Gene Kelly.

This has been a weekend of lazy fun because it is just gray, wet, and miserable outside. Last night Fitz and I battled our friends ‘Style” (a.k.a. Stef & Kyle) in a MarioKart Wii tournament. It rocked.

Tonight we head out to dinner for Fitz’s mom’s birthday. We are going to a legendary Italian spot in Little Italy so I am pretty psyched. Anything that involves cheese, bread, olive oil, and pasta is my idea of a good time! Details of said event will be forthcoming.

Rain, rain, go away…

Hey, how about this scarf?

In need of a fabulous new accessory that will cause a ripple of both shock and awe (but in a good way) throughout the land? Then bid on THIS SWEET SCARF.

In my opinion, the best trait about this bad boy is that it can be worn with pretty much any color coat out there. It’s all about the versatility!

Quote of the Day

It’s like that book I read in the 9th grade that said “’tis a far far better thing doing stuff for other people.”

Cher Horowitz, Clueless