Archive | December 2011

Burlesque (movie with Cher and Christina Aguilera)

This is the typical story of a young girl from the mid-west that is determined to make it in the big city. And as always, she finds a boyfriend who respects her mind too. The story is the same, but the names are different.

I thought that this would be a movie for my and hubby to watch- chick story for me and eye candy for him. Well I was wrong. There were not enough skimpy outfits and eye candy to amuse him and distract from the fact there was not a lot of quality acting or mediocre script writing. And Cher’s face was so taut, I could not pay attention to her acting. Half way through the movie, even I was getting bored and starting playing Farmville (I can only take so much).

All in all, it was a major CHICK FLICK. Girls, keep that in mind if you were thinking this would be a good date movie. I suggest saving it for Ladies’ Night. Straight men will probably not be impressed with this movie since there is not enough scantily clad women to compensate for the film’s shortcomings.

If you like to hear Christina Aguilera wailing (or as some would say “hitting those high notes”), you will probably love this movie.

Have you been flossing?

Dec16

I have been thinking about dental health today since I had a dentist visit yesterday afternoon. In the past I have hung my head in shame when the dental hygienist asked if I was flossing regularly. Ummmm. I could lie but you know my gums tell the real story. So I fess up and admit it. I brush my teeth vigorously, use mouthwash, but it seems that flossing has always been one of those activities that was hit or miss for me.

That was before GUM Eez-Thru (Easy on the go flossing).

These little floss picks are easy to carry in my purse and I can floss with one hand. I like this brand because the floss pick is made of “special floss that resists shredding”. You may not think that is a big deal, but I have used other floss picks and ended up with more thread between my teeth than when I started.

Have you ever had a piece of popcorn kernel between your teeth and gums? Having bits of floss between your teeth feels like that but more annoying. So for all you people out there that know you need to floss but don’t want it to be a chore, choose GUM Eez-Thru . Save yourself from plaque and gingivitis.

Now when I go to the dentist, my hygienist knows that I floss <insert bright smile here>

Cafe at the Corner – Hapeville, GA

Dec16

Café at the Corner in Hapeville GA is a small French bistro that is open for lunch only. Hapeville is a little town near the Atlanta airport. You know that the food must be good when a small town restaurant on Main street is only open for a few hours each day. When I arrived at the restaurant with my lunch group, the line was snaked around in front of the food counter. There were so many delicious choices that the 10 minutes waiting time was almost not enough for me to make up my mind. And most of that time was spent trying to decide what dessert I wanted.

I decided to order the tomato bisque, spinach quiche, and cheesecake topped with cherries. This was some of the best tomato soup I have ever had. It was creamy. The coarse cracked pepper on top added a little crunch and explosion of pepper flavor that goes well with the tomatoes. The spinach quiche was well put together and the crust was flakey with the right amount of cheese sauce.

All of the meal was leading up to my favorite part: dessert <insert applause and cheers here>. The cheesecake was rich, smooth, with perfect texture. It was not too sweet. There were more cherries than the cherry filling, which was a plus in my favor.

One of my lunch companions ordered the cake topped with frosting and almonds (seen in the picture at the top). I wish I could have tasted her cake because it looked so scrumptious when she was eating it. And it did not help that she was making sound effects like "Mmmmm this is so good". I thought about asking to taste her cake, but I did not want to offer a taste of my cheesecake. I decided to leave that alone and the next visit here I will try the Almond cake (don’t know the name of it but that is what I am calling it).

Overall: I really enjoyed eating at Café at the Corner. I did not expect such delicious food in this small town next to the airport. But now that I know about it, I am glad it exists!

Its the end of the world as we know it

Dec13

Last night, we had a movie themed night: After the End of the World (post-apocalyptic genre)

First movie: Book of Eli

All I knew of this movie before watching it was the trailers of Denzel Washington fighting bad guys using his machete. I knew that he was protecting a book, but I did not know for what or why. The movie starts slowly, but you find out that Eli (Denzel Washington) has been walking for 30 years after the war that caused major devastation to the earth to find a place for the book he is protecting. He does have very impressive fighting skills. Case in point: A guy pushed him and Eli told him that if he did it again, he would not get his hand back. The guy did it again and Eli cut off his hand in a matter of fact way.

His nemesis Carnegie (Gary Oldman) is looking for a book that he believes contains great power and with it he can extend his influence and authority over others. To that end, he sends his hooligans out over the wasteland to ravage and pillage to find this special book. He is frustrated because they come back with books, but not the one he was seeking.

Then he meets Eli, impressed with his fighting skills, and hopes that Eli will help him find the book for which he is searching. Eli declines and Carnegie locks him up for the night hoping to change his mind. He even send in a young bar maid named Solara (Mila Kunis) to use her feminine wiles to convince him. Eli does not fall for the bait because he is focused and on a mission. She begs to stay the night so that Carnegie will at least think they slept together (she worries that Carnegie will hurt her mother). Eli allows her to stay and while in the room, she sees that he has a book. She is excited about this even though she does not know how to read.

The next day, when she goes to see her mother, she prays for their food like Eli did the night before. Carnegie is suspicious about Eli. In the end, Solara tells Carnegie that Eli has a book so that he will stop hurting her mother. Carnegie goes to find Eli because he wants that book. Again Eli declines, a shootout ensues, and the chase is on.

I will not tell you any more of the story or what the book is because I want you to see the movie. The ending was okay. I was not totally disappointed. I felt that was probably the best way it could have ended. Eli was determined to carry out his appointed task. And for the most part things seem to work out for him, that you believe that he might have some higher power watching over him.

From the movie, there is an underlying message of hope and religion/spirituality being the answer to combat despair.

Second movie: I am Legend

Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a scientist that is trying to find a cure for a virus that was caused by scientists who created it when trying to use the molecular structure from measles virus to cure cancer. The viral infection is transmitted through the air and from bites from infected individuals. Neville is immune to the virus and becomes the last healthy human survivor in New York. His one companion, a dog named Sam, cannot be infected from the airborne virus but can be infected if bitten. Neville is methodical about keeping his whereabouts hidden from the Darkseekers, infected individuals that have super human strength, angry attackers like rabid dogs, but have an extreme sensitivity to sunlight and UV light.

It would seem that Neville had nothing to live for since he saw his wife and child die in a helicopter accident when they were leaving NY. But he is determined to find a cure for the human race since he is the only possible hope as a person immune to the virus. For years without success, he does trial after trial with different chemical compounds in efforts to combat the virus’ effects. Meanwhile, he is constantly looking for survivors, although he is not sure there are any. Although, he thinks that the Darkseekers are devolving and losing all traits of humanity, there are instances in the movie that show the viewer that they still have intelligence, logic, planning abilities. This is probably the undoing of Neville because he begins to underestimate his opponent.

This movie ended okay also. I probably would have been in the minority choosing the alternate ending if I had a choice. Through it all, Neville becomes, more than a man, a legend.

The movie seems to be a cautionary tale of what can happen when scientists try to outsmart and control nature. There is still so much about nature that they do not know and creating mutations might have the unintended consequences of creating viral infections that have 90% infection and/or kill rate of the human race.

Tree Hut Shea Body Butter, Hawaiian Kukui, 7-Ounce Jars

Dec13

I love lotion because it makes my skin feel so soft and smooth. I like to try different lotions, creams, body butters because I am always looking for the perfect product. I look for ingredients like shea butter, cocoa butter, vitamin E, jojoba oil. I was intrigued by Tree Hut Shea Body Butter because it contained Hawaiian Kukui. Exotic ingredients usually means that the product will have more moisturizing properties.

When I opened the container, I was surprised that the body butter was not thicker. It looked like real butter that had been left out on the counter on a warm day. There was a sheen to it. It was not quite liquid but not a solid either. I already did not have high hopes for its ability to live up to its claims. But when I scooped a little out of the container and rubbed on my legs, it was apparent to me that this body butter is very effective. My skin felt like velvet.

Overall, this body butter is superb. It covers and moisturizes the skin without being greasy.