sparkle for twilight

Of Cottages & Chocolate Boxes

2011-04-24T19:52:00.008-04:00

What's the nicest gift you've ever been given? Just after college graduation, my roommate and best friend of four years gave me the most thoughtful thing I've ever received. It's a spiral-bound book she had made that has all of our email exchanges since freshman year (we wrote a LOT of emails). Every single one--even three pages worth of us going back and forth during a study session at the library discussing what dinner options. Some of it poignant, and some of it less so, but all of it forever captured in capsule of time in 200-something pages.

For a while, I didn't read it because I knew buried inside it chronicled so many longing dreams for the future, which, straight out of college, we were both going to work on. I made an unconcious effort to avoid reading those pages until after something happened in my life so that I could look back with less anxiety about how little I've progressed and more appreciation for what I hoped to have done. Somewhere during the bustle, I had forgotten about the book, until today when I was spring cleaning (finally!) my closet and there it was wedged between my culinary class notebook and crinkly human development papers.

I've spent an hour reading the pages of emails, laughing out loud, grinning like a child and generally remembering my life from nearly 6 years ago, though it feels like just last week. I can't help but think how little I've changed. The words and thoughts are the same, but things outside of myself are different. If I could travel back in time and tell my 20-year-old self where I'd be now, I'd pinch me. Shake me. And make sure I wasn't hallucinating. Life is strange like that. (Like, have you ever put a stray event in your life into one random sentence and see how silly it can sound? I have a lot of those.)

So dreams. I've mentioned it here before, and I say it plenty in my old emails, but I've always dreamed that for some part of my life I'd move out to the coast and into a warm, little cottage complete with lemon tree in the backyard (or grapefruit, I'm not picky when it comes to citrus). This idea has accompanied me in some derivative ever since I saw Matilda.

Miss Honey's cottage, like something A. A. Milne described out of the Hundred Acre Wood. This was my takeaway as an 11-year-old. That, and having a chocolate box.

Life lesson: we should all treat simple, everyday pleasures as treasures to be savored. Honestly, go buy in an indulgent box of chocolate just for yourself, just because, eat it during a certain time of the day like it's a special treat and tell me that it doesn't make you giddy inside. But, that's a digression. Back to storybook cottages.

There is a reason I haven't reread Breaking Dawn. I've read it only once in entirety. Forgiving the fact that the story of Bella and Edward is everything and is already too much for me to handle (you know what I mean and we don't even need to go there), but, it also includes my cottage. Mine. The one that I still allow myself to daydream of, of which I'm fully aware is an unusual childlike fascination I have for fairy tale cottages and other imaginary things.

Basically, I didn't know what to do with myself when I came to the chapter where vampire Bella discovers her new home:

“Stop there. Turn her just a little to the right. Yes, like that. Okay. Are you ready?” she squeaked.

“I’m ready.” There were new scents here, piquing my interest, increasing my curiosity.

Scents that didn’t belong in the deep woods. Honeysuckle. Smoke. Roses. Sawdust?

Something metallic, too. The richness of deep earth, dug up and exposed. I leaned toward the mystery.

Alice hopped down from my back, releasing her grip on my eyes.

I stared into the violet dark. There, nestled into a small clearing in the forest, was a tiny stone cottage, lavender gray in the light of the stars.

It belonged here so absolutely that it seemed as if it must have grown from the rock, a natural formation. Honeysuckle climbed up one wall like a lattice, winding all the way up and over the thick wooden shingles. Late summer roses bloomed in a handkerchiefsized garden under the dark, deep-set windows. There was a little path of flat stones, amethyst in the night, that led up to the quaint arched wooden door.

I curled my hand around the key I held, shocked.

“What do you think?” Alice’s voice was soft now; it fit with the perfect quiet of the storybook scene.

I opened my mouth but said nothing...

He chuckled with me. He held his hand out toward the doorknob, waiting for me to do the honors. I stuck the key in the lock and turned it.

“You’re such a natural at this, Bella; I forget how very strange this all must be for you. I wish I could hear it.” He ducked down and yanked me up into his arms so fast that I didn’t see it coming—and that was really something.

“Hey!”

“Thresholds are part of my job description,” he reminded me. “But I’m curious. Tell me what you’re thinking about right now.”

He opened the door—it fell back with a barely audible creak—and stepped through into the little stone living room.

“Everything,” I told him. “All at the same time, you know. Good things and things to worry about and things that are new. How I keep using too many superlatives in my head. Right now, I’m thinking that Esme is an artist. It’s so perfect!”

The cottage room was something from a fairy tale. The floor was a crazy quilt of smooth, flat stones. The low ceiling had long exposed beams that someone as tall as Jacob would surely knock his head on. The walls were warm wood in some places, stone mosaics in others. The beehive fireplace in the corner held the remains of a slow flickering fire. It was driftwood burning there—the low flames were blue and green from the salt.

It was furnished in eclectic pieces, not one of them matching another, but harmonious just the same. One chair seemed vaguely medieval, while a low ottoman by the fire was more contemporary and the stocked bookshelf against the far window reminded me of movies set in Italy. Somehow each piece fit together with the others like a big three-dimensional puzzle. There were a few paintings on the walls that I recognized—some of my very favorites from the big house. Priceless originals, no doubt, but they seemed to belong here, too, like all the rest.

It was a place where anyone could believe magic existed. A place where you just expected Snow White to walk right in with her apple in hand, or a unicorn to stop and nibble at the rosebushes.

Edward had always thought that he belonged to the world of horror stories. Of course, I’d known he was dead wrong. It was obvious that he belonged here. In a fairy tale. And now I was in the story with him.

A PLACE WHERE ANYONE COULD BELIEVE MAGIC EXISTED. A UNICORN. She really wrote "unicorn" in there. I mean...really.

I should also mention that just around the time of my Matilda viewing, I went on a family trip through Carmel, California. A place where legitimate fairy tale cottages exist. Literally. Take a look through this absurdly charming photoset.

I can't even.

Besides the obvious anticipation for Breaking Dawn, there's now--at least for me--this. I hope it is as beautiful and quaint and colorful and perfect as I imagine it to be.

This Is Really Happening

2011-01-22T12:03:00.006-05:00

...and I can still hardly believe it. It seems like so long ago that I started with this story, and yet in a few months (that'll inevitably fly by), it will be the beginning of the final chapter.

I'll try not to cry.

Can't wait.

A Twilight Friendship Crossroad

2010-11-20T20:45:00.006-05:00

I got the most devastating text message from my west coast bestie the other day:

I watched Eclipse on the plane. I stopped reading it. I really just don't care what happens to any of these characters and there's no story line.

I'm not going to lie, I was personally offended. I really tried not to be, knowing that is completely irrational, but I was. Where did I go wrong in thinking that one of my best friends would LOVE the story as much as me? Honest to goodness, I really thought she'd just jump on this wagon with me, like she did when I hooked her on The O.C. freshman year, or Buffy during senior year. We have the same taste in everything else. Suddenly, a tiny petty Twilight part of me--because scarily enough, this story is so ingrained in who I am in recent years--wondered for a split second if in fact we really were that much alike.

I quickly snapped out of it. Because that is just another part of what The Saga does to you, makes you turn on your friends much like when Ron wears the Horcrux and gets all delusional (how many of you have seen Harry Potter already?).

I suppose the difference between she and I lie in the root of what makes Twilight so delectable to me and most. The simple absoluteness of a true love. Love that is albeit magical, but still more tangible than any other example I've come across. And there is where I suppose my friend and I drift. She is pragmatic with love. As sensible as I am, in the deepest part of my heart I am a dreamer and I think that we'll all find Edwards. As cynical as I will sound if you asked me about marriage and relationships, there's that private part that believes we really can live our own versions of fairy tales. I wouldn't admit that out loud, but there it is.

This week, I have a guest blogger, Kameron, who reminds me that I am not the only person who believes that either. We're on the same page, so please enjoy the guest post below!

What Makes Twilight Such a Personal Experience, and Personal Favorite, of So Many People?
The Twilight phenomena has created fans the world has not seen before. They are devoted to the teen vampire romance series and its characters; the books and movies are read and seen by millions of people all over the world. But what is it exactly that makes fans love the series and its characters so much? What makes people from all walks of life obsess over a series intended for teenage girls?

For me, it's all about the atypical romance of Twilight. The typical romance novel is trashy, with flat, 2-D characters and romance fantasies that also lack depth. A lot of the average romance novel is just sex, a culmination of lust rather than love, and for people who haven't had sex or are waiting for marriage like me, it's off-putting and unrelatable.

Twilight goes for a higher form of love, one only accentuated by the use of vampires and other fantastical beings struggling with all-too-human emotions. The act of willing to wait for something you want and know is worth waiting for just pulls my heartstrings. It is the perfect fantasy romance. Edward finds something worth changing for in Bella, and he does; Bella changes the dark Bad Boy into a kindly lover, or rather, Edward willingly changes into that because he loves Bella so much. Being a vampire adds even more to his sacrifice, as the image of a vampire restraining himself inches away from a supple neck is one for the ages.

The romance is the ultimate role reversal. Usually, girls are the ones who want relationships and to find "the one," the one they would change for and wait for and do anything for, while guys don't want to be tied down and want to be themselves and hang out with their friends. Instead, it's Edward who is willing to put all that aside for Bella -- because his love for her makes it all worth it.

That's why Twilight is such a personal experience and personal favorite for so many people -- it is completely relatable. It portrays fantasies for many of people, and ups the ante by adding a supernatural aspect. Life is recognizable, with the high school setting and the small-town one of Forks, Washington speaks to most everybody in some way.

Plus, the books are just plain written well. The action is exciting, the characters talk realistically, the stories are intricate and always take fascinating twists and turns, and the back stories are interesting and not too far-fetched. It's easy to get wrapped up in a good book, and so its good writing couple with its relatability and romantic fantasies have allowed so many people to connect with it, myself included. Twilight simply speaks to people from all walks of life, whether a teenage girl or not. Everyone has wanted to be in love, and those who have been know the feelings of yearning and the sacrifices needed to be with the one you love.

Twilight takes this romance to new heights by adding a twist -- vampires. The romance of Edward and Bella is unlikely, if not impossible, and so its occurrence is all the more special, for so many people all across the world.

Kameron Lo is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on Online Colleges and Universities for Guide to Online Schools.

Autumn Is Such a Fine Time For... Mystical Things.

2010-10-16T16:03:00.005-04:00

I never used to love the fall as much as I do this year. I think it must be because I don't associate it with going to school anymore, and that's pretty wonderful.

I'm totally pumping up this season so much that I'm going a bit overboard. I sent people cards** on the first day of fall, I decorated my office bulletin board with construction paper leaves I cut out (I'm a really good multitasker), and I drove upstate away from the city to go apple picking and pretend I'm from a small town like Mystic Falls, or Forks, or some other place where magical things can happen.

I even start ~~illogically~~ thinking that things really can happen. Things brought on by the continual viewing of The Vampire Diaries, no doubt. Like at one point in my walk through the woods today--I'm just going to pretend like I walk through the woods all the time (okay no, I was about an hour away from home in another small town), I legitimately thought, So this is what it's like to be Elena... and if only Stefan would just pop out from behind that tree over there...

And then afterwards I found the cutest bakery--seriously you have to love small towns--and I said to the waitress I wanted this Frankenstein vampire cupcake (which is it? lol):

Now that I've blabbed for a handful of paragraphs about essentially nothing and you're wondering where I'm going with this, I'm probably going to let you down when I tell you no where. I just wanted to share that I had a perfect fall Saturday, and it got even better when I came home to see an email from the lovely and funny (and fellow Buffy lover) Musing Bella that she's "tagged me." I can never say no to a game, and I'm just touched that people still think of me while I haven't been around much recently (boo long work hours).

So here goes:

1) What was your favorite subject in school, and why?
Home ec. Specifically middle school home ec, because we made actual food and sewed felt pillows and I LOVED it. High school home ec was a joke. My teacher basically turned "egg week" into "egg semester" and all we did was make eggs in a nest with frozen toast. Or improvised whatever we wanted to turn Pillsbury crescent rolls into.

2) Do you have any daily rituals, and what are they?
Makeup. No matter what happens, even if I'm sick with the flu and feel like dying, I always get ready the same way in the morning with makeup. It actually makes for a bad excuse to tell people I'm sick because I might not look it, but I'm so used to it that I would never go out without it. Like Dolly Parton. Only I actually take my makeup off at night before I sleep, and I'm going to guess my future husband will actually know what I look like without any on!

3) Do you prefer beer, wine, or hard alcohol (or none of the above)?
Coke. I'm not a big drinker, I've never drank more than a sip of beer before. I'll have an amaretto sour if I'm feeling celebratory. Wine, if I have the right food.

4) What is the very first thing you would do if you won a million dollars?
I'd buy a little seaside cottage somewhere by Monterey with a lemon tree in the backyard, and I'd treat myself to fresh flowers every week. Dream big! (Actually I don't even know if that would be covered with a million dollars these days.)

5) If you could live one fan fic story (as any character), what would it be?
I still haven't read any fan fic.

6) What is something you're looking forward to in the next six months?
My trip to Nashville!! And the holiday food ;)

7) Have you ever slapped someone for real? And if so, why?
Nope and I hope no one would ever make me so mad that I'd want to!

8) What is your favorite Halloween candy?
I'm loving the new Reese's peanut butter cups in dark chocolate. I bought a bag of minis last month because Target likes to tantalize people with their Halloween candy displays in September and I ate the entire thing. I carried the whole bag everywhere I went in my giant purse, that at one point one of my coworkers asked if I just ate candy and pretzels all day. (Yes.)

Fun! Now I'm passing it along now to these ladies, and anyone else who's up for it! Have a marvelous, autumny weekend everyone!

TwiredJen
MissAmyJoon
17foreverlisa

1. If you could live any character's life on any television show, who would you want to be? (And you can probably guess what my answer would be.)

2. If you could get a lifetime supply of any one fruit in its most perfect and ripe condition, what would it be?

3. What's one talent you wish you had in you?

4. Which celebrity do you think you could be best friends with?

5. What fictional place do you wish really existed?

6. What food have you never tried, and most likely never will?

7. Do you have baby names picked out for your future children/Why did you choose your children's names?

8. What would be your Twilight if Twilight didn't exist (but thank goodness it does)?

**My cards were awesome, especially if you love fall and Stefan. If anyone wants, I'll totally email you one too!

Midnight Sun--Please!

2010-09-07T00:00:00.008-04:00

A recap of the last two months in my life would be utterly dull, as nothing much has changed as I await the Eclipse dvd. So instead, some recent and random notes that add a little kick to my day:

-The Vampire Diaries is starting this week (!!) Cannot resist...

-Pumpkin spice lattes are back

-Mine and Teenage Dream make my mornings getting ready much more pleasant (This video makes my day, I'll bet anything that it'll make you at least smile!)

-I had a leisurely brunch on the Upper West Side this afternoon with a new friend

-And I renewed my love towards Midnight Sun.

So in all, everything is pretty much swell.

I was waiting to write a post about this once I finished re-reading Midnight Sun, but I finally decided against that since I started it weeks ago and I am still (painfully) dragging it out for as long as I can as I. Never. Want. It. To. End.

I stared into her eyes, wide under the thick fringe of lashes, and yearned for sleep. Not for oblivion, as I had before, not to escape boredom, but because I wanted to dream. Maybe, if I could be unconscious, if I could dream, I could live for a few hours in a world where she and I could be together. She dreamed of me. I wanted to dream of her.

Sigh... I know it does, but I just don't want it to.

Twilight is my favorite book of the Saga (I'm all about lingering on the crush phase), and in many ways, Midnight Sun gives a far better, far more exhilerating perspective of Edward and Bella's inception. This is totally because, as girls, which of us hasn't wanted to know exactly what a guy is thinking? Just what exactly is going on in there?

Edward proves so much more human through his perspective, and very much shows that this is his first time falling in love too (something I didn't really realize when I read Twilight).

He doubts himself. He's genuinely conflicted by his physical and emotional feelings towards Bella--he questions them, he denies them, and ultimately, he gives into them. Edward's even funny in this version of Twilight (All the same, I frequently amused myself by imagining backhanding [Mike] across the room and into the far wall...)

The whole thing is just so darling to read--plus, you get a lot more of the Cullens. I find myself reading lines and smiling to myself because it's just that sweet, and that relatable:

I dazzled her.

My silent heart swelled with a hope more intense than I could ever remember having felt before.
---
"I'll see you later then," I said, trying for casual again, staring down at the whirling lid. And, by the way, I adore you...in frightening, dangerous ways.
---
"Why won't you leave me alone?" [Bella]
Believe me, I wanted to say. I've tried.
Oh, and also, I'm wretchedly in love with you.

Not that you needed any more reason to, but it makes you love Edward Cullen that much more. I get such thrills reading this, even more than I can remember the first time around. Please, Stephenie, just give us the rest of this story!

*Amy brought it to my attention that you must participate in her spectacular project: 30 Days of Twilight! As it is relative here, my favorite scene of Midnight Sun would be too difficult to decide--too many touching moments spread thick and evenly throughout!

This Hug Is Worth a Thousand Words

2010-07-18T22:17:00.004-04:00

Maybe it's because I'm watching a below-average ABC Family romantic comedy and there was just wedding scene on, but yeah, let's talk about how I'm still thinking about the Eclipse proposal.

I'm one of those people that doesn't usually process lyrics to a song, despite knowing the words to a song, but I had to look up Sia's My Love lyrics (also because I literally cannot understand a thing she's singing).

And I think I kind of melted even more after finding out the words that mix with the enchanting and longing instrumentals... What a beautiful song, perfect for Edward and Bella. Though still a beautiful melody, Flightless Bird isn't exactly as magical with phrases like "fat house cat" and "warm poison rats"--not really words to punctuate E&B.

Time to tear up*:

My love, leave yourself behind
Beat inside me, leave you blind
My love, you have found peace
You were searching for relief

You gave it all, into the call
You took a chance and
You took a fall for us

You came thoughtfully, loved me faithfully
You taught me honor, you did it for me

Today you will slip away
You will wait for me my love

Now I am strong
You gave me all
You gave all you had and now I am whole

My love, leave yourself behind
Beat inside me, leave you blind
My heart, look what you can do
I am mending, I'll be with you

You took my hand, added a plan
You gave me your heart
I asked you to dance with me

You loved honestly
Did what you could release

I know in peace we'll go
I won't relive this loss

Now I am strong
You gave me all
You gave all you had and now I am whole

My love, beat inside me.

My love, leave yourself behind
Beat inside me, I'll be with you.

*At 1:32, that's actually my second favorite moment of Eclipse, when Edward and Bella are in bed together, and he says, "You will always be my Bella..." Sigh.

Eclipse, from Me to You

2010-07-02T17:49:00.017-04:00

Eclipse at midnight. So satisfying. There's nothing I can say about this movie right now without opening the floodgates to an untameable spillage of thoughts... so just this one: the thing that made the entire film for me was the moment Bella says, "Yes."

Ugh, what a proposal.

And I mean ugh in a good way. The way that I lament the fact nothing should ever be allowed to be so sweet and so perfect, that I am appalled that real life doesn't often mimic something like that. What a ridiculously, timelessly, romantic and simple declaration from one person to another. THAT'S what I'm still thinking about.

I don't think I've ever contemplated the act of actually being proposed to before, but now I get the whole down-on-one-knee thing. Ugh, he did it on one knee! I read the scene in the book enough times, but that didn't prepare me to see Edward do it on screen. The way he spoke almost yearningly to Bella, I think I died.

So that's all I'll allow myself to go, before I see my second viewing in IMAX this holiday weekend. I'm just hoping that this time around, the theater I end up in isn't completely Team Jacob. That was beyond obnoxious. These shrieking little girls, turning my meaningful love story into a PG peep show courtesy of Taycob. This is why 8-year-old girls shouldn't be allowed to read these books. I wonder what they are thinking about when they do.

Now the "from me to you" part, CafePress is being wonderful and is going allow me to give one of my readers a t-shirt of their choosing from their Twilight collection.

Find Eclipse t-shirts and more Twilight themed merchandise at CafePress.

All you have to do is leave a comment with a link to the shirt that you want, and I will randomly select a winner on Sunday, July 11th with comments left by 10PM EST.

Look what I just spotted. Another reason I love this girl!

In case you missed them the first time, I'm reposting my Eclipse proposal backgrounds. I'm happy the film stayed very true to the book, but I missed some of my favorite quotes, one of which being when Edward gives Bella the diamond heart and he says that his heart is hers. I'd love to hear your favorite moment in Eclipse, too. Happy long weekend, ladies!

-------
And the winner is....

Congratulations, Amy!

Make Your Life Sparkle

2010-06-20T13:16:00.009-04:00

You're either one of those people that can't wait for the summer, or you're like me and it doesn't make much of a difference. Since I bid goodbye to my days of sitting in a classroom, summertime just means I can no longer go to the mall on a Tuesday afternoon to avoid the afterschool crowd, and that I struggle with finding clothes to wear to work that I don't melt in.

And while summer is a time where you're supposed to relax and things slow down, it (sometimes unfortunately) gives you plenty of opportunity to reflect on where you are in life. A seasonally built-in, self-evaluation period. Unavoidably, conversations I have on a daily basis revolve around job hunts, grad school applications, ways to save money, and how one can move out of one's rathole sublet. That's it; because I'm still young enough where everyone I know is either a recent graduate, a new graduate or an impending graduate. I can tell you this much, no one likes having these conversations. I've been having these conversations for two years. Two. Years.

So not to be a downer, I'm not going to talk about that, exactly. What I do want to talk about stems from what I've learned from these conversations with my closest friends, various acquaintances, and even myself (I often have conversations with myself). A lot of people I know are unhappy with their general situations because of one or more of the topics mentioned above, and I want to offer some words of encouragement and hope, and maybe give you a kick to keep on trying to get out of whatever it is you want to get out of.

I have a neighbor, a lovely married woman in her early 40s with no children, who used to act as an older sister to me and take me out for sangria. She was let go from her job last July, one of those high-paying finance corporations, and now every time I run into her, she makes it her duty to tell me to "enjoy life" because she worked for years at a company she hated that tossed her out the second they downsized. She talks to me like she's talking to herself 20 years younger, about how she would have done life differently knowing what she knows now. She repeats, "it's too late for me." All I can think is, but how is it too late? (For simple logic's sake, you have about 50 more years to live, and to do that unhappily...?)

I talk with my closest friends about what we want in life, idly over coffee. A lot of us don't know, or perhaps some just don't want to share our innermost goals because they seem like far-fetched dreams. But like Cinderella says, dreams are wishes your heart makes. You can't be afraid to ask yourself what you want, make that wish, and go after it. Maybe you want a chance to interview at a new job or you just want your dishwasher to work properly so that dirty water finally drains properly--or both. By the rules of probability, if you make a hundred wishes, little or big, one is bound to come true eventually. It sounds silly but sometimes you just have to put it out there in the universe. Say it, out loud (I couldn't resist).

My best friend is really talented, and a go-getter. Among other things she wants to be a writer, but she's been at this job for over a year where I tell her she is completely under-appreciated. She has a Classics degree from an amazing university and somehow the person that tells her to make coffee is our age and didn't finish college. Sometimes she goes, "What I really want to do is..." but in a way of seriousness as if I were to say, "When I win the lottery..." I tell her if it's what she wants, I totally support her and will help her get there. Why can't she be a screenwriter, or the author of the next Harry Potter, or the editor in chief of a magazine if that's what she really wants to do? If not her, it'll be someone else that went after it. You know, Taylor Swift had a dream, and she went after it.

These aren't empty words of encouragement that I didn't tell myself to do either. The last two years of my life has be a limbo period of never-ending proportions. I totally get it. Personal issues to deal with aside, graduating college was supposed to be a diving off point into the next step of my life, namely a job. Not knowing where I was going to be heading, but it wasn't for not trying, was a pretty harsh reminder of my dead halt. There have been times where I could have detoured, but I didn't let myself settle for less than I wanted. People asked me why I didn't just work here or there because I was already good at this or that, but it's not what I wanted in my heart.

I'm going to tell you something that might seem trivial to anyone else. Although I went to college for something I loved which I wouldn't change even now, I didn't entirely try to pursue a career in what I studied because it didn't provide that...spark. That sparkling excitement that, ideally, you're supposed to have when you pursue anything in life.

I was 12 when I was allowed to the theater un-chaperoned with friends (I remember my first double-feature was Can't Hardly Wait and Ever After). I'd always leave the movie wanting to talk about what I just saw with more fervency than most. I can never talk enough about things that I like, to anyone that will listen--I mean, did you notice I have a blog about Twilight, just because I want to talk about this story and see who else wants to talk about it with me?

In college, I'd take the bus after class to catch matinees by myself because that's what I would call a good time, not hauling myself up the hill in pumps to a sweaty mixer. And always while I sat in the darkened theater with my popcorn in lap (there was always popcorn), the opening credits would play and I'd wish I could be a part of it. Not that I ever gave a moment's thought about being an actress or being behind a camera, there are talented people for that. I wanted to be a part of bringing the movies to people who got as excited to see them as I still do. That was my dream, and while it's still unofficial till I sign the papers coming my way, I got the greatest news this week because I finally got there. Two years ago, I could only wish to work for the company I will soon be actually working for. Two years of unpaid and minimally paid work that I did to get myself there, having met some really wonderful people along the way.

What I actually just want to say is that everyone has the chance to get what they want in life. Whether it's something little or something big, do something for yourself that makes you happy. I don't mean just job-wise, because there are many ways to be happy. In times where it seems you're the alien if you're not as over-stressed and depressed as the next person, change that.

You can baby step it. Get the manicure you've put off and escape for a pampered hour, sign up for the class on Italian cooking you've been curious about, or put on lip gloss and call a friend for drinks. Think about what you want. Write it down if you must. Once you change your mental outlook, go bigger. Let the little things in life go. I remember something I read in Glamour a year ago that put something in perspective. It was about a concept over how something would relate to you in 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years. I realized a most of my major life stresses at the time would barely affect me in 10 months, let alone 10 years.

In my thoughts to all of you, don't be afraid to say what you want and get it. Surround yourself with good people, people you trust and look out for that would do the same for you. People that will tell you to keep your head up when you can't tell yourself to. I'll be one of those people for you if you want. Start making your life sparkle. Take after Bella. She knew what she wanted and didn't let it go--immortality, the guy, and a family.

I can't wait for Eclipse.

"Doing Twilight-Related Things Together"

2010-06-01T16:14:00.010-04:00

Everyone's Memorial Day weekend fair well? Besides catching up at the movie theater (Sex and the City 2 and Prince of Persia--my vote if you're going to see one) and being envious of this girl's face, Saturday night I broke out the Blu-rays and watched New Moon and then Twilight on my flat screen.

My mother was the one that suggested that for our evening's plan since she's started mental preparations to get into Eclipse mode. By the way, 'Twimom' is now an officially recognized term in my house ever since we watched Oprah together. She actually laughed when she heard Oprah say it. She laughed even harder when they showed the women with Full-Sized Edward at their party--what she actually said was, "Oh my god, they are crazy. That's a crazy mom!" (I think she's now secretly glad she can never do anything that "crazy" involving Twilight so long as she always keeps it a step down from FSE.)

Oprah's Eclipse special held a lot of notable moments, but none were better than the fact I watched the hour with my own mother and the comments that escaped her mouth. (She was also recovering from laryngitis at the time so her voice added to the entertaining aspect of this all.) After she saw the clip with Rob knocking on fans' doors, she said with a smile, "He is a nice guy," and when Kristen gave her fan the ring, "Wow, she gave it to her? That's really nice. She's very generous." I don't know why, but there's something about having your mom's word of approval on something no matter how old you get.

There was something that Rob said during Oprah that I thought was very spot on, which was that he thought part of the phenomenon was that people just liked doing Twilight-related things together. Totally true.

Go watch Oprah if you haven't. It was a worthwhile hour, and this backstage interview was adorable:

Which reminds me why I love watching these cast interviews. Imagine how fun it is to "do Twilight-related things together" as fans of these books, but imagine doing it from the other side, as the actors that represent these characters we're interested in. It must be the same kind of excitement on some level because they're doing Twilight-related things together too!

So I thought it would be the perfect time to flashback (not too long ago) as we start seeing Eclipse promotion starting up in the next couple weeks, by revisting my favorite magazine interview produced from the New Moon press tour. I thought the Entertainment Weekly piece they did was a really fun and funny read, enjoy!

A Little Flaunt & Fairytale

2010-05-17T19:55:00.016-04:00

I did not mean to be gone for almost an entire month (howdidthathappen?!)--I promise. So... Hi, everyone I've missed you so! I certainly did not realize that people were going to notice. I'm a tiny blog in a sea of wittier, funnier, and more amusing blogs written by wittier, funnier, and more amusing ladies (just look at my blog roll and you'll know). And I often stray from strict Twilight discussion, so the fact anyone gave a fleeting moment's thought to my whereabouts was whole-heartedly touching, thank you. (Though most of you were aware because I'm never far away from email!)

I anticipated a string of busy days which quickly turned into weeks, and bla bla bla, here I am and I finally have a chance to blog. I haven't even been on blogger since I last left it. And not to worry I'm leaving the circle, it's not to say I've lost interest in Twilight (I only wish that would finally happen so I can get a life), I've simply had no time. Let me just put that statement into perspective:

I only just caught up on the last four episodes of The Vampire Diaries (*PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT ABOUT THE FINALE--I've yet to watch)

I lost six pounds* in those first two weeks being MIA by the sheer fact there were days I'd come home so late that sleep won over eating a wee morning dinner. Or sometimes I didn't even remember to eat--me--not remember to eat. Not even a donut (Amy and Jennifer get the severity of this).

*I recently gained those six pounds back (you never needed to worry, Lisa!) because my west coast bestie--who decided to go on vacation to Hawaii because I was going to be too busy to entertain her if she came to visit me instead--mailed me the world's largest bag of chocolate covered, toffee covered, whole macadamia nuts, which I carried in my purse to and from work till it was GONE.

I have the last 6 episode of Glee taped, and waiting to be enjoyed with popcorn on a Saturday night.

Wow, how lame, I just realized my priorities are television and food. Anyway, I've never been someone who had no time to do things but I guess if you find the right kind of work, that'll take the time away.

It so happens that I've been on the hunt for FLAUNT magazine for weeks now. Almost a month to be exact. The man at the Hudson News stand was probably getting tired of me being that girl who'd come in to see if the new issue was out yet, but today was the day. And I have time to write about it!

Now remember, I haven't been in the blogosphere, and this is probably going to be repeat news to most of you but I'm posting it anyway, because I love reading new interviews in shiny new magazines.

First of all, if you're also looking for this and expect to scan for this at the drugstore:

You'd be wrong. You're looking for this:

And then inside of that, you'll flip to this:

Which will then lead you Kristen, who is three covers in.

Here you go:

So one thing that struck a cord was that commentary the interviewer makes about Kristen's "fan" encounter:

No, what's scary is that a grown man (at least twice her age) got up from his table to tell Kristen Stewart that he's a big fan. A fan of what, exactly? Assuming he's referring to the films she's appeared in--and it's probably safe to bet he's only seen the pair of Twilight installments--what does he want in exchange for his hello?

Those are my thoughts exactly--but first--I finally got to see Taylor Swift in concert last week! (V, I'm so glad got to go when she came to your area too, it was SO FUN!)

So Bestie, who I got these tickets for as a Christmas gift, and I went wearing floral and sparkle that is entirely appropriate for such an occasion, and our seats were fantastic! On the floor and dead center. And to our immediate left, we notice that there is a man sitting next to us. A man. A ~~questionable~~ middle-aged, fully-grown man, wearing wire glasses and Dockers, definitely alone and definitely at a Taylor Swift concert.

And what was he doing there? That was in the back of my mind the entire night and any explanation I came up with only varied in degrees of creepiness. It's not right, okay? Taylor Swift is a nice girl, she's only 20, and really, what was he doing?

Other than that, I encourage anyone to see this girl on concert. Everyone that goes knows all the lyrics to her songs, she tells stories about fairytales and romances, it's like a girl's night slumber party with singing and dancing and heart confetti. Only Taylor Swift would have heart confetti.

And guess who even made an appearance during Today Was A Fairytale?

About Three (Random) Things...

2010-04-19T16:53:00.014-04:00

If you're like me, sometimes you have these random and fleeting Twilight-esque thoughts that spontaneously materialize during the course of your day. You can be out buying half & half for your coffee or whatever, they just happen. You might see or hear something that registers in your head and leads you tangent after tangent until you arrive at destination Twilight. (Isn't that always the truth?)

Most of the time I forget these random and fleeting thoughts by the time I check out at the register--and generally, none of these thoughts are worth writing about. But sometimes I am genuinely curious to see if anyone else has the same thoughts (thus, assuring me that I am a normal human being who happens to have Twilight thoughts that anyone can have).

So if you call my mind a grab bag of useless vampire-inspired thoughts, here are three from this past week I'm putting out there:

1. Where in the world is ~~Carmen Sandiego~~ Robert and Kristen?

Last weekend while I was busy with RL happenings, I let my google alerts reach a ridiculous high. As I was hitting delete after scanning the equally ridiculous headlines about Robsten marriage proposals and running theories about how Kristen was planning to spend her 20th, there were, behold, pictures of R&K in Budapest.

While everyone else is in a romantic tizzy over their European reunion, my thought is: Is there no place they can hide? How is it that these two can always be found at any given point in time? If you think about it, how hard is it to just disappear from the paparazzi? It seems as though in any corner of the globe you go, there are affected people. People who will take pictures and post spotting locations.

Remember this? I still don't know what I'm looking at.

My second immediate thought was that they should have went to western China. Let me elaborate. Two years ago, I went on an excursionary trip to western China, and I visited this one village that seemed like it had no communication with the outside world. I mean, these people were living in what looked like cabins circa Laura Ingalls Wilder days, stretched yards apart. I had asked someone we were with about whether they had a postal system, and it went something along the lines of writing the person's name and the village name and it'd get there. No streets or anything. It was amazing to remember that our own Hollywood gazing, consumer-driven daily lives are nothing like what daily life is like in other parts of the world. Anyway, the tangent ends at me wondering how far these two beautiful people have to go so they're not being stalked incessantly.

2. The Vampire Diaries Déjà Vu

Did anyone see Thursday night's new episode? Tell me the way this scene carries on isn't a little reminiscent of that scene Twilight. Hint: someone ends up slammed against the wall...

3. I'd Like Some of Harry Clearwater's Homemade Fish Fry Too

I like to cook and if you asked me why, I'd tell you it's because I love food. My desire to satiate the whims of my every craving is my main motivator for cooking in the first place. I cannot tell you how many times I will see a commercial or watch something on TV where someone mentions mashed potatoes or macaroni & cheese or a chocolate chip cookie, and suddenly I will NEED a chocolate chip cookie. It takes very little to sway me towards a craving.

One time, late at night I saw that Taylor Swift had tweeted this:

Here was basically my progression of thoughts: "Mmm spiced cake. Fall baking. Yeah, tis the season! I want a ginger snap cookie now." And before I knew it was spooning out cookie dough at 11 pm.

Naturally, whenever I watch Twilight and Billy says, "Harry Clearwater's homemade fish fry" and I see it in a crumpled greasy brown bag, that's exactly what I want.

So I do what I do and I battered and fried some filets of cod (which if anyone wants, I have the best light and crispy batter recipe for you).

With the same principle that you should never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach, I can't ever watch television without eating something already.

This concludes my random thought round-up. Any you'd like to put out there too?

Anatomy of a Love Story

2010-04-10T19:56:00.015-04:00

Raise your hand if you went to see The Last Song at some point in the last 10 days. Darn you, Nicholas Sparks and your stupid love story formula that prevents me from wearing mascara. Clearly, the man knows how to write to women's innermost fantasies and desires (okay, maybe not all women because BFF refused to see it with me, calling his contrived stories "utter bullsh*t").

However corny and lame and cliché it is when you go to see one of his books come to life, doesn't a teensy tiny part of you wish for those exact corny and lame and cliché things to happen to you? Even just a little bit? Admit it.

If you happen to be the one woman who's never seen a single Nicholas Sparks movie, let me explain (spoilers warning if you haven't seen The Last Song--though really no shockers if you know his style).

Let us begin by introducing the main characters by physically knocking them into each other. That's the only way two beautiful people meet right? Within the first ten minutes, Miley's character, Ronnie, bumps into a conveniently shirtless guy who comes off cocky, but you and I both know that's just a ruse. Said guy, Will (played by cutie Liam Hemsworth), is hiding some deep emotional scars as well as the fact his family is uber-wealthy, both appealing to any woman who admires humility and a man who can work with his hands (he's a mechanic), loves animals (also an aquarium attendant), and is intelligent (and accepted to Columbia). Somewhere in all of that, a misunderstanding and a fight ensue, which inevitably builds up to a spontaneous first kiss.

Now time out for now as I point out that kiss. I came across a hilarious article penning it the Nicholas Sparks Romantic Head Squeeze.

So yeah, I feel a little cheap. Is that all it takes to hook me into a ~~completely self-indulgent~~ love story? I swear, nothing was left out of his latest one. In no particular order:

Endearing little brother.

Gorgeous guy who proves he's good with Endearing Little Brother. Playful first date at the aquarium. Frolicking in the ocean. Kissing while frolicking in the ocean.

Baby sea turtle montage (<---not kidding). More kissing. Happy times singing to Maroon 5 in the car with hunky new boyfriend.

Followed quickly by awkward times being disapproved by parents of Hunky New Boyfriend. Kissing stops. Frilly poofy lilac dress at an outdoor summer wedding. Kissing resumes.

Fight at Outdoor Summer Wedding that requires Hunky New Boyfriend to defend your honor with his fists. Random terminal illness. Tears ensuing for Random Terminal Illness. Girl drama. Family drama. Run-in-with-the-law drama. Happy ribbons and bow ending.

With that said, here's this (how's that for a "head squeeze"?):

I didn't meant for you to come here and read all about Miley Cyrus' latest movie and He-who-isn't-Stephenie-Meyers, but it was this that made me wonder: as easy as it is to l-o-v-e movies like The Last Song (and The Notebook, A Walk to Remember, Nights in Rodanthe...) how come these stories affect us only for a moment in time, yet I'm still waiting for the impact of Twilight to subside?

I don't even need to get into a list of all the ways Stephenie wrote a timeless love story that caters to us girls at heart. But isn't it exactly what other writers of love stories set out to do as well? What makes Twilight so different? (Hint: the keyword is forever.)

It's the idea of a mutual love that literally lasts forever and all eternity. Till death do they part is not a factor for Edward and Bella. And while we're at it, neither is getting a job, paying the bills, and planning for old age, oh so repeatedly presented in Sparks' stories. Fantasy romance beats out more realistic romance in this instance.

Either way I will take any bit of a good love story that I can get, cause sometimes it's nice to switch it up. Just remember, if you are planning to watch The Last Song, grab a few extra napkins when you get your popcorn. I rather enjoyed all 107 minutes of it, for exactly what it was.

(Amy just sent me this link, and I have to include it!)

On a completely separate note, I was watching one of my fave shows, Medium from last night and I had to do a rewind when I heard the Twilight mention (I thought I hallucinated, that happens when you're Twilight 24/7). And what a coincidence on Kristen's birthday too ;)

Twilight Pay It Forward

2010-04-04T14:47:00.017-04:00

After you finished reading Twilight did you not immediately make a mental list of people you wanted to pass the book to? I had one with four of my friends who I knew wouldn't pick something up like this by themselves, and of the four, none were takers! The reasons ranged from Stephenie's "amateur" writing style to Bella's "whininess" to the "five-hundred pages where nothing happens."

Anyway, the whole point of wanting to get other people you know to read these books is so that you can have someone to talk to about them. Very much a self-serving purpose when I think about it.

Over the summer I was having frozen yogurt with BFF and one of our mutual friends we've known since 5th grade. We were catching up on what we've been up to before inevitably getting to the "the good stuff"--she wants to know if BFF and I are seeing anyone. BFF is, her story much like the stereotypical movie character of any early twenty-something who graduates college and moves into the city with her musician boyfriend and his cat. I, on the other hand, have no updates in this department and it's not a surprise to anyone at the table.

"You've always been so picky," she says to me, "What are you looking for?" I feign an exasperated sigh as we get into this, and BFF smirks (she was a non-taker, by the way) and says on my behalf, "Edward."

"Who's Edward?" our friend's eyes light up for a second thinking there's some gossip ahead. "Nothing," I say and BFF says, "He's a vampire from Twilight." They both laugh and our friend comments, "Oh yeah? I saw the movie, it was pretty good. I haven't read the books, though. I heard they're good too."

I don't know why it took so long for me to pass her my books, but she just finished reading them with, from what I understand, the same voracity as I had. One of the best qualities of my friend in particular is that I've always loved how she's so open-minded and vocal about things. She texted me as soon as she'd finished Twilight asking me to borrow the second book. I suggested when she finish reading all of them that we have a marathon of the two movies which she was more than on board for.

I couldn't believe that while watching Twilight for the umpteenth time on Friday with her that I discovered something new. Was I the only one that never noticed Victoria in the background here?

Watching Twilight with her was beyond fun. She did see Twilight before reading the books (um, she tells me too that she went to the theater with a GUY who liked it!), but she realizes now there was so much stuff she did NOT get the first time around. Every time a scene would come up that exemplified that, she'd turn to me and say, "Yeah! When I saw this part I was like, 'What the HECK is going on?'"

Some of these parts included:

Edward's hand covering his mouth when Bella walks into the bio lab.

Bella asking Edward, "Hey, did you get contacts?"

Edward revealing why he doesn't go out in the sunlight. ("I didn't get it, I was like, 'why is he so sweaty?'")

Edward telling Bella he's dangerous. ("Why is he yelling? I don't remember him being so angry in the book.")

When we watched New Moon (this she hadn't seen), she had plenty of things to say about Jacob's transformation. In particular, "Whoa, he has a really nice back" when he turns to run off after he breaks up with Bella.

(Completely gratuitous shot of Taylor for those of you who are into this kind of thing.)

She also couldn't stop giggling over how Mike looked even less appealing than he did in Twilight and didn't understand why Jessica would like him. ("What happened to Mike?? He is not looking too good.")

During the very last scene, about ten seconds before it ends and before Edward asks Bella to marry him, she suddenly remembers the end in the book and says to me, "Wait, it's not going to end soon is it?"

I just look at her and she wails, "Nooooooooo! How can they end it like thissssssss?!" when she gets her answer. "When is the next one coming out??" I tell her this June and she says, "Really!?!"

And I now have a new person to go join me midnight Eclipse ;)

Twinkly Lights, Gazebos, and Foot-Popping Kisses

2010-03-28T15:35:00.017-04:00

There's a part in The Princess Diaries that I love when Mia is telling her mom about this idea she has about getting her first real kiss.

Mia: I just kind of hope that if he kisses me...my foot pops.

Mom: Pops?

Mia: Yeah. You know in old films whenever a girl would get seriously kissed, her foot would kind of, pop.

And if you didn't already know, Mia does get her wish.

See? If movies have taught girls anything, it's that it's okay to have these whimsical little fantasies about what you think reality should be like. So ever since I saw A Cinderella Story, I have been enchanted by the idea of my own "gazebo moment".

Let me paint the picture you in case you're unfamiliar: Hilary Duff's character is at a costume dance when she meets her incognito prince charming and they slip out for some "quiet time" only to find a perfectly fairytale gazebo, complete with lit candles and flower garlands. To top it off, it was conveniently deserted aside from the string quartet that decides to play them an impromptu melody of I'll Be.

This is sounding utterly ridiculous as I'm laying it out (and please keep in mind this was before Chad Michael Murray became a total dud), but this was actually my point of reference whenever I considered what I thought a moment should be. Which, by the way, considering I doubt I have any male readers, I don't think I need to explain what a 'moment' is.

Then along came Twilight and you can just imagine that when I saw the prom scene for the first time, I mentally threw my hands up in the air lamenting, give me a break. Is it not enough to have one unfulfilled fantasy, but add in a second which completely stomps all over the first?

I'm officially convinced things happen on gazebos. Gazebos + twinkling lights is an undeniable recipe for good times; like chocolate + peanut butter or coffee + rainbow sprinkled donuts. Sorry, I can't think of anything unrelated to food, so clearly you know where my priorities are.

The scene in A Cinderella Story became an afterthought. Flightless Bird by Iron & Wine (that fellow seriously gives Zach Galifianakis' beard a run for its money) replaced Edwin McCain's I'll Be. And Rob as Edward certainly made me laugh at what's-his-name.

But really, I can't tell you how much I love this scene in Twilight. I don't care how cheesy it would be if I layed it out the same way I just did for A Cinderella Story above, I love it. I love that it's not a typical happy ending tied with a bow.

Unquestionably, my favorite scene from any movie. Given what this blog is about that's a huge shock, but I'm easy when it comes to moments that can make me believe there's still something quite magical out there.

And since I had to have it, here are some new backgrounds from Epilogue: An Occasion from the book. Normally, I'm a stickler for the book excerpts, but I also made one with quotes from the movie version too, because it's that good.

What a Difference a Year Makes

2010-03-20T23:30:00.014-04:00

FYI, this is a long one. One year ago, my life was at quite a different place than it is now, and in all honesty, everything that has changed is for the better. For that, I am so grateful. Because before last year... well, things in my life were a lot cruddy. If you are an occasional reader of my blog, I would hope that I come off as a generally happy person. Sure, I can complain about insignificant things here and there, but overall I'm an optimist and I like to be drama free. That's how I live my life, only no one bothered to tell me how my own family can upset that sense of control.

I hadn't even had time to enjoy the fact I had just graduated college, when it just got to be one thing after another after another. You know, problems that involve your family have to be the worst kind because they involve people that you love and that you ultimately trust. I never thought that either of those constants could waver. Before all of this, I don't think I've ever felt true feelings of resentment or anguish or sadness over anyone. I was basically New Moon Bella for a while, though it was internalized all the way.

In my family, I literally am the one everyone leans on, and I felt really weighted down. (If it weren't for my west coast bestie, I don't know what I would've done because she was the only person who kept me sane during this time). When I was growing up, if there was one thing I believed in, it was that if I was a good person, my life would be good. That logic seemed simple enough. I said no to drugs, I would never be the type of person to cheat on someone, I made choices that were right for me and my family. Let me tell you, all of that didn't matter because the things I kept out of my own uncomplicated life still found a way to reach me.

When 2009 began, I made it my new year's resolution to accept things as they were, and move on with my own life. I tried my best to help to no avail and I put my own priorities on hold, which only made me angry at everyone including myself. I was supposed to be looking to start that new chapter in your life when you finish school, and the only thing I had done in the six months after graduation was shave off about 1.3 years my life from the stress I was having.

If this was my letter to Twilight, this is where I'd say Stephenie Meyer's whimsical little dream pulled me out of my no-fun bubble. Her story was my much needed distraction and vampires gave me a sense of reality--as ironic as that sounds. Yes, I talk about how I love Edward and this epic love story, but there's another reason why Twilight will always hold a special place in my heart which I've never disclosed: it was the one tangible thing that really helped me out of a hard time. I had gone to bed some nights with such grief that I'd pray myself to sleep, and I was so tired of having the kind of anxiety that makes your stomach heavy and your pulse throb in your head.

When one of my friends casually gave me her copy of Twilight, I wasn't in any mood to read anything. I let it sit on my nightstand for weeks, forgetting it was there. One night, after I had stared with resentment into the kitchen sink as I did the dishes, I grabbed the book where it was already buried under a pile of papers by then. I even remember thinking I would probably just read a page or two before I'd put it down, but when I started, that was it for me. A girl who was going to live with her estranged father to make her "loving, erratic, hair-brained" mother happy? I already related to her in one aspect. (Later, one of the criticisms I read about the way Stephenie wrote Bella's character was that someone could not believe any teenager would be so self-sacrificing. Well...)

I got up to get a blanket to make myself more comfortable and before I knew it was five in the morning. Here was this girl, Bella, who is the one in her family that takes care of everyone else, never putting herself center stage. Bella didn't seem like she was all, me me me, but she also wasn't some pitiful Cinderella. She lived her life never thinking about wanting more or less, but she was content. I envied that at the time. When Edward comes into the picture, he saves her in a way, though she didn't actually need to be rescued in the first place. She found love and security when she didn't expect it, but when she did find it, she welcomed it and didn't want to give them up. And she put herself first for the first time. I liked that.

She decides she wants to be with Edward and in order to do that she is willing to give up her human life. Up until this point, I was on the same page as her. I mean, you're in her head so you understand it all. But when I read that, my immediate thought was that I could never decide that because I'd think of what might happen to my family. Then I considered it again, and as much as you love your family and anyone else in your life, there are some things that you have to be a little selfish about, that you have to do for yourself. Although I wasn't exactly deciding on true love, I took comfort in Bella's happy ending. I got lost completely in her story.

Among my other resolutions to distract myself, one was to write a daily journal. I've done this many times and it usually starts off where I do it for a few weeks then forget about it. Of course that was exactly what ended up happening, but I actually wrote pretty consistently for a while there. And wouldn't it be a surprise to me that a few days ago I was flipping through it thinking about how different my outlook has changed in a year, and it sparked the idea for this post. So just this once, I'll let you peek into my actual diary...

Still Snowing and It's Officially Spring, 3/20/09

I actuallly woke up early for the first time in weeks, 7:30AM! I don't know what it was. I woke up at 6AM terribly parched but my water bottle was out of reach and I was too lazy to get up. I just decided to take advantage of the early rising and reread the last few pages of Twilight. It's actually very rare that I sit down with any book, but now I find myself needing to race to the library so I can get the second book, New Moon and the dvd of Twilight is coming out soon I think. I think I'll wait until I finish all of the books though since I have no idea who's in the movie anyway. There's still snow on the ground but I'll trudge out because it's that necessary. It's good to be excited about something, anything, again.

Isn't it strange that I thought about the very things I did today, a year later to the day, and it involved me waking up early, going to Target, and picking up the New Moon dvd (I got a lovely still with E&B). The only difference was that it was actually over 70 degrees, so no snow.

I can't believe a year has passed with Twilight on my mind. I owe it a lot in many ways, one of which is sparking this blog and letting me meet some of you who I've connected with these last few months ;)

So today was sort of my anniversary. And to celebrate in honor of that, I thought it would be appropriate to party with pizza. It's homemade but you can pretend that Charlie ordered it. (You can only imagine how tricky it was to actually make pizza and take pictures while posing Pocket Edward, all the while trying not to get caught and answer to weird stares.)

Your Weekend To-Do: Remember Me or The Runaways?

2010-03-19T10:37:00.004-04:00

This week I saw both Remember Me and The Runaways. Super different movies, somewhat similar acting--caliber, that is. Let me just begin by saying this week was one of those weeks that seemed like three rolled in one. I must have had residual exhaustion from my trip to LA the other weekend, but I'm so glad it's over.

So in the wee hours last Sunday morning I notice an email from Amy at MissAmyJoon (former Anxious About RPattz blogger and current go-to girl for Rob graphics requests) that was simply titled: Don't Read Until You've Seen Remember Me. There lay a problem at 1AM, because A. I love getting emails, B. I love getting emails from Amy, and C. I already knew I needed to see Remember Me and I COULD NOT with my schedule.

By the way, that's just one of the many random photos I took strolling around West Hollywood during my trip where Remember Me billboards seemed at every corner. Everytime I saw one, I'd say to Bestie nonchalantly like, "Oh look, it's Robert Pattinson over there again," and she told me to stop saying that because she'd think he was actually there.

It's rare when I'm so busy I can't even squeeze in a time slot to go to the movies, but those are just the kind of days I've been having for the past few weeks. I had just enough time on Monday when I got out of work early so I headed straight the theater around the corner from my office. This is how I found myself, alone at a matinee, buying popcorn and candy (splurge, why not right?) and letting myself melt into one of the plushy recliners at the Regal Cinemas.

I don't actually mind seeing movies myself; sometimes I quite prefer it. Whenever I suggest a movie I have a feeling my guest doesn't want to see, I feel like I'm personally accountable if they don't end up liking it. Then I feel guilty for suggesting it. Even if I suggest a movie and someone isn't receptive to just the idea of it, I'll feel bad. That's me, I'm weird.

Here's the thing I noticed: going to a 2:30PM Monday showing of Remember Me by yourself was like being up to something shady that you didn't want anyone to know about. Because looking around the huge theater, it was practically empty, save for maybe a dozen women--at least women as far as I could make out of their silhouettes--who had all come alone, spread themselves widely throughout the seats, and took comfort in the darkness for concealing their identities. One woman on the complete opposite side of me wore a baseball cap while hugging her large popcorn. Let's face it, these aren't women going to see Remember Me for Pierce Brosnan, or even Emilie de Ravin (who I now have an appreciation for, but more on that later). We're all there to see how he will do in his first theatrical feature after Twilight.

Remember Me was way better than I expected. WAY better. I didn't read many interviews or plot summaries so that helped me have little expectation. Of all things, I was surprised how I totally believed Emilie and Rob's chemistry and the relationship between the two of their characters. Emilie de Ravin was never an actress that popped for me on Lost, but after this, my thoughts have changed.

Here's what I have to say about the movie in random, unrelated thoughts:

The little girl that plays Caroline really won me over as well. I couldn't get over her story--how are kids so cruel?? Honestly. It was like Melinda in Speak all over again.

There was one scene where I was like, okay Robert Pattinson, you are totally and undeniably attractive right now, and it was when he was in the library wearing this white t-shirt. As I've mentioned before, I love a man who looks good in a white shirt. I don't care if you're wearing a $4000 custom-tailored Prada suit, there's just something simple and sexy about a plain white shirt that's perfectly fitted and perfectly loose in all the right places. Thank.you.

Tyler's best friend at one point literally says, "That's why chicks dig you, man." Someone please tell me when was the last time you heard a guy say this. "Chicks"? "Dig"? What is this, Saved by the Bell?

During the scene where Tyler asks Ally out on a date, he starts with, "Listen, can I bother you for a second?" and Ally responds, "You're already bothering me." In all seriousness, if someone came up to me in this way, my reflexive thought would be that I was going to be the butt of some joke and I'd think, Why is this guy making fun of me? I don't know why this is always my first thought when I am approached, but it is. I would be no where quippy enough to respond like Ally.

Near the end of their date, Ally asks Tyler when the hell he was going to tell her what happened to his face. It struck me just then that, oh yeah, his face is still beat up. Question time: Would you actually accept a date to go out with a stranger--albeit a ridiculously attractive stranger in a white shirt--who had cuts and bruises all over his face? Is this not a big flag for concern? Apparently not.

Two days later, I went to an advanced screening of The Runaways. Again, I had little expectation for the movie because I didn't watch any clips or see many stills beforehand. It turned out it was actually exactly as random as I'd thought it would be.

Of course it's supposed to be a biopic so there's only so much you can sensationalize, but I was still wowed by Kristen and Dakota's performances. This definitely wasn't a movie were the actors could just say their lines and pass. This was like, I'm-going-to-get-down-and-really-dirty-and-let-the-spit-fly-when-I-talk-because-I-don't-care-about-looking-pretty kind of delivery. For me, it was good enough to see once to appreciate it for that.

One of the highlights when I watched was when someone in the theater wailed an agonizing "ahhhhhhh!" when the guitar teacher said to Joan, "Girls don't play electric guitar." Everyone laughed.

I am foregoing putting up The Runaways stills, and instead putting up these from the LA premiere because without a doubt, I don't think Kristen has ever looked better on a red carpet. And yes, I'm biased because it's pink, it's frilly, and it's gorgeous.

The Runaways is out today. If you haven't made it to the movies, please get to it!

A Day on the Set with Vampires

2010-03-18T23:25:00.016-04:00

This will undoubtedly be the easiest post I've ever written, because I didn't have to write it! A couple weeks ago on a complete whim, I DMed Jennifer (@InTwilightWoods)--who's quickly become one of my new friends (another thanks to Twilight for bringing people together!) about a casting call I'd seen online for The Vampire Diaries. Knowing she lives in the area AND had recently gotten into the show, I figured, why not? Before I knew it she was telling me she got a call back! Who knew that sometimes things do actually happen from those posts you see online?

If you ever wanted to know what it's really like to be an extra on a popular TV show, to see the likes of Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder--and if I'm being technical--work with them, you'll want to go now and make yourself a melty hot chocolate (or wine, if that's what you're feeling) and grab a snack, settle in and read her story. She doesn't leave out a single detail or picture to account for her day and you really feel like you're right there with her.

Oh, and just a heads up, she even has a moment with Ian Somerhalder.

---------------

My Awesome Day With The Vampires (Well, Mostly A Bunch Of Other Extras-But It Was Still Awesome!)

When I got the call asking if I could come work as an extra on The Vampire Diaries the following day, I’d just got home from work and had a dozen things on my mind. I’d sent my information by email to the casting director, Marty, just four days before. I reckoned that if I said no (Would someone be able to fill in for me at my regular job? Would my boss be understanding?) I might not get the chance again, so after two seconds of thought I said, “Yes!” Marty told me I’d receive a confirmation email first, then an email with the preliminary call time, and a third email after midnight giving me the final call time. These emails would also give me directions to the extras’ parking and tell me what type of clothing to bring. Marty said I’d need three “upscale wedding type” dresses. After hanging up I spent the next hour flitting about the house in excitement.

The second email, with a preliminary call time of 11 am, came after 11 pm, and I’m glad I read it before I went to bed. The clothing descriptions were very specific--cocktail dresses--no white, red, or pastels. No sequins. Bring jewelry, shoes, handbags. I went into a mild panic. What did I have?! Thankfully I had some things I hoped might work. I was still waiting for the final call time, but needed to go to bed. It was getting late, and I’d be waking up at 5:15. My head was on the pillow, but my eyes stayed open--too excited!

I checked my email first thing when the alarm went off and found that the final call time was still 11 am. Good, plenty of time. I decided to carefully follow Marty’s directions. Mapquest wanted to send me a different way (much closer-I ended up finding out I could have saved myself 30 minutes on the highway. The filming location was only like 15 minutes from my house!) but I didn’t want to take any chances of getting lost and being late. I’d read something Marty once said about “In this business you are late if you are on time. You are on time if you are early.”

I started seeing the small yellow and black Mystic signs, and then the one that said Background Parking. I pulled into a field with about 15-20 other cars. A few other people were making their way to a white van, so I did the same and climbed in. We pulled back out onto the main road, and then onto a gravel road that took us way back into the woods. We pulled up near several huge white tents that had been set up among the trees. Once again, I followed the other folks.

This is, I think, the first lesson I learned--if you are not sure where to go, just follow everyone else (but there are exceptions!) I checked in, received paperwork to fill out, and wondered how many others were here for the first time and felt clueless. With a bit of help I got my papers filled out, and had my first experience with lesson #2--in this type of work there is A LOT of waiting. You hear this, but you can’t imagine it till you’ve experienced it. I am NOT complaining. Waiting is good!

Next, a small blond lady came in and told us all to get out the clothing we’d brought so she could take a look. I watched other extras show her what they’d brought, and paid close attention. A girl a few seats down from me got chastised for only bringing one outfit (the email had said bring three). I took note. When the woman from wardrobe came to me I showed her a long silver gray skirt and corset top I’d brought. She eyed them and declared that I got a gold star. I was so happy-like a kindergartner receiving her teacher’s approval. I was told to go to the wardrobe trailer, and (remember lesson #1) I follow the crowd. I’m in heels, and it’s a bit of a walk. Lesson #3--bring flats you can slip on and off for walking and waiting. We follow a path past a huge mansion of a home. I don’t know it at the time, but this is Founder’s Hall, and we’ll do a lot of filming here. There are trucks, equipment, and people everywhere. At the wardrobe trailer I meet two other extras who are very nice and helpful--Takara (who, I found out, lives like five minutes from me) and Tyrone.

Two women are working at the wardrobe trailer, and are busy dressing a half dozen men and women as waiters. My turn comes up and I present myself to a little woman who seems to be a cross between Vera Wang and the character Edna from The Incredibles. I hold up my skirt and top and say, “She told me to wear this.” She looks it up and down, shows neither approval nor disapproval, and tells me to go put it on and come back. I enter another tent and undress. There are a few other women in there, and one is trying to put on a dress given to her from wardrobe. It won’t zip up the back. I feel empathy for her, and am once again grateful that I brought acceptable clothes of my own. Re-dressed, I go back out and am given the okay to go back to extras holding and wait.

Pretty soon we’re taken up to the house. We stand outside, at the back of the house, and are given some general instructions. The main one I pick up on is that no one is to step on the wooden flooring set up on the grass--something about you step on it, you mop it. Later in the day I recall this and hop off, but see that no one is following that rule. I figure it’s either been forgotten, or was a joke to tease us.

There are high, round tables set up around the lawn, and Steven R. McQueen (who plays Jeremy, younger brother to Nina Dobrev's Elena) is standing at one of them. The tables are covered with pink and white cloths, and have vases of flowers sitting on them.

I am chosen with a group of others (and at this point let me tell you, it’s almost impossible to figure out who gets chosen to do what scenes, or stand in this or that place. Sometimes it’s, “Okay, everyone from here over come inside with me. The rest of you go back and wait in the tent.” And sometimes it’s, “You, you two, you, and you, come with me.”) We are shooting inside the house. I’m paired up with another extra named TJ. We’re told to stand by the door, wait for Malese Jow (who plays Anna, a young vampire girl) to walk in, walk in front of her and up the staircase (it’s decorated beautifully with tulle and flowers), pause, come back down, and pretend to talk with another couple. I’m given a plastic plate with an hors d’oeuvre on it. We do the scene over and over with lots of stopping, talking, and changing things around. Going up and down the steps I’m concerned that my heels are very noisy, but no one says anything. The hair and make-up lady comes over and uses some Bed Head product to tame my fly-aways. Cool!

When Malese walks through the house and goes out the opposite door, she stops to speak with Ian Somerhalder for this scene. TJ and I are waiting at the top of the steps and I have a perfect view. What a great opportunity to take a photo I think, but I know better and don’t dare.
We break for lunch a little after 3:00. A table is set up with lots of food: cereal, bread, peanut butter, Peeps, Rice Krispie treats, bubble gum, packs of cookies and crackers, etc. My stomach is not feeling great, so I just eat the food I’d grabbed before I left the house.

Soon we’re called to head back up to the house for filming, and I get to go. I meet up with Tyrone again. He’s the one who’d told me at the wardrobe trailer that morning that I’d see a lot of people who thought things couldn’t happen without them, but not to worry about them, just to have fun.

We’re at the back of the house again, and Ty and I are chosen to stand together. We’re to cross at a certain point when Malese walks by, but we miss our cue. I’m worried, and ask Ty if he thinks the director is upset with us. Ty looks a little upset too, but says not to worry about it. He tells me that earlier in the day one of the male extras got called out in front of everyone for being “boring,” and that if they don’t like what you’re doing they will let you know. Our director (who everyone calls Snook) takes note of the fact that we didn’t do what we were supposed to, but instead of being upset, puts us in another shot right away. Ty and I keep getting picked for things, and I tell him I think he must be good luck. He says he thinks I’m good luck, and we both laugh and are grateful for our good favor.

With that scene done, we wait. Tyrone is chosen as part of another group to go inside and shoot. I wait outside Founder’s Hall. It’s an absolutely beautiful day--blue skies, fluffy white clouds, we’re right on a lake. I sit on the concrete steps, try to relax, and stay out of the way of the people running around. Snook comes back out, and sends most of the extras back to the holding tent, except for a small group. Hurrah--I’m in that small group! He tells us to follow him back and around till we’re going in a side door of the house. I’ve not seen this part of the house before. The entire house is just lovely--ornate chandeliers, furniture, mirrors, paintings, etc. In this little room we’re told to mingle, be animated, while the actors (can’t tell who it is) are in the room in front of us. At this point I’ve seen Malese, Ian, Steven, and Zach Roerig; and in this room are several of the main actors chairs.

It’s around 6 pm. Dinner is being served, and it’s very good--hot food and yummy desserts. It’s starting to get dark, and a lot of people are texting or listening to music. Up till now I’ve had a wonderful day and learned a lot, but the best part if yet to come! We’re told we’ll be called back for shooting soon, so I go wait outside the tent. This is where all the smokers are, but I figure I’d much rather hang out here than lounge around inside--a better chance of getting chosen, I’m thinking. We wait…and I’m right! A group of about twenty of us are told to come back up to the house.

When I walk back into the house I am amazed again at how beautiful it is. Now there are little sparkling lights all up and down the staircase. There’s crew everywhere, and for the first time I see Nina Dobrev. I also see Ian Somerhalder again, and Katerina Graham and Matthew Davis for the first time. Snook has Ty and me stand by the door. Ian and Nina practice their lines. Ty and I are told what to do, then no, Snook wants us in a different position. We chit-chat while we wait, and find that we’re able to carry on our conversations by lip-synching when all is quiet. We’re not filming yet, but I’ve got my coat off and am holding it so I can be ready. It’s cold, and Nina asks someone to close the door.

Now here comes the highlight of the day for me. Ian and Nina have been walking back and forth, and Katerina has been in and out. Ty and I are talking when Ian walks up to us, stops, and speaks directly to me. All I can think in my head is, “Say something! If you don’t you’ll always regret it.” So, I do speak, and thankfully I don’t embarrass myself. Funny thing is that I think it was right before Ian walked up to us that Ty was asking which of the actors I’d really like to meet. The extras are asked to move because they’re trying to get a shot of Ian and Nina just right, and furniture has to be moved. They’re speaking their lines close enough that we can hear everything. We’re taken into a side room where several people are sitting in chairs, going over the script, and making jokes. Matthew Davis comes in, talks to them about his character, and I’m like two feet away listening intently when he reveals some very interesting information. I make sure my mouth isn’t hanging open. A woman walks in, hands him THE ring (actually don't click if you're not caught up on episodes because it's a spoiler) and he puts it on.

Shortly after we’re told to head back to the extras holding tent, and by 8:30 we are told we’re done for the day. We just have to finish up our paperwork. Less than two weeks later my check comes in the mail--woo hoo! From what I understand, the episode I worked on is 118, and there will be a pageant scene. If you see a woman with blond hair wearing a long silver gray skirt and corset style top, that’s me!

Three days later my husband, a friend, and I decided to go out to Covington…aka Mystic Falls. The Mystic Grill is easy to find. While we’re standing on the sidewalk, a woman pulls up in a golf cart. She’s friendly, and tells us that she’s the actual owner of the building (it’s not a restaurant). She says if we want we can follow her to the house where “the girl who’s a witch” (Bonnie) lives. It’s a cute, little brown house.

Would I love to go back and work on The Vampire Diaries again? Of course! It’s what I’m hoping and praying for, but I’ll just have to wait and see.

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Thanks so much to Jennifer for taking the time to share her story and being my first guest poster! You did an awesome job of making me jealous! Imagine being fed AND paid to go inside your favorite TV show? If the only price is waiting around for stretches at a time, uh, where do I line up? How can I get myself to Georgia? ;)

After reading this, my only question now is where was Paul Wesley? That definitely leaves me wondering what will be happening with Elena and Stefan's relationship in the next few episodes. Will Damon and Elena get together? Can't wait to find out! New episodes start again on March 26 (where the Mrs. Cooper comes into town).

My Vampire (Diaries) Weekend

2010-03-12T16:05:00.019-05:00

Guess what I saw last weekend? Vampires--in the flesh! It was so surreal and weird to see my favorite vampire brothers sitting not 30 feet away from me that at one point when I got back to reality and I was in the office I thought, Did that really happen? Was I actually in California the other day? Wasn't this all just my imagination?

No, it wasn't a dream.

I was there, and I ended up with some fantastic seats, sixth row and dead center! I debated on whether I'd be reporting about my trip because maybe no one cares about The Vampire Diaries here. But let me tell you, it all comes back to Twilight, so keep reading.

If you aren't familiar with the set up of Paley panels, basically it's like an annual film festival, but for television shows. I went to the Buffy one two years ago, and was so excited for this one. Although the line and crowd wasn't even nearly as insane as it was for Buffy, I noticed a lot of Vampire Diaries fans were also "other vampire" fans. I saw one woman wear the And then Buffy staked Edward. The End. t-shirt, and more people wearing Edward and New Moon gear than for The Vampire Diaries.

That's great, but it's things like this that perpetuate people who aren't into the whole vampire pop culture thing to think that all fans of any one of True Blood, Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and Buffy--are inclusive of each other. Like we're not discerning fans. Me, I'm personally not into True Blood. (Although, when the panel started and the "specially selected" clip turned out to be a segment of Sarah Michelle Gellar in Buffy, there WAS quite a cheer.)

Mini rant aside, after the clip we got to watch the full upcoming episode "A Few Good Men" (where--attention Team Damon fans--someone finally gets shirtless) and then the cast and writers came out to take their seats.

Can I just reiterate again that seeing Damon and Stefan and Elena glowing on stage was most surreal. It's exactly like seeing them every week on television, only you're not looking at a flatscreen, you're looking at their actual faces--all gorgeous by the way, if you even have to ask.

The panel was very entertaining, very funny. It was like sitting in a living room talking with people you know. Ian Somerhalder is one Chatty Cathy dishing out the gossip and most of the funny business was his doing.

Lots and lots of cute moments between himself and Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley, and the writers, Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec.

Speaking of which, Julie Plec (she's in the middle) is maybe my new hero of the moment and this is where I bring it back to Twilight. I was a little bit perturbed when the panel began with a discussion about the Twilight comparison. Please. Literally at one point it was just Kevin Williamson throwing his palms in the air going, "This is so Twilight, we can't do this. It's Twilight! It's SOOO Twilight!"

They were talking about how he and Julie Plec had opposing views on whether a television adaption of L.J. Smith's books would work, so they read the book to see what they could do. Kevin Williamson's opinion was the above, while Julie Plec, bless her, was basically like, Wow, who wouldn't want to do Twilight for TV? She explained how she had also just seen it and all she could talk about at their meetings were "Edward and Bella AND ROBERT PATTINSON!" Yep, she went there.

I wanted to have coffee with her right then and there to talk vampires--cause you know when you find someone else that actually gets visibily excited and turns into a 14-year-old when they talk about Edward and Bella, I'm drawn and I want to sit down and have a one-on-one. What did you love, what do you think?! Book versus movie? (P.S. I just came from lunch with an old friend and she requested I bring her New Moon--another converted, I can't wait!)

Julie Plec seemed like a sassy lady, in her black dress and funky merlot-colored patent leather wedges. I mean, she gets to do things like eat pancakes at IHOP while writing sexy lines for Damon to say and making executive decisions on whether Stefan should be with or without shirt in each episode (she actually does this, I didn't just make this up). How's that for a day's work?

There was another Twilight moment when Ian mentioned he's never seen Twilight (he says), but Nina has. Nina talked about this one instance where she had to tell Julie to change one of the lines she had to deliver as Elena. If you watch the show, you can recall the episode where Elena finds out that Stefan is a vampire. Apparently, the original line was for Elena say to Stefan, "Say it," and Nina recalled she said, "I cannot say this!" because she recognized it was exactly in Twilight! She asked the audience to remind her of what Bella said and someone shouted out, "Say it out loud!" Nina was like, "Oh yeah," and then even did her imitation of that Bella and Edward exchange. Julie Plec laughed and explained that she probably unintentially wrote it from her subconcious. In the end, the line that was delivered was, "What are you?"

At the end of the panel discussion the floor was open to audience questions. A girl in the back somewhere prefaced her question with a declaration for Nina, and then added something like, "...you're a way better actress than other vampire girlfriends" which was well received in the audience, but I immediated turned to Bestie to say, "Oh no she did NOT just diss Kristen Stewart!" Let's be real, I love Nina Dobrev in The Vampire Diaries too, but no need for that! Bestie even brought up the point of whether she was including Sarah Michelle Gellar into that comment--because that would have been as offensive to us (we heart SMG). Nina just laughed, I know it was all in good fun.

If you haven't watched The Vampire Diaries, you should give it a shot. It might not be your thing, but at least you know that one of its writers is one of us!

On a different note: ECLIPSE TRAILER. No words, but here's a 1280 x 700 screen cap:

I had to wait until I got home from work yesterday to watch the trailer, but I was on EW.com reading about it at my desk and I nearly gave myself away when I burst out laughing at one of the comments left:

Once again, Robert Pattinson looks like a powdered doughnut.

The comparison is so absurd I died!

Irrational Thoughts, Thanks Twilight!

2010-03-05T00:49:00.006-05:00

If you're reading this, you most likely know what I'm talking about. Irrational thoughts. Brought to you by Twilight. Even though you know this is a story, wild imagination, words on paper, it doesn't deter you from creating hypotheticals where these characters are just as real as the people you do see every day. I mean, technically, you can think about these characters every day, as often and considerately as you would actual friends and family. In some cases, you might even know these characters better than some of those very people.

So let's just pretend a minute that my delusions, aren't, and I'll say one of my irrational thoughts--out loud. It involves another reason why I love the idea of Edward. I'd give you three guesses, but it's most random so I'll simply tell you.

One of my greatest fears, which I acquired only in the last few years, is a fear of flying. I never ever was one of those people that white-knuckled it all the way, and this is coming from someone who had taken 14+ hour flights at least once a year. One bad experience during a landing in Hong Kong and that all went out the window. I literally have never been more terrified in my life and I don't care to relive it.

Knowing that, now also know I'm not one of those girls that needs to be taken care of and coddled. I consider myself independent, I know how to handle my business, and I don't see myself as someone needing rescuing, ever. But as I was first getting to know Edward, I found myself seeing the benefits of being clumsy and reckless like Bella, just so I could have someone like him treat me with such care, protect me. (I kind of melted when I read the part about how Edward was delicately examining Bella's hand, carefully leading her to his car after she punches Jacob in the face.)

As if all the things I had read about Edward in Twilight and New Moon weren't already buying me, all I needed was to read this in Eclipse--the scene where Edward and Bella are exchanging notes in class after Florida:

He took the paper from underneath my hand.

"I wasn't about to send you off alone. With your luck, not even the black box would survive." (Edward)

That wasn't what I had meant at all; I hadn't thought of going without him. I'd meant to say that we should have stayed here together. But I was sidetracked by his response, and a little miffed. Like I couldn't fly cross country without bringing the plane down. Very funny.

"So let's say my bad luck did crash the plane. What exactly were--you--going to do about it?" (Bella)

"Why is the plane crashing?" (Edward)

He was trying to hide a smile now.

"The pilots are passed out drunk." (Bella)

"Easy. I'd fly the plane." (Edward)

Of course. I pursed my lips and tried again.

"Both engines have exploded and we're falling in a death spiral toward the earth." (Bella)

"I'd wait till we were close enough to the ground, get a good grip on you, kick out the wall, and jump. Then I'd run you back to the scene of the accident, and we'd stumble around like the two luckiest survivors in history." (Edward)

I stared at him wordlessly.

"What?" he whispered.

I shook my head in awe.

Not going to lie, when I read that, I thought, IF ONLY! Sigh. I think that must also be the reason I loved watching Superman Returns. I'm talking about the part where he rescues Lois from the exploratory space ship missile aircraft thing.

Having someone that could make my greatest fear obsolete would be a thumbs up in my book. So lovely that I'm about to get on a plane in a few short hours, too. Remember how I impulse bought tickets to see The Vampire Diaries cast? I am actually going to LA this weekend, and I may or may not report back on it depending if anyone cares about Vampire Diaries here ;)

In the meantime, since I'll be gone till Sunday, escaping from dreary cold NYC, I want to know, do you ever have irrational Twi-thoughts? Would you disclose one out loud? Go ahead and post anonymously if you want, or maybe it is really only me. I did dedicate this blog for this very purpose, didn't I?

Have a wonderful weekend everyone, I'll be enjoying mine! (Though not the actual traveling.) Oh, and again if you missed me on Twitter, here are two Eclipse "proposal" backgrounds I made recently by a Twifan request. I don't think I realized that Bella is holding the ring box in her hand until it was pointed out, and I actually love the quote so thanks to Maria for reminding me of this one (I haven't read up to it in Eclipse yet)!

SPOILER ALERTTTTT!

Why Catherine Hardwicke Got It

2010-02-27T23:29:00.014-05:00

Being snowed in on a weekend because the public works department decides it doesn't need to plow the sidewalks, has its pluses and minuses. Minus, because I can't get to the theater to see The Yellow Handkerchief, which I'm dying to see. Plus, because it gives me plenty of time to do things like this:

Yep, that's what I woke up to! Okay no, just kidding, the view outside my window is not as bleak. It is, however, a picture that I took last winter when I went hiking somewhere upstate where everything was encased in ice because it was so freaking frigid (that's why the branches are all droopy, the ice literally weighed them down).

So I'm currently rereading the Saga and I'm up to Eclipse. I'd forgotten how good Eclipse really is (actually that is a lie, Eclipse was never my favorite), and now I find myself slowing my pace down just so I can savor it. I've read 'Temper' probably three times now. In my efforts to prolong the journey, I skipped listening it on the way to work and instead I listened to the second half of Twilight on my iPod. And yes, by that I mean I listened to Twilight the movie--I feel too conspicuous watching it on the subway and besides, I can run the scenes in my head anyway.

Eventually I got up to the prom scene and I didn't care who was looking over my shoulder. While watching the gazebo moment with Edward and Bella dreamily whirling around in a glittering show of sparkly lights, I had a renewed revelation: Twilight is untouchable. Truly.

There are so many gorgeous scenes and eloquent close-ups. It's simply so beautifully shot. Think about it. There aren't many movies that compare, and that's not even because of the story. I know there are a lot of complainers about this movie and Catherine Hardwicke's direction, but I'm not one of them.

I love the blue-grayness, the way that it was supposed to have this "indie vibe" (despite the fact it's now one of the most mainstream movies ever), and just the subtleness of the entire film.

I pinpointed it: subtlety is definitely what wins me over. From the music to the dialogue to the character interactions, nothing is over the top and in your face with the interpretation of Stephenie's story. Cause let me just say if it went the other way, a teen vampire love story where the vampire guy is supposed to look like a real-life David, complete with marble-hard body and smelling delicious like candy (or that's what I imagine--too many butterscotch references) could have been WAY parodical.

Because of Catherine's choices, I even appreciate Bella more because Kristen didn't overact her (thank you), and Bella is the whole point of this to begin with. I also reason that subtlety may be why people who didn't read the books and saw this movie thought it was garbage. They missed out on a hundred thoughts and emotions that readers knew just by the tension in Edward's body or the look in Bella's eyes. True story: when I gave Twilight to BFF to watch, she texted me during the biology scene, "this is a bit much. what is with the gripping?!"

And I thought about all of this as I was watching the end credits because the last shot is just stupidly gorgeous. I decided right then I had to do something with it, and because Twilight is still my favorite installment, I had to include an excerpt from 'Confessions' that I love.

I hope you like it too.

On a different note, I'd just like to give everyone a heads up that there are some dates to remember for this coming week:

MONDAY 3/1
-The Today Show (Rob)
-Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (Rob)**
-NYC premiere of Remember Me at The Paris Theatre (4 West 58th Street if you plan to attempt going)

TUESDAY 3/2
-The View (Rob)
-Daily Show with Jon Stewart (Rob)

WEDNESDAY 3/3
-Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (Michael Sheen)

And don't forget there are additional DVR alerts and dates for The Runaways you will want to pencil in for the next week:

TUESDAY 3/9
-The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)

WEDNESDAY 3/10
-The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Kristen)

THURSDAY 3/11
-LA premiere of The Runaways

FRIDAY 3/12
-The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (Dakota)

WEDNESDAY 3/17
-NYC premiere of The Runaways

I'll update you on any additional appearances as they come in! A lot of exciting things coming up in the next couple weeks between Kristen and Taylor at the Oscars (3/7), the Eclipse trailer (3/12!), Remember Me (3/12), The Runaways (3/19), and the New Moon dvd release (3/20!).

If Edward Were a Southern Gentleman

2010-02-22T06:16:00.005-05:00

Getting mail makes me happy. Like real mail, the kind that is hand addressed to you even when it's not your birthday. I got a letter from my best friend from college and it totally made my Saturday morning. Even though we text, and send emails and sometimes catch up over the phone, the two of us still write each other letters once in a while.

I suppose I'm old-fashioned in this way, but I still like to pick out pretty stationary and utilize my second-grade cursive in order to seal my thoughts on paper (recently a coworker found a note I'd written and she told me I had "teacher handwriting"). I like the idea that a letter becomes this like tangible capsule of time, and years from now I can look back and read silly things like, "I went to see Australia this weekend, where can I find a real man like Hugh Jackman?"

Inside my letter, my college bestie included a magazine clipping from a back issue of Southern Living that her mother had sent to her a while ago. See, she's a Southern gal from Virginia. Her mother has the cutest North Carolina accent and she is the kind of mother that used to send her home baked treats all the time when we were in college. Bundt cakes on her birthday, and cookies just whenever. Her mother even mailed her clippings from their local paper just to keep track of anything interesting she was missing out on back at home. Once when I complimented a package of sugar cookies, her mother sent me an index card that was neatly typed--from a typewriter--with the recipe and even the dated source of reference.

Needless to say I was totally charmed by all of these little gestures and traditions. My own mother has never used an oven besides to reheat fried chicken. You know, when I was a freshman, I was the one that mailed her a care package!

I unfolded the clipping college bestie had enclosed, and it says:

15 Ways To Charm Her
Want to impress a Southern girl? Just think, "What would my grandfather have done?"

We have this running joke that there are so few "real men" these days (that above line about Australia wasn't just made up for your entertainment). My friend's last boyfriend was afraid of spiders, so she did the killings. My first and last blind date turned out to be a high maintenance fancy man. Maybe it's not so much that these men don't exist, but because I like to live in this world of ~~utter make believe~~ romance and fairy tale, meeting one of these men is rarer than finding a male in that hipster part of Brooklyn that doesn't wear skinny jeans (which if you're unfamiliar, is rare).

This is why my friend knew I would get a kick out of this list. Considering these "ways to charm her" in the article, you can guess that my mind went straight to compare with a certain vampire. Get ready to play a round of What Would Edward Do?

1. STAND UP FOR A LADY.

Easy, this is the epitome of Edward. "Ladies first?"

2. KNOW THAT SEC HAS THE BEST FOOTBALL TEAMS IN THE NATION.

I have no idea what SEC is. Edward's favorite American pastime may be baseball, but he has been known to sit with Charlie and pretend to show interest in watching football. That's good enough for me.

3. KILL BUGS.

I'm sure willingness to kill a fellow vampire also means you're okay with killing a rogue insect once in a while. None of that screaming and running away like I am entitled to as a girl. Only in my case I have to suck it up because--true story--I was once called in by a guy to kill a lady bug. I think that'll have to be the first test I put a guy through from now on.

4. HOLD DOORS OPEN.

Holding doors open, opening doors, it's all the same. I don't think anyone outside of a hotel valet has ever done this for me now that I think about it. Sigh...

5. FIX THINGS OR BUILD STUFF.

Fix things, check. Build stuff, sure.

6. WEAR BOOTS OCCASIONALLY (Not the fancy, I-paid-$1000-for-these kind. We're talking about slightly mud-crusted, I-could-have-just-come-in-from-the-field boots.)

This is something I always liked about Edward. Even though he's a sharp dresser in the books, it never came across like he cared much about his vanity. He's not a Fancy Man in that way. Although I think if he did wear working boots, somehow he'd be able to keep them impeccable.

7. TAKE OFF YOUR HAT INSIDE.

Not a problem since Edward doesn't wear hats. It would mess up his perfectly messed bronze hair.

8. GRILL STUFF.

I'm going to take it that "grilling stuff" is the culinary form of masculinity. Meat. Red Meat. Blood. Animals. Hunting. There we go--hunting mountain lions with your bare hands and sinking your teeth into it kind of trumps flipping a limp meat patty.

9. CALL US (If you want to ask us out, don't text and don't email. Pick up the phone and use your voice.)

Modern technology has nothing on Edward. I hardly see him saying his "I Love You's" by text. Did Bella and Edward ever talk to each other on the phone in the books?

Anyway, if Edward wants to say something to Bella, he goes to see her. So what if he "just wants to try one thing"? He'll simply appear in her room. On her bed. That's all.

10. STAND WHEN WE COME BACK TO DINNER.

Too easy.

11. PULL OUT OUR CHAIRS.

And he'd also help you with your jacket.

12. PAY THE TAB ON THE FIRST FEW DATES.

No need to stop at the first few dates. A college tuition, bullet-proof luxury cars, lavish gold beds, you know, stuff every girl needs.

13. DON'T SHOW UP IN A WRINKLED, UNTUCKED SHIRT.

Ha. How can this ever be less than perfection?

14. NEVER GET IN BAR FIGHTS.

He knows to walk away, even if he wants to "go back and rip those guys' heads off."

15. KNOW HOW TO MIX OUR FAVORITE COCKTAIL JUST THE WAY WE LIKE IT.

This makes me think of Stephenie's extended scene before the prom in Twilight. The one where Edward prepares Bella a dinner which he has Charlie taste test. And it makes me realize just right this moment that Bella and Edward will never in all eternity be technically old enough to drink.

I always love a good excuse to watch Twilight, and this time for research purposes of course. If anyone's interested in the full article let me know, there's some funny commentary. So what do you girls think? I think I might be on to something... Southern gent or century-old vampire. Either-or.

(I will never tire of this movie.)

Total Eclipse of My Weekend

2010-02-16T01:30:00.007-05:00

So I had a really legitimate post I had been in the middle of working on, and then came Sunday morning. I couldn't resist getting on Twitter first thing, before I put on my makeup, before I got changed out of my pajamas, before I even had time to take more than two sips of my coffee. Twitter is always a morning debate for me: Will I get dressed and be a real person for today, or will I sit at my vanity for the better part of the daylight hours, opting out on meals and actual social interaction because they simply don't make the cut as things that are important when I'm talking Twilight?

On Twitter (AKA the place from which you can never leave), I discover the delicious Eclipse stills as they are being freshly delivered one by one by one. I didn't even realize it was Valentine's Day until I read various thanks to Summit and David Slade. With perfect timing, I had just finished rereading New Moon and was all the more excited to begin Eclipse again. It's been almost an entire year since I've read the books, and let me tell you, it was like falling in love for the first time again. Could it be possible that somehow it was even better than I remembered? I guess time does really make the heart grow that much fonder.

After all internalized hyperventilating was done, my long weekend disappeared faster than those steamy stills were being leaked, and I'll just leave it at that. I won't start on how--excited--I am for June 30th. I'm just going to reel in that fervor before I give myself a B&E-induced aneurysm. And with that...

SPOILER ALERT!

Part of the result of being a shut-in for the past two days are these Eclipse backgrounds I was inspired to make. I don't usually do this kind of thing because my skills are downright rudimentary, but I love finding quotes from the Saga. Plus, I figured this was the best way to shamelessly stare at these pictures all day--clearly I have my priorities set in the way I choose to spend my time and focus. Enjoy!

Twi-Decorating: Tasteful or Tacky?

2010-02-07T21:02:00.012-05:00

How do you think a young, twenty-something spends her weekend? If your guesses didn't include reading a self-help manuscript targeted for over-40 women, light crafting with a gluegun, topped off with some Twilight blogging, you'd be off your mark. Tonight, my only companion is a sinfully sweet pink cupcake, which together with my mocha frap with whip from before, completely kills my earlier efforts of powerwalking around town with Bestie. (Yes I am aware my activities say I might as well be middle-aged already.)

So a while back when New Moon had its heyday with press, I was watching Nikki on The Rachael Ray Show and they had an opening segment with this woman who showed off her Twilight-themed room. She had done it creatively and she had an entire wall quoting an excerpt from the book. Aside from that giveaway, everything else was a fairly discreet homage to the Saga. I wish I could find her segment to show you what she did. Actually, does anyone know who this lady is? She did say she hangs around the blogosphere...

When I think of people decorating with Twilight in mind, I think of one of two things: red and black gothic or straight up teenybopper plastered (as I discovered this weekend on LTR).

I just finished completely renovating my bedroom last summer and it was "grown-up" time. I wasn't going to go the way of my Spice Girls décor circa '97 again, or my Jessica Simpson/Britney phase of '01. Instead, grown-up means no decorating out of teen magazines so you'd be embarrassed for real people to see where you sleep. Grown-up means being more discreet, like I kind of want only me to know what my things represent.

For example, I love Buffy. LOVE. For those of you who watch and will therefore know what I'm talking about, a while back I tried to find the Chocolate poster. It wasn't easy to get and I am super thankful to the artist who kindly mailed me one of her copies since it is out of print. To anyone else who sees it, it's a yummy vintage-looking poster. To me, it's more than that on top of the obvious yumminess.

I spend a lot of my free time on Etsy these days, and even though I've yet to buy anything, I love looking at all the obscure Twilight merchandise. I contemplate how I could incorporate them in a subtle, tasteful fashion.

This brings me back to what I was doing yesterday afternoon, crafting my Twi-project. Okay, so it took me about twenty minutes because it's not like I made the clock from scratch, but I had fun adding the pictures of Rob and Kristen. I might have to make mini Saga books too.

So now besides the Pocket Edwards that float around my room, I have that hanging on my wall. I'm deciding on what I can add next that I won't be ashamed of in the near future. To give me some idea, I also spent my Saturday crudely photoshopping how my room would look if Twi-ed it out more. Oh, I'm fully aware how lame that admission just sounded, but I'm beyond the point of being embarrassed here.

Just so you're not confused, these are pictures of my grown-up room and I am aware that it looks like it could be an 8-year-old's. See, this is what happens when your parents deny you tulle canopies and frilly accessories growing up. The first chance I got to take control, my inner child was unleashed, complete with a mini green crystal chandelier and a pink rose-carved dresser.

This last mock-up I am actually considering. Has anyone else done these Twilight quotes for their walls? Are there any other fun things I could do? Fun in a relatively low-key way, not fun in a weird, obvious way.

It's All About the Photo Shoot

2010-02-01T21:46:00.005-05:00

If your Twilight buzz has been weaning a bit lately from a lack of fresh, heart-palpitating news (well, except for Kristen fans, hello Sundance mania), leave it to Vanity Fair to pull you back into the world of jaw drops.

This is how it's done Vanity Fair-style. The greatest perk of being a celebrity has to be being able to indulge in photo shoots like this one:

Or these ones (as if you really needed reminding):

All right, maybe it's different for Rob, but think about it. You sit there in a cushy robe while someone dresses you, makes you up, touches you up and you never have to once worry if your hair gets blown in the wrong direction because you're fooling around. Then there's the craft service area that caters to your day of play whenever you feel like having a bite to eat--no worries if gloss gets smudged cause if there's someone that'll dab the first signs of a sheen across your face, you can rest assured that someone will also fix up your lips. (Okay, so those behind-the-scenes folks don't always get enough credit. I appreciate them cause I've been that person who kneels down to the ground to buckle on six-inch heels at a model's feet while she stands there eating a chocolate chip cookie.)

If playing haute couture dress-up doesn't sound like enough, what really makes it is that you get to shoot with your peers. Tell me that hanging out with your friends, laughing and looking ethereal in swaths of lace and tulle while a photographer captures these "candid" moments wouldn't be fun. Even if only for the briefest bubble of a moment.

This year's is very similar in styling to the previous Hollywood issue below, but I forgive.

Because like I said, I have a soft spot for all things fanciful and feminine so this only feeds toward my dress envy. And dress envy is expensive with all the J. Mendel and Dior that is going on up there.

But let's get to the real point. Here's Kristen, never failing to amaze with her effortless pretty. Does this girl even try? No really, I'm asking a legitimate question. For all I know she really couldn't care more or less about looking any which way, and with zero effort looks like that. I just read a comment where someone said she looked like a boy in these pictures. If that's the truth, sign me up.

And Anna, still loving her dresses. Hope she gets an Oscar nomination tomorrow!

While most of us won't be the star of our own glamourific photo shoot any time soon (unless ones involving glitter and your best friend's backyard count), I thought of an idea for any of you who are, or know someone who is, getting married. Instead of your usual bachelorette party, invite all of your friends and have a dreamy photo shoot of your own! Just make sure the studio you go to doesn't make you pose on a pretend stoop, in front of a mock grocery, where the photographer insists you put on shiny white kitten heels that only someone with their own reality show on E! would wear.

Soda cans and plastic fruit bins? So not Vanity Fair-style.

***
On a separate note, I want to say I'll miss my blog friends: Alice and Bella at NotanAddikt who are a hilarious team that has even shared their talents as occasional guest contributors to LTT/LTR, and Amy at Anxious About RPattz who will still be around to create your most needed Rob backgrounds here. And this one's going to @KstewAngel who you should all be following!

Vampire Diaries, Stop Adding to My Delusions

2010-01-27T15:33:00.001-05:00

I don't know what it is: that I have an increasingly apparent thing for vampires or that I'm a fool for nonsensical teenage romance. Oh, I'm not denying that it's both--the question is, which of the two provides the lesser embarrassing excuse?

These two points were a long time coming. They explain why Buffy is my forever favorite television show, why Twilight absurdly runs my life, and why Vampire Diaries has suddenly made Thursdays the highlight of my week. (And perhaps I shouldn't be admitting that the highlight of my week comes down to 42 minutes of Elena/Stefan/Damon action.)

The other day it became crystal clear to me that vampires make me crazy. Like, drop-everything-and-rearrange-my-life-so-I-can-get-my-kicks kind of crazy. Look at me, I just used vampires as an excuse for my actions--my humanly, perfectly rational and REAL actions where the word 'VAMPIRES' does not belong.

You know how people do delirious things in the early morning hours when they know they should be in bed? I did something in that state of delirium. I bought tickets to see the crew and cast of The Vampire Diaries at this year's PaleyFest.

Heyguesswhat, I don't even live in California. This trip would involve a plane ticket across the country, but let's worry about that later. Then I went to bed and woke up and my first thought the next morning was, I'm going to see Stefan. And Elena. And Damon. IN PERSON. I went to work on Monday like I had this dirty little secret to which I couldn't tell a single person, lest I wanted them to think I was one of those people.**

It would suck to have to explain to people that I'm not rabid. You guys know, there are degrees of fandom. My excitement is equal parts seeing my current favorite TV cast in person, and just having fun by going to something fun. Hmm, that was articulate... I mean, the act of being caught up in something admittedly frivolous and juvenile that a lot of people love too is just exciting in itself. That's what Vampire Diaries is to me. Like Twilight, it indulges my inner 14-year-old (someone I like to talk about a lot).

However, like Twilight, Vampire Diaries also seriously misguides my life. You watch all these shows and read these fantastical stories, you start thinking why you don't have a personal brooding vampire, desperately in love with you, savagely protective of you. You wonder why you don't live in the lush Pacific Northwest, or in the sultry Savannah backdrop. You want a little drama. You want a smattering of danger. You might even want to own a cropped leather jacket or two. Why not, right?

Unfortunately, real life is a bit less bloody and a whole lot less sexy.

Just an update for you Vampire Diaries fans, here's the cast in this month's NYLON. I just got my hands on this after scouring for the last two days, and now I see that its writers, Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, can be held accountable for feeding my craze:

"That's why the genre element of it all is so appealing. It's not real. It's a fantasy world. But teeange love stories are always so life and death. So what better place to tell a vampire story than in a story of life and death every week?"

"Vampires or no vampires, what everyone has set out to do is make an epic love story."

You'll be surprised (or not) on how heavily-centric this piece and its interviews with Nina Dobrev, Paul Wesley, and Ian Somerhalder are intertwined with inevitable discussion of Twilight. Happy reading!

**I'm not one of those people. I know because I also went to the Buffy reunion at PaleyFest08 and I sat in line for an entire afternoon with them. If you ever want to see an eclectic group of people, attend a Joss Whedon spectacle. Someone--I swear--came to the Buffy event carrying an exact full-sized replica of the Scythe.

Anna, I Want All Your Dresses.

2010-01-20T21:11:00.013-05:00

I kind of have this soft spot for Anna Kendrick cause she doesn't make me feel too old for all of this Twilight business. We were both born in the same year, you see, and there was a time not too long ago that coming into the world in '85 meant that you were part of the latest generation. Suddenly yesterday, I was reading something that referred to a "Generation Z" and I was all, What's that?--I just refuse to believe there are people born after 1998. And then when I was at work, the phrase "Chatty Cathy" was thrown out and these young'un's looked so confused.

Before I continue with the monologue that seems to be running in my head a lot these days, let's have me do less moaning about how some of my favorite movies have already been remade because they're so vintage (i.e. 10 Things I Hate About You), and more talking about how I love Anna's blossoming style.

I've been keeping my eye on her wardrobe and I'm totally loving it. In the beginning, she did it a little safer in black, but still with details and feminine silhouettes. As is appropriate, Anna's style is exponentially increasing in sophistication and glamour along with her career.

Now, if I had to choose one word to describe my own style it would be feminine. I'm not the fashionista, or the one that's trendy, preppy, sexy, sporty or downtown hipster. If it has beading, ruffles, florals, gilt detailing, a sash or tiny fabric-covered buttons, it's mine. If it's that perfect shade of soft lilac pink--not I'm-having-baby pink or this-is-my-hot-going-to-the-club pink--it's mine. One of my friends recently said to me, "Every time I see you, you're always wearing something that's crusted with sparkles." (Thank you, J.Crew.)

For those reasons above, you can see why I'm in love with the girl's style choices. I actually find myself wanting the looks that she's been gorgeously strutting at recent events and rarely do I ever see something on a celebrity and think, I WANT IT. Appreciate it cause it looks fabulous on them, yes, but actually wanting to try and pull it off myself, not typically.

So let's take a closer look at these trifectas of perfection (get ready for a lot of "loves"):

Ruffles, gilt and glitter. That's all.

Ruffles, floral, and sparkle. Check, check, and check. Oh, such pretty touches. Bonus because I love the stark white. It's so crispy and fresh that it reminds me of sunshine and brunch outdoors in the summertime.

Pale ballerina pink, crystal beading, and glitter pumps to match? Check x 3. This is so very close to my favorite look that I seriously contemplated how I could get my hands on this $800 Notte by Marchesa dress. The $745 Louboutins, that's going to have to be a paycheck by paycheck kinda thing...

My favorite, favorite look. Not just for Anna, but for anyone I've seen recently that I can remember! Sweetheart neckline, lace embroidery, a lilac sash. Diamond. Flower. Ring. And I looo-ove that delicate Victorian-esque color pallete.

Be surprised to find out this J.Mendel dress was first worn by Amanda Seyfried in the Vanity Fair shoot she did with Kristen in 2008. See how fresh the white and those neutrals look? Love! Aw, Kristen looks like a ballerina too.

And while I'm on the topic of white, can I add that I have a thing for creamy coats?

Ever since that Anne Hathaway stepped out looking all radiant and chic in her's in The Devil Wears Prada. You know what I'm talking about.

How do people live in places where it never gets cold? The reason I love the fall/winter season (well, in addition to pumpkin spice flavored everything) is because I love coats and boots!

And with that thought, I conclude my fashion roll-out. If this topic made you bummed out about not being able to afford such fancies, don't worry, I'm there with you. Even Anna had some humble beginnings, and to that I say, blame the times. People talk about how the 80s were a fashion travesty, but I look back on some of the things I wore only few years ago and I cringe. If it's any consolation, whoever it is standing next to her probably isn't cherishing the wardrobe memory either.

You have a favorite Anna look? I hope you enjoyed the outfits, and if you're like me, your first thought was probably, pretty!--right before you were dazzled like a child by all the glittering adornments.

Spider-Man? That Was a Close One...

2010-01-15T13:48:00.014-05:00

Rob as Spider-Man? What a trauma averted! You don't know how relieved I am to find out that the rumor is pretty much squashed by now. And I learned never to check entertainment headlines at work, right before I leave the office to head home.

These are one of those times when I am thankful for this blog, and the fact I have an outlet for such prattle. I was waiting for a co-worker to head out together so I had two minutes to kill yesterday and I decided to go safe and breeze through the entertainment highlights on Google news. My eyes landed on the main headline, followed by 58 similar articles posted just hours prior, "Robert Pattinson Might Be The Next Spider-Man" and I think my heart stopped.

It stopped for reasons you probably won't guess. When these "OMG moments" happen, a number of emotions occur simultaneously; and usually the greatest feeling is urgency. Urgency for what? I'm not even sure myself, but I feel the immediate need to tell someone so we can freak out together--good or bad. Like when the Harper's photoshoot was leaked, that's an OMG moment.

With no one in the office to tell, my next thought was on who I could text that would give a damn... Bestie? No, she doesn't always answer texts promptly. BFF? No, she would just give me an "lol" or a confused "uhh" and then lament about her boyfriend's cat, or tell me what she's craving for dinner. A bulb finally lit and I texted another co-worker, who I know peruses the gossip blogs almost hourly, sure that she'd read the news by now too.

I honestly don't know why I get so anxious when it comes to Twilight (remember what happened with me and Ashley Tisdale?) that I need to tell someone-- anyone--things like this when I find out. Perhaps it's because when I share, then I don't feel so singularly weighted by such news, as if this news were a burden, and a burden by which I had to carry all by myself. (I already sound crazy, don't I?)

On the train ride home, I couldn't even concentrate on rereading Twilight because all I could think about was the possibility of Rob replacing Tobey McGuire. I didn't even like the news that Tobey was leaving for the fourth installation of Spider-Man, and to think Rob would be cast was... too much.

And here is what it is: my second favorite franchise after The Twilight Saga is Spider-Man. Not Harry Potter, not Lord of the Rings, or even X-Men, but Spider-Man. It's not because I particularly love Tobey McGuire, or Kirsten Dunst (one of my friends sometimes refers to her as Pebbles because of her tiny teeth), or even James Franco--who isn't looking too hot these days--but because I love that classic unsuspecting-hero-saves-the-day-and-get's-the-girl-he-loves story.

As much as I love Rob as Edward Cullen, he just cannot be Spider-Man as well. What is he trying to do to me? Consume me with crazy fantasies where Edward Cullen and Peter Parker are one and the same?? Not that I go around thinking about Peter Parker as much as I do Edward, but really, a girl can only take so much.

The only other thing I could even fathom being as epic would be if some genius decided to do a remake of The Notebook and takes this Robert Pattinson to play the part of Noah Calhoun.

You know, I could even see it now, Rob growing a crazy beard while restoring the house that holds the cherished memories of the love of his life who left because she is forbidden by her blue-blooded parents to see him.

And while I'm being completely hypothetical, because this wouldn't really (and thankfully, with good reason) ever happen in a hundred thousand years, let's say Kristen plays said love of his life, Allie, because we all know she could really pull off that American period piece look--to which I say, I hope sometime in the future she does some sort of role where she can dress 1940s fab:

Anyway, that's my little take of this whole thing. I love how only logged on to read my blog roll yesterday, AFTER I first sat down and feverishly wrote an entirely spastic response the gossip. I was entirely thrilled (yet, a little inexplicably sad?) that these headlines of Rob being the next Peter Parker were a mere joke.

My intentions were to scrap the original post and go back to working on the more thoughtful one I had been planning, but instead I re-edited for the one you've just now read, and I thought since you know mine now: What are some roles you'd never ever (but in a good way) want to see Rob starring in?

And as promised, here are the answers to Part 2 of the New Moon Score Match-up Game from my last post:

Highlight for answers below, starting here:
{ · Happy Birthday, Bella. - Bella Dreams

· Maybe I shouldn't be dating such an old man. It's gross. - New Moon

· Catches bad dreams. - Dreamcatcher

· Juliet, is like perfect. If you like that obviously beautiful sort of thing. - Romeo & Juliet

· Vampires have laws? - Volturi Waltz

· Ow. Papercut. - Blood Sample

· You don't want me? - Edward Leaves

· She's all right. - Werewolves

· Alice I saw him. If a rush of danger is what it takes to see him, then that's what
I'll find. - I Need You

· How hard did you hit your head? - I Need You

· You're about to ruin everything. - I Need You

· I know what he did to you. - I Need You

· You promised me. - Break Up

· I will find the place where I can see him again. - Memories of Edward

· Edward, I love you. - Wolves V. Vampires

· I guess I understand why that's the only part you remember. - Dreamcatcher

· I would. Run away with you. If I could. - Dreamcatcher

· Edward, I'm scared. - Victoria

· He didn't want this. - Wolves V. Vampires

· You wanted me to be human. Watch me. - Adrenaline

· You're just warm. - Almost A Kiss

· Bella, kwop kilawtley. - Almost A Kiss

· Always in the way. - To Volterra

· It doesn't make sense, for you to love me. I'm nothing, human. - You're Alive

· You're everything to me. - You're Alive

· You can go to hell. - The Volturi

· Kill me. - The Volturi

· I honestly don't know how to live without you. - The Cullens

· Shut. Up. - The Cullens

· Jake, I love you...So please don't make me choose. Because it'll be him. It's always been him. - Marry Me, Bella

· Marry me, Bella. - Marry me, Bella }

How Lush is the New Moon Score? Let's Play!

2010-01-10T20:49:00.001-05:00

Can you recite the opening line of New Moon by now?

I can, because as of this point I've seen New Moon more times than I'd care to admit to the general public. Even when I listen to the soundtrack on my morning commute, the scenes run through my head, my favorite lines from the movie, resounding.

You start to anticipate the words, the pleading eyes, every soft sigh, every pause, and brace yourself for when Edward says, "Come take a walk with me," tilting his head towards the wooded path. (Don't do it, Bella!)

I talked to my West Coast Bestie the other day, asking if she thought she would read New Moon before watching the movie. You see, she wasn't too thrilled when she finally finished Twilight. I was a little disappointed she thought it was uneventful and didn't see what the fuss was about. Then when she visited in October, I showed her Twilight--but we never finished, and she never got to see the kiss. We had to stop right when Rosalie broke the salad bowl, and there literally wasn’t time to finish before she had to get on her plane.

I said to her over the phone, "I really want you to watch New Moon, because the score is phenomenal, and I know you'd really appreciate it--but you need to watch it play in the movie first." She's one of those music-is-my-life people, not in a melodramatic way, but in a real way. She plays and understands music, and when I'd watch movies with her, she would always point out the score. She can even pick out her favorite composers by ear. I think her interest in New Moon peaked a bit when I told her that.

Carter Burwell wrote a lovely score for Twilight. I think it matches Twilight's ultimately simple first-love story. That's the word I'd use: lovely. Sometimes mystic (In Place of Someone You Love), a little haunting (The Lion Fell In Love With the Lamb), even primal at times (I Know What You Are), but lovely overall, matching the tone and language of the film perfectly.

Just like how New Moon is a different movie than Twilight, so is the score. The New Moon score is just so... lush.

"I LOOOVE the New Moon score. Perfect for my Sudoku," was what my mother declared to me recently. (For Christmas, we gave her an iTouch loaded with all my Twi-stuff for her and now she calls herself a "VIP" although she still can't figure out how to stop a song from playing.)

What is it about this score? Maybe it's that it's not only gorgeous, but it's that when we listen, the pictures and the emotions of Bella's story just flow right through us again. Lush cinematography = lush composition.

Every note and melody just perfectly matches the explosion of emotions in the sequel--love (Romeo & Juliet), heartbreak (Memories of Edward), emptiness (Edward Leaves), loneliness (Breakup), hope (I Need You), vulnerability (Almost a Kiss), panic (Blood Sample), fear (Victoria), it's all there.

I received the score myself for Christmas, but I've already listened to it so many times that I can recognize the strands of notes, how there are themes that build within several of the compositions, and I'm not even that kind of music person (my piano lessons are long lost to me).

Because I am compulsive like this, I saw New Moon again and this time listened carefully to the placement of the score. When I first went for the midnight showing, I didn't even recall music playing during the Edward break-up scene because I was so zoned into the dialogue! Every time I've rewatched New Moon since, I pick up something new, like more layers of the story open up to me. The favorite lines are emblazoned in my mind by now, but it was very interesting, and occasionally surprising, to match some of those lines to the score's placement.

So, I have a little challenge for you! Want to see if you can put your x-time viewings of New Moon to use? I realize that not everyone (though, what are you waiting for?) has the score on hand, so I broke up the game into two parts:

Part 1 (Everyone who's seen New Moon can play):

Match the lines from the movie to their appropriate scenes. Most of these are my favorite that's why I was able to recall them from memory. I tried to find pictures that best match up to the scene so some might not be exact, exact--but if you're good you'll be able to figure it out!

Part 2 (Everyone who's listened to the New Moon score can continue):

After you've matched the all lines to their scenes, see if you can then match those scenes to their songs on the New Moon score--they might not be what you'd think given the track titles and some of the songs in the score match up to more than one scene.

I'm breaking up the game into two posts, so here is Part 1:

Match these scenes (they are in order):

To these lines:

· I honestly don't know how to live without you. (A)

· Catches bad dreams. (B)

· I will find the place where I can see him again. (C)

· It doesn't make sense, for you to love me. I'm nothing, human. (D)

· Ow. Papercut. (E)

· I guess I understand why that's the only part you remember. (F)

· You're just warm. (G)

· Happy birthday, Bella. (H)

· You don't want me? (I)

· Kill me. (J)

· I would. Run away with you. If I could. (K)

· Edward, I'm scared. (L)

· Maybe I shouldn't be dating such an old man. It's gross. (M)

· Vampires have laws? (N)

· Bella, kwop kilawtley. (O)

· You're everything to me. (P)

· Always in the way. (Q)

· Juliet, is like perfect. If you like that obviously beautiful sort of thing. (R)

· You can go to hell. (S)

· You're about to ruin everything. (T)

· Shut. Up. (U)

· He didn't want this. (V)

· Jake, I love you...So please don't make me choose. Because it'll be him. It's always been him. (W)

· You wanted me to be human. Watch me. (X)

· She's all right. (Y)

· Alice, I saw him. If a rush of danger is what it takes to see him, then that's what I'll find. (Z)

· How hard did you hit your head? (AA)

· Edward, I love you. (BB)

· You promised me. (CC)

· Marry me, Bella. (DD)

· I know what he did to you. (EE)

Answers to PART 1 after the jump, then grab your New Moon score for PART 2!

Here are the answers to Part 1:

In case you accidentally jumped right to this link, highlight for answers here: { 1H, 2M, 3B, 4R, 5N, 6E, 7I, 8Y, 9Z, 10AA, 11T, 12EE, 13CC, 14C, 15BB, 16F, 17K, 18L, 19V, 20X, 21G, 22O, 23Q, 24D, 25P, 26S, 27J, 28A, 29U, 30W, 31DD }

Did you get them all right? Scroll down for larger images of my favorite New Moon quotes, then next up is Part 2!

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"You don't want me?" Ugh, some of these quotes are so heartbreaking it kills me!

Before I start getting all dramatic, let me give you PART 2:

Match these quotes and their corresponding scenes up to the songs on score. Some of these melodies might jump right out to you, others might take a little extra thought. You may even decide you need to see the movie just one more time. At least this time you have the excuse of this ~~pretty much inconsequential~~ trivia game, right? ;)

Remember some of the songs are used more than once, and here are the ones to select from:

· New Moon

· Bella Dreams

· Romeo & Juliet

· Volturi Waltz

· Blood Sample

· Edward Leaves

· Werewolves

· I Need You

· Breakup

· Memories of Edward

· Wolves V. Vampires

· Victoria

· Almost a Kiss

· Adrenaline

· Dreamcatcher

· To Volterra

· You're Alive

· The Volturi

· The Cullens

· Marry Me, Bella

Happy listening and have fun! I'll be posting up the answers to Part 2 later this week so stay tuned. And as always, thank you for entertaining my little posts. I hope you like the quotes as much as I enjoyed making them, and let me know how you do--some of these are definitely tricky!

Tidbits on Kristen from Adventureland

2010-01-01T20:01:00.007-05:00

Happy New Year, lovelies! I have a feeling that the new decade is going to be pretty worthwhile, so do good things, be good people, make it count, and you'll be rewarded!

I'd like to tell myself I'm going to do things differently this year and spice up my life, but let's be real--me going to the library to get my goods and picking up a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte along the way is still considered a highlight in my week.

The latest trip to the library granted me a copy of The Covenant and Adventureland. The Covenant because I wanted to swoon over ~~Tim Riggins~~ Taylor Kitsch (or as Bestie refers to him, "Muscle Mania"), and Adventureland because I wanted to revisit the movie, not via three by five inch window on YouTube.

Does anyone else ever go to the media section of your library? Every time I go I always feel awkward checking out the things I check out, like the librarian is going to out me in front of the entire room by yelling out, "Enjoy The Covenant!" People don't need to know that I traveled all the way to there to borrow a crappy movie about teen warlocks in prep school that came out four years ago.

Some librarians couldn't bother to look your titles as long as they hear the swipe of the barcode, but on this particular afternoon, the librarian is chatty. The 60-something year old man in front of me is checking out the second season of Battlestar Galactica and the librarian comments how that's a popular title and she plans to watch too. She goes off on a dozen tangents from there and within 20 seconds, I swear, I hear her say, "...scary movies? Have you watched The Eye, with Jessica Alba? Or what about vampires? Like Twilight?...Yes, yes, I guess they aren't real vampires. They are pretty, handsome vampires."

The man leaves without saying much to add to her bubbly suggestions. She decides to continue the conversation with me, and asks "Have you seen Twilight?" I tell her, "Oh, of course," and the look in my eye probably gives away my attempt at being nonchalant. She continues like she's had seven iced coffees, "I just love it! I know it's not about real vampires (??) but I love that vampire and I took my daughter to see New Moon and we did the whole thing, we bought the t-shirts--you know $15 dollars a t-shirt isn't too bad--and it was fun, you know? I don't really like that Jacob, but he's a cute boy. That Taylor, he's like my sons age so no pedophiles here! What are you, do you like the vampire or the wolf?"

I'd love to note that she declared all of that before I had a chance to say a word, and what if I was Team Jacob? I smiled, "No no, I'm an Edward girl." She takes the DVDs I hand her and she says, "Me too, me too... That guy is a real good looking--" and notes what I have to take out. "Adventureland. I hear that is a good movie. I like that Kristen Stewart." I agree, and I tell her I've seen it already and it is really funny. Then I ask her how old her daughter is before I recommended that she see it with her.

Interaction with Twilight ladies has to be the funnest and funniest things. When I was with a friend's mom, who was watching Twilight for the first time, she whispered to me in the theater in all seriousness, "He's very good looking...but he's a vampire," as if this could be a real dilemma, as if Bella were her daughter and she were honestly contemplating whether Edward would be a good suitor.

With no other declaration about vampires, I say goodbye to the librarian and head off, giggling on the inside.

And this is how I spent part of my New Years Eve, rewatching Adventureland. For those of you who haven't seen it, you're kinda missing out.

Originally, I only watched because Kristen starred, and it didn't hurt that Ryan Reynolds was in it too. The trailers are a bit misleading, but it's really just an honest coming-of-age story set in the 80s (if you love nostalgic music...).

I was wary of the fact the director also did Superbad--which I saw in theaters and I ask myself why--and that just wasn't my cup of humor, but Jesse Eisenberg's quirky but cute portrayal of James had me laughing. And Kristen? Well, you can guess my thoughts.

I don't know when my Twilight blog turned into a commentary about Kristen but I just find her completely fascinating, and I'm certainly not alone in my sentiments because so are the people that know and have worked with her.

This time I watched Adventureland with the commentary given by Jesse Eisenberg and Greg Mottola--who wrote his film semi-autobiographically, and I picked up all the bits where Kristen is mentioned. Their funny dialogue is mostly about the music, filming logistics, and the director's personal experiences, but there are some interesting notes about Kristen that I did my best to transcribe for you (these also appear chronologically in the movie):

The first time Kristen comes on camera as her character, Em:

Jesse: ..And Kristen.

Greg: And Kristen Stewart. Who apparently was in a movie about... undead people.

J: ...This is a bevy of introductions.

G: I should have probably had the vampire element in the film, I should have probably foreshadowed it earlier, but you'll see later, it comes up.

The scene after Em and James come out of her pool:

J: ..and Kristen fell in love with this song, she would play it all the time on our little iPods that we received.

G: She did didn't she?

J: Yeah, she loved this. I think it was actually playing in one of the--was it this song? ...I think while we were filming this scene, like coming out of her iPod, during this scene I think that song started playing.

G: Yeah I think it did, yeah. And sometimes I did play music just to set the mood for you guys.

The song that they are talking about is Big Star's I'm In Love With a Girl:

The scene with Em and Ryan Reynolds' character, Connell:

G: So, what the hell is he doing kissing her?

J: See I pretend like this scene is not in the movie.

G: Well, that was good for your character but, guess what, we finished the movie, there's no more reshoots, Jesse, you can let it go.

J: I think you can do something.

The scene at the bridge with Em and James:

G: We had no time to shoot any coverage on this scene, we couldn't light it, so we really just made up of those two shots, and you know, sometimes necessity is the mother of invention, sometimes it just means Jesse's forced to do kissing scenes over and over. Again with no coverage and, I can think of a worse fate I suppose, but we'll leave it at that.

J: Coverage does mean more, more times...

G: More kissing...Because Kristen was 17 when we shot it, (J: That's right it would have to be with a, uh..) You would've been making out with a teamster in a wig so...

J (laughing): I was always wondering why you gave me a teamster...seems like there would be other positions on set that would be more appropriate fill-ins for that.

The scene where Em tells James about her parents at her house:

G: This is a scene that I think--I mean I think Kristen's wonderful throughout the movie, one of the things I love about her is how she did this little speech coming up here. You know when I was auditioning people for this role, the tendency--and understandably so--the tendency was to treat this speech as a somber confession, which is probably how I even heard it in my head when I wrote it, but Kristen really had the instincts, I think, to tell this very sad story, kind of like "Hey want to hear something that's screwed up?" A very matter-of-fact way which I think is very psychologically true to somebody who has had a tragedy but they haven't processed it yet... they haven't gone through all the feelings yet. This is the only way you can talk about something that bad if you haven't processed it and the fact that she acted it that way would also, from a story point of view, would make sense that James would be scared by--knowing "Oh, this person is in the middle of something very bad and I don't know, I don't know how I fit into that," (J: Right.) but also, I mean, Kristen is a real--she's got amazing instincts as an actor, and if I could, I would have had her also play the role of James (J (laughs): Yeah.) if i had the technology, but you know...

J: Does that mean I would get to be in the Twilight movie?

G: No.

J: Okay.

G: No, that doesn't mean that.

J: Seems unfair. That seemed like an equal exchange.

The scene where Em and James get into a fight in the street (Greg and Jesse are talking about how it would be funny to do a mash-up between this fight scene and a similar fight scene on the street that's in Superbad between Jonah Hill's and Michael Cera's characters):

G: I think the idea of Jonah Hill getting into a fight with Kristen would be pretty good...

The street scene where James finds Em in New York City (Greg and Jesse are talking about how they went back to reshoot the rainy street scene on location, rather than previously where they were just trying to make it look like New York City):

J: Yeah, but I hadn't acted at that point in like eight months in anything, Kristen had been in like 10 movies and was on billboards all over the place when we shot that so I just remember being like, I felt like I just had no confidence going into this scene--and it plays.

G: I think you're very good in this scene, you pulled it together.

The end scene in Em's apartment:

G: This was shot in Pittsburgh.

J: Yeah this was not only the last scene, this was the last scene we filmed.

G: This was the last scene we filmed, and because it needed to be nighttime outside we filmed fairly late, and it was interesting to end the movie on the final scene. I think in this case it was a very good thing (J: Yeah.)--um, not for Kristen cause she had to kiss you, she, you know, but that's, you know...

J: Good for the rest of us really.

G: Yeah, well.

J: Yeah, no, it was so cathartic, you know you work on something for a long period of time, and as an actor you know you're like in it emotionally as well as there every day, and so to end with this scene, really felt like--

G: Yeah and for me even, you know, from the perspective of trying to put this thing together, to do this at the very end and to try to figure out how to explain how to act this, or talk about it or not talk about it or not get in your way in all that, I mean, it's very hard to do scenes like this. I give you guys an enormous amount of credit for letting yourselves be so, so vulnerable and intimate and--

J: No it was fun to do because you create, you know, like the last line in the movie (laughs), "Are we doing this, are we doing this?"--like it was never this like--it was never supposed to look like this perfected romantic scene, it was this very new, you know fun thing and--

G: Yeah, cause I didn't want it to be a scene about sex. It's a scene about, you know, the beginnings of love, what love actually is, you know the movie is about discovering that love is not some romantic fantasy about soulmates, it's about letting somebody close to you and loving them for their strengths and their flaws and all that stuff, and you know the little laugh that Kristen gives at the very end of the movie is something that makes me quite happy, it's the look in both of your eyes, and then her just having that moment--even in my mind, who knows what relationship this will be. It's sort of beside the point, it's the fact that he was willing to--able and willing to--get to this step was a good thing for him...

If you haven't seen Adventureland, and you're a fan of Kristen's--actually no that wouldn't make sense if you haven't seen it yet. Instead, I'll say if you want to check out the commentary yourself, it's entertaining. Maybe not as entertaining as Rob, Catherine, and Kristen bantering away in the Twilight commentary, but worthwhile nonetheless.

And just because, here's Kristen at the Sundance screening of Adventureland last year (isn't it cute that her dad is there?):

Oh, and fun fact! One Twilight connection I never realized that I found out in this commentary is that the redhead, Sue, is played by Paige Howard in her movie debut--she is Ron Howard's daughter, and younger sister to Bryce Dallas!

Lastly, to really get a good start on 2010, if you haven't already seen, I want to share with you the free 2010 Twilight Saga Desktop Calendar. Stephanie and Sara over at Novel Novice created each month from scratch and they are absolutely gorgeous--way better than any Twilight calendar you can buy at the store. I have half a mind to print them out too!

Twilight fans are the best--I always love finding out about fan creations, so let me know if you have some too!

Merry Merry!

2009-12-25T02:49:00.008-05:00

I should be in bed because tomorrow I have to get up early and head out to see Avatar in IMAX/3D with the family at noon, but I wanted to sincerely wish everyone a Happy Holiday! Whether or not you celebrate Christmas or another tradition, I hope you are having a safe and wonderful time with friends and family (and eating lots of goodies!)

(Yep, that's a shot of my tree...Twilight Pocket Edward's hanging around on the other side too.)

I started my ramblings in late summer of this year, and to anyone who's ever come across my blog, and read or commented, thank you so very much! Whether we've got to speak at one point or not, I deeply appreciate your support, and that includes my new friends on Twitter that share the same Team Kristen attitude! I love that I've "met" others who I can talk Twilight with--you keep me sane and let me know that thinking about a vampire love story every day is normal (especially you girls over at Not an Addikt and Anxious About RPattz)!

The holidays wouldn't be complete without some gift giving, and in my house we open presents at midnight after Christmas Eve dinner. This year there wasn't anything I wanted, and I was more excited to see the reactions to the gifts I gave. I got my mother these new additions to her pajamas and she literally shrieked with excitement when she saw the gray top:

The last reaction I'm waiting on is from Bestie. I bought us a pair of floor seat tickets to Taylor Swift's concert back in October, and I spent all afternoon (yes, last minute) writing a silly poem that explains the gift, and then making it into a little personalized booklet that I wrapped in a big box for her. I can't wait until she calls me tomorrow morning when she opens it. I'm actually quite proud of my juvenile rhyming skills. Here's a sampling of the pages--you know I had to get my vampires into one of the rhymes!

With that, I hope that you are enjoying your holidays as much as I am this year! Giving gifts and letting people know how much you appreciate them is what it's about. Let me know if you've got any interesting stories, and how many Twilight gifts were involved (I gave 3 and got 3)!

Love and be merry,
Sparkle for Twilight

Kristen and The Smoky Eye

2009-12-21T07:58:00.001-05:00

Holiday season is party season, and that means a lot of opportunities for dress-up and food-filled gatherings. Between the three holiday parties I went to this week alone and the rage-inducing, nonstop shopping, I haven't even had much time to check my e-mail. Oh, Christmas shopping. Despite the blizzard warning this weekend, it wasn't enough of an excuse to deter me from having to go to Top Shop. It's difficult enough to find regular gifts, but then you also have to find all these little things just to fill that cumbersome stocking.

Anyway, Friday night I went to a friend's winter semi-formal. Somewhere in the middle of the evening between the open bar and the GaGa dancing, I saw a girl that I was introduced to earlier in the evening, and she seemed to be having technical difficulties with her hair. Half of her updo became a downdo, leaving her quite distressed with bobby pins in hand. See that's what happens when you let your fiancé do your hair.

Yes, I said that right.

During the dinner before the party, I met about a dozen of my college friend's new graduate school friends. One of the girls had just gotten engaged and her fiancé was sitting next to her. Cute couple. Then some of them started talking about their hair and makeup and that's when I overheard talk about how her fiancé had been the one that did her makeup and styled her hair.

"Isn't she so lucky?" exclaimed one of her friends at the table. I'm pretty sure my instinctive response was contorting my face in a way that blatantly stated my answer. (It was probably a plus that I was sitting closer to the other end of the table.)

In what world would I want want my fiancé to doll me up? That's a bit too weird for me thanks. And it wasn't even the fact her fiancé had done her makeup, but that he was deliberate in saying that he wanted to achieve a smoky eye. I thought her eyes looked like she had a ton of dark eye shadow from lash line to brow bone. It was slightly amiss, flat. When I think of holiday party eyes, I think of shadow and light, shimmer and sparkle.

So being that it is likely you will attend a party or two by the new year, there's no need to go out looking like one was sucker punched trying to achieve this smoky eye thing. It's always a sought after look, and here's where the poor guy went wrong: he missed the part about contouring.

A certain lady of Twilight wears the smoky eye look quite well, so I will be using her as inspiration.

Side note: A while back I noticed a lot of girls asking how to achieve Kristen's/Bella's hair and makeup and I searched for different people's takes on it (this is also how I found out there is a cosmetology school in New Zealand called Kristen Stewart School of Makeup). Glamour is just one of the people who addressed how to get one of Kristen's smoky eye looks.

Contouring is pretty important if you want eyes that pop, as opposed to looking like they were popped. A smoky eye also doesn't give you the go ahead to load black over black over black, topped with black eyeliner either--unless that Momsen look is what you're going for (but even then, probably best to leave the dramatics for runway models).

Before we get into contouring, let's backtrack a bit.

I'm not going to bother with a step-by-step how-to for smoky eyes. If you want to read up on a basic smoky eye tutorial, I recommend this one from the the mesmerizing book, Making Faces. The artist is referring to his look for Julia Roberts:

When reading, just keep in mind everyone's eye shape and color are different so you'll have to modify and play around with what works for you. I find that if you're a beginner to this whole eyeshadow thing (some girls just aren't big on eyeshadow and that's okay), following tutorials can be a start, but they can also be super frustrating. I know because I've been there. The way I learned was by plain trial and error, which was quite unfortunate for me and my middle school years.

So now that you have a general idea, how do you begin? What's your smoky eye look? Well, let Kristen be your inspiration.

There are a lot more smoky eye looks to be had than just your traditional gray hues and black liner. For success in any one of these looks, it's all about three words:

1. Color
2. Contour
3. Blend

COLOR

Smoky eyes are about lights and darks, so that means there's a whole set of colors you can use. Any color, really. You can either choose one color, and select different shades of that color (i.e. lavender, violet, deep purple), or you can choose different colors in different shades (i.e. beige, blue, black). Some people recommend choosing four different shades, but I think three works just fine for a start. How much can you really have going on for one eye anyway?

You want to choose eyeshadows in different "degrees" of darkness, so that one is light, one is medium, and the other is dark. You can also think of it as choosing colors so that one acts as a highlighter (the light), a color (the medium), and a liner (the dark).

For example, I often use a pale gold eyeshadow (light), a shimmery taupe/brown (medium), and a rich charcoal (dark).

From there I switch up the colors, sometimes swapping in my medium color from the brown to an emerald, plum, or navy eyeshadow, depending on my mood.

I'll also do the same with the swapping the light color, either using the gold, or a shimmery beige, or a light silvery pink, etc.

As a personal preference, I use a charcoal color for my dark eyeshadow choice so I usual stick with it even when I switch the other colors. I like using charcoal as opposed to black because it's a bit softer.

These are just suggestions from the colors I use, but you can choose others depending on what you like. I only have so much time to get ready in the morning so I limit myself to what I know works for me, otherwise I'd be playing around with colors forever!

Again, smoky eyes don't have to be confined to grays and blacks, you can also have fun with color, like Kristen here with purple and blues:

CONTOUR

Now that you've chosen your colors, here's where contouring comes in. The reason you choose different shades is so that you have room for color contrast. This is what makes your smoky eyes really pop, instead of looking flat and one-dimensional (and, by default, usually raccoon-ish).

Your highlighting (light) color gives depth and dimension against your other eyeshadow colors. One way to use your highlighting color is to apply it towards the inner corners of your eyes, either to the top or bottom lash line, or both.

Your highlighting color doesn't always have to be so stark against your medium and dark colors (like Kristen's silver/white shadow against navy/black). Sometimes when you want a more subtle smoky eye, your highlighting eyeshadow can be in the same color family as your other eyeshadows. The slight shade difference is still noticeable and that's enough to keep the colors from looking flat together. The point is for your eyeshadow colors to be applied so there's a gradient in intensity.

BLEND (!)

Once you think you've got all of your eyeshadow in place, blend. Blend the edges, blend so the colors are even. Blending is important--so very important, because it's what keeps you from looking like Mimi Bobeck (google at your own discretion). It refines your look.

Wherever you apply your makeup, make sure it's also well lit. You can't go by your lamp alone, though. Even when I apply makeup in the morning by my desk light, I'll still turn myself towards the window with my mirror throughout the process. That way, I see what my application looks like in natural light and touch up from there. You'll see a big difference, trust me. "Just enough" of the dark eyeshadow in incandescent lighting can look crazy in natural light.

If you're still unsure, take a digital picture of yourself. A flash reveals a lot of things (like why you never wear a white bra under a black shirt) and you'll see exactly where you need to add or take away eyeshadow, and fix spots where you'll need to reblend. Especially if you are going to a party, you'll want to look good in the pictures!

A beautiful example of blending at its finest:

A NOTE ON EYELINER...

Smoky eyes wouldn't be smoky eyes without liner--pencil, liquid, gel, or powder. The way you line your eyes after all of your eyeshadow in place really dictates your entire smoky eye look. It's the difference between looking dramatic or subtle, and it all depends on what you are going for.

⋅ For a more dramatic and defined look, line both the top and bottom lash lines with a thin line from a pencil, gel, or liquid liner:

⋅ For a subtler smoky look, skip the pencil and line with powder. Basically you can use your dark eyeshadow color choice for this, instead of the black. This is how Kristen's eyes look soft and pretty:

To do this, carefully apply the eyeshadow, not straying too far from your lash line, otherwise it'll look messy and accidental rather than deliberate. Your best friend for this is the slant brush:

⋅ There are also variations the whole liner thing, like lining just your top lash line or lining just your eyes' outer corners and letting the liner taper off at the midpoint. As a rule of thumb, a thick, clean line of eyeliner is more dramatic, and using powder to smudge the line softens the look so it's less harsh. Mascara also adds to the illusion of eyeliner, so the way you apply it on the top and bottom lashes also changes things.

FINISHING TOUCHES

⋅ You're eyes are all perfect, and now you need to make them last:

1. The first thing that starts melting down is your liner, particularly if you use pencil. I don't use pencil because it never stays put for me. Instead, I use a combination of powder and liquid. If you do use pencil, the easiest tip is to avoid immediate smudging is to avoid lining right up to the outer and inner corners of your eyes. You don't need to have the top and bottom eyeliner lines actually touch. Just stop short of lining with your pencil where your lash lines meet at the corners. Naturally, blinking causes makeup to move, so if you keep even just a millimeter or two free from eyeliner, less smudging.

2. Another easy way to make your eyeshadow stay put is to use an eyeshadow base before you start applying your eyeshadow. Applying eyeshadow powder to bare skin isn't long-lasting. Start with a base all over your eyelid, this can be an actual eyeshadow base or primer, or I find that a big eyeshadow stick in a neutral color applied thinly to your entire lid works just as well by acting as a "glue" to your eyeshadow powder. The idea is to put something on your eyelid first so that your powder has something to stick to, not only making your application last longer but also your eyeshadow colors will be easier to layer and will look more intense.

⋅ Tend to your eyebrows. So many forget they are just as much important as any other feature you have on your face.

⋅ Apply mascara last, so that no eyeshadow gets stuck to it.

⋅ And lastly, when in doubt, less is always more :)

I hope all of this gives some of you a little idea and some inspiration as you get ready for the holidays! I'd love to hear how you do your makeup and whether you do try to replicate one of Kristen's looks--she really knows how to work the smoky eye!

Edward May Be Fictional, But He Won't Let You Down

2009-12-13T21:03:00.013-05:00

I'm totally going to be called a man-hater for this, but I'll take my chances. I'm being honest after all. It all started with this post that a friend linked to me as one of the reasons she would never support it, read it, or watch it. Alright, I get it, there are people that don't like Twilight.

I actually enjoy reading people's rants about Twilight because it's amusing (in particular, the reviews on Amazon are fantastic if you want a laughing good time). But when some people can't take things lightly and they get all preachy, that's when it's annoying.

Relax. If you're going to hate on Twilight, there are a bunch of more legitimate reasons that even I can come up with. If people are going to bring it down to that level of analytical seriousness, there's plenty of other topics that that kind of energy and concentration can be focused on--none of which involve storytime with vampires.

Edward and Bella are in an abusive relationship?

If that's what that's called, sign me up because reality doesn't seem to fair any better. People are so quick to nitpick a fictional character brought to life in a PG-13 movie of all things, but how about a second look at real people making it in the news?

Sometimes I think "entertainment news" should just be re-categorized as "Hollywood sex scandal updates" because that's exactly what it seems like. There's never a lack of news in that department; Tiger Woods, Josh Duhamel, Jon Gosselin, and those are just the most popular.

I was on riding on the subway sans seat the other day, standing with my 20 pound purse on one shoulder and my bags of Christmas goodies in the other hand, when suddenly three seats miraculously emptied before me, and--I kid you not--three men around me (one who I even made eye contact with) bolted to them like it was a round of musical chairs and someone just pulled the plug on the stereo.

I relayed this story as a passing thought to Bestie when I met with her that evening and she was livid telling me how she was just on the bus and none of the men gave up their seat when a pregnant woman got on, so she did the job. And you know the first thing that came out of my mouth to that was? Edward would never do that. (I probably should've been more embarrassed by the seriousness in which I said that, but I'm way past that point of normalcy by now.)

I ranted a while back (RE: Reason #132 I Am Waiting for Edward...) and I'd just like to repost a blurb about two articles I mentioned because they were both laugh-inducing:

I read Vicki Iovine's Edward-inspired, man-ranting article weeks ago via my daily TwiCrack visits, and it only furthers my point. She writes:

You would never catch Edward Cullen, the vampire, creating a media event out of an abject failure of character; as in being away from his kids on Father's Day (a criminal offense), cheating on his wife and evidently not even telling her where he could be reached in an emergency (also a felony), and hooking up in the first place on a "trade visit" to Argentina.

Oh no. Edward would be rescuing Mrs. Sanford from all mistreatment, take her in his arms and make her forget the rest of the world and keep his promise to love her and protect her forever. He would be so full of rage at any mistreatment of a vulnerable woman that he would have to restrain himself physically to keep from killing (and drinking) her assailants.

And here's another article I came across that I immediately forwarded to my best college buddy who has similar qualms over finding a man. Humorously-titled "Goodbye Skinny Metrosexuals, The Beefcake Is Back," this had me ROLLING:

Goodbye metrosexual twigman with your sad little manbag--you never did it for me--and hello beefcake beast. Where have you been?

It should come as no surprise. Economic depressions have always walked hand in hand with the worship of raw machismo. That is just the way it goes.

Who needs a sensitive accountant when all the money is going? Who needs a man to talk shoes when all the shoes have gone?

It is better to have a man who can mend things for you. And butcher sheep. And build houses and grow vegetables and make things out of bits of wood.

Won't you feel safer? Won't you feel better, knowing that there is a serious lump of muscle between you and the cold, cruel world outside?

While these articles are funny, they're just opinion pieces at the end of the day, nothing more and nothing less. Entertaining.

Still, I need a little hope that Prince Charmings are still out there. I'm kind of tired of reading depressing news about depressing people. Where's the goodness? Where's the romance? Isn't it December? Where's the holiday cheer?

There was a time when I used to watch ABC Family made-for-TV movies, and I thought that was how everyone's life was. You meet your soulmate only to realize he's your barista you never noticed, or you bump into him when your dogs get tangled at the park, that sorta thing.

Being old kind of stinks because when I was 14 I didn't know any better. I'm not saying I'm completely distressed and I need rescuing now, but witnessing a little act of chivalry once in a while would be nice. They're just a bit too few and far between these days, and I need to be less jaded. Here's to a little holiday magic...

Chelsea Handler Funnies on Vampires and Rob!

2009-12-09T15:55:00.005-05:00

I love Chelsea Handler! In this week's issue of Entertainment Weekly, she does a guest column with her take on the whole vampire craze and it's pretty hilarious if you imagine her ranting it the way she does on Chelsea Lately.

I especially love her commentary about crazies stealing cardboard Edwards and Jacobs from Nordstroms. We've all read at least one report like this one WTForks: Twilight Fans on a Crime Spree, but I don't get it. Just pay the 40 bucks for the cut-out, unless you actually seek the thrill of getting caught and being shown in the ridiculous news section they save for the end of your local ten o'clock news. The last time I can remember people stealing cardboard cutouts was back when Britney did Pepsi promotions and people were taking her right out of the grocery store (that seems like a lifetime ago).

Plus, here's a funny clip of Chelsea Lately from this summer where she originally talks about Rob and the last name that she has such difficulty with. The one guy is really funny too, although he does mistakingly refer to Jacob as the "Indian vampire".

Shiver: A Sexy Book for You (With Werewolves)

2009-12-07T09:00:00.009-05:00

I have this dirty secret, and it involves me and Harry Potter--and it's not what you think. People are always shocked when they find out I've never read Harry Potter. I have access to the collection of books in my house, and I've seen all the movies (which I think are great), but the books themselves never felt compulsory. After years of the occasional request that I read the books, I finally got around to cracking one open. And here's where my secret lies: I didn't see the big deal.

Here's a big deal:

But more on that in a little bit...

Before Twilight, I never really read books. The only books I could recall buying in the three years prior were all cookbooks, aside from mandatory college texts. I only read recreationally here and there, only by friend recommendations (heck, that's how Twilight fell into my life), and I was never one to seek books to read. There were always better things to do, like read magazines for one. I realize that sounds very superficial and illiterate of me, but I like to think that between my own wild imaginations and fanciful daydreams, I didn't need books to get lost in.

After Twilight, I rekindled my relationship with the library card my parents acquired for me when I was five years old. The library has been my boyfriend since, and we're going almost one year strong. (And don't libraries make the best boyfriends?)

Like many of you, after Twilight, I was like an addict looking for my next fix. So this is what it feels like to fall in love with a book, I thought. I'd never read a book before and had it stay with me for days. Sure, A Walk to Remember and The Notebook lingered a little, but never in the lie-awake-at-night-rerunning-the-words-through-my-mind kind of linger.

I did my research to find my next young-adult romantic fiction. This proved to be quite difficult because I didn't just want to necessarily read another vampire novel. It wasn't about the vampires. Or the werewolves. I wanted to read another story that had living, breathing characters that could be as real to me as the people I interact with every day. Characters that you felt emotions for--pain, sorrow, love, regret, happiness, compassion, empathy. I wanted to read another love story--compelling, dramatic, live-or-die, epic.

What girl doesn't want to fall in love right along with the protagonists? Or know what it's like to love, whether it's for the first time or whether it's to relive that moment again?

The very first book I read after Twilight (and mind you, I only discovered Twilight about nine months ago), was If I Stay. I'd read this was Catherine Hardwicke's next project, so of course I was interested. It paled in comparison to the caliber of emotion that Twilight brought. Or maybe it's because I didn't relate as much to the musical theme.

Then there was The Forest of Hands and Teeth. It had been freshly released that month and I read reviews that promised a heroine among dark circumstances, with a setup for romance. For me, it fell short. Later, I read that reviews for the movie adaptation plan to "do for zombies what Twilight did for vampires" and I'm skeptical.

Another was Wings and it didn't do it for me, either. If I were still twelve years old, it definitely would have, but I'm not anymore and I needed more substance. Despite Stephenie's line of approval printed right on its debut cover, a lot didn't feel real to me. While I give the author credit for coming up with a clever little segway to the first kiss, I thought Laurel (the main character) was a little flat.

Almost two dozen, thoughtfully-selected and intimately-read books later, all that I could conclude was that The Hunger Games was a fantastic piece of literature. And this is where my Harry Potter confession comes in again. While I recognize the undeniable talent of authors like Suzanne Collins and J.K. Rowling (and I fully appreciate the gratuitous, decadent, and mouth-watering descriptions of food and drink they both write in), their stories didn't leave me dying to find out more. There I said it.

I really wanted to be fervently crossing the days until Catching Fire, but there on my nightstand, the copy that I had to be waitlisted for at the library for two and a half months, still sits unopened for the last two weeks. For Harry Potter, I read half of the first book and put it down to do something else, and never picked it back up again. I'd rather tell people that I still haven't read them at all, then admit to the fact I tried but I wasn't hooked.

It's like this: all of these books were really pretty pairs of shoes, but I am on a mission to find the perfect (and preferably sparkly) one that matches my outfit. In another mood, these books were good, but for now, they weren't enough to satisfy what I was looking for. Anyway, I could go on about my other misses, but that would take even longer than it is now to get to my point.

After fruitless encounters with faeries, ghosts, and zombies, I decided to give up on the fantastical romance column of young-adult fiction and leave it all to Stephenie Meyer. I wasn't going to read another book with a review that began with, "If you loved Twilight..." or "Twilight fans will love..." Are we so predictable? So obvious? No, we're not and I didn't appreciate the generalization.

So I crossed off Shiver from my reading list. I read the summary and didn't think I was going to be missing much:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

I didn't need another story most likely to be lukewarm, of a yellow-eyed wolf developing a melodramatic relationship with a girl.

Months went by that I gave up my quest, until the day I went in to my library to check out A Great and Terrible Beauty only to find out it had been checked out. I browsed the shelves for another book to grab, when there was Shiver displayed atop the new arrivals table. The cover was what caught my eye really, the blue and white art, so why not?

It's extremely rare that I feel the need to buy a book, to own my own copy of a book so that I can refer back to it over and over again. It took me three weeks before I committed to my own set of The Twilight Saga and now I have two. Half way through Shiver, I knew I needed to own it.

I could just tell you that you need to go out right now to get Shiver because I thought it was that good, but even that's not enough. I read other Twilight blogs that recommend books all the time, but I'm not exactly running out the door. First of all, books are totally personal. What I like might not be what the next person likes. So I'm going to tell you everything about why if you're still looking for a book that will make you love and love a character, this is the book you've been waiting for.

Warning: There are spoiler details ahead about the book, but I don't talk about the ending. You can stop here and just go with my "you need to read this book" suggestion above if you don't want to know more than the fact that it's a very worthwhile story (I promise). If you're not convinced though, keep reading and perhaps I'll have convinced you by the end.

I'm just going to go ahead and get the list of superficial Twilight/Shiver similarities out of the way:

-Edward has yellow eyes as a vampire. Sam has yellow eyes, but he was born with.

-Edward doesn't want to be a monster. Sam doesn't want to be a monster.

-Edward plays the piano and composes Bella lullabies. Sam plays the guitar and writes Grace poetic songs.

-Edward spends many nights in Bella's bed unbeknownst to Charlie. Sam spends many nights in Grace's bed unbeknownst to her parents.

-Edward is chivalrous, and he has to use self-control around Bella. Sam is chivalrous, and he has to use self-control around Grace.

-Bella's independent in the parental sense. Grace is independent in the parental sense.

-Bella acquires an old Chevy pickup that Edward drives around in just as often. Grace acquires an old Bronco that Sam drives around in just as often.

-Bella wishes she could be a vampire to be with Edward. Grace wishes she could be a wolf to be with Sam.

-Scents and body temperatures are as integrally thematic in Twilight as they are in Shiver

-Oh, and there are werewolves. One's even named Paul.

When it comes down to it, Shiver is its own story and it's not powerful because it's like Twilight. It's powerful because it just is. So onto the more important things.

One of things that I loved about the book, that I think made it, was that the story alternates from Grace's perspective and Sam's perspective. You get to know both characters intimately, even more than Sam and Grace get to know each other. Imagine if Midnight Sun were hashed with Twilight.

Sam is such a soulful character and there are times when you will shed a tear for him after learning about what he's been through. His parents tried to kill him when he was a child and he's never been really loved. When he meets Grace, that changes but you can feel that he's still unsure about being worth of such a gift.

Their relationship develops solidly, and I saw how and why they could develop such an intense and undeniable connection. That was a huge factor for me because so often the relationship between the main characters feels feigned or forced, or just too sudden, but with Sam and Grace, I thought it was believable. It was established. I felt Grace's feverish and desperate need for Sam. I felt Sam's protective and anxious longing for Grace.

There's no more that I could tell you about how these characters become flesh and blood before you. There's action, there's romance, there's even room for a few little laughs. I savored the book word by word because I didn't want it to end. Would you, with lines like these?

"...and kissed me and kissed me, so careful, like my lips were a flower and if he touched them too roughly, they might bruise."

"...his yellow eyes gazed at me possessively--I wondered if he realized that the way he looked at me was far more intimate than copping a feel could ever be."

"I wondered if she knew how transparent her scent made her, how it told me what she was feeling when she didn't say it out loud...She had to know that she was driving me crazy right now, that every touch of her skin on mine tingled, electric."

There are moments in the story when you'll cry, when you'll giggle, when you'll hold your breath, when you'll smile at such an innocent and bare display of emotion. And if that isn't enough, there's an incredibly sweet scene involving a candy shop.

I hope you all pick up the book, read it and love it just as much as I did, because I'd love to hear what you think. I have quite a few days until the sequel, Linger comes out and this is one that I'm really marking my calendar for--I'm happy I've found my sparkly shoes :)

Michael Sheen, Weren't You on Punk'd?

2009-12-03T09:00:00.002-05:00

When it comes to The Twilight Saga, I have to admit even I can't keep track of all these new cast members. Or really, it's that I don't really care enough to. Noot Seear? You appeared in the movie for one line but there's been tons of buzz about you--E! Fashion Police even picked you out to commend your outfit at the New Moon premiere. With the exception of Dakota Fanning (you were in New Moon for a total of about five minutes, but YOU WERE AWESOME), I really have no motivation in reading up about news on Kirsten Prout, Jodelle Ferland, Bronson Pelletier, or Tyson Houseman (yeah--who? is right).

Just because you're all going to be in a movie franchise based on a book series that I am absolutely infatuated by, doesn't automatically mean your name's gonna grab my attention. There are too many of you up-and-coming actors to remember. I can't even remember the roles you're going to play because I may or may not have skimmed hastily over your secondary character in the books because you weren't Edward or Bella or even Charlie.

Like the Volturi, for example. Who did Charlie Bewley play again? I still couldn't tell you the name of the actor who played that one that looked like Frankenstein on steroids, even though I've seen the movie three times now. However, maybe that should change.

Before New Moon, I couldn't care more or less about Michael Sheen. Yes, he was in Frost/Nixon and was absolutely Oscar-worthy, but I didn't even see that movie.

So the only thing I actually recalled about Michael Sheen was that episode of Punk'd when he played a prank on his gorgeous ex-wife, Kate Beckinsale. (This is actually really hilarious, so I'm sorry I couldn't find a better quality video!)

But that all changed when I saw his interview on The Bonnie Hunt Show this week. If this were just another interview, I would have just skipped it. Only I watched because I kind of love Bonnie Hunt. She is just so down-to-earth and genuine, that I love seeing her interact with her guests.

Bonnie got Michael to talk about his daughter, who is a huge fan of these books. He said that when he told her over dinner that he was going to play Aro in New Moon, he braced himself for her reaction because he wasn't sure if she'd be excited or get mad that her dad was getting in on her thing. He said she froze midway while eating, and a tear rolled down her cheek before she then punched him. The story was cute and it made me laugh.

There isn't a full clip of the interview online but here is the other half of it, which is equally entertaining about him meeting the Queen.

Here's another funny interview with his daughter, Lily, at the New Moon premiere. Ryan asks her how it was to see her father as Aro, and she remarks about how she thought he should've been bald!

Anyway there's just something about a family man, and now I see that he is completely charming and charismatic so now he's officially on my radar of people to watch.

**And just a reminder of today's DVR settings**
Ashley on Jimmy Kimmel
Peter on Alexa Chung
Nikki on Bonnie Hunt: thanks Karin for sending the advance pics (cred: Warner Bros)!

Things My Mother Says About Twilight

2009-11-25T18:48:00.006-05:00

I should be hands deep in pie dough right now, but instead this one post before my mini holiday. I know there are a lot of Twilight moms out there, but mine would amuse you greatly if you actually knew this woman in real life. Have you ever watched Gilmore Girls? You know Emily, Rory's stuffy and proper grandmother? Imagine if she was Twi-crazy. No, that's not quite right. My 54-year-old mother isn't conservative in the least. It's more about how she isn't the kind of person you'd think would get into all of this madness.

Let me paint you a better picture. For one, my mother didn't grow up here, so English wasn't her first language. She grew up in the countryside of Taiwan in what you can call a village. Wild-papaya-trees-growing-in-my-backyard-and-riding-my-bike-an-hour-to-get-to-school kind of village. She was 21 when she graduated, and she got on a rickety plane for the first time in her life and flew to Paris herself (she likes to bring this up often since I've still never been). After I was born, she opened her own lingerie boutique and continued to travel to Europe to attend trade shows as a buyer. Ten years later, she retired and now she spends all her time volunteering with nuns.

That's the bio of a very composed, self-sufficient lady with a focused head on her shoulders don't you think? Now cue Twilight.

I gave my mom the first book as a belated Mother's Day present this past year and she became big fan of the books. The fact that the movies play out this story that she loves also makes her, by default, a huge fan of the movies. She also, though less vocally, loves this Robert Pattinson. So much so that she actually learned his name is Robert Pattinson. He's no longer Robert Parkinson. Or Robert Patterson.

Rob is not her "type" in concern to celebrities I know she thinks are "handsome." She's more into Richard Gere and Sean Penn, and won't hesitate to call lanky, British fellows with accents like Jude Law and Orlando Bloom "a lady man." Actually, I'm pretty sure for a good while there she didn't have a clue that Rob was one of those British fellows. I think she just thought he was literally an American-born vampire.

Immigrant moms say a lot of funny things period (you'd know if you had one), but consider my immigrant mom + Twilight obsession + knowing she's not always like this and has never had any obsession with anything, and it is way more entertaining. Trust me.

On the realization she's infatuated with a fictional vampire:

"You know. I was reading your magazine [she's referring to Vanity Fair], and I really think to myself: Why do I like this guy? He is just a regular looking guy." She says with with complete sincerity, like she's asking herself. My response? "Because he photographs very well, Mom. Very well. On camera and in photoshoots." She nodded, still contemplating, "Yes, you're right. Some people just have the look."

On being momentarily confused to which "Team" I was on when I was sharing my news over seeing Taylor on Jimmy Fallon:

"Oh, so you like the wolfy, not the British guy." I couldn't be quicker to correct my Edward love.

While staring at the screen and eating popcorn as Twilight was beginning at my theater before our midnight showing of New Moon:

"I can watch this ten thousand times."

On the books that run her life*:

"I love my books. I'm such a good student. That is my bible."

*My mother's two favorite activities when she's not on conference calls and organizing fundraisers is her 400-page Sudoku book from the dollar bin at A.C. Moore, and these books. She reads them in a continuous loop. As much as I am into Twilight, I cannot imagine how she can do this. And she's read them in more than one translation. When I come home to sights like this, I ask her if she's studying for the SATs.

The other day, she said she came to the conclusion that the two different Chinese versions she's read are "all wrong." So now you can currently find her simultaneously reading my English copy of Twilight side by side with her Traditional Chinese copy. Paragraph for paragraph, she alternates books, and she will come out of her world to find me and tell me the differences.

She hasn't read Midnight Sun yet. Shh...

On the gossip magazines I tell her she's wasting her money on:

"I just want to look at their pictures!"

I was walking through the Port Authority when I noticed OK!'s latest absurdity and in passing said to my friend, "'I'll love him forever!' Are you kidding me? Who buys this garbarge?!" Apparently my mother, because when I got home it was on my desk:

She was quite proud of herself when telling me that there was a "Twi-hard" quiz inside and she got the questions almost all correct. Even the question that's answer was spider-monkey.

On seeing Rob on the E! Live from the Red Carpet: New Moon special:

"That's a good hair color." Really, Mom? That's what stands out to you?

On seeing a plump middle-aged man next to us on a dinner date with a younger female, and noticing that he is sitting with his one leg folded over his knee towards her so that his pant leg rises up and you can see his sock and his exposed ankle (this, unbeknownst to me before, is completely offensive to my mother):

"Ugh, if a man I was with ever sat like that in front of me, I would kick his butt. No manners at all. No manners. Edward wouldn't do such a thing."

On seeing Rob for the first time not as Edward, slouching and tossing around his hair around during an Extra interview on TV (which I think also solidified to her the fact he is British, despite her trying to ignore it--she's got some Robward issues to work out):

"He is just a messy, dirty man."

On Rob's real life look, when I remembered I had EW in my purse and we had time to kill at Starbucks:

"Oh! Wait, wait. I need my reading glasses," she says fumbling in her bag, then her face falls and she uses her index finger to draw an outline around Rob's jaw, "What's this about?" I told her he isn't actually Edward.

And these are only the things she's said to my recently. I kinda love having her around because it's the only time I can pretend like I'm the normal one. So any of you think your moms could be friends with mine? I'd love to hear what yours have said about Twilight, Edward, Rob, and the rest!

With that, I'm off to bake my apple pie and brine my turkey. This time of year is always super busy for me--holidays and birthdays all back to back--and I've got a belated bread pudding cake to bake BFF on top of it all. (I told her bread pudding was a lame choice of a birthday confection, but what can you do?)

I hope everyone here has a happy, yummy, family-drama-free Thanksgiving! Mine's definitely going to be good--who else's going see New Moon a third time around this weekend?

Taylor at the Jimmy Fallon Taping

2009-11-21T20:50:00.010-05:00

I am loving Jimmy Fallon more and more. He's funny and he seems like this fun guy to talk with. Thursday was so chaotic because I rushed in to see Taylor tape Jimmy Fallon and then it was straight to grab dinner before getting to the theater early to see Twilight at 9. Then like the rest of you, my mind just completely blitzed with that ending, and I couldn't (and I still can't) get New Moon out of my thoughts.

I'll focus for a second though, because I have to share a couple really cute things that went on during the taping. I expected nothing less of Taylor on the show because he's always such a sharp dresser and he speaks with composure beyond his years. Bestie and I saw him at the VMAs and she got her little moment with him, but it was still exciting to see him again. He's a cutie pie, plain and simple.

Taylor was really friendly and waved to the girl fans that shouted at him as they were waiting to set up the bike sketch. When he took off his blazer, a few girls oooh-ed and he seemed a little embarrassed. After the sketch ended, they were still laughing over it, and Jimmy was like, "That was ridiculous! Ridiculous! It was a lot harder than I thought!" They were then supposed to tape a handful of promos, and Taylor immediately went over to pick up his blazer from the sofa so he could get all suave looking again for the takes.

Jimmy was pretty rumpled and his hair was all over the place, and when a girl tried to touch him up, he was still laughing and he said something like, "Oh, I don't care. You can't fix this!" and he gestured at Taylor like, no one will be looking at me. So Taylor turned to him and stuck his hand in Jimmy's hair to try to smooth it around before giving him the go-ahead, and Jimmy was like, "Thanks, it's just like looking in a mirror now!" It was cute, they had a little bro moment.

I hope that Taylor stays the same because he's really a good guy. So poised for a 17-year-old. I can't imagine what it would have been like if the guys in my high school were more like him when I was around.

New Moon: Kristen Stole the Show

2009-11-20T11:37:00.010-05:00

Really specific spoilers alert! Last night, was heavenly. I've never ever been more excited to see a movie in the theater before, and it was my first time attending a midnight showing. I also need to tell you guys about seeing Taylor at Jimmy Fallon, but this comes first because New Moon just.......consumed me. I just need to talk about it.

I have been avoiding clips and stills for the last two months. Even when I saw Kristen on Jimmy Fallon the other night, I literally looked down at the floor when they showed the clip because I didn't want to see it on the monitors. I was saving myself at all costs.

I was at the theater yesterday at 8:30 with my mother, Bestie and her mother (who's never read or seen this thing) because we had a Twilight double feature. By the prom scene, people were running out to get into the next theater so we could get good seats for New Moon. My theater was packed, and seeing it with an amped crowd was so much fun. The most ruckus during the movie was when girls started growling at the fact the 12:01 AM showing was running way late. They were REALLY milking the previews. When the theater lights began to dim people started cheering only to be greeted by a preview for that Orson Wells movie. When Zac Efron's face appeared, me and Bestie looked at each other and were like, are they for real right now? Sorry Zac Efron, you're old girly-faced news.

With each additional preview, there were a lot of COME ON ALREADY!'s and even Bestie's mom was getting ticked when she looked at her watch and said, "This is not right. What are they doing here?" FIVE freaking previews later, the show started. (Okay, so the final preview didn't count because when everyone was close to their last nerve, they throw in Remember Me and I actually gasped audibly as other girls clapped with glee.)

Glorious, glorious New Moon. Right from the slow transition to the title letters.

I don't even know where to begin. I read a few other people's reviews, but they don't wholly capture what I thought about the movie after leaving the theater at 2:30 in the morning completely buzzed with thoughts.

I was expecting it to be great considering the previews, but I also expected that I'd love Twilight more, just because of the four books, Twilight is my favorite. In fact, I hated New Moon when I read it because I wasn't buying Jacob.

The only other thing I was afraid of is if the movie was too turmoiled. You know how there are some movies you can watch and really appreciate and love, but you also don't really want see again? For me, those are movies like Titanic, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Atonement. The endings are heartbreaking and unavoidable, and the actors play it all so convincingly that they might as well reach in and rip your heart to shreds because by the end you don't even know what to do with yourself.

So I sat prepared to watch the movie for what it was, remembering that if I got worked up with my Jacob issues, I'd tell myself that I've read Breaking Dawn. I know what happens. I know Edward and Bella live in literal eternal bliss in the Snow White-esque cottage complete with a picture perfect little garden. I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

Taylor totally and completely sold Jacob to me. Taylor is the reason I'm now more forgiving of Jacob, and I almost even want Bella to give in to him. Almost. Everyone is saying what a convincing job Taylor did for this character. I couldn't agree more. His abs were secondary.

At the same time, I think the most credit due is for Kristen. Most reviews I've read so far don't mention this at all. In this movie, you can really see--more than the first one--that this was Bella's story. Kristen really seemed to get comfortable with this role, with Bella in New Moon, and I really felt her pain. That sounds so incredibly cheesy of me, but I really did. I was on the verge of tears when Edward broke up with her. Not this kind of emotion when I read the book, let me tell you. She acted it so well I was beside myself. You understand, if you didn't already, how much of a devastation this is for her. Even writing about it now, and thinking about that scene makes my eyes teary again.

There were the right amount of romantically painful (if not painfully romantic), scenes...

but one of my favorite, if not in my favorite, scene in New Moon is between Bella and Laurent. Right when he is about to kill her, Bella closes her eyes and says, "Edward, I love you." It was such a small moment, but it gripped me right in my heart. To love someone so much that your final thought towards death was to express that love? Thank you, Melissa Rosenberg, for doing such a fine job with the screenplay.

That scene where Aro sees Alice's vision of Bella and with Edward as vampire? When the sunlight glimmers her face--oh, so ethereal, magical. It gave me goosebumps of anticipation for Breaking Dawn.

And that ending? "Marry me?" There was an audience squee-off and when it cut right to the credits, a collaborative gasp and applause. Perfect, perfect high-note ending.

If Twilight and New Moon were my children, I wouldn't be able to say I loved one more than the other because they are both so different and capture different stories. I am just so pleased that both movies hit their marks for me. I cannot wait to see New Moon again this weekend.

I wish I could meet Kristen just so I could tell her that I think she did an unbelievably, unfathomably beautiful portrayal of Bella in this movie. She literally had moments that physically took my breath away.

There's so much more I want to discuss, but I can't even think straight right now without getting all flustered as I remembe the movie. I'll have to leave it at this for now, otherwise there's a very good chance someone will walk in on me at this moment and ask me if I'm all right.

New Moon was so much more than I even anticipated. I have this unfounded need to talk to someone about this movie, but it has to be with people that care just as much about this whole thing because I can't just hear, "Jacob's body is HOT!" or "OMG Edward, take it off!" That's just not what makes this movie. If anyone has the same needs, send me an email or a message because I'd love to hear your thoughts too!

New Moon Premiere Party: 2 Real Wolves, Wolfgang Puck, and Plenty of Red Roses.

2009-11-19T11:34:00.008-05:00

Once upon a time, 14-year-old me saw The Wedding Planner and it became my life's mission to become ~~Jennifer Lopez~~ a superstar wedding planner. This actually materialized all the way through college in catering and event design, but currently my post-graduate pursuits are taking a slight detour in my other interests.

Even still, food and parties will always be my number one passion, and I still read up on my trade publications like BizBash (it's something I'm used to, just like keeping mental notes on future baby names). I was not surprised they covered the New Moon premiere and afterparty. It is of course, the most talked about event in LA this week!

Does anyone know who actually got into this thing? E! reported that fans were among the attendants, but how was that really possible besides the occasional contest winner?

Anyway, the food was catered by Wolfgang Puck, who I met when he came to give a lecture once, which brings us to fun fact #1: it was an Italian-inspired affair with gelato carts! Gelato. Carts. No one ever seems to be photographed eating at parties like this, which is such a shame.

Fun fact #2: there were real wolves being wrangled at the party. I think, a bit much, given they were just there for show. Still cute.

Fun Fact #3: New Moon wardrobe was displayed at the Hammer Museum, venue of the after-party.

If you're looking for ideas for your own New Moon-esque party, take cues from these white, purple and red color themes--just a different take on your usual red and black mélange of paper streamers and candle sticks.

For more pictures of the sophisticated affair, head over to BizBash's New Moon report.

Now I'm off because I've got a date with Taylor at Jimmy Fallon this afternoon (though I don't think it will top seeing Kristen in person yesterday!) and then to dinner before the double-my-pleasure, double-feature! I never got to see Twilight on the big screen! Is it really already 11/19?! Get excited!

Kristen on Jimmy Fallon, Could She Be More Awesome?

2009-11-18T21:22:00.011-05:00

So I just got back from dinner after seeing Kristen at Jimmy Fallon, and you're in for a great interview tonight! Bestie kept saying, "damn her and her creamy skin!" Kristen was fierce in a makeup look very similar to her Interview cover, with dark-lined smokey eyes and a crimson matte lip.

Her typically tousled waves were pinned up neatly into a sleek updo and her sweetheart strapless black dress was chic. When she walked out the first thing my mother said was, "Wow, so skinny!"

Jimmy was so excited about New Moon. I guess he's a Twifan like the rest of us because he wanted to talk about the movie, but said he'd tell Kristen about what scene he thought she killed it in privately since he didn't want to spoil it for anyone!

There must be some sort of football theme going around because like Taylor on Leno last night, there was a sketch after Kristen's interview where she threw footballs at dishes Jimmy was holding. She's got quite a throw! She practiced a few times before they rolled, and Jimmy was like, "great arm!"

They also did some promos for the show, and there was a bit where he and Kristen were joking and she let an f-bomb slip. She laughed about how she had hoped she wasn't going to make that mistake, but Jimmy told her not to worry because it's all edited.

I thought one of the most amusing parts was that during the "commercial" break, PAs swarmed Jimmy with cues and two makeup ladies rushed over to him to do his touch-ups and Kristen just chilled and leaned back into her chair with her arms folded, no one fussing over her.

Jimmy was a fantastic host for her, he is just so upbeat and he was chatting with Kristen during the breaks and during the part when they showed the clip from New Moon. You could tell he really liked Kristen because he joked a third time during the football taping that they were "so going to be besties" when they kept clicking about the same stuff when they were talking. At the end of the taping Jimmy congratulated her on her vacation (apparently his was the last interview on her press tour and so she gets some time off now) and they hugged.

Very cute interview. She smiled and waved at a few of us in the audience when she was waiting for her cues. Seeing her about 15 feet away in person was too surreal. Could she be any more awesome?

Jamie Kennedy was on after her and his take on Edward Cullen was funny too! You just knew he would have stuff to say about New Moon, first because he was at the LA premiere, and second because he is attached to, inarguably, the most infamous celebrity Twihard! Will update with link to the video after it airs tonight!

**UPDATE**

Here ya go! Was I not right about the Interview look?

Today is Kristen Day!

2009-11-18T07:05:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited! (Get used to me saying 'excited' a lot this week). Today is the day--I'm going to see Kristen! As you may already have an idea, I totally <3 that girl and so today is unofficially, Official Kristen Day.

She'll be on the Today Show any moment now, then she's off to do Live! With Regis and Kelly (where I hope the man actually gets her name right this time), and then to her appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon--where yours truly will be in attendance!

I'm telling you, I'm jumping up and down on the inside, even though I still have to head into my office like a normal person before meeting Bestie at the taping later.

I'm loving every one of Kristen's interviews for the New Moon press tour. There's just something about her that sets her apart from anyone else in her line of work. She's so refreshing, and in a different way than how I also think Taylor Swift is refreshing. You can just tell that whatever Kristen says is something she truly means and she keenly expresses it in her own way. If you're a fan too you get it. She doesn't just say these rehearsed responses to please and stay safe.

These are my top three so far--if you haven't seen these already, what have you been doing?! (If you're answer is that you were busy staying up and yelling at the 3-hour MySpace live feed at the New Moon premiere, you weren't the only one).

This Edith lady needs to interview Kristen all the time:

Conan + Kristen? Who did not love this?

The best is at the end, trust me:

I'm so excited to see the interviews she has lined up today, but those'll have to be DVR'ed because I'm off to work before I'm late! Oh, and don't forget to check out the other TV appearances today: Rob on Letterman, Nikki on Alexa Chung, and Kellan on Ellen.

I can't believe I'm really going to see her today!

How to Be: Love It? Hate It?

2009-11-17T09:15:00.005-05:00

My father came home last month and we have an unofficial tradition where during the car ride from the airport he'll tell us each about the goodies he's brought us. To me he says, "Oh, my dear (yeah my dad calls me 'my dear'), I bought you a DVD with your fa-vor-ite guy."

"What?" I'm actually dumbfounded for a moment, cause officially--publicly--people don't know about Rob, and technically I'm not IN LOVE with him. Just Edward... there is a difference.

"You're Twi-light guy. But not Twilight, another movie. He plays a...musician?"

Oh. Click.

I never intended to watch How to Be. I haven't watched Rob's audition that was just posted up recently, I've never even watched the trailer. I don't feel the need to look into every work Rob's done in his previously obscure film history. I've seen Harry Potter, but I honestly didn't even remember Cedric Diggory in it.

Do I want to see Rob in Little Ashes? Pretty much never. That's thanks to an enlightening post by LTT over the summer in which they shared a picture that I was too frightened to click an enlarged version of.

But I will see his upcoming movies. Bonus Hugh Jackman? Count. Me. In.

So I popped in How to Be with little expectation and even lesser thought, only to leave me thinking, "HUH?"

I was just not having this movie. I went to work the next day telling my supervisor about how random the entire thing was when I had difficulty putting into words what the movie was about.

Then I rewatched so I could have a coherent conversation about the movie with blog buddy Amy over at Anxious About RPattz. I learned a lot of stuff from this lady about the movie I hadn't known before. She opened up a whole new window into the youtube interview search pool for me--Rob in How to Be. Saturday night How to Be chit-chat turned into a few hours of Twilight musings, but here's what matters for today, because today is the day How to Be gets it's US release on DVD.

And cause we make life easier (and cause we couldn't put up our bantering gchat--unless you care to read about our riveting personal lives), Amy and I each answered our questions and we'd love for you to join in the discussion too!

Just FYI, there are spoiler-ish things discussed.

What was your first impression after you watched the film?

Me: This movie so wasn't what I had expected, and it just didn't appeal to me afterwards. I even went into work the next day and told my friend about how random the movie was. Maybe I just didn't get the British humor.

Amy: The first thing I thought was "Well, that was really different." I wasn't sure what to make of it exactly. It's one of those movies that has to be slowly absorbed until it starts to make sense.

Did your perception change after the second viewing? How so?

Me: I'll confess, the only reason I watched it a second time was because I knew I was going to be doing a write-up and I very well couldn't provide criticisms without backing them up. Only instead, a second viewing was like seeing a different movie. If you can move past the fact that at some given moments Art's hair looks mimics Friar Tuck's, there are some unexpected comedic spurts and the main character is quite lovable. When I saw it the first time I just thought Art was this faux-indie excuse of a role for Rob to play, but then I actually started to feel bad for Art. I wished he had friends. Everyone around him were such jerks. I told Amy I wanted to reach out and give him a hug.

Amy: Very much so. I was able to pay attention to little details and dialog more. I was able to enjoy it a lot more without being sidetracked by the random awkward moments like the first time I watched.

Which scene sticks out in your mind the most (in a positive or negative way)?

Me: I wouldn't even call this a scene, but it's this teeny tiny otherwise insignificant moment about 35 minutes into the movie when Art and his life coach are riding on the subway. Art is reading his self-help book and looks over at his life coach like he can't believe he's actually there, looks back then again and smiles this child-like happy day smile that is just so cute. So cute.

Amy: The bedroom scene. For me, that was the turning point in the movie. As he tries to climb into bed with his parents like a child, with his therapist in the room as well (of course), Art comes to a new realization. Once his mother expresses her guilt at having raise such a child, it really hits Art. After that scene he begins to take steps to grow up, on his own.

What was your favorite scene? Why?

Me: Somehow the basketball scene went undetected the first time around, but upon my second viewing of the movie I had to giggle. And that had less to do with the fact that it it leads to Art having a straight-faced conversation with his supervisor afterwards with tissues stuffed up his nostrils to stop the bloody nose, and more to do with the fact that I had just previously read Kristen's answer in this month's Harper's Bazaar regarding which of the two of them was more athletic.

Amy: This is hard to pick. I would say either the basketball scene or the scene at the end when Art is giving himself a pep talk before his takes the stage. The basketball scene is just hilarious. "I'm dominating!" lol! Pretty much all of his scenes as a volunteer were hilarious. The talk in the mirror really pulled things together for me. It was a true and honest moment for Art. He was giving himself the boost of confidence no one else gave him without being conceited or egotistical. It's the conversation I think a lot of people have to tell themselves.

What scene was your least favorite? Why?

Me: Any scene that involves me feeling terrible for Art and wishing he had a buddy. Which is quite a lot of the movie, even when he is a bit whiney.

Amy: I think every scene in the movie had a purpose and wouldn't take any scene out. Having said that, there were plenty of uncomfortable scenes that just left me saying, "What the hell?" For some reason I just didn't like Nikki. I kept wondering how he and Art became friends. Ronny I could handle, but Nikki just bugged me. His scene with Art when they meet up with a couple of ladies was pretty strange. When Art says, "I have an erection" I was totally puzzled. For me, it was one of those moments that is so awkward and embarrassing you feel you have to look away. I didn't know whether to feel sorry that he's socially retarded, or slap him in the face and tell him to get a grip, or be pissed with Nikki to put him in the position in the first place.

The film opens with Art describing a traumatizing event when he was seven-years-old. All of the characters in the film have a moment when they reflect on a traumatizing event in their childhood. What message, if any, is the film sending about the those formative years?

Me: I got why they had that had everyone revealing their buried parent burdens, but I thought it seemed a little convenient and therefore forced. I actually didn't like the whole parent dynamic (which was probably exactly the point) in the movie because I just personally couldn't believe that someone's own mother would refuse to hug them. And it's not even like Art's parents are depicted as evil or deliberately hurtful, it was that they were apathetic about the whole relationship.

Amy: During this movie I thought of something a therapist on Oprah said once several years ago (why I remember this, I have no idea). She said something to the effect of, we all spend our adulthood trying to recover from the nightmare of our childhood. In other words, the traumatizing (I use the term loosely) events that occurred during that time really shape one's personalities, insecurities, and the general manner in which one deals with life. Overcoming those negative aspects in adulthood is the challenge. So, in that respect I think that's what the movie is addressing. Everyone in the film has a moment to recollect a scene from their childhood that was uncomfortable at the least. When Art's mother talks about the competition she had with her brothers, and how Art reminds her of them; When Ronny remembers when he started to become "increasingly worried about heart attacks" (lol!); They're all pretty much messed up. Art really is the only one that is able to take a step back and is willing to try to take the painful steps to transform himself.

How would you categorize this film?

Me: Drama with dry bits of comedy sprinkled in with this. It's drama: light, actually. Maybe indie too because of its undertone. I just read in this week's Twilight issue of Entertainment Weekly that basically gave How to Be the review I would've given after my first viewing:

If you were hoping that Twilight's dreamy Robert Pattinson would parlay his new A-list heat into projects that really showcase his range, man, will you be disappointed by How to Be, an aimless indie dud. Pasty, spacey, and dull as all get-out, the actor (and his fans) will want to forget this one. Moreover, Pattinson can't be thrilled that his lame audition tape is included on the EXTRAS. Grade: D

Amy: Whoa! I didn't see that excerpt from EW! Way harsh! I have no clue how to categorize the film. It's not pure comedy or drama. It's not even a black comedy. I can't pinpoint a word or phrase.

The director, Oliver Irving said the idea for How to Be came about after a visit with his friend's "mental" mother. He said he found the set-up of "normal middle-class people get messed up by their parents" funny. What are your thoughts on this?

Amy: I also think it's an interesting topic to explore. The movie cleverly explores the topic so it doesn't take a strong position. In other words, it doesn't evoke just pity for Art as a that never received proper love and care, nor does it portray him as a simple, awkward and dorky guy. The movie really pulled me in different directions.

Art's therapist pops up randomly in scenes. Why is this done?

Me: He's the comedic relief, but I found his scenes absurd when you think about realistically. Like this white-haired man that popped in now and again with his thin and shaky leprechaun-y voice. That was just me though.

Amy: I agree with SFT. It was a source of comedic relief. For some weird reason he reminded me of George Carlin in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. No idea why.

What do you make of the ending?

Me: It sandwiches the whole story nicely with Rob singing. That's never a bad thing, even if it's supposed to be "Art" singing, and the singing is actually more like speak-sing.

Amy: I loved it. I consider it a happy ending. Like the song he sings says, he's doing fine. He is able to express himself to an audience of adults.

And, just because Rob was asked this question as well: Would you want to be friends with Art?

Me: Yes, because he seriously needed one. The only other time I wished to be a friend to a movie character was Melinda in the movie Speak, which, entirely coincidentally, was played by Kristen. I remember watching it on Lifetime after school one day (I had a Lifetime phase back then) and wishing to be Melinda's friend because I just couldn't believe middle school kids could be so mean. Do people really have school experiences like? Anyway, that's the mother in me talking.

Amy: I think so. At the end of the day, Art just wants to be a good productive person who feels appreciated and validated. He might bug the holy hell out of me at times, but the important thing is he wants to better himself as a person while everyone around him puts him down, too stuck in their own ego to see their own problems. I agree with Rob that he is incredibly need, but there's just something endearing about him at the same time.

And just because I loved this entire interview, here's a bit about Rob talking about How to Be.

So, do you wanna see the movie now?

New Moon TV Appearances Master Calendar

2009-11-15T15:16:00.012-05:00

**UPDATE**
Update your bookmarks because this is the updated calendar as of 11/25 for next week's interviews. If you missed Jimmy Fallon or Jimmy Kimmel, they are rerunning next week!

I'm excited. Tomorrow officially kicks off a huge list of TV appearances scheduled for the New Moon cast, and I'm not planning to miss any of it! I've got to program my DVR and because I am OCD over things like this and I become a color-coding geek, I thought I'd share with you my calendar list:

It's up-to-date as of today, and I also dug out two new scheduled appearances by Taylor for Conan O'Brien on 11/23 as well as George Lopez's new talk show on TBS, Lopez Tonight on 11/26.

And, Nikki (11/18) and Kellan (11/19) on MTV's It's On with Alexa Chung, this week.

If there's more additions coming up, I'll add those in as well.

Print and pencil in your reminders--its going to be a fun-filled week ahead, get ready!