{Book/Movie Review}: Wild

I know the movie Wild has been out for a bit now, but right around the time that it was released in theaters, my friend gave me the book as a gift. It's probably not something that I would have picked out myself, but that's how you discover new books and genres, right?

The beginning of the book was harder for me to get into. I like the outdoors, but I'm not an avid outdoors person. As in, hiking for 3 months sounds slightly closer to torture than an adventure to me. So her desire to do this was hard for me to relate to.

Once the story got going though, I found it fascinating all of the stuff she was able to accomplish, and all of the people that she met along the trail. It was interesting to go back and forth between the past and the present to see what brought her to the point she's at today.

Overall, I'd give the book 4 out of 5 stars.

I waited to see the movie until after I'd read the book, and I tried to wait a few weeks after I was done reading to watch the movie. Sometimes I get more focused on the differences between the book and the movie that I don't focus on the movie itself.

I thought the movie was really well done. There were some changes from the book to the movie (her step father was left totally out of the movie all together, and some of the people she met had longer, more in-depth roles in her journey than the book showed), but overall I thought they did an incredible job recreating this story. 

I'd recommend reading and watching both if you haven't already!

Weekend Recap and "Looper" Movie Review

Another Monday is here and I'm once again wondering "Where did the weekend go?"

It always goes by SO fast! And then another work week is here to greet us.

Wah.

I think it always stinks worse when you've had a really fun weekend, and this was one of those for me. Friday night MG and I played it low key and went to the town center that's near our place (it still feels funny and fun to say "our place") and had a dinner date over sushi and drinks. Afterwards, instead of dessert, we stopped at a cheese boutique (cleverly named Cheesetique) and got some blue cheese and manchego cheese to bring home. They are delicious, and I don't anticipate them being around long (I am a cheese fiend. I could possibly have been a mouse in a previous life.) We watched Cabin in the Woods at home which was a comical horror. I wouldn't waste my time on that one.

Saturday we got up and hit the gym to move the fat cells around a little bit, grabbed lunch at Corner Bakery and ate outside since it was soooo nice out. Afterwards we took advantage of a living social deal for movie tickets that was going to expire and went to see Looper with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis. I would recommend it, especially if you like movies that make you think a little bit--it keeps you intrigued about what's going to happen next, and thinking/wondering about how it's all possible. A MUCH better choice than the Master (awful awful awful). Go see it!

That evening we met up with two of our couple friends to celebrate a birthday for one of the guys. We hung out at one couple's apartment for a while and then headed to a local bar called Rooftop. We had an awesome time just hanging out, laughing about silly things and enjoying being around fun people.

MG and I

The girls

The birthday boy with his lady

The funny thing is, a year ago, we were all together celebrating this guy's 30th birthday (You can read about the awkward/humorous encounter that happened that night here). I was new to the group, didn't really know anyone well at all, and was enjoying the high of a new relationship. A year later and I've gotten to hang out and become friends with new people, and I still get a smile on my face when MG puts his arm around me.

Sometimes a year can make all the difference in the world between something bad and something good, and other times it just gives you a reference point for recognizing how long something has been wonderful. 

Anyway, enough sappy sappy! :) Sunday was spent being lazy and then running errands which included picking up a toy and cookies for Cooper's 4th birthday that's coming up this Thursday. My little pup is growing up so fast!

Errands also included a stop at Target where we encountered a guy picking up spilled Diet Coke cans from the curb as we were leaving. The box was blowing away so I went to get it for him and he said "That's not mine" so I said "Oh..." and started to walk away. He then said "Someone left this here but I'm not going to." Then the guy gathers about 7 cans in his arms and, instead of going to the trash can, he heads towards his car in the parking lot, leaving two cans behind and the box. I thought he had meant he was cleaning it up, not taking random cans that were left on the curb.

Don't get me wrong, I love Diet Coke. But, I draw the line of my love welllllll before I'd even consider taking cans that were left outside by a stranger. Weirdo.

This guy was, of course, parked right next to our car. And his van had "The Club" on the steering wheel (I seriously didn't even know people still had those). He was in a Target parking lot, in the middle of the day. I guess the guy who takes soda cans that were left behind by someone else is paranoid that someone is going to take from him? 

I'm becoming more and more convinced by the day that people are becoming less and less normal. 

And on that note, I'm off to educate the youth of America.

Catch ya later, tater!

Super Fun Weekend and "The Master" movie Review

Happy Monday! I'm coming off of a fun-filled weekend, so it's a little difficult to get back into the swing of things this morning.

Friday night MG and I went down to the Georgetown Waterfront to meet up with some friends for drinks and enjoy the weather. We couldn't have asked for a better night! It was fun to catch up, people watch, and dream about what it would be like to own one of the yachts that were docked nearby.

Saturday MG and I ran some quick errands at Bed Bath and DSW where I came across a pair of shoes that I was super stoked to find in the clearance section. Which meant that I got these pretties for $27:

I've been looking for something like these because I need a good neutral dressy shoe in general, but also to wear with a navy blue dress to an upcoming wedding that I have. Couldn't have been happier with my find!

After errands we were just planning to quickly grab a bite to eat when we stumbled upon Clarendon Day, which is basically a huge outdoor block party/street festival with yummy food, beer/wine, vendors, live music etc. The weather was absolutely perfect so we decided to check out the scene, and while we were there, ran into some of our friends. We spent the day wandering around, and I found this great little jewelry stand and couldn't resist buying this gem:

For $25! It's so perfect and SO up my alley.

I was also eyeing up a pair of earrings and MG was being his super sweet self and decided to purchase them for me:

Don't mind my no make-up face...

I'm excited to wear it all! It was definitely a great day for me in the fashion department :)

After wandering around the outdoor stuff, we all decided to hit up the restaurant Cava Mezze to grab some food and a beverage while checking out their outside patio. This was my 4th time being there (the first time was on MG's and my first date) and the food has always been fabulous! (MG and I joke that the first time we were there the food wasn't as good but it was probably because we were both a little nervous having just met for the first time.) Good company with lots of laughing made it a great day all around.

After a while some rain clouds were rolling in so we all headed our separate ways. MG had been wanting to see the movie The Master and since it had gotten great reviews, we went to check it out.

Let me save you some time. Don't go! It was 2 hours and 15 minutes of wasted time and the weirdest, most confusing, and frustrating movie. The only thing that kept us from leaving in the middle was thinking that at some point it would all make sense. It didn't. 

Joaquin Phoenix does a great job of playing a screwed up guy. Phillip Seymour Hoffman does a good job of playing the role of a "cult" leader. And Amy Adams is a great cult leaders' wife. The acting was good. The movie was horrid.

I should have taken it as a sign when a chick who was trying to get to the seat next to me scooted past me in the row and stepped on my toes. She even chipped my toenail polish. It was downhill from there.

Apparently the movie's supposed to be about Scientology. But if you didn't know that going into the movie, you would never get it on your own. And I'm still not sure I get it even knowing it after the fact.

I may have turned to MG half way through and uttered something along the lines of "I'm going to make you watch the girliest chick flick ever for this..." hehe.

As soon as the screen went to black at the end, MG and I popped up, bolted for the doors, and the first words that came out of my mouth were, "That was the worst movie I've ever seen. Awful." I have absolutely NO idea how this movie has gotten good reviews. It was painful to sit through. Even without the chick stomping on my toes.

The funniest part of the whole experience was that as we were driving home, still reeling over how terrible the movie was to one another, the couple that had been sitting in front of us pulled up next to our car and started sharing our feelings about how terrible the movie was. The woman said she enjoyed my comment at the end. I aim to please :)

Read some of the other reviews if you're interested, but I would NOT recommend this movie, at all.

Sunday was low key. Watched my Skins suck it up on the football field, again. Angry. And now, it's back to the real world!

Head over to Meg's blog and link up for Mingle Monday!

Movie Review: Moonrise Kingdom

Have you heard of this movie? The other weekend a friend of ours asked us if we wanted to see Moonrise Kingdom and neither MG or I knew what the heck it was. And then it seemed like we kept seeing the commercials/previews for it everywhere.

After seeing that it had a rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, we thought we'd see it this weekend to beat the heat.

It's a love story between two kids who are trying to be together despite obstacles. It is a little odd at times, but there are some funny parts and the relationship between the two is cute.

It kind of has a Royal Tenenbaums feel to it (like in terms of it's oddities and it's picture quality).

Overall, I would say it's definitely cute. It has a great cast with Bruce Willis, Ed Norton, Bill Murray and Frances McDormand. 

Would I recommend seeing it in the theater? Maybe. It's not an action packed film by any means so if you wait to Netflix it, you won't be missing much watching it at home. But, if you feel like going to the movies, it's also a good one to choose.

Here's the trailer in case you haven't seen it:

Have you seen it? If so, what'd you think? If not, are you interested in seeing it?

Weekend Recap with a Book and Movie Review!

Happy start of the week, friends! I had some trouble getting up this morning because it is FRIGID here in the DC area. Snuggled up all warm and cozy in my bed was definitely where I wanted to stay this morning. But, alas, I am here at work, and ready to take on the week. Especially with Valentine's Day coming up and the prospect of a long weekend!

This weekend was kind of busy, but I'll do some highlights for you:

1) Friday night MG's best friend's wife was in town for Gilt City (part of Gilt Groupe), and they were doing kind of a clothing sale at an art gallery in DC, so we went to the VIP event and scored some nice deals. I got a skirt for $29 that was originally $138  and MG got a tie for 30 bucks that was originally 100 something. There was a nice dress there that I thought was gorgeous and upon looking at the price tag I saw that it was $499. I thought to myself "Oooh, how much is it on the discount?" No...that WAS the discount...from $3,000!!! Needless to say, I passed on that one! :) After some good deals and free drinks MG and I headed back home and had a night in with lots of really good conversation.

2) Saturday, in between flurries, MG and I went bowling with a couple friend of ours, which was a ton of fun, and we discovered Bud Light Platinum. Have you heard of it? I hadn't until this trip. It's got 6% alcohol so you will be on your butt MUCH faster than with a regular Bud Light (consider that you're warning) haha. MG and I emerged from the bowling alley victorious in every game except the last one--and that was only because we gave them a 50 point advantage....and after 3 of those Platinum beers, my bowling was NOT as accurate as it had been lol. We still beat them but only by 29 points so we still technically won, even with my semi-beer induced lack of skills lol

3) The Vow: MG was a good enough sport (and he owed my from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) to go see The Vow yesterday. I thought it was cute, and had NO idea that it was based on a true story! I think once MG saw that at the end (cuz he clearly missed it in the beginning), I think he was a little more impressed. I was hoping for a bit more cheesy lovey dovey stuff in the movie but it was more about the conflict of her not remembering. Was still a good chick flick and I would recommend seeing it (if chick flicks are your thing). It's cute, but I was expected MUCH more sappy stuff---and I'm pretty sure MG was happy that it wasn't as I wished lol.


4) MG and I finally got to have dinner with my parents. Weather and healthiness all cooperated and we met up near my parents house at an Italian restaurant. It went really well, as I anticipated that it would. MG and my dad got along like champs--talking about all kinds of history related things (which I had said from the beginning that they would be good with), and MG asked about my dad's time in the Air Force, etc. My mom brought me and MG Valentine's cards and chocolates, which was super sweet of her. Along with a HUGE package of Ju-Ju hearts which are like seriously my favorite candy of all time (not the kind with the sugar on it--the plain ones). Mmmm. Overall, it was awesome and I was SUPER glad that we were finally able to do it. And, it was my dad's first "out to dinner" since his heart attack, and I was happy that it all went smoothly! Yay!


I also finished the book Matched by Ally Condie this weekend on my Kindle. I had read reviews that if you liked the Hunger Games, you would like this book. And while the book was ok, it was far from great. It's another book about America now being run by "Officials" and "The Society" where every aspect of life is regimented and controlled by higher ups. Maybe it's because this is the 3rd book/series I've read with this "theme" but it just didn't feel very original and I thought that some of the writing felt really forced at times. Like, over the top imagery that just felt like it was put in there just to put it in there, not for any real purpose. I thought it was ok. It was an easy read and I might read the next book in the series just to see what happens, but I'm not jumping at it like I was when reading The Hunger Games or Divergent (both of which, I highly recommend). Out of 5 stars, I'd give it maybe 2.5-3. Luckily I got it by renting it from the public library so I don't feel like I wasted money on buying it.

I hope you guys all had great weekends! Can't wait to read about them!! :)