Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Romantics

When I saw these pretty pictures in the J Crew catalog, I was immediately curious about the movie The Romantics. (Those publicists are quite genius.) Pretty people in pretty clothes are hard to ignore.

Then I found out the movie was based on a book. So of course, I got a copy from the library.


This is an interesting book, and not necessarily in a good way. A group of nine college friends - best friends - reunite 10 years later in Maine for a wedding. Their definition of friend is vastly different from yours and mine. Tom and Lila are getting married. Laura is the maid of honor, Lila's best friend, AND Tom's ex-girlfriend. All the other couples are interconnected as well, married or engaged to each other, each having dated another member of the group at some point in time.

Then wackiness ensues.

Okay, not wackiness. There is nothing lighthearted about this book. Mostly because the characters are all unlikeable. Every last one. You think you will like this one or that one, but they all turn out to be complete narcissists and terribly screwed up. Poor little rich kids.

In the beginning, it was fun read about the lives of wealthy New Englanders, see how the other half lives. Like in the way you might enjoy reality tv. People live like this? But soon their shallowness becomes unbearable. About half way through, the book spirals into a drunken night of revelation and truth telling. It gets ugly.

This is where the interesting part comes in: part of me that kind of liked this book. Not just because I felt a little smug reading it. Not just because you say to yourself, I am not as bad as these horrible people. They may have their ivy league educations and their millions but at least I am a good person. But because, to your surprise, you recognize a small part of yourself in these characters and get a little embarrassed for feeling so superior. You realize that the author is using extremes to expose human frailties. You may have never been jealous like these characters (trust me, it is not possible) but you have been jealous before.

So that is what I liked about this book: how it caused you to examine motivations, expectations, relationships, and social mores. I just wish the author had given you some good examples along with the bad.

Content note: While the author (thankfully) doesn't subject us to sordid details or long offensive passages, this book definitely pushed the limit. Also, there was some strong language.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Window Shopping Urban Outfitters

Fell in love with this:
Duvet version?
Want to make my own:
Cute:
Pretty:
Purchased:

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Labels 2010

A couple of years ago, we discovered how handy labels are for back to school. Labels quickly became a necessity. I buy a package of Avery labels ($5?) and make very basic labels for the kids to put on all their back to school supplies. SO much easier than writing their name on everything.

My oldest decided to make her own this year. They turned out amazing. She went with the color scheme from her backpack and took some of her favorite graphics (Audrey Hepburn and Union Jack) and "picniked" them. Wah-lah: hot pink Audrey Hepburn and sepia Union Jack. Genius.



She was unable to find notebooks with designs that she liked, so we bought the 15 cent notebooks from Target, and she covered them with scrap book paper and glued larger versions of her picniked graphics. They turned out great. The polka dot notebook is a color copy she made of her PB Teen binder. I will say it again, genius!



There you have it. All completely coordinated and oh so lovely. The best part for me? She did this completely on her own and certainly did a better job than I could have done.


Monday, August 23, 2010

Can't Wait. Can't Wait. Can't Wait.



Finally, tomorrow. I have a date with Katniss and Peeta.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Road Trip



We recently returned home from a road trip. These are the highlights.

23 days.

11 States. (Missouri, Kansas, Denver, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Washington, South Dakota,Wyoming, Iowa, and Nebraska.)

1 Foreign Country. (Canada, not that foreign, but still)


(Vancouver Bay)



1 SUV + 1 Thule Cargo Carrier.

2 Family reunions.
(Hunt Reunion in Idaho)


(The Rental house for the Jones Reunion)

Brother in Law Fun
Enjoying the Lake
(Hike at Tubbs Hill in Couer d'Alene, Idaho)

2 BYU sports camps attended.

(Volleyball) -------------------------------------------- (Soccer)




Many visits with friends.



3 wards visited in various places throughout the states.



1 baby blessing attended.

Loads of Trips to Favorite Restaurants.





12 Temple sightings.

(Some of our temples: Rexburg UT, Idaho Falls UT, Vancouver BC, Salt Lake City UT, Billings, MT)



2 Boating trips.
(Boating with the Grolls Huntsville Lake, UT)


(Boating with Fam in Idaho)



Several Things we never take the time to do at home:



1 Week with my Sisters.



Mucho Partying with Cousins




1 trip to Moses Lake Water Park.



Couple of Shopping Trips.



1 Day Renting Bikes.
(Biking around Stanely Park in Vancouver B.C.)


1 Trip to Mount Rushmore.



5000 miles.

0 Arguments (I know you probably don't believe this, but it's true. A miracle to be sure.)



All adds up to Best Vacation Ever.

Goodreads Account

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