That’s a Wrap!

This was a great food week, to say the least. From apple picking in the Hudson Valley to German Bratwursts at a street fair to a late night Italian street festival, there certainly hasn’t been a shortage of delicious food in the past seven days. The Emmy Awards are this weekend, so that’ll be the major event for Sunday (and of course, the Seahawks game!). We’re slowly making our way toward Awards Season.  Until then, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…

MOVIE THEATER PRETZELS: These beloved theater snacks might become a thing of the past.

WHAT DO YOU HEAR?: The art of sound in movies. The sound of rain is actually bacon frying.

BIO-PICS: The difficulty of making movies about geniuses.

READ OR WATCH: 10 books that are nothing like their film adaptations.

OH! THE HORROR: Horror films are the best deal in Hollywood.

FALL BUCKET LIST: Recipes to make this season.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Jamaica Jerk Chicken.

Have a lovely weekend!

Image by Lauren Jessen

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That’s a Wrap!

It’s a short week for many, and it’s likely that your holiday weekend is packed with BBQs, sunshine, and time spent with family and friends. June was a good month – new movies, new adventures, new experiences (including seeing Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett live at Radio City Hall – pictured above).

July holds even more great adventures and experiences, and I’m making it a point to attempt more challenging recipes and see movies I might not normally watch on a Friday night. It’s always fun that July starts off with a (firework) bang – it really sets the tempo for the rest of the month. For now, though, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…

40TH ANNIVERSARY: Last week marked the 40th anniversary for the summer classic, Jaws.

SEINFELD: You can now watch all 180 episodes of Seinfeld on Hulu. If you don’t want to start watching from the beginning, watch in this ranked order.

MAKE: Fresh pasta. This recipe looks like a winner.

TO READ: Judd Apatow’s new book.

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN: Though this food is way too much.

ICE CREAM: 15 great ice cream-making tips from cookbooks.

MILKSHAKES: Roasted fruit in a milkshake? Yes, please.

THINK BIG: The secret to Walt Disney’s corporate strategy.

ASTROWIVES: I loved reading The Astronaut Wives Club, and I can’t wait to watch the series on ABC.

Have a wonderful July 4th!

Image by Lauren

That’s a Wrap!

This past weekend and week flew by! Graduation festivities will do that to you. To unwind a bit after the back-to-back events, I went to see The Met’s China: Through the Looking Glass, and it was a stunning exhibition (photo above). If you’re in NYC this summer it’s worth visiting. Monday is Memorial Day – remember to honor the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country. And now, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…

SAYING GOODBYE: To David Letterman. Letterman’s final Late Show aired on Wednesday, and it was celeb-filled.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Nora Ephron. The beloved writer and director would have been 74 on May 19th. To remember her, 12 ways she taught us to be better women.

READ: I finished Luckiest Girl Alive late last week (it took me two days – I couldn’t put it down). Reese Witherspoon will be turning it into a movie.

WATCH: This movie looks so good.

WES ANDERSON: How well do you know his style? I got 65% – I clearly have some more Wes Anderson movies to watch.

HELPFUL: How to read a recipe.

Have a nice weekend!

Image by Lauren

Read Then Watch: Academy Awards Reading List

While all of the Academy Award nominee films are on my list to watch before February 22, I am also determined to read the books that inspired these movies. We’ve got a little over a month until the big night, and in addition to all of the reading and watching I have to still do, I also can’t wait to start planning my mini-Oscars party (even if that does only involve me, champagne, and a large bowl of nachos).

Which of these books and films have you watched or read?

Travelling to Infinity: The True Story Behind The Theory of Everything by Jane Hawking

Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle

Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges

Inherent Vice: A Novel by Thomas Pynchon

Foxcatcher: The True Story of My Brother’s Murder, John du Pont’s Madness, and the Quest for Olympic Gold by Mark Schultz

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That’s a Wrap!

I’ve gotten back into my reading groove and have finished up a couple of great books this month. The most recent book I read is the one you see in the photo above. It’s very rare when I read paranormal fiction, but I can’t resist a good witch story (getting ready for October, perhaps?). Already on a roll with witches and magic, I jumped right into the show Witches of East End. I’ll admit I was hooked, but it’s such a fun world to live in for a couple of hours.

I also watched The Longest Week,  and honestly the best parts of the movie were the stacks of books in the apartments and the jazz soundtrack. Olivia Wilde is also gorgeous in it, but otherwise the movie is slow and a boring plot-wise. My weekend movie time will now be occupied with Seahawks games (1-0!), but we’ll see what I can sneak in every now and then. For now, let’s wrap up the week with a recap…

* Yesterday was an emotional day for obvious reasons. It is with a very heavy heart that we remember the lost loved ones and heroes. Never forget.

* Having serious #travelenvy! The 12 best travel Instagram accounts.

* The United Sweets of America

* Interesting read about the psychology behind how see-through food packaging boosts sales.

* My Life with Piper: From Big House to Small Screen

* Life and work lessons from Joss Whedon.

* Discovering Nancy Meyers’s Instagram was awesome, so say the least.

* Female cartoon characters ahead of their time. Love this list!

* I want to eat every meal in this dining room. Gorgeous.

* The making of ‘Gone with the Wind.”

Have a great weekend!

{Photo by Lauren}

Holiday Recovery

To me, the holidays are one of the best times of the year. The only thing is that there is a lot of buildup to Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s that once the holidays pass, it seems as if there is nothing to look forward to. Resolutions will be broken, the 5-8 pounds that people supposedly gain will finally hit reality, and the holiday cheer will be gone. I know, this sounds depressing. I’m not trying to be! It’s the reality of it, but this year instead of being sad that the holidays are over, reflect fondly on these times and head into the new year with a different point of view. Look at 2012 as a good challenge, and work hard each day to make it your best day ever.

Keep your homemade snow globes on your desk, frame memories from family and friend gatherings, and don’t beat yourself up about the extra 5 pounds – you enjoyed those cookies right?! So before you sign up for the newest juice cleanse, just remember to give yourself time to recover. The holidays are a fun, stressful, beautiful, and magical time of the year, now it’s time to leave winter wonderland and enter the real world…but if your spirits are still broken, only 11 more months until next year!

Here are some things you can do to recover from the holidays:

◊ Put your homemade snow globes on your desk to keep a piece of the holidays within reach at all times

◊ Watch a movie and pair it with these

◊ Finish up those thank you cards!! – these are some great options

◊ Volunteer at a local animal shelter – animals need love all year!

◊ Try a new recipe – without the pressure from family and friend get-togethers

◊ Clean up your Christmas decorations – organize them neatly so next year those tangled lights won’t be a hassle

◊ Read – you would think there would be enough time to read during the holidays, but there always ends up being more to do than you originally planned

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Cafe Inspiration

While restaurants are a great place to take your time and enjoy food and conversation, cafes are a great place to dine (pay) then dash. I frequent cafes when I need to study, write, or read, as the environment provides productive and conversational background noise that doesn’t cause too much of a distraction. Cafes are also a great place to people watch because there are so many customers coming in and out all the time. Whether it is a European cafe or the Starbucks down the street, cafes remain one of my top places for a soothing atmosphere and ambiance. It also helps if there is good hot chocolate, iced coffee, and pastries. Where is your soothing atmosphere?

 

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