English Netflix

When you access Netflix in England, whether your account is an American one or an English one, you are taken to the English Netflix. I am not complaining. Six weeks of BBC shows, great English movies, and catching up on British Soaps. Whoo! Bring it on.

I brought the sun with me!

Am I in England? It's not just pleasant outside... Its hot. The sun isn't just out, I'm getting a tan. I must have packed the Texas sun in my suitcase. So how do we celebrate? Sun dresses and Sunday afternoon drinks in the beer garden at Isaacs, a beautiful dockside mill restored to pub and restaurant. Swedish Cider? Nothing more refreshing in the heat. Live music? yes please. Perfect day with friends.

Ipswich

Hoooneeeyyy, I'm Home! 


Alright, so it's not technically home anymore, and hasn't been for nearly 10 years now, but it was the place I was born, and still home to a large amount of my family. Ipswich is in Suffolk County and boasts a population of around 140,000. It's a Dock town with Suffolk Pink Houses (yeah... I'll tell you about that later), a growing University, and an average enough Football team. C'est la vie 


beereturnful always.

Understaffed Airport. Cool.

My flight from Bush Intercontinental airport in Humble, Texas to Stanstead airport in London, was set to take off at 4:20 p.m. on Monday May 21st, with my gate closing at 4 p.m.
I arrived, as required, 2 hours ahead of time to check in. I began the checkin process at 2:00 p.m. I've flown out of Houston dozens of times, and have never had too much trouble making it to the gate on time. The line was a bit long, but nothing too daunting... so I thought. 


Despite the fact that I had checked in online prior to arriving at the airport... I somehow still had to wait in line for an hour to check my luggage. Some fantastically intelligent person thought it unnecessary to to create separate lines for people checking in and people only dropping bags (aka the ones of us that already checked in). But, you know, it happens. So once I was finally checked in, boarding card, passport, and ridiculously heavy carry on in hand, I headed towards security.


Now, I'd like to maintain my ladylike façade as long as I can, but for sake of the story I have to tell you that at this point, I needed to pee. The line for security, however, did not look too long... only about 1/3 of the length roped off for the line. I figured I'd wait, I'd been in longer security lines before. 


By about 3:40 I had only moved about 1/4 of the way through the line (and had yet to pee). A similar thing had happened when I was traveling with my parents one time, and after politely explaining to the Security Officer at the front that our gate would soon be closing we were moved to front of the line. So, as 3:50 rolled around, I caught the attention of an officer. "Excuse me Sir, but my gate closes at 4 and I was just wo..." to which I was loudly interrupted with "Everyone's does. We're understaffed."  and then he quickly walked away. TSA agents, always so sweet and helpful...


After asking the people around me it turned out that yes, literally everyone in the line was on one 4:20 flight or another... by this point I could see the security scanners. All 10 of them. And I could see the ones that were actually being used. All 2 of them. Awesome. That's supply and demand at its finest. 


Now don't get me wrong, I want them to do their jobs to the absolute best of their ability. I'll take my shoes off, I'll unpack my carry on, I'll remove all loose change, and I'll step through your scanner. And, if I absolutely must, I'll even consent to a pat down but only if I have to, because at the end of the day, I don't care how long you take, as long as you can tell me that my flight will be a safe one. That being said, I'd also like you tell me that I'll actually make it onto my flight. 


And then suddenly, at around 3:58 it was like everyone working there suddenly realized Oh yeah, these planes probably want to leave on time. Suddenly the fire had been lit, and I made it through the last half of the line, and through security by 4:10. Thank God... because I'm not sure that my bladder would have made it much longer. Luckily, my gate had been held (as essentially half the plane was in security with me) and was located next to a restroom. Hallelujah. I think that there is a moral to this story.


Pee before Security.
and never count of TSA to be speedy. 


beerespectful always... especially of TSA Officers... because lets be honest, they're scary.

Dark Shadows, what?

Barnabas Collins is heir to a large fishing empire in colonial America. Other than his parents suddenly dying in a freak accident, he's got a lot going for him... he's charming, wealthy, and has a beautiful new lady in his life. But wouldn't you know it, his house maid Angelique is completely smitten with Barnabas. You're typical love triangle... and then, as the story goes, Angelique turns out to be a witch. Whoops, I hate it when that happens. Scoured by Barnabas' rejection she bewitches his lady friend and convinces her it would be a grand idea to throw herself off of a cliff. Naturally, Barnabas jumps after her (did her think he was going to catch her, and land safely on his feet...?) and lands face down on the rocks, beside his beloved... except he doesn't die. He just grows fangs and an unnatural thirst for blood. Awkward. Angelique has obviously been reading too much Twilight, and wants her man candy sparkly and eternally young. When Barnabas refuses her still (Its not as though she's really been that nice to him lately) she has an angry mob lock him in a coffin, and buried in the woods. Cozy. 

200 hundred years later, in 1972, a construction crew accidentally digs old Barnabas up... which turns out isn't too beneficial to their health. A 17th century fish tycoon, suddenly thrown into 1970s America has the potential to be hilarious. The plot meets us half way... The scenarios are pretty funny, and helped significantly by the acting quality. When Barnabas returns to his beloved Collinwood (the family manor) he finds all is not well. The wealth is all but gone, and the fishing industry is being run into the ground by a larger company named Angel Bay. Naturally, because she hasn't had anything better come up in the last 200 years, Angelique is right where Barnabas left her, still trying to destroy the Collins family (that must have been some crush...) except now she's running Angel Bay. Awkward. The next hour or so is a series of back and forwarths between the two. Angelique still wanting Barnabas' love, and Barnabas wanting to restore his fish empire.

Lets be honest, even though dear old Johnny will be turning an impressive 49 in June... and was wearing something similar to Ronald Weasley's dress robes... we still can't resist him. The silvery skin, and slicked black hair are hardly enough to deter us, we still fall for the high cheekbones and smooth voice hidden below the layers of makeup. His overall appearance was more of a satirical Dracula look than the sparkly skinned teenagers we've recently become accustomed to. Though its not only old Dracula images that give this look a sense of Deja Vu...

 

For the record, I think Johnny Depp is an absolutely phenomenal actor... perhaps one of the very best. I also think that Tim Burton is an ingenious director that takes risks many wouldn't dare. However, I couldn't help but feel that I'd seen parts of this movie before, in one of the other collaborations they have produced together in the last 22 years. Its not uncommon for directors to favor certain actors and cast them repeatedly... its just a little more obvious when we're dealing with Tim Burton's unique style. You know you're watching a Tim Burton movie, and you can't help but ask yourself, who will Johnny Depp play in this one. Its inevitable, though not always a bad choice. They have both seriously advanced each others careers... all I'm saying is, Tim, maybe its time for a new makeup and wardrobe guy. Just a thought. The dark, misunderstood character in turn of the century clothing, with pale skin and a darkened jaw line... yeah, we've seen it.

Another constant in Tim Burton's films is his lovely Life Partner Helena Bonham Carter, who always delivers a fantastically insane character. Her role as the drunken psychiatrist Julia Hoffman is comical, but not over done. But lets be honest, her character is smitten (as well) with Johnny's? Never heard that one before... oh wait...

Eva Green's  portrayal of Angelique was comical, and she brought just enough sex appeal to the character, without making it weird. Though I'm aware that this probably wasn't her artistic choice, I could have done without the skin cracking. Did you know that if you kill a witch, she smashes like an empty egg shell? Yeah... me either.

I thoroughly enjoyed the presence of Michelle Pfeiffer in the cast, this is her second role in a Tim Burton film, but not one that was as expected as the others, as her last role was in his 1992 film Batman Returns. Her role as Elizabeth Collins was played perfectly. She was dry and uptight, when she needed to be, but still compassionate, and often funny when called for. Perfect casting. 

Some actors were created simply to play creepy roles. And Jackie Earle Haley does not disappoint. What dark satire is complete without the creepy doorman/groundskeeper? Certainly not this one. He is a comical presence that i was greatly appreciative of.

Did Tim Burton find Bella Heathcote in his dreams? Because she is everything that he loves to cast all rolled into one. She's a relatively new face to the big screen, with a wide face, big eyes, and beautifully pale skin. For this role, she was perfect, but be careful Bella, don't become another regular on his rotation, I've got high hopes for you! 

Chloë Grace Moretz? Dear God. Could have done without her. Seriously. She was awful. I think, in following with the theme of the decade, she was supposed to be stoned? If so, sit her in front of some Cheech and Chong movies until she gets it right. Or even close. And her little surprising secret at the end... could have done without that too. In fact, just take out her whole character please. Or recast.

The last notable role to touch on is the precious misunderstood character of David Collins, played by Gulliver McGrath. He is wonderful, and I wish I had gotten to see more of him.  He is also reminiscent of a young Freddy Highmore that has starred in two Johnny Depp movies, after being taken under his wing. I wouldn't be too surprised if we see McGrath in another Depp film some time soon. 

All in all, the movie was comical, and entertaining. Like all Burton movies the music, graphics, and sets were astounding. The man has an eye for detail and this movie was no exception. The one liners dotted throughout were funny enough, however the writing overall was lacking. I was wonderfully caught up in the production of it all, but I was left with too many unanswered questions. The structure of the writing was too lacking, and the fantastic acting from most of the cast only just keeps it afloat. B- in my book. But go find out for yourself.... maybe once its on Redbox though.

  

beewistful always (Tim Burton is?)

What to wear to a Wedding.

So you're headed down to the chapel to see your best gal get married off? First think long and hard about what you're going to wear. It should go without saying, but lets just go ahead and lay this out there as rule number one. No white. That also means no egg-shell, no creme, and no off-white. You should probably also stay clear of beige, champagne, and lighter shades of taupe. If a bridal gown might possibly come in it, you shouldn't be wearing it. We've all been in that awkward situation where you accidentally matched someone. Its exponentially more awkward if you're matching the bride...

What's that you ask? Isn't there an exception to this rule? The only exception to this rule is if you have just been named one of England's most eligible bachelorettes and the bride can't possibly be upstaged because she is in fact, marrying the future King of England. Oh, that doesn't apply to you? Then don't wear white.

Another good rule to follow, this applies to any wedding festivities, be it a shower, or the ceremony itself, is to dress to the occasion. I would think it obvious that you should not show up significantly under dressed, but let me spell it out for you just in case. I don't care if the invitation says casual, and I don't care if the bride is the most laid back person you know. Jeans are rarely acceptable, and T shirts are absolutely never acceptable. Ever. Especially Tuxedo T shirts. But you also want to avoid being over dressed. Unless you received an invitation that said black tie, and you happen to know that its a ball gown type event, don't assume it is. Gentlemen, unless you're sure its appropriate, or you're the one getting hitched, forget the penguin suit, and stick to a dinner jacket. Ladies... we all remember that moment in Bridesmaids when Rose Byrne's character Helen glides into the room gloriously overdressed, upstaging everyone... including the bride. Yeah, let's not do that. We all remember how popular her character was. 

I think the obvious things to consider next is the time and location.

Alaska in the November? You may want to skip the light summer dress and sandals. Texas in July? Keep it classy, but keep it cool. Temperature is a huge factor, especially if it is an outdoor venue. My advice? dress for the warmest it may be in the given region, then add a jacket, cardigan or pashmina to keep you warm if it gets cool. Speaking of weather, and outside venues, unless you're in the middle of an unwavering drought, put a small umbrella in your clutch, or even leave it in the car just in case. You probably won't even need it, but if you do, trust me, you'll thank me. Here's an important one. Shoes. Every girls favorite part of the outfit. But, here's something to consider, if you're going to be in a grassy area, do you really want your fabulous new stiletto heels to dig into the ground like a golf tee, and come out ruined? No, didn't think so. One option would be to opt for a flat sandal or a chunkier heel... but have you seen those shoes with that dress? Different shoes is hardly an option. Enter a miracle.The SoulMates High Heeler is a small plastic stopper that fits over virtually all heels, protecting your shoe from the wear and tear of the grass, and preventing sinking. No one will even notice you're wearing them as they add relatively no extra height and come in Clear, Black, White, Gold, and Silver, with custom colors available. One Solid investment.

Next lets think about activities. Okay, so you're probably not attending a wedding that's going to be involving rock climbing or relay races, but you will be do some other things that you should consider when finding something to wear.

1. Sitting. Okay that's an obvious one. But, make sure you think about this. You're going to be doing a lot of sitting. Does your dress keep yourself covered while sitting? Is it restrictive or tight when you sit (because its only going to get worse when you're sitting and eating). What about comfort? Is it beaded or embroidered? Because those details are going to start to get pokey and itchy after sitting for a while. 
2. Dancing. Oh, but I probably won't dance... Stop that. If you're at a wedding with dancing going on, and you're not participating, then you are one of two people: Great Aunt Betsy who just got both her knees replaced, or a the party-pooper. No one wants to be either of those people, so make sure you can move around in your dress without showing off too much skin, or passing out from lack of circulation. 
3. The Bathroom. You are not the bride. You do not have several bridesmaids at your immediate and constant disposal to help you pee all night, so make sure you can unzip, unlatch or unbutton all by yourself... or find a really good friend, and get on the same bathroom schedule. And remember, if you're drinking alcohol, you may be using the facilities a little more frequently than usual. 

Lastly lets think about how you feel overall in what you're wearing. We all love Spanx. They're great. They hold us in, they smooth us out, they push us up, and they make us look 10lbs lighter. We also like to say we're in a size 8, when we're really in size 10. It happens ladies. But at the end of the day, make sure you opt for the 10, you'll look better and feel better, and no one will even know the difference. And the Spanx? Wear them. Wear the hell out of them, they are a God send. But get ones that are comfy, and look best for you, with what you're wearing, or you won't be able to breathe all night. Most important thing you can wear? Your smile. ......that was too cheesy. ehhh. 

beeeventful always

Things you might Tear

• Your hair out over upcoming exams...
• That picture of your ex-boyfriend. We've all been there.
• Your favorite jeans that look(ed) fantastic on you. 
• Your Meniscus. Doesn't that have something to do with water?

I've been missing in action lately, my apologies. My lame excuse? I was bed ridden for a while (yeah I know, that means I should have been doing twice the blogging). Then the end of the semester just hit me like a freight train with a bunch of heydon'tforgettodothis things. Lame excuses, but excuses none the less.

So lets go back to that topic of things you might tear, the last option in particular. I tore my Meniscus in my left knee, as well as dislocating the knee cap. That felt great... Your meniscus sits right under your knee cap and helps reduce friction during movement. Its not an uncommon injury, and can be fixed using microscopic surgery (thank the Lord!) and left me with only four round scars, each about the size of a pencil eraser.

 But, you may be wondering, how did I manage to tear it? Great question. I was dancing with a cute boy, in front of a lot of people, at my favorite bar, and at the end he decided to attempt this move:

I'm sure we looked far less graceful than this charming couple, because about halfway into the dip, my knee turned the wrong way, the knee cap went one way (and stayed there) and my meniscus popped. literally. so loud. That was awkward. What do you say to a cute guy, that you just met, that just heard/felt your knee pop out of place? What does he say to you? ...Sorry I broke you? The answer? neither of you say anything. You just hobble/crawl/drag yourself off the dance floor and into the arms of the closest person you actually know. Yeah, that's not embarrassing at all. Then you spend the next few days hiding in shame. Preferably on the couch, with the remote close at hand. Trust me when I say that you're not walking on that thing anytime soon.

The good news is, I have an exciting summer ahead, with plenty of things to blog about. Stayed tuned. I won't flake out on you again.  :)

beegraceful always (even if I wasn't)