Gregory Peck

Okay, if you're not a fan of Gregory Peck, just stop here.

I AM a fan. ;-)

I have only seen him in two and a half movies-- Roman Holiday (love, love, love that movie), To Kill a Mockingbird (good movie!), and the beginning of a movie called The Big Country. Unfortunately, the other guy who was going after the girl in that movie was Charlton Heston, who was a COWBOY. 

So... Gregory Peck kinda faded into the background for me.

I love his hair.

Was it just me, though, or were his glasses in To Kill a Mockingbird just a tad disturbing?

He has a really good chin. Which I appreciate, because so many guys don't. 

(see Matthew Good in Leap Year, and Aaron Eckhart *shudder*, to name a couple.)

cupcakes

I made these cupcakes the other day, using a recipe from my cupcake cookbook I got for my birthday.

They were

yummy.

"Robin Hood"

Okay. This movie.

On Saturday night I had my friend Beka over, and my whole family watched it. I was kind of feeling "bleh" about watching it, because I had heard that it wasn't that great, I didn't really want to watch a movie, and Beka wasn't terribly excited about watching it, because she has a huge grudge against Russell Crowe.

And although I used to love him, 

I was like, "eh, Russell Crowe, I'm so over him, he's kinda old and overweight."

Well, I thought the movie was amazing, and we watched it again on Sunday night. ;-)

And by the end of the movie Beka and I were hugging each other 

and repenting of our lack of faith in Russell Crowe.

I have seen him in A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, Master and Commander, 3:10 to Yuma, and, most recently, Gladiator (on ClearPlay!). And I liked him in all of the movies, but Gladiator bugged me, so I was just sort of not really into Russell Crowe anymore.

But I LOVED him in this movie. He was awesome, he was funny, he was a little arrogant, in a totally inoffensive way (Robin Hood has to be a little arrogant!) he was inspirational, he was a great leader, 

and his VOICE, people!! I love it so, so much.

White horse. YES.

Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett were great together, and this scene... oh my word.

Major sighing ensued from the viewers. Except for Benjamin... I'm pretty sure he didn't sigh...

I thought the cast was great. Oscar Isaac was Prince John (who became King John after Richard dies).

I had a hard time hating him, because he acts as Joseph in The Nativity Story, and I love him in that.

He was a jerk. But a handsome jerk.

Eileen Atkins as Eleanor of Aquitaine, King Richard and Prince John's mother.

She was amazing. I loved her as Deborah in Cranford, and she had a similar personality in this movie.

And there was a scene where she was holding this owl, which I wanted to cuddle so bad.

Mark Strong as Godfrey.

A slimy, slimy man with a shiny bald head.

What is with this actor?? 

He has been in SO many new movies lately, always playing the most horrific bad dude.

Of course I first saw him in the Kate Beckinsale Emma, years and years ago (hated him), and then in the last six months, have seen him in Stardust (didn't like that movie), Miss Pettigrew Lives for  Day, Sherlock Holmes, The Young Victoria, and now this movie.

Anyways, he makes a superb villain, and there was much loud rejoicing when he finally DIED.

Matthew Macfayden as the Sheriff of Nottingham. 

I thought he looked good with facial hair, but... the long hair didn't do anything for me.

He is Mr. Darcy in the new P&P, and Arthur Clenham in Little Dorritt, and I liked him in those, 

but he played a creepy loser pretty well, too.

Cate Blanchett as Lady Marion. I can't say I'm a big fan of hers, but I thought she played the part well, and  although I don't think she's terribly pretty, I think her kind of beauty fit the era really well. 

Some of her hairstyles and dresses were so horrifically unflattering, though. X-(

I loved Will Scarlet.

Doesn't Cate Blanchett totally look like a woman from medieval painting in this picture?

And isn't his collar amazing??

The costumes and sets were incredible. 

It is pretty violent, but not gory at all. The battles were epic. 

There was some awkward dialog, and a scene that was easy to skip.

Having said that, I recommend it!

Have you seen it? What did you think? Am I the only one who loves it?

Blog party

I'm joining Shannon's blog party. :-) She is having some pretty awesome giveaways.

1. Ring! Ring! You receive a phone call from a national sweepstakes organization saying that you have won a life-time supply of your favorite beverage!! What would that drink be?

Strawberry lemonade.

{one of my many amazing glasses of strawberry lemonade that I had this summer}

2. If you could live in a Jane Austen novel, which book would you pick? 

What character would you be?

Emma, because not as many dreadful things happen in it. And I would totally be Emma.

3. What is your theme song, that favorite song that absolutely matches you?

I'm not sure what song "absolutely matches me." 
But a song I love and relate to and could be by theme song is...

"Made to Love You" by TobyMac. Yes, it's rap... 
which isn't what I usually listen to, but this song is so amazing. 

Listen to it here. The video is just a bunch of weird pictures of TobyMac, though... 
so just listen. ;P

And... if you really can't handle the music, read the lyrics here.

4. You are trapped on a deserted island. Your only supplies are the clothes you have on, and a box with five things in it. What are those five things?

1. a cheese stick

2. a cell phone so I can call someone to pick me up.

3. my mp3 player, full of music and lectures to keep me occupied.

4. cute shoes, so I don't get to feeling ugly and alone.

5. and... a donut.

5. Chocolate or Caramel?
Chocolate. Duh.

6. Vacation! If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Italy, and then Paris.

7. If forced to do one of the two, which would you do: sky diving or scuba diving? Why?

Sky diving. I would have to be pushed, though, 
because I'm pretty sure I couldn't be brave enough to jump willingly. :P

8. Favorite TV show, and why?

Leverage. Because it's amazing. And because of Christian Kane.

9. Are you a coffee and donuts sorta lady, or a tea and scones type of gal?

Coffee and donuts! 

{me and my donut and coffee}

10. The time machine has finally been created, and you are the first to be able to use it! What era would you travel to?

I was going to say Regency, but... the mens' pants would bother me way too much. So... how about medieval times. As long as I could hop back whenever I wanted. 
I definitely wouldn't want to live in a different era. 

11. What is the last movie you watched?

The new Robin Hood. Extensive post coming up about it!

12. Ding-dong! Your favorite actor/singer/celebrity is at your front door! Who would it be?

Well, I have some favorite actors who I actually wouldn't want to meet,

 because they probably wouldn't be as awesome as I like to think they are. 

Clark Gable, Chi McBride, and Christian Kane

   

13. What was your absolute favorite toy as a child?

I had a pig doll with a pink dress. She always got married to Bethany's horse. 
Her name was Muffin.

14. What types of blogs do your like best? (examples: DIY, cooking, journal, ect.)

Ones about fashion, and ones with breathtaking photography.

15. What is your favorite Bible verse, your "life verse?"

I don't have an offical favorite (I'll have to work on that), 
but one that is a really good reminder to me is

Philippians 4:13-- 

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1930's dress

30's fashion is something I haven't really seen much of. 

So I Googled it and found this lovely dress. (here) 

I'm not sure about the floral pattern, 

but I think the color and the cut is beautiful!

Regency tea

So...on Tuesday some ladies from our church had our third annual Jane Austen tea.

I love how when girls get together they dress up pretty and drink tea and talk about shoes and shopping and 50's fashion and old movies and mens' hairstyles and Cary Grant--yay or nay? and OF COURSE debate, compare, and contrast the different movie adaptations of Jane Austen books.

{beautifully packaged tea from England!}

...While guys "solve the problems of the world" (whatever) and smoke pipes 

and talk about illegal immigration.

Lovely Amanda.

My teacup again... with the beautiful tablecloth from India. 

(Makes me think of the Indian muslin in Cranford.)

Lindsey and Elisa. :-)

Juli, doing the Harriet pose. And don't worry, Mr. Woodhouse, she has a shawl!

(A shawl which I absolutely adore.)

Emma's drawing of Harriet from the new Emma. 

Juli just had a teapot instead of an urn. ;-)

Sara, Hannah (my sister-in-law), and Amanda.

Me: Juli, look serene!

And... there was a little boy there with Converse, so I couldn't resist...

Even though I'm pretty sure Converse didn't go as far back as Jane Austen's era.

But if they did, I feel like Henry Tilney would have totally worn them.

I love Ricky Ricardo

That's what the show should be called.

Drooling over vintage clothing...

When we were at the beach last week (the sixth and last time for the summer), 

I checked out a kinda grungy-looking vintage shop. 

Because I've never ever been in a vintage store. 

And I love vintage! Problem? Yes.

I went in, even though it was called Garbo's Vintage.

And amongst the saggy baggy worn-out junk,

and the outdated weird dresses,

and the horrific 70's stuff,

and the lame guys' clothes...

There were treasures.

I found several lacy 50's dresses... the white one pictured above was... too small.

But the boot made me happy.

A couple cute outfits... how do ya like the fuzzy white hat? 

Sorta unsettling.

Darling blue heels... of course they were too small. 

What is up with vintage people being so stinkin' small??

I tried on this lovely wedding dress. It fit...as long as breathing was unnecessary.

Which it was.

But I would have bought it and worn it by any means possible...if it hadn't been $200.  

I left part of my soul in that shop, and I'm gonna have to go back to collect it.