Dear John

So I had been debating about whether or not to see this movie since it came out in theaters.

I love Love LOVED The Notebook. One of my all time favorite chick flicks. I loved it so much I bought the book. Though I did enjoy it, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the movie.

Since then, all the other Nicholas Sparks', books made into movies, I have seen previews for haven't really appealed to me (Nights in Rodanthe, Message in a Bottle, and The Last Song). So naturally I was a little leary about Dear John.

• First of all I am not a big Channing Tatum fan. Girls think he's hot, but I just don't see it. Don't get me wrong, he's not BAD looking, just not my type I guess.
• Then there is Amanda Seyfried. I don't know much about her except for the few episodes she was in on Veronica Mars. (She played Veronica's murdered best friend.)
• Thirdly, I didn't know much about the plot of Dear John. From what I saw on the previews it sort of had that "really bad teenage love story" feel to it....

Well today I was bored so I went to go see it by myself. (I love seeing movies by myself). It met all of my criteria for a me movie date:

1. Been out in theaters for awhile.

2. Not a prime time movie slot like a Friday or Saturday night.

3. Matinee price.

Let me tell you something, I am so glad I went and saw this movie by myself. I bawled pretty much through the entire thing and by the end I am sure I looked pretty disgusting with all the snot and stuff. Talk about embarrassing.

Needless to say this movie was REALLY good. I recommend it to anyone who appreciates a good crying movie. There was so much more to the plot than I had originally thought. The previews do NOT do it justice at all. I guess the old saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover" is true...

I liked it so much I stopped by Target on the way home and bought the book. I probably won't like it as much as the movie, but I'll give it a shot and let you know how it is!

On another note, I also watched The Time Traveler's Wife with my parents tonight. It's a pretty good movie too. Though I probably would have appreciated it more if I had watched it on another day rather than on the same day I watched Dear John. Oh well, live and learn.

*REVISION* It is 3:00 AM and I have now finished reading the book Dear John. I started it around 7:30 and only took a brief time out to make brownies. It was really good and I think I have cried more today than I have in a little over a year. Though different than the movie (as all movies based on books are) I really liked it. I think I like the movie better but I like the book for it's own reasons that have nothing to do with the movie.... But now I am torn. I know I definitely like the book better than I like The Notebook book but I don't know which movie I like better. I think I'll call tie. Goodnight everyone!

Some other chick flicks that I have seen previews for recently that I am interested in seeing: Remember Me and Letters to Juliet. Keep an eye out!

I am in love with love.

a shot in the dark from Nathan Pickett on Vimeo.
I stole this video from RockStar Diaries

For more from Nathan Pickett visit http://www.nathanpickettfilms.com/ 
or his blog http://www.snowflakeproductions.blogspot.com/

He does weddings, engagements, and family videos.
(His videos are seriously amazing!)

Someday, if I ever get married, I so want him to make a video for me. I wonder how expensive he is, hmm....

I love to smile, smiling's my favorite!!

ready, go:

family dinners on sundays

running

downtown seattle

funny tv shows

disneyland

a good book

my nephews and nieces

a first kiss

when the guy gets the girl in a good romantic movie

going to the theater

anything orange

babies

pictures

new york

visiting family

favorite movies

the office and how i met your mother theme songs

a great song

alaska

awesome commercials

baby animals

traveling...

what makes you smile?

p.s. can anyone name what movie my title is from?

I don't know about you,

but I couldn't be more excited!

Happy Tuesday everyone!!

Guilty pleasure...

I am not a very fashion savvy person, nor do I have the confidence to pull off certain fashion trends even though I secretly admire them.

I almost always choose comfort over fashion, but I love seeing what people are wearing, what's hot and new.

Alas, there are just some trends that go way over my head, I have a hard time understanding, and/or refuse to support.

That being said... I love this show:

I don't watch it regularly, but when I do I always feel like I learn a lot. Plus I am completely jealous of the shopping spree and makeover in New York City.

What I like about this show (besides Clinton Kelly and Stacy London and their brutal honesty) is that they  TEACH you to become a better dresser. They show you what types of clothes work the best with your body type and help you find those essential pieces that make up a complete wardrobe.

Even the makeover is a learning experience. For someone like me, who never wears makeup and doesn't know the first thing about applying it or what colors go with my complexion and coloring, this information is very helpful.

By far though my favorite part of the whole show is the confidence gained by the nominated and how their lives are changed for the better.    Don't get me wrong-   Nice clothes do NOT = happiness, but I do believe that they can help you feel more confident in who you are than just hiding behind your clothes can. (and yes I am guilty of this...)

I would love to be on this show someday! Until then maybe I should just get this book...

Vroom vroom

I got my motorcycle endorsement a few years ago and have yet to use it...

My friend Anthony and I took a class at ESC Motorcycle Safety Training. It was pretty amazing, in just three days they took novice riders (like myself) with little or no experience on a motorcycle and turned them into licensed riders. The class was three days: a Thursday night in the classroom from 6-9, a Saturday in a parking lot at Boeing in Kent from 9-4 and then back in the classroom for the written test from 6-8, and then Sunday was back at Boeing for more riding from 9-2 and then the riding test. I passed, and the class was a lot of fun and I am glad I did it, but to be honest I am still a little terrified to ride a motorcycle. Riding in a parking lot going only 20 miles per hour (at the most) hardly qualifies you to be out on the streets with other motorists!! I am sure with practice it would get easier though.

When I lived in Alaska, my friend Brandon took me for rides on his motorcycle during the summer. It's such an awesome and carefree feeling to ride on one. (I won't tell you how fast he went.)

My friend Angela, her husband Jesse, and I went to the International Motorcycle Show at Qwest Field a few months ago. It was a lot of fun. We saw lots of different bikes and scooters. I don't know much about bikes but I'll show you some of my favorites.

I would love one of these for my birthday...

Seriously, how cute do I look on this?!?

Because it's orange!!

Little kids dirt bike. How adorable.

Angela on the perfect starter bike for a girl (Kawasaki Ninja 250). If only I could get one in orange.

The class was a few years ago and I haven't ridden a bike by myself since. I think it would be more of a recreational activity for me if I really got into it. Right now though, I am more interested in scooters and vespas (they are so darn cute).

I love this song.

There is something about this song... I love it and could listen to it over and over again. The video isn't that exciting but the song makes up for it.