May 22, 2015 by Stephanie

Movie Review: Pitch Perfect 2

Last weekend my sister-in-law and I made a day date and went to see Pitch Perfect 2. We both loved the first one, and we love most things singing related so it had to be worth our time.

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My initial reaction was that it was good, but not as great as the first movie. I think it is one of those things that you built the first one up so high, that it is always hard for a sequel to attain that same magic.

Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed my time in the theater with my large ICEE. It had some funny moments, and some great music.

I enjoyed the sentiment of closing the college chapter. I think a lot of us have been there that this is a hard transition. You have found a place you love and that you belong, and it can be hard to say goodbye to that and all the friends you made. And we all may do it differently. Hopefully we aren’t like Chloe and just avoiding it though.

I did enjoy all the cameos. I won’t spoil it for you, but some of them were pretty hilarious.

I loved that Beca and Jesse were still together. Too cute for words.

Fat Amy didn’t disappoint.

I also loved the “original” song idea, but it almost seemed very Glee-like.

I will say that I thought they could have done better on some of the other song choices. I wasn’t as awestruck as I was with the first. I think they did an awful job highlighting the Trebles-I didn’t like a single one of their numbers.

And where were Benji’s magic tricks? I can only remember him doing one! I missed his awkwardness from the first film. I understand it was a flash-forward to their senior year, and that people change, but that was honestly my favorite part of the first movie.

I also was really uncomfortable with all the “woman” hater comments from John the announcer guy. It seemed a little over the top to me.

Ok so it sounds like I am really critical of the movie.

It was funny, and it had good singing. So with a movie like this it’s about all you can ask for. I was entertained!

I may not watch this one on repeat like I did the first one though.

Just saying.

Have you seen Pitch Perfect 2? What were your thoughts?

May 19, 2015 by Stephanie

First Impressions of ABC’s Monday Night

Last night’s line-up on ABC was just what a night of television should be.

Full of surprises. Full of drama. Full of dancing.

If you have been around here long, you know that I love Dancing With the Stars, and the Bachelor franchise is my guilty TV pleasure.

First up Dancing With the Stars.

This has been one of the best seasons I have watched, and I have watched them all folks. I think this is the first time the three couples in the finale have been this close. There is just something special about this season. It has been very magical and very tearful. I think I have cried almost every episode.

In my opinion, the mirror-ball trophy could go to any one of them. And I would be completely fine with any of them winning. Usually, I have a clear favorite and will be upset if one of the other three win. Not this year. I have voted for them all as the leader at some point of this competition. (After the first couple weeks, I do actually vote by the dancing.)

They have all shown vast improvement, and bring a different strength to the show and to dancing.

They all had stellar free styles, which in the past have made clear winners. Anyone remember the Stacy Keibler free-style flop?

I think that Allison and Riker are my favorites to win, but then I feel bad and want the other two to win…So I have no idea who I want to win.

Then the Bachelorette premiered.

This wins the most awkward award. They started the night with two Bachelorettes, Kaitlyn and Britt.

It was almost painful watching them meet the men coming out of limo. Having the guys choose which woman to meet first hurt my heart…And then some of the guys would say the same thing to each girl who could HEAR the conversations. They were standing so close. How about those guys who only introduced themselves to one girl and then walked in the house. Awkward.

Britt said that Kaitlyn was cheating when she went in the house. There are no rules to this show. Don’t you know that by now Britt? Do you remember that trip in Iowa you made or when you snuck off for alone time with Chris? You are just jealous that you didn’t think to do what Kaitlyn did first.

Then this guy Ryan, who they ended up kicking off the show. He was saying and doing some really inappropriate things. He was joking about rape, picking fights, and touching the women inappropriately. I am glad the show’s executives decided to end his night for him. Although, my radio show is convinced that he was a plant, so there’s that.

It was a very interesting twist to the first night. I think Britt said that it was really hard to be genuine because she felt like she was trying to win everyone over in a few minutes for their vote. Well first of all you are on the Bachelor so yea…But I do agree that it added a weird element that kind of rocked the boat. But you know ratings…

My first impression rose would go to…Joe (moonshine guy) or Shawn B (the guy with the nephew drawing).

And talk about a cliff hanger! I was hoping to know who would actually be the Bachelorette, but no.

I am team Kaitlyn myself. I don’t know if I could watch a whole season of Britt.

Who would your first impression rose go to? Who do you want to win DWTS? Will you be watching tonight to see how things turn out on either show?

March 20, 2015 by Stephanie

20th Season DWTS

I love this show.

Seriously obessed.

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Other people may think that it has run it course, but I am genuinely sucked into every single season. It is my elusive dream to be famous one day to be on this show. That is the only reason I would want to be famous. Well that and to have someone do my hair everyday.

Here are my first takes on each of the couples:

Noah Galloway and Sharna-I cried every single moment of this dance. I cried because of what he was doing. I cried because of the sacrifices he has made. I cried because that could have been Tom. Noah is an Army veteran who was stationed at Ft. Campbell. He lost his left arm and leg during his service. His dance and partnership with Sharna is just beautiful. As Carrie Ann said, “He is redefining what it means to dance.”
Robert Herjavec and Kym-He was not as stiff as I thought he would be. He was really ecstatic and lively with his dance. He is also a big flirt with Kym, so that will be interesting and awkward to watch. He was a surprise for me.
Patti LaBelle and Artem-She was so emotional and thankful for the experience. Her dance was very touching to me. She is definitely bringing some soul to the show.
Riker Lynch and Allison-I am excited to see this partnership. I think Allison sometimes dancing so well and with staccato that it highlights her partner’s weaknesses more. I think that Riker is going to be able to match her energy and enthusiasm and seems to have some basic skills already down. They should be exciting to watch.
Nastia Liukin and Derek-Clearly this is my favorite team. I know there are a lot of Derek haters out there that think that he is just given who will naturally be winners, but I would disagree that this is not the case. He has had several that have not won including when he was partnered with Shawn Johnson during the All-Star season. He is a good choreographer and teacher who highlights his partner’s skills. I love him and y’all need to back off. Back to Nastia, I always love seeing what gymnasts can do on the dance floor, so this will be fun to watch them work together.
Charlotte McKinney and Keo-She seems fun, but I think she is going to talk about her boobs a lot. We didn’t really get to see how Keo works last year either, so I don’t really have much to say about this partnership yet.
Redfoo and Emma-I am excited to see what Emma does with someone closer to her energy. She has done really well with the older gentleman partners she has had, but I think we will be able to see much different choreography from her. And Redfoo I think will make any appearance worth watching. He is a little awkward right now, but he has the heart.
Michael Sam and Peta-They are probably my second favorite couple. I am a fan of Michael Sam’s because he use to be Mizzou football player. I have always been a Mizzou fan, but even more so now that I live down the street. He seems really fun, and Peta seems like a great match for him! I also am a Peta fan! I will say that he seemed a bit nervous and stocky the first go around, so hopefully he can relax a little. Traditionally football players have done really well on this show, so I hope for the best for this couple!
Willow Shields and Mark-I am glad Mark got another young one. I think it is forcing him to not think so much about himself in the choreography. Willow seems fun and like she has something to prove only being 14, which usually means that they fight hard for it. She should be fun to watch even if I am NOT a Mark fan.
Susanne Somers and Tony-Tony is one of my favorite choreographers so I always enjoy the relationships he builds. IT was funny when she introduced what she was known for she said Three’s Company and Thighmaster infomercials. I actually know her most from Step By Step. Anyone else? She seems spunky and likely will give us some comedic relief throughout the show.
Chris Soules and Witney-I still don’t know how I feel about the Bachelors coming off their show to DWTS. I do however love both Chris and Witney (not his fiance, although I love that Whitney too). He actually was a lot better dancer than I was bargaining for. He was a little awkward but he had a lot more charisma than I think we have seen. I also thought it was funny that Erin called him out for feeling nervous for dancing so close to Witney when he made out with every girl on the Bachelor.
Rumer Willis and Val-Arguably the best dance of the night. She is a little spitfire. I also love Val’s choreography so I am excited that he has someone moldable to work with. She was really good, but I think there are some walls that have to come down for her to really break out on this show.

I think this is a great cast with a wide variety of experiences and skill sets. (Although Tristan MacManus needs to come back!)

It should be fun to see what they have in store for the 20th season and their 10th year. I am sure all kind of surprises are in store.

They have also started a live stream on the ABC website. For an hour a day they showcase a couple’s practice. This is making me even more invested than ever before. I love seeing all sides of it. It is really interesting too because you see so much more here than they show in the clips. Love this idea! (My productivity doesn’t so much.)

What do you think? Do you watch DWTS? Who are your initial favorites? Are you a Derek hater?

February 20, 2015 by Stephanie

If I Were Famous…

The Oscars are this weekend. I LOVE watching the Oscars, even though I have to admit that I have seen very little of the films nominated. Who is excited about Neil Patrick Harris? This girl is. Except following Ellen’s performance from last year will be a little rough I imagine.

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Anytime there is a red carpet, I wish I was famous and wonder what life would be like to go in front of cameras all dolled up. Sidenote: a real dream of mine is to be one of the ladies who is the award presenter/guider. You know the ones that don’t say anything but just stand there with the award and look pretty and point people where to go. You don’t really have to be famous to do that do you? How does one make that happen?

Anyway, It makes me wonder though what kinds of things I would want when I travel if I were a celebrity. Have you heard of a rider? A rider is a list of demands that celebrities make when say they are on tour. Each destination must meet these requests. I am not really sure what happens if they don’t. Perhaps they don’t perform or do the interview? These requests are supposedly to make them feel more at home and like themselves.

Anyway here are things I would want in my dressing room.

1. Chocolate Donuts. And not anything fancy from a real bakery. I want these: the Hy-vee off-brand. I eat 5 every morning so these would definitely be comfort food. (Also in writing this, I discovered I could order these online…dangerous.)

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2. A big white robe and big fuzzy slippers. I want to feel like a cloud is hugging my body. Make it happen people.

3. Candy of the Twizzler and Ferror Rocher variety.

4. I would assume I have my own stylist team if I am famous enough to insist on a rider (which would be the one reason I would want to be famous), but I would like to have a masseuse waiting for me at every destination. Traveling is rough!

5. Panera Mac & Cheese and McDonald’s Fries. Because I need carbs when I travel. Who am I kidding? I need carbs all the time.

6. Straws in every drink. I am a sloppy drinker without straws. Seriously, it’s like I have never drank out of a real cup. I am an adult who needs a sippy cup. It would be even better if the straws were those fancy vintage looking ones, but I won’t be a diva about it. Just give me a dang straw so I don’t spill all down my front.

7. Hot towels. You know like when you get them right out of the dryer hot. Isn’t this the best feeling ever to be wrapped up in a warm towel after a shower?

8. A full smoothie station. Just have all the fruits and vegetables and ONE (brand) coconut water please. I would also ask that they are all local products from that particular area. Support small farms!

9. Listerine. I don’t know about you but when I travel I always feel like my teeth are more gross than normal. I need to clean up that dirty mouth.

10. A box of puppies. (And someone else to handle them). Because why not? There really isn’t much else that can bring joy quite like puppies!. Bring me all the puppies! (I would also insist that these puppies/dogs come from local shelters. This way these dogs can have a mini field trip from being in a shelter and maybe I can convince people with my celebrity status to adopt them. Fame for the win!

I may demand other things if were actually famous like J-Lo who has to have everything white, even her food. But as a non-A lister now, I think these things are pretty reasonable to feel comfortable. But let’s be clear besides the straws, Listerine, and donuts, these are not really things I have at home on a daily basis. Unless you put Grace and Crosby in a box, then maybe I have number 10.

So it makes you wonder if these riders are really what their lives are like at home or if they can just demand these things because they are famous. But then it makes you wonder why do we cater to these demands in the first place? But that is a discussion for another day.

Oh if I were famous…

What would you have on your rider? Are you going to watch the Oscars?

February 5, 2015 by Stephanie

Reader’s Block

For the past year I have had a reading block. I just don’t feel the urge to dive into a book like I normally do.

I don’t know if it is laziness or just being pulled into the direction of different technologies (read I love my TV shows), but I just haven’t read anything for fun completely in the last year.

One reason for this is I started two books that I just couldn’t finish.

I have never been one to stop a book part-way through. I always try to push my way through a bad (to me) book.

But these two, I just couldn’t bring myself to do that. And I feel like that has really impacted my gusto towards reading. The fact that I picked these two right after each other and had two failures back to back just made me lose my reading mojo.

These two books were Monuments Men by Robert Edsel and The Missing by Tim Gautreaux.

I started Monuments Men last January and finally had to put it away in May. Then I started The Missing and put it away once we moved to our new place in December. Neither of them I finished.

Others may find these to be good books, but I just found them to be too heavy. I got lost in the words, and not in a good way. I read for fun and don’t want it to feel like work. (I mean seriously I have the reading tastes of a 16 year old girl.)

For Monuments Men, I felt like I was reading for a class with trying to remember all the details and how everything was connected. I did like the personal letters and maps which is honestly what kept me picking it back up each time. I was really disappointed that I didn’t like this more with my history background. I think that it reminded me too much of a textbook that I shied away from it eventually. I didn’t want to feel obligated to read it.

For The Missing, it was similar in how I got lost in the details. The way the author described things made me bored and thinking, “Just get on with it.” I also feel like the story was so drawn out that I just couldn’t deal with all the side stories that really had nothing to do with the missing girl at hand. The premise was good and it had its moments, but overall it was just too much. I realize that maybe if I read further things may have been connected at the end. But he lost me half way through, and I just couldn’t bring myself to continue.

So I have had a hard time feeling motivated to read again and feel the pressure for that next book to really draw me back in. I wanted to pick a book that is going to get me jazzed about reading and not be a chore to do. With that there was a lot of hesitation to read again because I didn’t want to be disappointed for the third time in the last year.

But alas, I did just start a new book, so we’ll see how it goes. My problem now is that I can barely get through a couple pages before I fall asleep since I read before bed mostly. So it may take awhile.

But seriously, I want to be like this again.

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