HOPE SPRINGS - a Movie Review

So tonight me and my mom went to see the adult comedy “Hope Springs” .  Now that’s adult as in senior not as in porn, lol.

It’s a romantic comedy of sorts that lets the audience peek into the journey of a marriage that’s barely on life support and suffering from more than just “empty nest syndrome”.

Meryl Streep as the wide-eyed 50ish wife who signs her and her husband up for intensive couples counseling.  Tommy Lee Jones as the crotchity husband who’s just going through the motions pretending nothing is wrong.

I’d hoped this would be more of a comedy than it was.  Watching it, I felt like a peeping Tom listening to awkward details which quite frankly could have been written abit sharper and FUNNIER!

Wait for DVD and if you are squeamish about seeing Meryl Streep (a-hem) on her knees, then don’t bother watching at all.

Its just about time to shop

And so its that time again.  Time to shop for Fall.  Now mind you I’m poorer than a church mouse, so buying anything requires alot of looking around first.

 My fashion rule of thumb has always been, buy classic and enhance your wardrobe with a few more classic “staples” as well as a few trendy pieces and trendy accessories to enhance it.

 H&M has a handy tool to use.  It’s a program designed on their website that lets you “dress the model”  all by using your mouse.  Check it out: http://www.hm.com/us/dressingroom/LADIES?aid=04189-A#page=10

 Unfortunately, H&M does NOT let you shop online, just merely look at their offerings and lure you into the store.  Part of me is annoyed the other part of me finds this concept pure genius.  Because lets face it by the time you’ve drive to the mall and looked around in the store, there is bound to be something that whets your appetite.

 

Something I saw that I found appealing is this little item.   

Check out the collar she's wearing.  Its not part of the blouse, but a metal accessory.  You can add this to any shell blouse or jumper for a modern touch.  I'm liking it.  They had others as well.

Still on the hunt though for other items, stay tuned.

BREAD AND TULIPS - a DVD Review

So today I decided to watch the Italian foreign film "Bread and Tulips" (with subtitles).  Its a romantic comedy that I just liked the name and decided to watch. 

Its a charming film of a housewife who's been taken for granted for far too long.  On vacation she is mistakenly left behind and while hitchhiking home decides to visit Venice for the first time.

Its abit of mental floss for any woman who's always yearned to break free of her daily obligations of everyday life.

The Dark Knight Rises - a movie review

So opting to see a more commercial flick, this morning 

 me and my beau, avoiding all the weekend crowds, went to see the latest Batman installment:  The Dark Knight Rises.  

Christian Bale doesn't disappoint in the least, although he did portray Batman as abit frail and vulnerable throughout the film.  My favorite part of the movie was that outrageous motorcycle.

Filled with plenty of action, intrigue, villians and a good old fashioned plot twist, this is definitely the action movie of  Summer 2012.

And I agree with a friend who said that the voice of Bane was difficult to hear.

A definite must see.

MOONRISE KINGDOM - a Movie Review

So tonight me and the boy went to see the less commercial film: Moonrise Kingdom.  A Wes Anderson film (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.  I knew I was in for more than just a typical movie.  Wes tends to create his own world in which his stories live.

It’s a simple enough story.  It takes place in Summer of 1965.  A 12 yr old boy and girl who are both misfits decide to run away together in a fictional new England village.  Attention to detail was awesome.  From the 1965 Zenith record player to the camera angles and close up shots that gave the film such a groovy 60’s look.

With over the top performances, by Bruce Willis, and Ed Norton as part of an ensemble cast I was definitely entertained if not transfixed by this film.  It was a nice change.

All in all, the director's sense of fun and quirky attention to detail made this a film worth watching.

Brasserie Persil - a Restaurant Review

So tonight me and my beau went to a local French restaurant located @ 2825 Long Beach Road, Oceanside known as Brasserie Persil http://www.persilrestaurant.com/dinnermenu.html

We stepped into the dimly lit yet subtly seductive interior.  Abit on the chilly side we took our seats.  For appetizers we selected raw clams and Mussels Provencale.  The mussels were superb, the sauce they were swimming in was yummy.  Even the cocktail sauce for the clams had an extra punch of flavor that made them worthwhile.                   

For dinner my beau ordered Monkfish Medallions, with sweet corn and crab bread pudding, spinach and sauce a l’Americaine.  It was good if you like monkfish though I tasted it and I found it abit fishy.  The corn and crab bread pudding, tasted more like corn than crab.

For myself I selected Duck Breast with shitaki mushroom and duck confit roll, brussels sprouts and sweet cherry sauce.  Okay I wasn’t sure it was actual duck I was eating.  Honestly the meat didn’t taste like any duck I’ve ever eaten.  And I don’t mean that as a compliment (although the meat was delicious).  I mean that statement like when you get chicken cutlet instead of veal at an Italian restaurant.  The duck confit roll, however,  which was shredded duck wrapped in a delicate pastry was OUT of this world, tasty and crispy with every bite.  The brussel sprouts were uncooked.

For dessert  I ordered Crème Brulée, it was yummy, topped with blueberries and sliced strawberries.  My beau ordered Fresh Fruit Napoleon layered with mascarpone cream fresh fruit and crispy puff pastry.  He said it was good different.

I wouldn’t mind going back for their mussels and perhaps to try their brunch menu.

MASAGO - a restaurant review

So, last night me and my baby went to a local restaurant specializing in Neo Asian Fusion also known as Masago http://masagosushi.com/

I had no idea what to expect and kept an open mind.

There were a few pros and cons.  Pro: plenty of staff, Con: lots of them seemingly standing around, except the one bus boy who worked his ass off.

I ordered an appetizer of edamame which my dinner partner begrudgingly consumed with me.  Also a tasty order of shrimp and vegetable tempura.  

He ordered his standby of General Tso’s Chicken and I ordered Grilled Chilean Sea Bass with a mango’s glaze which was pretty awesome (pictured below)

 They have quite an extensive sushi menu which I am eager to sample in the future.  For the location and ambience which quite frankly there was little of, I felt the menu abit on the pricey side.

Definitely worth a try if you have the $$