Showing posts sorted by date for query famous house. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query famous house. Sort by relevance Show all posts

30 June 2016

Summer Book Review Part II

Book Review Part II

Whistling Past the Graveyard--Great read! Definitely recommend reading this one! Had historical fiction in it regarding the whole segregation with race. Let's get that I absolutely LOVE this book out of the way. Whistling Past The Graveyard is a heartwarming, endearing coming of age story about a fiesty 9 year old girl who decides it's high time she flew the coop in an effort not to be sent to boarding school. It's the summer of 1963 in Cayuga Springs, the Fourth of July, and a pocket full of penny candy that puts the wheels in motion for a life-changing experience for two unsuspecting lives that intersect on an abandoned road. 

Necessary Lies & The Silent Sister. I like Diane Chamberlain's books, but Necessary Lies was the better of the two books for me. Set in 1960's rural North Carolina, a shocking, but enlightening story surrounding the Eugenic's Sterilization Program, their unethical practices and the abuse of State authority. I was totally unfamiliar with the program thus surprised and disgusted with the procedures yet was totally enthralled by the author's presentation and well-developed characters. Jane Forrester has recently just married her husband Robert, who is a pediatrician. Jane is desperate to have a career before starting a family of her own. Her husband doesn't approve of her working and doesn't understand why she feels the need to work.

Me Before You and After You by Jo Jo Moyes. You have to read both. Of course I am partial to say the first book is always the better book, but it's nice to know where Louisa Clark ends up after book one! Lou Clark knows lots of things. She knows how many footsteps there are between the bus stop and home. She knows she likes working in The Buttered Bun tea shop and she knows she might not love her boyfriend Patrick.

What Lou doesn't know is she's about to lose her job or that knowing what's coming is what keeps her sane.

Will Traynor knows his motorcycle accident took away his desire to live. He knows everything feels very small and rather joyless now and he knows exactly how he's going to put a stop to that.

What Will doesn't know is that Lou is about to burst into his world in a riot of colour. And neither of them knows they're going to change the other for all time.

It's hard not to write to much on these you have to read them for yourself otherwise I'll give everything away! Both are worth the read! 

Try Not to Breathe- Amy Stevenson was the biggest news story of 1995. Only fifteen years old, Amy disappeared walking home from school one day and was found in a coma three days later. Her attacker was never identified and her angelic face was plastered across every paper and nightly news segment.

Fifteen years later, Amy lies in the hospital, surrounded by 90’s Britpop posters, forgotten by the world until reporter Alex Dale stumbles across her while researching a routine story on vegetative patients.

Remembering Amy’s story like it was yesterday, she feels compelled to solve the long-cold case.

The only problem is, Alex is just as lost as Amy—her alcoholism has cost her everything including her marriage and her professional reputation.

In the hopes that finding Amy’s attacker will be her own salvation as well, Alex embarks on a dangerous investigation, suspecting someone close to Amy.

This one was frustrating esp the lead character having to deal with turning to alcohol all the time. Interesting story line was a decent read!




Everything Everything-- Good read! Interesting plot! Like Bubble boy (but a girl) not being ever allowed out of the walls of her home.  Snippet or excerpt from book: "My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly."

Pretty Girls--More than twenty years ago, Claire and Lydia's teenaged sister Julia vanished without a trace. The two women have not spoken since, and now their lives could not be more different. Claire is the glamorous trophy wife of an Atlanta millionaire. Lydia, a single mother, dates an ex-con and struggles to make ends meet. But neither has recovered from the horror and heartbreak of their shared loss—a devastating wound that's cruelly ripped open when Claire's husband is killed.

The disappearance of a teenage girl and the murder of a middle-aged man, almost a quarter-century apart: what could connect them? Forming a wary truce, the surviving sisters look to the past to find the truth, unearthing the secrets that destroyed their family all those years ago . . . and uncovering the possibility of redemption, and revenge, where they least expect it.


Swerve--UGH I had such high hopes for this book as it sounded a lot or similar to the movie "Breakdown" starring Kurt Russell from the 90s I believe where he and his wife are driving and their car breaks and down and she catches a ride from a truck driver to the nearest gas station to all for help only when a tow truck doesn't come and the husband walks back to the station to find out that his wife had never made it to the station....(That was all about the movie not the book) Maybe I was to hung up on the movie to give the book a chance lol I didn't find the book suspenseful at all, but rather predictable. It's sad when you can figure out the ending within the first few minutes of the book. 

13 January 2014

Alright Alright Alright

Golden Globes. I have to be honest and say the highlight of speeches was Matthew's speech. His famous "Alright Alright Alright" line came out in his speech and if you don't know what that's from then clearly you have never seen "Dazed and Confused."  A little trivia for you...

Matthew actually says that line out of nervousness! :) So hearing him opening it up and say it on the Golden Globes, even though he was super calm when talking, he must of felt super nervous at the beginning! 


Move it up to 26 seconds to see the exact line. :) 

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I also found it quite funny that they had former co stars Matthew and Reese sitting by each other. Must of been the "southern" table. (Texas boy and Tennessee girl) 

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Can we just say how fabulous Reese's hair looked?!?! She was paying homage to her Sweet Home Alabama shorter do that's for sure! 

I love Rob Lowe, but thought his hair was a little to high for my liking! 

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71st Annual Golden Globe Awards - Arrivals
Jessica Chastain is a KNOCKOUT. I mean wow! I was sad she wasn't up for anything this year, I think she is uber talented!


Worst outfit and hair for me goes to this little lady
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Oh Hayden, the slicked back hair just doesn't suit you. Thank goodness they don't make you wear it like that on Nashville! 

I'm not a huge Modern Family of Sofia fan, but she takes the cake for the best dressed in my opinion for the ladies last night. I mean wow! 
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I really thought Sandra looked quite lovely in her outfit, clearly she doesn't take the best photographs but looked amazing on screen! 
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I was jumping up and down when Robin Wright won ( just blogged all about her a few posts ago with a House of Cards post)

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Diane Keaton has amazing hair for being 68 years old. That's all I can say about that! 

And no post would be complete with out a little man candy of Channing right?! Here's he and his wifey Jenna channing-tatum-jenna-dewan-golden-globes-2014-red-carpet

and hello Kevin Bacon. Did you ever age since Footloose because you look exactly like your Ren McCormick days! 
2014 Golden Globes red carpet arrivals

And as far as Jared Leto goes, I have to be honest and say that I thought his win was WELL DESERVED. Yes, he took a break from films for six years to focus on his music. There is nothing wrong with that. It shouldn't make him or anyone else less deserving to win. Second, I was seriously super annoyed with everyone on twitter who kept calling him yay Jordan won (reference from his My So called Life days) Do yourself a favor and watch the film he and Matthew won for. It's so enlightening about AIDS. If you missed that post you can check it out here because I went and saw it and know why they picked these fellas to win! Trust me!



There you have it folks! Did I have any of the same or different top picks as you did for the Golden Globes? 

I left Jennifer Lawrence off the list simply because I am not fond of her shorter hair and I thought her dress was a "Meh" for me type feeling. I was really happy she won and thought she was well deserving of the win! 







23 December 2013

Merry Christmas Eve, Eve



It's hard to fully get into the Christmas spirit with no snow here in warm AZ!

Which got me thinking of some of my all time favorite Christmas commericals as a kid. 

This one isn't that old, but I still love it!



There you have it friends! 

I've written so many awesome christmas posts, I find it hard to top them! 

I wrote all about Christmas Trees and the White House you can read that here

All about the famous Chicago Home Alone house here

All about the movie The Holiday here

Wanna read more? type in Christmas in my search box on my blog and keep reading! :) 








28 July 2013

My Summer Series

So each summer I try to watch a TV show's whole series.  Last summer I watched Friday Night Lights and Lost. The summer before that I think it was The Wonder Years (which I actually own on DVD)

This summer, as of yesterday, I watched all six seasons of Party of Five.
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I absolutely LOVED and still love that show. I think I was so drawn to it, since it was filmed from 1994-2000 my prime "teen" years. I related most to the character of "Claudia" played by Lacey Chabert. In real life she is the same age as me, and as her character on TV she was 11, in 1994 I was only 2 years older so I seemed to gravitate towards her.

The house is one of my all time favorite TV houses.

Here's a pic of the house in 1994
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And a pic of it today


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2311 Broadway
San Francisco, CA 94199
The house recently was for sale for for the sum of 7.2 million dollars


You can check out pictures of the inside here



Here's the opening clip for season 1 if you have never seen or heard of the show!




Speaking of famous houses, apparently down the street is another famous house. The house that was used in Mrs. Doubtfire!

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I've never been to San Fran, but as most tourists, these 2 houses as well as seeing the "Painted Ladies" are on my list of places to see!



03 March 2013

Where are they now? Child Stars

It's been a while since I've done a where are they now post, so for your viewing pleasure, you ask, WHERE are they now?

First up
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Tiffany Brissette - The "Small Wonder" actress is now 38 and no longer an actress, but a nurse in Colorado! 
Remember Larisa Oleynik from Ten Things I Hate About You?  url

Or if we go way back, recall her from her Nickelodeon days as Alex Mack? I do! I do! 


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Larisa is still acting, and has recently been seen on the hit show, Mad Men. 


Not a fan of that chopped hair, but what can you do....




Speaking hair...




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Remember Joseph Gordon Levitt from his 3d Rock from the Sun days? I never got into that show, but I do remember him from Ten Things I Hate About You which he starred with Larisa in! :)

I recently saw him in Looper, and he was in the movie Inception starring Leo DiCaprio which was a terrific movie!

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Shawna Waldron - Becky 'Icebox' O'Shea from "Little Giants"  You all remember "You walk like a boy you talk like a boy but do you pee standing up?" hahah (famous line from the movie or somewhat along those lines!)


She's continued acting, but in movies like low-budget horror films "Lizzie" and "Cyrus". Gotta be honest and say I haven't heard of either of those movies! Good to know she's still somewhat in the business. 


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Jurnee Smollett - If you grew up in the '90s, chances are you remember Smollett as the sassy best friend in, well, just about everything--she was a recurring character on "Full House," "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper," and "Cosby." The more grown up Smollett burst back on to the scene around 2008 with roles on "Grey's Anatomy" and "Friday Night Lights."


It wasn't till I read the credit for Friday Night Lights that I put her face to a main character on that show. Love that show, so sad it's not on anymore. 

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And there you have it for my latest addition of "where are they now".


*All stats and info was found via google search! 

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26 December 2012

Oceanside, CA Name This House!

I logged onto facebook the other day and a friend of mine tagged themselves here.


Anyone recognize this famous house?


My friend took this photo



I'll give you a hint

HIGHWAY TO THE DANGER ZONE!!!



The Graves house on the corner of Pacific Street & Seagaze Drive is named for Dr. Henry Graves who built it in 1887. It’s one of the oldest houses in Oceanside. Today, the house commonly known as the “Top Gun” house, because it appeared in the 1986 blockbuster movie “Top Gun” as the home of character “Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Blackwood’s” (Kelley McGillis).


Check out the house back in 1887


According to my friend, the person who owns it is building condos all around it which makes me sad, yet they leave the house up and do nothing to it. I Mean some one should come in and restore the famous house! (Just in my opinion!) 

It's always intriguing to me to see just from 1986 to now how much the area has "changed". 

At least the people who own the original Home alone house in chicago didn't let it look like this, or the people that own the original Father of The Bride house, even the people who own the house used in "The Chistmas Story" took the time to restore the house. 

If you missed those posts, you can find them here, here,  and here!







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10 September 2012

Reynolds and Lively married?


Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively said “I do” over the weekend and twitter was blowing up about it!


Let's go over some stats here about these two

She's 25

He's 35

Do the math people 


He's been engaged, married, divorced now married again!

Her Love life:
Lively dated actor Penn Badgley from late 2007 to mid-September 2010.[30][31][32] Lively was in a relationship with actor Leonardo DiCaprio from mid-May[33][34] until October 2011.[35] Lively began dating her Green Lantern co-star Ryan Reynolds in October 2011.[36] In June 2012, she and Reynolds purchased a cottage in Bedford, New York for $2 million.[
*taken from wikipedia 


His love life:
Dated and was engaged to Alanis Morissette for 5 years! 

Didn't work out

Quickly moved on to Scarlett Johansson (age: 28)

 and was only married to her for 3 yrs

He was very off and on with Sandra Bullock, but never "confirmed" as a couple.

Enter Blake Lively. 
2011- current wife.



I think Ryan Reynolds is a terrific actor. But clearly the man knows NOTHING about what marriage and FOREVER and vows mean/represent. 

I hate when celebs make a mockery of the institution of marriage. 

They chose to wed at the famous "THE NOTEBOOK" plantation 
Located eight miles from downtown Charleston, Boone Hall Plantation is one of America’s oldest working plantations, growing and producing crops for more than 320 years. It’s also a popular wedding spot. While the main house, which dates back to the early 20th century, is off-limits for weddings, there are several other places on the premises where couples can exchange vows. 

Oh the irony. 

Did any of you also know that Blake dated Gosling in 2010? Yep it's true! 


I give it 3 yrs tops...seems to be Ryan's record thus far for staying married! He likes em young! 


What y'all think?


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21 August 2012

What's on your Walls?

I am going to open a can of worms here and just ask y'all---

What is on your walls in terms of "decor"?

The hubs and I have had one disagreement when it comes to our new house---


PICTURES on the wall.

First of all, I LOVE pictures. I honestly feel they are what makes a home a home.

The hubs feels like we have "too many" and it feels like a "shrine" of "us". 
I told him what do you see when you walk into other people's houses? 9 out of 10 times you see photographs! 

And Art.

He wants more art and less photos. 

UGH.

As an art teacher, I'll be the first to veto knock off reprints of famous paintings. It ain't me. 
Not for the decor of my home. I don't care how much I love Monet's waterlilies or Van Gogh's starry night. I don't want it hanging in my family room as our wall art. 

So I ask you, what do you have hanging on your walls? Does anyone else have this "Problem" with their significant other?

I will knock myself down here a bit and say my area of concentration in Art was Photography. So I may go a wee bit much with photos. But in all fairness just about every friends house I've ever been in, in every room has framed photos of the people that inhabit that house! 

Here's my proof via pinterest:










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21 December 2011

I bet cha didn't know--Home Alone Edition!

Since Christmas Vacation was such a hit, I decided to do some more research on HOME ALONE and one of my fave film makers/directors/writers, John Hughes.

Did you know...





Macaulay Culkin's famous pose of screaming with his hands on his face is reminiscent of the painting "The Scream" by Edvard Munch? 
Had to throw this one in there, I talk about this painting in art a lot with my students!












Daniel Stern was reluctant to have the tarantula on his face, and only agreed to do one and one take only of  having the spider on his face. He had to remain still and quiet during the take of it for not to scare the spider. His scream, inspired by one from Psycho, was dubbed in afterwards.





The movie that Kevin watches on video tape is not a real film, but footage specially created. It was called "Angels With Filthy Souls" (most likely based on a real life 1938 mobster movie called "Angels With Dirty Faces").



 Its imaginary sequel, "Angels With Filthier Souls" appears in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.


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Home Alone 2 Lost in New York Scene






Old Man Marley was not in the script's early drafts and was added in later when it was realized the story needed an emotional connection. Early drafts ended with a freeze as Kevin remarked that he'd "just hung around."
Old Man Marley is played by actor Roberts Blossom who recently passed away at the age of 85 this past July! 

He also freakishly resembles Former President Hayes don't cha think?



The role of Uncle Frank was written with Kelsey Grammar in mind.





On the pictures you found Kevin in the box at the Buzz, supposedly his girl. In fact, in pictures the boy, who was styled as a girl. Chris Columbus thought that making fun of a girl in such a way – not good.





The concept of the movie Home Alone was born thanks to a scene from the movie “Uncle Buck”starring Culkin  which Miles (Macaulay Culkin) interrogates a would-be-babysitter through a letterbox.



 The Home Alone house is currently for sale! (Anyone have 2.4 billion dollars to buy it?)

Built in the 1920s and located at 671 Lincoln Street in Winnetka, IL — roughly 30 miles north of downtown Chicago — this stately home features four bedrooms, a designer kitchen, dual patios, an outdoor greenhouse, a full, unfinished basement, and, yes, even the scary third floor. Keep the change, ya filthy animal.
you can read more on the house in a former post I wrote about it HERE







To create the illusion Joe Pesci's head being ignited by the flamethrower, a mirror was placed in front of the camera to make the flames appear longer than they were.

And there you have it! Learn anything interesting or things you didn't know?




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