Friday Faves

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Catch Me If You Can

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Hey guys! Sorry I'm late on the post, again. I have a feeling that I'm most likely never Catch Me If You Can. I am so embarrassed to admit that I have owned this movie for a while and I haven't watched it once. This was the first time I've actually seen this film. I also have a feeling I shoulnd't have watched it super late at night after a really long day, not to mention week.
going to post film club on Wednesday like I'm supposed to. I'll still try but I figure as long as I get it up I'm good. Anyway, this week's selection was

Catch Me If You Can

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christoper Walken

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Screenplay By: Jeff Nathanson

Based Off Of: autobiography of Frank Abagnale Jr.

Genre: Biography, Comedy, Crime

Year: 2002

Description from IMDb: A true story about Frank Abagnale Jr., who, before his 19th birthday, successfully conned millions of dollars' worth of checks as a Pan Am pilot, doctor, and legal prosecutor.  

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Synopsis: The Abagnale family has the perfect life until one day a conflict with the IRS leaves them bankrupt. Frank Abagnale always taught his son to be an honest man even though he might not be completely honest himself. With the downturn being too much for Frank and his wife, she files for divorce leaving Frank Jr. to choose between them. Instead of dealing with the pressure, he runs away as fast as he can and doesn't look back. Falling into a life of luxury by cons, Frank goes through several "occupations," his most notable a PanAm pilot.

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Getting caught up, Frank realizes what he wants most is to settle down and have a family, something he lost and desperately wanted back. Along the way, his financial fraud schemes put him on the FBI's radar, especially Agent Carl Hanratty. Carl searches nationwide for Frank but he always seems to be a few steps behind. Catch Me If You Can is a story about a boy conning his way through life all because he wants things to go back to the way they used to be: a happy family with a comfortable financial sitation. It turns into a game of cat and mouse, Carl ending up more like the cartoon character Tom than anything. Will Carl catch Frank? Will Frank get what he was looking for?

Review: I don't know why but I have always had high expectations for this film. I feel like I saw a trailer on TV a really long time ago and I just thought this movie was going to be amazing. Let me tell you something, it was so long. Leo was amazing as usual and Tom Hanks was hilarious. I loved all the random celebrity cameos like Martin Sheen, Amy Adams and Jennifer Garner. I had no idea there were so many great people in this film, even for small parts. Maybe it was because I watched this after a particularly long week but it felt like it was never going to end. I honestly think they could have made it shorter.

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The chase could have been a little more enticing. I felt like this film was more of a desciption of the con years of Frank Jr.'s life which, interesting at first, got boring by the end. I wanted a bit more of a conflict and a struggle. There really wasn't much of one at all. I have no qualms about the acting. I don't even really know who's part I have a problem with, just that it seemed to drag on forever. I think the screenplay could have been written better with a little more suspense. I was only taken by surprise once and it was the most entertaining part of the film.

Overall I give this 3/5 stars. It's an ok film. I'm not recommending it but I don't want to keep you from seeing it either. Just make sure to watch it when you are well rested so you don't want to go to sleep half-way through.

The next film for this month's theme of Leonardo DiCaprio movies is Gangs of New York. I have heard nothing but great things about this film so I'm really excited. It's another I haven't seen with him. Hope to see you next week and remember to link up with The Daily Frenchie!

Do You Judge A Book By Its Cover?

Hey everyone! Today is Wednesday and you know what that means? It's my Friday! I'm really excited because tomorrow is my first day off in over a week. I love my job but the babysitting on my "off" days has really just exhausted me. It makes it hard to enjoy everything else sometimes. Anyway, today I have for your the fourth link up for the preview to summer book swap. I just talked to my partner on G-Chat this weekend and I'm super excited to send her her package. Anyway, this week's topic is all about book covers? Do you have a favorite?

Do you judge a book by its cover?

Yes and no. A cover may give me a greater interest in a book but one would never actually deter me from reading a book. Well, unless it's so gross or disturbing that I wouldn't be able to look at it on a regular basis but I haven't come across one like that yet. 

How important is cover design to you?

Not too important. I enjoy a good cover but I'll read a book based on the synopsis not what's on the front of it. I have books with elaborate covers and books that are just a simple color. 

Share your favorite book cover.

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What book surprised you the most, despite its unappealing cover design?

There hasn't been a book that I've found with an unappealing cover design.

In your opinion, what makes a book cover intriguing?

I really like book covers that portray the characters inside somehow. For example, The Sookie Stackhouse series has really fun covers as long as you stick to the original art and not promos from the show. I love book covers for Gregory Maguire novels. Most fantasy novels have really interesting book covers.  

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REMEMBER TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Speaking of Italian Piazzas, Here's an Italian Artist

First of all, thanks to everyone who sent me well wishes yesterday. I am feeling so much better than I was just a few days ago so I can feel the good vibes. Today I want to share with you an artist I discovered recently. Her name is Anna Tatangelo and she's Italian so be prepared to not understand one word. Her music is so amazing though. I just love it and I've been listening to her on replay lately. I also have this insane idea that if I listen to Italian enough I'll eventually pick it up. Has anyone ever had luck with that? Anyway, here are some of my favorites. There are so many others but we would be here all day and it was hard finding videos that would actually play.

Me accepting the good vibes

Don't forget to enter the giveaway I'm hosting for Kirrilee at Ilumin8life! She's giving away a free e-course to help better yourself and your business and I'm giving away $10 Starbucks + A Mug!! Enter here!

Sometimes A Break Is What You Need

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Hey everyone! I would say Happy Monday but I have a feeling all of us, me included today, are groaning at the impending day. I have officially been sick for a week and I am ready to be done with the sickies. Not only am I annoyed, I'm unmotivated and can't do one thing for long without getting exhausted out of my mind. Instead, today I'm sending some love over to fellow bloggers so you can check out their wonderful sites today. Sometimes you just need a break but instead of making today useless, I figured I'd take time for a little shout out.

Karrie blogs over at I Know This Much Is True. Click on her button to check out some amazing product reviews. She's also had the case of the sickies so make sure to send her some love especially since she just celebrated her birthday.

Delabelle is a sweetheart who loves fashion and beauty. Make sure to check out her shop as well. This girl has amazing style and her fashion closet is to die for. Click on her button to go right to her site!

Last but very not least we have Kirrilee who's website helps people make better futures for themselves. Think of her as your personal confidence builder. She offers services to get people on the right track whether it's for your career or your own personal life. Make sure to check out her website here and also to enter the giveaway going on to win an e-course from Kirrilee and $10 Starbucks + a mug from moi.

Next make sure to check out Leslie at The Crafty Side of Sarcasm. She is hilarious and always has a great post. She has a super yummy chocolate chip muffin donut recipe up right now that you guys are going to love. Make sure to click on her button too

Ashley from Bella Vida is quite the savvy lady. If you are looking for a monthly box to subscribe to, she has some amazing reviews on her blog right now. I would definitely check them out. You can find her through this link to Bella Vida.

I hope you guys are having a better Monday than I am. I'll be babysitting for 13 hours today which isn't exactly awful but I wish I was feeling better. See you tomorrow!

I Want To Be Able To Sit In An Italian Piazza Eating Gelato Like Julia Roberts In Eat, Pray, Love

This week for Sunday Social, it's all about reminiscing and looking to the future. I actually go a little emotional while writing this post. Thinking about where I was a year ago was really hard because it was such a spectacular time in my life. I don't ever remember being happier and looking forward to something so much. Now, as much as I love where I am and what I'm doing, I don't feel an excitement like that and it kind of saddens me because life is short and every moment should be amazing. On a happier note, looking to the future just made me smile and dream. I'm so excited for where I'm going and where life will take me. I just hope that my life lives up to the expectations I have for it because I want to be able to go out knowing I've experience everything I dreamed of.

1. 1 year ago I was doing ….
I was getting ready for Paris. I've been really nostalgic lately because this time last year I had easy classes, the weather was nicer and I had Paris just two months away. I was waiting for my housing assignment and researching things to do and see. Listening to French music, pretending I was actually making my French better. It was just a great anticipation.

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2. 5 years ago I was doing ….

Spending the last few days of high school with my senior friends. I was a junior in high school but most of my friends were a year older. We had a bunch of concert tickets for the summer and the first one was in May. It was a time when I felt really free. I was also narrowing down my college search at the time.

3. 10 years ago I was doing….

In 2003 I was finishing 6th grade and ready for summer. I don't remember anything from that year really so I have no idea what was going on. I was probably just ready to be out of a school I hated and at the park with my friends every day.

4. 1 year from now I'll be doing…

Hopefully in a full-time position somewhere I love. I have no idea where this journey called life is going to take me but I'm sure it's going to be a roller coaster these next few years.

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5. 5 years from now I'll be doing….

Hopefully taking a year off for travel. I'm hoping to take a break from the working world for at least a year at some point and getting the building blocks together for my own small business. Hopefully by that time, this blog will have grown immensely (not that it hasn't lately) and I'll be able to use it as a stepping stone for my future business. In the meantime, I want to be able to sit in an Italian piazza eating gelato like Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love.

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6. 10 years from now I'll be doing…

Hopefully I'll be a small business owner doing what I love and taking good chunks of time off to travel. One of my top goals in life is to travel as much as I can. I want to see so many places in this world and what better time to do it than when you're young.

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Friday Faves

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Preparing Yourself For A Better Future

Hey everyone! Today I want to introduce you to one of my current sponsors. Her name is Kirrilee and she has an amazing website that focuses on building yourself a brighter future called Illumin8Life. She's inspirational and has many success stories. She can explain what she does a lot better than I can so I'll leave it to her. Make sure to stick around for the giveaway!

I partner with an international media company and our focus is on Positive Media, Success Education and Personal Leadership Development. We offer a very unique, award winning, university accredited Personal Leadership Development curriculum. The program is designed to assist people in achieving more from life, both professionally and personally. The principles taught greatly assist people in taking control of their particular situation and teaches them how to completely be at cause in their life. 

Furthermore, we produce award winning special interest documentaries, which support and shine a light on the human experience of Autism, Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and showcases the strength and determination of individuals with physical limitations to name but a few. Alongside our product range is a unique home based business model allowing people the opportunity to build a business, where we provide the business systems and training. 

I really enjoy my role, mentoring and assisting others within their business and also assisting the wider community utilizing our products, to gain the most from their experience.

Kirrilee has been kind enough to giveaway a Success Strategies E-Course. It is designed to educate the participant in how they can become successful; how they are able to take the action required to create the success they are looking for. Each day builds on itself in a step by step fashion and there are tips and techniques, exercises and situations utilized by people the world over for thousands of years to create success. So, in other words, this is a great opportunity to get some professional advice to better yourself and/or your career so I would enter while you have the chance. Thank you to Kirrilee for the great giveaway! And just because I'm loving life lately, I'm adding in a $10 Starbucks gift card and a mug!! Enter below!

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Film Club: Romeo + Juliet

Another lovely week of Leonardo DiCaprio for this film club. We took it back old school with one of his earlier films from around the time of Titanic. I purposely chose not to use Titanic as one of the films to review for this month's theme because I don't know many people who haven't seen that movie. For those of us who haven't, I have a feeling they never will. It's just one of those. I have not been shy to declare my love of Shakespeare. I just read Merchant of Venice for the first time a few weeks ago, I've read Hamlet four times, seen the movie twice, read Romeo & Juliet so many times I can quote it and have seen every film adaptation there is as well as it as a French Opera. These are not the only plays I've read by Shakespeare but the more recent and popular ones. I've even gone so far as to take a class completely dedicated to the writings of Shakespeare. I got an A...just saying. I love Shakespeare and I love Leo. Choosing Romeo + Juliet as one of the film choices for this month was almost obvious if you really knew me. So here it is!

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Romeo + Juliet

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Daines

Directed By: Baz Lurhmann

Screenplay By: Craig Pierce 

Based Off Of: Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare

Genre: Drama, Romance

Year: 1996

Description via IMDb: Shakespeare's famous play is updated to the hip modern suburb of Verona (insert side note: they're in Rio de Janeiro if you didn't catch it, not Verona) still retaining its original dialogue.

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Synopsis: A teenage boy and girl meet at a party in costume unknown to each other's identity. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Romeo learns the identity of this mysterious girl whom he stole a kill and meets her at her balcony. They fall madly in love with each other but know that it cannot be. The Montague and Capulet houses are forever at war whether personal quarrels still exist or not. Friends and family become involved, some unfortunately are killed. The young couple secretly marry but almost directly after, the death of Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, leave Romeo banished from their city.

After a passionate night together, Romeo leaves and Juliet's father forces her hand in marriage to another man. To escape this dreadful future, Romeo turns to the Friar who gives her a potion that will make her appear dead. She is to take it and when she awakes, Romeo will be by her side ready to leave the city for good. Unfortunately, Romeo does not receive the letter from Juliet and believes her fake death. He kills himself before she awakens and his death prompts her into ending her life as well. They would rather be dead together than be apart for life. 

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Review: The first time I saw this movie, I was fourteen years old and in English 101. Two things made it especially awkward for me...ok, well three. I was in love with Leo, I loved Shakespeare which was uncalled for apparently as a teenage girl and last, Romeo & Juliet never fails to make me sob. Let's just say, for the ending I discreetly slipped out to the bathroom. Since then, I've watched it several more times and I still sob. In general, this movie can be a little cheesy. As much as I love Leo, his emotional outburst when he screams at the sky "curse you stars" seems a little melodramatic. Then again maybe it's because modern day characters are speaking 14th Century Shakespearean English.

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I think Leo and Claire Daines were great for the roles of Romeo and Juliet. They were the perfect age and they had great chemistry. Juliet's mother was a little too theatrical for me most of the time but I get that this was supposed to be a comedic representation at the same time. For the most part, the acting on behalf of the rest of the cast was good, not great. The friar was probably one of my favorite characters. For someone who is supposed to be pious yet liberal, this guy took the latter to the extreme. Marijuana plans, drugs, sex. I mean, he might as well be a rock star. If anything, this movie is wildly entertaining and if it gets people of our time to appreciate Shakespeare than I am all for it. 

Reccommend?? Absa-freakin-lutely

The film for next week is Catch Me If You Can. I'm so excited for this one. I haven't actually seen it yet and I even own it! Are you linking up with The Daily Frenchie?