amy.

Yesterday afternoon was fairly ordinary. I'd finished work and soaking in the sun, ready for the weekend.

My friend called me and asked if I wanted to head to see a matinee movie. Without second thought, I suggested seeing "Amy", the documentary about Amy Winehouse.

I've always been a big fan of her music, and if it's possible, I'm even more engulfed by Winehouse's sound, lyrics and story after the film. I loved the documentary truly focused on her artistry and wasn't afraid to go into the dark side of her life.

From working on documentaries and other news stories, it's always an interesting moment when you get into those interviews with profound characters in your story. More often than not, you'll have fairly average experience chatting with them.

But every once in awhile, you'll find a nugget that changes the entire direction of what you thought you were making.

Something else interesting that came up for me...Amy's look.

I remember my mother purchasing her first album, "Frank" and also "Back to Black" - we used to listen to them both on our drives to school, dance class, etc. My father also got Rolling Stone magazine, and I remember those couple of covers Amy graced.

As I look back at the timeline of my personal style, and why I'm drawn to a retro look, I think it started with her. I can see in photos that I started playing with flowers in my hair, experimenting with cat eyes, pin-up clothing and what not. I abandoned it for a couple years when I went to university, but now and back with full vengeance.

I used to think Bettie Page was my biggest influence, but I'm realizing this runs much deeper. The things were are drawn to early in life are certainly a calling - I always loved old jazz music and a vintage look/vibe. I think Amy really modernized and brought that to the forefront for my generation.

I'll likely never have enough hair for a beehive like hers, but you never know.

Just a thought. Have a good weekend.

midnight.

If you see one movie in theatres this summer, I urge you to make it Before Midnight. 

One of the fabulous things about these warmer months is having the time to take in those easy pastimes. Also, a few of the days I've been home in Kelowna have been so hot that I could hardly stand it.

So why not escape to the cool, fresh, air conditioned movie theatre?

 Last week on "Cheap Tuesday", I'm sure nearly everyone in line was actually there to see Despicable Me 2. 

So we chose to go to Before Midnight. 



Having seen Before Sunrise many years ago, I was eager to see how the storyline would progress since we last saw Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Deply).

The conclusion? It was perfectly imperfect.

I applaud Hawke and Deply for their portray of a very "real" marriage. The chemistry, reactions and dialogue, which was also written by the actors, is superb. In many ways, I saw the moments between many couples whom have been together or married for a long period of time.

Is their relationship "messy"? Some may argue that. However, I think out of all, the movie was a snapshot of what the modern relationship is actually like. Happily ever after can come in many ways. It's doesn't have to be defined by marriage, a house in the suburbs and fancy toys.

As well, the cinematography in the movie is quite unique. Many of the scenes where there is a long dialogue between Hawke and Delpy has been shot in one or two frames. This leaves little or no room for errors!

After all the movies I've seen this year, Before Midnight is refreshing. Definitely my must-see pick for the summer.

luhrmann.

I fell head over sparkly high heels into Baz Luhrmann's world over 10 years ago.

After seeing Mouling Rouge!, I didn't become just a fan, it became my obsession. I played the moview soundtrack over and over on my mint green boom box, choreographed routines in my living room to "Roxanne" and dreamed of seeing the famous cabaret in Paris one day.

Needless to say, I'm a Luhrmann fan through and through. I still remember feeling something different when I watched Moulin Rouge! It was as though someone had untapped the most creative things out our imaginations (and with awesome music) translated it onto the big screen.

It's truly been a decade since I've felt that same magic while in a movie theatre. With high expectations, I am pleased to report how much I adored Luhrmann's latest project, The Great Gatsby. 

Having recently reread the epic story (I had studied it in high school but didn't understand a majority of it), I had a fresh memory and knew exactly what was going to happen in the movie.

Is it perfect? Of course not, no movie is. However, the casting is impeccable, the scenery matched what I had imagined, and Lana Del Rey's song "Young and Beautiful" hauntingly hangs onto you after the film is long over.



The film itself is complete eye candy, with each frame somehow becoming more beautiful than the next. Leonardo DiCaprio is perfect as the mysterious Jay Gatsby, and as a friend and I discussed, it's refreshing to see him in a slightly more quirky/comedic role than what we're used to seeing him do.

All in all, absolutely my favourite movie of the year (so far). Give yourself a treat and head to the cinema to see this on the big screen - it's worth every moment.

affairs.

"If we listened to our intellect, we’d never have a love affair. 

We’d never have a friendship. 

We’d never go into business, because we’d be cynical. 

Well, that’s nonsense. 

You’ve got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down."

— Ray Bradbury

manhattan.

"Chapter one, he adored New York City..."

The first few notes are some of the most iconic sounds we will ever know as humans. On this cold, rainy evening, this piece of music captures everything about the weather, the city, the news all in mere moments.

Tied in the opening sequence of Woody Allen's infamous film, Manhattan, (one of my favourite movies) the rain doesn't look so bad after all.

"Rhapsody in Blue" by George Greshwin. Enjoy.

malibu.

What a glorious fall Sunday. It was 18C here in Toronto, the same temperature as it was in Malibu. No complaints. 

Preparing myself for another busy week ahead...another dance gig, rehearsal, writing, some social media consulting - oh my! 

 I'm off to see the new James Bond film, Skyfall (if tickets aren't sold out). As a resident Bond junkie, I'll have a review coming soon. So far, I love the title track sung by Adele. Daniel Craig isn't half bad to grace the screen either. 

Have a lovely rest of your evening. 

blues.

Happy Halloween! 

"Read books. Care about things. Get excited. 

Try not to bee too down on yourself.

Enjoy the ever present game of knowing." 

- Hank Green

harrison.

"It’s being here now that’s important. 

There’s no past and there’s no future.

Time is a very misleading thing. 

All there is ever, is the now. 

We can gain experience from the past, but we can’t relive it; 

and we can hope for the future, but we don’t know if there is one."

— George Harrison

 

These worlds could not pertain more to my life right now.

My yoga teacher said something interesting in class earlier this week. We talk about gratitude during Thanksgiving (which just passed). But what about gratitude year round? Why can't we take more time to appreciate what we have already? 

Gratitude isn't about taking that day to celebrate the year. It's about taking a moment each day to relish in the world around you. 

In so many ways, this is like Ferris Bueller's famous quote, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it."

Gratitude. Every. Single. Day. 

Just a thought.