Passport Update

Good news! It pays to be a procrastinator! Well not really, but I finally got my application for my passport in yesterday, and it only cost me an additional $30 to have it rushed so that I can go pick it up on the 17th, the day before we leave...The moral of the story is this, renew your passport when it expires so that you can save yourself $30, the stress of worrying about getting it in time, and the inconvenience of having to go pick it up yourself! Although I'm sure in roughly 5 years I'll be posting something all too similar... I wish it was easier to change...

Movie Talk

Fun Facts about February!

• Black History Month-woohoo
• National birdfeeding month-come on feed those birds
• Groundhog Day- Feb 2nd
• Chinese New Years- Feb 3rd we had a party this year-SO FUN
• Valentines Day- Feb 14th money making scandal!
• International Mother Language Day- Feb 21...what?...
• Leap year! once every four years makes it pretty exciting I reckon.
• THE 83RD ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS! -FEB 27

Now February is what I like to call the underdog month. It's short, and cold and is mispronounced more often than not...It's FebRuary nor Febuary.... not to mention it has less days than any other month. However, if one chooses to, there are quite a few little gems hidden inside this 28 day month that need to be addressed, the greatest of these gems (in my opinion) the Academy Awards.

All year I love going to movies, analyzing, arguing and discussing these films with anyone willing to do so, usually with my movie going partner who doubles as my husband. In the back of my mind I'm making my predictions as to which ones will be nominated and will ultimately win the great Oscar! I've looked over the nominations and have decided to put my predictions down here for all to read and comment.

And the nominees are......

Actor in a leading role:

• Javier Bardem in "Biutiful"- I haven't seen this film so I don't know but if his performance is anything like "No Country for Old Men" then I think he has a shot.
• Jeff Bridges in "True Grit"- As much as I LOVE the Coen Bro's and good ol' Jeff, I don't think this performance is worthy of best Actor, I'll be surprised if he wins. It was a great movie though!
• Jesse Eisenberg in "The Social Network"- I would be SHOCKED if he wins, this movie was hardly worth the 10.50 I payed to watch it. I don't think I'd watch it again and mainly because of the leading role. This has nothing to do with how unlikeable the character was, I just thought his acting was pretty hollow. I'm surprised he was even nominated.
• Colin Firth in "The Kings Speach"- Here is your winner! I'm 80% sure he's going to take this one. Not only was the film FANTASTIC but Colin Firth and made it for me. I think this movie might be the one that wins 'em all this year!
• James Franco in "127 Hours"- He should win just because he's so scrumptious. However, I haven't seen the movie so I can't say too much one way or another. I would be content if he won.

Actor in supporting Role:

• Christian Bale in "The Fighter"- I love Christian Bale, I loved him in this movie and I love him in every other movie, I think he has a 50% chance.
• John Hawkes in "Winter's Bone"- Haven't seen, I doubt it, but you never know.
• Jeremy Renner in "The Town"- Not a chance.
• Mark Ruffalo in "The Kids are Alright" I would be surprised.
• Geoffrey Rush in "The Kings Speech" I think he's got the other 50% chance, he was wonderful in this movie along with every other movie I've seen him in.

Actress in a leading Role:

• Annette Bening in "The Kids are Alright"- Don't know...
• Nicole Kidman in "The Rabbit Hole" -Once again not sure...
• Jeniffer Lawrence in "Winter's Bone" -I don't think so.
• Natalie Portman in "Black Swan" -I've got my bets on this one, don't really have a reason, just a hunch.
• Michelle Williams in "Blue Valentine" -I would like that, but as I said I think Natalie's got it.

Actress in a supporting role:

• Amy Adams in "The Fighter"- This was a different role for her, I liked it a lot, I don't think she's going to win, but if she does I think she deserves it!
• Helena Bonham Carter -in "The Kings Speech" It sure was nice to see her not playing someone who's insane (although she does it well...almost too well). I think she made an excellent Queen.
• Mellisa Leo in "The Fighter"- I think she was pretty great however I'm not sure it was worthy of an academy award, once again I'd be surprised.
• Hailee Steinfeld in "True Grit"- I HOPE she wins, it would be pretty awesome if she does. I'll be cheering for her!
• Jacki Weaver in "Animal Kingdom"- No comment...

Best Picture:

• Black Swan- Doubt it. But not utterly surprised
• True Grit- Hope so!
• 127 Hours- Possible
• The Kids are Alright- Nope
• The Kings Speech- This is your winner, I'm guessing at least.
• The Social Network- Noo
• Toy Story 3- Cute movie but I don't think so.
• Winter's Bone- This is a possibility I think
• The Fighter- Good movie but I'd be surprised.
• Inception- Once again, a good movie but I don't think it was quite good enough.

So those are predictions. I didn't make any on all the other categories because I don't know enough to even pretend to have a guess. So here is my list of who I think will take the win in each of the categories.

• Colin Firth!
• Geoffrey Rush! or Christian Bale!
• Natalie Portman!
• Hailee Steinfeld!
• The Kings Speech!

Looks like in 3 weeks we'll see how wrong I am! Please comment on your predictions, and if anyone wants to attend an Oscar Party, we're hosting!

WineMaking

So, something that I had failed to mention in my Goals 2011 post was that this year Ben and I wanted to start making our own wine. This has been a hobby of my mom's for years, something that has provided us all with what seems like an endless supply of tasty wine, so we thought, why not we try our hands at it?! So today we tromped on down to Wine Kitz and picked up two kits, one Green Apple, and one Valpolicella. We'll make both batches and then split the 60 bottles between my mom and us- 15 red and 15 white for both of us! We went over to my parents and got started making our first batch, in 6 weeks we'll have 60 bottles of wine ready to bottle and cork! Can't wait to see how it all turns out!

Adding the cool water to the concentrated juice

Here I am with my mom adding hot water to the concentrated juice

(I'm learning from the BEST, for those of you at our wedding, my mom made all the wine!)

Stirring the prepared mixture, now it's ready to go into the cellar to ferment for 14 days,

more to come!

I Need a Passport!

The title pretty much says it. I need a new passport by Feb. 19 since that's when we're leaving for Arizona! The only issue is that I am a procrastinator, I neglected to get my health card switched over to my new name and now I can't apply for a new passport until I get that piece of ID back. Badly done Sov.... At this point it will be a miracle if I make it to AZ in one piece...if at all!

True Words!

Anything I've ever done that ultimately was worthwhile... initially scared me to death.

~Betty Bender~

Solveig's Personal Book Club

So these are the books that I've compiled so far for my reading goals for 2011, I know I'm not aiming overly high at the moment but I'll be pretty happy if get these done by summer.

The Birth House- by Ami McKay

This is the book that I'm probably most excited about, I'm probably halfway through and I'm enjoying it immensely. The story is set in Nova Scotia during the time of the First World War. It explores all aspects of the miracle of childbirth from the eyes of a girl who stumbles upon midwifery. So far I'm really grabbed by the story line, at this point I would recommend it to anyone. Every page is a joy to read!

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk- by David Sedaris

This book I haven't actually started yet, however I'm really excited to get to it! I have read some other books by David Sedaris and his writing is really funny, if at times a bit off colour. The difference with this book as opposed to his others is that this one is a collection of short stories featuring animals where as the others I've read were short essays pertaining to things in Sedaris' own life. I guess we'll see!

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering- by Dr. Sarah J. Buckley

So in doula class we were told that this book would be a good read and it almost always seems that whenever I'm doing some birthing research this book is recommended. I have yet to pick up the book, but once I do I'll most definitely fill ya'll in on what I learn. A cool fact, the author Sarah Buckley is an MD who had all four of children at home. I'm sure I'll learn a lot. I'd like to have this one read by March as I have my first birth as a doula then!

Tess Of The Durbervilles- by Thomas Hardy

I've had this one lying around for at least 4 years and still haven't gotten past the first chapter, now I just want to finish is out of principle!

Well those seem to be the only ones that I can think of at the moment. I'm open for suggestions. I'm just really needing to get back into the habit of reading again because I really do love it.

Goals 2011!

Well it's been a while, but it feels good to be back! I know it's almost the end of January but I figured it's never to0 late to set some goals. Yesterday I was moping around whining about how I have no hobbies or interests, basically having a big ol' pitty party and then I realized that there were so many things that I'm interested and that I can do! If you don't have a passion, then go out and find one!

So, I dedicate this year to be the year of my life where I test out some new things and maybe I'll find the gem! I'm going to list them here so that I have no excuse as to why I haven't done any of them at the end of the year.

To Do List for 2011!

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• Take a pottery class- I've always wanted to do this, I've seen people do it and it's just kind of always appealed to me, plus I find pottery very very beautiful.
• Read the Bible in 1 year- This is something that I've tried before, and also something that I've made as a goal for myself what feels like every year, this year I really want to do it!
• Make Soap- I think making home made soap would be cool. Something else to learn.
• Get a good workout DVD and do it 5 days/Week- Enough said...
• Knit leg warmers- I'm currently working on a scarf and I'm ready to move onto something a little more interesting/challenging I think.
• Read, Read, Read- I'm in the process of compiling a reading list for myself, and I'm planning on using this blog as a place to write my book reports so I'll get that list posted as soon as its ready.
• Get my Doula business set up- I don't know exactly what this will look like but that's another huuuuuge goal for the year.
• Take a Charleston dance Class- I actually took this class last year with my brother, however Ben has decided that he really wants to take the class so it looks like I'll be taking it again.