Slick + I caught it with some friends over its opening weekend.  It was fine.  The first one I saw twice in the theater the same weekend (Friday + Sunday – I’m hardcore like that…) and laughed SO hard both times I could hardly breathe.  My abs were pretty stellar afterwards, I must say…  Part II was just okay in my opinion.  Same exact format as before, but more vulgar than funny.  See it, but I don’t think you need to spend $12 to see it in the theater.  Just saying.

I also recently watched (Netflix) Matt Damon-narrated Inside Job, a documentary profiling the 2008 Wall Street financial crisis. 

The subject matter is heavy, but important.  Inside Job was reportedly well received by film critics who praised its pacing, research + explanation of complex financial material.  I thought it was fantastic.  Now, I may still count on my fingers, but I definitely felt like I had a good understanding of what caused the crisis by the time the film ended.  I strongly recommend it if you are in the mood for an interesting docu.  Matt Damon’s voice isn’t too difficult to listen to for a few hours, either…

Please tell me that y’all have seen Sophia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette.  PLEASE.

It’s an oldie but a greatie!

It used to be one of my favorite movies (came out in 2006) + I hadn’t seen it in f.o.r.e.v.e.r., BUT it was recently on IFC (Independent Film Channel) and I TiVoed.  I’ve since rewatched it 2 1/2 times over the past week.  Working on the third… Love Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, the music Sophia uses in her movies, all the opulence.  I love!  And, you need to see it.

I promise that I’m not just watching movies…  I also recently started reading Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain.  It’s super cute.  Not a Pulitzer Prize winner or anything, but it did motivate me to stop by the Atlanta Humane Society during lunch last Friday to hold puppies.  True story.

It’s a good, quick read + Enzo is an unbelievably adorable dog. 

Really, all this movie watching and reading is just helping me bide time until True Blood (Season 4) returns on Sunday, June 26!

Is it time yet?  Is it time yet?  Is it time yet?  IS IT TIME YET?!  I can’t wait.  I’ve been SO vampire deprived lately…

I’ve also started to make plans for the midnight showing of Harry Potter + The Deathly Hallows Part II on Thursday, July 14.   AHHHH!!!!!

I just may go into shock when it’s finally over. 

Seriously.

xx, L

I wanted to read the following books, but felt like I needed a bit of lighter reading before I completely delved into the series.  (I was just coming up for air from the Harry Potter + Twilight series – and then reading anything + everything vampire-related.  I’m pretty much a 16 year old w/ regard to my literary taste.)  So, I read some fluff + about a month ago I found myself at Slick’s parent’s house holding a copy of The Girl Who Played With Fire.  It was time to commit.

I brought the book back to Atlanta with me + have been reading it every night before bed.  Maybe not the best material for sweet dreams, but it is SO good – I can’t put it down!  It’s a beast, too, with over 700 pages.  Played With Fire sucked me in from the very first page.  I think that this story is much more interesting (+ much easier to follow) than Tattoo, although you really need the background from the first book to set up the second. 

Now, I can’t wait to get through it + move on to The Hornet’s Nest!

WHAT an addicting series!  I’m seriously lovin’ it!

xx, L

Yesssssssssssss!  (I just can’t get enough of these sexy bloodsuckers…)

True Blood Season 3 starts tonight!  Don’t miss it – 9:00 p.m. EST on HBO.  Christine and I will be glued.

And, please remember:

This is big.

xx, L

I am very excited about this really great event I heard about yesterday! 

Okay, obviously posting fliers on the blog is not my forte.  I only have v. limited computer skillz and absolutely no idea how to re-size things on here, BUT I am more than happy to break it down for you elementary-school-birthday-party-invitation style…

you're invited!

What:  Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF)* Young Leadership Committee is throwing a Rock the Cure “brews and blues” (that is so cute!) event.  Rock the Cure features the best Atlanta has to offer – two great bands, Mama’s Love and Lost City, delicious food, Sweetwater brews and exciting raffle prizes!

Where:  Sweetwater Brewing Company!

When:  Saturday, June 19, 2010  7:30 – 11:00 p.m.

Ticket Information:  General Admission Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 at the door.

Fine Print:  Must be at least 21 years old.  ID’s checked at the door.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.jdrfrockthecure.org

*JDRF’s mission is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.  All proceeds from this event benefit JDRF.

I think it sounds like so much fun, and it’s for such a great + worthy cause!  Also, Kristen Stewart supports the JDRF (as evidenced below).  

Although she can be kind of a twerp, KStew gets to regularly make-out with hot vampires + werewolves – so I’m kinda in for whatever she’s in for. 

it's almost time again!

Just sayin’…

xx, L

Time to get excited - The Vampire Diaries (TVD) Season 2 starts tomorrow on the CW at 8:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. Central).  Over the past year, I made a point to watch less MTV and CW and more HBO documentaries and Nat Geo, but when it comes to vampires…a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.  TVD Season 1 was pretty rad.  I watched it all on a Sunday marathon and didn’t leave my house the entire day, so I have pretty high expectations for Season 2. 

In case you’ve just recently jumped on the undead bandwagon, here’s the Q+DD on The Vampire Diaries to prepare you for tomorrow night’s premiere:

The Vampire Diaries is an American supernatural-fantasy horror television series developed by Kevin Williamson, based on the book series of the same name by L. J. Smith.  The series follows the life of Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), who falls in love with vampire brothers Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder).  It also focuses on the lives of Elena’s friends and other inhabitants of the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia.  The series is a mix of teen drama and the supernatural.  It premiered on September 10, 2009, on the CW Television Network, and has become its best performing show.  On October 21, 2009, the series was given a full, 22-episode first season.  Forbes.com includes the series in a so-called recent “vampire craze” in entertainment, beginning with HBO’s True Blood and the Twilight series, and continuing with Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant and Daybreakers. (www.wikipedia.com)

The Vampire Diaries

Plus, Ian Somerhalder isn’t too hard on the eyes.  He’s no Slick, but then again I am pretty sure Slick is not a vampire…

Slick (the wolverine)...not vampire

Also, it’s kind of cool that TVD is filmed in and around Atlanta: http://bit.ly/1n9sVF

If you’ve been sold on the whole Hollywood vampire craze as hard as I’ve been – I suggest checking out The Vampire Diaries on the CW tomorrow night.  It’s no Twilight, but it’s a close enough fix to settle my vampire cravings until True Blood starts again or Eclipse eventually comes out in theaters!  Enjoy!    

xx, L

beautiful naples, florida

And here…

view from our suite

Gazing at a palm tree paradise and fishing around for shells in the ocean.

slick

We didn’t have a care in the world.  We left our shoes here…

And relaxed by the beautiful beach to catch some rays (in November!!).

We attended a gorgeous wedding and partied the night away…

We ate.  We mingled.  We ice luge-d.  We brought the party.

"Life's too short. Eat dessert first!"

Slick challenged innocent wedding-goers to dance offs…

"there's nothing left for me to do but DANCE"

Fun times were had by all.  UNTIL, we returned to Atlanta to find THIS! 

So, we quickly got our stuff together and ran to the nearest movie theater to see…

!!!!!

Slick didn’t exactly love all the “oooing” and “awwing” from teenage girls – and me – in the theater when Jacob took off his shirt nineteen million times throughout the movie, but he sat through the whole thing and didn’t complain once.  (God bless him!)  I thought it was incredible! 

Tonight, we are going to see this guy speak:

al gore

And, we are eagerly awaiting eating this bad boy on Thursday when we head back to Florida:

sorry...

Until then, we are bundling up and keeping our fingers crossed for pretty weather in Atlanta! 

Miss you and your beaches already, Florida!  See you again in T-2 days!

xx, L

Um…

I mean…  (Hard to piece together complete thoughts)

THIS IS H.A.P.P.E.N.I.N.G!!

And THIS is happening…

(FYI: I am totally on Team Jacob.)  I can hardly sit still!

I’ve been so patient.  I really have…  And, I even went cold turkey off of vampires ever since the second season of my favorite HBO show, True Blood, ended.  Sundays just have not been the same.

Gosh, vampires are so sexy…

Anyway, people, the second installment of the incredibly popular (and wickedly addictive) Twilight series, NEW MOON, premieres this Friday!  So exciting!!  I think Miss Miley Cyrus put it best:

“I feel like it’s like, seriously, it’s like, people get, like, really into it,” the well-spoken Hannah Montana star continued. “And maybe it’s cuz I’m like… people always, like, fall in love with the characters, I don’t know…”   – Miley on Twilight

Wow.

Attention Men:  Women adore you.  They do.  But, they like Edward Cullen and Jacob Black more.  (I’m just being honest here.)  Want to be a real hero?  Take your lady-friend to see one of these:

(NOT FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED)
Landmark Midtown Arts Cinema: Thursday, November 19 @ 12:00 a.m.
AMC Buckhead Fork & Screen: Thursday, November 19 @ 12:00 a.m.
AMC Phipps Plaza: Thursday, November 19 @ 12:30 a.m.

In the meantime, check out this unbelieveable post on Jennsylvania re. New Moon mania:
http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylvania/2009/11/new-new-moon.html
(Thanks, LK!)

I have a feeling that this is going to put me back on vampires for at least a few months… 

Can’t wait to finally see it!  Enjoy – and remember:

xx, L