WW160: APPLE CIDER SANGRIA, NOW YOU SEE ME, and FRANCO BRAMBILLA

5 things I love this week……please enjoy!

1.) Hey nerds…..you're gonna LOVE this…...Illustrator Franco Brambilla takes beautiful vintage postcards and adds his won brand of silly nerdi-ness to create these fantastic science fiction postcards:

See more HERE…
(Thanks Warren for this one!!!!)

2.) This is interesting. You know, I like to think we live in a different time. The sad fact is….that people are still afraid of people who are different from themselves…….I dunno if you saw that VIRAL "First Kiss" video where a filmmaker set up two strangers to meet and suck each others faces off…….Well….the Gay Women Channel on YouTube decided to have a little fun with it. They found some mildly homophobic but open volunteers to meet gay people and have a very safe, platonic hug. The results were surprisingly heartwarming…..

So there you go!

3.) Ok….this is SUCH old news…..but…..if you are looking for a fast-paced brainless popcorn action movie….may I suggest "Now You See Me". I saw it this weekend, and really enjoyed it!!!

Louis Leterrier (of "Transporter" fame) has created a really fun film! Yes…..it is light on the seriousness and heavy on the style — Ebert called it "a razzle-dazzle fantasy about a team of bank-robbing illusionists" - which is pretty succinct! It’s slick, deliberately silly, and nothing short of a special effects extravaganza! The cast is CRAZY; Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Mark Ruffalo, Mélanie Laurent and Morgan Freeman….and you never quite know what is coming up next!

Basically it is a heist film that is done mostly by "magic" — but don't let that turn you off……..it is  "proudly outlandish" and involve everything from giant mirrors, doubles, hypnosis, copious amounts of flash paper, and holograms as tricks. It is what makes the film so entertaining — in a gaudy, disposable, Vegas act sort of way! It is just non-stop, ever-escalating ridiculousness. 

Enjoyable!

4.) Where my drinkers at? I really want to try this……

APPLE CIDER SANGRIA

1 1/2 cups cinnamon simple syrup*
1 box Black Box white wine (I used Sauvignon Blanc.)
2 cups Apple Pie Vodka
2 cups ginger brandy
4 cups apple cider
1 cup grapes, sliced in half
4 apples, cubed
4 pears, cubed
8 – 10 cinnamon sticks

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher, cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours or up to 2 days. Serve over ice.

*Bring 1 cup sugar, 2 cups water, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon to a simmer over medium-high heat until sugar is completely dissolved. I usually let the mixture simmer for about 10 minutes to create a thicker syrup. Allow syrup to cool completely.

Thanks to Inspired by Charm .com

5.) This made me laugh…...Todd Spence -- art illustrator and editor of Break.com, created these "mash-ups" of the two main characters from HBO's True Detective, Rustin Cohle (Matt McConaughy) and Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) with vintage Hardy Boys Detective novels.

See more here!
(thanks to www.ifitshipitshere.blogspot.ca for this one!)

WW159: AKACORLEONE, BOOMF, and MAIORI (yes…real names!)

5 things I love this week:

1.) Hey arty people…..check out this installation. I LOVE it….. Akacorleone is presenting a solo show at the Underdogs Gallery in Lisbon.

‘Find Yourself in Chaos’ is a bold typographic composition. comprised of various objects, items and memorabilia, the dynamic teal colored installation is optically different at every angle and tricks the eye by appearing as a two-dimensional surface when viewed straight on. symbolism behind the work and notions addressed throughout the exhibition are described by the artist as ‘the feeling of excess of information in the brain which makes it impossible to focus on one task alone, the idea that we’re never satisfied making us therefore accumulate, the visual pollution to which we submit ourselves without questioning’

2.) This backyard light REALLY appealed to me. Thanks to Maiori! Yes…..it is well out of my price range…….but look at how lovely it is………

Great for lighting up your camping trips, this $700+ lam really screams out sophistication!

STUNNING

 It is amazing…because it is 100% solar charged (in 5 hours)…..it produces up to 300 lumens of light……and it can light your indoor or outdoor space for 3.5-7 hours!! Fantastic!!

Whether you are sitting alone in a field with your wine….
perhaps considering how lonely your life is…..or….

….whether you are forcing your youngsters to get into cold water at dusk……
THIS is the light for you!!!

Delightful! I have ordered 4 for my backyard! ;-)

3.) OMFG! (sorry for the swearey-ness) WE NEED THIS!!!! Ever loved someone sooooo much that you want to treasure each moment like a delicious little sweet treat?? NOW YOU CAN……thanks Boomf!!

Yes my friends………you can turn your Instagram photos into delicious marshmallows!!!! Dream come true?? YES!!!!

for $20 bucks get 9 of these sweet treats to delight the love of your life!!!!!
Smores for everyone!!!

4.) This. Is. Amazing. I Talk to Strangers.

I TALK TO STRANGERS® (ITTS) is a social movement that unites various ethics, racial, political, and socio-economic groups through conversation. The purpose of the ITTS Foundation, Inc is to support the mission of the movement by creating programs and partnerships with organizations that promote enriching dialogue and positive collaborations among strangers.These conversations are geared to give individuals increased opportunities, experiences, and understandings about the world and the people around them. 

FIND OUT MORE!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1347828183/i-talk-to-strangers-documentary

5.) These 2 funny clips are GREAT. And both are supplied to me by Cindy…..who gets her knickers in a knot if I don't acknowledge her…….THANKS CINDY!!!!!  :-)

WW158: POPCULTURE! Saint Hoax, Epbot, and Mad Men art…….

Ok….so this week is REALLY pop-culture-y!!! Enjoy the 5 things that I LOVED this week…….

1.) This is for my gays…..and those who love them……….Saint Hoax has created a series of short animated gifs, which transform international political leaders into elaborately dressed-up drag queens! Girrrrrl…….Putin never looked so good!

Saint Hoax describes the commentary the collection of moving images makes, saying, ‘like drag queens, political/religious leaders are expected to entertain, perform and occasionally lip-sync a public speech. but unlike drag queens, the fame hungry leaders don’t know when to take their costumes off.’

Go check out the rest at Saint Hoax……I promise you will LOVE it…...
So good!!!!!
Thanks to DesignBoom for this one!

2.) Here is one for the nerds……I SOOOOO WANT one of these. I am not sure why - as I have no kids…..but COME ON!!!!!!!!!!

Jen, at EPBOT (Check out her VERY ENJOYABLE blog HERE) has created this for her little one!!! From MDF, paint and LOVE……Really she (and her partner John) did a super-fantabuloud job!!!!

Now go and check out her site - she is incredibly crafty and I really enjoyed spending some time on her blog! http://www.epbot.com

3.) Hey Muppet-heads (no…I don't know that that is a real thing ….but what evs) These muppet trailers…….I can't even say how I enjoyed them……

or this one…OMG…..you know how I love a good song and dance!!!!

MUPPETS MOST WANTED…….in theatres March 21st!!
(go to http://muppets.disney.com/muppets-most-wanted for lots of time wasting entertainment!!)

4.) This. Amazing. 'Nuff said.

At 84 legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser is 84…..and still INCREDIBLE!!! He was enlisted to design the promotional ads for the upcoming season of AMC's Mad Men. As the advertising drama moves into the late 60's, the show's creator, Matthew Weiner and the Mad Men promotional team began thinking about the appropriate advertising aesthetic as the show approached its final two years.
(that is them below)

YOU GOTTA read the interview with Milton Glazer HERE!

5.)  Oh…ok….this is FANTASTIC!!!!!!! Thanks Jimmy Kimmel for these…..they are a gift from heaven……These are films based on YouTube sensations…….

WW157: PAPER DRESSES, JASON MECIER, and PANCAKES (again)

Sorry -- I AM LATE AGAIN TODAY!!!
Here is your Wonderful Wednesday post.
The five things that I love this week.

1.) Hello all my couch potatoes….2 new sitcoms are new on my roster of tv watching……

 Growing Up Fisher

It's not every family that's brought closer together by divorce, but then again, the Fishers are anything but typical. Take Mel Fisher (J.K. Simmons, "The Closer," "Law & Order"), for example. He's chopping down trees, showing his daughter how to drive, and playing football with his son… except that Mel's blind. Then there's Joyce (Jenna Elfman, "Dharma & Greg," "1600 Penn"), who is your typical teenager - really into fashion, busy with school - but the problem is she's Mom. That makes it difficult for her actual teenage daughter, Katie (Ava Deluca-Verley, "Southland"), whose advice (and clothes) Joyce is always seeking. At the center of all this is Henry (Eli Baker), the Fishers' 11-year-old son. Having always been his dad's eyes and wingman, Henry is less than thrilled when his job is outsourced to Mel's new guide dog, Elvis. While the boy is at first reluctant to accept the changes that Elvis brings, adult Henry (voiceover by Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development," "Identity Thief") realizes upon reflection that his parents' split finally allowed the Fishers to become one happy (divorced) family.

Inspired by his own life, DJ Nash ("Up All Night," "Bent") serves as executive producer along with Bateman, Jim Garavente ("Identity Thief") and Tucker Cawley ("Up All Night," "Everybody Loves Raymond"). 

It's very Wonder Years-y!

and then there is About A Boy:

Based on the best-selling novel by Nick Hornby ("High Fidelity," "An Education"), written and produced by Jason Katims ("Friday Night Lights," "Parenthood"), and directed by Jon Favreau ("Iron Man," "Revolution") comes a different kind of coming-of-age story.

After writing a hit song, Will Freeman (David Walton, "Bent," "Perfect Couples") was granted a life of free time, free love and freedom from financial woes. He's single, unemployed and loving it. So imagine his surprise when Fiona (Minnie Driver, "Good Will Hunting," "Barney's Version"), a needy single mom and her oddly charming 11-year-old son, Marcus (Benjamin Stockham, "1600 Penn"), move in next door and disrupt his perfect world.

When Marcus begins dropping by his home unannounced, Will's not so sure about being a kid's new best friend, until, of course, Will discovers that women find single dads irresistible. That changes everything and a deal is struck: Marcus will pretend to be Will's son and in return, Marcus is allowed to chill at Will's house, playing Ping-Pong and gorging on steaks, something his very vegan mom would never allow. Before he realizes it, Will starts to enjoy the visits and even finds himself looking out for the kid. In fact, this newfound friendship may very well teach him a thing or two that he never imagined possible - about himself and caring for others. Also starring is Al Madrigal ("Gary Unmarried"). If you liked the movie….you'll like seeing the WHOLE movie in 30 minutes! I look forward rot seeing more of Minnie Driver!!!!

2.) This is fantastic. A portrait of Steve Jobs, made of Apple e-waste. Artist Jason Mecier is using over 20 pounds of electronic waste and has spent over 40 hours arranging and gluing together discarded Apple products, like broken Macintosh keyboards, an iPod, an iBook, headphones, floppy discs, mice, batteries, memory sticks, and broken circuit boards!!!

Check out more of Jason’s cool art on his website and on his Facebook page.

NEATO!!!!

3.) Paper dresses by FashionByMayhem.com. This is the ultimate mother daughter dream team. I think had I of been a girl…..as a kid - this would have totally been me! Follow @2sisters_angie and #fashionbymayhem on Instagram……to see these miraculous little paper dresses….but here are a few.

The real story starts when Angie's daughter ("Mayhem") shunned her store-bought princess dresses and started wrapping herself with scarves and sheets creating her own styles. Then one day Angie got tired of finding her clothes in Mayhem's toy box and suggested they make a dress out of paper. Mayhem loved the idea and they haven't stopped creating paper dresses since. They use ANYTHING…from construction paper, tissue paper, wrapping paper, gift bags, silk scarves, tulle, and aluminum foil. Basically, if it is laying around the house and it's pliable, it's fair game. Clear packing tape and glue are our adhesives of choice! It is AH-MAH-ZING!!!!!!!!! They recreate Oscars dresses and Project Runway Fashions - ALL IN PAPER! I LOVE IT!!!!!! Check these out:

Now go look at the blog!!!
http://www.fashionbymayhem.com

4.) Yesterday was pancake day………in honour of this most auspicious holiday….I give you this…….Macaroni and Cheese Pancakes:

Ingredients:

2 tsp. baking powder
1½ cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. coarse salt
1 cup whole milk
2 eggs
1⅓ cup buttermilk
2½ cups cooked macaroni, preferably elbows or small shells, drained and cooled
Maple syrup and hot sauce for serving
½ cup whole wheat flour
1½ cups grated cheddar

Instructions:
-In a large bowl, whist the dry ingredients.
-In a separate bowl, whisk together the milks, eggs and butter. Add the milk mixture to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined (the batter will be slightly lumpy) . Fold in the macaroni and cheddar.
-Pre-heat and lightly grease a griddle or large skillet over medium heat. Scoop batter onto the griddle to make pancakes. Cook until undersides are golden brown and slightly stiff, about 5 minutes.
-Flip and cook until second side is golden brown.

VIA piarecipes.com

5.) For fun….please check out "Hilarious Fail/Win Compilation January 2014 HD New Best Fails/Wins Of The Month" on YOUTUBE…….you will see gems like this:

or this….

You're welcome!