WW143: THE WAY WAY BACK, MACALISTER MANSION and HAIRY PRINCESSES

Hey howdy!
Let's just get to it…..here are 5 things I LOVE this week.

1.) I am late on this one……but last week I rented "The Way Way Back". It's a sweet "Little-Miss-Sunshine-y-like" kinda film. It was written and directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (aka the Dean on 'Community') -- they also wrote "The Descendants"…..

"TWWB is a funny and poignant coming of age story of 14-year-old Duncan's (Liam James) summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing (douche-bag-gy) boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Having a rough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in gregarious Owen (Sam Rockwell), manager of the Water Wizz water park. Through his funny, clandestine friendship with Owen, Duncan slowly opens up to and begins to finally find his place in the world - all during a summer he will never forget."

I really enjoyed it. It was a nice film. I recommend it!

2.) Here are some cool paintings from Brian Liebenthal:

"Born and educated in Johannesburg, South Africa, Brian Lnthal came to Los Angeles in the early 90’s to further his studies in music composition and film scoring. Since early childhood, Brian was playing piano, drawing or paging through art books of Rembrandt, Rubens and Caravaggio but decided to dedicate his formal education to music. It wasn’t until 1993 after a trip to Europe that Brian was deeply moved and inspired to paint professionally after seeing the works of contemporary and classical art masters up close. After returning to the United States, he immersed himself into an intensive study period learning the techniques and styles of both classical, contemporary masters and street artists. Brian never felt loyal to any particular discipline or genre and nothing was off limits to get the job done. After many years of honing his craft, Brian has emerged on the contemporary art scene as someone that is able to tackle a wide variety of subjects with a unique style and technique that is clearly his own."
Check out more on his website:

www.brianliebenthal.com

3.) I cannot get this little ditty out of my head…thanks Quincy Jones (and Nikki Yanofsky):

4.) I want to go to there. Let's all plan our big trip to Macalister Mansion in Malaysia!!!

This place is dead sexy! It's 4,800 square meters of delightful! Located in in Panang, Malaysia -this new boutique hotel is a 100 year old historic mansion -- adapted into a modern and hip locale! It has only 8 rooms and the 5 F&Bs (formal diningroom, casual dining, the den, the cellar and the outdoor bar) and is designed by Colin Seah.

It's only about $250-$400 a night……not a bad price to live in luxury for a while!

LET'S GO!!!!

See more ah-mah-zing photos HERE!

(thanks to If it's Hip it's Here for this one!)

5.) In honour of Mo-vember…….I give you this……YOU'RE WELCOME!

See more on Buzzfeed!!!

WW103: MOSCOW MULE, JONATHAN COULTON, and "LOOK AT THIS INSTAGRAM"

Hello! Welcome to Wonderful Wednesday!!!
Let's get right to it....5 thing I LOVE this week!

1.) A canadian artist. Yes, I know I am not the best about promoting exclusively Canadian talent....BUT this I really enjoyed! Pat Dumas-Hudecki is lovely and playful. I think her work is delighful and whimsical and beautiful! Here is a snippet from her Artist statement that explains it nicely:

Through realistic representation with a special emphasis on capturing the light, Pat uncovers the sweet disorder of the domestic world from an unusual and playful point of view. There are scenes and stories full of high drama all around us that have become the narrative thread of her art. She transforms that which is taken for granted and in the process compels you to appreciate the iconic power within the ‘ordinary’. Pat Dumas-Hudecki’s works have garnered many awards and may be found in private and public collections, including the Ontario Government’s permanent collection.
I especially like her "In transition" Series and her "Child's Play" Series. Very sweet work! Here are a few examples:

She has an upcoming show - go to her website for more details about her shows HERE!

2.) SPOOKY - BUT AH-MAH-ZING!!!! This is the HR Giger bar located at the museum of the famous sci-fi artist in Gruyeres, Switzerland. Rest your weary body in the bone chairs and admire the spinal chord ceilings! So crazy and impressive! HR Giger Bar.....note to self......go check it out next trip to Switzerland!

3.) Ok...so I had to share this one with you. If you are a Glee watcher, you will remember this song from last weeks episode. They did a great TUNEFUL cover of "Baby Got Back" (originally by Sir - Mix-a-lot in the 90's) I thought the arrangement was brilliant. Come to find out.....it is not a GLEE original - but a rip off of a arrrangement by Jonathan Coulton, a musician with a relatively small but devoted following, mostly on the Internet. Coulton (very rightly so) feels ripped off. "Glee" routinely puts its cover versions up for sale on iTunes and it'll get thousands of downloads. Coulton not only doesn't get a dime from any of this, he didn't even get any credit for it on the show. Covers are not copyright-able, except for their audiotracks. Glee has contacted Coulton about the controversy but according to him, the show had the audacity to suggest that he should be happy for the exposure!!! TERRIBLE huh? As Coulton points out, the only exposure he's been getting is as a result of his complaints against the show.

So...he is re-releasing his own version with the smart aleck new title "Baby Got Bak - in the style of Glee", he's also donating the money he makes off it to the "It Gets Better" campaign, another nice dig at Glee, a show known for its pro-gay stance. Coulton still thinks "Glee" could easily turn this controversy into a PR win. "I think if they just approached it differently, and they said 'Hey, we're doing this. We're super excited and we're going to promote you. We're going to give you a credit and we're going to give you a $500 honorarium,' I think they could turn it around."

You should check out his music! It reminds me of early Barenaked Ladies. I am gonna download one of his albums for sure!!!!
I like the album "JoCo Looks Bask".....there are a bunch of enjoyable songs on it!!!
For example, I enjoy the song 'Tom Cruise Crazy':

and also "Shop Vac"...I enjoy this one A LOT.....great graphics on this video:

4.) Looking for a lovely tropical-like drink to drag you out of the February blahs??? I encourage you to try this refreshing little ditty. The Moscow Mule.....

Two parts vodka
One part lime juice
3 parts ginger beer

YUMMERS!!!!!!!!!

5.) I cannot decide which of these two spoofs is funnier. They both made me laugh and laugh!!! they both have a bit of strong language (just a tiny bit)

You decide which is funny-er...this one (thanks Kelly):

or this one (thanks Cindy/Dale)

CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos

(if that didn't work - click THIS LINK - you will not regret it!)

ww:79 - DESIGN CRISIS, UNDERWATER ART AND PANCAKES (again)

WELCOM TO WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY!!!
Here are 5 things that I love this week.
Enjoy!
REMEMBER........I would love your suggestions for future #WW posts!!!!

1.) House porn. Yes...that's how I roll. I LOVE the gals at Design Crisis. But here are 2 reasons I love to follow them weekly. ONE - They are funny and smart and have a great eye for design. TWO they have a constant barrage of different decorating ideas each week! So many styles of things that I love...I love the DRAMA in these rooms:

this painted treatment is CRAZY!

What? emerald green cabinetry and leopard carpet? YES PLEASE!

Neutral!!!

COULD YOU IMAGINE?

GOD I LOVE HERRINGBONE (the floor)

Hello, painted Art Nouveau styled wallpaper!

I don't know what is up with me and green. It's not easy!

DONT BE AFRAID OF COLOUR!! LOVE THE CABINET COLOUR!!!

Even decorators get the blues!

I am sure I could get my kitchen to look like this!!

Dreamy? OR NIGHTMARE??? Not too sure!

oh ya......and remember to check them out HERE

2.) Andreas Frank. A neat-o exhibition UNDERWATER! As the story goes, he took a dive down to the Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg, a  United States missile tracking ship that was recently sunk 7 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida in order to create an artificial reef....and whilst there took pictures of the wreck. He then digitally manipulated the photos to create various underwater vignettes. Then.....here is the cool thing.......he staged an exhibition of the photos on the deck of the ship! Divers took in the exhibit in full scuba gear. I am not gonna do it...but it is neat! Check it out:

Here is a video of people viewing the works:

 Neat, huh?

(Thanks to beautifuldecay for this one!)

3.) I know what you are about to say.....REALLY ROB?? ENOUGH WITH THE GD PANCAKES! But here's the thing - I am completely obsessed with them. I LOVE them. Yes....so much that I COULD marry them (if it weren't gonna be awkward with my first husband)!! So usually on Sundays I go out for pancakes....but I really like this idea for pancakes at home. Shelly has made her PANcakes in a muffin pan - adding bacon t some and blueberries to others!!! Check out her other great ideas HERE!

Shelly's Pancake Bites

1/2 cup Multigrain Pancake Mix, dry
1/3 cup Soy Milk (any milk would do)
1/4 cup Torani Sugar Free Caramel Syrup
Assorted Toppings: Cooked Sausage, Crumbled Cooked Bacon, Fruit (I used frozen blueberries but banana slices or apples are yum too)

Mix pancake mix, milk, syrup together till thoroughly combined. Pour batter into a non-stick 12 cup mini muffin tinthat has been sprayed with Pam. Fill about 3/4 way up.

4.) Flip Toronto.  I like this project! I think it is neat-o! (Yes....that is fancy artist talk!)

Eight Toronto-based artists mash-it-up to explore and reveal the city’s transformations, hidden histories and surprises! Flip-Toronto features work by: David Grenier, Aubrey Reeves, Alec Dempster, Cortney Stephenson, Mary Porter,Tania Ursomarzo, Patrick Jenkins, and Lise Beaudry. These Artists were asked to choose a specific neighbourhood or location in the city to explore and portray in their flip-book project. The challenge – how do you tell a story about the city, in only 60 pages, without text and sound? I really like the concept....and here is my fave by Patrick Jenkins: