My New Obsession: Pinterest

I had no idea what Pinterest was or even how to use it this time last week.... and now I'm obsessed. Basically, it is a website where you topic boards, when you find something you like/find interesting, you "pin" it to one of your topic boards. Seems simple enough, right? It is! You can follow your friends or just random people to get ideas. When I signed up, it automatically found all my facebook friends who also have Pinterest and had me follow their "pins".

You can make a board any topic you want. I currently have these boards: Jamie Loves, Food Ideas, Crafty, Knitting/Crochet, Working on My Fitness, and I Love Green! I've found some awesome and fun things. One of my friends told me that she's been on Pinterest for a while and that her Mom saw things she had "pinned" and she got a few of those things for Christmas. What an interesting concept, eh? Kind of cool


Anyways, if you are on Pinterest or are interested in finding out more... here's my profile:
www.pinterest.com/jamchee79

xxoo

The Nominations Are In!!

I've always been obsessed with The Academy Awards. Not as much as The Tony Awards, but pretty close. Yesterday the nominations for the Oscars were announced. I always try to see all of the movies nominated for Best Picture. And now since Tim & I started dating, we are on this mission together! Out of the 9 films nominated, I've seen 4 and Tim has seen 5. Here's a re-cap of what we have seen so far.....

THE ARTIST

THE ARTIST is an amazing film for many reasons. First off, it's a silent film. Yes, I said silent film. Tim and I saw it a few weeks ago. I wasn't sure what to expect when we sat down but the music and acting swept me away. I was so enthralled with it that I caught myself holding my breath at the end. I really enjoyed it and I plan to buy it when it comes to DVD.

THE DESCENDANTS

THE DESCENDANTS was very entertaining. Sad but funny throughout the whole film. George Clooney was great in this too. He will probably win an Oscar for it. I enjoyed this film even though it was slow in parts.

THE HELP

THE HELP was a lot of fun. My best friend Adam and I saw it when he was in town a few months ago. It's really funny but also very inspiring. Hard to believe people lived like that in the south at one time. I enjoyed this movie also. I heard the book is great too. I'd like to read it eventually.

WAR HORSE

WAR HORSE is an epic Steven Spielberg movie. I saw the stage version of WAR HORSE at Lincoln Center a few months ago and balled my eyes out. It's an amazing story about a horse's journey throughout years at war. When I watched it on the big screen, I didn't get as emotional as I did when I saw it on stage. Maybe it's because I knew what was coming, or maybe it's because the stage is just more intimate. All I know is that Tim and I were making fun because it was just kind of creepy how obsessed characters were with this horse. All in all a good movie, but I liked the stage version much more.

The rest are movies we need to see before February 26th. 

Tim has seen MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, but said he really enjoyed it and would see it again. I'm excited to see it. I've heard great things.

I am currently reading EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE. I wanted to read it before I saw the movie. I am anxious to see it! The book is great!

HUGO, we hear, must be seen in 3D. It looks really fun too. Even though I am not a fan of 3D movies, this one could be the exception. Plus, it's a Martin Scorsese kid's movie?? I'm intrigued!!

MONEY BALL starring Brad Pitt & Jonah Hill... plus they are both nominated. Jonah Hill is nominated for an Academy Award. That is a sentence I never thought I'd type. I am interested in seeing this movie because a) I heard good things about it, b) I like Philip Seymour Hoffman and c) I need to see this Jonah Hill acting. I feel like he finally took a role that wasn't the same role over and over and/or wasn't goofy, therefore people now "think he can act". No, he just isn't playing the same character he always plays. We'll see this movie and decide, I guess.

TREE OF LIFE.... I haven't really heard anything about this movie. I didn't even know Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain were in this movie. Did anyone see this?? I have no idea what it is about but I will see it so I can round out my opinion for BEST FILM.

So there you go.... Have you seen any of these movies?? Are you a fan of the Oscars?? Now, to have an Oscar party or not to have an Oscar party! Ummmmmmm..


xoxox

Delaware: The First State

This past weekend Tim and I went to visit his friends, Mike and Kim, in Delaware. Tim went to high school with these friends in DE, so I knew I'd get to hear some good stories. We left Penn Station on Saturday morning at 9am. We took the NJ Transit out to Trenton, NJ, then Kim picked us up. It is about a 90 minute drive to their house. I wanted Kim & Tim to be able to catch up, so I sat in the back. Whoa, that was a dumb idea. I forgot how car sick I get in the back seat, especially now, since I am hardly ever in a car anymore. Luckily, we stopped for gas and snacks right before I felt super sick. The rest of the way, I sat in the front.

Mike and Kim live in a great neighborhood. I met Justin and Quin, their kids. We had lunch and relaxed with the family. Around 8pm, we went to dinner at a steak restaurant called FIREBIRDS. It's Mike and Kim's favorite restaurant. They've been going there for years. Kim & I ordered these amazing pineapple martinis. We all ordered steaks. I had a peppercorn one! I was so delicious. I couldn't eat the whole thing, so I ended up having it for lunch the next day too.

After dinner, we went back to Mike and Kim's and played some board games with them and also Tim's friend Craig. We all had a blast. Tim made me his signature drink, a Seven & Seven. I had a few of them actually. We had a fun time & didn't wake up with a head ache! :)

On Sunday morning, we woke up and played with baby Quin. He just turned 1 yr old on Christmas Day. He's a cutie for sure! Kim made us bacon & french toast with texas toast!! It was yummmmy! I thought Tim was going to pee his pants he was so excited about the french toast. It's his absolute favorite... well, that and pancakes/waffles! :)

That afternoon, we all took naps and were completely lazy. It was wonderful! After that, Kim and I went grocery shopping for dinner. She drove me through the town. The University of Delaware is located there and it reminded me a lot of my college town of Bowling Green, Ohio.

That night was TACO NIGHT and the guys did the cooking. Well, Mike cooked and Tim watched while he drank his Jack & Coke. I could hear Mike giving him instructions from the living room. It was funny. After dinner, we all watched the Golden Globes and relaxed. It was really nice.

Monday morning we woke up to Kim making pancake cupcakes. Pancake Cupcakes? What are they, you ask? Well, it's pancake mix with cooked bacon bits & eggs put into a cupcake pan. They look and tasted delicious. And so easy to make!!

I also tried something called SCRAPPLE, yes SCRAPPLE. Yea, I never heard of it either. It's a east coast thing. The week before we went to DE, Tim sent me the Wikipedia link explaining SCRAPPLE. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrapple   And this is the picture I took of it frying in the pan.....

Tim had me try it with ketchup & Mike had me try it with syrup.  It tasted like burnt sausage, which essentially what it is. Lol. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't the best breakfast food ever! So I guess it's the equivalent of Ohio's SKYLINE CHILI. You rave about Skyline to out-of-towners, then they try it and they are like.... "eh". Those who live in Ohio, know what I mean! :) 

Mike drove us back to the Trenton train station so we could grab the 2pm train. Check out what street the train station is located.....

Kinda cool, eh?? :)

Our train ride on the way back to NYC was nice. I slept a little on Tim's shoulder while he listened to music on my ipod. I'm not sure what he listened to though since most of the ipod is loaded with musical theater recordings. Ha! Ha! It was nice to get away from the city for a few days but it is also nice to be back into the swing of things. 

 

Thanks to Mike, Kim, Justin & Quin for hosting us for the weekend. Love you guys! :)

2012 Resolutions

1) Save at least $20 per week

2) Call Grandma at least once a month

3) Write a blog at least once a month

4) Work out at least 3 times a week

5) Read more books

6) Healthier eating

Welcome 2012!

I am currently sitting at ABC on a Saturday night at 9pm because I'm working for the New Hampshire Republican Debate. Even though I am working on the first Saturday night of 2012, I am hoping to be doing a lot of these after hour events since it's an election year. I'll work as much as they need me.

Give me experience!!! Give me work!!! Give it to me 2012!!!

The first week of 2012 has been really nice. Tim and I went to his apartment in Astoria on Sunday Jan 1st and hang out then went to my friend Justin's New Year's Day party. Justin only lived 2 blocks away from Tim, so it was really nice to not have to travel too far.We had a fun time eating a yummy dinner and playing games.  On Monday Jan 2, Tim and I didn't have to work, so we were lazy all afternoon, then went to see the George Clooney movie THE DESCENDANTS. It was good, sad but good.

Wednesday night was a good bye party for my friend Blake. He has been a fantastic friend for the past 2 years. He's a radio DJ and he was offered a full time job in Houston, Texas. I know, he's going to be soooooooo far away, but this is an amazing opportunity for him. He is an incredible talent and an incredible person and I know we will always be friends. I wish him nothing but the best!!

Next weekend, Tim and I are going to Delaware to visit his best friend Mike and his wife Kim. I met them when they came into the city to see Tim's Christmas show. They are super fun and awesome and I can not wait to spend the weekend with them. They have 2 kids too. The youngest just turned 1yr old so that should be a lot of fun! :) I'll write about that next week! :)

Until then.... xoxo