I'm Sorry, Who?

Name five actors or actresses. I'll wait.




...





Time's up. So who'd you come up with? Did George Clooney, Gerard Butler, Orlando Bloom, Angelina Jolie, or Jennifer Aniston make your list? Most likely they did, and even if not, the people who did are big names too.

But what about the "others"? I don't mean in any kind of sci-fi way. I mean, what about the actors and actresses who get nothing but supporting roles as the quirky best friend or the asshole boyfriend and yet are still exceptional actors?

Take for example Judy Greer (pictured at left). She's performed in a number of top movies like 13 going on 30, 27 dresses, The Wedding Planner, and What Women Want, as well as a number of guest spots on TV, but if I were to drop her name in a conversation about actors, I would probably be accosted with a response such as "Oh, I think you mean Judy Blume."







Another good example of an overlooked talent is Emily Blunt. She's probably most known for her role as the snarky and starving secretary in The Devil Wears Prada, but she has also been featured in Sunshine Cleaning, The Jane Austen Book Club, and Dan in Real Life. Now, she is rising up in the world. In 2009, Blunt played the title role in The Young Victoria. She also recently married my true love, John Krasinski (don't think I've gotten over that yet). But this young talent's career is only just beginning.




And my last example, though there are so many of them (including guys - sorry, didn't mean to exclude the guys) is Sasha Alexander. She played Kate on NCIS which I think was her first big role before landing some minor roles in Yes Man and He's Just Not That Into You. Now she's on the apparently hit new series Rizzoli and Isles. I don't know about it. I haven't seen it or anything but it sounds like a pasta dish to me. Ohh, pasta.

Judging a Book by Its Cover

I'm quite familiar, as is the rest of literate and illiterate humanity with the adage "Don't judge a book by its cover." However, when actually talking about books, this might not be the rule to follow. Think about it: if the typeface is ugly and illegible and the illustration is bad or nonexistent, then most likely, the book won't sell. But if the title is witty and eye-catching, the illustration vibrant, and the overall cover concept innovative, it's going to sell in a fashion similar to hotcakes (apparently they are quite the bestseller).

Personally, I only buy pretty books. When I'm in B&N, I get tired of reading the book summaries on the back covers and the authors' blurbs, so sometimes I find the prettiest book with the coolest or most meaningful title (to me) and I buy it. And most of the time this method proves very effective. I bought my favorite book, The Devil in the Details, this way (cover art here).

So, when I found bookcoverarchive.com I was so overwhelmed, and so was my Amazon shopping cart. This website features some of the most gorgeous and some of the weirdest book covers I've ever seen, but all of them are unique. To save you some time, though you should absolutely check it out for yourself, I've picked a couple of my favorites.

A Really Beautiful Take on a Classic



I'm fascinated; it's a contents page as a cover page. Mind-blowing.



I am so reading this book.



I adore Elie Wiesel and vintage photos so I would totally pick this book up.


There are no words. Well, clearly there are because it's a cover to a book, but you get the point.

Trust Me: I'm An Expert

I'm a chick flick connoisseur. I'm a rom-com movie maven. I'm that girl. And I figured I'd make a list of my favorites. Keep in mind, that these are my favorites, and while I do have very discerning tastes when it comes to a girl meets boy type of scenario, you don't have to agree with me. It's likely you won't, considering how contentious we hopeless romantics can be about our movies. Nevertheless...

1. Garden State
2. While You Were Sleeping
3. Sense and Sensibility
4. Return to Me
5. The Proposal
6. Ever After

Now, while most of the recent attempts at romantic comedies have been wanting at best, these are classics. If you haven't seen them yet, you have to at least once. And if you don't like them, don't complain about it to me.

But Don't Get Crazy...

Most people who have mingled at least a few times with other human beings over the past three years are very familiar with Bon Qui Qui of MadTv fame, known to her mom as Anjelah Johnson. She's become a household name and one of the most quoted videos .... ever. However, what's unknown to a surprising number of people, she is actually an accomplished comedian outside of the King Burger Franchise.

Here is the video that made "Rude" my sister's favorite comeback.

And here is some of her stand-up:

Braid Crusade

Lately, I have been obsessed beyond comprehension with braids. And it doesn't help that there are so many different types of braids: traditional, French, lace, fishtail, Dutch, twist, etc. The fun is endless. There's only one problem: I have never really mastered French braiding, and my "patience quota" only goes so far when I'm trying to learn new braids.

But alas, I shall not give up. Why? Because they are so freaking pretty, and I will rock the braid.

Here are some of my favorite hairstyles that feature this gorgeous style!

Dutch Braids

Cascade Braid (ha, it rhymes)

Lace Braid
(Click here for a how-to on Lace Braiding)

A Must(ache) for the Puppy in Your Life

Find it here.

Why does nothing please you?!

Twilight sucks. No pun intended. If you agree, welcome to sanity! If not, you might not want to keep reading - this is your one warning.

In case you didn't know, I hate twilight. Hopefully you do too. Alex Day certainly does. He was a simple guy (or bloke, as he would probably say in that ridiculously adorable British accent) with a mission: to figure out what all of this Twilight mania was all about. So, he decided to read the now international sensation cover to cover with this mission in mind. And to video blog about it along the way. The result? The funniest commentary on any book you or I will ever come across.

The best part is that he embarked on this sometimes treacherous mission with a completely open mind, but after reading a few pages of this not-even-fit-for-bathroom-reading excuse for literature, he was convinced. Twilight sucks. And he's ready to tell you why.

Here is the first in his series of "Alex Reads Twilight" which he covers chapter by chapter.



If you enjoyed that as much as I think you did, visit his YouTube channel for even more hilarity.

MIA Google Logos

I know I'm not the only one that loves all of the cute Google logos, especially the working Pacman logo from a little while back. They're so innovative and cute! Even the really random ones.

This one is from friendship day. Who knew?

Here is a list of Google logos you've probably never seen celebrating holidays that no one has ever heard of. Enjoy!

A Vital Life Question

How Many Justin Biebers could you take in a fight?

Confession Time

Hi my name is Olivia, and I spend an egregious amount of time on Etsy.

Not to say I buy everything I love because we all know I would be tripping over vintage suitcases and cufflinks shaped like octupuses... octupi?

But the addiction is there. It's the homemade-handcrafted monkey on my back. And now that I have my job back, I'm only being enabled. I should give in, right? It's all so pretty, and it wants to come home with me! I'm like 82% sure.

Anyway, here are my top favorites of the moment. (Check back with me in an hour for a refreshed list of favorites)

The designer of this headband has it in so many colors and styles. Check out the item's page!

What? Don't judge me.

SO Beautiful!

It's so sad how much I love shoes compared to how infrequently I can find them in my size and how infrequently I can actually afford the pretty ones.

Viva La Polaroid!

I don't pretend to know anything about photography. I leave that to my uber-talented friend and author of Word of Mouth. However, I've always loved polaroids - even the ones me and my sister used to take when we were bored during long summer days.

Here are some stunning examples of beautiful polaroid photography that give me chills!

Florence and the Machine

Some of the best and most innovative music I've heard in years. An absolute must!

English is Stupid

Sometimes, yes, it is.

I don't know who wrote this poem but they certainly got it right.

There is no egg in the eggplant,
No ham in the hamburger
And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England,
French fries were not invented in France.

We sometimes take English for granted, but if we examine its paradoxes we find that:
Quicksand takes you down slowly,
Boxing rings are square,
And a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

If writers write, how come fingers don’t fing?
If the plural of tooth is teeth,
Shouldn’t the plural of phone booth be phone beeth?
If the teacher taught,
Why hasn’t the preacher praught?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables,
What the heck does a humanitarian eat?
Why do people recite at a play,
Yet play at a recital?
Park on driveways and
Drive on parkways?
How can the weather be as hot as hell on one day
And as cold as hell on another?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language where a house can burn up as it burns down,
And in which you fill in a form
By filling it out
And a bell is only heard once it goes!

English was invented by people, not computers,
And it reflects the creativity of the human race
(Which of course isn’t a race at all.)

That is why:
When the stars are out they are visible,
But when the lights are out they are invisible.
And why it is that when I wind up my watch
It starts,
But when I wind up this poem
It ends.

And A Pickle...

"I'll have a club sandwich without tomato, Zapp's chips for my side, and a pickle."

I'll bet this dialogue would strike you as a little strange. So, let's break it down.

"A club sandwich without tomato" - That's normal. Maybe the person just doesn't like round, red fruit.
"Zapp's chips" - Perhaps you haven't yet heard about the deliciousness of the Zapp potato chip. Understandable but not forgivable.
"And a pickle." I'm sorry.... What?

Whenever you order a sandwich, you will most likely have reign over the following areas regarding your sandwich's preparation and presentation: types of ingredients, quantities and quality of ingredients, side items, etc. However, what ALWAYS comes with your sandwich is the one item which is just as often never eaten: the pickle. Not even a whole pickle. It's a fourth of a pickle. If I wanted a pickle quad, I do believe I would have ordered it with my ham sandwich, light mayo.

What's worse: when you try to rid yourself, your plate, and your life from this wretched, unwanted excuse for a side item, no one else wants it either!

I'm waiting for the day I have three other people at lunch with me who have also ordered sandwiches so that I can tape our pickle quads back together and restore the pickle to its former pickle glory (which, surprisingly, for a pickle, isn't that much).

Mrs. Jim Halpert/John Krasinski

In case it's never come up before, I'm going to marry Jim Halpert. Don't know who that is? Well let me tell you. He's the most gorgeous man to grace the planet earth, he's one of the funniest people on television, and I love him. Even though he's engaged, engaged ain't married. Look at his face. Who could not love that face?

Hence, I love him and will be wed to him one fine day.



Going to the chapel, and we're gonna get married...
Going to the chapel, and we're gonna get married...
Gee I really love you and we're gonna get married...

We all have them....

Bad dates. Although I don't consider any of my experiences to be "dates," they definitely sucked. And I'm realizing more and more that everybody has them. In fact, I'm anticipating one this weekend at prom. But it'll be a whole lot better than some of these bad dates. The awful things that these people have been through give me the confidence to believe that my experiences will never be that bad. Granted, some of these stories are perpetuated by bad decisions, alcohol, or some combination of the two, but the result is the same: The Very Worst Dates ever.

T Minus 28 Days

As I'm addressing and stuffing and prepping all of my graduation announcements, I'm beginning to realize how quickly the end of high school is approaching. Despite all the crap that I've had to go through to get here, overall, it's been worth it. I'm actually not looking that forward to the day that I will put on my cap and gown, hear my name called, walk across a stage in uncomfortable heels, and relish the diploma in my hands. It sounds like heaven on earth, but I'm actually pretty scared. Especially since I'm not staying at home for college.

So if you are still looking at a few more years in high school or haven't even begun yet, appreciate it while it lasts because it'll be over sooner than you will ever be able to imagine.

And If I Can't Afford It, Then I Guess I'm Gonna Steal It

You've probably heard or at least seen the latest segment of What's Wrong with America Volume 2078, otherwise known as Maury. If not, take a gander at this beauty:



I would say more but..... it speaks for itself.

ROLLER DERBY!!

So ever since I went to the sneak preview of Whip It back in .... some month, I have been completely in love with the whole concept of roller derby. It's so badass! I even have a name picked out and everything, but I know that it's so good that people will want to steal it, so I'm gonna kept it to myself for now :P

Anywho, it's such an amazing sport that most people don't even realize is a sport. Therefore, if you haven't seen the movie, shame on you.

To remedy this problem:

Step 1: Go to your Netflix queue.

Step 2: Put Whip It at the top of your list.

Step 3: Wait anxiously by the mailbox for it to arrive.


In the meantime, enjoy this:

You won't even believe this

Today, my AP European History teacher pulled a dead mole in a ziploc bag out of her purse. She tried to get us to pet it. Who does that?!