Archive for August, 2010
Garden hijack
I recently celebrated a birthday and my friends got me the coolest garden sculpture ever.
Pump up your outfit
What’s Cracking Good — Pump Up the Volume outfits
During a night out, a friend and I discovered that a younger companion had never seen a slew of ’80s and ’90s films so we compiled our quintessential slumber party movie list.
A selection from that list:
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
Heathers
Say Anything
Pump Up the Volume
My husband also had never seen the latter, so it went to the Netflix list. A few weeks later I got the email alert the DVD was on its way and started worrying that a movie about a 1990s pirate radio station for disgruntled high school students might not necessarily stand the test of time.
It did and didn’t.
Students tune into the radio show on their boom boxes. Christian Slater talks on a brick-sized portable phone. But the clothes, at least Samantha Mathis’ clothes, would still be cool now.
Here’s a sampling of her PUTV ensembles:
- Lightweight Wool Blazer, $98
- Sunnydale Dress, $74.99
- Floral Brooch, $24
- Combat Boot, $285
- Draped Collar Vest, $88
- Drop Waist Shirt Dress, $53.92
- Checked Tights, $51
Emmy fashion
Everyone interested in fashion has an opinion on red carpet styles — myself included.
I gave my opinion of Emmy Award bests and worst on my azcentral blog, Spinning Wheels, which includes (but is not exclusive to), these hideous heels worn by Rita Wilson.
Phoenix things to do: August 27-29
FRIDAY
Screw those Arizona-boycotting musicians. Artists for Action is putting on a free show (if you promise to vote), featuring Calexico, Miniature Tigers (above), Salvador Duran, Big Son along with some other indie and Hispanic bands.
Marquee
730 N. Mill Ave.
Tempe, AZ, 85281
Free (if you promise to vote) or $30 if you’re opposed to voting
***
Dine @ Bliss
Drink @ reBar
Try out the new downtown comfort food spot featuring delicacies like mac ‘n cheese, pot roast and BBQ chicken. Afterward, sip a drink under the stars and find out what the “swagger” is the website promises.
Bliss & reBar
901 N. 4th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85007
SATURDAY
Permaculture Design Course
Learn the principles of ethically and ecologically- minded landscaping. This 5-weekend intensive class will cover the permaculture cornerstones like water harvesting, patterns in nature and design.
Saturdays and Sounds through November 13th
$750
SUNDAY
Bowl @ Lucky Strike Lanes
All the talk is coming to fruition. CityScape is opening Lucky Strike Lanes (among other things) and now it’s a bonafide destination. Visit for bowling, bites and beer. Saturday will probably be mayhem — but you might actually get a lane and have a relaxing game on a Sunday afternoon.
Lucky Strike Lanes
CityScape
50 W. Jefferson St.
Phoenix, AZ
Open on Saturday until 2 a.m.
CRACKING GOOD SHOPPING
Finally, the trilogy is complete!
What’s Cracking Good — The Hunger Games trilogy
My sister called me a couple of months ago gushing about The Hunger Games.
“It’s a teen book,” she warned. “But it’s a really GOOD teen book.”
I have nothing against teen things (which anyone who reads this blog should know), so I checked it out at the library…and then read it in about 7 hours.
To sum it up, it’s a post-apocalyptic story about an ass-kicking girl trying to survive in a game where (teen) contestants have to kill each other.
“That sounds dark,” says my husband. Not at all teen-y.
There is some costume-y and lovey stuff that might be a little high school, but all in all — it’s action and excitement and cool story.
And then it continues for 2 more books!
Mockingjay, the third installment of the series came out on Tuesday. Now’s the time to tap into your inner teen and read them all!
Turning your garden upside-down
My first blog post for Chow Bella was just posted today on How to grow upside-down tomatoes, complete with illustrated how-to and a photo (see right) of my own attempt.
I will soon be planting cilantro seeds on top. We’ll see how these fare!
Animals say cheese
What’s Cracking Good — Animal photos
I was half-heartedly browsing my Google Reader when Creature Comfort‘s link to The Animal Print Shop photos caught my attention.
Photos of farm animals, baby animals, hoofed animals, birds and reptiles taken against an all white background. Somehow the animals look natural and playful — like they might be in the middle of their natural habitat ready for their photo op.
