Tropical Getaway Car, You're a Star. And a Barb. But Not the Kind on a Wire.

Frannie Fruit Earrings

What happens when two mild-mannered, middle-aged besties from the Midwest go on vacay to Florida?  Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, that's what.  Deserted by their men (Barb's by death, Star's by divorce) as well as their mutual employer Jennifer Convertibles, all Barb (Annie Mumolo) and Star (Kristen Wiig) have is each other.  Well, each other and their not book but talk club, which includes a militant Vanessa Bayer and a giddy Fortune Feimster.  From their frumpy 'dos to their Alfred Dunner resort wear, Barb and Star are the Lucy and Ethel of tourists (or, rather, the Ethel and Lucy, for it's Wiig's Star who reigns as the cruise director of this caper), scamming their way into a luxury hotel, buying every seashell tchotchke in sight, and getting mixed up in criminal intrigue.  But the gal pals' bond is tested when they both fall for fellow vacationer Edgar (Jamie Dornan, a.k.a. Christian Grey), a seemingly sensitive hunk with something to hide.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is wonderfully weird and everything you'd expect from writing partner powerhouses Wiig and Mumolo.  There's also a grandmas gone wild element.  Let's just say that Mr. Grey fits right in.  

As do the duo's culottes, which feature prominently in the plot, proving that the right piece of clothing can sometimes save your life.

Speaking of island idyll fashion (forget that Florida's a peninsula), these Frannie Fruit Earrings fit the seagull's bill.  With an old lady name and a colorful game, they could be the crowning touch for a blue-haired sunseeker or for a happy-hour-any-hour spring breaker.  Making them meant that I'm getting to the end of the fruit charms I bought last summer, which is as bittersweet as a near-rotten kiwi.

Kind of like the end of that other (New Zealand!) buddy comedy, Flight of the Conchords.

Decoden Deja Vu and Damsels Who Dig Mr. Darcy

I Heart Lemons and Fun Stuff Bib Necklace

Top: Macy's

Skirt: Bubblegum, Macy's

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Apt. 9, Kohl's

Belt: Wet Seal

 I Heart Limes and Owls Bib Necklace

Sweater: Marshalls

Skirt: Material Girl, Macy's

Shoes: Guess, DSW

Bag: Nordstrom

I Love Lemons and Dinosaurs Bib Necklace

Cardigan: So, Kohl's

Camisole: So, Kohl's

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Ami Clubwear

Bag: Nahui Ollin

Belt: Tournier Everything's $10

I Heart Limes and Sweet Stuff Bib Necklace

Crochet top: Mossimo, Target

Tank: Worthington, JCPenney

Skirt: Marshalls

Shoes: Iron Fist, Journeys

Bag: B&B, Ocean City

Belt: Wet Seal

"I think being creative is a waste of time and money."  

This startling sentiment was uttered from the always colorful Jennifer Coolidge, this time through the mouthpiece of Elizabeth Charming, a brassy babe on the make in the unlikely milieu of romantic comedy spoof Austenland.  A reenactment experience catering to Jane Austen addicts, Austenland offers romance gigolo-style in the form of amorously attentive "players" purporting to fall head over heels for the patrons.  Coolidge and Kerri Russell, who plays the auspiciously-named heroine Jane, are lamenting over said suitors (one of whom is Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords fame) while embellishing hats when Ms. Charming makes her (at least to this crowd) unfortunate observation.  Not that there isn't a grain (or perhaps I should say seed bead) of truth in what she says.  Being creative can indeed be costly and time-consuming.  For example, I recently decided to restring my "fun stuff" bib necklace series since discovering that the beads I initially used (gasp!) fade after just a few wears.  (I'd made a couple of the necklaces for myself, which was how I came to know this.)  At first I thought it might be better to just quietly chuck them.  After all, restringing meant going to the trouble and expense of researching and purchasing new beads in addition to the actual reworking of the jewelry.  Not to mention that blabbing it all here on the blog probably wouldn't be good for business.  Still, my love for my bauble-bedazzled (or, as the Japanese would say, "decoden" bedecked) bibs triumphed, and silence has never been my strong suit.  So here are the upgraded versions, refortified with new plastic neon Delish beads.  

As I'm sure any fairy tale (and, in the end, even Ms. Charming herself) would attest, a few extra evenings and expenditures never stood a chance against such a fashion rehash of a happy ending.       

Etsy Favorites: Rock 'til You Drop

 Record Earring Holder, Retro Grandma

 Let the Music Play Digital Collage Sheet, Digital Perfection

 Hot Pink Music Note Bandage Skirt, Coyote Peyote

 Flight of the Conchords Hand-painted Shoes, Bacon Factory

 Toy Xylophone iPhone Case, iCase Sera Sera

 Carbon Fiber Treble Clef Pendant Charm, Hybrid Thread

Colorful Cleft Abstract Wall Sculpture, Diva Art

 DJ Painting, Universe's Apprentice

 Music Man Fleecie, Stuff by Kate

Clarinet Frog Print, Frog Fun

It's the rare person who doesn't love music.  Whether it's rock or reggae, classical or country, or metal or mainstream, chances are, there's a tune that sends your toes tapping.  So this week I'm featuring some of Etsy's greatest hits.  With a playlist of punky piano keys, trendy treble clefs, and even an Oscar-winning Conchord (that's you, Mr. Bret McKenzie), you're sure to find something to make your heart sing.

Book Report (sort of): Geeky Dreamboats: A Celebration by Sarah O'Brien and Lacey Soslow

When I saw this Geeky Dreamboats: A Celebration book on Fred Flare, I knew I had to have it.  So when I opened it on my birthday last weekend, I was pleased as punch.  Once I started leafing through it I found it was - gasp - even funnier than I could have imagined.  Chock-full of favorites such as Michael Cera, Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, Topher Grace, Adam Brody, Conan O'Brien, John Krasinski, and Paul Rudd (my personal favorite), this nearly pocket-sized who's who of nerdy knights in shining armor delivers a refreshingly quirky perspective on what makes a dude drool-worthy. 

Of course, some of the selections may raise an eyebrow.  But as O'Brien and Soslow explain, "Some of these cuties may appear a little dreamier than geeky or a little geekier than dreamy, but remember, the prevailing theme here is the beautiful and poetic combination that makes up the sexy nerd.  Not everyone strikes that perfect balance, but we've found a slew of cuties who come pretty close, and we've ranked their appeal with our trusty Geekboat Meter." (Introduction)  Well put, ladies. 

Whether you're thirteen or thirty, Geeky Dreamboats: A Celebration is sure to earn a top spot on your list of guilty pleasures.             

Movie Moment: (Kicking Off the Fall Movie Line-up With) Going the Distance

It was a beautiful, sunny Labor Day weekend Sunday - which meant, of course, that I wanted to go to the movies. I hadn't been for the last couple of weekends and was feeling the void. So, on our way home from my sister's apartment (the bf and I had stayed there last night after attending our friend's [her best friend's] wedding), we stopped off to see Going the Distance, which had opened Friday. Undoubtedly, you've seen the commercials. Distance stars real-life couple Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. (They're an on-again/off-again kind of duo, but according to my most recent Google update, they're currently "on.") Drew Barrymore plays Erin, a Stanford journalism student spending the summer in New York doing a newspaper internship, and Justin Long plays Garrett, a New Yorker working for a soulless record label. Garrett has a history of misunderstanding women and has never been in love, and Erin once dropped out of grad school for a guy who broke her heart (this explains why she's a 31-year-old intern). They meet at a bar (where Flight of the Conchords stalker Kristen Schaal pours the drinks) and get together for a fling. Six weeks later, when it's time for Erin to return to San Francisco, they realize they're in love. So, they try the long distance thing. Heartache peppered with raunchiness ensues, with Garrett's buddies (Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis) trying to drown his sorrows in pitchers of beer and Erin's sister (Christina Applegate) unabashedly dispensing tough love advice.

So, was it what I expected? Not really. It was more serious than the trailers let on, and not a little wrenching. But I liked that about it, appreciating its commitment to keeping things real. I could especially identify with Erin, a writer looking for a job in a world where print journalism is dying. She tries to get a permanent position at the New York newspaper where she interned to no avail and meets with the same rejection at every other publication in the city. Finally, she's offered a job with a San Francisco paper. Garrett is less than pleased, they fight, and he ends up asking her to move in with him, in New York. Touched, she accepts, planning to continue waitressing until a writing job opens up. Her brother-in-law (Jim Gaffigan) suggests she start a blog. (She doesn't).

At the last minute, Garrett steps in and tells her she can't throw her life away and needs to take the job. She does. At the risk of sounding like a cliché, their breakup is very sad, a classic case of two people wanting different things. They each go on with their lives, but of course it's not the same. Then Erin receives tickets to see the band that she and Garrett first saw together. She goes, and of course he's there. He's ditched his dreaded job, become the band's manager, and now lives in Los Angeles, which is only an hour's plane ride away.

For a minute there, I thought it might be one of those movies where they don't get back together. Kind of like The Break-Up, or 500 Days of Summer. So, I was relieved that that wasn't the case. But I was also left thinking that San Francisco and Los Angeles are still kind of far away for maintaining a healthy relationship. (That's the cynic in me showing its colors). Anyway, at least it was a more realistic ending than if Garrett had, say, landed a job in San Francisco. I gave myself more closure by deciding that the ending was trying to say that successful relationships thrive on never-ending compromise. (Although the movie delivered the message in a much less cheesy way than I just did.)

Overall, I think Going the Distance was good and undeserving of its bad reviews. But that's just this humble viewer's opinion.

Movie Moment: Dinner for Schmucks

I thought it was high time I provided my readers with some borrowed visuals when appropriate. If only to add photographs other than my own to the mix.

All summer long, I've been waiting for the movies. For the blockbusters and comedies that give summer its excitement and sparkle. But after Sex and the City 2 came out in May, June melted into July with nary a prospect, and I resigned myself to the sad truth that there would be nothing to see.

And then came August. Instead of winding down with a cold buffet of B offerings, summer finally came into its own, unleashing a smorgasbord of possibility in Dinner for Schmucks (I know it came out at the tail end of July, but for the purposes of my argument, that works too); The Other Guys; Scott Pilgrim vs. the World; Eat, Pray, Love; The Switch; and Going The Distance. Now, I know you must be thinking, "What?! These are the movies for which you've been waiting?" I know, I know. Most of them aren't stellar, in and of themselves. But together they present a united front of much-needed, light-hearted summer fare, offering choices where none existed before. I'm someone who likes to go to the movies. A lot. And quite frankly, I don't expect to have a religious experience each time. I'm just looking to be entertained. I want comedies (and sometimes dramas), and lots of them, even if they turn out to be merely lukewarm.

So, last night I decided that the bf and I should venture out and see one of these contenders. I was torn between Dinner for Schmucks and The Other Guys (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was out because I knew the bf wouldn't want to see it, not sharing my appreciation for Michael Cera.). They were two comedies that may or may not be funny. On the one hand, you had Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) and the promise of all the color and noise and hilarity that comes with a plot based around a dinner party. On the other hand, you had Will Ferrell (and Mark Wahlberg, but he hardly counts as an asset. Nothing against him, but he's just no Will Ferrell, you know?). Now, Will Ferrell's genius is such that it trumps the characteristic dreariness of the cop movie. So, I was clearly feeling the pull. But despite my emotional tug-of-war, I decided to go with Dinner for Schmucks. The appeal of the weird factor was too strong to resist, as was Paul Rudd.

So, how was it? A little slow at first. And definitely weird. It also had a faintly European flavor, which was probably owing to the fact that it was based on the 1998 French film Le Diner de Cons (or to us, The Dinner Game). It became more farcical and dramatic as it built to its (admittedly predictable) conclusion. Steve Carell stole the show as Barry, an IRS agent who creates diorama "mouseterpieces" featuring dead mice in elaborate settings such as the Last Supper, Orville and Wilbur Wright's first flight, and an extravagant picnic starring little girl mice in red wigs emulating his ex-wife. Barry is the well-meaning moron who wreaks havoc every time he tries to "help," the ultimate schmuck who is destined to take first prize at Tim's (Rudd's) boss's competition dinner for idiots. Yet despite his annoying personality and fondness for dead rodents, I must admit that I was genuinely charmed by Barry and his mouseterpieces. Call it the artist in me, but anyone who would devote so much time, detail, and love to such an off-putting craft couldn't help but emerge as endearing. Jemaine Clement's role as an out-there, oversexed artist was interesting too, although in a creepy and decidedly not endearing way. It was strange seeing him with long hair, no glasses, and a tan - not to mention actually getting chicks -- when I've known him as only the hapless nerdy musician on Conchords. Speaking of which, the Conchords's friendly stalker, Mel (Kristen Schaal), also made an appearance as Tim's quirky secretary (she is just as odd as she is in Conchords and wears some fabulously kitschy pins).

Overall, Dinner for Schmucks wasn't laugh-out-loud funny. But it was fun to watch, and to this comedy-starved moviegoer, well worth the trip.

Make and Tell Challenge, Day 139: Another Tote Completed

Having off today was a real eye-opener. I was able to finish this Scarlet Fierce Flowers Tote and retag and photograph about a dozen items and upload the new pictures to my Etsy and Artfire shops, all while watching the rest of season two of Flight of the Conchords. My favorite episode was the one where Bret forms a gang and he and Jemaine sing that song about hurt feelings. It was kookily hilarious.

Yesterday my mom and I saw It's Complicated. It was one of the best movies that both of us have seen in a long time, probably because it had that mix of funny and poignant. Also, it avoided being a big cliché although it would have been easy to go there. As for Alec Baldwin, he was disturbing, as always. When did he morph from "a Baldwin" into a crazy old man?! I mean, I know he's been that way for awhile now (hey, I watch 30 Rock) but pinpointing the time of the transformation eludes me. But John Krasinski's part was a nice bonus (I heart The Office. And nerds.)

In the middle of typing this I accidentally pushed some combination of buttons that resulted in a font change. Even after scrolling through the font list, I have no idea which one I was using before. So I apologize for the inconsistency. The crazy thing is, now I see the actual italics where appropriate instead of code. Same with the pictures. Did I just prompt an upgrade?

Bringing You the Kooky Best of My B-Day Gifts

So, I had my family birthday celebration last night and felt compelled to show you come of my kookiest, and therefore most blog-worthy, gifts.

Although the bf doesn't enjoy the offbeat humor of Flight of the Conchords, he was sweet enough to give me season 2, "Born to Folk," on DVD. I hadn't seen it yet (we don't get HBO) and watched the entire second half (don't ask me why I started there) yesterday. It was just as kooky as I could've hoped. For those of you not in the know, the show is about two musicians from New Zealand, Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement (real people, by the way - they play characters based on themselves), who move to New York in search of fame and fortune. But they don't find it. Clad in 1970s duds (think puffy vests, cowboy shirts, and sweatshirts emblazoned with wildlife), they're always looking for a good gig. And girlfriends (these two are laughably, heart-breakingly bad with women). They have this awful manager, Murray, who's also from New Zealand, and one fan-slash-stalker, a homely married woman named Mel. Anyway, the show is about their misadventures, all of which entail bursting into some of the kookiest songs, performed music video style, that you've ever heard. I especially love Bret's wacky sweatshirts. As for Jemaine, I find him kind of scary. But in a fun sort of way.

This here is a little something called Unicorn Wishes (according to the box), and is, in my opinion, a prime example of kitsch and kookiness. This gem of a kit was a gift from my sister (one of many) and includes a unicorn figurine, display stand printed with four-leaf clovers, four different backdrops (see here rainbow and sunset options), and a little booklet about (what else?) unicorns. I was delighted and amused, so much so that I already have the little guy perched in front of his rainbow on my bookshelf.

This gorgeous Betsey Johnson bracelet is from my mom. I adore Betsey, in part because her designs are synonymous with kookiness. I'd admired this bracelet but never imagined I'd own it. But Mom said that I'm always so busy making jewelry for other people that I should have it. Aw.

Make and Tell Challenge: Days 65 & 66 and Other Random Reportings

My "mystery project."

Flight of the Conchords magnets, Elloh

Clutch, Made by Hank

Hello all! I'm glad -- no, make that overjoyed -- that it's Saturday. Because that means my crazy week has come to an end. I'm finally unveiling my Challenge mystery project. It's this owl tote, which I painted for my sister for her birthday (she loves owls). I worked on it all week, right through Challenge day 66, which was just in time because we celebrated last night. So, I didn't make anything yesterday :(

I also got my sister a couple of Etsy items, which I'd found in her favorites list. These Flight of the Conchords magnets are the work of Elloh, and this clutch is by Made by Hank. Let me just say, I was beyond impressed when I opened these two orders. The level of craftsmanship in both is unparalleled, and the packaging was first-rate. Needless to say, my sister was thrilled with both. These photos I took aren't the best (as always, my photography skills are a work in progress), so check out Elloh and Made by Hank to get a look at their cool one-of-a-kind stuff!

Stay tuned for more posts from this week. I'll also be starting work on a new tote and maybe some accessories.