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Hey there! Jana here. :) Did you survive the Thanksgiving weekend? We BARELY did, which is why we're taking a little break this week. Please excuse us as we spend a little extra time laying on the couch recovering from mashed potato and pie overload! We'll be back next week. :)
Did you get any awesome deals on Black Friday or Cyber Monday? What gifts are on your radar for the upcoming holiday season? We're excited to jump around and see what creative gift list ideas you've come up with this week.
Unless you live under a rock, you surely know what today is. :) When news of the impending revival was released, it went like wildfire through many a friendship circle. My very good friend and I decided to watch it together. In true Gilmore fashion, we planned our food. I added food to it (I'm getting to double dip a bit because my boyfriend's family is coming into town later today and I needed to cook for them anyway). I decided to write a post about it and update it as we watched or until I got too drunk to continue updating it. This post will include food eaten, books referenced, and NO SPOILERS! It will likely hold general impressions, like "After this episode, I was left feeling..." But DO NOT WORRY about me blowing major plot points. If you are commenting, I ask that you kindly do the same.
The revival experience began last night. My friend met my boyfriend and I at my uncle's house for some post Thanksgiving meal drinking. We ran to a grocery store on the way back to my house for her portion of the food. We watched some football. I continued drinking. Then my lovely boyfriend said he would excuse himself so we could watch a couple of episodes. We each picked our favorite episode. I chose season one's "Love and War and Snow," while she picked "They Shoot Gilmores, Don't They" from season three. Then we watched the finale. We wrapped it up around 1:00am. The new episodes wouldn't drop until 3:00, so we decided to go to bed for a while and wake up at 7:00. I'm up. I got me some water and some allergy meds. I'm ready to go!
The last time we saw Lorelai, Rory, and the gang, I was just finishing up my freshman year of college. I totally felt Rory's sense of "OK, now what do I do?" However, during the entire run of the show, I felt like I could relate way more to Lorelai. The daughter who had to do things the hard way. Anyway, I finished college, went to grad school, took a year off, and started law school (currently in my second year). From what I've seen of the previews for the revival episodes, Rory's is feeling completely adrift--it looks like she's between jobs, not in a relationship, feeling rootless, like she's just marking time. I TOTALLY GET THAT! I always thought that by now I'd be way more settled down and rooted. So, it's odd, but maybe in this revival, I'll relate more to Rory. We shall see.
OK. So, my friend, Kelly, is up. Finally. We're about to get started. I'm still not ready for food. But I have an awesome looking breakfast casserole waiting for me.
Let's get started!
Episode 1
It was weird seeing everyone again after so long! But it also felt like coming home again, in a way. The first episode is "Winter."
Books Referenced:
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Leaves of Grass
On the Road
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Not as many books as I would have thought! But these are good ones.
It took a while before I was awake enough to eat food, but I managed to scarf down some donuts. Then I moved onto the breakfast casserole. Super yummy! I highly recommend the recipe.
We've both expressed some level of disappointment that now the revival is 25% over.
Quick bathroom break, then onto the next episode!
Episode 2
"Spring" Ah! This episode! This is what I was talking about! I love how it's all coming together. And now we're sad that it's half over.
Books Referenced:
Shakespeare
Aeschylus
Death of a Salesman
Edith Wharton
Fiddler on the Rood Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Art of War
Dorothy Parker
David Foster Wallace
Cloud Atlas
So many more books this episode! And I love the authors. This is shaping up to be a pretty good reading list. :)
Food Consumed:
More breakfast casserole.
More coffee.
More powdered donuts.
And we broke into the pie and ice cream. :)
I guess we are on to summer!
Episode 3
Books Referenced:
Wild
Anna Karenina
Games of Thrones
The Godfather
Edward Albie/Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Nora Ephron/I Feel Bad about My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman
Food Eaten:
Frozen pizza. :)
The plot thickens!
Episode 4
Books Referenced:
Wild
Eat Pray Love
Macbeth
The Raven
Picture of Dorian Gray
David Mamet
Little House in the Big Woods
True Grit
Alice in Wonderland
Food Eaten:
Not much. But I did make a pot of chili.
Ummmm...wtf?! We're definitely going to need some more episodes!
Overall, I think there was a pretty good reading list to be gleaned from the episodes. But there weren't as many books as I would have liked. Nor did they reference some really good recent picks. I was kind of surprised by how many classics were mentioned.
I'll have to watch the episodes again to see how many books I missed!
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Thanksgiving freebie -- tell us what you are thankful for! Books you are thankful for!
We ladies at the broke and the bookish are thankful for...
Lori is thankful for...
Dry Shampoo--Makes my hair look great, smell great, and let's me be lazy. Win-win-win.
Reducing my wardrobe for neutrals--I can throw together a great outfit with no thought and next to no time. Love it!
Jamie is thankful for...
My dog Finn's health: we had a real big scare with his health this Fall but I'm so thankful that two months later he's doing so much better and is back to himself.
New friends: this past year has brought me a group of girls who I couldn't be more thankful for and have spent so much time with this year. They are the best and I feel supported and loved and encouraged and I just have the best time with them. Plus I love that our husbands all get along so well. It's been one of the best things of 2016.
Bridget is thankful for... A great job with (mostly) great coworkers who I can actually be friends with. This has been pretty rare for me in most jobs but I really like the people I work with and we hang out occasionally and it's nice to actually have friends. It's been really difficult for me to make friends post-college thanks to introversion and general awkwardness. So yay work friends!
That we will be leaving North Carolina in less than a year. I don't know yet where we're going (we'll find out early next year and move sometime between July and September) but I am so tired of this place. I know that conflicts with what I said above somewhat, but mostly I'm tired of the south itself--it's too hot and too many people introduce themselves and then ask what church you go to >_> and I am ready to be somewhere that is less intrusive like that. Very thankful that our two years here are more than halfway over!
Julia is thankful for...
All of the friends that I have that make me get up and out of the house and hang out with them. I feel like year 29 would have been lonelier without them. I had friends before and I went out with people before, but this year I have just been crazy social. It's nice, even if it takes me away from books. :)
The fact that I have a great job with people I enjoy working with, that gives me the flexibility to take time off when I need to and travel the world when I want to (and sometimes when and where I dont want to).
My health and the continued health of my family. We are all still alive and moving, despite missing a few pieces, or not being able to eat a few (dozen) things anymore. Overall I can't complained and am blessed.
Jana is thankful for... My mom and my sister, who are my biggest supporters and loudest cheerleaders.
As I'm sure you all know, the new episodes of Gilmore Girls are coming out on November 25th!! I'm anxiously counting down the days and in fact I may or may not have decided to watch the series AGAIN (for the...fourth? fifth? time) on Netflix so I'll be ready when the new episodes premier after Thanksgiving. Yes, I probably have a problem.
Anyway, we've all seen the posts about Rory's favorite books and all that good stuff, but I'm going in a different direction today. Gilmore Girls has a great soundtrack, and I've discovered some of my favorite songs through watching. Some of these songs come at the most pivotal moments of the series, so if you haven't watched or finished it yet, beware the spoilers below!
1. There She Goes - La's
This is the perfect song to open the series. This might seem a little trite, but the Gilmore girls are so admired by so many people that it seems appropriate to me. Stars Hollow seems to center around them in a lot of ways (though of course, they are the stars of the show, so that might have something to do with it).
2. One Line - PJ Harvey As weird as Dean got later, this is such a sweet scene. It took a while for Rory to be able to admit her feelings for him, and I was so happy for her (and him). Good song, too!
3. Reflecting Light - Sam Phillips
This is one of my favorite moments in the entire series (and also one of my favorite songs!). Lorelai accompanies Luke to Liz's wedding, and he surprises her with his dance skills...and they seem to surprise each other with their slow embrace. Oh man, happy tears every time. LORELAI AND LUKE 5EVER 4. Then She Appeared - XTC
Sigh. I freaking love this song, and it's perfect for the scene—Rory and Jess's first official "we're together" kiss—but I just can't get behind Rory and Jess as a couple. I do have to admit that he grows on me each time I watch the series, but he's so closed off; Rory deserves someone who actually treats her well, and Jess just doesn't treat her right. This is still a great scene and a great song, though.
5. I Think It's Going to Rain Today - Claudine Longet
After Logan's father tells Rory she doesn't have what it takes to make it in journalism, Rory flips and, with Logan's help, steals a yacht, drops out of Yale, and subsequently moves into her grandparents' poolhouse. This song plays as Lorelai watches Rory unpacking her books. Very pretty song but such a sad scene :(
6. I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston
During the final controversial season, Lorelai sings this to Rory—and then to Luke—at karaoke night. That little shrug at the second verse gets me every time.
~~~~~~~~
I know there are probably plenty that I'm missing. Which songs would you add?
I have a
confession to make. I’ve been alive a bazillion years at this point and can’t
cook. I am awful at it. I measure recipes by how many times I have to open a
window to let out the smoke. Thus I eat out or eat terribly and I wanted to
change that.
One day I
was browsing through Facebook and I got an ad for Blue Apron. It was $30 off my
first order, so I decided why not? I’ve cooked four meals with them now and so
far have really enjoyed it!
The first
meal I cooked was Seared
Chicken and Fregola Sarda with Salsa Verde, corn and tomato. I figured that
these were ingredients at least that I had heard of, chicken, corn and the
like, so let’s start with something easy.
What I learned
from this experience was to read the steps before I wanted to start cooking. I
added an hour onto my time by just being stumped by things. For instance – step
one was preparing the ingredients. Awesome. Wash produce. Check. Heat some
water. Got it. Chop the capers… wait what? Chop the capers? They are like the
size of my pink nail, but round. Ok I can figure this out. Five confused
minutes later I had chopped capers. Then things got really interested.
Finely chop
the parsley leaves and stems. Okay. I don’t think I have ever used fresh herbs.
So this was scary. I just knife them? With a big knife? Okay. Peel and mince
the garlic. This one required a YouTube search. I stared at the garlic confused
about how to get cloves out of it. But helpful video was helpful and I ended up
with a garlic paste at the end (which was intended). The same sort of
shenanigans followed with cutting corn off a cob and dicing a tomato.
Now it’s
time to actually cook. Boiling pasta? Finally, something I am a master at.
Throwing things in a pan and stirring until it looks cooked? Got that! Searing
chicken… well. That was at least entertaining. And I didn’t completely dry out the chicken.
The dish was
delicious in the end and I had enough for the next day’s lunch. I felt like a
freaking goddess thinking that I had cooked such an awesome dish. It was so
nice to have everything I needed in just the right portion sizes. The only
downside is you have such a small window to cook everything in since it’s all
pretty much thawed when it arrives in your box.
I was
actually really surprised how much I liked the capers Salsa Verde. Also how delicious
it tasted as leftovers.
I am excited
for the next couple of recipes that are currently being shipped for me next
week. Stayed tuned for more when I talk about the salmon disaster and the lick
the plate good chicken.
Have any of
you used Blue Apron or the like? What do you think of it?
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Hey! Julia and Jana here! Today's topic is a movie freebie, and we decided to each pick five of our favorite movies ever! I wonder if you have any in common with us?
Julia's Picks
A League of their Own - I am a baseball girl at heart, and I cannot help but adore this movie. I can quote so, so much of it. It makes me so nostalgic for summer and a dream of being something even for a short moment.
Fried Green Tomatoes - Every time I watch this movie, I catch something new about it that I like. A coming of age or coming into age story, whichever you like, but in general the story is fantastic.
Shakespeare in Love - Every time I watch this movie I fall more in love with love. The chemistry just oozes off the screen. I love it so much.
Little Women - Every so often, usually in winter, I go back and rewatch this movie. It just goes back into the heart of my love of reading, my love of family, my love of childhood, and of course my first love of Christian Bale.
The Princess Bride - Another super quotable movie. I've only even known a few people who didnt like this one. But their love story and the characters around them make me come back and watch them and just enjoy myself.
Jana's Picks
The Sound of MusicThis is my all time favorite movie ever in life. I love the music and the scenery and Maria (Julie Andrews) and all the kids and the Captain (he was one of my very first crushes as a little girl). It's just such a perfect, perfect movie.
The Holiday
I loooooove this movie. I can identify with both women in this movie, and I love the swoony guys. I love the English countryside setting and the Christmas and the funny times. It's so wonderful!
Father of the Bride
The wedding in this movie is the dreamiest thing ever, plus I love Steve Martin and Martin Short. They are hilarious!
Leap YearIreland!! And the main guy in this movie is one of my favorites. I love the romantic storyline, and there's some humor too. It's soooo cute!
I loved her steampunk books so much that this one, which looks to be a continuation but with probably new characters to her London Steampunk series, was an automatic add.
This book is MASSIVE. But, my love of non fiction and historical fiction conquers all. The boyfriend just read this and loved it, so the journey begins!
I feel like I'm always shocked at how quickly the month goes by...alas..here we are for another faves/TBR post!
October Faves
Jana's Pick
Stolen: A Letter to My Captor by Lucy Christopher: I've had my eye on this book for years, and I finally had time to read it! It's about a girl who is kidnapped from an airport and dragged to the Australian wilderness. I LOVED IT. It made me feel so many things, and I totally got Stockholm Syndrome. It was heartbreaking and suspenseful and just an amazing reading experience.
Lauren's Pick
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North: I was absolutely captivated by this novel. The main character's emotions would have been exactly my own if I had been in his shoes. It is truly amazing when you get to pick up a novel and can be completely transported to another life. This novel was nothing short of that.
Jamie's Pick
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas: Woo boy I wish this was out so I could tell you all to purchase it/borrow it immediately but it's not so I want you to circle February 28th on your calendar and be sure to get it then. LOVED these characters and this story.
November TBR
Jana's Pick
Caraval by Stephanie Garber: The time has COME! I'm so excited! I've had this book for a LONG time now, and I am planning to read it as soon as I'm done with my current two reads. You've heard the amazing buzz, and I can't wait to see what it's all about.
Lauren's Pick
Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson: You all know by now that I can't resist a famed sci-fi novel. This author utilized years of research and real science to chronicle the colonization of mars. I don't know about you... but these days the only things I research are my ailments. (Adulting is hard, folks.) So this award winner author has already caught my eye and I'm ready to start this trilogy. It's pretty much like starting a new TV show I know I'll end on binge watching on Netflix, except it's books. And believe me... I loved trilogies and Netflix.
Hi All.I’m embarking
on an experiment for the month of November.Non-fiction November.I saw it
elsewhere and decided to adopt it.Pretty
self-explanatory—I’m just going to read non-fiction during the month.It really kind of fits for me because I just
don’t have a lot of reading time; so if I get into a novel, I read a bit then
lose the story.
A few books on my list for the month—
1.My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem.I’ve been reading this one on and off for a
while, but I am finally going to finish.She is super inspiring and really interesting.It’s made me care a lot more than I have in a
while. This one is also really special because I got an autographed copy sent to me by a friend who organized an event with Steinem. What a lovely lady!
2.Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter by Simone deBeauvoir. A week ago, one of my good friends said that she thought she totally
could have fit in during the grunge era.My response was that I would totally fit in during the postwar French
existentialism era.Then I took a
Facebook quiz about what literary era I would fit into.It said French existentialism.And we all know that Facebook personality
quizzes are infallible.So I decided to
pick up this book by the Queen of French Existentialism.Yay for two-day shipping.I’ve already started and I am so beyond
excited.Now that I’m done with my big
appellate brief and almost done with my mock bench trial, I can sit down and
ignore school for a bit.The intro said
this one would make you think, make you feel, and make you want to read and
write more.I’m down.
3.Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham. OK,
this doesn’t come out until the end of the month, but I think I can maybe
manage to make a good dent in it by the end of the month.I am excited to hear what Lauren Graham has
to say about life and Gilmore Girls before and after.She is such a smart and funny person.I loved her novel that came out a few years
ago, so I can’t wait to hear her thoughts on other things.Also—perfect timing with the revival coming
out on the 25th.
I
haven’t finished three books in one month since this summer (oh, the days of not having anything going on--how I miss them!).
So we’ll see what actually happens.
But it’s always fun to plan…
