2010 in Review

My one new year's resolution last year? Make it the best year ever. Result? A complete success.

So, without further ado, my year in review:

January: Made a very wise decision to spend New Years with my dear friend Carissa. As a result, cooked breakfast for her and her hubby and his (very handsome) friend Ben, and the rest is history! Later that month we ventured down to their condo in St George and had a blast hot-tubbing, lazer-tagging, go-kart riding, and relaxing.

February: Had a great Valentine's Day despite the fact that it was, well, Valentine's Day. I quit working at the school one day a week and bumped up my schedule at the Spa to 6 days a week. Whew! Welcome to adulthood (aka not having a life).

March/April/May: Hooray for Spring! The blossoms were out in full, we celebrated Ben's birthday in April, and took an amazingly fun trip to Moab with Kelly & Gary in May. We camped, ate at the delicious Moab Brewery, hiked to the waterfall, swam in the pools below, saw Indian petroglyphs, dinosaur tracks, and beautiful red-rock landscapes.

June: One of my favorite months this year- we had a great trip to Yuba Lake to soak up some sun and play in the water, followed by a fun road trip to Lake Tahoe to stay in my uncle's cabin. We played cards, jumped off the dock in the backyard, kayaked, hiked, went out in the boat, listened to music, and hung out with my fabulous cousin Becky & her boyfriend George. My mom even came out from San Fran and we got to see her and her adorable puppy Phoebe. It was not fun having to come home from that!

July/August/September: Ben began his internship at BluFire Studios over the summer learning Adobe Photoshop and Aftereffects. I celebrated my birthday in August surrounded by some wonderful friends! We were sad to see the good weather go.

October/November/December: We celebrated the holiday season in style. We dressed up as pirates for Halloween in October, spent an amazing Thanksgiving up at Snowbird Ski Resort at their annual buffet (Kobe beef, halibut, salmon, sushi, and of course chocolate decadence cake), and Christmas was one of the best yet. Ben got me the couch I wanted from Ikea and I had my first mistletoe kiss. Yay!

All in all, it's been a fabulous year. I had an amazing relationship with a great guy and I swear to you all it just gets better and better every day. I got to know and love his family a lot and see a lot of good changes for my own. This new year my resolution is the same- make it the best year yet. And so far? So good.

Fabulous 15: Movies I Just Couldn't Live Without

Asking what my 15 favorite movies of all time are is like asking me to choose a favorite sibling. It can't really be done! There is so much beautiful art in the form of film out there and I am constantly changing and evolving in my taste that it's hard to say just what the best is out there.

In all honesty, I could probably write 15 lists of my 15 favorite movies depending on the day, time of year, or mood I'm in. So I guess today you get the list of what I love right now, January 13th, when I am happily listening to DeVotchKa and madly in love.

So, in no particular order...

1. The Fountain directed by Darren Aronofsky

This film did not receive great critical acclaim, or do very well in the box-office, but is a hidden gem to those with a mind to appreciate it. It's the simple and beautiful idea of death as an act of creation. I think it's without a doubt Hugh Jackman's best performance in a movie yet, and if you haven't seen it I highly recommend it. Be warned: this is not a brain candy, bored-on-a-Wednesday-night movie. Grab some Kleenex and pr

epare yourself for a gorgeous film. (Also as a side note- Clint Mansell, a personal favorite of mine, did the soundtrack. It's to die for.)

2. The Scarlet Pimpernel written by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Anthony Andrews as the sometimes moronic Sir Percy, sometimes brave and handsome Scarlet Pimpernel, Jane Seymour as the beautiful Marguerite St Just, and of course Sir Ian McKellen as the infuriating Chauvelin... Could anything be more divine? This is a family classic, one I grew up watching and quoting and loving with my sisters. "They seek him here, they seek him there. Those Frenchies seek him everywhere..." Let me put it this way: When Ben quoted this on our first date? I knew it was meant to be.

3. The Royal Tenenbaums directed by Wes Anderson

Hard to go wrong with anything Anderson, though this is by far my favorite of his. A dark comedy about a(n extremely) dysfunctional family with an all-star cast. Each character is complex and relatable and hilarious. This was the first Anderson movie I'd seen, and it still stands alone as my favorite and (in my opinion) his best. Wonderful soundtrack by Mark Mothersbaugh of recurring cello themes, Hey Jude by the Beatles, and of course Elliot Smith.

4. Tombstone starring Kurt Russel, Val Kilmer, & Sam El

liot

It is true that I'm a sucker for a good western, but I really do love this western most of all. Val Kilmer is my absolute favorite part of this movie- he plays the sickly Doc Holliday. The story is that of revenge- Revenge of Wyatt Earp for his brothers against the Cowboys. Watch it.

5. The Young Victoria directed by Jean-Marc Valle

Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend star in this sweet story about the young Queen. It follows their relationship, which is tender and sweet and real. I love the friendship they develop, and the fact that it's all true makes it so much better.

6. Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows pt. 1 directed by David Yates

What list of mine would be complete without Harry Potter? All I have to say is- thank goodness for David Yates. He is a fabulous director and has taken Harry Potter in the direction it needed to go. I've already seen this in theaters twice (and probably will again, let's be honest). It's dark, much darker than any of the others. But I love how closely and accurately it followed the book. It leaves you wanting more! July, get here quick!

7. Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back directed

by Irvin Kershner

This is an ode to the nerd in my heart- I LOVE STAR WARS. But I especially love Star Wars V- by far the best of the 3 (I say 3 because they are the only ones worth mentioning). I recently watched this again for the first time in many years and I love it even more now than I did then. Han and Leah finally kiss! She loves him (and he knows)! Luke discovers Vader is his father (imagine that) but still hasn't discovered Leah is his sister (and they kiss-twice! Ew!). And of course, the ever-lovable Yoda, who will forever in my heart be his true self when he's a puppet.

8. Kill Bill vol. 1 & 2 directed by Quentin Tarantino

You could hardly list one without the other- they compliment each other so well. While volume 1 is camp and over-the-top action that Tarantino does so well, 2 is the well thought plot-line, anti-climactic wrapping up of all the "roaring rampage of revenge". Stupendous soundtrack, great action, and girls kicking ass. Enough said.

9. Black Swan directed by Darren Aronofsky

Yes, here's another Aronofsky and another 2010 release, but I can't help it when there is such a stunning film as Black Swan. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis star in this psycho-sexual thriller about a ballerina dealing with the pressures of her new role as the Swan Queen. If you haven't seen it yet, at least do so once so you can see it on the big screen.

Beautiful costumes, music, women, men, and all over film. (Scroll down to read my full review!)

10. The Sleeping Beauty starring Mary Costa

This adaptation of the classic fairy-tale is by far one of Disney's best. With a nod to the original Tchaikovsky music and beautiful animation, this film is divine.

11. Lord of the Rings directed by Peter Jackson

I hardly know where to begin talking about why I love these films. First, it should be known that Tolkien was read to us as children and is therefore very close to my heart. The conceptual designers for LOTR completely and totally captured the essence of what I always imagined as a child and that is why these made it to my list. Superbly do

ne.

12. Romeo + Juliet directed by Baz Luhrmann

What human does not love Shakespeare? And what human could not possibly love Leonardo DiCaprio in an adaptation of one of his greatest stories? This film is strange, fast paced, and a modern-day setting of the classic tale, though of course staying true to the way it was written. This movie made a great impression on me as a young girl. Tragic, sweet, and crazy. And of course, what movie would be complete without a ridiculously amazing soundtrack. In fact, you may even see this soundtrack in my top 15 albums of all time.

13. The Darjeeling Limited directed by Wes Anderson

Alright, so I can't just pick one. This is definitely my second favorite Anderson film and if you've watched it, it's easy to see why. A tale of 3 brothers, so like my own sisters and my relationships with them it's downright hilarious. It's touching, it's funny, it's infuriating. Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, and Owen Wilson star in this wonderful story of the mishaps of their "Spiritual Journey" on a train through India.

14. Into the Wild directed by Sean Penn

Emile Hirsch stars as the adventurous Christopher McCandless, burning his identification and money and escaping across the states and eventually to the Alaskan wilderness. The cinematography is so beautiful- simple and intimate. It stirs something in the soul to think about picking up from wherever you are so you can climb to the top of a mountain and get away from the troubles of politics and crime and humdrum of daily life.

15. Beauty & The Beast and Aladdin

Of course with only one spot left and two favorite Disney movies, how could I pick just one? Both are reminiscent of happy childhood days, longing to be a princess swept off her feet by a handsome prince. I'm so glad that I grew up with these movies and

to see that so many new generations of kids love them just as much as I did.

Now, the real question is: What are some of your all-time favorite films?

Fabulous 15: Books That Changed My Life

I will try and do a weekly segment of 15 things I love, whether they be albums, stories, movies, etc. This week I chose to do books (inspiration credited to my lovely sister, Megan)

There are about 100 other books I could have added to this list, but these were the first to reach my brain. Enjoy!

15 Books That Changed My Life (In No Specific Order)


1. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
My first memory of this book is from Kindergarten, when my dad read it aloud to me. He did all the voices. This book is not just a book, it's a childhood memory that got me hooked on all things fantasy. "In a hole, in the ground..."
2. Self-Reliance (and other essays) by Ralph Waldo Emerson
You all saw this one coming. This essay helped me get through some tough things in my life. I don't know that I need to say anything else about it except; if you haven't read it, do.
3. Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
Because I am a quintessential girl, who loves a story with a great (and believable) heroine. Austen is a classic.
4. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Although this story is a bit redundant, the message is sweet and simple. I read this little gem after high school and I consider it a small contribution to a lot of growing up.
5. Harry Potter 1-7 by JK Rowling
I wish I could write a book about how much I love these stories. I was 11 when these books came out, and pretty sure I was going to get a letter of acceptance to Hogwarts right along with Harry. It seems silly to say, but the characters in this book were my friends. I grew up with them (Hermione is even a fellow Virgo!). Each and every one deserves a spot on my list but I'll put them all here. Magical, whimsical, dark, uplifting, I love the definitive line between good and evil represented here. Cheers to the boy who lived!
6. The Bible
Although I don't attend church or even know my thoughts on God as a whole, I think it would be silly to leave this one out. It was a big part of my childhood, a HUGE part of the culture I grew up in, and whether I believe it all or not it at least got me thinking.
7. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
This is the definition of feminine indulgence. Plath's writing is rich and sorrowful, and it's easy to get sucked in. Her life story, played out by Esther Greenwood. Beautiful, haunting. Love.
8. The Egypt Game by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Where to even begin. This is one of the most magical stories I've ever read. I love everything about it. Set in Berkeley, California (go figure) and all about Egypt, this book is definitely one that changed my life. I give this book full credit to all my Archaeological aspirations.
9. Oh, The Places You'll Go! by Dr Seuss
Do I even need to say anything about this? Dr Seuss is a classic for all kids. It's passed through so many generations of kids, from my parents to my 4-year-old nephew. Dr Seuss was a genius.
10. 1984 & Animal Farm by George Orwell
There are a few other stories I could put into this one- Anthem by Ayn Rand and the Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. It pushes my buttons and gets me thinking. I read Animal Farm first, which was a great prelude to 1984. It haunted me for a long time afterwards.
11. Love Poems by Pablo Neruda
Beautiful, pure, simple, and sensual. I have a copy of this book with both the Spanish version and the translation, and both are amazing to read.
12. The Constellations by HA Ray
Same author as the Curious George books, this funny little book made stargazing with my dad so much fun. I have the happiest memories reading this book with my dad alongside his telescope under a gorgeous starry sky. I've seen the rings of saturn. I've seen meteors so close the blue flame left an imprint that stayed in the atmosphere for seconds afterward. I've seen the northern lights in my own backyard. I'm a lucky girl.
13. Meet Kirsten by Janet Beeler Shaw
This American Girl book is how I got my name, a sweet collection of stories, and a pretty little blonde haired, blue eyed doll. A Tenney girl favorite.
14. The Sleeping Beauty by Mercer Mayer
Gorgeous illustrations! This version of the story is beautiful and elaborate, and every little girl's dream fairy tale.
15. Jake by Judy Ceccherini
I'm not sure if my mom ever finished writing her story about a young girl named Jake, but this story definitely inspired me to write my own. My mom is an incredibly talented writer and poet and has written many beautiful, beautiful things.

So what are some books that have changed YOUR life?

Cabin Fever, As It Were

There is nothing quite like driving through the dense forests of southern Germany, only to round a corner and have a gorgeous lake lying at the base of a beautiful mountain. Only there's more- a castle on the side of the road every few miles, some inhabited, some only ruins. Either way, it's an experience you won't find here in America. And guess what? I'm yearning for it.

For whatever reason lately, the topic of traveling (especially European travel) has been a hot topic amongst friends, family members, and especially clients of mine. I've had people share some amazing experiences with me and the more I think about it, the more I'm determined to make it happen.

As a high school student in the local youth symphony, I had the opportunity to go to Germany and Austria. Around the same time I opened up a long-term savings account that matures guess when? Next year. So Ladies and gents, I'll be saving all my pennies and when the time is right next year I'll be booking my tickets.

The hot spots I'd like to hit up? London. Amsterdam. Munich. Paris. Rome.

Anyone out there with suggestions of agencies to go through, packages available, or specific sights I ought not to miss?

I feel excited at the thought of how much history and culture is out there, waiting for me to come soak it in and eat it up. Until next time, aufwiedersehen!