Part One: Episodes 10 through 6

10. The Doctor’s Wife (Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond/Rory Williams) – This is the only episode from series five and six. It’s not that I don’t like Matt Smith as the Doctor, because I truly do, it is that I do not enjoy the stories and supporting characters as much. Rory is fabulous, but I have failed to connect to Amy, and River just drives me up the wall. That being said, I absolutely adore this episode. Why? Well, I am glad you asked! One, it is written by Neil Gaiman, who is simply phenomenal. Two, I LOVE seeing the TARDIS as a human, finally getting to talk to the Doctor, her one true love and who she chose, rather than him choosing her (and I especially love it when he calls her “Sexy”). Three, we get a glimpse at the old control room of the TARDIS from earlier seasons. Four, the side story between Rory and Amy, is for once, centered around them, without influence of the Doctor. And finally, five, for a few brief moments we get to believe that there may still be some Time Lords in existence. All of this equals one damn great episode.

One of the most visually stunning episodes in all of Doctor Who.

9.  The End of Time (Tenth Doctor, Wilfred Mott) – I will admit, this is not the most strongly written episode. The ridiculousness of the “Master Race” was a bit much for me and I definitely laughed out loud when that came out of John Simm’s mouth. Additionally, the music and sound effects of the episode were so loud and overwhelming that at times it significantly distracted from the story. That being said, I love this episode for a few key reasons. First, I ADORE Wilf. I only wish there were more episodes with him as a companion. What a fun and utterly hilarious old man. Have you ever seen the episode of the British show Never Mind the Buzzcocks where David hosted a special Doctor Who themed episode? No? Well if you want to see Wilf (also known as Bernard Cribbins) be a sassy and hilarious old man, WATCH IT NOW. Second, I love the end where the Doctor goes and visits all of his old companions, seeing that they are all happily living life, saving Rose for last, where he goes back to before they ever met and tells her she is going to have a fantastic year. Break my heart into a million pieces.  And third, the final line uttered by the tenth Doctor, “I don’t want to go”? I cried a million tears and sobbed to my television “I don’t want you to go either”. I am pretty sure my boyfriend thinks I am crazy. Of course if I would have preferred if David Tennant never stopped being the Doctor, but if he had to leave, I think his send off was pretty fitting.

David Tennant is particularly gorgeous in this episode, especially when he is all beat up.

8. Planet of the Ood (Tenth Doctor, Donna Noble) – The first time I saw the Oods I actually laughed at how silly they looked with their spaghetti tentacles on their face. Then, fifteen minutes into this episode when Donna becomes heartbroken over how they are treated, I too felt my heart begin to break. The story of a beautiful and kind race being oppressed to the point where they become violent, it is a story we have seen/read/heard many times, yet this unique approach to it was something special and refreshing. And if you thought that Catherine Tate was only capable of playing strong comedic characters, then you will be quite surprised to see her take on this emotionally heart wrenching episode.

And when Donna started crying, my heart broke into pieces.

7. Turn Left (Tenth Doctor, Donna Noble) – What if Donna had never met the Doctor? Well, for one, I would have been quite sad, as Donna is one of my favorite companions (second to only Rose). Two, well, the world would have been a lot different, for you see, Donna is one of the most important (if not THE most important) people in history. You see, without her, the world would have changed. The Doctor would have died, Martha Jones and Sarah Jane Smith would have perished, and all of the world would have been plunged into a state of dystopia. This episode explores this and the result is nearly 50 minutes of heart wrenching and pounding storytelling where you just want Donna to realize how important she is.  Catherine Tate’s performance is so spot on and you get to see one of the few performances where she shows that she is just as strong as a dramatic actress (differing from her usual performances as a comedic actress). Oh, another reason I love this episode? Rose returns, transcending time and space and parallel worlds as she tries to find the Doctor (swoon), both to warn him of the impending end of the world, and because, well, she loves him. An absolutely fantastic episode that marks the beginning of the end for the Tenth Doctor.

The return of Rose Tyler, and my two favorite companions together.

6. Army of Ghosts/Doomsday (Tenth Doctor, Rose Tyler) – Never have I cried so much as a result of a television show. I knew Rose wasn’t going to be around forever, but I did not realize just how much her departure would tear me apart. Perhaps it is because in the episode before this two-parter (Fear Her) we see how just how much these two mean to each other. Ugh. Anyways, gut-wrenchingness aside, one of the main reasons I love this particular story is because it brings in two of my favorite Doctor Who bad guys, the Cybermen and the Daleks. Another reason is because we get to see all of Rose’s family, together, and really, anything that brings Rose happiness, brings me happiness. And yes, Rose and the Doctor being separated completely guts me, but that final scene on Bad Wolf Bay? One of the best moments on television, ever. The tears were seriously pouring out of my eyes. And finally, amongst all the sadness of this episode, it has one of the most unintentionally hilarious exchanges between the Cybermen and Daleks.

Cybermen: We have five million Cybermen. How many are you? 
Dalek Sec: Four. 
Cybermen:You would destroy the Cybermen with four Daleks? 
Dalek Sec: We would destroy the Cybermen with one Dalek! You superior in only one respect. 
Cybermen: What is that? 
Dalek Sec: You are better at dying.

Don't cry Doctor! Oh, that scene on the beach. You know the one I am talking about. Shatter my heart into a million pieces.

And thus concludes part one. I had an extremely difficult time narrowing this list down, and even a more difficult time narrowing down the top five, but I think I am reasonably happy with my list. Check back soon for the second part, my top five episodes!

Miniseries Title

Review: I don’t actually watch too many miniseries, but my dear friend Laurie highly recommended it, so I added it to my queue. You see, we both love the story of Alice in Wonderland and she was telling me that this was her favorite television/movie version of the story. She usually has excellent taste in movies, television and books, so I figured why not give it a shot?

The movie begins in the modern world with a raven haired girl named Alice (who just happens to be a judo sensei). She is dating a handsome lad named Jack and has decided to introduce him to her mother over dinner. After dinner (which seemingly goes well), Jack takes Alice aside and gives her a ring “that has been in his family a long time”. Alice, of course, panics and refuses to take it, saying she needs to think on it. Jack departs, and as Alice is sitting there talking to her mother realizes that Jack has slipped the ring into her pocket. She quickly chases after him, only to see him kidnapped and thrown into a van. She chases after one of the men, following him through a looking glass where she arrives in Wonderland. Wonderland looks nothing like what you would expect it to look like. While it does have elements of fantasy, it feels like a large, unpleasant industrial place, with casinos made out of playing cards, owned by the Queen of Hearts (Kathy Bates). As you quickly discover, this Wonderland is the same one of the original story, but 150 years later, after the “original Alice” has come and gone. The Queen of Hearts and a corporation known as White Rabbit, kidnap Oysters (people from our world) and suck them dry of their emotions, which are then sold and consumed by the population of Wonderland so as to be able to feel varying emotions. As Alice tries looks for a way to escape she meets The Hatter (Andrew-Lee Potts), the owner of a “Tea Shop” (a place that sells the bottled emotions), who seems to take quite the liking to her and does what he can to help her find her way home. As the story plays out we meet many other familiar characters including Caterpillar, The Walrus, Tweedle Dee and Dum, the Dodo Bird (Tim Curry) and the White Knight. As the story concludes, it is not the ending you would expect, but you still can’t help be satisfied.

This was definitely one of the most unique retellings I have ever seen of Alice. While the special effects was a bit cheesy at times, that is to be expected of a miniseries airing on the SyFy (SciFi) channel. While I had never heard of any of the main actors before, I enjoyed their performances and felt they were believable, particularly Caterina Scorsone, as Alice, who was easy to connect to. Kathy Bates was made to play the Queen of Hearts and the young British bloke who played The Hatter certainly charmed me with his adorable smile and delicious accent. There were a few plot twists that kept you on your toes (and that I won’t spoil here), and the way they brought the various characters to life, and to the story, worked extremely well (Tweedle Dee and Dum as mad Doctors/Psychiatrists who torture Alice was an exceptionally excellent choice). While this isn’t a fantasy based Alice in Wonderland with over the top costumes, and a colorful fantasy world, the gritty science-fiction feel is an excellent deviation from the typical approach (which seems to be either 100% fantasy/magical or 100% real word).

Overall, I highly recommend this minseries, particularly for those who love the story of Alice in Wonderland. It is three hours long, but definitely worth the time and I sincerely doubt that you would regret it. By the way, for those who are wondering my favorite version is the 1951 animated Disney version, though this version has now firmly moved itself into second place.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 Kittens

Movie Title

Review: I should probably preface this review by saying that I love Ryan Reynolds. Yes, I know, how original of me. But there is just something about his gorgeous face and winning personality that pulls me. If Ryan Reynolds has even just a cameo in a movie, you can bet I will see it. The 2009 version of Wolverine? Yes it was a terrible awful movie, but I will actually watch it more than once (and own it on DVD) simply because Ryan Reynolds played Deadpool. I guess I am what you would call a fangirl, and no, I am not ashamed to admit this. Because of my love for Ryan Reynolds, it may be difficult for me to be completely objective in writing a review for a movie in which he stars, but I promise to try my best.

Waiting…is a movie that is likely best enjoyed if you have ever worked in the restaurant industry. While I have not done so, I still found quite a bit of enjoyment in the flick. As the brief plot summary at the top states, the movie shows a day in the life of the young employees of a typical chain restaurant named Shenaniganz (similar to an Olive Garden or The Cheesecake Factory) as they attempt to keep from being bored in their likely dead end jobs. Each employee seems to be a complete exaggeration; from Anna Faris’ character who seems to not give a damn about anything, to Justin Long’s lost college student who is trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life (many of us have been there), to Ryan Reynold’s illustration of an absolutely deplorable young man who does everything  he can to score with often barely legal high school girls, because they are the only ones who wont know just how bad he is in bed.

This movie is not one that you watch for it’s story or plot. Instead you watch it for it’s hilarious commentary on what it is like to be a lost and bored young adult searching for what to do with your life. At the end of the movie there is no resolution or happy ever after, instead we are shown that much of life, especially at that age, is simply about waiting.  Plus it is always fun to watch your favorite comedic actors interact (Long, Faris and Reynolds play off each other quite well). If you are looking for a mindless fun flick that will have you laughing, then this one is definitely for you. Not a high re-watch value, but for those who love comedy (or are madly in love with Ryan Reynolds) its worth an hour and a half of your time. Stick it on your Netflix queue (that’s what I did), or grab it the bargain bin at your local Target or Walmart for $6.

Final Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Kittens

Book Series That Have Been Completed

The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis) – Some of my earliest memories of reading are that of when I read The Chronicles of Narnia, more specifically, from when I read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (I was in 4th grade). To this day it is still one of my favorite books, and the series as a whole is something I can read time and time again. I know many people, especially as they have gotten older, no longer enjoy this series because they view it as “Christian propaganda”, but for me, it will always be a fantastic fantasy series that I can read over and over. The series was, I believe, the first fantasy series I ever read, and is honestly, what got me into fantasy books as whole. As for specifics in the world of Narnia, my favorite character will always be Mr. Tumnus, followed by Aslan (yes, I do know that Aslan is Jesus), and I think that the White Witch is one of the most terrifying “villains’ in children’s literature.

Books Included: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle

Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling) – Was there really any doubt this was going to be on the list? I am a child of the 90s and millennium after all. I read the very first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Philosopher’s Stone everywhere else), the year it was released in the United States. I was 12. From the first chapter I was hooked and bought every single book as it was released over the next 10 years. When the final book came out in the summer of 2007, I locked myself in the room for an entire day while I read it. When I was done, I read it again. And then two weeks later, I read it for a third time. I think I can safely say I have read the entire series, front to back, at least four times. One of the things I love most about the series is that it grew up as we grew up. The first book was a fun fluffy book for children to love and lose themselves in. The seventh, and final book, was dark and heart wrenching, and really made you think. These books will stand the test of time (the movies too), and when I have children, and they are old enough to read, these are  some of the first books I will give them.

Books Included: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins) – I picked up this trilogy early this year after suggestions from a couple friends. I didn’t really know what to expect, as it honestly did not sound like the kind of book I would usually read. However, after a couple chapters in, I was hooked. It is set in a kind of post-apocalyptic world (of what once was America), which is a new “setting” for me and tells the story of a young girl named Katniss as she fights against a controlling government (of course, there is also a love triangle woven throughout the story). My favorite thing about the series is that it is a quick read, yet it really gets you thinking about the government, censorship, independence, love and more. It is now being adapted into a movie, which I am greatly looking forward to checking out.

Books Included: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay

The Millennium Trilogy (Stieg Larsson) – Earlier this year I took my first international trip. It was to Germany (for business) and the flight was 13 hours. Before my colleague and I boarded the plane I swung by the bookstore. The brightly colored cover of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, caught my attention and I grabbed it, along with Water For Elephants (I cried) and The Time Traveler’s Wife (I cried even more). I will admit, it took a lot of effort to get through the first half of the book. It is not that it wasn’t good, it was just extremely dense and rather difficult reading (a lot of legal and political talk). However, I am so glad I did. Immediately upon finishing the book, I bought the remaining two in the series and gobbled them up like candy. It is, without a doubt, my favorite “non-fantasy” series. It’s got murder, mystery, sex, politics, and some absolutely fantastic characters (particularly Lisbeth Salander). What makes this all the even more impressive is that the book was originally written in Swedish (and takes place in Sweden). The translation is, in my opinion, flawless. The most disappointing (and saddest) thing about these books? The series was originally supposed to be ten, but only three were written before the tragic death of Larsson.

Books Included: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest

Lord of the Rings (J.R.R. Tolkien) – Like Harry Potter, there was no question this trilogy would be on the list. I firmly believe that one of the main reasons the fantasy genre is as popular as it is (in movies, video games and books), is because of the phenomenal world that Tolkien created in this phenomenal series. Ok, yes, the writing is dense and often difficult to read, and the second book (The Two Towers) is insanely difficult to get through, but there is no denying that this series stands the test of time. Trying to choose a favorite character or moment is tough, but if I had to choose, I think it is a tie between Gandalf and Aragorn for favorite character, and when Gandalf comes back as Gandalf the White for a favorite moment. But really, all of the characters are amazing, and there are a gazillion fantastic moments.

Books Included: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King

Book Series Still In Progress

A Song of Ice & Fire (George R. Martin) – This series was first brought to my attention over this last summer when everyone was talking about the new Game of Thrones television show came out (staring Sean Bean). I didn’t get a chance to watch yet (it’s still on my list), but hearing about it definitely made me want to check the book series out. Luckily after I expressed interest in the series to one of my good friends, she sent me the first book to read. I was immediately sucked in. There are a number of things that make this series so enjoyable. The first is the world. It reminds me of Lord of the Rings meets Arthur, but with little to no magic, but tons of political intrigue and epic battles. It is absolutely fascinating. The second is how the books themselves are written. There is no one main character. Instead, every chapter in the book is written from the point of view of one of the many “main” characters. In the first book (titled Game of Thrones) there are eight separate “point of view” characters. And the third thing I really enjoy about the series (and also something that I hate as it rips out my heart) is that the author is not afraid to kill anyone, even one of the point of view characters. So beware; DO NOT GET ATTACHED TO ANYONE. So far there are five books out, with another two planned. Each book is quite thick and takes a bit of time to get through, so there is plenty of reading to be had.

Books Included: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, A Dance With Dragons (plus two more to be published)

The Kingkiller Chronicle (Patrick Rothfuss) – One fine day this spring I was purchasing something from Amazon (hardcover versions of Harry Potter) when I glanced in the “recommendations” section and saw this mysterious book called Name of the Wind. I knew nothing about the author and the cover wasn’t even that interesting. Yet, I added it to my cart and hit purchase. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. As with many of the book series I have listed here, it is based in a fantasy world filled with magic and mysterious creatures, but this time around, magic is treated very differently. The approach to magic is actually quite scientific and academic, which is something I have not seen in many (if any) fantasy books, and the main character is intriguing. He is certainly a hero, yet incredibly flawed. The author is an absolutely incredible writer, and when you are reading, it is hard to believe that these are his first two books…EVER. The only issue I have with this series? It took him four years between the first book (came out in 2007) and the second book (came out this year), which makes me incredibly anxious for when the third (and final) one will be released.

Books Included: The Name of the Wind, The Wise Man’s Fear (plus one more to be published)

Honorable Mentions

The Wheel of Time (Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson) – Extremely popular fantasy novels, but there are so gosh darn many of them and they are incredibly dense reads. At this time there are 13 of them, with another planed to be released in 2012. Definitely a huge time commitment.

Twilight (Stephenie Meyer) – I am pretty sure I am going to get shot for including this one, but I had to at least stick it under honorable mentions. It is by no means great literature (in fact the writing is quite terrible), but it is a fun fluffy read and can be finished relatively quickly.

The Inheritance Cycle (Christopher Paolini) – I think it is important that I admit to you that I did not make it past the first book of this series. That being said, however, I will say that the series is worth at least a try, if only because of how impressive it is that the author was 15 when he wrote the first book (and 19 when it was published).

A Series of Unfortunate Events (Lemony Snicket) – This is a set of 13 short novels (novellas) that tell the story of the three Baudelaire children, who, after the “accidental” death of their parents, run into misfortune everywhere. They are definitely children’s stories, but they are fun and easy reads, and they are hard not to enjoy.

Would Like to Read

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan), His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman), The Southern Vampire Mysteries/The Sookie Stackhouse Novels (Charlaine Harris), The Uglies Series (Scott Westerfeld), The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices (both Cassandra Clare), Books of Ember  (Jeanne DuPrau), The Underland Chronicles (Suzanne Collins), Artemis Fowl (Eoin Colfer), Inkheart Trilogy (Cornelia Funke), Fablehaven (Brandon Mull), Looking Glass Wars (Frank Beddor), Shadow Children (Margaret Peterson Haddix)

What are some of your favorite book series?

(via Pinterest)

I need to begin with a little bit about what brought me to write this post. I have a full time day job.  I work 40 hours a week at a video game company in San Francisco.  I love my job, and the company, and the people, and honestly, until I can return to school to get my PhD (for Anthropology), this is what I want to do with my life.  But it can be exhausting, especially because I am also a part-time blogger.  I commute a total of two hours each day.  I wake up at 8, leave my house at 8:55, arrive to work by 10, leave the office at 6:30, and arrive home by 7:45.  My week days are long, sometimes unbearably long.  I will admit that I often struggle to get out of bed each morning, knowing it will be over 11 hours before I am back.  I use the train ride to and from work to catch up on blogs (via my Droid X), read books I have been meaning to read for months, and sometimes even write a blog post, but it isn’t nearly enough time.  When I get home, I use what little daylight there is left to snap a few quick outfit photos (at least in the summer, when it is still light when I get home).  At some point, I may eat dinner, which my boyfriend is kind enough to cook (truth is, he does 80% of all of the cooking).  After I scarf down my food (because by 8:30 pm I am starving), I start editing photos and get the post written and scheduled for the following day, and this is only referring to outfit posts, which are the least time consuming of all my posts.  I spend another 30-45 minutes catching up on more blogs.  Maybe then I will take a shower and watch a movie, possibly watch an episode or two of CSI with Alex, but more often than not, I just shower and go to bed.  Rinse and repeat the following day.  Weekends I try to cram in all the things I lagged on during the week.  Cleaning, laundry, shopping, sleeping, cuddling.  Even then, weekends are only two days long, and I am left still wishing I had more time to do the things I enjoy.  I have now gotten to the point where I am completely exhausted and worn down.  I am headed towards blogger burnout.  If I get there, I don’t know if I will be able to recover or return.

Anyone who says that blogging is an easy and free hobby, they are either crazy, have no idea what they are talking about, or know some secrets that they should share with the rest of the world.  Blogging is, to be frank, an extremely costly activity.  Now, it is not to say it isn’t rewarding, and worth those dark circles under my eyes.  I did just write a post on five ways that blogging has improved my life, so it would be quite silly for me to sit here and tell you that I wish I didn’t blog.  No, that is not it.  I simply want past, current, and future bloggers (as well as all the blog readers out there) to understand just how much time, energy, and money, goes into blogging.  So lets take a moment to look at exactly what a blog costs.

Cost #1 – Time

Probably the most obvious, blogging is a time costly activity.  Depending on the type of blog you have time can be spent in a variety of different ways.  Taking and editing photos, researching new ideas, planning an editorial calendar, writing posts, or publicizing your blog on various social networks.  And if you have a side business to go with your blog, this costs even more time.  Creating, finding or developing pieces to sell, creating a brand, advertising your shop or business, and shipping out orders.  Furthermore, often bloggers are consistently finding new topics and ideas to blog about, which means every day they are thinking about how seemingly simple moments from their every day lives can be developed into a blog post.  For many of us, blogging is always on our mind.  And then there is the community side of blogging.  Responding to comments, answering emails, finding new blogs to read and commenting on them, writing guest posts for fellow bloggers, sharing favorite found posts on Twitter or Facebook.  Simply said, if you have a blog, even if it is not something you plan to monetize or make your full time job, it costs a lot of time.

For me, I spend on average 3 hours per day on my blog.  This means that I spend a total of 21 hours per week on this hobby.  Add in my 50 hour work week (including commuting), and I am left with a couple hours each day to fit in all the other activities I enjoy, such as playing video games (which I haven’t done in weeks), hanging out with Alex, reading a new book, or watching movies.  I can only imagine if I had a kid, worked a full time job, and blogged part-time.  I am pretty sure something would have to give (either the job or blog, the kid would be here to say).

Cost #2 – Energy & Effort

This is quite closely related to time.  The amount of time you put into your blog can actually vary on the amount of effort and energy you put into it.  If you post once a week, it is likely you will spend significantly less time on your blog, though that one post may take you a few hours to research, write and proofread.  With this approach, however, it is also likely that your blog will remain relatively small, and likely just a place for you to release your thoughts and ideas once in awhile.  If you would like a blog to grow and have a community develop around it, you will need to put in the effort and energy to make this happen.  You will need to post at least a few times per week, and your posts will need to be thought out and well constructed.  You will need to put in the effort to create an attractive and streamlined layout that presents your content in an easy to read manner.  You will need to put in the energy to spread the word about your blog.  You will need to make the effort to find new post ideas, and proof read your posts.  When you start your blog you need to spend some time really thinking about what you want from it, as this will often dictate the amount of energy and effort you put forth, and thus the amount of time you spend towards making it what you would like.

Cost #3 – Money

As a new blogger you may not know this, but blogging often costs money.  Yes, there are many free blogging sites out there where you can blog to your heart’s content without ever having to pay a dime.  But lets say your blog suddenly explodes and you would like to get your own domain, rather than yourblogname.wordpress.com or itsanawesomesblog.blogspot.com. you will need to pony up at least $10 per year for your domain name (I use name.com).  Then lets say you want more freedom in terms of how much bandwidth and stability you have, so you decide to self-host your blog.  Pricing plans can range from $20 per month to $100+ per month.  And the larger your blog gets, the more bandwidth it requires, the more expensive your plan will be.  Now lets say you want to get some extra exposure for your blog, so you decide to sponsor a larger blog.  Depending on the size of the blog you are sponsoring, and the size of the add, sponsorships can range anywhere from $15 a month to $150 a month or more.  Now, you have been blogging for six months and you are looking to get a new camera to improve the quality of your pictures that you post.  But not just any camera, you want a nice new DSLR with two lenses.  There goes $1200 in less than a few clicks.  Now you want to do a giveaway, maybe to thank your current readers, or possibly to bring in new ones.  You may be lucky enough to get an Etsy shop to sponsor the giveaway, but lets just say you are funding it yourself.  Depending on the size of your giveaway, there goes $10 to $100.  You have decided you want to update your layout to something more elaborate or unique, so you buy a pre-made layout for $60 and customize it to your needs.  Or maybe you don’t have the time or skills to do any coding, so you hire a fantastic design company to create a custom layout for you.  It costs you $350 (but goodness is it gorgeous).  There is a great blogger conference coming up.  Registrations costs $10.  But wait, it is in Texas and you live in California.  There goes $250 on a round-trip ticket.  And another $300 on a hotel room for three nights.  Another $300 on food, drink, socializing and shopping while there.  As you can see, it adds up quite quickly.  Again, it is possible to blog without ever having to spend a dime, but if you are looking to create a community out of your blog, or grow it into something that may become a full-time paying endeavor, you will have to shell out the dough.

Now, this all being said, I highly recommend you do create a blog.  It is extremely fulfilling and a fantastic creative outlet.  Find something (or multiple things) that you enjoy writing about and sharing, and get going!  But just be aware, something that you thought you would spend $0 and 30 minutes a day on, soon it will be something that you think about every free moment.  On a final note, be aware of how much time and money you are spending on your blog, and make sure you balance it with the other important things in your life, like your friends, family, job, health (mental and physical), and other hobbies and activities.  If any of those are suffering due to your blog, it is time to take a step back.  You definitely don’t want to reach the point of blogger burnout.

Now for me, I am going to take all this to heart and make the effort to do all the other things I love, like playing some video games, hugging my boyfriend, and maybe even reading a book (that might just be a little too ambitious).  Blogger burnout, you will be thwarted.

Do you ever struggle with the “cost” of blogging, whether it is your time, effort or money?  Were you able to overcome it, and if so, how?

Note: This post was originally posted on my old blog Divergent Musings. 

Movie Title

Review: I feel as though I need to preface this review by saying that I am a huge superhero fan. And beyond that, I am particularly a fan of nearly all Marvel superheroes. Even the worst Marvel superhero movies (think the third X-Men) I can find some enjoyment in. Now, that being said, onto my thoughts about Captain America: The First Avenger!

Of all the Marvel superheroes Captain America is actually one of my least favorite. I know, how blasphemous of me. I am not sure what it is about the character that I find so unappealing, but I think it might have something to do with the extreme amount of patriotism that surrounds the character. I like America, and I am certainly happy to live here, but an excessive amount of in your face displays of patriotism just seem to rub me the wrong way. Because of this, I had few expectations going into the movie. In fact, I didn’t even have an idea of what storyline they would be using. Eventually I learned that it would include Nazis, and Hugo Weaving as the head of Hydra. My interest was piqued (I am a sucker for stories with Nazis…and anything with Hugo Weaving).

The first part of the movie focuses on Steve Roger’s (Chris Evans) transformation into Captain America. A scrawny awkward young man who wants nothing more than to serve his country, Steve is continually denied enrollment in the army because he doesn’t meet the physical/health requirements. But he does not give up. He is eventually selected for a special experimental science program, in which he is transformed into the ultimate soldier. However, instead of now being able to go into battle and serve his country, he is forced to become a piece of propaganda. It is during this time that he becomes known as Captain America. Eventually, he becomes restless, and when he finds out his best friend has been taken prisoner (along with other soldiers) by Hydra and Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving), he goes to rescue to them. And rescue them he does. As Johann Schmidt (also known as Red Skull) becomes more powerful, breaking away from Hitler and the Nazis, and sets his sights on taking over the world, it is up to Captain America to save the day.

To be honest, the story was to be expected. It was certainly cheesy, but then again, most superhero stories are. I really enjoyed that they showed how he became Captain America, and how he ultimately ended up in modern times and part of the Avengers (without aging). I do wish they could have shared a few more details about things such as the Red Skull’s background and rise to power, but for a two hour movie, it worked well. Captain America’s most interesting time is with the Avengers anyways. My least favorite part of the movie was the CGI editing of Chris Evans’ head on a scrawny little body. It looked ridiculous, like he was a bobble-head doll (apparently they did actually use Chris’ body, but edited it a great deal). I was extremely thankful when he finally underwent the transformation and we all got to see the additional 15 pounds of muscle he put on for the role. I am not really a muscles girl, but even I have to admit, he looked good. And lets be honest, Chris Evans looks the part of Captain America. An all American boy next door. Say what you want about his acting in other roles, but for Captain America he is perfect.

In regards to the other roles, Hugo Weaving as Johann Schmidt/Red Skull was perfect, mostly because Weaving is an amazing actor who can play a sinister, mysterious, character so well (ahem, Agent Smith, and V in V For Vendetta). Tommy Lee Jones was a surprisingly good addition as the Army General in charge of Captain America, as was Dominic Cooper as Howard Stark (Tony Stark/Iron Man’s father). Hayley Atwell (a relatively unknown actress) held her own as a powerful female officer, and the love interest. And it is always good to see Sebastian Stan in a movie (this time as the best friend).The CGI and special effects, save for the strange scrawny body they gave Evans in the first part of the movie, was well down, and relatively believable. Well, as believable as a superhero movie can be. Most of this technology wouldn’t have existed in 1942, but as we all know, you have do suspend disbelief to be able to enjoy most of these movies. The costumes felt relatively accurate (basically nothing felt glaringly out of place) and I really did enjoy the evolution of the Captain America uniform. My favorite part of the movie? Of course after the credits rolled and we got a glimpse at the The Avengers (man, I really can’t wait for that movie).

Overall I really did enjoy this movie, and think most would feel the same way (for those who are curious Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 79%). It was not at the level of the first Iron Man or the recent X-Men: First Class (which was phenomenal), but it was definitely worth the $10 per ticket (if only for the preview of The Avengers). If you are even remotely interested in Marvel characters, superheroes, or things blowing up and seeing Chris Evans’ muscles, then check this movie out in the theater (it is still in select theaters), or buy/rent it on DVD when it comes out (I know I will be adding it to my collection). Definitely a must see movie!

Final Rating: 4 out 5 Kittens

• CommentLuv – I originally saw this on one of my favorite blogs and had to track it down for my own. This plugin offers the opportunity for you to give your devoted readers, and those who leave comments, a little extra love.  If they leave a blog address (or website) in the comment then this plugin will pull their latest post and link it in their comment.  It is a great way to give back to those who give to you.  I still love when I visit a blog and they have this plugin!
• Comment Reply Notification – Have you ever left a comment with a question where you were hoping for an answer, but never seemed to get it.  Then a month later you visit the blog to find your question answered.  And you wish, more than anything, that you had gotten an email notifying you it had been answered.  This plugin does just that.  It gives readers the option to choose to be notified when their comment receives a response.  You would think WP.org blogs would have this automatically, but alas, not the case.  So definitely get this, so your users can be notified of replies.
• Growmap Anti-Spambot Plugin – We have all been there, the ridiculous spam comments that seem to be never ending.  Akismet catches most spam comments, but it still requires you to be more proactive and actually monitor comments.  GASP takes your spam protection a step further and adds a tiny little check box that players need to check to indicate that they are not spammers. Since installing it a couple months ago I have only received one or two spam comments.  I would be drowning in a sea of spam (and not the salty yet delicious food) without this little plugin.
• Hikari Unicornified Gravatars – WordPress uses “Gravatars” as your icon when leaving comments.  If you have created a customized Gravatar, it will use that, if not, it will use the default image.  After awhile this can get a little boring looking.  This little plugin substitutes the default image with one of a handful of unicorn gravatars.  Not a life changing plugin, but it certainly does make your comments more colorful and fun.  Plus, who doesn’t love unicorns (if you don’t like them, please don’t tell me as it will break my heart)?
• SexyBookmarks (by Shareaholic) – I am torn on this plugin, but I like to keep it on the list because I do think it has use, if your community and readers are active enough.  This plugin gives you the option to add shortlinks to your post for users to automatically post to Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, etc.  They have over 50 sites that you can choose to add.  You can customize where the thumbnails sit.  I personally choose to have mine at the bottom of the post as a kind of divider between each post.  On my site it doesn’t get used frequently, but I still like to keep it around.  For those blogs that have an extremely active community, I think this plugin would be amazing.
• Smart Archives Reloaded – I am always looking for a good way to organize my archives and have tried out a few different plugins.  While Beautifully Invisible prefers the calendar archives (as she is a more visual person), I decided upon Smart Archives.  I particularly like the “Fancy” setting, which includes collapsible menus and keeps everything organized and succinct. However it does not work with my custom layout, so I use one of the standard options which organizes my archives by year and then month.  Easy to navigate and find just what you are looking for!
• Thank Me Later – Have you ever visited a new blog that you quickly fall in love with and left a comment, only to forget a day later which blog you left it on because you follow a gazillion different blogs?  I do this on a fairly frequent basis and it drives me mad.  With this plugin this concern is a thing of the past!  This neat little plugin will automatically send new commenters an email.  You can customize the email to say anything.  Mine is very simple and thanks the user for their visit and comment, and then provides a link to both my blog and Twitter.  Voila!  An easy way to remember that amazing blog you visited the other day.
• W3 Total Cache – There is almost nothing worse than visiting a beautifully constructed site filled with amazing posts only to have it take FOREVER to load, or worse, lock your browser.  This handy little plugin helps to improve the overall experience when a user visits your site.  For those who love the technical side of things, basically this plugin caches every little aspect of your site, which will significantly improve download/load times, which your visitors will greatly appreciate.
• WP to Twitter - One of the things I loved about having a WordPress.com blog is that you could set it up to automatically share any new posts across the various social networks (Twitter and Facebook).  As simple as you might think it would be to implement this on WordPress.org hosted blogs, this is not the case, and this functionality does not come native to the .Org software.  This plugin, however, fills that gap, at least when it comes to Twitter.  It is quite easy to download and install, though you do need a little work to get your Twitter API key to connect your account (just follow the instructions and it will be easy as pie). Setup your settings as you see fit using your URL shortener of choice (I use StumbleUpon’s) and bam!, you are ready to go.  Anytime you publish a new post, it will be automatically posted to your Twitter.  Now they just need to make one that works well with Facebook.
• WPtouch – I do a lot of my blog reading on my smartphone (Motorola Droid X), and I know I am not the only one.  While pretty much all blogs I read will load on my phone’s browser, those that have a mobile theme installed load significantly faster, and make the user experience that much easier.  Sure, the mobile themes don’t look as fancy and beautiful as that custom theme you put hours and hours of work into, but when your screen is less than 5 inches in size, the more simple and quick loading, the better.  This plugin does just that for your WordPress blog.  With this plugin, when someone loads your site on a mobile device, it will load with a more simple and sleek theme.

These are just a few of the amazing plugins out there.  The WordPress.Org community is known for it’s extensive plugin catalog.  If there is something you wish you could do on your blog, there is probably a plugin that will do it for you.  Just spend a little time looking around and I am sure you will find what you are looking for (or at least someone who will make it for you).  Are there any plugins you absolutely love and can’t live without?

Note: This post was originally posted on my old blog Divergent Musings. 

Movie Title

Review: I vaguely remembering hearing about this movie last summer when it was being filmed and there were pictures of Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan dressed in vintage costumes plastered all over the internet. Something to do with them being British Cinema’s new darlings. Anyways, the movie actually dropped off my radar and I didn’t give it another thought until it arrived on my doorstep a couple weeks ago. It turns out I had actually mistaken it for Remember Me, the Robert Pattinson movie that came out in earlier 2010. Yes, I had a face-palm moment. But I am not one for wasting a movie, so I decided to give it a go as I do enjoy Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield (Keira Knightley I am more lukewarm towards).

The movie begins with onscreen text that states that in 1952 a medical breakthrough occurred, making it possible to extend the life expectancy past 100 years. We then fast forward to the 1970s where we meet young Kathy (Mulligan), Ruth (Knightley) and Tommy (Garfield) who seem to be enrolled in a standard British boarding school, named Hailsham. It soon becomes clear that there is something different about their school and lives. They soon learn that they are actually”clones” and their the entire existence is to donate organs so that they may extend the lives of those they are “modeled after”. They will die young, younger than when the lives of most really begin. Despite such news the children develop friendships, and Kathy falls in love with Tommy. Despite knowing this Ruth, who is Kathy’s friend, seeks out Tommy and soon the two fall into a romantic relationship, which carries on through the remainder of their time at Hailsham. Upon leaving the school they move to The Cottages where they seemingly live in seclusion, until they are called upon for their first donation. Eventually Ruth and Tommy break up and they all go their separate ways. Kathy, in an effort to put off her imminent early death, becomes a “Carer”, someone whose job is to look after those who have made their donations. Approximately 10 years later as Kathy tends to a donor who has “completed” (made all the donations their body could handle and passed on), she happens across Ruth, who is doing poorly after two donations. They reunite and seek out Tommy, who is seemingly doing well after his second donation. As the movie enters it’s final act and comes to a close, they are left wondering if we ever really have enough time to live (I don’t want to give away all the juicy stuff).

Because I knew very little about this movie going in, I had few expectations for it. Overall, I must admit that it was a movie that got me thinking and really started my mind whirring. The theme of the movie can best be described as dystopian. If The Giver was ever made into a movie, I feel that it would have a similar feel to this one. The story, which is based on a book of the same title, is quite thought provoking, and tugs at your emotions and conscience. The acting, particularly by Carey Mulligan, was spot on, neither underwhelming or over the top, which made the story and situation feel as though it be plausible. The costumes and set design are definitely my favorite part of the movie, giving the movie this kind of timeless, yet vintage feel. Vintage lovers will absolutely love the wardrobes of Mulligan and Kightley.

It’s re-watch value is low, so I am not sure I would purchase it (unless you are similar to me and like to collect movies), but it is definitely worth at least seeing once. The only reason it’s re-watch value is so low, is because it is quite a sad movie, and I am not sure I could handle watching it multiple times. While I don’t think you will need a box of tissues by your side, do be prepared to feel a bit down, and thoughtful once it is over. As I mentioned, the acting is solid, the set/costumes are great, and the story is truly thought provoking. I actually think I will add the book to my Must Read list.

Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Kittens

Movie Title

Review: I initially saw this movie when it came out in theaters a few years ago. I dragged my then boyfriend with me to see it, against his will. I don’t really know why I wanted to see it. I tend to be more of a cat person, but I saw the poster with the adorable yellow Labrador on it, and well, I am a sucker for anything with baby animals, and I am a relatively big fan of Jennifer Aniston (Owen Wilson, not so much). Anyways the other night as I was relaxing in bed I flipped to it on TNT (or was it TBS, or maybe USA) and got sucked back into it. So now, instead of a review on Green Hornet (I will do that next week), you get a review of Marley & Me!

Marley & Me is based off the book of the same name by John Grogan. The book, and thus the movie, is autobiographical and tells the story of Grogan, his family, and the rambunctious and destructive dog that helped to make them who they are. The story begins when we meet John and his new wife Jenny (played by Aniston) who have just escaped from the brutally cold Michigan winters to a small cottage/shack in Florida, where they both work as reporters for competing newspapers. When John starts to sense that his new wife is itching for babies, he does what any man who fears babies does and gets her a puppy instead. And so we meet Marley. Soon it is clear that this puppy is no ordinary dog. Instead, he is, quite possibly, the world’s worst dog. The remainder of the story follows the family’s adventures as they navigate life, love, a family, and more, all with the rambunctious pup by their sides.

This is a feel good movie that will have you laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of some of the stuff that Marley does (even if you are a cat person, me thinks you will still enjoy the adorable dog). What I particularly enjoy about the movie is that the characters feel realistic. John and Jenny are just like you and me. They don’t have millions of dollars and can afford to live wherever they please and do whatever they want. They are real people who struggle to pay their bills, make ends meet, and support a family. And sure, Marley the dog may be completely ridiculous, but I have seen dogs out there who are just like him; completely incapable of being trained and incredibly destructive, but you love them anyway. The movie does not paint their lives as easy, or glamorous, and that is why it is so easy to connect to the story and characters. It is not the most strongly acted movie but with the kind of story it is, it does not need to be. The actors simply need to feel believable, and they do (though I must admit, Alan Arkin does manage to steal every scene that he is in).

If you are looking for a deep or life changing movie, pass this one over, as this movie is neither. However, if you are looking for a fun, sweet and enjoyable family flick, I highly recommend you put this one in your queue. I can assure you that in it’s two hours, it will have you smiling, laughing, and even crying. It may not have major rewatch value, but for a date night at home, grab the popcorn and Coca-Cola and settle on in.

Final Rating: 3 out of 5 Kittens