Film Flickers

Monday, November 30th 2009. 12: 15 pm.
Countdown to LA: 54 days.
Countdown to Sydney: 65 days.

Feeling the cold weather settling in and wishing we were anywhere but here, Naz and I headed to the movies for "Double Feature Sunday". It's a wonderful, new-found tradition where we lazily sit in a movie theatre all day and watch as many movies as we can fathom. So, yesterday we saw The Blindside (which we had been dying to see for months) and New Moon (round 2). I'm only going to discuss the Blindside today, so as not to be repetitive.

The Blindside tell the heartbreaking, real-life story of Michael Oher, an NFL player born to poverty in Memphis, Tennesse and the wonderful couple who adopted him and made it possible. The movie stars Quinton Aaron as Michael, a larger-than-life teenager who spent his formative years being shuffled around in the foster care and public school system. Due to his size and athletic ability, he is accepted to a prestigious private school. It is here that he makes a chance encounter that changes the lives of those around him forever. He befriends a little boy by the name of SJ Tuohy(played by the adorably funny Jae Head) and is taken in by his family. The Tuohy family takes Michael into their home helps him fulfill his potential - in the classroom, in life and on the football field.



The casting for this movie, in our opinion, was fantastic. The film stars Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw as Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy. Sandra Bullock is amazing in her portrayal. The real Leigh Anne should be happy with the tough, blunt but touching representation. It was a departure from the kinds of characters Sandy typically plays (aloof and goofy). Tim McGraw was also very believable in this film. It was hard to think of him as the cowboy hat wearing, bearded country singer, as he meshes well into his role. The Tuohy family is rounded out by the aforementioned Jae Head (playing SJ Tuohy) and Lily Collins (playing the Tuohy's daughter Collins). Quinton Aaron is so heartbreakingly authentic as Michael Oher. There were many times we found ourselves crying from his portrayal. Whether they were happy tears or sad tears he had us from the first line he delivers.


This movie had it all. We laughed, we cried, we cheered, we laughed some more, then we cried again. It was the perfect mix. We left the theatre feeling uplifted and ready to help out those less fortunate. But first, we had to sneak into New Moon : )

Perpetually dreaming,
Linds & Naz

Snap Happy

Thursday, November 26th, 2009. 10:37

Countdown to LA: 58 days.

Countdown to Sydney: 69 days.

Confession - Naz and I are sloppy drunks. Not in a clothes coming off, making out with each other, falling down in the street way(save for a few special occasions). No no, we keep it classy. We are sloppy in the sense that we lose and break things when we're drunk.

Case in point #1: In August, Naz had cousins visiting from LA. We took them to Century Room, got completely wasted, and I broke the screen on my camera. It works, but I can't see the pictures until I upload them. This makes for an entertaining morning-after, when we reminisce over the nights event we don't remember...

Case in point #2: Halloween night, Naz and I are out with our friends wandering Church St. At some point in the night, we were happily taking pictures with her camera. We don't know when, where or how it happened, but Naz woke up the next morning sans her camera. Frustrating since she NEVER brings it out with her and only did due to my aforementioned broken camera.

This leads us to the topic of this post....we need new cameras! We are moving out of the country in T-58 days and don't have the proper means to document it!!! We are therefore using our blog as an outlet to weigh the pros and cons of the top contenders.

To help us make our decision, we are narrowing the list based upon price (we are on a budget) and a few "must-have" features. For simplicity's sake, I'm keeping it between Nikon and Canon. These are my 2 favorite, tried and true brands (yes - I've been through my fair share of picture takers). So far, here are the top 3:

Canon SD780 IS - $219.00:

This badboy is surprisingly cheap for all that it offers (christmas sales anyone??) and truth be told, its already the frontrunner. It offers 3x zoom, 12.1 megapixels and a 2.5 inch LD Display. It comes with a staggering 18 different shooting modes including: long shutter, sunset, ISO 3200, colour swap and beach setting. Plus it's cute, small and has a variety of colours for the fashionably-minded to chose from.

Canon Powershot SX120 IS - $229.00:

This camera is geared towards someone wanting a little more creative control with their photography. It has 10x zoom, 10 megapixels and a 3 inch LD Display. With settings such as "AV Aperture-Priority", (which allows you to isolate a subject) and "TV Shutter-Priority" (allowing you to select the shutter speed to blur action), you always maintain control with the outcome of the picture.

Nikon Coolpix S570 - $199.00:

This camera is a handy little camera, boasting 12 megapixels and 5x zoom. It has 6 shooting modes (including portrait, close-up and landscape) as well as vibration reduction and best shot selector.

When you've gone through as many cameras as I have, you start to wonder...."is it worth it to pay a little more so it will last longer?" But knowing my drinking habits, it is most definately NOT worth it. I will probably break the damn thing 14 months and you'll see another blog post comparing models. I'll let you know which one I chose, but in the meantime, feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Perpetually dreaming,

Linds

"...these streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you..."

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009. 11:44 am
Countdown to LA: 59 days.
Countdown to Sydney: 70 days.

Phew! What a trip! Naz and I spent the weekend taking in the sights and sounds of New York City. I hadn't been to NYC in almost 4 years, so I had to reacquaint myself with the Big Apple. We also discovered a few things:

1) A weekend is not enough time for all the sights in NYC

2) We are truly, utterly and completely obsessed with the city

3) We need to move there STAT!

Now, I've said it before and I'll say it again - Naz and I are heterosexual lifepartners. In saying this I mean, that we are so alike, so cosmically connected that if I didn't know any better, I'd think she was me. Which leads to our "dirty little secret"...Naz and I did NOT plan on going to NYC together. We planned these trips separately and just so happened to be there at the same time. Even when we try to do things apart, we still somehow end up together!

In the 2 days we were there, we took in many of the beloved New York sights:
-Central Park
-MoMA (specifically the opening weekend of the new Tim Burton exhibit)
-The New York Public Library
-The Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island
-The Empire State Building
-Bryant Park
-The Met
-Rockefeller Centre

We had such a great time in New York, we've decided its the next stop on our world tour (after Sydney of course). Naz, Steph and I (aka The Holy Trinity) have decided to spend summer 2011 in Manhattan. Spending the days tanning in Central Park and the nights partying in the city that never sleeps....

Perpetually Dreaming,
Linds & Naz

New Moon Premiere Tonight!

Thursday, November 19th, 2009. 11:21 am.
Countdown to LA: 65 days.
Countdown to Sydney: 76 days.

Tonight is the big night! The premiere of the Twilight Saga: New Moon. We have our tickets for the 10pm showing (yes 2 hours before everyone else gets to see it) and we are very excited.

New Moon is one of my favourite books in the series. It definitely didn't start out that way, but it grew on me. It is very emotionally raw as it deals with the protagonist Bella swirling into a deep depression as her soul mate Edward leaves her. I really hope the movie stays true to the book and am curious to see how they film the passage of time which in the book was four blank pages simply stating the months from October to January in an amazing way that symbolized her empty life without him and really left an impression on the readers. I have faith in Chris Weitz, I think he will do an excellent job in picking up where Catherine Hardwick left off. Hopes are also high for the expanding cast including Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen and a bigger role taken on by Taylor Lautner. I have always been on Team Edward but I'm thinking I may switch sides after tonight...



The only thing we're not looking too forward to is the crowds of screaming girls whom I am sure are waiting in line right now. Hopefully I'll still have my hearing after the movie as we will be beginning our road trip to NYC immediately after the screening. Wish us luck!

Perpetually Dreaming,
Linds&Naz

p.s. Good news for us; we always thought Australia gets their movies a few weeks after North America but New Moon actually opened a day before on November 19th in Oz. This makes me happy as we will be in Sydney for the premiere of Eclipse, the next movie in the saga.

You're a hot mess and I'm falling for you.....

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009. 10:27 am.
Countdown to LA: 66 days.
Countdown to Sydney: 77 days.

So...sunday night we partied with rockstars. Not anyone most people over the age of majority would know but rockstars nonetheless. We went to a concert featuring The Maine, A Rocket to the Moon, Cobra Starship and Boys Like Girls. I'm pretty sure we were the only people legally drinking in the 19-over section.

Naz has been in love with Gabe from Cobra Starship for a few years now, so when she found out they were playing a concert in Toronto she obviously had to go. We bought tickets a few months back all ready to battle it out with pre-teens in the General Admission crowd for a good view. Fortunately for us, the stars aligned, luck was on our side and we didn't have the need to throw any punches for a good view.
It just so happens that last year, while Boys Like Girls were in Toronto on tour with Good Charlotte, Naz ended up partying with them on their tour bus. She has stayed in contact with Boys Like Girls' tour manager ever since. So the night before the concert, she contacted John, the drummer from the band and he hooked us up. He put us on guest list, gave us four free tickets (which we promptly scalped for drinking money) and invited us to the after party.


We had a great time at the show - we drank, danced, sang and partied with our sunglasses on at night. After the show, we convinced all the bands to head over to Century Room for the afterparty where we hung out in the booth with Cobra Starship. Here is when the problem started. Naz started out the night in love with Gabe and ended it totally over him. Gabe is NOT as hot in person, he kinda looks like a really tall 12 year old. Maybe it was the clothes he was wearing, but even our "beer goggles" couldn't help him out. But we do have a long list of crushes so I guess we'll just have to move onto meeting the next one....Hello? Bradley Cooper?

Perpetually Dreaming,
Lindz & Naz

So I quit my job...

Saturday, November 14th, 2009. 12:53 am.

Countdown to LA: 70 days.

Countdown to Sydney: 81 days.

The plan was to stay for 3 more months.

3 silly, measly, lousy months.

91 days.

And I couldn’t do it.

I made one of the impulsive decisions I’m known to make every now and then and left with 91 days left to go. I could have saved 5 more pay checks. But my happiness these last few months in Toronto hung in the balance. I could have stayed 3 more months but it really wasn’t worth my soul, or the pennies I would have earned while being miserable (did I mention my job pays me pretty much nothing, I practically pay to work for them). If I stayed the only memories I would have had of my last months in Toronto are stress, deceit, and misery. At least now, I have more time to spend with people I love before I leave them for who knows how long. And I learned a valuable lesson, NEVER TRUST LAWYERS. All the stereotypes about them are true, no matter how good they are at fooling you. Maybe it’s a lesson that will serve me well in Sydney.

For now I just have to not spend the money I saved as much as possible and always remember this:

Perpetually Dreaming,
Naz

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi???

Tuesday November 10th, 2009. 9:53 am.

Countdown to LA: 74 days.

Countdown to Sydney: 85 days.

Last week, Steph - the third member in our trio, moved back to Toronto from San Fransisco. So we decided, being the amazing, fantastic friends that we are, to throw her a welcome home party. We started off with Dins at Moxies. Yummy, cheap food and delicious drinks were the perfect kickoff to a fantastic night.

Naz and I shared the 3 dip med bread appetizer (delicious as always). And I had a Moxie-sized Peach Bellini - this thing was bigger than my head!!!

So after a few hours of eating, drinking and talking, all of us girls decided to head downtown. We headed to a Burlesque bar called Jezebel.

Now, we had never heard of this place, and its easy to understand why. The entrance is located in an alley way and its looks like the type of shady place I usually try to avoid....but apparently its pretty popular, with people waiting upwards of an hour to get in. Naturally, we didn't wait to get in...our friend Morsel knew the owner so we were whisked away up a private entrance so the people waiting outside wouldn't be mad.

Inside, we had a blast. It wasn't too much of a burlseque bar, there was one dancer but she wasn't very good in my opinion...but the music and crowd was good so I can't complain.

We danced the night away and Steph had a great welcome back to Toronto! Soon, it will be our going away party that will have to be planned! We have so many themes ideas up our sleeves to make it the best night ever!!!

Perpetually Dreaming,

Linds&Naz

They've got all the right moves...

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009. 10:43 am.
Countdown to LA: 80 days.
Countdown to Sydney: 91 days.

The OneRepublic private concert at Tattoo Rock Parlour last night was surprisingly good. Now, I am not a fan of Ryan Tedder as Lindsay is (he is too short and I feel all his songs are sped up or slowed down versions of Stop & Stare) however, last night we both left with a crush on the lead singer.

This does tend to happen to both of us whenever we see celebrities live and in person. Case in point;

EXHIBIT A:

Edward Norton

Before we partied with Edward (Eddie as I like to call him) during TIFF this year I really felt nothing for him. I thought he was a great actor and admired his talent and body of work, but I never thought he was hot or sexy. Boy, were Lindsay and I both wrong! The way he walked into that party, his swagger, his suit, everything, we both fell hard and added him to our Freebie Fives where he remains to this day.

EXHIBIT B:

Katy Perry

Before seeing Katy Perry live in concert this past summer, Lindsay and I both thought she was cute, campy and fun. After the concert, we both had crushes and I had my first girl crush ever!

EXHIBIT C:

George Clooney

Okay maybe this one doesn't count...but you get my point.

So last night we found Ryan to be charming, funny and a musical genius (he plays so many instuments and has written all the hit songs for everyone from Kelly Clarkson to Beyonce this year) which makes him pretty hot to us! OneRepublic's new songs were great as well. I personally loved 'Secrets' and 'Good Life' the most. [OneRepublic's new CD 'Waking Up' hits shelves November 17]

(Pictures taken with Lindsay's busted camera since mine is lost on church street :(...)

All in all, it was a great time and a great private concert with about 100 people in attendance. And we left with another member of our Freebie Five which is slowly turning into a Freebie 20...

Our next (planned) concert event is Cobra Starship and Boys Like Girls in 2 weeks, we'll keep you posted.

Perpetually Dreaming,

Naz

Stop and Stare

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009. 11:49 am.
Countdown to LA: 81 days.
Countdown to Sydney: 92 days.

So, exciting news...some may know that I am in love with One Republic, like in a seriously heart-breaking, unrequited way. I have, however, never seen them in concert. So, imagine my surprise when I come into work this morning and found out that I have 2 free tickets to their private concert tonight!!! Luckily, my partner in crime, Naz (or my heterosexual life partner as I affectionately call her) is free tonight to accompany me!

We plan to strap on our best (slash comfiest) dancing shoes and party the night away.


Ryan, my love....I am coming for you! Pics to come tomorrow!

On another unrelated note: Our third PIC (partner in crime) is coming home from a much too long stint in California....can't wait for the adventures to come!

Perpetually Dreaming,

Linds

Church on Halloween

Monday, November 2, 2009. 3:53 pm.
Countdown to LA: 82 days.
Countdown to Sydney: 93 days.

Halloween...from what we remember, was a fabuolous night! Our ever-revolving costumes went from Russian Mafia Wives, to Russian Mail Order Brides to finally settling on the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

[The best part of our outfits was the daring new lip colour by MAC. Lindsay is wearing the 'MAC Red' lipstick, Naz is using the 'Russian Red' lipgloss. And we are def going to sport these colours after Halloween as well. TIP: for a great longer lasting effect layer the lipgloss on top of the same colour lipsick.]

We started out the night at Enzo and Andy's fabulous apartment. They fed us shots like we were homeless kids in a shelter. After about 10-15 shots and a bottle of wine, we were in a fine mood to party. So, off to Church St we walked-the land of gays, love and fun.


[Right, Clockwise from Top: swine flu, Miss Swan, Pirate, Major Tease, Real Housewives of New Jersey, Pilot (Maverick), football player, Single Lady, Fairy]

A Bottle of wine and a bottle of vodka later, we had lost a camera, broken a bracelet, forgot a pair of sunglasses, damaged a purse and realized how much we'll miss our friends when we leave. But what we remember of this night we will never forget!

Perpetually Dreaming,

Linds&Naz