let's get down(ton abbey)

only 6 more days until a personal wish of mine is granted! the season 2 of Downton Abbey premieres on PBS Sunday and i've been waiting since last spring to see it. i can hardly stand it.

everything about the first season was so incredible...the clothes (and hats!) the characters, the time period (the hats!), the story, the setting...i was so aboserbed that i watched the entire season in one weekend. i loved this BBC miniseries MORE than the BBC's pride and prejudice, which is saying something since it had colin firth in it...and i don't think i'm the only one. twice recently i asked someone what they'd watched and liked recently and they gushed with me about DA for many, many minutes. if you haven't seen it, start watching it on netflix or pbs streaming right this minute (or if you're at work, the MINUTE you get home.) if you watch one episode a night and two on Saturday until Sunday when the new one premieres, you'll be 100% caught up. you'll thank me, i promise.

if you aren't convinced, here are a few stills, and a link to the website, to whet your appetite.

 oh, did i mention that the hats are amazing?

of course i love the soap-opera-ish romances and the pot-boiling feuds between the sisters, the in-laws, and the servants, but some of my favorite pieces are the little period details and social and professional expectations of the world at that time since between the sinking of the titanic and beginning of World War I there was an incredible historical turning point. also, something about the society reminds me of earlier generations of southern families. i'm glad i don't live in those times, but i'm so intrigued...

also, if i'm preaching to the choir and you've already watched the show and are as excited as i am, take 2 minutes for the character quiz to find out your downton abbey doppelganger! the last season ended as world war one began, so i can't wait to find out where the writers pick up. let me know if you'll be watching so we can chat about it.

images from google

it's time to play the music...it's time to light the lights...

i'm excited times a billion.

almost everyone i know is up in arms about the twilight movie that comes out this week, but i can't stop thinking about amy adams, jason segel, and THE MUPPETS--three HUGE crushes I've had for some time now because they seem so good natured, honestly nice, and truly funny... and they're ALL in one place. Enchanted and I Love You, Man were two of the movies where I've laughed the most AND laughed the hardest in years. I mean, they were so sincerely, sweetly funny, and were like the only comedies that weren't even a little bit ironic, mean spirited, vulgar, awkward, or sarcastic.... and if this movie has those main characters AND adds in kermit the frog, how can it be bad?

honestly, i can hardly stand it. who else is with me? if you're not sure, watch this trailer (or this even better trailer) and try not to squeal with glee.

new year's style crush...helena bonham carter.

isn't she the coolest? i know. it's either the curly hair, the wild outfits, or the cigarettes. in the new year i'm going to try to take my coolness to this level (never going to happen, but a girl can dream). who's your style crush this year?

haaaarrrrrryyyyyypotttteerrrrr!!!!

it's true....

so,  i mentioned that i've been super into sexy vampire books recently...is this incredibly mortifying for me? yes. did it stop me from proclaiming it on the interweb? no.

what i didn't mention was that the sexy vampire tv show, trueblood is what got me into the sexy vampire books on which the show is based. sure, i have to close my eyes at the really raunchy parts and the awful southern accents make me cringe but for some reason i just CAN'T get enough of this show. this isn't the first awful tv show i've fallen head-over-heels for. one february it was smallville, then gilmore girls, then it was NCIS. now, trueblood. anyway, since stores have started selling halloween costumes and trick-or-treat bags i thought i'd share some set photos from my fave new guilty pleasure  because i really love the way the sets look AND because trueblood is really addictive. don't take my word for it...rent the DVDs and see for yourself. and lust after the sets...or just lust. whatev.

bill's house

inside bill's house (so fab, right?)

sookie's kitchen..i love the light!

the vampire bar. too much blood red? nah.

j'dore this...

watching brainless tv helps me pack... i guess it keeps my mind off of the mess or something? anyway, saw this incredible outfit from satc2 on E! and almost died from the gorgeousness and coolness of it all.

maybe i can get away with wearing a vintage tshirt, the underpinnings/petticoats of a zac posen dress that has a TRAIN, and a satin shrug in the middle of the day in mississippi? maybe?

photos here, here, and here

weekend wonderland...

one day alice came to a fork in the road and saw a cheshire cat in a tree.
"which road do i take?" she asked
"where do you want to go?" was his response.
"i don't know." alice answered.
"then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter." -alice's adventures in wonderland




as you can imagine, i'm more than a little excited about the new tim burton version of alice in wonderland that's coming out in march. since it's been on my mind, i thought i'd share my favorite wonderland-inspired photos today... so go on.. "begin at the beginning and go on till the end: then stop."



vogue's rendition (see the whole shoot here)

and two versions of a mad tea party from somewhere... and follow this link for the first photo of drew barrymore as sassy alice

a beautiful kitchen isn't THAT complicated...

when the power (and heat) went out on Christmas day, the boone family decided to movie theatre to stay warm. apparently everyone else in town had the same idea. anyway, my wonderful, adorable MiL and i wanted to see it's complicated, so off we went.





guys, i was super disappointed. everything and everyone, (espesh the three blonde, blue eyed, WHITE-toothed children) was just way too perfect looking... and i thought that every actor except meryl streep was overdoing it.

but the set design was wonderful. every time they'd have a scene in the kitchen i'd stop paying attention to the dialogue and just look around at the way they'd decorated it. the whole movie revolved around gutting this kitchen and building a better one, but WHY? it's perfect.. white dishes, double ovens, aluminum finishes on everything, a big window, bottles of balsamic vinegar everywhere...i bet i could cook for days in that place without sleep.




anyway, thought i'd share a few shots from the movie in case you haven't seen it yet. it's not as good as something's gotta give, but the sets were pretty fantastic. maybe one day, if i'm a very very good girl, i'll have this kitchen in my own house.

stay tuned! i'll post a few non-kitchen photos later!
images from traditional home and remodelisa