Has anyone ever watched the HGTV channel? I have recently become hooked on it! A friend's 6 year old daughter is the one who got me to watch a design show with her one night and it was love at first sight. Now why she chose to watch an HG show over Hannah Montana I don't know, but I was thanking my lucky stars that she did.

Now keep in mind that I do not have a single creative bone in my body. I can not choose colors, or visual how a room would look with various furniture, or be bold and mix and match prints and solids. I just don't have that in me. So therefore I am even more impressed at what the designers on the shows can do. They turn houses that are small and cramped, into beautiful, open and airy spaces.

The first show I ever saw was House Hunters. This is a show about people looking to buy a house or condo. Each episode focuses on a different town and a different buyer. The realtor shows the buyers three different houses in or around the price range the buyer has set, with different features they have specified they are looking for and then the buyers pick the one they like the best. I have noticed that most people are looking for a larger kitchen and a larger backyard. And I have to know... Who doesn't want a bigger kitchen and backyard?! The buyers view each house and say positive and negative things about it. Things they like, things they hate and things they would change. I have found it interesting that its about a 50/50 spilt of people who want to buy a house where they don't have to change a thing. Not even the wall color. Then there is the other half that goes into the buying process knowing that they will want to make little changes to make the house feel more like them. I'm not sure which side I would be on when I buy a house. Probably the side where I can move in and not have to change anything. Remember I have no design sense. LOL. I have found this show totally cool to watch because it shows houses in different cities all over the US. I have seen home in Florida, Colorado, Texas, California, Tennessee etc. And the best part is they tell you the price of each home. Now I am born and raised a California girl, so I am use to very high home prices. It amazing me the type of house and land you can get once you move out of California. One couple in Tennessee got over 5 acres of land for only $315,000. And the house was beautiful!!! Oh the dream of moving away!!!! And yes I know the income level is lower in other parts of the US, but still!!!

A great thing that HGTV has done is make the show House Hunters Internationl. This show is awesome because it is the exact same format as the regular House Hunters, but it is in locations all over the world! I love seeing all the different types of houses and how different they are from US homes.

Another show I watch constantly on HGTV is Bang for your Buck. This show is about showing homeowners what type of return they will get now that they have made an upgrade to a room or area of the house. The concept around this show is that the homeowners has spent say $20,000 on a new kitchen and they live in Denver, Colorado. Bang for your Buck shows 3 different homeowners in the same city who have all recently remodeled the same area of the house for the same price. A realtor from the city the house resides in and a design expert for HGTV tour and view the remodeled area and make comments that are good and bad about the space that was redone. While the realtor and design expect are view the space, the homeowners are watching on tv from a different location what they are saying. This is the fun part because some homeowners get very offended when the design expect points out something that they don't like or the realtor points out something that might not make the house sell as easily. At the end of the show the realtor and the design expect sit down and go over what would help the house sell and what would make the price fall. Everyone person who remodeled helps their bottom line, its just a matter of how much. :)

Every time I watch one of these shows it makes me want to remodel my entire house! But I will stick with letting the expects do that and I will just enjoy the shows for now.

Entourage - Season 1

I have found a new show that I love!!! Entourage on HBO. Yes I know that it is like 7 or 8 season into the series but I don't get HBO so I've never had a change to watch it. With summer starting and all the regular shows going on hiatus, I needed to find something to watch. I decided that a new summer tradition of mine is to Netflix an entire series during the summer and find something new and exciting to watch. I did this last year with Ugly Betty. And I fell in love with the show. Only to have it be canceled on me this season :(

So I chose Entourage to watch this summer. The show is loosely based on the early stages of Mark Wahlberg career and he is one of the Executive Producers. The show focuses on Vincent Chase this new up and coming actor and his childhood friends taking advantage of the new life Vince is leading.

There is his brother, Johnny "Drama" Chase who is kind of a washed up actor at this point. He use to be a pretty big star. Matt Dillion plays this character.

Eric Murphy, his best friend and "manager". He picks the movies Vince is going to be in, deals with his agent and his publicist. Kevin Connelly plays Eric, who reminds me of a young Michael J. Fox.

Turtle, Vince's trusty side kick. He is defiantly loving Vince's popularity. Played by Jerry Ferrara.

And then there is Vince's agent, Ari Gold who is played by Jeremy Pivan. Ari is an asshole but a really good agent.

The dynamics of the 5 characters is amazing. Each one brings something different to the show and I love it! Eric is the serious one, Drama and Turtle are always trying to network and get something which usually lands them in trouble, and Vince is just going with the flow.

After his first movie, Head On was a hit, he needs to pick a new project. Ari wants him to do another big screen blockbuster, but Eric thinks the movie is crap and instead has him read an independent screenplay called Queens Blvd. Vince loves Queen's Blvd, and trusts Eric's opinion. Also it doesn't hurt that they all grew up in Queens, NY. Ari is very hesitant to let him do the movie, but finally gives in. The 1st season ends with Vince, Drama, and Turtle boarding a plane to NY for a couple months to film the movie. Eric is on the outs because he has demanded that he become Vince's manager for real. Get paid a percentage and everything. Vince just wants things to stay the same. But the show ends with Vince and Eric coming to an agreement and Eric hoping on the play with the rest of the guys.

I can't wait to get Season 2 in the mail. This show is a must see!!!

Mommywood - Tori Spelling & Tori & Dean's Home Sweet Hollywood

So I have a small confession. I never liked Tori Spelling during the entire BH 90210 series. I though she was annoying and spoiled. And I never felt she could really act. My favorite was of course Kelly (Jennie Garth). Now I need to share another secret with you. I have fallen in love with Tori Spelling. I have watched her reality show originally named Tori & Dean Inn Love since it started in 2007. I have followed her show as it changed names to Tori & Dean Home Sweet Hollywood. I absolutely love her now! And her husband Dean McDermott. They are the cutest couple and make great reality TV.

I read her first book sTORI Telling and loved it. So of course it was only natural that I would want to read her second one Mommywood. In her first book she talked about her life up growing up and how she met Dean and how they fell in love. In Mommywood she talks about having children. She has two kids, Liam and Stella.

The main topic of her book is of course being a Mom in the crazy town we call Hollywood. Tori Spelling is from a celebrity dynasty. She grew up wealthy and knows it. She is not ashamed to talk about her upbringing and all the wonderful things it had to offer. Her fear as a mother is that she wants her kids to have a "normal" childhood and she fears she can't provide that for them. And she kind of has a point with the reality show cameras being in the house 24/7. LOL



What I love about reading Tori's books it that it makes her feel like a real person to me. And watching her TV show I also get that. She has the same fears that lots people have. The same insecurity that most women have. Does she look fat? Is she doing whats best for her children? Daily struggles being a working mom but just wanting to be home with her babies everyday. And wanting to protect her family from anything bad. I think all women can relate to her on some level. It surprised me how many fears and insecurity she has about herself. But I guess if the media had talked bad about me since I was a teenager I wouldn't be very confident either.

I also love to see the relationship between Tori and Dean. This man loves her! It comes across so well on TV. You can see it in his eyes. It makes me want a love like that. Yes, they have problems and they are not perfect. But who is? In this weeks episode Dean re-proposed to Tori at the bed and breakfast that they use to run and it just brought tears to my eyes.

Bottom line is that I have become a fan of Tori Spelling and you should too!!!

One Tree Hill Renewed for Season 7

Ok, so I will admit it. I love One Tree Hill. I have been watching OTH since it premiered in September 2003. And I have even been know to watch the reruns they do on Soapnet. I can not tell you how happy I am to know that this show is being renewed for another season. My source (Ausiello@ew.com) says that they are going to do a short season with probably only 12 episodes. But 12 episodes are better than no episodes!!!

But even I will admit that at the end of the next season I think it will be time to wrap up this show. I have loved it and was even ok with Lucas and Peyton leaving at the end of Season 5. But I think that the next 12 episodes should be able to wrap up the series in a good way. Hey, maybe they will even be able to get Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton on for the finale. Either way I know this show will end and I hope they will end it doing the fans and the characters proud.

The Season 6 finale on Monday was amazing. I think that the writers weren't sure if they would be able to get another season so they tied up a lot of loose ends. I am so excited that Haley is pregnant and that Julian and Brooke are engaged. No one on the show deserved happiness as much as Brooke does. She has finally found her prince!!! The ended completely blew me away! Here I thought as the show was finishing that "they were putting everyone in a happy place" and then BAM!!! Quinn and Clay get shot! I hope they stay alive for next season. If Haley's sister dies right after her Mom died I don't think she will be able to recover. She has already been going through a really hard time. I hope she can stay strong!!!

Let me just say again how excited I am for this show to be coming back! I look forward to the Fall!!! :)

Marisa

Vision in White - Nora Roberts

Forgive me for not writing in awhile. I have been completely wrapped up in this new series by Nora Roberts. Now I have always loved a good Nora Roberts story, but I think these books are going to take the cake. The series is called "The Bridal Quartet" and is about 4 friends since childhood running a wedding business. Each girl has a business within the main business which is called Vows. The first book "Vision in White" is told from Mackensie Elliot's point of view. She is the photographer of Vows. She has not had the easiest life with a mother who is self centered and an absentee father. But the one consent she has had in her life is her 3 best friends, Parker Brown, Emmaline Grant, and Laurel McBlane. The have know each other since childhood and nothing can tear these girls apart.

Now intially I was going to write a review of this book, but I have decided that I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. I want you all to enjoy the book and get caught up in all the wonderful moments it has to offer.

I look forward to sharing the second book "Bed of Roses" with you soon.

Happy Reading,

Marisa

Nancy Drew: She's just turned 80

As a girl who grew up reading Nancy Drew I wanted to share this article with you. I can't remember exactly how old I was when I fell in love with Nancy Drew, but I'm going to assume around 8 years old. These books kicked off my love for mysteries.

To this day I own the entire Nancy Drew collection (in hardback) and refuse to get rid of it. I am hoping that one day when I have children I will be able to share these stories with them.

Happy 80th Birthday to Nancy Drew!!!

Nancy Drew: She's just turned 80

Movie Review - An Education

The Education of Life

I watched the movie An Education with Carey Mulligan and Peter Sarasgaard last night and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by it. It is not my normal type of movie. The movie takes place in London during 1961. It follows 16 year old Jenny as she starts her last year at a private high school and strives for acceptance into the illustrious Oxford. Her father is hard on her to do well and she is hard on herself. She spends most of her days and nights studying Latin and playing the cello.

One day after cello practice at school she meets a man named David as she is waiting in the pouring rain for her ride home from school. David is very friendly and says that “he would hate to ask a girl who doesn’t know him for a ride home, but could her cello get a ride and she can walk beside the car?” I found this to be hilarious. She does let him take the cello for a ride and she walks beside the car for a bit before finally deciding he is safe enough to give her a ride home. Watching Jenny and David interact in this first meeting, you can tell they have instant chemistry. But he is older. A lot older then she is. I don’t know if they ever say his age in the movie but I would guess mid thirties.

Days later they bump into each other again while Jenny is out having coffee with her 2 girlfriends. David asks her out to see the Orchestra play in Westminster and to have supper afterwards. It takes Jenny a few minutes to realize that he is asking her on a date. She tells him she doesn’t think her father would approve. And David being very charismatic and charming says that if Daddy doesn’t approve he will give the tickets to Jenny and her Dad to use instead.

Now I don’t know about you, but there is no way in hell I would like my 16 yr. old daughter out with a 30+ yr. old man. But David is very charming and her parents are blinded by his charm. Now I’m not saying that David is a bad man. In fact through out the entire movie I was also quite taken with him. But either way he is 30 and she is only 16!!! This is just not ok. I guess maybe during the 1960’s in London age wasn’t as big of an issue as it is now.

David takes Jenny to the orchestra with his friends Danny and Helen. Danny and David are business partners. But David doesn’t really go into detail about his job and what they are partners in. So you know right there that it is something shady. The night out with David, Danny and Helen opens Jenny up to a very adult world, where surprisingly she fits right in.

She and Helen become friends and Helen helps her expand her school girl wardrobe into something more sophisticated. She also helps her learn about make up and hair styles.

David invites Jenny to Paris since she has always dreamed of going. He works his magic on her parents and then they are off to Paris for the weekend. I can only imagine how glamorous this must seem to her. Being 16 years old and traveling to Paris with my boyfriend! God if only!!! Hell, it would be glamorous if that happened now and I’m 28 years old. :)

While they are there Jenny decides that now that she has just celebrated her 17th birthday she will lose her virginity to David. He is very patient with her and he really does seem to love her.

Back in London, David, Danny and Helen are at the dog races one evening and David proposed to Jenny. She takes her time and does not say yes right away. The next day she talks to her parents about it. Her mom doesn’t say much, but her dad is very much for her marring David and giving up her dream of Oxford. Jenny being highly intelligent, questions him about this. She doesn’t understand why if it was just any boy her dad would be not be ok with her throwing all her dreams out the window for a guy, but since its David its ok. Her dad explains (not very well) that since David is well off and will always be able to take car of her. Jenny doesn’t need to worry about herself anymore. Now this is a typical man thought back in the 60’s. Girls find a man and marry them quick. That way you don’t have to worry about yourself and you will never have to take care of yourself. Oh please!

Anyways, Jenny accepts David’s proposal. Her teacher and headmistress at her school are not happy and she is half kicked out half leaving on her own after a fight with the headmistress. So long Oxford. Without her test scores from high school, she will never be accepted to Oxford.

David plans a nice family dinner out at an expensive restaurant for Jenny and her parents to celebrate her engagement. As they drive to the restaurant they stop for gas. David goes to make a quick phone call and Jenny opens of the glove box looking for a cigarette. She finds a whole bunch of envelopes addressed to Mr. and Mrs. David Goldman. David comes back to the car and Jenny immediately asks him to drive her home. He sees the envelopes and knows she knows and he try’s to explain but she doesn’t want to hear it. Her parents meanwhile are in the back seat very confused. They get back to the house and Jenny’s parents go inside while David and Jenny have it out. He apologizing and explains that he doesn’t love his wife and he can get a divorce. Jenny is just very confused about his whole behavior. She realizes that all their time together had been a lie. She tells his to man up and come inside and tell her parents the truth. She says he has two minutes to come in. As she is waiting inside with her parents who are completely lost at this point, they hear David’s car start and him drive off. :( I knew he wouldn’t be man enough to face her parents but it still was sad to see the look on Jenny’s face as he drives away. She was devastated.

Now Jenny’s life is in ruins. She try’s to get back into school and they deny her. She’s mad at her parents for not looking out for her. Like she says to her dad “I was a 16 years old impressionable girl. You were a grown mad. You were supposed to know better for me.” I think she has a point. Kids trust their parents to look out for them, even when they don’t like what they have to say. But I have to wonder how Jenny would have acted if her parents had told her she wasn’t allowed to see David. My guess is she would have done it anyways. Jenny is able to convince her teacher to help her finish the year and take her test to be able to be eligible for Oxford.

Jenny goes to David’s house and sees his wife and his young son coming out the front door. The wife tells her that she is not the first or the last. I felt very sad for the both Jenny and the wife. I wonder why the wife puts up with it, but I can only guess it was a different era and something that I do not understand.

The movie ends with Jenny going to Oxford and living out her dream of studying English. She says that although she is not much older she feels a lot wiser.
The character of Jenny was played my Carey Mulligan and I have to say she was perfect for this role. She has a very young and innocent look about her. But in reality she is 25 years old. She was nominated for an Oscar for this role and I can see why. Her character showed depth and maturity way beyond the 16 years she was supposed to be.

Rating: Overall I rate this movie a 4 out of 5. It had a couple dry spots but kept me entertained through the 1 hour and 35 minutes.