Flipped – Review

August 30, 2010 By 2 Comments

Flipped is by far the best movie I’ve seen in years.  From the very first scene to the closing credits I was captivated by the movie, and I’m still taking about it.  This movie didn’t have any intense graphics, special effects, or any A-list celebrities; it didn’t need them.  Flipped was incredible because of its simplicity.

The movie is based in the late 1950s when a new family moves into town and their son, Bryce Loski (Callan McAuliffe), catches the eye of the neighbor’s daughter, Juli Baker (Madeline Carroll).  This connection would stick with Bryce for years to come, well into junior high school.

Juli Baker is a strong-willed girl, whose mature vision of the world starts off at a young age, intimidating most of her school mates.  Falling for Bryce, she chases this immature boy for years, who wants nothing to do with her at all.  This changes, however, when Juli catches Bryce in a lie.

After seeing his lies, Juli realizes how shallow Bryce is, finally understanding how horrible he treated her all those years.  On the flipped side, Bryce’s eyes are opened to Juli’s inner and outer beauty, realizing how deep and special she really is.  Her strange habits throughout school now made sense to him, causing his heart to ache for this social outcast.  Do they ever get together?  That’s for you to watch and find out.

What I love about the movie is how they take a specific incident and give you both Bryce and Juli’s perception of what happened.  The movie points out the fact that girls mature faster than boys, as you see when each one tells of the incident and how opposite their perception is.

My favorite quote of the movie came when Juli’s dad realized his daughter had feelings for young Bryce, and she knew he really didn’t have the same feelings back.  He said “Juli, you got to see the whole picture sometimes.  For instance, a sunset is just a sunset, a field is just grass, and a cow in that field is just a cow.  However, when you blend them all together, you get a magnificent picture showing the depth of that moment; the true beauty.”

Flipped also personifies the hypocrisy of the ’50s way of life, and how everyone had to be same, or instantly become an outcast.  The same hypocrisy was brought to life in the Monkey’s smash hit, “Pleasant Valley Sunday.”

Warner Brother’s did an amazing job with this movie.  The script was well thought out and well written.  The musical scores were a blast from the past rocking some of the ’50s and ’60s greatest hits.  The acting was supurb, and photography was top notch in my opinion.  It was reminiscent to the blockbuster hit from the ’90s, Forrest Gump. Flipped wouldn’t surprise me if it wins numerous Academy Awards next year.

If you only see one movie this year, make Flipped the one to see.

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The Postcard Inn On The Beach: Wish You Were Here

August 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Imagine summertime in Florida back in the 1950s and ’60s.  It was a different era.  Simple and sunny.  A warm summer’s breeze brings in the sweet and intoxicating scent of orange blossoms mixed with Coppertone tanning oil.  A freckled face girl with sunkissed skin wearing a crisp cotton dress, skips along the surf.  Rays of sunlight shine down on the white, powdery sand, flecked with polished shells which are glistening in the Gulf waters.  A cold glass of grape Koolaid and a corkscrew straw in the brightest of pink gets passed back and forth between best friends.  Ah, the simpler, happier days.  It seems as though life now, and yes, even in a paradise such as Florida, is far more complicated and stressful.  I guess things have changed.  Or have they?  At The Postcard Inn on the Beach, those carefree, sunny days of the ’50s and ’60s have returned.

I recently got word of this great beachside establishment a couple of months ago.  Travel and Leisure refers to this funky new Florida hotel as “hip, affordable and resolutely casual.”  But that’s hardly the only good press this place has gotten. The Postcard Inn, located on beautiful St. Pete Beach, has received much praise on its inexpensive room rates and cool vintage vibe.  The hotel captures the essence of old Florida in a very charming way.  No two rooms are alike. Certain rooms feature beachy wall murals, while others come with their very own grassy patios equipped with hammocks to lounge on. Despite each room being unique, they all have a commonality- being retro chic.  The Postcard Inn may be vintage, but has a modern twist; it is unlike any other hotel I have ever seen.

I’m a sucker for nostalgia, so I couldn’t wait to check this place out.  It was a warm June evening when I decided to venture over to the hotel and have dinner at its critically acclaimed barbeque restaurant.  Wildwood Barbeque has gotten much recognition since its opening here in town.  The restaurant serves scrumptious, mouth-watering barbeque from pit master, “Big Lou” Elrose and offers a wide array of bourbons, which I was later told by my waiter, pairs well with this kind of cuisine.  Wildwood’s interior is rustic urban, with plenty of polished wood and flatscreen televisions. In the background, feel good music played out on the overhead speakers.  The menu features a great selection of barbeque and all the fixin’s.  There is the Carolina pulled pork in vinegar sauce, the Kansas City baby back ribs slathered in a spicy chipotle, and the Memphis style ribs dry rubbed, just to name a few.  The sauces to accompany these rib dishes taste amazing, and the tender meat practically falls right off the bone.  While I dined, I  particulary enjoyed the sticky ribs, which are full cut spare ribs served wet in a delicious sweet and tangy sauce.  I also sampled the Texas smoked brisket, garnished with pickled jalapenos.  Typically, I’m not much of a jalapeno fan (too hot for my taste buds!), but on this dish, they were just right and the pickling cut down the heat.  It was a perfect accessory to the brisket.  The meat here was so unbelievably tender, it felt like it melted as soon as it touched my tongue.  I was in my happy place.

If you can’t handle a full rack of ribs, there are half racks available as well, for the smaller appetite.  With my ribs that evening, I started with just a half rack, but they were so tasty, I regretted not ordering the bigger version.  And if pork isn’t your thing, don’t fret, as the applewood smoked chicken with an apricot barbeque glaze is just heavenly to the palate.  There are also combo plates and sampler platters for those who want to try a little of this, and a little of that. The sides are just as special as the actual barbeque entrees.  The aged cheddar mac and cheese is out of this world, and the baked beans served with burnt ends and bacon, taste just as good as my grandmother’s.  There is also cast iron skillet cornbread, which is a must-try.

In addition to the amazing food, the service was first rate.  My table was checked on multiple times during dinner, and my waiter was exceptional.  He was a young man, but showed much knowledge regarding the food and the restaurant itself.  My ice tea, served icey cold in a Mason jar, was kept filled throughout the evening.

I was done with my meal and ready to explore the rest of the hotel.  Even though I had washed my hands in the bathroom (which I was impressed with, even though it was quite small), I could still smell the lingering scent of ribs on my fingers.  I guess this really wasn’t a complaint though.  I started toward the lobby, which looked very unexpected, but in a good way.  Retro, hip and fresh is a perfect way to describe the unique decor; 1960s’ surfer chic mixed in with a little James Bond (the Sean Connery version), and topped off with cozy coffeehouse funk.  The Postcard Inn on the Beach showed itself to be clean, uncluttered and full of nostalgic charm.  I felt like I was in St. Pete Beach back when my folks were teenagers and dating.  Ah, those simpler, happier days again. Just walking through the lobby to the back doors leading out to the pool, I felt refreshed, light and airy.  The hotel had already proven to be a major mood lifter. Strolling through the courtyard was like another jolt back into time.  There was a nice selection of comfy vintage lawn furniture arranged on the freshly cut, bright green grass.  An outdoor pool table and a couple of ping pong tables were a nice twist to the more traditional hotel courtyard set-ups.  Under a few sprawling branches of a couple of shady old oaks, dangled glass lanterns that flickered over a few Adirondack chairs grouped next to a fire pit.  The scene looked like something out of the Poconos in the summertime, back in the ’50s.  It was magical.

The pool beckoned on this hot summer’s night with its sparkling blue water, cool and refreshing.  Retro lawn chaise loungers lined its perimeter.  And if old style simplicity isn’t your thing, then bronze your hide on the South Beach influenced outdoor beds.  I think I would have to order a martini if I laid out on one of these.  Glamorous, chic and once again, oh so reminiscent of  1960s James Bond.

Just past the pool sits a legendary beach bar; a real one-of-a-kind, as far as this writer is concerned.  What was once the Swigwam, the oldest beach bar around, is now the PCI Beach Bar and Snack Shack.  Covered in old license plates from all over the nation, the rustic wooden shack attracts a mostly young and hip crowd.  However, there still are the more seasoned patrons who hang around PCI that were regulars from when it was the Swigwam.  These are the sunbaked beach bums and bumettes who never gave up their bar stools.  Despite the age differences, these patrons blend right in with the college crowd and young professionals.  Twenty-something women, with sand sprinkled on their brightly painted toenails, ease up to the bar for frozen concoctions and cold brewskies. Guys wearing polo shirts with their farmer’s tans sit back on the wooden benches listening to the live music and occasionally glancing over at a pretty beach babe.  The bar translates well from afternoon to evening.  Once the sun melts into the ocean and the moon and stars begin to peek out from behind the purple lined clouds, the PCI Beach Bar starts to really come to life.  A warm breeze gently sways the seagrape leaves next to the far end of the bar, and a girl wearing a pair of worn and faded cut-offs and flip-flops encrusted in wet sand orders a tropical drink.  A group of college coeds plays a game of night volleyball on the sand under the moonlight, while the seat oats blow back and forth softly.  And old dude with a Gorton’s fisherman beard pulls up a seat, while Cat Steven’s classic hit, “Moonshadow,” plays in the background. “Draven was here.  Don’t steal my name,” is scribbled onto the weathered wood bar top.  Of course, there are the many inscriptions of “forever loves” grafittied around the beach shack as well.  ”John and Sue forever.”  ”Tina loves Mike forever.”  I just wonder how many of those “forevers” were sincere.  Then, I notice something scribbled in permanent black marker on the farthest side of the bar.  A female patron had written out a list of people who had attended her recent divorce party.  The shack’s dim lighting barely illuminates, casting a cozy and warm glow.  I felt like any minute I would see an old time sea captain walk in off the sand, and order up a boilermaker.  A bikini clad bartender, with an elaborate tattoo covering most of her beautifully tanned back, was busy behind the bar taking drink orders.  I tried the ever classic pina colada, which was nicely mixed and perfectly sweet.  The bar also serves up a large selection of beer in cans.

All in all, my experience that night at this retro beachside hot spot was memorable.  It was exciting to be in an environment so different and unique.  As I walked back out through the Postcard Inn’s lobby, I took one last lingering look around.  A movie was playing on a wall, overhead on a projector.  The night clerk smiled friendly and wished me a good night.  I opened the door leading to the front parking lot, and stepped out once more into the warm summer’s night… back into 2010, all over again.

For more information on the Postcard Inn on the Beach, visit their site at www.postcardinn.com.

Postcard Inn on the Beach

6300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706/ 1-800-237-8918


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Child Beauty Pageants – Do They Go Too Far

August 1, 2010 By 43 Comments

The other day I sat down and watched an interesting show on the Oxygen Network.  Usually I don’t watch that station, but this caught my eye; it was a beauty pageant with children between the ages of 4-to 8-years-old.

My eyes were glued to this show, not because of the beauty; instead, the insanity of it all.  Shocked, is the best word to describe how I felt watching this show.  I mean, mothers were spending their life savings to get these girls into these pageants and turning into slave drivers.  I see these flawless children, dolled up in globs of make-up to cover up their imperfections.  Seriously, how many wrinkles can a four-year-old have?

When the child is done with their make-up and hair, they look ten times their age.  The kids are having absolute tantrums because of the mother’s stressful behavior, or they are complete snobs like their parents.

This brings questions to my mind like, is this morally right?  Is this really building self-esteem or is it causing a premature unhealthy ego for the child.  Does this teach these young girls who are in a vulnerable learning age that beauty is everything? Can this cause them to develop eating disorders or worse when they get older?

Those questions that popped into my mind are serious ones.  In today’s society, especially with women, looks and beauty are a major concern for them.  It isn’t uncommon to hear a story where a woman develops an eating disorder because she wants to be skinny and beautiful as the women are in the magazines.  Now, force a child to be beautiful at the influential age of four.  As they grow up and change, they may not have the same looks they did when they won the pageants back when they were little girls.  They may have gained weight or a feature has changed dramatically, at least to them.  When they look in the mirror they may not like what they see, despite the fact they are still absolutely gorgeous.  This is all due to the strict guidelines they had to follow while growing up.

Do these pageants bring out the “witch” in these children?  Well, hearing these mother’s talk to their children, you would swear that everyone else is dirt and their child or recipient of the praise is perfect.  This does not help a child’s demeanor one bit.  It helps with the attitude to make their child feel like they are a winner and be proud, but that message stays in their heads and can easily continue to run even when they aren’t on stage.  That means that sense of “I’m the best” will transpose itself into their school and other social gathering places.  In my opinion, this will do one or two things.  For one, it will turn them into the popular, stuck-up girl on campus that all the other girls want to be and will do anything to be friends with.  Or, it will do the complete opposite and drive people away from them, which can lead to other major mental issues down the line.

So, are these pageants bad for children?  No, not if the parents set a good example for their daughter.  It’s the same with boys and sports. For instance, some coaches take the game way too far, treating their kids like they are multi-million dollar players, hoping  for a win in an important tournament.  Heaven forbid they lose the game, it’s as if they lost the actual World Series.  The point is, any social event, art, or sport is good if you teach your child well.

Parents should look at this as a fun experience, and curb the boasting and attitudes by leaving them on the “stage” or “playing field.”  They should teach good sportsmanship, and how to be kind in the moment of defeat.  If that happens, and is strictly enforced, then these events can be fun and a great learning experience for these children.  Especially with pageants, the parents must instill in their child that they are beautiful and don’t need to change for anyone, regardless of the reason.

As well, parents should not be living their dream of being the beauty queen, or sports star through their child.  I tend to feel that the reason they act so intense with their children competing, is because they are living their dream vicariously.  Parents, that is not fair to your child.  Never force them into beauty pageants or anything competitive if they don’t want to become involved.  If they should lose interest in pageantry or sports, search for something else they are interested in and most importantly, don’t take it as a personal insult.

These events can be a great way to spend time with your child, so make the most of them and keep them fun!  If you do, the experience will be magical, I promise.

Filed Under: Fashion & Design

Betty Rocks

August 1, 2010 By 1 Comment

I love jewelry.  Okay, it’s more like a small addiction.  I’m not talking rehab by any means, but I have sort of gotten carried away over the years.  My chests and boxes have, well, overfloweth.  I have all types of jewelry.  Some are jingly-jangly and sparkly, while others are classically feminine and demure.  I guess I have a special adornment for every dazzling night out, and a trinket for every carefree afternoon.  Despite my three large jewelry boxes, I am always on the lookout for a new and exciting piece.  As a woman, can you ever have too many of any one fashionable item, specifically jewelry?  So, when I found out about Anne Groff’s collection, Betty Rocks, I knew I couldn’t wait to check it out.

Groff, a New Hampshire native, has a passion for creating jewelry, especially when it comes to stringing and knotting beads.  To be able to take a loose strand of beads and turn them into something beautiful and unique is a gift that this jewelry artist surely possesses.

Groff says she got started with the art  just after high school when she went on a family vacation with her at-the-time boyfriend.  His brother-in-law was in the jewelry business and was considered a “rockhound,” someone who enjoys collecting rocks and/or mineral specimens from their natural environment.  At this time, the brother-in-law had with him a collection of semi-precious beads and asked Groff if she wanted to make jewelry.  Being that Groff considers herself to be crafty and has always been willing to try new things, she jumped at the opportunity to learn the skill.  After being taught, Groff realized how much she enjoyed it and thus began her love for designing natural gemstone jewelry. Designs by You was later created and Groff and her ex’s brother-in-law started doing home parties.  ”He’d supply the beads, we would show people how to lay out a design and then the people would put the beads on a wire and I would finish the pieces with a clasp, ” explains Groff.  Even though her relationship with the boyfriend didn’t last, her passion for jewelry making has endured.

In 1991, Groff landed a job at the largest jewelry store in New England, where she worked in the semi-precious stone department selling fine jewelry.  She says she still had an eagerness for making jewelry, in addition to her just selling it. Groff was happy to learn a technique from the company’s pearl stringer.  In 1994, after the birth of her first child, Groff started stringing for the company she was with, and also for another local jeweler.  She stayed with that company and still strings for those jewelers, as well as many others.

When Groff first started professionally stringing, she started a company of her own called Pearlstrings.  To string means to indivually hand tie a knot for each bead.  With Pearlstrings, Groff has done custom and stock work, stringing strands of pearls for jewelers in New England and many other states along the East Coast.  Pearlstrings services include jewelry redesign, restringing, service contracts and customized designs.

Then, in 2008, Groff took jewelry making to another level.  She had fallen in love and wanted those closest to her to know.  So, one night as Groff recalls, she went out to dinner with her family and friends and introduced them to her significant other.  With a strikingly beautiful aquamarine stone necklace, much larger than her typical pieces, Groff excitedly showed off her newest creation.  A one-of-a-kind showstopper, full of delicious color, the necklace was naturally well received.  When Groff asked her loved ones what they thought of the necklace, a very famous cartoon character came to mind- Betty Rubble.  ”I thought that was funny, growing up with the Flinstones,” chuckled Groff.  The jewelry artist felt the name, Betty, to be fitting in more ways than one.  Groff always loved the name, because for her, what comes to mind is a pretty, fresh and natural girl.  Someone who is down-to-earth and fun.  In addition, Betty was her grandmother’s nickname, and Groff was given her name as a middle name.  It was while Groff was in high school that her grandmother passed away from cancer.  Holding a dear place in her heart for her grandmother, the name Betty became even more special to Groff.  ”I then thought of the other Bettys in my life and they all give me such joy, and they all rock! ” lovingly confides the artist.  ”Betty is all woman and so it stuck and I loved it!”

The Betty Rocks collection consists of large, bold statement, beaded jewelry.  Natural and earthy semi-precious stones, individually hand-knotted on matching silk threads fastened with a sterling silver toggle clasp.  The individual beads vary in character, making each piece special.  Groff adds that the classic styling makes her creations perfect for wearing daily for any occasion.

When it comes to semi-precious stones, one must understand they each come with their own unique properties.  For example, some stones promote confidence and clarity, while others promise to enhance psychic ability or encourage relaxation.  ”There are natural energies that come from gemstones and the people who wear them will absorb that energy.  ”I think that is pretty cool,” states Groff.

When asked about the inspiration behind her work, Groff explains that it comes from her background of pearl stringing and her love of natural gemstones.  ”A friend of mine came to me with a large strand of nugget style chalcedony and asked me to knot them.  Usually I have seen large beads as accent pieces to a necklace, not as a whole strand.  I strung it and loved it, and I was totally hooked from there,” Groff remembers fondly.

With all of Groff’s amazing creations and her brilliant choice of stones, I couldn’t help but ask her if she had a favorite. “That is like picking a favorite child,” laughs the talented jewelry maker.  ”I really do love them all!”  However, if Groff did have to choose, she would lean towards labradorite, which is a deeply rich, gray stone with an opalescent iridescence.  She further describes labradorite as a unique stone that many are not familiar with.

The Betty Rocks collection is so beautiful and wearable, it’s no wonder its getting attention and from pretty well-known folks.  ”I had a wonderful opportunity to meet Mrs. {Barbara} Bush.  I did a fitting for her for a necklace that Mr. Bush had gotten for her birthday and I brought with me some pieces of my Betty Rocks collection and she loved it!  Instead of pearls, she might go for Betty Rocks now,” proudly states Groff.

The artist says that her Betty Rocks collection is for the bold and fearless woman who isn’t afraid to make a statement, and it is also for the classy, elegant woman who continues to bring a classic element to the world.  ”I want to see my jewelry on musicians such as Taylor Swift, television personalities such as Betty White (another great Betty!) and people of influence such as Barbara Bush.  It’s for the fashionistas across the country, and for the women who never feel completely dressed without a finishing piece of jewelry.

Groff continues on to say that her dream would be to have Betty Rocks in fine retail establishments all across the nation, places such as Barney’s and Neiman Marcus.  Seeing her collection in top fashion magazines, museums, hotels and on websites is a huge goal that Groff hopes to one day fulfill.

Not only is Groff a highly skilled jewelry artist, she also projects a very genuine heart and soul.  ”I am always willing to help out a cause in any way I can,” states the New Hamphsire resident.  Groff takes much pride in volunteering in her community and gives to various charities.  Specifically, the artist has done bike tours to support Multiple Sclerosis, and recently was asked to donate a Betty Rocks piece for an ovarian cancer benefit in September.  ”I am going to create something special for that one,” says Groff with great honor.

After talking to the New Englander and perusing her online collection of beautifully colored semi-precious stone creations, I have become a true fan.  Groff’s Betty Rocks collection is for every kind of woman, regardless of age, race and style.  Her designs are all one-of-a-kind and are as classic as a black dress.  There is no doubt in this writer’s mind that Groff will go far with Betty Rocks.

And for those of you paranormal enthusiasts out there, if Groff’s name sounds familiar, well, it probably is.  After all, the artist is the aunt of Nick Groff of Ghost Adventures, which airs on the Travel Channel.  When it comes to her nephew’s success, Groff gushes about how great of a job he is doing with the hit show.  ”I am very proud of him.”   And, according to Nick, it is only fair to say, the feeling is most definitely mutual.

Website Information and E-mail addresses:

www.PearlstringsNH.com

Anne@PearlstringsNH.com

Facebook page for Betty Rocks:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Betty-Rocks/398488846411?ref=sgm

To purchase Betty Rocks online:

www.LNT.com (Linen’s ‘N Things)-just put in Betty Rocks into the search engine

Retailers in New Hampshire and Maine sell Betty Rocks, and soon-to-be, Massachusetts and New York

In New Hampshire, find Betty Rocks at:

Fresh on Main Street in Nashua, www.freshofnashua.com

A&E Jewelers at Pennechuck Square in Merrimack, www.aediamond.com

Roxie’s Fashion at Salzberg Square in Amherst, www.roxiesfashions.com

Wholly Tara on Main Street in Ashland, www.whollytara.com

Puttin’ on the Glitz on State Street in Portsmouth, www.puttinontheglitznh.com

J.M. Princewell at On the Oval in Milford and Maine, mail@jmprincewell.com

Coastal Jewelers in Kennebunkport, www.coastaljewelers.com

Extra Information:

Linens ‘N Things-on this site Groff sells the bulk of her designs, but she also has exclusive pieces that are sold in the above listed boutiques and jewelry stores

Groff belongs to the MJSA-Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America (through LinkedIn)

On Groff’s Pearlstrings site:  She is planning to update the site so you will be able to see the entire Betty Rocks collection, not just a few select pieces.  Groff welcomes anyone’s suggestions, comments and questions.

If you would like to have a piece of jewelry done by Groff, she can string necklaces, bracelets and earrings.  She offers two types or styles of earrings which both come in sterling silver – long drop or lever back style drop dangle earrings.


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