The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

I was recommended this book by a dear friend who makes a living being a bookworm/author... He wrote Coconut Unlimited (Nikesh Shukla), read it! I digress, I started reading a sample on my kindle and when it came time to purchase, I just wasn't sure, but there was a feeling that I wanted to know WTF was going on, so I clicked 'buy'...

The whole time I was reading I just felt it was weirder then I like my books to be... I did enjoy it, in a really offbeat way... I'm not even sure if I could recommend it, in case it was too weird for you too... I was really into it, wanted to read more, but also looked forward to it not being my only source of literature... I'm still confused I think...



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A Nightmare on Elm Street 2010

Went along for an afternoon date with Mark, thought the early time of the day might prevent Freddy related night horrors - it worked!

Wasn't sure what to expect, with mediocre ratings, and an ongoing issue with seeing dud films, I was extremely happy with the outcome of the film... It feels like it was based on the first film, but not exactly the same, which is nice... It was genuinely scary too, I spent a great deal of time hiding in Marks arms... The only negatives were that having old people playing teenage roles made me question initially whether they were supposed to be teenagers, and killing off Kellan Lutz so quickly!!! I thought we were going to get some lovely eye candy for the whole film *sigh* But I definitely recommend checking it, whether you have seen/are a fan of the original...

Roberta Williams: My Life by Roberta Williams

Roberta Williams: My Life by Roberta Williams

A very easy read... Helped by the writing of someone who is clearly uneducated and badly edited... On page 81 there are 2 paragraphs that are exactly the same over two pages... It is very much written to reflect the 'now' in her life at the time she wrote it, which was definitely a mistake as it is already outdated... All of that aside it is an engrossing read... Not a book that you cant book down, but interesting when you are reading it...

Her life is like that of many people I work with - tough, and you can see how that has made her who she is today... There are definitely bits and pieces which are half truths or over exaggerated, but if only half of the book was based on fact it is still an interesting story... If you are into the Melbourne crime world then you should definitely pick it up... I'm almost certain it will be re released with a couple new chapters now that Carl is dead...

Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball at Rod Laver Arena

Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball at Rod Laver Arena

I am new(ish) to the Lady Gaga bandwagon, and to be honest it was my baby girl that got me into her music… I have watched her fashion/art installations from the start but couldn't get into the chorouses, all I had heard, of her music (think 'Just Dance' and 'Poker Face' choruses on ads etc for months, eeek!)… Marleys obsession with Bad Romance changed that…
The show delivered from all aspects… She looked amazing, her cast of dancers were brilliant, she can belt out a live tune and then some… She is an actual musician, not a cookie cutter pop princess as I had previously thought…
I always worry seeing a one album singer, even Beyonce and Santogold both felt short of material, but Gaga took you on an adventure with her… Looking for the Monster Ball and taking you with her to find it… It really felt that you were with her on this, aside from brilliant music, outfits, a spectacle from beginning to end, she talked with the audience so much it felt like it was all really real…
If you are a fan, or not, and there is a ticket available to any of her shows ever, I suggest you take it… I wish we had more tickets to her shows…

Cop Out Film

Cop Out

Oh Kevin Smith you kill me... I wanted so badly for this film to be good, for both our sakes... But it wasn't... In the slightest... I couldn't stay awake through it... We turned it off, that's all I can really say about that...

Invictus Movie

When I first read about this release I had no care for it, but seeing the shorts I was interested... So we checked it out... A few points for starters:

if you like rugby you will like this film

if you like rugby and an inspirational story you will like this film

if you like inspirational stories and don't mind rugby you will like this film

if you like inspirational stories and don't like rugby you might not like this film

I fall into that last category... I thought I would love it, it has a great cast, looks good, but there was far too much actual rugby for me to get into it... I had hoped due to my interest in football I might be able to transfer some sporting interest, but that didn't happen! Overlooking the rugby (hard to do) it was great, and I can see why people would enjoy it!

Up In The Air Movie

This was recommended to me by a friend... So I blame you Kelly, haha, not really it wasn't so bad...

The concept of this story I was in to... George Clooney did a great job, which is to be expected... And right up to the last minutes I was sucked in, going through the motions with him... Then it ends... With no closure, no wrap up and no happy ending... I have reached a point in my life where I am 'soft' I like a happy ending... I felt a bit ripped off... But I did enjoy the film, so I guess the job was done...

Valentines Day Movie

Okay, I wasn't thinking this was going to be great, yet somehow I convinced Mark to sit with me and watch this all star cast do...nothing... Absolutely nothing happened in this film... Absolute snoozefest, waste of a night... We didn't even finish it, with 40 minutes to go we decided we could be doing better things with our limited time... Bad, bad, bad, don't do it!

Couples Retreat DVD Release

I was thinking that with this cast 'Couples Retreat' would be hilarious... I was wrong... There were definitely funny moments, but few and far between... It felt like it had the contents for a great, light film, but was just light... Light on laughs, light on story... Don't bother...

The White Queen

The White Queen
A 15th Century Plantagenet Novel of Suspense
Philippa Gregory

I am a big Philippa Gregory fan, and this book does not disappoint... Sticking to a subject and style that she excels in, with great characters, beautifully described scenery and a plot that keeps you wanting more... All I can really say is if you are into this period, or any of her previous books you should read it... Looking forward to her next installment...

Synopsis (from the publisher): Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen.The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.

The Contented Little Baby Book - Gina Ford

This book is great to give you an idea of how our day could go with a new born... You might want to keep in mind that this sort of strict routine may not work for everyone... At 7 weeks I implemented it, tailoring it to suit our needs, and from the first night she was sleeping 9 hours straight through the night... That in itself makes me feel like this book is worth its weight in gold... There is a lot of information, and reasons for the routines and most importantly the actual routines... Definitely worth a read, I treat it like a bible!

I love you, man

My expectations were high for theis film, I would have been fuming if we went to all the trouble of going to the movies and seeing another film like Observe and Report which sucked... This film did not suck by any means of the word! Well written, well acted, 'laugh out loud' several times funny... Just see it!

From www.rottentomatoes.com

After years of swiping scenes from the leading men in such movies as KNOCKED UP and THE 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN, Paul Rudd finally headlines a star vehicle of his own. Unlike those Judd Apatow productions, it's John Hamburg (ALONG CAME POLLY) who directs I LOVE YOU, MAN, albeit with many of the touchstones of Apatow's highly successful freaks-and-geeks-with-heart aesthetic. In other words, this is not an Apatow film, but, with the male capacity for--and simultaneous inability to express--fraternal love as its core comic conceit (and emotional centerpiece), it may as well be. Rudd plays Peter Klaven, a real estate agent with a blossoming career and an imminent marriage to Zooey (THE OFFICE's Rashida Jones)--basically, he's lucky in all things except male bonding. The narrative arc centers on his quest for platonic man-love--as opposed to, say, finding the girl of his dreams--and follows the boilerplate dictates of a standard rom-com with a subversive wink. In this case, boy meets boy, boys bond over their common love of Rush and Andre the Giant, boys break up and make up, etc. Rudd and co-star Jason Segel (FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL), a fellow Apatow alum who plays Sydney Fife, the Type B object of Klaven's affection, imbue their roles with winning charisma and elevate the plot with real and nuanced chemistry. With a whip-smart pace, the film continually tills fresh comic ground as Hamburg finds punctuation points in every scene and never lets a gag overstay its welcome. While the supporting cast features many memorable turns by the likes of Jon Favreau, Jaime Pressly, and Andy Samberg, I LOVE YOU, MAN ultimately belongs to Rudd, who approaches insecurity and social awkwardness with the same dead-eye marksmanship that Peter Sellers did for slapstick.

Changeling

I meant to watch this long ago and on finding it again I put it on... It was quite stressful to watch, I think the fact it was based on true events made it worse, but was definitely a good film... Great acting, story, costumes... It is just a shame that life for a woman was that effed up back then... It makes me glad that I am not living in that era...

From www.rottentomatoes.com
At first, Clint Eastwood's CHANGELING could appear to be following too closely in the footsteps of his earlier Oscar winner, MYSTIC RIVER, since both films center on a missing child. But while his previous film was based on a Dennis Lehane novel, CHANGELING carries a particular weight because it is based on a true story, and one that isn't largely known. Angelina Jolie stars as Christine Collins, a single mother working in 1928 Los Angeles when her son goes missing. A boy is returned to her months later by the police, but she is shocked and disheartened when she realizes that the boy isn't her son. Joined by a crusading pastor (John Malkovich), Christine battles for justice against the corrupt L.A.P.D. while she continues to search for her child. Eventually her fight against the cops lands her in a mental hospital, where she is surrounded by others with a similar plight. At times, CHANGELING is incredibly difficult to watch. Jolie gives an authentic, anguished performance, and the on-screen tragedy is quite disturbing, largely because of its basis in reality. But Eastwood has crafted another Oscar-worthy film that is certainly worth sitting through, even if a tissue or two is required. Screenwriter J. Michael Straczynski had been best known for his work in science fiction (BABYLON FIVE) and graphic novels, but he makes an adept transition to feature drama with this film. Its unusual focus--on the victim and her struggle for justice, rather than on the criminal and the crime--brings further depth to the film. As always, Amy Ryan (an Oscar nominee for GONE BABY GONE) perfectly morphs into her role (this time as a prostitute imprisoned in the mental hospital), and the film's many child actors are compelling to watch.

Juju Sundin’s Birth Skills Book

This book gave me a feeling of empowerment before I even went into labour… For the first twelve hours of my labour we used lots of the skills mentioned and I did feel that they helped… It was also a good way to involve my husband in the process, both reading the book, planning the techniques and utilising them... After twelve hours I opted for an epidural, but would recommend this book even if you are planning on an epidural...

Juju Sundin’s Birth Skills Book

Taken from http://www.jujusundin.com/

This objective of this book is to bring you and your partner right ‘inside’ the classes in my specialised birth skills education programme in Sydney.
So many of you are wanting to learn powerful and effective skills to help you through labour pain. So many of you want a clear, simple, yet informative manual for your partner who may be resistant to long detailed childbirth, parenting and breastfeeding books. It is sometimes difficult for these same partners to extract from these books the vital information and practical ideas to help you on the day. They need to know exactly what their role is during labour and exactly how to help you through your pain – and even if you have chosen a medically assisted birth, your partner still needs to know what to do for you at home, in the car, in the car park, getting you through the hospital entrance, in the lift, and during your initial monitoring. So many of you are in country areas and do not have access to these classes. This book is also for the busy working woman who doesn’t have a lot of time and is saying ‘just tell me what to do and how to do it – I want the short list and I want the detail and it has to make sense’. This book is also for all the women who are feeling anxious and fearful about childbirth. I can assure you Sarah and I both relate to you, and we wrote this book for you too. When I am on the phone taking my class bookings, I think off the top of my head, about 90% of women express their fear of childbirth. What I say to them is, ‘once you come and learn about the labour process, all the powerful positive hormones and chemicals at play, how you can influence those AND learn powerful tools and techniques to help you, then your fear will be turned into a working machine of positive, powerful, purposeful action. And, your partner will learn exactly what to do to help you with this. Sarah and her husband used these same tools and techniques for the birth of their two children. When I first met Sarah her attitude was ‘I’m just going to have an epidural’. By the end of the course her attitude was ‘bring it on’.So this book is all about the tools and techniques I teach, and have been teaching over a thirty year period, and all about how the learner experiences those lessons. That’s where Sarah comes in. You will learn from me, and you will experience the class as though you are right next to Sarah on the floor. Many couples say that what they learned at classes was inspirational. I find what Sarah has written in Birth Skills inspirational. We loved writing it, and we hope that you love reading and learning from it.

Twilight

Not sure what all of the fuss is about? I am a vampire fan, but this just seemed like Buffy and Angel without the Vampire Slayer powers… Sloooow, and it just doesn’t seem to go anywhere... Maybe if you are a fan of the books this could come through for you? Dont count on it...

My booky wook - Russell Brand

Mark bought this for me for mothers day, it was always going to be addictive if it conveyed any of Russells charm and personality… It was read in 1 day, great read… Was nice to gain some insight into his character and history, even though it was at times a bit grimey...

Avent Isis IQ Uno Electric Breast Pump

Pros:
I like the speed that the milk comes out, taking less time then a full feed to get a full feed out. I like the setting, you can set the speed and then continue to go about whatever you like doing without worrying about it. Much better then the manual pump!

Cons:
it does fall over if stood up on its own, always hold it up if your milk is in it. Have to use an extension cord to reach the couch or pc. Sore nipples if using it for too long/more then once a day, this can be relieved by removing the cushion plastic insert...

Overall:
Awesome pump, glad I bought it, you can get it on sale often online so check that option before purchasing... Definitely recommend it, makes life easy...

Avent ISIS Manual Breast Pump

Pros:
Nice design, good flow of milk comes out, easy to use, will definitely take it travelling with me...

Cons:
Get sore hands after doing it for a while, sore nipples if used for too long/ too many times in a day...

Overall:
If you couldnt afford an electric avent isis breast pump I would recommend this, it is easy to use, but obviously not as fast and fuss free as the electric... I used this mostly when my milk first came in as my breasts would get engorged, it was a relief to hand express a little so bubs could latch on easily...

Beema Swallow Pram

Pros:
easy to steer, rolls over anything (harsh surfaces), seat lays flat, bassinette great for sleeping, fits through shopping aisles easily, folds down easily and quite compact...

Cons:
there are no cons - there are no issues with this pram, its exceptional...

Overall:
This pram is amazing, we have taken our baby everywhere with us and it is great that it will go anywhere, even in farmers markets in paddocks with potholes... With the bassinette it is a perfect bed for a newborn in the home as well as another way to cart your baby around... All in all great value for money, highly recommended!

Fast and Furious

I know the reviews were bad but I was sure that with the original cast members this film would at least be entertaining, I was wrong... It took 40 minutes for something to happen, and I was fast asleep about 20 minutes after that... Lacked everything...