Love Heroes: Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward

The weather around Los Angeles has become unreliable and more increasingly cold with each passing week. Now is the time for cuddling up by the fireplace with your favorite holiday music (I actually highly suggest NOW That's What I Call Christmas)--or more realistically--hiding under a pile of blankets with your face smooshed towards the television. Either way, the winter season always makes me a little bit drunk with the idea of undying and adorable love. It might be the idea of another warm body keeping you warm purely for survival, or having someone to wear Christmas sweaters with you until March, I love it all.

No famous couple embodies the idea of ever-lasting love mixed with fun and mutual admiration as well as Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. The two met on the set of The Long Hot Summer (1957) and were married by February of 1958. While it would seem that a quick courting of two Hollywood stars followed by a marriage in Las Vegas would end as quickly as it began, the 50 year commitment between Newman and Woodward would only be severed by Newman's death from cancer in 2008.

What makes the Newmans stand out for me as a perfect snapshot of love is the fact that they had fun together. They made each other laugh, joked around, and of course it would never get old. Would you ever get old of waking up to see Paul Newman next to you?





Beyond being completely infatuated with each other, Newman and Woodward raised three adorable daughters and loved to help others through their "Hole in the Wall Gang Camp" for terminally ill children to play outdoors, and all of the
Newman's Own products that we've grown to love and forget features ole blue eyes on the front.

Six Zero Zero Zero!

Hey Girl--
6000 page views for Modern Girls and Old Fashioned Men!


Just think about what a stack of over 6000 chalupas would look like (or cheesy gordita crunches). That is how excited we are about this milestone.

long live taco bell.

J+B

Make Up Tips I

I'm back, bitches! I may just be the worst blogger ever but at least Bailey did an amazing job this summer while I was busy watching Netflix and not doing anything. Anyway, I get a lot of questions from friends about make up. I'm really into make up and I've had a lot of practice because I've been wearing it since the age of like, 12 due to horrible skin. I thought I'd start this series by posting my favorite products that I use all the time.

 One of the most important things to know is that you do not need to spend a lot on make up products. While I do think that make up is one of the best things to splurge on, there are also tons of really great drugstore brands that are affordable and great quality. In fact I rarely buy make up from department store counters (besides skin care) because there are so many good cheap dupes nowadays. Most of the products I use are Revlon.

Revlon ColorStay Foundation. This comes in 2 formulas: Normal/Dry Skin and Oily/Combination Skin. I use the latter and I love it. I wear it every day, I wear it for special occasions, sometimes I mix it with my moisturizer and use it as a tinted moisturizer. It's a great foundation if you need a lot of coverage and if you have issues with your foundation sliding. ($12.99)

Revlon PhotoReady Concealer. Ok if you have under eye issues and you don't use concealer, you are a damn fool. Concealer is by far the most important product you should be wearing. This one is great because it doesn't show up in photos, and I know a lot of people are scared of concealer because they think it looks too light or heavy but that is really the whole idea. It brightens your entire face and makes you look awake. Best cure for hangover face. ($9.99, although I think its cheaper at Target)

This is by far my number 1 favorite mascara ever. In my opinion Maybelline has the best mascara line of almost any make up brand. The VolumExpress line is really amazing. The Falsies is definitely my favorite. I like big lashes all the time so this is perfect for me. (under $7.00)

Eyes Lips Face blush in Tickled Pink. Ok two things: 1. ELF is possibly the best thing to ever happen to me. Its dirt cheap and the quality is incredible. 2. Matte blusher is a god send for oily or problem skin. If you have bumps or large pores, try to avoid shimmery blush. ($3.00)

Always remember that make up is really accessible no matter what your budget is, and don't be afraid to use drugstore products!

Bands I Don't Understand (part two)

-Bjork
-Death Cab For Cutie
-Pearl Jam
-Steely Dan
-Pearl Jam

Bands I Don't Understand (part one)

-Radiohead
-TV on the Radio
-Nirvana
-The Decemberists
-Wilco

Are You Serious?

This hideous thing is called the "Subaru Baja". I see them everywhere now and I just can't understand why anyone in their right mind would purchase this car. Look at it! It looks like one of those tacky athletic sandals that guys wear in the dorm showers. You want to be sporty, but no...just no. Also don't get me started on this horrific yellow that car companies for some reason think looks good. It's not right.


In other news there are a lot of new posts in the works! Sorry for the delays!

Reel Talk: West Side Story

The 1961 film version of West Side Story--one of the greatest musicals ever--continues to stand out in history as one of the most original and influential films of all time. From the timeless look of the Super Panavision 70 film and cinematography by Daniel Fapp, to the emotional and beautiful play book by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story is an incredible experience for film lovers and musical fanatics alike.


Based on The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet(arguably Shakespeare's most famous work), West Side Story tells the story of two rival gangs fighting over the territory of the west side of Manhattan: The Italian-American Jets versus the newly immigrated Puerto Rican Sharks. Within the tight knit groups grew the doomed love of Tony and Maria complete with a cast of unforgettable characters with classic 60's names such as Riff, Ice, Baby Jon, Chino, and Bernardo.


While the basic storyline is no surprise, the film version of West Side Story makes a significant impact on the audience on more levels than just the tragic level of lost love. Through numbers like "Gee, Officer Krupke" and "Cool", we begin to understand the internal pain and heartache of lost youths. The Jets thrive on loyalty and manhood in the wake of not wanting to face their own identity crises. Tony walks away from the gang, but still wants to support his second family within the gang. The casting of Russ Tamblyn, Tucker Smith, and Eliot Feld is perfect for balancing the love of the Jets as family and the fragility of their internal insecurities.


On the opposite side of the chain-link playground, the plight of the Sharks as shown through numbers such as "America" and "A Boy Like That" showed a still very closed minded film audience the hardships of immigration and racial discrimination within the so called "Land of the Free". As Bernardo and the rest of the Sharks are kicked out of Doc's store by Lieutenant Schrank whistling "My Country Tis Of Thee", the audience is hit with the feeling of disgust for the law, not the feuding gangs and their concealed weapons.

Bernstein's score leaps off of the screen with the help of Jerome Robbins' jazz inspired choreography filtered through glorious technicolor. While the "fight scenes" can't really qualify as violent or scary, they are filled with tension and beauty. You believe the blood thirsty rivalry (even though leg lifts and plies aren't usually mentioned on the 11 o'clock news after a gang fight).

West Side Story was considered "culturally significant" by the Library of Congress and preserved in 1997 for future generations. A film is not just considered special because it won Best Picture (1961), it is important because it teaches us about ourselves; our prejudices, our loyalties, our compassion, and our society. While it is a perfect time capsule for the early 1960's, the themes are universal and the production is timeless.