My Day in Pictures: December 31, 2011

So today I had a pretty chill day. I went out to North Vancouver with my parents to go to Michaels for some clearance Christmas items and yarn. 

There’s this little outdoor shopping plaza thingy by Park Royal mall that we like to walk around in, so we wandered for a bit in the cold Vancouver winter air before heading into Michaels to buy some stuff!

 

Really liked this assortment of Christmas trees. They were each sponsored by a charitable organization.

My dad found a pretty huge candle for $3, my mom got 8 balls of yarn at $4 each, and I managed to find a few cute Christmas things for next year.

 

The same shopping plaza has a Whole Foods, which I absolutely love to shop in for a treat. Their stuff can be very pricey, so I don’t go there often. It’s more like a special occasion… makes it easier to justify the expensive stuff. For example, $2.90 for a plain chocolate chip cookie? $4.99 for a doughnut? I dunno about some of their stuff…

 

I love the grumpy one...

Other things, however, are too cute to resist…

Snowman soap! I'd never want to use him...

I didn’t actually buy all of that, but they’re so ridiculously cute…

We also stopped by Ambleside Park to eat some goodies we picked up from Whole Foods.

 

 

Tonight I don’t really feel like being overly celebratory. I may just pass out at 10pm, who knows! I have never liked the hassle of heading downtown and being tired the next day. Plus I’ve had two nosebleeds today already and it seems my body is in need of some rest.

Pet Peeve of the Day

A parent/parents bringing younger children in to see R-rated movies.

Frankly, anyone who brings someone who seems a bit too young for an inappropriate movie.

What do I consider ‘too young?’ I consider someone to be too young if they’re looking horrified at the screen, or end up crying, or keeps asking questions about things beyond their psychological maturity.

What do I consider ‘inappropriate?’ Well, any rape scene, multiple sex-scenes, extremely/excessive graphic violence, and excessive vile language.

I’m not saying to keep your kids home from Harry Potter, but Harry Potter isn’t rated R! It isn’t rated R for a reason!

However, movies such as Hobo with a Shotgun (which is unrated, by the way) is probably unrated for a reason. They didn’t neglect to stamp it with a rating, let’s use our heads here.

Other movies like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo are rated R for good reasons. I’ve heard tell of a mother bringing her (approximately) 7-10 year old children to see it. Two rape scenes are probably not the most enjoyable thing for children to see. Just my opinion.

I understand several things:

·      I know I cannot tell/suggest/even approach a parent and tell them how to parent their children. I know this. But I don’t think I should be faulted if I inform a parent that a movie is, in fact, vastly too inappropriate for the eyes of a young viewer. Politely.

·      I know it is none of my business what anybody does.

·      I know by condemning one type of violence, it naturally logically follows that I must condemn any type of violence. So rape isn’t allowed but murder is? Nope, violence is violence. However, there are degrees of violence, and there is a pretty OKAY rating system that helps people discern what kind/measure of violence they’re about to see.

As far as I’m concerned, if someone is too young to distinguish reality from fantasy, they should not be watching a film beyond their age rating. If an audience member is crying and staring with anguish and horror at the scream, probably not appropriate. I’m all for exposure and educating people on the realities of the world, but let’s face it… you can do it in a delicate way. I’ve seen pretty violent movies (and love some of them to pieces) but I still can’t sit through the entirety of Hostel. Not because it’s inappropriate for me, but because I know where my threshold is, and Hostel passes it. If someone is used to seeing Disney movies and Pixar wholesomeness, the next film you bring them to probably shouldn’t be Straw Dogs or something. 

This is how I would watch Hostel...

This isn’t solely about younger audience members, though that is my biggest qualm… but generally my issue is about anyone who is unprepared for what they’re about to see. There really aren’t that many good excuses for ‘not knowing’ what you’re going to witness. For the movie Hostel, I knew it was going to be terrifying, disgusting, involved torture and body parts and blood and torture and eyeballs… but I chose to see it. How can I possibly complain if I am a fully consented and compliant audience member?

I think my main point is that people (parents, guardians, any audience member in fact) should do their research before going into a movie. Know whether you’re going to be supremely offended. Know if you’re going to scar the younger person you’ve brought. It is so easy, there are rating systems ALL over the Internet, there are film synopses and ratings in the theatre when you buy tickets… I just don’t believe anymore (in this technological age) that you just ‘didn’t know it was this violence!’ Know what you’re getting yourself into!

Movie Review: The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

Rating: PG

IMDB Rating: 7.8/10

Seems like I’m watching a lot of movies this holiday season… but it can’t be helped. It’s cold outside, people love movies, and it’s a convenient and fun thing to spend some time doing.

So today I went out to see the Adventure of Tintin with two of my friends.

The plot according to IMDB: “Tintin and Captain Haddock set off on a treasure hunt for a sunken ship commanded by Haddock's ancestor. But someone else is in search of the ship.”

Now I have seen some of Tintin’s original series, and found it quite cute. I was curious to see how this one panned out.

Firstly, the theatre was packed and full of children. Two kids left crying after the first half hour. I think this movie should probably be bumped up to a PG-13 rating, just because there is a bit more fist-fighting and gun-fights than expected. 

Frankly, I found this an extremely stressful movie. I kept thinking about all the tense action scenes and the wrecks they would leave in their wake. I’m sure I would have found it much more gripping as a child. For my desensitized eyes, a lot of it seemed overdone. 

I enjoyed the CGI/special effects of the film… I did see it in 3D (sometimes they don’t even offer certain movies in regular 2D anymore!) against my best wishes. I find 3D rather tedious to watch… the glasses slip down the slight bridge of my nose and I find that unless I find the perfect angle in which to view the movie, it is slightly blurred. Also, specifically for this film, it didn't seem like 3D was necessary. There weren't any moments when I was like 'oh, they did that just to impress us with the 3D,' in fact... I only noticed about 3 times when I even remembered I was watching 3D.

Regardless, it is a good movie. It is very much like Indiana Jones for children. Actually, that’s pretty much exactly what it is.

Highlights:

·      Action-packed

Lowlights:

·      No real acting

·      A bit long

·      A touch violent for younger children

·      Accented characters made for chopping comprehension at times (just me probably)

My Verdict:

I enjoyed it, but won’t be watching it again unless my parents rent it and I happen to be around. It had tons of action but was a bit long compared to other children’s movies (107 minutes). 7.5/10

Movie Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Rating: R

IMDB Rating: 8.3/10

Today I went out to see a movie I’ve been itching to see ever since I heard it was in production. I have seen almost every David Fincher movie, so I knew I just had to see this one.

Note that I approached this as a stand-alone film, not as a remake, nor as an adaptation. I think the comparisons can be too extensive and I won’t go into them. It’s easier to enjoy a movie if you analyze it according to its own worth rather than the worth of a predecessor.

Firstly, I have not yet read the books. I know, I should. I meant to pick up the trilogy as a boxed set and even asked for them for Christmas, but not having received it I intend on buying it soon. So I went into this film not knowing very much about it (beyond the hype and some major plot elements).

The plot according to IMDB:

"Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for forty years by Lisbeth Salander, a young computer hacker."

Rooney Mara is incredible, convincing, and bad-ass. There’s no other way to express it… she is so kick-ass and like a terminator in this film. She’s supposed to portray a 23-year-old and I’ll admit right now that 23 year olds do not act the way she acts. She portrays independence and a sulky angst very well.

The theatre was filled with many middle-aged spectators. And honestly I did question whether every person there knew what they were getting themselves into. I knew before going into this theatre that there were 2 rape scenes and quite a bit of nudity.

The rape scenes are done with about as much class and about as tasteful as a rape scene can be. It was pretty explicit, and certainly effective at evoking disgust and anger. The nudity was overt as well, but very reflective of the personality of Lisbeth (she’s very assertive and confrontational), so it wasn’t uncharacteristic in any way.

The soundtrack was filled with tension, had high whirring noises that could irritate some. It definitely helped the anxiety and nervous anticipation in the film.

Highlights:

• Acting
• Intense
• Solid and interesting plot
• It's a Fincher film!

Lowlights:

• Lengthy
• Slow build-up

My Verdict:

I liked this a great deal. I probably won’t watch this 10 times, but this is worth a re-watch or two. Like many Fincher films, this movie is well over 2hours, so some people may get restless if you’re used to quick action and dramatic resolutions. This isn’t a family movie, but it is moody, atmospheric, and dramatic. Great for any action/drama/suspense/mystery fans. 8.7/10

Best Concerts of 2011

 

2011 is almost over! This year I definitely didn’t go to as many rock concerts as 2010 (with generally fewer of my favourite bands that came here to play).

I only went to 6 shows in all of 2011… The Black Angels, The Black Keys, Soundgarden, Iron & Wine, Ben Harper, and The Sheepdogs.

I have always liked concerts; since I got my first fix in high school I haven’t been able to kick it. There’s something about a big room of people all there singing and dancing and having a good time that is infectious.

My favourite show of 2011 was The Black Keys that came in the summertime. The Black Keys came the year prior, but due to a ticket-buying-mix-up, I couldn’t get a ticket. Unless of course I wanted to get one from Ebay for $500… So I had been looking forward to seeing them for a long time.

They were incredible. The hype for this band is huge, so they couldn’t disappoint. Considering how minimalist their band is, they have huge sound and huge spirit. Cage the Elephant opened for them but didn’t tickle my fancy. In fact I was let down by their performance… it seemed amateur and immature. Especially compared to the Black Keys. The Black Keys are a must see!

Iron & Wine was another superb show. Mr. Beam is such an amazing entertainer. I think there were probably 8 people on stage with him, and they all showed super enthusiasm for playing with him. The saxophonist was especially groovy. 

They played singles and fan favourites, but with every single song they changed the pacing/length/intensity of the song. Many of the songs were hardly recognizable apart from the lyrics – they switched it up immensely – to the pleasure of the audience.

It was a very female-dominated audience. Lots of girls in the venue, not too many males. Definitely go see Iron & Wine if you get a chance. Don’t be deceived by some of the slower radio ballads, there’s some intense heavy stuff on their discography!

Ben Harper was another really good show I went to. I’ve seen Ben Harper before so I know how excellent he is in person. He’s got such an awesome selection of slow/intense love/angry songs, and also lots of rock and groove songs. It was another summer show so it was perfect for the outdoors, and it’s always nice to see everyone dressed in summer clothes. 

Ben Harper has some of the most emotional music I’ve heard in ages – he can go from heartbreaking to delighted – in just a song or two. He can belt it out with the best of them… and he isn’t getting any younger. Go check out Ben Harper and be blown away.

I’ll mention Soundgarden as a favourite as well, although my friend gave me a ticket and I probably would not have purchased one for myself (they were over $100 for most good seats). I have always liked Soundgarden, but I didn’t think I’d ever see them play. There were definitely a lot of 70s and 80s babies in the crowd, and not too many younger people. My friend and I saw the show from the floor and got pretty close (always trying to get the full experience) and it was very impressive up close. It was definitely a show for fans… and many of the singles were stretched out to 15minutes in length or more.

I have heard many complaints about the Soundgarden show from other friends who went, and a major complaint was that it all sounded very… soundboarded/digitized/technologically meddled with. I would agree that the guitars were VERY high on distortion, but I don’t really think that necessary made it unpleasant. 

The most unpleasant part of the show was their encore (after a few encore songs) they broke out into a highly distorted guitar wail that lasted a good 10minutes, and then they left the stage. I saw many people surrounding me with their hands clapped over their ears and most people left.

For classic rock bands like this, definitely see them… even if you don’t think they’d be any good anymore (I’d go see Bob Dylan if he came and if I could afford tickets), it’s more for the experience anyway. 

The Black Angels were good too, but they wouldn't make my favourite list. 

I already have a concert review of the Sheepdogs show that I went to in December, so there’s no need going into how good they are… but not every show can be a favourite! 

I am super grateful that I am lucky enough to live in a city where major bands frequent. Hopefully there’ll be even more shows next year! I already bought my ticket for Band of Skulls, so I’m already itching for more shows…

A Jolly, joyful, festive, happy, warm, and merry Christmas to everyone! ...And happy Boxing Day too!

Every Boxing Day instead of lining up at the malls for Boxing Day Sales my family and I head to Whistler, BC. I find it way too hectic! Maybe I should develop a thicker skin.

We live about 1.5 hours away in Vancouver, so it isn’t too far of a drive to make once a year.

My parents can’t ski/snowboard, but I took lessons back in my younger days. Whenever we go together I usually don’t go skiing, so we just wander around the village and I play in the snow!

I did of course stop into Lush, for their annual Boxing Day Sale. They only ever have one sale a year so I do get some stuff… I always justify it by saying that their seasonal stuff may not come back, and that some old favourites are being discontinued so I’d better stock up…

This year they had buy one get one free, so I got soap ($10ish dollars) to get the gift set ($11ish dollars) free, and got two lip tins (the second one free, so both for $9), and Charlotte's Island at a full price of $15.95.

Gotta label these otherwise I totally forget when I got them...

This smells so good, but it's got pop rock things on the top that you kind of have to mix into the tint in order for them to disappear.

Ahhh I love this! I'm going to slather this on every day.

I got this mainly just to see if I won a Golden Ticket, but I do love the Angel's Delight soap, and who doesn't need more bubble bars!

They're discontinuing this, and I love this product so I decided to get the big bottle of it. I still have a little one still to finish, but after that I'm not sure what substitute I'll have to find!

The best ugly sweater

The best ugly sweater by chinacat-sunflower featuring hats

Sweater
thechive.com

Hat
tumblr.com



If I get invited to another ugly sweater party, I'm buying this. This is incredible! 

December Glymm Box!

Very excited to get my Glymm box a day earlier than predicted, just in time for Christmas!

It was a very nice box; I got pretty much the same as everyone else (I got both hand creams instead of the mask).

Yay for:

Jelly Bellies (I cannot for the life of me discern which flavours these are. Some kind of red fruit and coconut I think).

I devoured these in minutes.

Yves Saint Laurent La Parisienne Perfume                    7.5ml/.25 OZ

This actually smells really nice, and I’m surprised that I like it. It is a more mature scent, and it seems more nighttime than a everyday perfume. Very feminine and floral. It also comes in the most adorable bottle. I’m a sucker for packaging and I used to collect mini perfume bottles, and this will go nicely with my collection!

Sula Beauty Natural Lip Gloss in             Why Stop Now         Full Size        /.5 OZ

This is a wonderful colour. I was afraid I’d get a pale pink or peachy one, and I’ve got too many of those. My lips are quite pigmented so darker/deeper tones suit my skin tone better. On Sula’s website it is described as being brick red. It has a slight cherry scent that doesn’t linger on the lips, and zero taste. Not too sticky, and it is surprisingly moisturizing for a lip gloss. It’s supposed to be made from natural ingredients so that’s awesome.

Glymm Gift Code

Hurray! This is for $10 off. I’ve been meaning to purchase something online from the Glymm store, but am always hesitant because some of their stuff isn’t cheap. However, I am not sure if I can combine this with my accumulated Glymm points (if so I can get about $30 off a purchase).

Meh:

Ahava Minteral Hand Cream                                             20ml/.68 OZ

I don’t go through hand creams very quickly… I have one or two large tubes of it and can never seem to run out. I welcome hand creams, but they’re never on the top of any list. This definitely has a nice smell, and it is extremely softening.

Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream                                           15ml/.5 OZ

Another hand cream. This one smells like fruit. Not like cream that smells like fruit, but it smells precisely like fruit to me. This one is slightly greasy, it took a good 10 minutes for this to sink in before I could grip anything. Both hand creams will go into my purse for convenience. I’m going to try really hard to use these up!

Overall impression of December’s Box:

I liked this box. The perfume sample and lip gloss impressed me. It wasn’t overly festive or Christmasy, but I think the $10 code really is a plus. Also, reading up on competitor’s boxes, it seems I did get mine on time (other people are still waiting on tracking information! Yikes!).

Exercise in the Summer vs. Exercise in the Winter

Exercise in the Summer vs. Exercise in the Winter by chinacat-sunflower featuring a loose racerback tank

Uniqlo long sleeve hoodie
£20 - uniqlo.com

DC Shoes red tee
£15 - phixclothing.com

Acne loose racerback tank
€54 - youheshe.com

NIKE capri activewear
£30 - johnlewis.com

Arizona Poplin Bermuda
$22 - jcpenney.com

Adidas cross training shoes
£45 - johnlewis.com

Concert Review: The Sheepdogs 2011

Every year, the only rock radio station in all of Vancouver hosts the Santa Fox Ball (a Christmasy concert with all their ‘battle-of-the-bands’ winners – called Seeds Bands - and a headliner).

Last night I was lucky enough to go! Apparently tickets for this year’s show sold out in 15 minute so I was definitely on the computer bright and early with my finger poised over the keys…

So the show was at the Commodore, a very mellowed out venue in the downtown area. It has a giant dance floor in front of a raised stage, and seating around the stage area for those who wish to drink, eat, or just bum around. It also has a second floor with more seating and two more bars, and for short people (like me) to actually see the opening bands before I head down into the chaos for the main show.

There were 5 bands altogether that played, the three Seeds Bands (Head of the Herd, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Louder than Love), the opening band (Monster truck), then the main headliner the Sheepdogs.

The Sheepdogs don’t get a lot of radio play so they’re not huge, but they have awesome 80s rock n’ roll and groovy songs.

By the way, a great free music streaming website is www.grooveshark.com: they have every album by nearly every artist – even rare ones – and you can stream their music. So go check out the Sheepdogs!

So onto the concert itself… I’ll try to keep it brief.

Head of the Herd played first, and they were all dressed in the same outfit (black suspenders over white shirts) and they were good! A crunchy 70s-80s vibe, and the lead singer definitely had some swagger in his step. They had a female keyboardist that people seemed to respond well to, as well.

Gentleman Prefer Blondes played second, and I did not like their style of music. They were grungy 70s music (very unintelligible and loud yelling). Just not my cup of tea, though I may have enjoyed them much more if I were in my angsty grade-8 phase. Plus, it definitely didn’t suit the type of demographic that were there for the Sheepdogs, but since they always host the Seeds Bands there’s no avoiding that. 

Following that, Louder than Love played. Another friend said they were good, and they were certainly catchy. They had some solid rock beats, and one point about all the lead singer’s voices is that they were quite similar. They were growly. For an example just take a listen to anything by Avenged Sevenfold.

Monster Truck was good as well, but by this time I was a little tired and the voices were blending together. The only downside to their setlist is some of the songs sounded a little repetitive. Their setlist was stronger, it had a bigger variety of songs and got the crowd more involved. 

This image pretty much captures their essence perfectly...

Finally, the Sheepdogs! They were catchy, personable, grateful, humble, entertaining, and they rocked out. That’s pretty much all there is to say on the matter! They did a Neil Young cover and a Kinks cover and also a Black Keys cover. A lot of their songs were longer than 7 minutes or so, so it was a good groovy set.

This probably won’t be one of the top concerts of 2011, but it was fun and very festive. Everyone was very gracious and there weren’t too many douche canoe people there.

Good show! I give it a 7.8 out of 10.