38 maps you never knew you needed.

Fellow map lovers! Hearken to my voice! This is marvelous.

38 maps you never knew you needed.

Some of my favorites...

How much space the Great Lakes would take up in Europe.

What's on the opposite side of the Earth.

The imaginary high-speed rail system of my dreams.
Ninety minutes to New York!

State borders redrawn to redistribute population.
I recently moved from the state of Allegheny to the state of Potomac.

What the time zones look like at the South Pole.

Same world, different centerpoint.

Signs

Did you see Paperman? It's the beautifully animated short film that won the Oscar a few weeks ago. It is truly lovely to look at, but if you're wondering why I didn't remark on it when I posted about the short films, it's because something about it didn't sit well with me. It reminded me so much (too much) of a live action short I saw a few years ago. I couldn't remember the name or where I'd seen it, but I knew that Paperman's entire plot had been lifted from this other film.

We did not come up with this idea.

Well, I finally figured it out. It's called Signs and you should watch it. If you've seen Paperman, you'll see the case for plagiarism can easily be made. But you know what they say: "In literature it's plagiarism, in film it's homage."

And even if you're like, "What are you even talking about with these short films? I don't watch that stuff.," you should still give Signs a watch. It's well worth your twelve minutes.

What?

Has anyone ever noticed how alike Lucifer from Cinderella and the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland are?

This is like the time I realized one of the Sleeping Beauty fairies had the same voice as Cinderella's fairy godmother. Disney liked to re-use the voice talent. And the animators, apparently.

Sleepover Cupcake Decorating Party

So, this weekend Julia had a sleepover with her friend Lexus. Since I was visiting, I decided to put my cake decorating stuff to good use and organize a cupcake decorating party for them. A good (and sugary) time was had by all. The girls started off by sampling the cupcake batter and went full-on into shoveling in the frosting. Check it out.

The first rule of a good decorating party is lots of pretty frosting colors. The girls chose these five.

Then they decided which decorating tip should go with which color.

When were were mixing up the batter, I let them crack the eggs. Julia picked up an egg in each hand, slammed them down simultaneously on the table, and cracked them into the bowl. Then she declared, "I learned that from Nicole."

The decorating begins. 

Note the crazy makeup from their beauty salon party, immediately preceding the cupcake decorating party.

Julia shows excellent technique by squeezing the piping bag at the top.

She's delighted with her work.

Decorating quickly turned to eating...

Lexus dives right in...

...as you can see.

Jules does the same.

Completely crazed on a sugar high.

Some of the finished cupcakes. The girls are true artists.

The aftermath...

Snow Day: PJs and comfort food

So, yeah, this is what constitutes a snow day in the DC area:

P.S. That's not ice; that is slush.

In my experience, snow days usually at least give kids a chance to go sledding. Not that I'm complaining. I slept in (very in) and I only got out of my PJs in order to shower and put on new PJs. I feel like Aunt Linda.

Also, I am watching season 1 of Homeland so as not to feel culturally illiterate when someone brings it up, which is all the time. (Now I will only feel culturally illiterate when people discuss Dr. Who!) I'm also enjoying some delicious comfort food, leftovers of something I made a couple days ago: Creamy chicken pappardelle.

I had some pappardelle from Trader Joe’s that I picked up because it looked so delicious and then I didn’t know what to cook with it. Then I discovered this recipe which reminded me of a pappardelle dish I had at Lidia’s in the Pittsburgh Strip District. That dish is seared in my mind as one of the most delicious, comfort-foody things I have ever eaten. Alas, it was one of Lidia’s seasonal pasta choices and I have been back several times hoping to catch them on a Roast Pork Pappardelle day and I never do.

So, when I saw this recipe and read the story about it being inspired by comfort food in the movie The Holiday, I knew my Trader Joe’s pappardelle had found its destiny, even if it did mean I’d have to handle raw chicken. (Raw chicken is the scariest of my terror meats, so you must realize how badly I wanted to try this dish that I was willing to go through the anguish of raw chicken.)

I highly recommend you check it out: The Best Pappardelle Dish You Will Have Outside of Lidia's Restaurant.

It was so delicious and the leftovers are just as good. Happy snow day!

Oscar Round-up Part II: The Show

So, yeah, the actual show. Let's just dive right in.

Things I enjoyed:

Seth MacFarlane. I thought he was a good host. Even if he did front-load most of his jokes into his bit with Captain Kirk, I enjoyed it. The Sally Field make-out thing was pretty funny, too. Good for her for being a good sport. Also, Tommy Lee Jones for laughing and not being weird about it.

See? That's what I'm talking about.

I also loved Charlize Theron and Jennifer Lawrence being so game to make fun of themselves during Seth’s intro song.

This. I love it when unusual stuff happens.

This man. He accepted the Best Animated Film award for Brave and he looked fabulous doing it. Also, yay for Brave!

Charlize Theron and Channing Tatum

Waltzing in the opening number. It was lovely.

Seth MacFarlane as Max Detweiler.

"They're gone!"

The whole intro of Christopher Plummer mimicking The Sound of Music. It was cheesy hilarity and it made me want to go back to Salzburg. (To be fair, thinking about mountains or good potato salad also makes me want to go back to Salzburg.)

She is an utter delight.

Ben wins! I totally agree that Argo was the best film of the year. His speech was really great, too; so heartfelt.

Daniel Day-Lewis making history (first man to win three Best Actor Oscars) and being charming and funny in his speech. That bit about Meryl playing Lincoln and himself playing Margaret Thatcher—I didn’t know he had it in him.

You know, there's a lot of injustice linked to the Oscars (Gary Oldman doesn't have one, for instance.) But it's nice that the record for Best Actor Oscars should be held by this man, who is undoubtedly one of the finest actors to have ever graced the screen.

"And my man, I love you, baby." Ha! Oh, Adele.

Helena Bonham-Carter and Sacha Baron Coen looking utterly miserable as they're forced to sing their Les Mis parts in the medley. Heh.

Finally, did you know the ladies' room at the Oscars exploded just as everyone was coming in from the red carpet? This article slays me. "The poor woman came out looking like a scene from 'Carrie.'" Ha!


Things I did not enjoy:

Ben Affleck not winning Best Director in a write-in vote. (It could’ve happened!) Now Ang Lee has to take home an Oscar that wasn’t really supposed to be his. And when he looks into the mirror, he knows it.

Anne Hathaway’s speech. It felt really rehearsed and fake. A lot about her seems insincere, which is maybe why many people seem to dislike her. In fact, with all the hate heading her way, I feel kinda bad piling on. I will say she definitely deserved that Oscar. I just hated the speech. And the dress. And the... you know what? I'm just gonna stop.

Can't wait for next year!

Oscar Round-up Part I: The Clothes

So, Oscar night finally arrived. We had a delightful Oscar party with Oscar Bingo and trivia games. A good time was had by all and Eric tied with me to win the Oscar pool. No bets were lost or plastic cups eaten, although Julia was sad that the prizes were chocolate-covered pretzels and not toys and finally declared to me, "No one wants your candy prizes!" 

Let's start with the clothes, shall we?

Looks I loved: 

Michelle Obama

Even though I can't see the full length, I'm going to declare Mrs. Obama the best dressed of the evening. I thought it was cool that she announced Best Picture, as it's nice to see our leaders supporting the arts. To those who thought it was a cheap political grab, I'd point out that First Lady Laura Bush and President Reagan made Oscar appearances during their respective administrations. Also, handing out Best Pic is the least of the goodies I'd request if I were First Lady. Other demands I'd make include a private concert by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, a ride on the Space Shuttle (What’s that you say? It’s retired? Not anymore, baby.), a lifetime supply of quadruple-stuffed Oreos (don't tell me the Nabisco company can't make this happen), and a life-size re-creation of Bag End.

I'm pretty sure the press would soon refer to me as "Imelda."

But the dress! Oh, the dress. The art deco sparkling magnificence. She looks like the Chrysler Building and I mean that in the best possible way.

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain is perhaps tied for Best Dressed. The fit. The bronzey color. The shimmer. It is perfection. And my envy of her hair continues.

Naomi Watts

When I first saw it, I didn’t like it. I’m not one for cut-outs and very structured-looking gowns. But, much like Napoleon Dynamite, the more I saw it the more I liked it and now I think I love it.

Kerry Washington

Okay, she’s so gorgeous that the dress barely even matters. But even so, the color is amazing and she really stood out.

Jennifer Garner

A lot of people hated this. I think it’s lovely. The color is great, it fits like a dream, and the fabric on those ruffles makes me want to bake a cake and decorate it with buttercream (I mean that as a compliment.) I don’t know how much fun the ruffles were to sit on, but they looked lovely.

Jennifer Garner and handsome accessory

Also, I loved her necklace and her husband is so cute and can really rock a scruffy beard and wore the cutest vest with his tux and all of these things just add up to me putting her/them on the best dressed list.

Jennifer Lawrence

That skirt is ridiculous. It needs its own limo. Of course it tripped you on the stairs. How could it not? And I love it anyway. Jennifer Lawrence is such a delight, she makes this unwieldy thing work.

Jennifer Lawrence's team of dress wranglers

Jennifer Lawrence's skirt, which is, even now, planning to trip her on the stairs.

I mean, it looks like a horrendous pain to actually wear. It reminds me of Princess Di’s wedding dress in that the dress is wearing you and not the other way around. It requires a team of people to get it down the red carpet. It is madness. But it’s a pure fantasy dream dress, and that seems appropriate for an insanely likeable and talented 22 year-old who is getting a Best Actress Oscar.

Charlize Theron

Just crazy gorgeous. I also loved the dress she wore to dance with Channing Tatum in the opening. That skirt had the perfect swing for a waltz.

Halle Berry

She can rarely do wrong. This is so sparkly and so 80s-fabulous; two things I love completely.

Zoe Saldana

Love it. Love everything about it.

Quvenzhané Wallis

You guys, Quvenzhané Wallis is carrying a purse dog. She is wonderful.



Looks I loathed:

Anne Hathaway

Satin, man. Bad idea. It’s wrinkly already and you haven’t even darkened the theater’s doorstep. It looks like something that would get paraded down the Project Runway strip and then Nina Garcia would level her icy gaze upon it and say, “It looks cheap.” And that terrifying woman would be right.

Also, what is with the darting at the bust? Insert obligatory “I had a dream this dress would beeeeeeee so different from…” joke here.

Anne Hathaway's necklace, which is too good for this crap.

One thing I did love, though, was that necklace and how the diamonds dripped down the back. I'll take two, please.

Melissa McCarthy

Oh, why this color? Why this hair? I like her so much, from all the way back to the hilariously flustered Sookie St. James on Gilmore Girls, but this is just no good.

Olivia Munn

This could have been so great, except that it clearly does not fit. We all know it and it’s fooling no one. Double-sided tape couldn’t even make you feel secure in this situation. I just hope she didn’t have to reach for anything during the evening.

Two young people, only one of whom owns a comb.

Kristen! Do you own a brush? Do you know how to run it through your hair? No big. This only the ACADEMY AWARDS. That crack den look does not make you an interesting person. And hike up your dress.

Naomie Harris, Bond Girl and exhibitionist

WHAT is going on here! Did the dress slit rip higher (much higher) than it was originally? Is she wearing sparkly underpants that were designed to be shown off with the dress? How is ABC not getting fined by the FCC right now?


Looks I was undecided on:

Jane Fonda

I’m not sure about this. On one hand, it fits great and looks straight out of a Dynasty catfight (I mean that in the very best way), but on the other hand I can’t really appreciate those qualities when I’m being blinded by the color.

Nicole Kidman

When I saw it onscreen I really liked it, but now I'm wondering if I was just led astray by sequins (wouldn't be the first time) and if it's perhaps not too Vegas-y for the Oscars. All that gold on the bottom is throwing me.

Fan Bingbing

I don’t know who Fan Bingbing is (but I feel like James would). A lot of people loved this dress but I am skeptical for two reasons: It is satin and thus undoubtedly looked like a hiker’s anorak by the end of the evening, and it looks remarkably similar to a dress my Barbies owned during the Reagan Administration. If you’re going to recreate a Barbie ensemble, definitely go for the Peaches and Cream gown.


Next Up: The actual show...