Bucketlist #57. Watch 50 movies! (21/25)

This year, I want to watch at least 50 movies that I haven’t seen before. This is part three, movies number  21 – 25. Also check out my 2012 movies nr. 1-5, 6-10, 11-15 and 16-20 for movie ideas!
Please note: The descriptions I used are from the Internet Movie Database.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Film 21 / 50  ’Take me home’  8 June 2012

Comedy / Romance 2011, IMDB Rating: 6.0

Description: In New York City, Thom is broke and jobless, illegally working as a taxi driver just to make some quick cash to try and pay his rent. Claire is a successful business-woman, but personally she’s in shambles trying to recover from a bump in her marriage and then comes the phone call that her distant father is in the hospital. Not knowing what to do, Claire hops in Thom’s cab and orders him to just drive. And so he does. The duo find themselves in Pennsylvania and make the rash decision to drive across the country. On the road to California, there are many detours, as the obstacles and secrets force them to learn about themselves and each other.

My opinion:  I finished watching the whole movie, but it’s not one of world class. It’s not the kind of movie that makes you laugh out loud, makes you cry or touches you. It’s a movie to just watch and don’t think too much. Very predictable.

____________________________________________________________________________

Film 22 / 50  ‘Loverboy‘  12 June 2012
Drama 2003, IMDB Rating: 6.2

Description: Denise is unsatisfied with her life when she meets the charming Michael. He spoils her with luxuries and romance. Denise falls for him and thinks he’s the perfect guy, until he asks her to sleep with his friend for money.
My opinion: It’s a Dutch movie, which I always find pretty shitty, but I do like the subject of the movie and I think it’s good people are warned about these things. Not a great movie, but good enough to keep watching.

__________________________________________________________________________

Film 23 / 50  ‘Intouchables‘ 5 July 2012

Drama / Comedy 2012, IMDB Rating 8.6

Description: A rich quadriplegic, living in a mansion in Paris, requires a live-in carer. A young offender turns up for an interview, but he is not really looking to get the job. However, to his surprise, he is hired. The two men then develop a close friendship.
My opinion: A very well deserved 8.6! One of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time! I laughed my arse off watching this movie, fantastic actors (and the Senegalese dude is not bad looking at for a few hours), very touching story.
If there’s a movie you MUST SEE, it’s gotta be this one!

____________________________________________________________________________

Film 24 / 50  ’Mirror Mirror‘  30 August 2012
Comedy /Drama / Adventure 2012, IMDB Rating: 5.6

Description: After a beloved King vanishes, his ruthless wife seizes control of the kingdom and keeps her beautiful 18-year-old stepdaughter, Snow White, hidden away in the palace. But when the princess attracts the attention of a charming and wealthy visiting prince, the jealous Queen banishes the girl to a nearby forest. Taken in by a band of rebellious but kindhearted dwarfs, Snow White blossoms into a brave young woman determined to save her country from the Queen. With the support of her new friends, she roars into action to reclaim her birthright and win back her Prince in this magical adventure comedy that will capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences the world over.
My opinion: Wel.. you don’t want to compare this movie to a fantastic movie like Intouchables, but Mirror Mirror is entertaining for a lazy Sunday. (or long planeride..!)  Some funny moments make the movie still nice to watch.

____________________________________________________________________________

Film 25 / 50 ‘Savages’ 20 September 2012
Crime / Drama / Thriller 2012, IMDB Rating 6.8

Description: Entrepreneurs Ben, a peaceful and charitable marijuana producer, and friend Chon, a former Navy SEAL, run a lucrative, homegrown industry – raising some of the best weed ever developed. They also share a one-of-a-kind love with Ophelia. Life is idyllic in their Southern California town… until the Mexican Baja Cartel decides to move in and demands that the trio partners with them. When the merciless head of the BC, Elena and her enforcer, Lado, underestimate the unbreakable bond of the three friends, Ben and Chon – with the reluctant assistance of a dirty DEA agent – wage a seemingly unwinnable war against the cartel. And so begins a series of increasingly vicious ploys and maneuvers in a high stakes, savage battle of wills.
My opinion:  Pretty good movie. The movie has funny bits (and horrifying ones!) and the story is quite entertaining. The only thing is, it’s such a loooong movie! I think they could’ve cut quite a few parts of the film, this way you kind of lose focuss. But on the other hand.. 2,5 hours of looking at Aaron Taylor-Johnson is not all that bad 😀

Bucketlist #54. See a dinosaur ✔

25 August 2012

Some people know this about me, most people I haven’t dared to tell this yet. I’m talking about my fascination for dinosaurs. Most children go through the dinosaur fase, I’m still at the peak. I don’t want to be a paleontologist,  dusting off sand for hours and putting miniscule pieces of bone together is not my cup of tea. It’s pure fascination; these giant creatures used to populate the earth. Incredibly bizarre.  When I had to babysit a five year old boy in September last year I couldn’t be more thrilled. Books and movies about dinosaurs everywhere. Together we spent days watching movies and documentaries and reading all the books about the subject.
I think the it all started when I visited a park in France when I was a little girl. In the park there were many dinosaurs made lifelike, including sounds and movement. I remember full well how that massive T-Rex roared at me, and in my eyes he was real. When I close my eyes I can still picture how it moved and sounded, just like all the other dinosaurs at that very park. Other than that experience I also had sleepless nights after watching ‘The land before time’, where a baby dinosaur wants to find his parents accompanied by his friends. Ofcourse T-Rex tries to eat time many times. Terrifying. Still I’m curious, just like I am when I watch horrormovies. I watch them, even though I know they freak me out and I won’t be able to sleep in the dark for weeks.
When my mum told me she wanted to take me to New York I immediately knew where I wanted to go. Ofcourse I wanted to see the statue of Liberty, the 9/11 memorial and the Empire State Building. But the National History Museum would make a dream come true. Real dinosaurs. I’ve seen them! Call me childish but I don’t give a shit. They’re massive! How can you not be fascinated?!

 

Bucketlist #85. Let a balloon go with a personal message for the person who finds it ✔

I remember doing this when I was a little girl. The whole school gathered at the playground and all children had a colorful balloon. There was a countdown, but ofcourse a few children couldn’t wait for it and let theirs go before the signal. We all had written down a personal note attached to the string which also had the schools’ address on there, so we could see who’s balloon would travel the furthest. I didn’t win, but the exitement was the best part. When I was thinking about this a while ago my heart got filled with exitement again and I decided to put this on my bucketlist. Today was the day, I phoned a local party-rental shop and asked them for two balloons. The man on the other end of the phone was a bit suprised by the request of just two helium-filled balloons, but money is money so he said to pick them up in half an hour. I’m sure he thought we were about twelve years old when he opened the door and saw two small girls there he also said ah thats so cute when he opened the door, fucker!  but in all fairness it’s find of a silly thing to do so whatever. I enjoyed it anyway and hope to hear soon from the person who found my note 🙂

Bucketlist #44. Go to the cinema. Alone ✔

Going to the cinema alone is sad. At least that’s how I thought about it when I was a bit younger, going to the movies with a group of friends and looking at someone sitting there by himself.  Going to public place or events all by yourself does make people wonder whether you don’t have friends or been stood up.

Recently I began to think it might not be such a bad idea to go to the cinema by yourself. When I thought of it I can to realise I do enjoy travelling and shopping alone. No one you have to wait for or has to wait for you, you can go whenever, wherever you want..

Going to the movies alone would also be one of the the least awkward things to do alone. You can arrive late, it’s dark so noone sees you being alone anyway and the only thing you need to do is watch a movie, and let’s face it, you don’t really need company for that.

Last Wednesday I decided to try it myself. I really wanted to see the movie ‘Intouchables‘ and so I had the perfect movie to go watch by myself. I must say I was a bit nervous, not about going there alone, but more of the reactions of others. While I was waiting for the doors to the theater to open I see a couple looking my direction. Perhaps they weren’t even talking about the fact that I was alone, but still it felt like they did. Apart from them, noone really seemed to care. Maybe they thought I was waiting for my Other Half. When I looked for my seat and it became clear that noone was gonna join me, I saw some people giving me ‘the look’. Teenage boys giggling and whispering a bit, not too obvious though. At that point I stopped caring about what others might think and actually started to enjoy myself and relax. The moment the lights go off and the movie starts nothing matters anymore. We were all there to watch the movie and noone can see who is there with who. I laughed my arse off during this movie. One of the best films I’ve seen in a long time. Just too bad I have noone to share the experience with.. 😛

A rich quadriplegic, living in a mansion in Paris, requires a live-in carer. A young offender turns up for an interview, but he is not really looking to get the job. However, to his surprise, he is hired. The two men then develop a close friendship.

Bucketlist #53. Join contests until you win something ✔

I never really won anything in my life, at least not that I can recall. Sure, with the community (children) bingo or at a fun fair at a ‘always a winner’ stand, but that’s not the same. I mean really winning something, that you’re randomly picked out of many others.  I signed up for many contests in my life, often the ones you just need to fill out your information details, but also the ont of es where you need to actually make an effort. I guessed the amount of coins in a jar, the weight of a bike, made a childrens drawing saying I’m seven years old, thought of reasons why I’m the person that deserves a relaxing weekend away or other bullshit to make them pick me over others. But all to no avail. They never picked me.
Until two days ago! You might have heard about the vintage website of Fifties Darling (and if not, check it out!). This website is all about vintage and thrifting and has a special give-away every few weeks. A few weeks ago she had put on this wonderful give-away purse, the one that I had been looking for for ages, but never found. Immediately I signed up for it, but never expected to actually win it. Two days ago I heard that I won and today I found it in my mailbox. I love it, thank you so much Darling!

Darkblue purse, perfect size!

Love it!

So the moral of the story is.. never give up! 😀

Bucketlist #3. Visit a festival. ✔

I love festivals. I love the vibe and the people. All sorts of people enjoying the music and freedom. Chilling in the gras listening to bands with a beer in one hand and the feeling of the sun shining on my face. And dancing all night while meeting random people  from all over. Crazy stories, crazy nights. This weekend my two friends and I went to the Midsummer Festifarm in the north of Holland. This first edition of the festival took place on a farm and the atmosphere was hippie-ish; leave no trail, respect nature as well as eachother and chill out. Friday night was special, since it was Midsummer we celebrated the longest night of the year by rocking with bands and chilling by the bonfire.
The weather forecast for the weekend was not to be cheering about; rain, more rain and storms. Luckily the weather on Saturday was really good, good enough for a swim in the lake anyway.The bands were great and the people nice, lots of love! When can I go again?? 😀

Our tent in the not-yet-so-messy stage

After swimming in the lake. No pictures!!

One of the stages

Cccooldd!

Love!!

Art project during night

More love!

Festifarm!

Dirty wellies!

Bucketlist #84. Do something for charity ✔

A couple of weeks ago one of my ex-collegues posted a note on facebook saying she was organizing a charity run for a boy with Down Syndrom. The boy, Luuk, is six years old and has difficulty talking. His parents would like him to get dolphin therapy in Curacao, which is said to do a lot for children like Luuk. Dolphin therapy will improve his communication skills, fine motor skills and will give him a lot more confidence. Unfortunately this therapy is not reimbursed by the government and it’s quite an expensive one. My ex-collegue decided to organize a 6.8km run to raise money for Luuk, something that I’d loved to help her with.

Even though her poster said ‘come running and bring 2 euros’, I decided to ask friends and family to sponsor me. I asked my brother to come running with me and he was happy to take the challenge. When talking about it yesterday, my eleven year old cousin also wanted to come with us, so we made it a family event. Unfortunately not too many people showed up, so my ex-collegue was extra happy that we came. At ten o’clock this morning we took off and my brother and cousin were the first ones who arrived at the finish, where my family waited for us. Me, on the other hand, got lost and ran a lot more kilometres than I should have, but got a warm welcome of my family when I arrived at the finished anyway.

Me and my cousin Mick in the car on the way

My brother, me and my cousin after the charity run

I raised 135 euros today, so hopefully this family will be able to affort the therapy soon enough!

Spinach & Egg Pastry

On my bucketlist are a few goals that have to do with cooking. Goal # 78 says ‘Try out five new recipes’. A few months ago I tried to make homemade veggieburgers for the first time, and I loved it! Yesterday our fridge was empty again, as it always seems to be lately. I didn’t feel like going to the shop so I tried to make something with the leftovers in the freezer & fridge. I ended up making spinach pastries, vegetarian, healthy and delicious!! Here’s the recipe!

Ingredients for 4 people:
– spinach, freak or frozen
– 5 cloves of garlic
– one big onion
–  pepper, salt
– butter
– 4 eggs
– pastry
– grated cheese / feta

Needed: Frying pan / pot / oven / baking tin

Recipe:
1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees
2. Boil the eggs and cut the onion
3. Fry the onion and the garlic and add the spinach. Add some pepper and salt.
4. Defrost the pastry and make four squares.
5. Add the spinach to the pastry, put the boiled eggs (don’t forget to peel them first :P) in the middle, add the cheese and fold them into a small package.
6. Put a little bit of water and butter on the pastry packages.
7. Butter the baking tin so the pastry won’t stick to it.
8. Set the timer to 20 minutes, the pastry packages are done when they’re nice golden brown.
9. Enjoy!

Nice with fried potatoes and a tomato salad!