While studying Nora Ephron's directing skills, I chose four feature films I absolutely adored. One of which was Julie & Julia, the popular summer 2010 flick that I wrote a review for (this includes the main plot--SPOILER ALERT!).

(Images by Google search)

Everybody needs a little inspiration in their day-to-day lives—this is exactly what character Julie Powell sets out for in the movie Julie & Julia, based on two remarkable women’s true stories of inspiration, passion, and hardships. Used to working in a stressful job for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, Powell is dealing with the emotional aftermath of the 9/11 Twin Towers attack and takes crisis calls all day. Julie and her husband, Eric, have just moved into a new apartment closer to Eric’s work when the movie begins. A fan of Julia Child (a famous cook, co-author of Mastering the Art of French Cooking), Powell cooks a delicious meal each night for herself and her husband to get away from work’s stressors.

Meanwhile, the movie transports back in time to the 1950’s when a middle-aged Julia Child was experiencing the same thing Julie Powell experienced. Julia and her husband Paul had just moved to Paris for Paul’s job, and Julia does not know what to do besides “be a housewife”. She enrolls in an advanced French cooking class and is the only female. She is motivated to beat the guys in speed, strength, and quality, and forms cooking into her new hobby to keep herself occupied.

Now back in present-day, Julie Powell decides to start an online blog about her experiences in 365 days, covering every recipe from Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She records her daily troubles, tantrums, and joys of cooking in her cramped, unaccommodating kitchen until it drives her and her marriage into the ditch. Eric had always been a great support and encouraged Julie when she thought she could not write, but they eventually began to argue when her blog started to run her life and consume all her time during the day.

In the movie time frame, Julie Powell is weeping over the fact she could not make the perfect lobster dish, while Julia Child is having a tough time keeping interested and is very scrupulous about her involvement in her new hobby. While at cooking school, Child meets two women who ask her to publish their French cooking book (Mastering the Art of French Cooking), and agrees. Child becomes their editor, coming up with plan after plan until the recipe for publishing success is just right.

Julie receives numerous phone calls and letters from editors, publishers, and T.V. shows asking her to perform interviews and even write her own book, but one particular phone call stood out from the rest. A male editor calls Powell to tell her that he spoke with Julia Child and claimed Child had said she disliked Powell’s blog and thought it was an “offensive” or “unnecessary” way to take upon such a serious subject. This concept is never really elaborated upon, nor made clear in the movie, as Julie and Julia never meet.

At the zenith of the movie, a good-hearted scene of Julie and Eric Powell visiting the Smithsonian Institution to see Julia Child’s kitchen exhibit is shown, as Julie places a stick of butter near Julia’s portrait (Julia’s trademark was: “You can never have enough butter.”) The scene fades into the actual kitchen of Julia and Paul Child, identical to the one at the exhibit, as Julia opens a package and it reveals the first printed copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Julia lets out a shriek of happiness as the scene is finished and paused, fading into the credits.

While the movie was a comedy-driven, romantic two hours, I really disliked the fact that Julia Child and Julie Powell never meet. Julia Child is portrayed as a happy, lively woman that lives in the moment, yet she dislikes Julie Powell’s blog. This does not make much sense, considering Julie has never said one offensive word, nor made fun of Julia Child’s cooking. Families watching this flick will sure find a kick out of the storyline and let out a loud chuckle, even if the end is left unresolved.

[3] Neck Rolls

Sit with your back straight, head upright.

Fig. 1

• Exhale and drop your head forward, chin toward chest.
  
  Fig. 2
  
• Slowly roll your left ear over your left shoulder. Hold for a few breaths, allowing the right side of your neck to release.
  
  Fig. 3
  
• Slowly drop your chin toward your chest and roll your right ear over your right shoulder. Hold, allowing the left side of your neck to release.
• Repeat once on both sides.
• Be sure your breath remains steady and your pace slow.
  

Benefits: Lubricates and stretches the neck joints, relieves residual tension in the neck and shoulders, and firms the chin and throat.

Images from Google and Gordeeva.ru

Everyone has their own celebrity inspirations. Mine just so happen to be actors and actresses, musicians, activists, and athletes.

Ranking in order of influence:

1. Ekaterina Gordeeva. 2-time Olympic champion, this woman figure skates with grace and beauty, surpassing all others. In late 1995, her husband (see: Sergei Grinkov) died of a fatal heart attack while practicing on the ice. She took the ice in a solo tribute just four brief months after his death. Gordeeva is a role model for women of all ages around the globe. She shows resilience, strength, and delicate beauty.

2. Daria Grinkova-Gordeeva. Daughter of legendary figure skaters Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov. Daria is a beautiful, intelligent young woman who handles life with stride and grace, has an advanced outlook on numerous situations, and an amazing fashion sense--to mention just a few things I admire.

3. Michael Jackson. The man known as "Peter Pan" who overcame ginormous accusations, tabloid hate and insults, Michael Jackson can be considered a strong inspiration for those who have been victims of hatred, violence, and bullying. His dancing and singing talent is still yet unmatched and I believe it will remain that way for years to come.

4. Sergei Grinkov. 2-time Olympic champion who passed away at the age of 28, was married to Ekaterina Gordeeva and fathered their daughter Daria. He was known as being a very friendly man and extremely honest. He was the one that brought the sunlight into the room with his smile and humor. For his positive, reassuring outlook on life and infamous quote: "Our honor depends upon our honesty.", he is one of my inspirations.

5. The Beatles. Of course, each "beatle" has his own touch; Ringo has his humility, John has his "bad boy" ego, Paul has his sweet sense of humor, and George has his boyish, hippie charm. I adore all of them for their musical talents and activism, but their wild, enriching personalities will never be found again in the music business.

6. Hilary Duff. While I was growing up, it wasn't so much pop stars like Britney Spears or Madonna that I looked up to, I looked up to Hilary Duff: the Disney "Lizzie McGuire" sensation who created T.V. shows, movies, albums, perfume, and clothing lines. Duff is still admired today and talked up to be one of the most confident Disney child starlets that never lost their way, turned to substance abuse, or self-harm. She is currently enjoying time out of the tabloid circuit, and married Canadian hockey player Mike Comrie last August.

7. Diane Keaton. Infectious charm on the movie screen since the 70s, this woman has been nominated for countless awards (and won some). She is currently 65 years of age, single, free and lovin' it! She lives on her own with her two adopted children, daughter Dexter and son Duke. Keaton is a perfect example of success without romance (a big newsflash to people like myself who believe love answers every calling).

8. Martin Luther King, Jr. Spoke with words of strength, dignity, and love for human kind. King was an influential figure for America during the Civil Rights Movement in the early-late 60s. While a lot of him and I's beliefs differ, his peaceful outlook inspires me to become more accepting of my community and confident of my part in it.

9. Lucielle Ball and Desi Arnaz. Television icons of the 50s, this husband and wife duo is unmatchable in hilarity, wits, and glamorous appeal. Throughout countless ways of laughing at their own sillyness, and at each other, "Lucy" and Desi changed modern T.V., giving the later generations much to be thankful for.

10. Mahatma Gandhi. A man who cannot be put into a few words.Through his teachings and countless inspirational quotes (not to mention, Twitter updates), I find him a spiritual adviser and optimistic force.

No, this is not a sex post, reader! (C'mon, I had to poke a little fun at the majority that would see this title racy or awkward).

Tonight I spent my hours out of the house. My first *real* night out of the house: driving around with friends, having a great time--staying out 'til around 11 o'clock, maybe even midnight.

I was celebrating my friend Doug's birthday with his wife Michele and my partner Mark, who is also a close friend of theirs (he in fact introduced me to them!).

The four of us went out to the pizzeria for dinner, played some games and chit-chatted. Then, it was off to Baskin Robbins for some dessert. Our conversations became a little "too full of sexual innuendos" for the small children who were toddling around picking out their gummy bears and flavors (I'll admit though: I had gummy bears on my ice cream), so we decided to pack up and drive to Borders.

Once Borders closed, we tried Starbucks, but were out of luck. So, we ran to the grocery store, grabbed some energy drinks, and sat around. I feel it is appropriate to mention the "kids" were hyper as heck. We finished off the night out in the parking lot, chilling out by Doug's sweet-lookin' Cadillac, and cracked jokes in the freezing cold.

So, I must say: it is possible to have clean and safe teenage fun with your friends--minus drugs, minus sex, and minus trouble!

Some of my favorites:

1). Coffee shops and bookstores.

2). Picnics in the park.

3). Ice skating rink.

4). Shopping (literal, or window).

5). Pizzeria.

6). Cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

7). Movie date.

For me, it used to be that the closest Panera Bread restaurant was a 25 minute drive away, but not with the latest opening on my side of town.

Panera is a natural, organic food restaurant with nummy veggie soups and sandwiches--both hot and cold. It is also a bakery and bread company.

Before Mariners baseball games in Seattle, I would love to swing by and pick up a Mediterranean sandwich (pictured above) and some chips, or an apple. It was my occasional haven.

However, the service at the newly opened chain is horrible! The few times I have tried to decide what to order, not even within two minutes I felt rushed and pressured by the saleslady who kept asking questions or staring me down. Maybe it is because this staff is entirely new and not fully trained yet, but I expect more than bare minimum.

Taking a step back from the poor service, it truly is a hard decision because the food is to-die-for (especially if you are an organic nut like me)!

My Fave Sandwich:
Mediterranean Veggie--piquant peppers, feta cheese, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cilantro Jalapeño hummus on their infamous Tomato Basil bread.

My Fave Salad:
Caesar--romaine lettuce, Asiago-Parmesan cheese, homemade Asiago cheese croutons & their special Caesar dressing.

My Fave Soup:
Low-Fat Vegetarian Black Bean--plump black beans simmered in a spicy vegetarian broth with onion, red bell pepper, cilantro, garlic and cumin.

My Fave Pastry:
Bear Claw--made with an almond filling, drizzled with icing & sliced almonds.

Find a Panera Bread near you!

Sit comfortably with eyes closed. Exhale and inhale deeply a few times. Breathe naturally while you focus on the following idea:

"Yoga is a deep well into which we can tap, drawing forth whatever we need to bring ourselves into wholeness and balance."

Ask yourself what will bring wholeness and balance to your life. Wait for an image or an idea to arise. Be still with that vision or thought for a while. Breathe.

Benefits: Slows the mind, reduces blood pressure and heart rate, calms entire being, promotes peace and serenity, and brings you back to the present.

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.!

I admire this man for his incredible integrity and love for the human race, and his ability to roll with the punches, wherever life took him.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is a topic of argument, worship, hate, and peace simultaneously.

From the earliest days of my life, I can remember being brought up in a loving, accepting environment that enriched me in the civil rights movement education from a neither right, nor wrong standpoint; an observational standpoint.

Last Spring I attended a MLK workshop seminar where we discussed the popularity of the "I Have a Dream" speech, the factors the speech had on pop culture (including topics such as magazines and the Michael Jackson phenomenon), and what the dream truly meant.

I would bake cakes as a child, with intricate frosting and messages on MLK Day, thanking King for all he had provided me and my young childhood friends with, long before we were ever born.

With the anaugaration of President Barack Obama, I feel that we have reached the mountaintop, and we are looking over at the promise land. While there still are difficult days ahead, I am without doubt that we will fully overcome racism one day. While that one day is far ahead, I continually hope and try to play my part in carrying out a healthy image in the young adult age group, of African-Americans and their justified equality.

Rest in peace, Martin Luther King. You are forever missed, loved, and appreciated.

In honor of today, I wrote an essay on "Black Power" for my History class, discovering the reasons behind the movement, and how it changed America as we know it.

"This student not only turns in the work on time, when she is asked to, she just so happens to turn it directly into my hands and says: "When is the soonest you can grade it?" She watches me from afar, lifting up her head to check every now and then, making sure I am looking the assignment over. This may seem like a stress routine to some, but it is really what makes her the assertive student that she is." (replica excerpt of nomination speech)

So, the hard work payed off, as I was nominated for Student of the Month for December 2010. While I did not win the nomination, I feel so fortunate to have been picked out of three selective students.

Talk about irony: it was the science department that nominated me! Science has always been a weak point of mine; I've scraped by with the minimum knowledge and tried to take in what I could along the way.

However, it is refreshing to have the knowledge that I was not nominated for skill this time around. I was nominated for determination, assertiveness, and quick action with quality work to top it off (c'mon, it would be silly if I were nominated for smarts).

I am not gonna lie: I was waiting for a nomination for quite some time. I kept witnessing these unmotivated students win the award when my friends and I were busting our butts off to be even slightly recognized.

An acquaintance and close friend were nominated, along with myself. I have to say: the recipient of the award deserved it fair and square. She did tons of work and pushed herself beyond the normal limit. I attempt to believe that she tries to be a kind and considerate peer, but the brief settings I have been in with this person have not been ones I can speak too highly of.

I am taking this incident as a way to reflect and take a step back, trying my hand at not being a sore loser, and being appreciative for that person's accomplishments and inspiration. Regardless of the small bumps her and I have had while becoming more acquainted, I plan on congratulating her for her hard work. I wish I looked as happy and carefree as she does, every day walking in the school with a smile on her face and a hand free for a wave, regardless of the person you are. She is someone to look up to at our school, and as a whole. Therefore, I congratulate her for winning Student of the Month.

[2] Shrugs and Circles

Fig. 1

• Sit in a comfortable position. 
• Bring both shoulders up tightly towards your ears. Exaggerate the shrug and accentuate the holding.
• Release quickly, letting your shoulders drop.
• Repeat a few times.
  
   
• Fig. 2
  
  • Bend both elbows and lightly place your fingers on top of your shoulders.
  • Rotate your elbows as though drawing small circles on the walls.
  • Circle 5 times in one direction; reverse and make 5 circles the other way.
  • Drop your arms. Breathe and focus on how relaxed your neck and shoulders feel.
    

Benefits: Improves flexibility in the upper back, shoulders, and arms, increases strength in upper arms, and releases tension in neck and shoulder area.

I finally received my relieving end to one of the biggest, crazed fiascos of my teenagehood: room remodeling! It started years ago, picking a bright orange for the wall color and an aqua blue for the decor and accents, painting fully from scratch (with dad's help), and rummaging up any furniture pieces I could find here and there when I could afford it. The result is a beauty! If you have been reading my blog for a while, you must know that I am not the type of person to stick to a project for very long (just look at how 79 Things has turned out so far), so I must say, I am so proud of myself for sticking with one project for so very long! Here is how it all came together...

I'm not a book worm, nor do I find myself ever reading much more than a fun quiz book, therefore I have never really had a chair in my room. This time, I wanted a comfortable place for my friends to sit when they came over, because they used to end up sitting on my bed... and that can get awkward! So, I went to Target and found some of their "College room essentials" which had just the right color combination. My friends now find a comfy chair and a "featured book", which is usually composed of a few celebrities that inspire me and their high quality photographs (in the photo above: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: "Influence", currently there is some Beatles biography). * I have to point out this section would never look as clean if it wasn't for the opening and closing ottoman storage, which I now use to store most all my (quiz) books.

While this area looks a tad bit different today, this is my finishing project for my desk's wall: photographs, and one big word that means so much to me. Dealing with GAD, I need to constantly be reminded that there is c-o-m-f-o-r-t in this world! And, if you know the history of this blog and how its original name "Bridgette's Diary" came to be, you may be chuckling to yourself.

The search for the bed was exhilirating. I was used to having a twin, scrunched up, tiny bed that could do me hardly any good as a teenager. After some beggary, convincing remarks, sweat, and tears, my parents finally gave in and took me to a few stores to check out the bargain options on new, bigger beds. We looked at certain fabrics and materials, what were organic materials and what were not, what springs and mattresses help you sleep fully, etc. Finally, we found my baby. Before, I was asking for a full, maybe a queen-size, well, it turns out I very fortunately got a new, king-sized, organic material bed. It was off to Target once more to find matching sheets and pillow case covers, but thankfully, due to the previous creation of my comforter, we saved about 100 bucks (my family and I are truly "bargain hunters").

I like my room to have a personal vibe and certainly a personal touch. Pictured above is a photo frame with my dear idols, Ekaterina Gordeeva and Sergei Grinkov, some dried up flower petals from ex boyfriends' bouquets, and my latest knitting project.

Adding a little sentimental feeling to my collection, I have numerous other photo frames with people who inspire me and people who have come into my life throughout recent months, to always keep me going with a bursting creative drive, including: a long photo strip with photographs of Ekaterina Gordeeva's life journey, corkboard with personal memories: ticket stubs, autographs, keepsakes, letters, a medium-sized photoframe with photos of the people who inspire(d) me, and last, but not least: a decent-sized photoframe with personal photos from 2010.

I have the perfect collection to fulfill my new hobby as well: meditation and yoga! Pictured above is my meditation guide, Intentions + Goals workbook, yoga deck, Mindfulness for Dummies, and my meditation diary.

 

Just lately I bought a teacup set and some dishware pieces from World Market. I am big on the Japanese theme: teacup, chopsticks, even square bowls to put my Thai food/sushi takeout in. Anything somewhat authentic, that can relate to my meditation and yoga theme. 

A big frustration of mine lately has to do with my "inspirational bedside corner". Can you pick out what is missing in this photo? Yep! The "S" on "depend(s)". While painting letters and creating your own unique touch to your room can be a great idea, boy is it troublesome dealing with double-sided tape! I switched to mounting tape (which is just a thicker form of double-stick), and that made all the difference. * Cutouts came from Jo Ann's Fabric & Crafts store.

I am trying to keep everything as temporary as possible. Among other additions, such as a wacky 5-light lamp (green/blue selection), matching desk chair, file sorter, drapes, and storage bins, there are so many further additions I could see myself creating for this room, but for now, I am content with this project as an infinite; forever adding to, enjoying it as I grow into different hobbies, different idols, and different styles.

Heart Meditation

Sit comfortably, eyes closed. Bring thumbs and forefingers together to form a triangle over your heart center.

Exhale. Inhale through your nose for a count of 8. Exhale fully through your mouth.

Repeat for several rounds. Lower your hands to your sides and ask yourself the question:

"If my heart were planted, what would it grow?"

Sit with this question for a while. Breathe deeply as you visualize an answer or an image. Focus on the visualization. Breathe.

Benefits: Slows the mind, reduces blood pressure and heart rate, calms the entire being, promotes peace and serenity, and brings you back to the present.

Little ol' me mingled with the stars last night! Kidding. However, I feel very blessed to be able to call the Hollywood-bound, pop singer/songwriter, Derik Nelson, a friend of mine.

After supporting Derik's music since he was about 16 years of age and buying every album he ever produced, I suppose my loyalty as a fan paid off! I got invited to his gigantic, lavish house as one of 50 some guests (including a close friend of mine--we argued over who loved Derik more) to see him, his sister Riana, and brother Dalten perform for their family and friends. They are such talented, beautiful individuals.

Please visit Derik and Riana's websites and check out their kick-butt music!!

This year, I decided on one big resolution that can be broken into its own individual parts.

1). I vowed that I would love to travel to unknown places in life: i.e., take risks, discover more knowledge (including self), etc.

2). I tend to think "my-way-or-the-highway", and let's face it: that is a really unhealthy way to live! I think in terms of tolerance, I do quite well at the moment, but I would like to truly accept the differences in others rather than "make do".

3). Last, but not least: I NEED TO PUT MYSELF FIRST! The last few years I have been so unhappy, looking for ways to make other people happy, never once stopping to give myself a day of relaxation and true fulfillment.

What is your New Year's resolution??