Ben Affleck’s “The Town”

This past weekend, I rented The Town after hearing rave reviews from several friends. This is Ben Affleck’s second major movie as a director (first was Gone Baby Gone) – and he also co-wrote this screenplay and acts in the lead role.

The cast is rounded out by Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker), Rebecca Hall (The Prestige), Jon Hamm (Mad Men) and Blake Likely (Gossip Girl) – among others.

The storyline follows a group of guys who call Charlestown, Mass. home – located just across the bridge from downtown Boston. Charlestown is renowned for producing generations of  talented robbers, and it’s residents protect that lifestyle.

The movie begins with the core group of guys pulling off an impressive bank robbery in Boston. Catch is, Affleck becomes romantically interested in the bank manager, which they take hostage but who never sees their faces. Its a tricky game to play when she’s the key witness to their identity for the FBI agents who heavily pursue them throughout the film.

It’s a story wrought with the struggle of a guy stuck in a vicious circle of criminal activity, but who just wants a way out.

I really liked this movie, and I definitely recommend it. If you enjoy action films, or movies like The Departed, definitely visit RedBox (or your NetFlix queue) this weekend and rent The Town. You won’t be disappointed.

My Own Herb Garden

I use fresh herbs in almost every meal I prepare (mostly parsley, basil, cilantro, oregano and sage). Why not save a little cash and grow my own? So, I finally decided to make use of the Chia Herb Garden I received as a joke gift at my office Christmas party.

Last weekend, I “planted” my herbs and set them on my windowsill, patiently awaiting them to grow. I’m known for killing off most any plant I own, so nurturing these little guys is a bit of a challenge for me.

I chose three herbs from the six packets that came in the box: sweet basil, cilantro and curled parsley. Well… 2 out of 3 seem to be flourishing in their little environment. The sweet basil and cilantro are both doing great! Both still have a couple weeks to go before I’ll start using them, but I’m looking forward to it! To be honest, just seeing two of them sprout to life is enough of a win for me. One day, when I have a backyard, I’ll start a real garden… which hopefully I can keep alive, too!

Shop Etsy

I’m horrible at accessorizing. Every day you’ll find me wearing my diamond stud earrings and one of two basic silver necklaces. If I’m feeling really crazy, I’ll wear semi-flashy earrings or a long necklace. Yep, I really break out of my shell with those.

So, I’ve been attempting to add some more pieces to my jewelry collection. Its all about the baby steps.

I was browsing through other blogs on Bloglovin’ (a great way to keep up with multiple blogs…I highly recommend), and came across one for books. That blog had a post about these embroidered wall hangings with sayings like “I love books” (at right) or a stitching of a child reading. This directed me to the SeptemberHouse shop on Etsy.

I’ve been given a gift from a shop on Etsy before (my unique laptop case; example of another design from MadeByJulie at right), but I’ve never actually purchased something for myself. Etsy is a great place to find one-of-a-kind handmade items of all sorts: jewelry, art, purses, paper goods, woodworking, quilts, furniture, toys and lots more.

After browsing around SeptemberHouse‘s shop, I found an adorable pendant necklace with an embroidered cherry blossom tree.

I love cherry blossom trees, and have always wanted to go to Washington D.C. when they bloom each year (although I think I missed it already!). This particular necklace also had an added bonus — the $20 purchase price would be donated in whole to the American Red Cross in support of relief efforts in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami. (You can donate, too.)

My wallet was out within a minute. Not only was the necklace adorable, but the support of Japan relief efforts sealed the deal.

I received my necklace on Saturday, and I love it! Now I just need to find the right outfit to pair it with…

Flashback: Swimming with Dolphins

Today we’re flashing back to August 2007…

On a return visit to Honduras, I visited Anthony’s Key Resort on the island of Roatan. Anthony’s Key is one of the oldest resorts on the island, dating back 40+ years. The resort is home to the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences, where visitors can take part in a dolphin encounter, dolphin snorkel or dolphin dive.

I’ve always wanted to swim with dolphins, but was always put off by experiences in a pool or that were very staged. Anthony’s Key offers anything but that. The dolphins reside in a large open water enclosure, on a small island near the resort. Those dolphins who don’t feel up to participating can freely retreat to a private area where guests cannot disturb them.

I participated in the dolphin snorkel, which begins with the dolphin encounter. This was the somewhat “staged” portion of the experience – though I understand now that it is completely necessary. Participants were divided into groups of 5-6 and assigned to a trainer + dolphin. Sans snorkel and fins, we lined up shoulder to shoulder, and walked out into the water until about waist deep. At that point, we were introduced to our dolphin, learned about their behavior, were able to feel their skin, and even pose holding them (see below). It was a lot of fun, especially when our dolphin’s friends (who were not with another trainer) kept swimming by in a playful nature. The most important part of this encounter was becoming familiar with dolphins’ behavior, playful nature, etc.

At that point, we went back to the beach to put on our snorkel masks and fins. With 10-14 dolphins swimming about the enclosure, our group of a mere 12 people (the max allowed at once) freely swam with our new friends.

The experience was absolutely amazing! The water was crystal clear and I could hear the dolphins chattering to each other – which helped signal when they were getting close. They would playfully swim around me, especially if I dove down and pulled on some of the seaweed. Our group continued this way for 30 minutes! Just us and the dolphins.

This is truly one of my most memorable experiences to date. I’ve been lucky enough to swim with the dolphins at Anthony’s Key three times since then. And each time is unique in its own way. One time, a dolphin was pregnant. Then the next time I visited, her two-week old baby was swimming around the enclosure with her (look just below the tail of the second dolphin in the thumbnail photo for this post). It was incredible to see!

If you have the inclination to swim with dolphins, I highly recommend an experience like this. But be sure to check on the facility you’re considering. Anthony’s Key and the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences have an excellent reputation for their treatment of dolphins. I’d love to say all facilities keep up this same high standard, but I fear many do not. So just be sure to check on that, to ensure you’re memorable experience is good for all involved.

An Intro to Clara Driscoll

Have you ever come across one of those antique stained glass lamps? You probably never gave a second thought to the amount of intricate work that went into the placement of each tiny piece of hand-selected glass. You also may not have realized they were produced by Tiffany Studios… owned by the son of the more mainstream Tiffany & Company jeweler.

I’ve been somewhat familiar with Louis Comfort Tiffany’s glass designs for years, coming from knowledge passed to me by my glass-collecting grandparents. I’ve seen some of his leaded-glass lamps, the stained glass windows, the paintings, pottery and even some of his jewelry designs.

So when I came across a book that brings to light a longtime Tiffany Studios secret, I was immediately intrigued.

Through letters discovered by art historians in 2005, it was revealed that a Ms. Clara Driscoll was likely the creative force behind the leaded-glass lamps depicting nature-based themes – the most popular of the Tiffany Studios lamps. She was definitely the artist who designed the two most iconic – Wisteria (shown in this post’s thumbnail) and Dragonfly (shown at right below). Clara and Mr. Tiffany, by Susan Vreeland, provides a first-person account by Clara (shown at left) of her time as the head designer of the little known women’s department at Tiffany Studios.

The novel itself was quite lengthy (400 pages) and could have been shortened by at least a third. But the story it told was indeed revealing and intriguing. As someone with an interest in art, I found the process behind not only the lamps, but also the mosaic windows, to be particularly of interest. Each lamp required several weeks to compose – and I mean 6-day workweeks of uninterrupted 10-hour days. Everything from the “cartoon” (the drawing), to the pattern making, to the hand selection of each color of glass, to the detailed contoured cuts, and onward. Phew!

The story also revealed the professional relationship between Louis C. Tiffany and Clara, as well as the four other men playing critical roles in her life. You are also able to catch a glimpse of turn of the century Manhattan. Including Clara’s first ride on her “wheel” (bicycle).

Now that I’ve completed this novel, I’m eager to return to the Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park, home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis C. Tiffany, including his jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass windows, lamps, and the Tiffany Chapel that was designed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago (which Clara played a major role in composing). They’ve also added a new wing that houses surviving objects from Tiffany’s Laurelton Hall country home and estate in Long Island (also detailed in the novel). Look for that post in the coming month!

The Tiffany Girls, on the roof of Manhattan’s Tiffany Studios

Lemon Almond Cupcakes

Ahhh…. cupcakes. Absolute heaven. And in celebration of my big brother’s birthday today, I thought I’d share a bite with you…

Earlier this year, I decided to bake some treats for my new co-workers. I wanted to make a light tasting cupcake, preferably with an almond frosting (which I’d never made before).

So I scoured the Internet for a recipe and came across Easy Lemon Cupcakes with Almond Frosting on a wonderful little blog called Sweet and Savory Tooth. Perfect!

The recipe was super fast & easy and everyone in the office seemed to love them. I’ll admit I even kept a couple for myself. ;)

I figured I’d share the recipe to you as well. I’m sure there’s plenty of variations that could be done with the addition of the pudding mix. If you have any ideas, let me know!

Shopping List

1 box (18.25 oz.) french vanilla or yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup oil
1 box (3.9 oz.) lemon instant pudding
1 teaspoon vanilla

Lemon Cupcakes

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Put cupcake liners in 2 standard size cupcake pans.

Place the cake mix, eggs, water, milk, oil, pudding and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more. Spoon batter into each cupcake liner, filling it 3/4 of the way full.

Bake the cupcakes 20 minutes, until the spring back when lightly pressed. Remove pans from the oven and place on wire racks to cool for 5 minutes. Lift the cupcakes out of the pans using the end of a knife, and pick them up with your fingertips. Place them on a wire rack to cool at least 15 minutes before frosting.

Almond Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3 3/4 cups powdered sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons milk
2 teaspoons almond extract

Place the butter in a large bowl and blend with an electric mixer on low speed until fluffy, 30 seconds. Stop the machine and add the powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk and almond extract. Blend with mixer on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute more. If frosting seems too thick, add one more tablespoon of milk and blend until smooth.

Frost cupcakes with a smooth knife and decorate with your choice of toppings!

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Thumbnail photo by sea turtle (Flickr) and cupcake photo by Sweet and Savory Tooth.

A Stroll Through Leu Gardens

This weekend was the annual plant sale at Harry P. Leu Gardens in Orlando. Since my friend was one of the vendors – and park admission was free for the day – I decided to make my first trip to the gardens that I’ve heard about for so many years.

And what a perfect day to do so! Not a cloud in the sky, and while it was hot, walking along the trails shaded by the trees was kind of perfect.

Leu Gardens incorporates 50 acres of southern style gardens. It boasts the third largest Camellia collection in the U.S., the largest rose garden in Florida, and a National Historic House from the 1880s.

As stated on its website, the mission of the gardens is “to inspire people to appreciate and understand plants, the environment of Central Florida and the Gardens’ historic significance.”

While I was visiting during an event that may have distracted from the garden’s usual plant life, I definitely think I learned to appreciate the variety that call the gardens home.

My favorite part of the day was a walk we took along the outskirts of the property, taking us through a camellia garden, a palm area, and massive bamboo trees. I even spotted trees filled with roses that reminded of the scene in Alice in Wonderland where the Queen of Hearts insists the cards paint the roses red! The trail was a perfect place for a quiet stroll to relax after a long week. I can only imagine how peaceful the gardens would be on a typical day!

Because the plant sale was in full swing, we also got to see many other species not found in mass within the gardens. Everything from orchids and Frangipani (a personal favorite!), to bonsai trees and agave plants. If only I had a yard to plant them in!

If you live in the Central Florida area, and you’re looking for an escape for a day, I definitely recommend a trip to Leu Gardens. And bring a blanket, too… there are plenty of wide open lawns where you can relax!

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Harry P. Leu Gardens is located at 1920 N. Forest Ave. in Orlando, close to Winter Park. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Check for events at the park, as they are known to host Movie in the Park nights, too!

Flashback: Witnessing Sponge Diving First-Hand

In honor of an old friend who is visiting Orlando this weekend, I thought we’d flashback to Memorial Day 2009…

A few friends and I decided to spend the holiday weekend at my parents’ house near Clearwater. You know, enjoy a little beach time, margaritas, etc. One stop they knew we needed to make was a visit to the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks.

For those of you unfamiliar with Tarpon Springs, its a city known as having the highest-percentage of Greek-Americans in the U.S. The Sponge Docks are a tourist area filled with shops, authentic Greek restaurants and museums dedicated to the memory of the once thriving sponge diving industry of the area, which died out after a particularly bad red tide in the 1940s.

Here’s a piece of trivia for you… Sponge diving is the oldest known form of the original art of underwater diving. (Add that to your random facts vault.)

While I’ve visited the Sponge Docks before (albeit many years ago), I had never taken the sponge diving boat tour – created to give tourists a glimpse of this former activity. Lucky for us, one of the girls had worked with the tour owner in another career life. So we were able to score free seats on the boat.

And off we went, slowly moving through the murky waters surrounding the area. At a certain point, the captain stopped the boat and a young man dressed in the diving suit jumped in. The traditional sponge diving suit includes weighted boots and a horribly heavy brass & copper helmet. Seriously, it must take some serious strength to carry that when above water. An air tube is hooked up to the helmet and runs back to an oxygen tank on the boat. Using a metal hook of sorts, the sponger walks along the bottom of the murky channel and “hooks” a living sponge (or several) and then brings his collection back to the boat. The sponges are later dried out and used for a variety of purposes – including old style sponges used for bathing.

While a very slow-paced attraction, it was certainly interesting to see this in person. We capped off the day with an authentic lunch – including some of the best spiced sangria I’ve had to date. Opa!

 Photo of sponge diver in water by TopTechWriter.US (Flickr).

New Pizza Joint

A couple weeks ago, two co-workers and I decided to try a relatively new pizza place not far from our office. Brick & Fire Pizza and Pasta Parlor opened last year (I think!), in the building most recently occupied by Moe’s near ORMC and Arnold Palmer Hospital.

The atmosphere was very relaxed. Lots of booths, which are my favorite. Only odd part is that while it is a seated meal, the drinks are self-serve. But really, it was not a big deal at all. It was kind of nice not having to wait for a refill.

The three of us each ordered a side salad and then split a margherita pizza. I ordered the baby arugula salad. I’m a sucker for salads with gorgonzola, fruit, and candied walnuts or pecans.

My only complaint was that it had entirely too much arugula (compared to everything else). Since its a side salad, I think they could cut that portion in half. But other than that (a minor issue), it was tasty.

The margherita pizza was great, too. The crust was my absolute favorite part. Reminded me a little of California Pizza Kitchen’s.

So, if you’re looking for a quick & casual meal (or a new place for pizza), definitely give Brick & Fire a try!

Brick & Fire Pizza and Pasta Parlor has three locations in the Orlando area. In addition to the South Orange Avenue location near ORMC and Arnold Palmer Hospital, there are also restaurants near the Howell Branch & 436 intersection in Casselberry, and Lee Vista & Semoran intersection near the Orlando airport. Check out their website for more info. All photos shown are by Brick & Fire.

PiYo (that’s Pilates + yoga to you)

Alright, it’s about time to give another group workout class a try. This time around, I joined my friend at a class she has grown to absolutely adore… PiYo.

PiYo is a blend of… you guessed it… Pilates and yoga. The class is focused on sculpting your abs and increasing core strength. That means greater endurance and stability.

I was a little worried about attending. I’ve never participated in yoga (other than Wii Fit, which doesn’t really count) or taken a Pilates class. Primarily because I’m about the least flexible person I know. I can’t even touch my toes! It’s pitiful.

I’m happy to report that the class was great! Sure, there were some parts that really pushed my limits, but that’s what makes a good workout. One minute we were in traditional yoga poses, the next we were doing push-ups, and then we were “rowing” to work out our abs.

And even though I’m supposed to be trying new things daily, I think I’ll make an exception for PiYo as a regular part of my weekly workout routine.

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Orlando friends: I took the PiYo class at the 24 Hour Fitness on Orange Avenue, just south of downtown. The instructor, Alli, is awesome. I highly recommend it!