Nintendo Baby Fever

So call me a total nerd but I can't stop giggling at this. Why is the Nintendo Wii so completely awesome?

She's Crafty

Smokin Kitty Ashtray, originally uploaded by showlola1980.

So I've made an army of reconstructed mugs, pet bowls, and ashtrays this weekend to go along with my new ceramic painting obsession. I'm handpainting these based on my own designs, and I really like them.

If you want to see more, there are a ton of them on my Flickr feed.

I'm thinking about trying to sell some of these in the Etsy store I opened for myself 18 months ago, but have never felt brave enough to post anything in.

Once

Once, originally uploaded by showlola1980.

Generally speaking I'm a sucker for musicals, so I was expecting big things from Once. I'd been meeting to check it out since it came to town two weeks ago, and Brad and I finally got to go to a matinée this afternoon. Despite high expectations, I was blown away.

If you don't know, this movie was made on a shoestring budget and stars the frontman from the Irish band, The Frames, and Czech newcomer Marketa Irglova. Both are musicians rather than actors, and they fell in love on set, sparking a completely unmanufactured onscreen chemistry. In fact, nothing about this film feels manufactured - its all just so damn satisfying.

If you can get to see this movie, see it. It's understated, exquisitely romantic, and the music is hauntingly beautiful. We were so charmed that we went immediately to the Borders down the block to buy the soundtrack and I've been playing it on repeat for hours. Of course, this is the kind of film that will play just as beautifully in your living room as it does on the big screen, so go ahead and throw it in to your Netflix queue right now if it isn't coming to a theater near you.

Can't recommend this enough. If you've seen it, let me know if you like it.

Ultimate Teenage Soundtrack

So, being a Young Adult Librarian, I tend to get a little wrapped up in teen culture. Turns out, this dictates my music interest as well. Jon Savage but together a cute Top 50 Teenage pop classics list over at the Guardian that's worth checking out. I'm not exactly sure why nothing from 1994 to 2006 was included. I can only assume that MY actual teenage years included nothing but crap pop music.

Hey, what about
Popular by Nada Surf?

image via zinkwazi
via YPulse

I'm totally getting ready for the next Harry Potter releases. The quiz below is apparently "the most scientific Harry Potter quiz" but its also looooong. Take it if you have 20 minutes to burn.

I'm a little surprised about the Gryffindor thing. I had myself pegged as a Ravenclaw.

The sorting hat says that I belong in Gryffindor!

Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those with brave deeds to their name."

Students of Gryffindor are typically brave, daring, and chivalrous.
Famous members include Harry, Ron, Hermione, Albus Dumbledore (head of Hogwarts), and Minerva McGonagall (head of Gryffindor).

Take the most scientific Harry Potter
Quiz ever created.

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