5 Reasons to love Tina Fey

Tina Fey is pretty amazing.

Courtesy of Vanity Fair

The reason why I'm doing this post now is because of her comments made at the Center for Reproductive Rights Inaugural Gala. Here's the video:

The video is pretty amazing, but so is she. "5 Reasons to love Tina Fey" isn't the most accurate title for how much I adore this woman. It should be "A million reasons and counting to love Tina Fey". Unfortunately, though, I don't have that kind of time. So I'll limit it to the best (IMO).

The top five!

5. 30 Rock

Fey has many great catchphrases from this show: "I want to go to there" and "Hipster nonsense. I'm out." However, I also appreciate as Creator of the show, she sets herself up with a lot of attractive Hollywood men, like Jon Hamm, James Franco, and Jason Sudeikis. However, the show is also smartly written, and Liz Lemon is a multifaceted character that time and time again I find I have a lot in common with. 

4. Amy Poehler 

Their friendship reminds me so much of my own friendships with my girlfriends. I only wish I had the opportunity to work with them on fun projects that paid us millions of dollars. So this may be more of a jealousy consideration than love. Nonetheless, they're a refreshing sight to see. Can't wait for this year's Golden Globe Awards when they host the show together. So. Excited.

3. Mean Girls

BEST. MOVIE. EVER. I don't think I need to say more. 

2. SNL

The Sarah Palin impersonation. Flawless. I don't think I can do it justice in words. So here is a video.

1. She speaks up for women. 

She isn't alone in this category, but she manages to be one of the most eloquent speakers on women's rights. Her  comments at the Reproductive Rights encapsulated how ridiculous these comments made by male politicians are. Why are men making decisions on how we govern our bodies? They're ours. Their comments belittle us and as she succinctly puts it: "I'm gonna lose my mind."

Rape is rape. There is no legitimate rape. There is no rape that could be thought of as God's plan. It's a terrible, violent act and by pretending otherwise is an insult to rape victims.

Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock, stop talking about rape. Your words are a verbal slap to women everywhere and Tina Fey, thank you for publicly telling them that.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Last night I went to see The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

I'm a little late, it came out two weeks ago, but that didn't stop me from eagerly watching and re-watching the trailer until I did (I had to wait for a friend to finish midterms). The wait was, of course, worth it. The movie's fantastic.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is based on the book by the same name. It's about a boy, whose friend committed suicide the year before they both were supposed to have started their freshman year of high school. Charlie, the protagonist, begins high school alone, but soon after meets Sam and Patrick. Sam and Patrick are outsiders, or wallflowers, and the three of them begin hanging out and showing Patrick what life has to offer.

Logan Lerman, who plays Charlie, really surprised me in the film. It's a difficult part: there's a lot of subtly and nuanced acting needed in order to express what the character is feeling. Lerman did that, and he did that fantastically.

Courtesy of Vanity Fair: Watson, Miller, Lerman

Emma Watson and Ezra Miller were just as fantastic too. Even though Watson's accent came through a few times, it wasn't annoying. One hardly noticed within the bigger picture (ignore the pun). However, it was Miller who really stole the show. I won't be the first one to say this, it has been noted by other reviewers that Miller played Patrick to perfection.

I don't want to give anything more away, because everything in this movie counts. I recommend seeing it. I really do.

If it isn't for the terrific casting, it's for the storyline and the nostalgia it brings for high school. I felt my chest tightening remembering how excited I was to end high school and begin university. Then there's The Rocky Horror Picture Show film participation scenes- they're amazing.  And if none of this excites you, go for the music. The Smiths are prominent in the film and it's absolutely amazing. I love, love, love The Smiths and you should too.

Nightmares, nightmares, nightmares

CreComm nightmares are common for many students' in this program. My nightmares are usually the result of an innate fear of auto-failing on assignments.

^ Need this 

These nightmares normally leave me with residual feelings of anxiety for the next few hours after I wake up, and then finally, finally, I've able to convince myself that it was, in fact, a dream.

Why I'm writing about this now, is because the one I had this past weekend took the proverbial cake in terms of horrifying pseudo reality. There was no level of Inception here- I was fully immersed in this one.

The premise of this dream had to do with a PR assignment: the Pitch Email. First of all, in my dream, I hadn't even started the assignment. Second of all, the assignment was due in less than an hour. As you can see, I was already screwed over.

The dream began with myself and Larissa, a fellow CreComm, walking up a grand staircase in Red River (makes sense) trying to find a computer lab, when I dropped my iPhone down four flights of stairs. It smashes at the bottom, of course.

However, I ignore it, which should have been my first clue it was a dream. A girl on the ground floor looks up at us, and I smile back as if my iPhone hadn't almost hit her on the head and given her a concussion.

Finally we make it to a computer lab. All the computers are taken (of course) except the one at the end, which obviously doesn't work for me. So I open my own laptop, which refuses to type out proper sentences. My pitch ends up looking like I had a two-year old type it out for me, and all the while, while this debauchery is playing out, the time is ticking away. There's only ten minutes left until class starts and I've neither finished my assignment nor woken up.

Larissa becomes exasperated with me, and I'm freaking out wondering whether I should handwrite it or not. Of course I never get around to doing it. That would have made too much sense, but what even made less sense, was thinking my PR teacher wouldn't notice me not handing it in. Hah. Hah. Hah.

Auto-fails never go unnoticed.

Eventually I woke up. However, not without feeling that I've somehow ended my CreComm career before the first semester has even ended. Even now, a few days later, I'm still reeling from this dream. You don't even want to know the nightmare I had before my Radio Style Analysis was due... Or possibly the nightmare I'm going to have in the nights leading up to the Personality Profile. It's never ending.

So the next time you see me, please wish me sweet dreams or, at least, give me some valium.

HP at the DP

I'm super excited, but I'm also about to divulge how much of a nerd I am, which leaves me anxious as well. I have a lot of silly quirks: my obsession with cats, my addiction to cupcakes... but this might take the proverbial cake...

All right... Here it goes... I'm hosting a Harry Potter themed dinner party- and it's going to be amazing. In actuality, however, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise to people. You already know how much I love fancy dress parties, and this is just an extension of that.

Yet, planning the logistics of this party took more research than I had originally anticipated. First of all, most Harry Potter related foods are candies, desserts, and chocolates. So basically you can't be dieting.

And while gorging on sweets is all well and fun, there should be some substance, and yes I came to this conclusion on my own.

Toad in the Hole

So during one of my Google searches I came across a recipe called the Toad in the Hole. Funnily enough, besides the popular pub in Osborne, I had no idea it had any real significance with British culture. God, how ignorant was I? Anyway, the Toad in the Hole is basically sausages in batter, which I can guarantee you is fattening beyond belief.

Therefore it must taste amazing.

The guests for the evening are bringing the rest of the food. We're having curry (which is really popular in the UK), and for dessert a treacle tart, which is apparently Harry's favourite dessert as well (something that I wasn't aware of).

 Now onto preparations! Accio decorations!

Obviously I don't live on a secret island inside a massive castle full of chambers and secrets. It's disappointing, I know. Unfortunately I live in the suburbs, with my parents who would prefer I don't redecorate our home to look like something from the 1600s.

Easy right?

Since it's dinner though, I think a mass of candles would work around the dining area. Do you think I will have any luck in finding floating candles?

No. Probably not.

Not to mention it's a fire hazard, but I'll probably attempt it anyway. It's the pyromanic in me.

However, I could also just get my cat to stick around as decoration for a bit. I'll pay him in tuna, don't worry.

It's going to be a good night though, regardless of floating candles or hanging sheets to resemble ghosts. We'll have wine and butterbeer, well actual beer because the recipe for butterbeer sounds vomit-inducing and that's what real alcohol is for!

However, I really feel it would add to the ambience if Rupert Grint made an appearance. NBD right?

Although, I'd settle for Snape too.  

Keeping It Classy

This Saturday is Nuit Blanche. And I'm determined to make it there. 

I haven't had a lot of luck in the past. Whether it's going to the WAG- or any other venue for that matter- my celebration has always been deterred. 

There were the unfortunate times when it was full by the time of my arrival, and even by sheer determination to wait it out. Just. In. Case. Not enough people left in order to let me in. 

Other times, I've just been sick. And this is not the kind of sick that you can cover up on Cold FX. No, it's the kind of sickness that keeps you bundled up on your couch mourning and reading your friend's texts and status updates detailing how much fun they're having at Nuit Blanche. A big side-eye to whenever that happens. 

This year, however, it will be different. I'm prepared. I'm popping vitamin C, making sure I have the night off (and morning), and resting, obviously.

Well... as much as I can being a student in Creative Communications. Sigh.

Yet, what I'm terribly excited about this year is the Mad Men inspired party happening at the Manitoba Museum. I'm all about fancy dress parties. In fact I live for these kind of parties. They don't happen enough in Winnipeg, and whenever I suggest themed parties to my friends, it is largely ignored. "Hells bells!"

Betty and Don Draper in Rome

Ahem.

Anyway, ideally for this, I want to emulate Betty Draper's hair and outfit from the episode "Souvenir". It's a pretty sweet up-do, and the dress is fabulous as well. Of course I have neither the money nor the expertise to craft this look, but I'm going to try pretty damn hard regardless.

Let's hope I have enough time.

Luckily for me, though, there's the internet- my saviour. Youtube is filled with tutorials on sixties hair and makeup, and what makes these videos so useful are the variety of ways in which you can learn. For me, if I can't do one hairdo, I can go onto the next. It's amateur hairdressing at its finest, and I like to keep it classy. Not too mention reading some of the comments can be a delight for the eyes. Trolling is an art form.

For this weekend I plan to drink an Old Fashioned, or maybe just a classic gin martini... possibly more, but that's to be expected, and I'm all about authenticity. Roger Sterling understands my dilemma:

Hope to see you there!

"Hair-swinging" and "Finger-wagging"

As I was the reading the weekend edition of the Winnipeg Free Press, I came across an article on Michelle Obama. I've always been a supporter of Mrs. Obama, from her crusade for healthier eating, to her ability to appear so approachable and friendly that I could imagine myself in the White House baking cupcakes with her. It's a dream.

Courtesy of People

I'm embarrassed to admit though, I didn't read the newspaper as religiously as I do now. Especially during President Obama's presidential candidacy. However, Helena Andrews article "Michelle Obama Superstar" enlightened me to how the media originally viewed Michelle Obama. Andrew wrote Obama was considered "too militant, too angry, too unpatriotic, too deprecating of her husband or too hard. Just too much."

Furthermore, Obama said the media seemed to want to pin her down "as some angry black woman." And yet, Obama has shown to be far from this stereotypical and insulting observation that was so quickly thrust upon her.

It seems that words like "angry", "militant", and "hard" are used often and carelessly to describe women like Obama in the media.

"People aren't used to strong women; we don't know how to talk about them"says Obama and I have to agree. Last year I wrote a paper on the identity of gender in the media. I based my paper on an article written by John Doyle from the Globe and Mail. His article focused on Sara MacIntyre, BC Premier Christy Clark's new director of communications.

Courtesy of the Vancouver Observer

There was an incident where MacIntyre refused to let the media talk to Clark. This is how Doyle described it:

"It’s tremendous television. MacIntyre, all gum-chewing, hair-swinging, finger-wagging, mall-rat malice and attitude, expressed her utter contempt for the reporters and TV crews with aplomb. She was so sharp it looked like she’d even cut herself if she happened to look at herself. The idea that a reporter might want to ask the Premier a question was, to her, so patently outlandish that one imagined her cackling with derision in her dark

lair after the event."

I'm not going to assume anything about MacIntyre, or even Doyle. The actual topic of the article doesn't bother me. In fact I agree with Doyle's account of the "CTV reporter in Vancouver [who] condemned the hostility to the press as undemocratic, a rebuke to voters who want to see politicians questioned." What I don't agree with is the language Doyle uses in his article to describe MacIntyre.

This isn't just a fanciful recreation of events. What Doyle is actually inferring here, is to make MacIntyre’s behaviour appear erratic, inadequate, and unacceptable for the circumstances. One has to wonder if Doyle’s description of MacIntyre would be the same if she had been a man instead. It's this idea that is perpetuated in which women cannot be strong or powerful- they have to be cold, calculating and villainous.

It's a social problem, but it's also an easy scapegoat when we don't want to recognize that a woman like MacIntyre can rival her male counterparts- or do her job, which may not be what the media or the public want, but what she was hired to do. 

This is apparent to Meryl Streep as well. Streep calls this a "special venom" reserved for powerful women. Streep says "[that] culture wants to cast them as cold. As if somehow they’ve lost their maternal bearings, their essential womanhood, to occupy this space. As if they’ve had to cut off their…whatever it is…to succeed" (W Magazine).

The Iron Lady

Streep, who has portrayed Margaret Thatcher, appears to understand the dichotomy regarding strong women. We can't be both powerful and retain our womanhood. Thatcher made sacrifices in her political career that are never fully realized or appreciated. While I don't agree with all of her political decisions, I have to respect that she stood by them. Isn't that what we expect in a political leader? Why then is a woman still being chastised when she pretends otherwise? 

Power is considered a mans forte, but rather ironically, having to give it up is his weakness. What MacIntyre had was the power to control the media, which in general is never well-received, but this was particularly venomous. Perhaps she could have handled it better, but again, what if Clark's  director of communications had been a man? Would this have generated the same kind of controversy?

While Michelle Obama has quickly turned her "militant ways" into a "mom-in-chief" can-do attitude. Not all women are afforded a "second" chance. 

However, this isn't to disregard her. Not at all. Michelle Obama is paving the way. Her DNC speech is something to watch:

Yet, whether it's "angry black woman", "bitch", or "cold" these words reflect back a detrimental picture of ourselves. While many groups of people will take words and make them their own, as women, should we do this as well? It isn't uncommon to hear a woman who takes the lead to be referred to as a bitch. Even I, regrettably, use the word sometimes. Do we have to re-appropriate this word to become our own? To have its connotations become positive? 

We deserve to be strong and powerful, and have it recognized as strength. Not as some coinage made famous in a song from the nineties. 

What do you think?

"Time spent with cats is never wasted"

Time spent with cats is never wasted - Sigmund Freud

I recently wrote a blog on how much I love cupcakes, and now I want to share with you how much I love cats. I honestly don't understand how anyone could not like cats. Unless your allergic, but then again I'm allergic... so... that's a wash. There's no excuse.

My oldest cat Puff died this summer. He was nineteen years old and outlived his life expectancy, according to the Vet. He was a trooper though, and had some serious attitude. He had this expectation that he should be carried around the house like an Egyptian Prince- I'm not lying, he would cry if you ignored him.

He was a great cat and it was heart-breaking to let him go.

Puff, Ashley, and I

Feel free to giggle at our matching outfits. Although I'm truly surprised my mom didn't make a matching one for Puff too.

Anyway, I always love prowling (pun!) the internet for interesting cat-related delights. Today I came across "Colourful Cats- The Art Of Painted Kitties" on the website So Bad So Good. 

As you can see, it's pretty cool. One would say puurrrfect (okay I will stop. It was reaching, I know). ANYWAY, Heather Busch and Burton Silver, who look to love cats as much as me, created these amazing pictures through photoshop. I recommend following the link: 

http://sobadsogood.com/2012/09/11/cats-of-colour-the-art-of-painted-kitties-by-burton-silver-and-heather-busch/ 

I know cat memes, pictures, tumblrs, blogs are a dime a dozen, but if you have anything to share with me I'd love to see/ read it! And if you have Instagram, check out nala_cat. It's one way to lose hours. Seriously.


Rebecca