Pop Culture -- SIS Style

Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Saturday we celebrate Pop Culture. Movies, TV, books, music, games, trends in style... you get picture. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!

SIS BJ Says:
My recommendation for this week is very simple. The Sounds of Nature. Step outside and listen to the birds sing, the wind blowing through trees, waves crashing onto the shell covered beach and water running smoothly through a stream. Enjoy!

My "Music" Pick of the Week: The Sounds of Nature

SIS Beth Says:
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to see a film based on a children's book by Ronald Dahl. I admit, I was tempted because George Clooney played the lead. I love Clooney. The man is funny, charming, and sexy... even as a stop-animation fox.

From IMDB: It is the story of one Mr. Fox and his wild-ways of hen heckling, turkey taking and cider sipping, nocturnal, instinctive adventures. He has to put his wild days behind him and do what fathers do best: be responsible. He is too rebellious. He is too wild. He is going to try "just one more raid" on the three nastiest, meanest farmers that are Boggis, Bunce and Bean. It is a tale of crossing the line of family responsibilities and midnight adventure and the friendships and awakenings of this country life that is inhabited by Fantastic Mr. Fox and his friends.

I adored this movie. Perfect for kids and adults. Touching and funny--an overall delight!

My "Movie" Pick of The Week: Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Pop Culture -- Sis Style

Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Saturday we celebrate Pop Culture. Movies, TV, books, music, games, trends in style... you get picture. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!

SIS BJ Says:
Having a 6 year old means that I get to read a lot of children's books. Every month she has to complete four Book-Its. She has to read a book and then draw or write what she likes about it. When she turns them all in she gets a prize. Most of the time she likes to read the book herself. Sometimes we read together. I love the times she allows me to read with her. One of my favorite books to read are the Skippyjon Jones series by Judy Schachner.

Skippyjon Jones is a cat who thinks he's a Chihuahua. He calls himself Skippito. Skippito gets in a lot of trouble and likes to go on outlandish adventures. Sometimes he sings silly songs that makes me laugh as I try to "sing" the words to my daughter.

The Skippyjon Jones series is a fun read to share with children. I know I enjoy reading along.

My Book Pick of the Week: Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner


SIS Beth says:
Pop culture includes all sorts of entertainment, including games, right? The other day, I found the coolest updated version of something I used to love. Paper Dolls. I'm not sure if they have the conventional kind anymore, but when I was a kid, paper dolls were all the rage. I loved them. The doll itself was always of a stiffer cardboard and you could manipulate her (or him) to stand. Then there were pages of clothes and accessories. In the beginning you had to cut them out. Later, they were perforated and you could just sort of punch them out. I use to spend hours dressing my paper dolls (and of course, making them talk as if they were alive!)

Anyhoo, I've been reading a book called SOULLESS by Gail Carriger. (More on the book next week--I just started it). I checked out Ms. Carriger's website and was surprised and thrilled to see that she (and her publisher) has an electronic paper doll version of her heroine. What a hoot! You've got to check it out. Click here and play!

My Game pick of the Week: The Soulless Victorian Dress-Up Doll

SIS Beth

Pop Culture -- SIS Style

Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Saturday we celebrate Pop Culture. Movies, TV, books, music, games, trends in style... you get picture. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!

SIS Beth says...

I recently watched a movie that charmed and fascinated me. I loved the concept, adored the acting, and appreciated being swept away in a fantasical adventure. I highly recommend this movie for kids as well as the young at heart. Bren would say I'm doing this backward, but I enjoyed the movie so much, I'm now reading the book.

A blurb from IMDB: A young girl discovers her father has an amazing talent to bring characters out of their books and must try to stop a freed villain from destroying them all, with the help of her father, her aunt, and a storybook's hero.

My Movie Pick of the Week: Inkheart (2008)

SIS BJ says...
I am only a couple pages into this book because I just picked it up today. I have been wanting to read it ever since I saw the preview for it on TV. Like Brenda, I like to read the book before seeing the movie. Even though I am only a few pages into it, I am hooked already.

The book I am talking about is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It is a story about a young girl who is murdered and comes back as a ghost to help her father find her murderer.

I will let you know what I really think about it when I am finished reading. Right now I am sure that I am going to love it.

My Book Pick of the Week: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

SIS Bren says...

As stated above, I do always prefer to read the book before watching the movie. But in this case, I saw the movie first and in fact have seen it numerous times and still have not read the book. The movie is so great that I can hardly imagine the book could be better. I'll have to read it to find out.

Every actor in this movie delivers an exceptional performance. I cry with them, I hate with them, I laugh with them (though there is not much laughter in this movie). Michael Clarke Duncan tears at my heart each and every time.

From IMDb: Paul Edgecomb is a slightly cynical veteran prison guard on Death row in the 1930's. His faith, and sanity, deteriorated by watching men live and die, Edgecomb is about to have a complete turn around in attitude. Enter John Coffey, He's eight feet tall. He has hands the size of waffle irons. He's been accused of the murder of two children... and he's afraid to sleep in a cell without a night-light. And Edgecomb, as well as the other prison guards - Brutus, a sympathetic guard, and Percy, a stuck up, perverse, and violent person, are in for a strange experience that involves intelligent mice, brutal executions, and the revelation about Coffey's innocence and his true identity.

My Movie Pick of the Week: The Green Mile (1999)

Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Saturday we celebrate Pop Culture. Movies, TV, books, music, games, trends in style... you get picture. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!

SIS BJ says...

I'm going with a game this week. YAHTZEE!! I remember sitting around the kitchen table with Mom and sisters playing this game for hours. We always had so much fun. Mom seemed to get all the Yahtzees'. I think she may have figured out a way to cheat. I don't know how someone could so many in one game. Now I sit around my kithen table and play with my girls. We end up having a blast no matter who wins.

My Game Pick of the Week: YAHTZEE

SIS Beth says...

On our drive up to Long Island for Christmas Eve, Steve and I listened to various interviews on NPR. One of those interviews was with Richard Carpenter. Anyone remember him? The male half of the famous brother and sisters pop sensation--The Carpenters. Sadly his sister, Karen Carpenter, died in 1983 at age 32--heart failure linked to anorexia. To this day, Karen is one of my all time favorite vocalists. I adore her voice. And her music. Some people think of their hits, songs such as 'Close to You, We've Only Just Begun, and 'Rainy Days and Mondays' as corny pop. But I've always thought them beautiful and magical. To mark the 40th anniversary of when the Carpenters first signed with A&M records, in October 2009 Richard released a 2 CD set called 40/40. It's packed with their greatest hits plus songs I've never heard. Knowing how much I love the Carpenters, Steve got me this album for Christmas. The music... Karen's voice... she makes my heart sing!

My music pick of the week: 40/40 by The Carpenters

SIS Barb says:

On New Years Eve I scrolled through movies on demand in hopes of finding a movie the entire family would enjoy. It was pretty slim pickins, let me tell ya. Thankfully, a movie I'd really wanted to see was at the bottom of the list. Alphabetically speaking that is.

We laughed, I almost cried, we laughed some more, we bit our nails and then we laughed and laughed some more. The characters were wonderfully fantastic, the plot, romantic, heart-felt and a true adventure. This is how we should all live our lives. One adventure after another whether they be the adventure in our own home with our own family or whether we head off to South America in search of Paradise Falls.

My Movie Pick of the Week: UP

Pop Culture -- SIS Style

Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Saturday we celebrate Pop Culture. Movies, TV, books, music, games, trends in style... you get picture. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!

SIS BJ says:

The other day my daughter Monster picked up a Christmas book that she wanted me to read to her. It was The 12 Days of Christmas. I decided instead of just reading it to her i would sing it. The smile on her face was worth it. When I got to the 5 Golden rings part, I tried my hardest to sound like Miss Piggy. She got a laugh out of that and even joined in every time I got to that part. I ended up reading(singing) that book three times that night.

My Song Pick of the Week: The 12 Days of Christmas (Muppets Version)

SIS Beth says:

Severe time crunch folks. A short and sweet rec. A seasonal must see! (inspired by BJ)

My Movie Pick of the Week: The Muppet's Christmas Carol

SIS Barb says:

My pick this week happens to be one of my favorite movies of all times. I've seen it a number of times but recently realized it's actually been several years since I last had the pleasure of getting lost in this wonderful film. I tried to rent it at Blockbuster but no luck. They no longer carry it. So, I've put it on my Christmas Wish List this year in hopes that it'll be under the tree waiting for me.

One of my lovely sisters may have recommended this in the past and if so, I'm okay with that. This definitely is a recommendation I don't mind repeating.

My Movie Pick of the Week: Amadeus (1984)

In my opinion, this is truly one of the best musical dramas of all time. The movies tag line says it all: The Man...The Music...The Madness...The Murder...The Motion Picture...Everything You've Heard Is True

Pop Culture--SIS Style

Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Saturday we celebrate Pop Culture. Movies, TV, books, music, games, trends in style... you get picture. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!

SIS Beth says...

I grew up watching the original Star Trek TV series. Kirk, Spock, Bones, Scotty… I followed their adventures even as they jumped to the big screen. Then came Star Trek–The Next Generation. The TV series and the big screen movies. Loved them, too. I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself a Trekkie—I mean they’re pretty extreme, right?—but I’m close.

Imagine my glee when I heard a new Star Trek movie was in the making. A movie based on the original characters. The characters as before the TV series. In other words, a prequel. Bonus: A movie directed by J.J. Abrams, a personal fave. I didn’t get to see it in theaters, it rocked just as heartily on my big screen TV.

My Pick of the Week: Star Trek (2009)

Actor Chris Pine as James T. Kirk. So sexy. So conflicted. Nailed it! Zachary Quinto as Spock. Sensitive and… sexy? Who knew?

I’m pretty confident that you’ll enjoy this film even if you never watched the original series. But honestly? This is a perk, a gift for those of us who were fans of the initial series. Abrams and the writers nailed it. They stayed true to the original characters. It was a hoot to see why they were who they were… maybe. Let’s just say, this movie made it to my permanent collection.

SIS Barb says:

I mentioned yesterday that I made a trip to B & N. I was actually there to do a little Christmas shopping but in the end, I got too wrapped up in books for myself to really make much of a dent in finding gifts for others. You see, books are my thing and when I get to a book store or even the book section at my local grocery store, I truly believe I get hypnotized by all the delicious covers and enticing titles. This is exactly what happened yesterday. While perusing the romance section I spotted these marvelous covers. The bright colors and the art work screamed sexy fun. I flipped them over to read the blurbs and I was hooked!

My Pick of the Week: 50 Ways to Hex Your Lover

As you can tell by the title there is a witch element and that's what sealed the deal for me. My current WIP's heroine is a witch. Now I can read these books and call it research. (works for me)

From the back cover: Jasmine Tremaine is a witch who can't stay out of trouble. Nikolai Gregorovich is a vampire cop on the trail of a serial killer. The sizzling love affair between Jazz and Nick has been on- again off-again for about 300 years--mostly off, lately. Butt now Nick needs Jazz's help, and while Jazz and Nick try to figure out their own hearts and resist their increasing attraction, they must steer clear of a maniacal killer with super-supernatural powers. They are surrounded by a hilarious cast of oddball characters including Irma, the chain-smoking ghost who haunts Jazz's sports car. Dweezil, her ghoul of a boss; and fluff and puff, a pair of bunny slippers with sharp teeth and short tempers (watch your ankles)!

I haven't quite finished this first book of the series but I had to share it with you. Linda Wisdom has a way of writing that draws you into this story with a cast of fantastic characters, descriptive flowing scenery and a fabulous mix of steam and fun. This is a must read!

Author: Linda Wisdom

Pop Culture--SIS Style

Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Saturday we celebrate Pop Culture. Movies, TV, books, music, games, trends in style... you get picture. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!

SIS Beth says...

Pop culture includes games, right? As I cram on deadline (hard, hard work), I reflect on a night devoted solely to fun. A night this past summer with my sister BJ, and her young daughters. On a whim, I asked BJ to drop by a department store. I wanted to see if they had a card game I remembered from my youth. UNO. They did! Can I tell you it was the best few dollars I've spent in a long while? It's a card game for all ages! Even BJ's youngest got the gist (How old is Monster?). Soon after the first round, BJ's husband (thirties) joined in. As well as our niece and nephew--late teens/early twenties. I'm in my late forties. We ALL had a blast!! Good old fashioned fun. Highly recommended.

My GAME pick of the week: UNO

SIS BJ says...

A single word can be a world and every letter a land.

A rune drawn upon the ground can have curious consequences, might invite adventure, may open ancient doors. Here are the Runes of Elfland. Here are songs of the shining lands. Here are signs of crossing and threshold. Here are the stories of fate and illumination.

Chant the charm, tell the tale, and step across...

So it says in the introduction of The Runes of Elfland by artist Brian Froud and story teller Ari Berk.

In this book, there are 24 runes with 24 stories. Each story has a gift to give. Each story is shrouded in mystery. Travel to the Land of Faery with beautiful artwork and poetic words.

This book is great for people of all ages. Sit back, read, and get ready to be taken to different lands of ancient memories.

My BOOK Pick of the Week: The Runes of Elfland
Artist: Brian Froud
Written by: Ari Berk

SIS Bren says...

The other night I had quite a rare treat. We watched not one, but two, of my favorite movies back to back. I've seen them before, but I sat, riveted, as if it were my first viewing. One, I'm sure I've recommended before...the other, most have probably already seen. But I'd like to mention them again.

My MOVIE Pick of the Week: The Count of Monte Cristo and Braveheart

If you want an action-packed evening, these two make a great double feature. Lost loves, betrayal, revenge...they cover it all. I am always amazed by the battle scenes in Braveheart. If you've seen them before, now would be a good time to re-visit!

SIS Barb and Brandy say...

Yeah. What those three said!! Have a great weekend.

Pop Culture -- SIS Style

Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Saturday we celebrate Pop Culture. Movies, TV, books, music, games, trends in style... you get picture. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!


SIS Beth Says...
Taylor's post yesterday got me thinking about Thanksgiving, a truly wonderful holiday that I've lost touch with. I've decided to warm up to the special day by watching a few old holiday favorites. A gem of a movie came to mind. I haven't seen it in a long time. I aim on rectifying that. If you've never seen it, run to your nearest rental store! Funny and touching, it was directed by Jodie Foster and stars Holly Hunter, Robert Downing Jr. and a slew of other great actors.

From IMDB: After losing her job, making out with her soon to be ex-boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson has to face spending the holiday with her family. She wonders if she can survive their crazy antics.

My MOVIE Pick of the Week: Home for the Holidays (1995)


SIS BJ Says...
The Mabinogion translated by Lady Charlotte Guest from 1838 to 1849 is a book of Celtic tales from Wales. In it is the story of Taliesin the great poet or bard. It is about a mother, Caridwen, who wishes to brew a potion of Inspiration for her ugly son Morvran ab Tegid so he will be accepted into the world. Caridwen had to brew the potion for a year and a day so she made the young Gwion Bach stir the potion. On the last day three drops of the potion flew out of the cauldron and fell on Gwion's finger. He put the finger in his mouth and he became imbued with Inspiration. Caridwen became very angry because the potion no longer worked for her son. Caridwen gave chase to Gwion, both shapeshifting into many forms until Caridwen ate Gwion, thus becoming pregnant. She gave birth to him and Taliesin was born. He became a great poet able to cast spells and tell the future through poetry. You can read the rest of the tale at INTERNET SACRED TEXT ARCHIVE.

My BOOK Pick of the Week: Taliesin from The Mabinogion

SIS Barb says:

Hooray! I finally got a chance to sit down and watch a movie the other night. It's one that's been sitting in my DVR for the last 2 months. Worth the wait? Absolutely! This movie is based on a very true story which makes it all the more disturbing. Directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie, Changeling is a must see.

from imdb: Los Angeles, 1928. A single mother returns from work to find her nine-year-old son gone. She calls the LAPD to initiate a search. Five months later, a boy is found in Illinois who fits the description; he says he's her son. To fanfare and photos, the LAPD reunite mother and son, but she insists he's not her boy. The cops dismiss her as either a liar or hysterical. When she joins a minister in his public criticism of the police, they in turn use government power to silence and intimidate her. Meanwhile, a cop goes to a dilapidated ranch to find a Canadian lad who's without legal status; the youth tells a grisly tale. There's redress for murder; is there redress for abuse of power?

My Moive Pick of the Week: Changeling (2008)

Pop Culture --SIS Style

Welcome to Café Chaos. Grab a cup of coffee or tea (we prefer coffee) and join us for a chat. Every Saturday we celebrate Pop Culture. Movies, TV, books, music, games, trends in style... you get picture. Feel free to comment on our picks or to throw in a few of your own. We’re listening!

SIS Beth says:

This one's for Brenda (who, if memory serves was as intrigued by this show as me).

'Tis the season to read scary books and to watch scary movies. I don't like being scared. Don't see the attraction. At. All. That said, in the early 70's (I was in my early teens) I was inexplicably drawn to a TV series starring Darrin McGavin (of A Chistmas Story fame) in the role of TV investigative reporter, Carl Kolchak. Kolchak investigates murders committed by vampires... and other supernatural beings. I'm pretty sure it only ran one season (as most clever, innovative series do). All I know is that as much as it scared me, I was hooked. I don't know if this is avaible on DVD, but if so, snatch it up!

My Pick of the Week: The Night Stalker

SIS BJ says:
My girls and I enjoy the wonderful movies that come out at this time of year. There is one in particular that we make sure to watch every Halloween.

Hocus Pocus, staring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy.

In the 1600's the Sanderson Sisters were hung for stealing the souls of children so they could stay young forever. Before they died they cast a spell that would bring them back to life when a virgin lit a black candle.

300 years later a young boy lights the black candle and you guessed it, he was a virgin. Three kids and a talking black cat must outwit the Sanderson Sisters before they can steal the souls of more children.

Funny and witty, this movie is a joy to watch with children of all ages.

My Pick of the Week: Hocus Pocus

SIS Barb says:

Like Beth, I don't like being scared and I even though my husband would love it if I recommended the SAW movies, which I begrudgingly agreed to sit through, I can't. I only made it through the first two and can't say that I enjoyed them one bit especially since I had to watch from behind my hands! I did, however, enjoy a movie that Beth suggested. Practical Magic was fun and fun I can handle! It made me laugh, it almost made me cry (big surprise) but mostly it made me want to learn more about witches and witchcraft. Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman were believable and beautiful or should I say BOOtiful?

My Pick of the Week: Practical Magic

Pop Culture -- SIS Style

SIS Beth says...

A few days ago, I picked up a book on a whim. A new-to-me-author although I know of him and have even seen a movie based on one of his books. That movie--TELL NO ONE--was brilliant. The book was probably even better. I just read his latest and... wow. I couldn't put it down. Clever, witty, emotional, romantic, intriguing, suspenseful, and bone chilling. In this one novel I read one of the most knee-melting descriptions of a kiss ever and soon after was blown away by a suspenseful scene that had me biting my nails. Finished the book in two days. The story has haunted me for a week.

My Pick of the Week: Long Lost

Author: Harlan Coben

SIS Bren says...
I'm sticking with my Halloween movie theme. Zombies, a scissor-handed boy, costumes...hmmm...what should be next? A monster! What would Halloween be without mnsters?

My Pick of the Week: Young Frankenstein (1974)
What a great movie. I watched it with my kids last year and even though I know they didn't understand half of the humor, they still loved it. Marty Feldman and those eyes. He was the perfect cast for Igor.

From IMDb: A young neurosurgeon (Gene Wilder) inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback called Igor, a pretty lab assistant named Inga and the old housekeeper, frau Blucher -iiiiihhh!-. Young Frankenstein believes that the work of his grandfather is only crap, but when he discovers the book where the mad doctor described his reanimation experiment, he suddenly changes his mind...

SIS BJ says....
Edgar Allan Poe. The great poet of the macabre. With such tales as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven and many others, Poe makes a fantastic read for this Halloween season. To read a few of his selected works go to the Edgar Allan Poe Museum on-line. Get ready for the mysterious and the spooky.

My Pick of the Week: Edgar Allan Poe
My Favorite: The Raven



SIS Barb says:
I'm in the beginning stages of thinking about adding on to my house. My hopes is that we can do this sometime in the next two years. We could just move but I like our area and I love the changes we've made thus far. Considering all this, I've been on a decor kick. I keep switching around my accessories trying to get them just right, or at least change them around enough to add interest. Why am I sharing this with you? Because my pick of the week is an interior decorating book. For anyone who has any interest in home decor, this is a must have.


My Pick of the Week: Candice Olson on design: Inspiration and Ideas For Your Home
She is absolutely amazing. If money were not an issue, I would hire her on the spot. I'm sure she has a waiting list but remember, in my scenario, money is NOT an issue. But since this is not the case, I will do my best to be imaginative and frugal when I try to replicate her ideas on my own.


Sis Brandy says...
Ok, I know this series of books is more geared towards young adults. I absolutely got hooked though. The storyline is wonderful and the characters are amazing. Each page draws you in more and more. By the end of the story, you will be wanting a vampire of your very own.


My Pick of the Week... The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn