2014 SAG Award Nominees

WOW - am so excited for this year's Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards!!  I love going to the movies and getting lost in the stories told....and of course I have favorite actresses and actors who are nominated for the 20th Annual SAG Awards which will be announced on January 18, 2014.  I will be glued to the tube - what about you?   Here's the list of the nominees....who do you think will win?!

THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

BRUCE DERN / Woody Grant – "NEBRASKA"

CHIWETEL EJIOFOR / Solomon Northup – "12 YEARS A SLAVE"

TOM HANKS / Capt. Richard Phillips – "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS"

MATTHEW McCONAUGHEY / Ron Woodroof – "DALLAS BUYERS CLUB"

FOREST WHITAKER / Cecil Gaines – "LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

CATE BLANCHETT / Jasmine – "BLUE JASMINE"

SANDRA BULLOCK / Ryan Stone – "GRAVITY"

JUDI DENCH / Philomena Lee – "PHILOMENA"

MERYL STREEP / Violet Weston – "AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY"

EMMA THOMPSON / P.L. Travers – "SAVING MR. BANKS"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

BARKHAD ABDI / Muse – "CAPTAIN PHILLIPS"

DANIEL BRÜHL / Niki Lauda – "RUSH"

MICHAEL FASSBENDER / Edwin Epps – "12 YEARS A SLAVE"

JAMES GANDOLFINI / Albert – "ENOUGH SAID"

JARED LETO / Rayon – "DALLAS BUYERS CLUB"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

JENNIFER LAWRENCE / Rosalyn Rosenfeld – "AMERICAN HUSTLE"

LUPITA NYONG'O / Patsey – "12 YEARS A SLAVE"

JULIA ROBERTS / Barbara Weston – "AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY"

JUNE SQUIBB / Kate Grant – "NEBRASKA"

OPRAH WINFREY / Gloria Gaines – "LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER"

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

12 YEARS A SLAVE

AMERICAN HUSTLE

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY

DALLAS BUYERS CLUB

LEE DANIELS' THE BUTLER

PRIMETIME TELEVISION

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

MATT DAMON / Scott Thorson – "BEHIND THE CANDELABRA"

MICHAEL DOUGLAS / Liberace – "BEHIND THE CANDELABRA"

JEREMY IRONS / King Henry IV – "THE HOLLOW CROWN"

ROB LOWE / John F. Kennedy – "KILLING KENNEDY"

AL PACINO / Phil Spector – "PHIL SPECTOR"

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

ANGELA BASSETT / Coretta Scott King – "BETTY & CORETTA"

HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Elizabeth Taylor – "BURTON AND TAYLOR"

HOLLY HUNTER / G.J. – "TOP OF THE LAKE"

HELEN MIRREN / Linda Kenney Baden – "PHIL SPECTOR"

ELISABETH MOSS / Robin Griffin – "TOP OF THE LAKE"

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy – "30 ROCK"

JASON BATEMAN / Michael Bluth – "ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT"

TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy – "MODERN FAMILY"

Easy Christmas Gifts

Christmas is almost here...and if you have more shopping and gifts to get but not a lot of money to spend, I found a great site with a number of fun, easy ideas!  (my favorite is the drinking cups..or maybe the lip gloss!)
So, look out!  If you're on my list you might just be getting one of these soon!!  Just click on the link below!

http://coolmompicks.com/blog/2012/12/11/handmade-gifts-you-can-make/#sthash.deaTM3LK.MlupfYFh.dpbs

Been Awhile...

Yup it has....Been awhile that is!
Awhile since I've written...Awhile since I've been on vacation and shared pictures and stories....Awhile since Kazmir died and Gabby joined our family from Magnificent Mutts Rescue....Awhile since we've had a "little" one in our family and now we have many "little" ones that are being welcomed into the world - one on the way this month.....Awhile since we chatted about special movies.....Yup, it's been awhile.   
But all that has been remedied - because "Awhile" is here!

My Sis's New Venture!

Can I tell you how amazed I am with all the talent one of my sisters has...and her friends too?!!   Well, first of all, she's an artist - and a very good one at that! - and she has some really fun, talented friends who all have unique abilities.  Put them all together and you get "4 Quarters Timeless Vintage"!  A great little shop in Cottlesville MO that's just like a "real life Pinterest store"!   The 4 girls, Marian, Misty, Janet & Sandy, were recently featured on a St. Louis TV station.   Check out their Facebook page, Twitter account AND their new blog:  http://4quarterstimelessvintage.blogspot.com/

 You'll be saying "WOW" too when you see all the goodies they have to offer! 

(There's your plug girls, you can pay me in merchandise!!  teehee)

Summer Wrap-up, Fall Beginnings

Ahh it's been awhile since I've posted (like over a year!!)  LOTS has happened since the passing of my beautiful German Shepard Kazmir.  And, NO, we did not get another dog - yet!

Left her brother, Justice, in the great care of my friends Dave and Kay Rumple while I went to Colorado w/my hubby and stepson. What a BEAUTIFUL state Colorado is - especially in the summer. There's just so much to do and so many gorgeous sights that my eyes could scarely take it all in! The mountains, the flowers, the rushing creeks, the animals and most of all - the clean, fresh AIR!  Took awhile to get used to the altitude but after that, I couldn't breathe that freshness in fast enough!

Upon our return home, we hurried to ready the house and the yard for a wedding! That's right, a wedding! It turned out marvelous - the day was warm, sunny and the landscaping finished..in the nick of time!  I know it's a day that neither Brian nor myself will ever forget - let alone the bride and groom! 

Then comes Birthday MONTHS. Yes, we celebrate all month long - first Brian then me!  As this was a 'Big' birthday for me, my hubby threw a surprise party - and boy WAS it a surprise!  I actually thought I was going to a business dinner with a number of business owners only to find out the guest of honor was ME! 
Don't ask me how many people were there cuz I couldn't begin to tell you - I just kept seeing all the people I knew and love, including my famly who drove 6 hours to be there for the "big" event! And my Big Bday present to myself was a 12 day tour thru Sicily and southern Italy!!  Details will be coming soon - and pics too!

My German Shepherd girl, Baroness Kazmir von Boyer



Baroness Kazmir von Boyer



Do you know what unconditional love is?  Anyone who is lucky enough to own a dog knows!  This past week was a very tough week for me and my family....we had to give our German Shepherd back to God.

Baroness Kazmir von Boyer was born February 28, 2002 at 7:35p and died July 28, 2011 - almost to the hour that she was born.  She leaves a big hole in my heart, in my husband's heart, in her brother's heart and his life...Justice is lost without her.  He has never known life without his "little" sister.  Although she was younger than him, as she was 'puppy #7' and Justice was 'puppy #2', she was bigger than him.  She was his sister and playmate, following her everywhere.   He didn't like walking behind her but rather beside her when going for walks to the park....he was anxious when she was gone. 

Although they were siblings, they were different.  Kazmir LOVED thunderstorms and fireworks - she barked for more!  She LOVED swimming in the river - summer and winter!  She LOVED going for rides in the truck or car - always alert, never sleeping, but watching out the window until it was too dark to do so!  Kazmir always walked the perimeter of wherever she was. She LOVED her mailman (who always gave her treats which she caught) but did NOT like the UPS man!! She was intimidating but really she was just a big baby!
And she LOVED US!!  Always happy to see us, whether we were gone for a week or just a few minutes.

My girl had a cancerous bladder tumor - inoperable and incurable.  The time had come for her departure from this earth....and although she is not physically here, we know her spirit is around us and with us.  

There hasn't been a day since she left us that I have not thought about her, been reminded of her....and her unconditional love.

So, with love and thru tears, I say to her "Kazmir, we love & miss you - your memory will always be with us."

Households and Budgets

Little scary watching the news recently....Here AND abroad! My heart hurts for the survivors and families of the victims in the Norway massacre.  Good thing my vacation is going to be in the states in a "lesser known" area!

And the Nation's budget?!  Come on! Let's get it together...bottom line is you're gonna have to do what the rest of the nation is already doing - tighten your belts, let some 'luxuries' slide and pay your bills! How difficult is that?  I think the Senators and Congressmen should just move over and let the housewives/househusbands of the world come in and get things in order!

We know how to set a budget, get creative with finding ways to fund that budget and most importantly, we know how to stick to it!! After all, running a household complete with kids, pets, a working spouse - plus working ourselves - is pretty much like running Congress (everyone is talking at the same time, always wanting something, going somewhere and no one wants to clean up the messes)  Even the president and the guy that just started shooting in Norway are acting like spoiled children because they're not getting what they want, not getting their way.

Well, there's less than a week to start straightening up and acting like civilized grown-ups who know how to communicate, compromise and negotiate for the American people.  This is one little lady who's gonna be keeping a close eye on them - and if I'm not happy with the outcome, then I'll use my vote to "clean house".

 "If Mama Ain't Happy, Watch out!"

Is it HOT enough for you?

Oh - my - goodness!!!!  I think my favorite phrase this week is the one uttered by the Wicked Witch of the West in the 'Wizard of Oz' right after Dorothy threw water on her - "I'm melting..."

That's how I am feeling these days as the temperatures reach the upper 90's and the heat index in the triple digits!   I'M MELTING!!

Doesn't seem like anything keeps me cool these days...I walk from my studio downstairs to the kitchen upstairs and I just melt....the glass of ice-cold tea cools me off enough to walk back down the stairs to the studio again to finish working.  You might be thinking "Liz don't you have air conditioning in your studio?" to which I'd tell you "Nope, but even if I did, with all the talking I do, the hot air overpowers the cool air anyway!"

Forget about finding clothes that are cool enough, even a swimsuit isn't cutting it now!  I may single-handedly bring the halter-top back!!  Oh and forget about drying my hair (with the hairdryer) after taking a cold shower..the only hairstyle I have these days is the ponytail!  Whew!

I don't mind heat but I do mind the humidity that comes with it - it just zaps you!  Wish you could see my dogs & cats right now - downright lazy as they sleep the day away! It zaps them too!

There is an upside to this however - I have empathy for Frosty the Snowman!!  I now know how he felt as he melted away. 

The Royal Clothing Tour

I'm just enthralled with Royalty!  British Royalty to be exact....and yes, I DID follow Prince William and his bride Catherine during their trip to Canada and the United States. I'm sure they're home resting and trying to be a "normal married couple" now.

The focus should have been on their goings on, however, for me, the focus seemed to be on Kate! (yes, I know I'm not supposed to call her Kate, but I just can't help myself!)  Her choice of clothing seemed to be perfect....and I'm told by a very reliable source that she chose her wardrobe with very little help. I will say that it was on the "safe" side - not too flashy and not too outlandish, very "proper" for a Duchess and a young lady.  By the way, Prince William looked handsome in everything he wore!

I'm in awe of her poise and her clothing taste.  I tend to agree with Cara Kelly in her blog of Kate's top 5 best looks....read and enjoy....I've got to go clean out my clothes closet!!  ;)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/royal-wedding-watch/post/top-5-kates-best-looks/2011/07/11/gIQAyeCX9H_blog.html

Aftermaths

The weather in the Midwest has been so very UNpredictable!  First we lost our Spring, well, had about 2 weeks of spring then went directly into the "Dog Days" of Summer! Sweltering...to say the least.  And the storms!  Wow - those really HAVE been something to write home about.  In my little part of the world, the trees are still standing and the river is still in it's banks....but in my hometown, they've been hit hard!  There are many beautiful trees that are down in the state parks making them inhospitable to campers.  The power has been out for many people for as many as 4 days - and in THIS HEAT and HUMIDITY that's NOT a good thing!

I know there are still people I love who are dealing with the aftermath of tornados that have torn up their homes and towns....there are still people I love who are dealing with the aftermath of flooding....there are still people I love who are dealing with the aftermath of the power outages..those are the people that I am still praying for as that's all I can do from here. But the power of prayer is enormous!

So when you get ready to lay your head on your pillow - please say a prayer for those that are still awake and dealing with the aftermath of something!