Guilty Pleasure: Chasing Liberty

Have you ever had to pretend that you didn't like something that you really, REALLY liked because you were pretty sure that people would make fun of you for liking it? Well, to my delight I have discovered that the older I get, the less I care about what people think, so I'm willing to admit how much I love Chasing Liberty.

For those not familiar with the story, it is about the US President's daughter, Anna, who is tired of being sheltered and stalked by the secret service all the time, and she wants to be allowed to have a little freedom. Her father agrees to this while they are doing a goodwill tour of Europe, but, unbeknownst to Anna, he requests that a young *very cute* undercover agent follow her around and keep her safe while reporting back to him (her secret service code-name is "Liberty", hence the title). Hijinks ensue, the agent falls for the President's daughter and vice-versa, and then the drama occurs when Anna finds out that she has been duped by her father and lied to by the boy she loves.

Is it a rip-off of Roman Holiday? Sure, but Mandy Moore is delightful as Anna, Matthew Goode is adorably sexy as the secret agent, and they travel through Prague, Venice, and Berlin, so you get to see gorgeous European scenery. Best of all? There is a happy ending which involves riding through the streets of London on a Vespa while Puccini's "Nessun Dorma" plays in the background. Sometimes I wish Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck could have had an ending like that.

Somebody Should Get a Prize for This Idea

Okay, how brilliant are these wedding cakes made out of cheese? I think that millions of people have thought, "How kickass would it be to have a wedding cake made of cheese?", but they don't follow through with it because it's weird, or they are afraid of what their guests would say. Personally, I would say, "This is the best wedding ever, bring me more cheese."

Thanks to A CUP OF JO (one of my fave blogs) for finding the site.

Blogs That I Like - Rachel Eats

While checking out my blog roll, I will click on any and all links that look even mildly interesting. Sometimes this is a bad thing (porn hides EVERYWHERE, doesn't it?), but most often it is how I discover some of my favorite new blogs.

Rachel Eats is one of these, and it is gorgeous. An English girl living in Italy, Rachel likes to cook, write, and eat, and I'm so glad that she does all three so very well. Each blog post comes with a recipe and a story, sometimes current and sometimes nostalgic, and she describes the cooking experience so thoroughly that you feel like you are sitting in her kitchen. Her post on the stuffed fried zucchini flowers that accompany the meal at her favorite pizzeria (crispy pizza from a wood-fired oven) has inspired me to try to make my own, and I'm not a big fryer.

The image above is of Spice-Poached Apricots and Creme Fraiche.

Teaberry Gum

Just bought a pack of Clark's Teaberry Gum at the office cafeteria. I haven't seen it available for sale in a while, but I always loved the pretty pink wrappers and retro design. I had a real teaberry once (on an impromptu hike through Cranesville Swamp), and it actually did taste like the gum!

Puppy Perfection

Who loves Martha Stewart?

I LOVE MARTHA STEWART.

Do I think that it is a coincidence that she announces the debut of her pet accessory line for Petsmart mere weeks after I adopt a puppy? I do not. Martha knows everything - she can sense my worshipful little mind from afar, and this is her reward to me for my unwavering devotion for the past two decades. The stuff is really cute, too...I plan to buy as many pet accessories as I can afford in the red/robin's egg colorway.

(I am even a bit envious of the women who got to serve their prison sentences with Martha at Alderson. Imagine how cool it would be to host a dinner party, and when someone complimented you on a dish, you could say, "Oh thanks, I got the recipe from Martha Stewart...when we were in prison together.")

Giving Thanks

This is one of the most clever blogs I've yet to come across (and the internet is huge, y'all). Leah Deitrich's mother always told her to write thank-you notes, so she writes one every day to different things in her life. This would be my note today:

Dear Pink and Black Italian Post-Card Print Skirt,

Little did I know when I purchased you in London six years ago that you would bring compliments my way every time that I wear you. Thanks for making those days a little brighter!

Best, Whitney