Movie Set Monday- Home Again

MOVIE SET MONDAY- HOME AGAIN

I had a friend tell me after she had read some of the Movie Set Monday posts that she had never really paid attention to the homes in movies but that she was enjoying the series nonetheless. Well, I don’t know what camp you fall into, but I am definitely in the one of paying attention to homes in movies. I always have. And I don’t know if you’re enjoying reading these posts like my friend says she is, but I am having the most fun revisiting these homes and putting them into posts to look back on. You never know, I might be building a home one day down the road and want to incorporate some of these elements into it.

Home Again

This past summer Nancy Meyers’ daughter, Hallie, made a film with Reese Witherspoon called Home Again. I knew it would be great because Hallie is the product of movie-making genius. And I was right. And though we’ve only seen one Nancy Meyers film in this series so far, there are many more to come. And the apple doesn’t fall from the tree. Hallie apparently has excellent taste in interiors and understands what her characters would like in home decor just like her mother does.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

We’ll start outside. What a perfect California home, right? It’s everything I would imagine it to be with the Spanish tile roof, a beautiful outdoor dining area, and that pool. I want to have coffee with my bestie out there on that porch and in th0se chairs. They look like thrones. I’d feel pretty darn empowered sitting in a throne-like chair some mornings. 🙂

Already we get a very natural vibe from this outdoor dining space. The color palette is very neutral and allows nature to infuse it with color. I would dine al fresco as often as possible if this were my home. I’m talking every night, no dinner party or guests needed. And I see a fireplace that would be perfect for cooler nights aaannnddd perfect for s’mores.

Who doesn’t love a pool? Especially one with such a feeling of tranquility. The vibe of this pool area seems so secluded and peaceful, and that is exactly what I’d want if I had a pool. Perfection.

To the Office

I know this photo is small, but I wanted you to see the artwork in the office. There are several abstract pieces throughout the house, and as a fan of abstract art, I love how these are paired together. Along with the sconces and the printed curtains, too. Those woven-back chairs are beautiful and add a natural element to the room that fits in so well with the big windows and natural light that comes in.

Reese Witherspoon’s character is an interior designer, and she is using her workspace here to make a vision board for her client. I like how long the desk is and the natural wood material. I really love this black and white abstract. It’s so beautiful and right up my alley.

Master Bedroom

The master bedroom may not be exactly my style, but I love it anyway. The headboard is too warm for my taste. I’m not a fan of red, but this one with pops of pink and orange and little bit of green is actually quite nice. I do love the mismatched side tables and lamps. Cohesive but not matchy-matchy.

The simple prints above the bed are perfect for this space. And I really love those pink prints on the chest of drawers and the blue and white ginger jars, too. So classic. I just don’t think you can ever go wrong with blue and white.

The wood elements in this house are all so natural. I love the organic feel it gives to the house. It’s not too done, yet it doesn’t feel undone. Not even a bit. It just feels fresh and clean and airy.

Living Room

See what I mean? It’s the same in the living room. Don’t you feel like you can just sit on that couch and breathe deeply for a bit? It’s all in the monochromatic palette, and those pops of pink are a perfect feminine touch. Reese plays a single mother of two daughters, and I love that pink is peppered throughout the house.

The prints above the mantel appear to be by the same artist as the ones above the bed in the master bedroom. It’s the simplicity that makes them work with everything in the home and in different places. They’re a lovely compliment to a neutral room and allow for any color to be added as an accent. The fireplace screen is feminine yet classy, and the round firewood holder is like a piece of art itself. It adds a little modern touch to this beautiful room. Below you’ll see more pink in the art and another ginger jar. And did you notice the architectural elements? Everything is painted white, so it’s a tad understated, but it’s still there, and it’s gorgeous.

Power Outage in the Movie Theater

So here’s an interesting story about when I went to see this movie. My mom and I went to watch it in Montgomery one afternoon, and we got to the part where there’s a little scuffle between two of the male characters. When it’s all over, Reese’s character and her ex-husband are sitting in this room in the picture below. And then the screen goes black.

So we all are sitting there, then someone goes to get an employee, they come into the theater and said there’s been a technical problem and the computers need to reboot. They promised to try to run it back to where it stopped. It took a few minutes, but they got it back to this room’s scene and we were able to finish the movie without any more problems.

It’s another very neutral room. These curtains are the same ones used in her office. But where we have been seeing more pink accents in the rest of the home, blue is the favored accent color. There does seem to be a hint of pink in that lumbar pillow, so it hasn’t been completely abandoned. And there’s more blue and white jars on the side table. Also, these windows are killing me! I love natural light. And I love how this window looks directly out onto the patio. Wouldn’t this be the greatest party house?

Happiest Hallway

Oh, I love this hallway. I’m all about a great overhead light fixture, but these sconces are everything here. I think they’re the perfect option for lighting. And they aren’t just in the hallway, if you scroll back through the pictures, sconces are everywhere. I’ve been craving them for my bedroom in lieu of lamps. However, our current setup doesn’t allow that. (Next house)The Kitchen

Here’s more blue! The kitchen is so cute. The tile is fun, and blue is a calming and relaxing color. I know that the kitchen can be a place of anxiety for some (myself included sometimes), but how could you be anxious in here? I most love those wood countertops. More of that natural element we’ve seen throughout the home is even worked into the kitchen. Don’t you love when a home feels the same throughout and shares certain design elements in every room? It makes a house just come together.
Yes, yes, yes to this marble top pedestal table in the breakfast area. The yellow in the pillows and settee is perfect for mornings with a cup of coffee, the newspaper, a book, or just some peace and quiet. And can we talk about those french doors? Swoon. This little vignette appears to be just off the breakfast area/kitchen, and I think it perfectly marries the pops of pink and natural wood pieces from the rest of the house to the upcoming golden yellow tones in breakfast nook right around the corner. Then there’s the indoor dining room which gives us a great view of the kitchen too. The island is spacious and also has that beautiful wood countertop. But I have to say I’m most obsessed with that door. I find that these are the parts of homes I get into the most. I do love the decor and find that furniture, art, and accessories really can make your home feel a certain way and truly embody who you are and what your taste is. But doors and architecture are what give a home character. I would buy this door if I ran up on it in a second hand store and prop it up against a wall as decor. I just love things like that, and I love this door.

The Guest House

In the movie, Reese’s character is out celebrating her birthday when she meets three younger guys who, without revealing too much, crash in her guest house for a while. And if the picture below is the guest house I’d get to stay in, well, sign me up. It’s an excellent space that has it all: character (the ceiling), natural elements (again, the ceiling and the windows and french doors), sleeping, sitting, and working spaces, and beautiful furniture and lighting to boot. I love the openness the tall, white ceiling gives. And when you add all that natural light in, it’s a recipe for perfection. I could model my dream master bedroom after something like this.
I’ll end here with possibly my favorite part of the home, the outdoor dining space. That patio is lovely and acts as if it were just another room in the house. It feels effortless and right that dinner should be eaten around that table.

Have you seen this movie? I quite enjoyed it and would like to add it to my collection. If you haven’t, get your hands on it. It’s a really cute story, and you’ll get to stare at a gorgeous house while you watch.

Happy Monday, y’all and have a great week!

Book Review- The Shack

BOOK REVIEW- THE SHACK

I have a long list of to-be-read books that I keep filed away in my brain. A very long list. I have been looking for one in particular that’s been on my list a while: The Shack. I looked at thrift stores and Goodwill stores for a very long time, but I never was able to find it. (I think I know why I wasn’t able to find it; it’s a hard one to let go of.) So when I first moved back to Alabama and visited the Goodwill and actually found it, I was very excited. But true to form, I was already in the middle of another book, so I decided to put The Shack on my shelf until I could get around to it.

Then Came the Movie

I knew I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie and had big plans to quickly read it once summer started so I could head to the theater. That didn’t happen. I started the book, was pretty captivated by the story, and had every intention to finish it quickly. But when a book is deep or super thought-provoking, sometimes I get intimidated, so I set it aside for a few weeks. When I picked it back up, I finished it in two days.

Here Comes the Religion

Okay, not really religion. 🙂 But I do want to tell you why this book made such an impact on me.

The main character, Mack, is dealing with The Great Sadness that has descended on him after the disappearance of his child. He receives a letter from “Papa” (God) in his mailbox asking him to meet him at the shack, which is the scene of the crime. He ultimately decides to go to the shack and there he does indeed meet Papa. But he doesn’t just meet Papa; he meets the entire trinity in the form of actual people. Jesus is there and so is the Holy Spirit. The way Paul Young writes them is what really peaked my interest. Papa is a black woman, Jesus is a middle-eastern looking man, and Sarayu (the Holy Spirit) is an Asian woman.

Here’s why this is so interesting to me: God was exactly what, who, and how Mack needed to see and get to know Him. It was eluded to in the book that sometimes “religion” is sort of formal, and that God really just loves His children and wants them to love Him too.

Now, I also want to say with a very loud voice- THIS IS NOT THE BE ALL/END ALL BOOK ABOUT GOD!!!! Please go to your Bible for the most true version of God and for the most inspiring stories about God and all of His wonders and promises and goodness. I’ve never gleaned more truth, inspiration, and information about God as I have from the Bible.

With that said, The Shack is an outside of the religion-box way to look at a relationship with God. And that right there, relationship, was the biggest thing I took away from this book. I like this quote by Jesus from the book:

“Because we want you to join us in the circle of relationship. I don’t want slaves to my will; I want brothers and sisters who will share life with me.”

I just loved that. And it is reinforced throughout the story. God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, they want to be a part of our lives. They want us to include them in everything we do. Because whether we remember it or not, they’re always there. Why not have a relationship with the one who created you, the one who died for you, and the one who guides you on your path of life?

I think that’s what I walked away with-a bit of a challenge- to not forget to keep the lines of communication open at all times with God. Remember that old hymn that goes, “and He walks with me, and He talks with me”? He’s always there, why not talk to Him? As a result, in your personal daily walk with God, you find yourself thinking about Him more. Your thoughts become His thoughts. You start to want to do things that would be pleasing to God.

The other thing that really stood out to me about the story was that everyone’s relationship with God is unique. We are all in different stages of life, have different spiritual maturity levels, have different backgrounds and life circumstances. This is what makes our relationship with God so unique. My story will not be like yours, but I promise that my God is also your God. We may talk to Him differently; we may go to different churches; we may read different adaptations of the Bible. But God is God, and He loves you, and He loves me, and He just wants you to love Him too. Your life will be so much better if you do.

So, if you’re interested, I encourage you to read the book. It is such a beautiful story of one man’s journey through a very great sadness and the relationship he develops with God as this terrible situation is redeemed. And if you’re not a reader (shame on you), 🙂 then you need to watch the movie! It was expertly cast and follows the main theme of the book perfectly. It was very well done. It’s available at the public library here in Greenville for free with your library card!

If you’re interested in more information about the movie or book, please visit the website. It is a great resource to find out more about this story.

If you’ve read this book and would like to discuss it with me in the comments, please do. I loved it so much! It definitely went on the list of my favorite books. If you’ve not read it, I really encourage you to. You won’t be disappointed.

Thursday Thoughts- Movie Reviews

MOVIE REVIEWS

Welcome back to Thursday Thoughts. I should welcome myself back; I haven’t written a TT post in a while. One thing I have done is watch a lot of movies, and I wanted to share my thoughts on two of them.

La La Land

I remember reading something when this movie was coming to theaters by Tom Hanks that said this is what movies are all about. Someone else told me it was so beautiful and would change your life.

Then, I never made it to the theaters to see it. (womp womp)

I knew that seeing this movie was going on my summer to-do list. So when I stumbled across it at our local library, I picked it up and decided I would watch it that night since Paul was at poker night. (He’s not so much into the musicals.)

It immediately made you feel like you were watching an old movie just because of the way it was shot. The opening musical number set the tone for the film in that there were several song and dance sequences. All were beautiful, and all of them sucked you right into the story and swallowed you whole. I tend to get very lost in musicals. I get caught up in the emotion and the talent and the feeling. There’s nothing like that feeling. It was truly a moving film and deserved every award and nomination it received.

Ryan Gossling and Emma Stone have so much chemistry together on screen. People have compared them to Fred and Ginger and Bergman and Bogart. Theirs is a believable romance and relationship. There is a scene when they go to the movies, and it is the very beginning of their relationship. They are stealing glances at each other and inching their fingers closer and closer until they are holding hands. It so accurately depicts that new, butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling you get when you’re about to enter that territory with someone new that you really like. I was smiling the whole time from the nostalgia that crept up inside because you know you’ve been there too. Those early, excited feelings with your significant other. That thrill it is to touch their skin in such an intimate yet innocent way for the first time. Like I said, they’ve got chemistry.

I can’t end this review without talking about the music. The songs are beautiful. Ryan Gossling and Emma Stone have great voices and then they threw in John Legend. So…yeah…winner in my book! And it’s not just the singing that is great, but there’s some amazing piano music, mostly jazz, that is all throughout the movie. Gossling plays a jazz pianist trying to make it, and the piano playing is a huge part of the movie.

I realize musicals are not for everyone. But I feel that even if it’s not really your speed that you’ll enjoy it. It’s definitely not something being done regularly in Hollywood, and I love that.

Hidden Figures

I realize I’m much too late to this party, but this was one movie I will not soon forget. I was left completely moved by this film.

These three women were looked over time and time again. They were the best at what they did, so unbelievably smart, witty, strong, and determined. I knew a little about the story just from all of the publicity it got when it came out and during awards season, but I didn’t know everything. I have to say I was truly inspired by this story, by all three women, and by the portrayal of these women by the actresses who played them: Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, and Taraji P. Henson.

One of my favorite things about the movie was the backstory they told on all the women. Mary Jackson, played by Janelle Monae, was such a spitfire! There’s a scene where she puts her husband in his place at a church picnic, and I laughed out loud at her assertiveness and how he closed his mouth so fast. And she stayed like that the whole movie. I loved her outspokenness and her determination to never give up and to get into a course she needed even when it wasn’t geared toward women and certainly not African American women. She was smart and capable, and she knew it.

Dorothy Vaughn, played by Octavia Spencer, was a genius. She got the IBM computer for the space mission up and running correctly and effectively and was later put in charge of that. Another victory for women and African American women. And in the movie she was portrayed as being self-taught in programming. That just blows my mind! I know we live in a digital age and it’s almost expected that each new generation be more technologically inclined, but in the 60s? I was so impressed and inspired by her drive and mental capacity. Smart girls are awesome!

Katherine Johnson was a math wiz. Taraji P. Henson played her flawlessly. She was a widow with three young daughters trying to make a living. Then she got sent up to the land of white men and had to fight her way to prove that she was worthy of that desk and that her math skills were up to par and even better than they ever expected. She played an integral part in putting John Glenn into space. She is a true roll model for girls of all ages.

I cried watching this movie. It moved me in ways that made me proud to be a woman. It broke my heart to see how they were degraded for being women and for being black. It didn’t matter that they were wearing skirts or using a “colored restroom”; they were the smartest, most capable people for the jobs at hand. And they proved themselves to be successful and perfect for their jobs. In this modern day wave of women’s liberation, it’s stories like this that make me proud to be a woman. And stories like this one that inspire me to go after what I want and not back down because I may not have the skills or be qualified. It inspires me to take the opportunity to educate myself and acquire those skills to be successful in whatever I want to do. Isn’t there a meme that says, “In a world of Kardashians be a ___________________”? Well, in a world of Kardashians, be a Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, or Mary Jackson. Because these are the women you should strive to be.

Thanks for sticking around for my long post. I get so passionate about movies and entertainment. I hope you have a fabulous rest of your week and a wonderful weekend. Hope to see you back on Sunday for more home decor projects. I’m off to work on more curtains! 🙂

Happy Thursday, y’all!