The Fantastic Fantastic Mr. Fox

Fox Searchlight Pictures

As I sat watching Wes Anderson's stop motion film Fantastic Mr. Fox in a somewhat shady dollar theater with my squirmy, candy-hounding children last week, I was completely captivated. It was quirky, funny, weird, stylish, and absolutely gorgeous to look at. I'm also a devotee of Roald Dahl, whose novel the film is based on. So I'm thrilled to hear that it's being called Oscar-worthy by critics, some of whom think it even has a chance to beat out Pixar's Up.

I'm a fan of Pixar, and I loved Up, so it won't surprise me if Pixar take the prize. But as an admirer of the handmade, I also regret that digital animation has taken over the art form. As beautiful and impressive as digital animation can be, it's missing something for me . . . warmth, I think.

I love how rough around the edges the animation is in Mr. Fox, and I love that it doesn't pander to it's audience, neither the adults nor the children. The film works for everybody, not because of double entendre or off-color jokes, but because it's artistic, well-written, and damn funny. That's a quality the film shares with Roald Dahl, who never treated children like idiots, knew they could handle a bit of discomfort and fear, and didn't see a young audience as a reason to water anything down.

Plus...Meryl Streep. 'Nuff said.

Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Ericka! According to random.org, you are the lucky winner of the fantastic Louella Press print. We will email you to get mailing information. Thanks to everyone who posted!

Birthday

Happy Birthday to Vivi (a few hours early)!!

She is a published poet, but never mentions it. She sings songs to her cat... about her cat. Her addictions include hot tea, Robert Downey Jr.,weepy ballads, and cleaning. She has a wicked sense of humor and is always quick with the most reassuring, sound advice. She looks good in orange (and, really, who looks good in orange?). Her storytelling includes hysterical facial expressions (it makes relaying even the most basic information way better). A true scholar of the arts, she moves between languages and disciplines with the most astute observations. She likes corn dogs and onion rings. She loves teen dream movies, Barbra Streisand, and Tom Waits. It was her idea for the three of us to do this blog thing.

Sounds pretty awesome, right?

She is.

Image courtesy of google

Thursday, the #1 new year's resolution, and Etsy

"Skinny Love" (8x10 print) by Subject2Change

In case you're wondering what the most popular New Year's resolutions are - usa.gov keeps a list of the top promises we make to ourselves. They are all there: money management, exercising, getting a better job, and giving up those pesky vices of alcohol and cigarettes. The biggest is, of course, losing weight and that's where this Thursday post means to step in.

Here are just a few Etsy finds meant to let you embrace the word "skinny" without actually having to extract your sweet tooth or deny yourself the pleasure of french fries. With these items you'll be considered "thin" while maintaining your already lovely form. So go ahead - get yourself a muffin and then visit with these Etsy items...

Oh, what thin fingers you have!

"6 Mixed Metals Basic Stackers" by brightsmith

"Mushroom Stacking Rings" by crownsnestmountain

"Skinny Sterling Silver Forget Me Knot Bow-Tie Ring" by PaupersBounty

Skinny belts = skinny waists.

"Skinny Elastic Rainbow Belt with Twist Buckle" via thedapperapple

"red leather dress belt thin brass buckle" via dahiliafound

"Vintage 1970s Skinny Studded Belt" via OldBaltimoreVintage

And who needs all that material when your neck is like that of a swan's?

silk "Vera" scarflette via happydayvintage

"Vintage Silk Skinny Tie" via CometSalvage

"Fine Jersey Scarf in Mauve" by JamesAnthony

I just wish all resolutions were this easy... Happy mid-January!

Anemones

I caught some photos of anemones at elephantine and I have to agree with her that they are simply beautiful. My sister just got engaged not too long ago, so I have weddings on the brain. Choosing the flowers is one of the very best parts of planning the party, in my opinion, and I will definitely be talking these up......so darn pretty. 

All images courtesy of google.com

It's Monday. It's 200. It's a giveaway!

As of this minute, we are at 200 posts here on Hiving Out! We are marking this occasion with our first ever giveaway. This beautiful 8 x 10 letterpress print by Louella press really says it all....Appreciate {the little things in life}.
Leave a comment on the post and you could be the lucky winner (it is all up to the random number generator), but just know we appreciate each and every reader!

{Image courtesy of Louellapress}

The Year in Lists

Image courtesy of strawberryluna

It's the end of the year, and so the annual "best of" lists have been written and spread across the world of information. I love these lists, comparing them to my own, arguing with them, using them to fill in gaps in my cultural literacy. Actually, I just love lists. Their orderliness gives me hope for my own cluttered life.

So please enjoy this list of my favorite 2009 lists:

Best Under-The-Radar Books of 2009 (part of NPR's comprehensive list of the Best Books 0f 2009)

The New Yorker Blog's Best Ten Films of 2009

All Songs Considered Reader's Poll Results for the Best Music of 2009 (where you can also listen to all the picks in their entirety)

The Chicago Tribune's Best TV shows of 2009

The People's Choice Awards for the Best Podcasts of 2009 from PodCastAwards.com (And if you'd like some personal recommendations, I consider myself a podcast connoisseur.)

And of course, PC Magazine's Favorite Blogs of 2009 (where sadly you will not find Hiving Out listed. Of all the nerve.)

Enjoy browsing and feel free argue with these lists in the comments. We'd want to hear your picks!

the perfect boots

Someone buy these boots now. I can only resist them for so long.

("vintage mahogany red campus boots 8.5" via Marie's Vintage)

Nostalgia....Don Draper style

Image courtesy of AMC.com

I am missing Mad Men. The other day I was thinking about the scene from the finale of first season where Don is doing his presentation to the folks from Kodak about his take on their new product- the Carousel slide projector.....it is the series at its finest.

Don Draper: Well, technology is a glittering lure. But, uh, there is the rare occasion when the public can be engaged on a level beyond flash, if they have a sentimental bond with the product.
My first job, I was in-house at a fur company, with this old-pro copywriter, a Greek named Teddy. Teddy told me the most important idea in advertising is new. Creates an itch. You simply put your product in there as a kind of calamine lotion.
But he also talked about a deeper bond with the product. Nostalgia. It’s delicate, but potent. (lights switch off-slideshow with Don Draper's family begins)
Teddy told me that in Greek, “nostalgia” literally means “the pain from an old wound”.
It’s a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone.
This device isn’t a spaceship, it’s a time machine.
It goes backwards, forwards,takes us to a place where we ache to go again.
It’s not called the wheel. It’s called the carousel.
It let's us travel the way a child travels - around and around, and back home again, to a place where we know are loved.

To truly appreciate the presentation you probably have to know the character, but it is pretty powerful either way. The following is a link to the scene- see for yourself.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2bLNkCqpuY&feature=fvsr

Art Show

Something different for tonight....I'm going to an art show in a nearby library. You have to love libraries, not only can you find the various types of literature, music, and film your heart desires- they also support the local artists (and give me something fun to do on a random Tuesday night!).

In the spirit of the New Year, I am making an effort to appreciate the art around me and check out the area's library galleries once a season. I will always have something beautiful on the calendar!