I'm not joking - I might need an intervention. Today's show totally made me want to paint every wall of my apartment, run to the closest antique store, move all my furniture, and go dumpster diving. WAIT. Scratch that. It'd take a miracle to inspire me to climb into a dumpster. BUT... if Jim really, really loves me (are you reading this hun?) he'll take the dive for me if I see the perfect armoire in my alley.
I have to say, even though today's O, at Home winners have way more dough to decorate than I do, they definitely gave me a little bump in confidence and energy to glitz up my house. I especially enjoyed the woman's style who had lived in Europe and now resides in the US in a very small home. Believe it or not, her bedroom, although tiny, is a bit bigger than mine. She gave me a little oomph to put more work into my tiny space. Aside from my the Oprah-advised decor in my bedroom, I basically threw in the towel. UNTIL NOW. Watch out world, I'm gonna jam as much joy into my tiny boudoir as possible. (Wouldn't Oprah's sexpert Laura Berman be proud of me?)
Here are some things I learned from Oprah today: First, she has a fig tree. Second, she thinks, "A panini maker is the thing to have." Third, when making a Giada De Laurentiis appetizer, "You have to use the sour dough bread or else it will wall apart." Words to live by.
Mmmm...figs....I'd LOVE to have fruit trees (and a gardener to care of them). My husband and I frequently fantasize about having avocado trees. Maybe I should paste a picture of one to my vision board...along with a photo of a gardener, of course. Mmmm....gardener....
A few things I learned that weren't on the show today:
One, Dr. Oz will have his own series next fall. The show will be produced by Oprah, of course. Not sure if it'll be on her network or another channel. I'm guessing it'll be on one of the mainstream networks, but who knows?
Two, there's an article in the Chicago SunTimes about Living Oprah today.
Three, although TVGuide.com insists that there will be new Oprah episodes next week, the show is only advertising reruns. Sad. I was in the mood for some fresh episodes. I guess I should be grateful for all the time to play catch up on the outstanding assignments.
Even though I've been sick, I've been able to knock some things off my list. For instance: Madagascar 2? Seen it! The kids in the audience were really funny to watch. In fact, they inspired me and I want to start watching movies like a child. Just jump up and dance whenever I feel like it. Or yell, "What just happened?! Why did he do that?! I don't get it!!!" at the top of my lungs. That would have gone over like a ton of bricks in Film Theory classes in graduate school. But, in all honesty, during some 1920's German Expressionist films, there were MANY times I felt like doing it.
I hope you all have a terrific weekend!
(By the way, for those of you who do not watch the show, but have asked me for a longer transcript of the episodes I discuss on this website: you can visit Oprah.com and see a breakdown and photos of each show, each day. Even on rerun days. I don't want you feeling left out in the cold! xoLO)
Friday, December 5, 2008
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19 comments:
We took our kids to Madagascar 2 and they liked it, but my husband and I were bored. We had to explain to them how kids don't care about cliches but adults do and then we had to explain about cliches. The animation was gorgeous though! I appreciated that!
Isn't Oprah taking over the Discovery Health channel? I bet that's where Dr. Oz will go. Not soon enough in my opinion. He has great advice, but I am tired of medical shows...
Are you gonna get a panini maker for your little kitchen?
Hi--I read about your blog in the paper today. What a fun idea!
Has Oprah done her "Favorite Things" list yet this year? Will you have to get all the stuff on her list?
Hi Robyn -- just wanted to drop a note to say how excited I am for you and the quickly approaching end of your project! I remember the email you sent last January 1 about the start of the project, and it's really been fun reading your posts in my Google Reader each day. Only 26 days to go till schlumpadinka time!!! :-)
i hate having kids in the theater so much that i skipped school to go watch Shrek on its opening day one time. it's not that i am really that irritated by their little antics (unless it's for a serious film, and not something for the kiddies), but, actually, i prefer to be the most annoying person in the theater, especially during terrible romantic comedies.
Had to laugh at your Madagascar experience. We took our kids to see it (3 and 1/2 and 2) and they had a blast - but they were definitely leaning over to "whisper" questions the whole time. Of course, the majority of the other theatre goers were doing the same thing, and it was a matinee show for kids, so I guess that's ok.
If you make any improvements to your home, I'd love to see pics! I love seeing "real" homes.
Is it just me or did it seem like Nate and Giada couldn't stand eachother? It almost seemed like Oprah and Nate were the cool kids in high school who were picking on Giada. Now don't get me wrong I'm no big Giada fan (her mouth bothers me,) but I was annoyed at how snotty Oprah and Nate were to her. Just an observation.
I'm so glad my kids are old enough to no longer want to see the latest kid's films. I remember falling asleep and actually snoring during "Shark Tales" loud enough for people in the row in front of me to hear it! Awkward!
I was able to watch today's show, and after living the rest of my day, I can say what lingers with me is a sense of inadequacy. I'm a great dumpster diver/thrifter/freecycler and most of my house has been done with free stuff which I like. But the sheer enormity of my task wears me out, because my house has serious problems that I can't afford to fix. Would Nate knock on my door with big burly men in tow to solve these problems for me? I'd be happy to post a list if he's reading this blog! He'd be doing a great thing for a single mother who has held up her end of the world for a long time and would REALLY APPRECIATE some help in the home department! Hint, hint, Nate.
So, any project becomes fraught, because in an old house, the domino effect combines with Murphy's Law to render each and every effort, from painting, to curtain hanging, to plaster repair an enormous chore. I used to wonder why rich people from Mayflower families kept family homes with all the original furnishings intact. They understand what a complete money pit remodeling and redecorating are, and they didn't get rich throwing their money away.
I felt sorry for Giada, cooking for two people who didn't seem to be appreciating her efforts. I plan to make crostini with brie, chocolate chips and basil to serve for a Christmas hors doevre (sp?) I think that sounds delish!
This Sun-Times article is the best one yet on your project. I'm so glad you're getting the recognition you deserve for all your work.
LO,
I read the article and if you want to head west to go to the beach, I'd love to welcome you to California. I figure that's probably not what you had in mind after spending all that $$ on O, but if the opportunity arises... The Monterey Penninsula is beautiful any time of year. :>)
The show made me look around my tiny house and wonder what Nate or any of those women would say. I'd die a thousand deaths if a camera crew showed up at my door, but I'd quickly revive if that truck from Lowe's (previous show) was parked nearby.
Truthfully, I was impressed at with what the guests had accomplished, as well as the obvious pride they took in their work. It made me want to put more thought, time, and energy into my own space.
i knew that it was only a matter of time before Dr.Oz got his own show thanks to oprah...
anywho, what does your husband think of this whole "living oprah" thing that you've started (you mightve wrote it in your first post, but im a first time visitor ;))
Hi there! I found out about you from "The Fun House." Your experiment reminds me of a book by the Italian journalist and writer, Tiziano Terzani, called, "Un Indovino Mi Disse." Basically it's about him deciding to spend a year of his life without ever riding in an airplane, after a fortune teller predicts that he could be killed in an air crash. As an international correspondent, this becomes a real challenge for Terzani. Come to think of it, I remember reading the review for the English translation of this book in Oprah's magazine a few years ago....
Anyway, the ultimate would be for you to write a book about your experience and then have it featured in Oprah's bookclub.
A "panini maker" seems like a bit of a scam to me; that's from an expat living in Italy.
Anne
Hey LO!
I too have become re-motivated to start decorating again. Something about seeing others redone rooms gets me inspired (for at least a day or two), heehee.
I relate to your experience seeing kids at a movie...I admittedly went to see HSM3 at the theatre and I was surrounding by tweens and younger...may favorite part was 20 minutes into the movie when a little 6 year old girl behind us said, "Mom, I'm bored..." and then proceeding to run as fast as she could up and down the movie theatre aisle from the middle to the front. I laughed hysterically - it was too funny, and I wish I could've done it with her.
Your article in the Sun Times was great. Hope all is well and that you are surviving the cold weather!!
I think one of the bad things about having kids would be feeling like you have to take them to every animated movie that comes along--and there are a lot! I generally do not like kid films. I remember when it was a treat to go to the movies, and it was usually to see a PG movie that your parents wanted to see too. Now, it seems like a kid film comes out every week. Talk about overload. Ok, now I sound like a grumpy old woman.
On another note, we have a panini maker and we really like it. It's good if you want a quick dinner. Ours was a gift. I would have preferred something more versatile, like those ones with interchangeable grills and such. As it is, ours is nice. It does produce a lot of heat and can get smoky, so we set it up under our ventilation hood.
The Madagascar thing got me thinking.. How do today's parents do it? Seriously. Like, I could not stomach Hannah Montana or those crazy Baby Einstein videos. But then again is it depriving the kid if you block Nickjr. from your cable box? I do not have kids yet but I would totally consider the Nickjr. ban in my house.
Honestly, Teresa. I agree with you, but as a parent I have developed deaf ears to the horrible sounds of children's programming. Although I do limit the TV, it does still get to me and my children are used to my, "I can't take it any more! Shut that off!"
In the older kid Disney shows like Hannah Montana, I always note, "This is another one about kissing and dating isn't it?" My daughter insists that the show is far more complex than that, but she is wrong. ;-)
Paula--BINGO on the "How do you think they got so rich" decorating styles of the wealthy. The richest people I know have the worst couches I know but the original slipcovers or upholstery is so nice it doesn't matter that it's tattered. Amazing.
Teresa--easy. You don't take them and you don't show them. I don't totally deprive my kids of TV (though several of my friends do and would be offended that I call it "depriving") but I look at it first to be sure it's something I like, with messages I approve. Period. And some of it, you just luck out; my oldest hates loud noises and conflict. This cuts out just about everything but a few PBSKids shows. My younger likes it all, so is happy to capitulate to brother, as long as something is on.
LO, thinking about you in this "stealth" reruns week. Not even among my favorites! Hope she tapped in to some of yours, maybe.
And I was sorry I missed last week. I loved the one who lived in Europe, especially, since her house style seemed accessible and real to me. (Others are also lovely, but bigger than/newer than/super different from my own. I found them inspiring, as I sit in my clutter of Peter Walshian proportions.
Congratulations on the newspaper article.
I just found your blog since PC magazine listed you as one of their favorite blogs. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2337279,00.asp
Congratulations on the newspaper article.
I just found your blog since PC magazine listed you as one of their favorite blogs. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2337279,00.asp
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