Picks of the Month

Here are some current things that I'm listening to, reading, watching, and wearing (or wishing I owned). I highly recommend trying any and all of these. Unless you are a dude, in which case you should admire the fashion trends I have highlighted, not wear it yourself. Except for the color thing.

Music of the Month

1. Dario Marianelli -- Atonement soundtrack
Notable tracks: All. Seriously. Marianelli deserved his Oscar in every way.
2. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals -- Follow the Lights EP
Notable tracks: My Love for You Is Real, This Is It, Follow the Lights
3. Vampire Weekend -- Vampire Weekend
Notable tracks: Oxford Comma (not for the faint of heart, my friends), M79, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
4. MGMT -- Oracular Spectacular
Notable tracks: Electric Feel, Kids, Time to Pretend
5. Fields -- Everything Last Winter
Notable tracks: Parasite, You Brought This On Yourself, Charming the Flames

Books of the Month

1. I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert -- The funniest book I've read since Jen Lancaster's books; keep an eye out for the "Things That Are Trying to Turn Me Gay" table. Priceless.
2. No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy -- So bare-bones and intense, I had to make myself put this down.
3. The Road by Cormac McCarthy -- He has completely revived my love for fiction, and his techniques are incredibly honed -- he never wastes a word, he never relies on cheap clichés to evoke emotion, and what he writes is genuinely moving.
4. Atonement by Ian McEwan -- Writing in a completely different style from Cormac McCarthy's sparse prose, McEwan fills his pages with rich, long descriptions, delving deep into the characters' minds. Read before you see the movie.
5. The Fug Awards by the Go Fug Yourself girls -- Ahh, poking fun at celebrity fashion faux pas...a guilty pleasure, but the GFY girls are so witty, you almost forget you're reading such shallow material.

Movies of the Month

Each of these movies has either been released on DVD within the last month, or is currently playing in a theatre near you.

1. No Country for Old Men -- A perfect film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel, this film is technically flawless and absolutely riveting. Javier Bardem is the most terrifying villain I've seen since, well, I can't even think of a scarier guy. For realsies.
2. Atonement -- Another great film adaptation filled with a flawless soundtrack, impressive and lush cinematography, and some stand-out performances (but not from Keira Knightley -- surprise, surprise).
3. Penelope -- Colorful and simple, this one is a refreshing change from everything else I've seen recently, and it has a killer soundtrack.
4. Michael Clayton -- Who knew a political thriller could be so, well, thrilling? This is George Clooney reminding you why he's an actor.
5. Dan in Real Life -- What can I say? I love Steve Carell.

Notable TV Shows:

1. The Office -- This will always have my number one slot. Always. For those who are curious, the next new post-strike episode will air Thursday, April 10th. If you've fallen behind, now's the time to catch up.
2. 30 Rock -- 2nd funniest show currently on TV. If you haven't seen the genius that is Alec Baldwin's Jack Donaghy, then stop what you're doing and find a way to watch. That is all.
3. Flight of the Conchords -- 'Nuff said.
4. The Colbert Report -- Because I always laugh aloud when I watch the show, and I totally have a crush on Stephen Colbert.
5. In Treatment -- Admittedly, my interest for the show is starting to fade, but Gabriel Byrne is remarkable. It's definitely an interesting experiment in television.

Notable Fashion Favorites
1. Bright colors -- Forget pastels; I'm falling in love with the bright yellows and greens that are so popular this spring.
2. Patent leather -- I always love patent leather shoes, but it feels much more appropriate in the spring. Its sleek, wet look lets you look like you've splashed in spring puddles...minus the mud.
3. Maxi dresses -- So comfy, and you don't have to shave your legs. I love that this trend is back in.
4. Wellies -- Spring = rain = fun galoshes. Not only do they keep your pants dry and protect your real shoes, but they come in so many fun colors and prints. Here are two pairs I've been eyeing:














5. Trench coats -- Yet another way to pop some color into your outfit. I'm lusting over this beautiful red Burberry:





















Well, that's it for tonight (and for another three weeks at my rate). I hope this makes up for weeks of ignoring my blog.