No Place Like Movies at Home: Flying Down to Rio

 We are finally here! We are finally out of the Frank Sinatra movies! We are now back in the land of musicals! Not just any land but the land of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers!

We are kicking things off with their very first movie together Flying Down to Rio.

The movie centers around a band working at an exclusive resort but with strict order not to mingle with the guest. However, the band leader can not help himself. When he is caught the band the band is cut. However, as luck would have a friend of the band leaders is a manger of a new hotel that is opening up in Rio and they need a great orchestra. The other stoke of luck comes when the girl the leader was caught with is also going to the same hotel. Will love bloom wile Flying Down to Rio?

So, before we begin I have to say that this is their first movie together but they are not the star couple of this feature. They are a great side couple but it's not really about them. Funny enough they were so loved in this movie together it kicked off what ended up being a 10 movie collaboration. It was great seeing them being cute and dancing together, but this is not my all time favorite movie of their. This one is probably my least favorite out of all 10 and it's really because I know what is coming. I know the love, joy, heartache, tears, and just pure wonder that around the corner. I can't wait to share all of it with you. 

This movie I will say has one great highlight. The finally of the film comes to a head with they don't have the proper permits for entertainment for the new opening day at the hotel in Rio. They have to get creative. By that I mean they get some hands on plans and have the girl dancing on the plans while they are flying around the hotel. It's really well filmed and a really fun moment in the film. 

I hope that you will also watch it one day cause it's a cute film but I hope you also follow-up a few other of their movies to see how great they can become.

You're the Best Friends Anyone Ever Had: The Sweetest Thing

 So, after I got done with writing my brilliant post about Nikki Day I realized that I didn't include the movie she wanted me to watch. I wanted to go back and add the movie in but I really did love that post and didn't want to edit it, so now I have two posts to every month. Well, almost every month. 

*Edit- I discovered that I also forgot to include the theme for January's BFF gift. So, I will add it now. The Trait that was used for the month of January is Kindness. The best way I thought to represent kindness was to send everyone a Thank You note. So, I actually bought these gorgeous Tennessee Theatre painted blank cards at the Tennessee Theatre. I also bought them with no use in mind cause they were pretty. When I realized I could use them for the thank you notes I was floored! I wanted them to be around and not just thrown away quickly. When I realized that my friends where going to probably hold on to them for a bit I used them. I wrote everyone a thank you note telling them how much they mean to me and what I love doing with them. I was very excited to share those with them. 

I will remember from here on out to write about the theme along with the movie. 

So, out of the many wonderful movies that there are in the world Nikki Day wanted me to watch The Sweetest Thing. 

Warning: This movie is not for the faint of heart..... The fact that Nikki suggested this movie still shocks me. This movie centers around three friends. Two of which love living the single life. The other just had her heart broken. In an effort to make her feel better they take her out on the night on the town. However, The ringleader looses her heart along the way. Throwing out the whole rule book of not falling in love she chase after the guy across the state to find the wedding he is apart of to connect with him again. She is off with her BFF on a fun and crazy road trip all in the pursuit of love. 

I find it funny that Nikki chose this movie for me to watch. One because it as filthy... I mean it was really really filthy. I mean it was one of those movies that when you think that it can't get dirtier it does. However, when it comes to trying to finding love Nikki wants to be the match maker so bad. She has tried to get me to go out with guys but the one guy that I have liked for a while, she has done everything in her power, so far, to get us connect. We are planning another trip, to a different part of the state, to make another connection.

However, I am supposed to be talking about this movie. Despite, I mean really despite, how gross this movie is the friendship in it is pretty awesome. i mean they know how to have fun, they know how to support each other. They are there when the other cries, they travel on road trips because they think that going after something that scares them is going to make them a better person. They are supportive, and know how to have fun. I loved all of those sweet moments in the movie. I also loved that they weren't afraid to call each other out when they needed to. We all need friends like that. 

You're the Best Friends Anybody Ever Had: Nikki Day

 The month of January belongs to the person who inspired a lot of things in my life. She inspired me to do my Cyclone project early. She has inspired me to do crazy things in my life. I mean she even inspired me writing a blog. She has one that celebrates her and her nephews. When I started writing all of those years ago I never thought I would still be doing it all of these years later. 

It's all thanks to the marvelous Nikki Day!

Nikki Day is one of those rare work friends that even after you quit the job and never return, you still are friends with her! Work friends usually don't do that. Yes, they do hang out with you before and after work, and yes we are super close while you are working there. It almost never stays that way after one of you leaves. This awesome lady didn't let that happen. Nikki and I actually met at a work event 10 years ago in 2011. We did the Buddy's Walk for Cancer with our hotel company that we worked for. The next few years were spent talking to each other over the phone about how our nights were going across the street. Then led to cross training at each other's hotels, and the working together almost none stop because we were the best team those hotels have ever seen! We were always laughing but we always got the job done and done well! 

We hung out together after work a lot. Our first outing was when we went to see the movie Pitch Perfect together. That whole movie has been an inside joke ever since. 

Our friendship got kicked up to high gear in 2013. Nikki asked me if I wanted to go to CMA Fest with her. She had told me how awesome it was, and how you can meet all of the country music stars. It sounded like fun and she knew I love country music. So, I said yes. Not only did I say yes to going to a week long vacation with who I didn't know super, super well, but I didn't help plan any of it. I let her take the wheel and just went with it. If you know me.... I don't do that super well. I have gotten better over the years but when it comes to trips and things I like to be in control. We had a blast! We got to meet so many people, and got to see so many live performances. We ate so much good food! However, we had some bumps on the way. Nikki booked for one night earlier at the hotel, and our week long reservation was totally canceled. However, that was more the hotel's fault than Nikki's, they never called us or anything to see if we were coming. So, we had to book a hotel room for one night, and had to find other hotel rooms for the rest of the week! It's one of the best trips I have ever been on.

Nikki is my adventure buddy! We are always planning trips and going places. Even if it's not out of town, if it's a new place to eat she is always down to go! She will do the craziest of things with the little amount of planning and notice. However, she is also laid back and down to earth. She is super easy to talk to and you can tell her literally anything with no judgment. It's hard to find a friend like that. She will also call you on your crap too. Like if I am not being bold enough in parts of my life. Or if I'm scared to do something. She always like to point out the craziest things I have done in my life and then ask me "why can't you talk to this boy?! You went skydiving how can you not talk to a boy. He's just a boy just talk to him!". I can't explain it to you why I can't talk to a boy but it always baffles her. 

She doesn't like having bad days, and with her there are few! I remember one day at work, the one time both of us were having off days. Never happened before. We weren't mad at each other but it wasn't a good day. We didn't really talk to do anything other than count down the hours until we could go home. The night was dragging on and we could not figure out how to get our of the rut. A guest called down needing something for the room and Nikki said she would go and get them. It got to the point where I thought she was gone for way too long and I was scared that something had happened. Right at that point the woman comes down dressed as Santa! In the middle of summer! 

I think everyone needs a courageous, funny, and beautiful friend like Nikki Day! She is honest and she will tell you the truth and won't tell you in a demeaning way. She can always bring a smile to your face and encourage you no matter what is going on! She is such a strong human being and an inspiration! All the world needs a Nikki Day and I am glad God put her into mine.

You're the Best Friends Anybody Ever Had: Official Introduction

I made the post back the the very start of the year talking a little bit about my Best Friends Project. I didn't want to say much because I didn't have the chance to tell the people I am doing the project for much about it. Now, all of my friends have been given the their first gifts so I can actually say what is going on.

So, you know every month has a theme, and everyone is getting something that matches the theme. I told you have the themes were chosen. The one thing I didn't get the chance to say at that time is that it all leads to something. Every gift will come with a slip of paper that tells about the theme of that month. They will also be getting a puzzle piece. This puzzle is a picture with me and every person I am doing this for. They all have their own puzzle. I have spent MANY nights getting everything measured, and traced, mod poged. They will be getting one piece a month for the whole year and have the whole picture at the end of the year. 

The other thing that I will be doing and I will be writing a blog post about all of them through the whole year. There are eight people I am doing this for in total, but since there are 12 months in the year... I don't know what I am going to be writing about on those months yet! However, it's gonna fun. How I have decided to choose who I am writing about that month was picked at random but for another project.

My Cyclone, that I am also doing this year, needed these same eight people to give me stuff to do. I had them pick out their own month that they wanted to torture me in. So, I am using the month that they chose as their month for me to watch their movie and write about them!

I already know that I am a month behind, January is a terribly busy month for me every year. So, I have done everything I have needed to do for January's theme and post, but I have not gotten to write about it yet. I will be getting it done at some point this weekend. 

I am so very exciting to be celebrating my friends this year! I can't wait to share them with you too. 

No Place Like Movies at Home: Lady in Cement

 IT FINALLY HAPPENED! We got to the end of the Frank Sinatra films! Well, for a little bit anyways. I do have a few most scattered through my collections but the near 30 in a row was hard to watch! The finish this lovely row of Frank Sinatra with the sequel to Tony Rome with the movie called Lady in Cement. 

Tony Rome is at it again! Trying to get rich quick he stubbles into another mystery that need solving. While looking for doubloons at the bottom of the ocean he comes across a lady who's feet are incased in cement.

I have to say. The best thing going for this moving the charm that Frank Sinatra ha. I remember enjoying this movie when I first watched it all of those years ago. Watching it now I have realized that I have seen far better Frank Sinatra movies and this doesn't have the same zing as the first time around. It's a decent movie and if you are looking for something to be on that's mildly entertaining in the background this would be a good pick. 

No Place Like Movies at Home: The Detective

 I am not going to talk about this film long because...... well it was hard to watch and I'm still trying to process all of it.

The really short description of this is Frank Sinatra is a detective who is asked to work on a degusting and grizzly murder of a homosexual in a time when being one mean you have to be hidden.

This is a harsh movie that calls to attentions lots of questionable acts of many different people for many different reasons. It's a movie that is made to make you feel outraged, and bitter. It makes you think and realize what some of the things that are going on in the world even today. It's not a feel good funny Frank Sinatra movie. I recommend it but with a warning that it's not meant to be an easy watch.

No Place Like Movies at Home: Tony Rom

Tony Rome is one of those Frank Sinatra films that I really have enjoyed over the years. I know that it's not exciting compared to today's spy films but it's a fun and funny journey to go on.

Mr. Rome is an ex-cop turned private detective who has a gambling problem. When an ex business partner asked for a favor he tries to help him. This turns into a new investigation when he shows up and a young woman is unconscious in the hotel room. He agrees to take her home but when he gets there her father tells him that she has been acting weird. He hires Mr. Rome to investigate what is going on with his daughter. 

I think that I really like this movie because I like Frank Sinatra. This is not one of the ones that goes down in cinematic history as one of the greatest movies ever made, but if you are a fan you will enjoy it. Mr. Sinatra is smooth and funny in this role. It did well enough to make a sequel, I will be watching that later this week.