Random Thursday: Top 3 Books Turned Movies

I think I can ... I think I can ....

This is my mantra this week! 

It is definitely the epitome of a teacher's life for me: parent teacher conferences, report cards due, lesson planning, professional development, and getting ready for a new student! 

Needless to say, this Random Thursday is definitely a welcome break from the icky rush before spring break! 

The topic this week:

Let me just say that I love to read a GREAT book, but it saddens me when they don't come out that great. I always wish my favorite parts of the book would make it into movie form but usually they dont! Let's just say that alot of times the books turned movies are not that great... there are definitely bad options out there! 

Either way here are my top 3! 

|one|

This is based on one of my favorite books by one of my all time favorite authors: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

|two|

The Secret Life of Bees

Loved both the book and the movie...

 

...but i still loved the book more! 

|three|

One of my all time favorite books! 

 

I loved both the movie and the book... but i think i still love the book much more! There are some details that they can't fit into a movie! 

I can't wait to read what other people post! 

My guess is that there will be a few references to Twilight and maybe even some Lord of the Rings? Or even Harry Potter? Hmmm... see if I'm right by clicking below! 

It's a Giveaway!

I promised!

And I am totally coming through!

There's a giveaway on this here blog today!

It's my one way to celebrate going back to my classroom. Ugh! 

Winter vacay, how i miss thee!

Here's the deal: 

I'm giving away 5 rentals from your local Redbox to five different people! 

If you don't know what Redbox is, just click here and their website can help you out with that! 

Let's just say it is the easiest form of renting DVDs, Blu-rays  and games on the face of this planet, or at least in the USA! Returning them is pretty simple too! 

So the Academy Awards are coming and all the nominees were announced last week!

Here are some ideas for what you could watch, if you win! 

(WARNING: All movies below contain Oscar Nominated actors and actresses, these movies are NOT Oscar nominees! Actors in these movies have been nominated for these movies or another more recent movie! These movies are or will be available in Redbox machines, however, they may not be available right when you want them! Make sure to reserve in advance to ensure your movie is there!) 

With Bradley Cooper

(Nominated for Best Actor for his work in Silver Linings Playbook)

With High Jackman

(Nominated for Best Actor for his work in Les Miserables)

Available on Redbox Feb. 5th

(Denzel is nominated for Best Actor for his work in this movie)

With Jessica Chastain

(Nominated for Best Actress for her work in Zero Dark Thirty)

With Jennifer Lawrence

(Nominated for Best Actress for her work in Silver Lining Playbook)

These are just a few movies that you could rent if you win! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Date With My Couch

Oh boy! Let me just say... I.CANNOT.WAIT for tonight! 

With back to school night last night, a couple IEPs to prepare for, room decorating, crazy kiddo behaviors and just the average run of the mill day to day stuff, I am flat out exhausted!!! Oh and hubs is on a boat tonight, so this girl (me) has a date with her couch! 

Tonight, when i get home after a whirlwind of a Friday, I am headed straight for my couch to watch a couple chickie flicks! My chick flicks are in my apartment and ready to be viewed thanks to this adorable gal over at A Look Into Me and the wonderful Movie Night Swap that happened over at Linny's Vault and Life with Attitude! 

Here's what i got in my package:

Twizzlers, Reese's, and popcorn! 

  

TWO DVDs: Definitely, Maybe (haven't seen yet) and Sex and the City (didn't own and love!)  

Plus, Stacy sent me a beautiful sand dollar from the East Coast! 

I have yet to see one of these on a California beach, so this was really cool. 

I am way excited about my movie night tonight... and so is Lily! 

Thanks so much Stacy for a great swap! Loved every last little bit! 

Lily even jumped into the box when it was emptied out! Aw! So cute! 

Be sure to check out what everyone else got and head on over to Stacy's blog to see what she received from me! 

Movies to Make your Heart Sing

Oh gosh! Is it just me or is the week seemingly flying by with still the same amount of work to complete? Case in point: Its already Thursday!?!?! Wha? 

Guess that means its time to link up and share my favorite feel good movies.... oh boy! 

BTW Lovin this link up and Linny is about to become a friend IRL! Can't wait til next week Linny! 

This might mean a lot of different things to many different people. To me a feel good movie is a flick that has memories attached to it or just flat out makes you feel good. I have a couple of these. 

The first is You've Got Mail

I love this movie! I still can quote it and love re-watching it! 

The second is Top Gun! 

There are so many fun memories of watching this movie in my high school church leadership retreats! 

Next up, Billy Madison. 

This brings back even more high school memories. I had a group of friends that would watch this move pretty religiously every Friday night. I can still quote it and now my husband and i quote it ot each other. 

Sleepless in Seattle. 

This movie is proof that if something goes wrong, your life can still change for the better! Love Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan! 

I have written about this one before.... Return to Me! See this post here to check it out! 

Another one I love is Sweet Home Alabama... 

I know, i know, another chick flick! I love them, what can i say!?!

I also think Mona Lisa Smile makes me smile. Julia Roberts is another favorite of mine! 

Newly added to the list: The Help! This movie was not as good as the book, but I love the story nonetheless! Skeeter is an awesome character and i really think she and i would have been friends for sure! 

OK, I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones i can think of. I am a chick flick lover and always will be! I also love a sad sappy story that turns out for the better! What movies make you feel good? 

Link up with: 

Linny's Vault

mpirical

&

sunlight after rain

for 

Also, if you love movies, feel good or not, join us for a swap! 

Alright, I'm outta here! Have a great Thursday!  

Admittedly Girly

I am not gonna lie, I love a good romantic comedy.

I have several on DVD and prior to being married and in a committed relationship I would choose a movie week that I would just pop into my DVD player and loop endlessly. I used to fall asleep with the television on, but now I quite enjoy the room to be quiet, except for the occasional deep breath or snore from hubs!

 

So when I saw this weeks smell the roses task, I wasn't sure if I could fit it in! Lucky for me I had an upset tummy after dinner on Friday night which

left my hubby to visit his parents alone. This left me on the couch witha nice warm blanky and time to pop in one of my all time favorite movies. Now I, of course, chose a girly one! This is one area where I am stereo-typically a girly girl! I typically do not like pink, tons of make up and frequently like to do my shopping quickly instead of all day! But I do love a good chick flick! And I love many of them! It was tough to choose just one! 

So the movie I decided on was Return to Me! What's not to love? Here are a few elements that you might enjoy too!

- Carroll O'Connor ... Love this man in this movie!

- Minnie Driver AND David Duchovny who make a great couple.

- Sinatra love songs included in the soundtrack.

- A plot that includes a man being devastated after losing his wife only tofindthat his new girlfriend has the donated heart of his deceased wife. How romantic!

- Humor. The older italian family members are hilarious, but so are Bonnie Hunt and James Belushi are quite an addition to the comedy of the movie.

- The movie takes place in Chicago and Italy.

- The Italian restaurant that is the primary setting for the movie. 

- The movie ends on a happy note, but note that it contains a tragedy, humor, a love story, and is all surrounded by a great family to support the entire plot!

Have you seen the movie? Did you enjoy it? 

Do you have any chick flicks you enjoyed watching?

Also don't forget to vote for me! Voting ends today! Thanks to those that have voted for me!