No Strings Attached

... the movie, not the *NSYNC reunion tour if there ever was one.

My friends and I went to see the matinee showing of No Strings Attached last Friday when it came out. I was expecting a lot of intimate scenes and sex-related jokes, which did happen a lot. However, it was such an adorable and funny movie. Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher have excellent chemistry. It was very weird to see Natalie in a different light, compared to her character in Black Swan, but I really enjoyed seeing the light, playful, flirty side of her.

One may automatically assume that No Strings Attached is a chick flick, but I believe it's targeting to both men and women. The subject matter -- friends with benefits -- is something that everyone can experience and both genders are able to see the two separate perspectives in the movie.

So run, don't walk, to the nearest theater and catch this movie while you can! I can guarantee you that Natalie and Ashton (and Ludacris... yes, I said Ludacris) will: 1) make you laugh 2) make you cry 3) make you wish you had a significant other (if you don't already, you lucky girls!).

I had a dream I could fly from the highest tree

This was too cute not to share! I only hope that one day, my wedding will be as beautiful and magical as this one was :)


Brittany + Paul's Short Wedding Film - Dallas, TX from Joe Simon Films on Vimeo.

Girl-friend ≠ Girlfriend

I've spent the last six or seven years of my life with the best friends I could ever ask for. The problem is that they're all guys. Now, I've always been closer to guys than girls - I don't know if it's because I'm more easygoing than most girls or the fact that I can play Ultimate Frisbee better than most girls... - and I've never had a problem with that. In fact, I spent a lot of my high school weekends with my guy friends than my girl friends -- at first my mom was concerned, but then she realized that they were all way smarter than me and that I could end up marrying one of these guys My Best Friend's Wedding style.

The other day, I went out to lunch with two of my guy friends: Georgetown and Syracuse. I've known Georgetown since kindergarten and spent a good portion of my early elementary school days pining over him while he thought I had cooties. On the other hand, Syracuse and I became friends in sixth grade and the rest is history. They both have girlfriends and during our lunch, Syracuse said he asked me how much I usually spend on a haircut. I replied "No more than $40" (I keep my hair natural, so usually a wash, cut, & blowdry/straighten will do it) and he said that his girlfriend spends over $100 and he doesn't understand why. I thoroughly explained to him that girls usually get their hair cut and colored/highlighted on a trip to the salon and that I just happened to not be one of those girls. Then, Georgetown asked me if I ever get my "eyebrows done" (he clearly did not know what that meant) and I said no, I usually do it myself and it ends up fine. He then asked me what "getting my eyebrows done actually meant" and I explained it to him, and he said that his girlfriend usually gets hers done and he didn't understand why either. We then somehow began talking about our views on Valentine's Day and if Syracuse should visit his girlfriend at school, despite the fact that 1) it's on a Monday and 2) his girlfriend previously told him that he didn't have to. I gave him an answer and apologized for being biased (I personally am one of those who do not believe in Valentine's Day, sorry to all you hopeless romantics) and he said that he'd rather hear my opinion than anyone else.

After I got home, I reflected on that conversation and just chuckled to myself... but then I realized something: I have become that girl-friend, the one that all the guys turn to for advice on their own girlfriends. I suddenly became vulnerable and wondered if their girlfriends were jealous of me for being so close to their boys, but let's be real, that feeling only lasted about a second.

Don't get me wrong, I'm fine with being the girl-friend. I've been the girl-friend for seven years and I am perfectly content with my role in their lives. I just can't help but wonder... when is it going to be MY turn? I'm all about being patient and waiting for the right one to come, but when I see other people my age going through relationships like they go through cell phones to keep up with the latest one, I just wish that I could be them... even if it only seems like a moment.

Is that too much of an unreasonable request? I know I'm smart enough to know the answer to that question, I just don't want to face it.

Peace out 2010, Hollla atcha girl 2011!

Happy 2011, everyone! I honestly am a bit skeptical as to how incredible this year is going to be, simply because I thought 2010 was absolutely amazing. It was truly a year full of the good things (happiness, luck, family, and new friends) and none of the bad, which I obviously cannot complain about!

In 2010, I... skated on Frog Pond with all my friends, went to see the Blue Man Group, ran for an exec. board position in SGA and won (!!), earned a 3.64 GPA for the year, said goodbye to one of my best friends from school who was going to transfer to USF, had my wisdom teeth removed, went to see the Backstreet Boys, traveled to Washington D.C. with my family, went to see Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum, had the most amazing summer at PCC, welcomed back said friend who returned to school for good :), became a college sophomore, was a student mentor for the freshmen, had lunch with Salve's board of trustees, attended the National Student Government Conference in Washington D.C. (again), saw the President's motorcade and stepped foot inside the Oval Office (still not over it), visited George Mason University, visited Georgetown University, went zip-lining, met new friends who will become my roommates next year, won a scholarship for my major, and earned a 3.718 GPA for the first semester.

The events in my life may not seem... well, for a lack of a better word, eventful... but there's nothing else that I would want. I can't recall any major setbacks or negatives and I am truly grateful for that.

As cliché as it may sound, the most important thing I learned this year was to finally appreciate what I have in the present and not to dwell on what I could or should have. I have been given so many wonderful opportunities that I really shouldn't have any time to think about the what if's.

2011, this is the year for three things:
1) goal-setting and accomplishments
2) less stress (we all need that in our lives!)
and most importantly,
3) having all sorts of fun!