Living In...

Looking for a fun read & visual? Floral designer Amy Merrick contributes a weekly column at design*sponge called, "Living In," where she dissects the styles of her favorite films. Her round up of products and clever commentary are quite entertaining. Here are a couple of my favorites, The Sound of Music, of course...







"Whatever your feelings about musicals now, it’s undeniable that every little girl has dreamed of living in The Sound of Music at one point or another. Most first viewings happen at such a young age that being 16 going on 17 seems an utter impossibility. It’s hard not to still dream about singing on mountaintops, dancing in gazebos or picnicking in fine Alps form."







"The curtain-made clothes get a lot of play, but how about the girls’ sweet sailor uniforms? The movie blends a charming mix of Fraulein Maria and Captain Von Trapp — a little free spirited and a little fancy, too. Whatever camp you fall into, there are a few simple things on which we all can agree: Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens win out every time."



Speaking of films...my all-time favorite, The Godfather. Here's Amy's round-up and some of her commentary...





"The long alfresco dinner parties, bottles of wine, wildly handsome Al Pacino and crumbling Italian mansions all make me want to wimper with greedy wanting. But I’m about 90% sure that my obsession with the Corleone, Italy scenes stem from the mere presence of Apollonia, Michael Corleone’s albeit brief bride. Hello, girl crush of my life. I have spent many a tearful night begging god to turn me into a 17 year old, rural Italian bombshell, but no. Hence my constant hunt for a bit more godfather bits to add to my life. – amy m."

my dog Vito Corleone & I at the Godfather desk

And speaking of "living in" the Godfather, I just returned from visit Francis Ford Coppola's winery in Napa County. They have a Godfather museum with some of the artifacts from the film. Yours truly was thrilled to stand next to the actual desk used in the movie!

Be sure and check out Amy's column here and have a fabulous weekend!



all images from design*sponge

Midnight in Paris

Hope you had a wonderful weekend. I was able to escape reality for a bit and saw Woody Allen's latest masterpiece, Midnight in Paris. What a wonderful film! The story, scenery and all, had me yearning to go back in time to another era. Particularly Paris.

Have you seen it yet? If not, you must. If you were able to go back in time, where would you want to go? What era? Would you stay?

Vertigo Then and Now

Is anyone a fan of the Alfred Hitchcock classic film Vertigo? I just stumbled upon this website with wonderful before and after images of various locations used in the 1958 film which was shot in San Francisco. To see all of them, visit Vertigo Then and Now's website here.

1958- The magnificent Brocklebank Apartments are where Scottie begins trailing Madeleine's green Jaguar.

2003- The biggest change to this grand apartment building across the street from the Fairmont Hotel is what it costs to live here now.

1958-Post and Stockton. Scottie takes Judy shopping and begins making her over to look like Madeleine.

2003- After forty five years, the flower stand lives on in the same location. The Eddie Bauer store was previously occupied by Gumps, which moved a block down the street.

1958-The Pacific Union Club Shadowing Madeleine once again, Scottie follows her up and down the steep, narrow streets of Nob and Russian Hills. Traveling west on Sacramento Street, Madeleine turns right onto Taylor and drives one block to Clay Street, where she makes another right. Scottie grows increasingly perplexed as they continue down Mason Street to Washington. Much to his surprise, her trail leads him to the intersection of Leavenworth and Lombard, where she turns right and heads one block down the hill to Jones Street. Scottie approaches her at the front door of his home at 900 Lombard where she has just dropped off a thank you note.

2003- On the right is the service entrance to the Pacific Union Club. Sacramento Street is just ahead. Clearly, much has changed in this affluent area.

images and descriptions from Vertigo Then and Now

1911 on YouTube

In honor of April Fools' Day, YouTube is taking a trip down memory lane with an old school twist on modern videos. Take a look...it's great!