Trolls are real, m'kay. The Norwegians have proof.

For some reason horror and the fake documentary seem a good fit. The subgenre exploded onto the scene in 1999 with The Blair Witch Project and has been alive and well as of late with Cloverfield, Paranormal Activity and The Last Exorcism, which Shawn and I have yet to see.

Now the Norwegians are getting into the game with their film Troll Hunter (Trolljegeren) and wow does it look like fun. The film is a "documentary" about a group of students who discover what they believe is a government conspiracy to keep the existence of trolls in the north of Norway hidden from the general public. Much running, screaming and smashing ensues. We like smashing here in The Basement.

Troll Hunter opens in Norway on Oct. 29, and Shawn and I promise to acquire a copy as soon as possible and get you a review.

Check out the trailer below and let us know your thoughts!


Troll Hunter - English Subtitled Trailer
Uploaded by dreadcentral. - Full seasons and entire episodes online.

If you Knew Hilda, like I know Hilda..

If you haven’t met, please allow me to introduce you. Hilda is a big beauty with a bubbling personality and a pin-up girl from the 50’s. Her creator is Duane Bryers. I found Hilda quite by accident and have been trying to locate calendars, postcards, prints, anything with Hilda’s picture on it ever since. I just think she would look adorable framed in my kitchen. I don’t know where to begin to tell you what I love about her. She’s curious, giddy, exasperated, troublesome, but always fun.  I like her irresistible child-like innocence.  However the thing I love most about her is that she is completely comfortable with her body and seriously, how could she not be? She is absolutely gorgeous and I don't think she knows how voluptuous she is.

Below are many of Duane Bryers incredible Hilda paintings done specifically for Bigelow & Brown's Hilda calendars. These were illustrated between 1957 and 1970 although Mr. Bryers continued to do original paintings for the calendars until the early 1980s.

Aren't you glad you met Hilda?  Let's all embrace our curves.  Now, please pass the cheesecake!

Holly

xxx-ooo

Never Fail Recipes - Part One

Most people have recipes that they always go to when they want something quick and easy and although I do love to try out new recipes, lately I’ve been falling back on my favorites. These are the recipes that I never have to think about, and they are always a hit. I usually have everything already in my cupboard for these so I don’t have to make the last minute shopping trip. (Don’t we hate that trip where you just have to pick up one or two things?)

Simply Great Chicken

(Source: Country Chicken cookbook)

1 broiler-fryer chicken (3 1/2-4 lb.), cut up ( I leave the skin on)

1 (.7 oz.) envelope Good Seasons Italian salad dressing mix

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1. Place chicken in a single layer in a greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish.

2. In a small bowl, combine dry salad dressing mix and brown sugar; sprinkle over chicken.

3. Bake, uncovered, @ 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes or until juices run clear.

I love the crispy sweet goodness of this chicken recipe.

The next is the easiest cookie recipe I have. Only 3 ingredients, I don’t believe you heard me, 3 ingredients only!

3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup peanut butter

1 egg

1 cup white sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Combine the peanut butter, white sugar and egg. Mix until smooth.

3. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes. Do not overbake! These cookies are best when they are still soft and just barely brown on the bottoms.

Hope you enjoy!

 

Holly

xxx-ooo

Who Wore It Better?

This weeks 'Who Wore It Better?’ includes one of my favourite look from the Alexander McQueen Fall 2009 Collection. The stunning black mermaid style gown includes one asymmetric strap over the shoulder.

Both Kristen and Lady GaGa have graced this gown in magazine prints. Kristen for her November 2009 issue of Harper's Bazaar in a spread with Robert Pattinson to promote New Moon and Lady GaGa for a spread in Vogue UK.

I think you’ll agree both are very dramatic looks for me GaGa has the edge.

Who do you think wore it better?

Vote Below.

Kristen Stewart

Lady GaGa

 

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Second Skyline trailer hits . . . looks fantastic!

A month or so ago we showed you the first trailer for Skyline, an alien invasion flick made on a budget that impressed despite the limited info presented. Now the second trailer has arrived and it kicked Jason's ass. We're sure, when Shawn sees it, his ass will be kicked too!

Gaze in wild wonder at the preview below, and leave a comment or two if so inclined! Skyline touches down in theatres in November.

Behold! Tons of Teasers from the upcoming series 6 of Doctor Who!

The Brilliant Book of Doctor Who 2011 is now out in the UK, and someone has managed to take two scans of some AWESOME teasers from Doctor Who's upcoming Series 6 that you can view below.

I talked about some of the teasers in a much longer post I did today for Blastr which I am of course inviting you to read.

Enjoy!

[Via Spoiler TV]

Horror film The Tall Man shoots in B.C. Stars sexy actress.

Not to be confused with the infamous character from the Phantasm series, acclaimed French director Pascal Laugier (Martyrs) is set to make his English-language debut with The Tall Man this month. The film will lense for eight weeks in Nelson, B.C.

Oh, and hottie Jessica Biel stars in it. Hence the above picture. Lucky Nelson residents!


The story? Right, that's important: "Set in the town of Cold Rock, The Tall Man is a story of the haunting secrets that hide behind closed doors. With children gone missing over the years, leaving neither a clue nor a witness, superstitious locals talk of ‘The Tall Man,’ a legendary, mysterious dark figure who takes children away never to be seen again. When a woman’s son is taken, the chase is on and with it the quest for answers: Who is the Tall Man, and what happens to the children?"
 
The Tall Man also stars Stephen McHattie, William B. Davis, Samantha Ferris and Jodelle Ferland. We'll keep you posted as the release date nears.

Thanks to Horror-Movies.ca for the news!

Slumgullion and Dinner Rolls

When my sister and I were little and Mom went out for a Girl’s Night, Dad was in charge. This was a much anticipated occasion. We knew two things were definitely going to happen.

1) My sister and I would play barber shop. Dad would want to take a nap on the floor in front of the tv but knew he had to know where we were at all times. His solution was to lie on the floor and allow us to cover his entire face in shaving cream and shave him with butter knives while he napped. Good times Dad!

2) We would be eating Slumgullion. This was Dad’s famous recipe. If you asked him what was in it, he would tell you that it was everything that was left in the fridge and thrown in one pot. I honestly thought that he made the name Slumgullion up, but I’ve found that he didn’t. You can actually find real recipes for it on sites like Cooks.com and Allrecipes.com. Who da thunk it?


I’ve come up with my own way of making this easy dinner. It also involves getting rid of most things in the fridge and freezer. I made it for my husband who is quite picky and he loved it. It’s a lot like goulash but I hide vegetables in it since my husband doesn’t eat “green stuff” and it’s a little more soupy than goulash. I think some people call it hamburger soup.


I use:


1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 can petite diced tomatos
1 can tomato sauce
1 ½ cans water or chicken or beef broth
1 large diced onion
2 cloves garlic
2 TBSP soy sauce (trust me)
Oregano, basil, pepper.


After browning the ground beef, put in the onion and garlic and sauté until soft. Throw all the rest of the stuff in and simmer for about 20 minutes. Then start cleaning out your fridge/freezer. Today I used 1 cup of frozen corn, 1 cup frozen green beans and some diced baby carrots. Simmer another 20 minutes until carrots are softened. You can throw just about anything else you have in there. Green peppers are really good in there too. Bring the mixture to an easy boil and then add about 1 cup of macaroni noodles and cook until they are done. That’s it! Super tasty. I serve mine with Rhodes frozen dinner rolls because I’m too lazy to make my own and these always come out so fluffy and pretty.

Thanks for checking in.  And that's all I have to say.

 

Holly

xxx-ooo

The Coen Brothers bring True Grit to Christmas

We here in The Basement don't get too excited about remakes, but when Joel and Ethan Coen decide to redo a classic John Wayne Western with Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon, it's hard not to get too excited. When the film looks as good as the trailer below, one starts to think the film has promise.

Taking on the role made famous by Wayne in the first film adaptation of Charles Portis' novel, Bridges plays eye-patch-wearing, beverage-loving U.S. Marshall, Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. The trailer doesn't give us too much plot-wise, but it seems to follow the same story as the book and original film, which had Cogburn going deep into "Indian Territory" to help a young woman named Mattie Ross (newcomer Hailee Steinfeld) hunt down her father's killer (Josh Brolin). Also along for the ride is Texas Ranger La Boeuf (a nearly unrecognizable Damon).

Give the preview a look, and be sure to share your thoughts!

Every Grandma Had One

Lately I've been hooked on vintage Cosco 3 tiered carts and stools.  I'm not sure why, other than they make me feel nostalgic and I love the vintage look.  My grandmother had one of these in her kitchen for years, I think most Grandmothers did.  I found one at the thrift store down the street for $2.00 a few months back and had been kicking myself for not buying it.  I don't have a lot of counter space and I wanted something to put at the end of my counter to hold my Kitchenaid mixer.  Well, I went back to the thrift store a few days ago and they had another one there.  This one was $7.00...inflation?  I knew I couldn't pass it up.  For some reason I didn't take before pictures so you'll just have to trust me on this.  It was an ivory color and pretty dirty.  Very little rust though.  I brought her home and cleaned her up (with my Oxygen Orange Cleaner, of course) and sanded down the rusty parts.  I primed, painted and added a coat of polyurethane.  I just love her and she fits so perfectly in that little space.  Don't you agree??

 (Don't look at the linoleum, it's a rental home, not much I can do for now.)

Here's what I need next:

Image from Apartment Therapy

I must find that stool!  My next mission.

And that's all I have to say.

Holly

xxx-ooo

The Makeover and a Dollar Store Wonder

I've had this dusty little metal gecko on the wall in my back yard for the past year and the sun has really taken it's toll on him.  I decided he needed a makeover, plus I'm trying to bring a little more color onto the patio.   I brought him in and washed him up with my favorite cleaner "LA's Totally Awesome Oxygen Orange All Purpose Degreaser".  I buy this stuff at the dollar store for, yes, you guessed it $1.00.  It works on everything.  Just spray it on and the dirt, grime, fingerprints, just wipe off with a dry cloth.  My husband uses it on his boat and it works wonders!

It's great for cleaning all your appliances and did I tell you it's only $1.00??!!  Anyhoodle, what were we talking about?  Oh yeah, the gecko.
Here's what he looked like after I cleaned him but before I painted him. 

Very faded and boring.

Here's what he looks like since I've painted him.

Very colorful and obnoxious!

He makes me smile.

Have a great day!

Holly



Chromeskull returns in Laid to Rest II

Robert Hall's Laid to Rest was one of those under-the-radar horror films that kicked some serious ass. Now Bloody Disgusting is reporting that Hall is bringing his brutal would-be-horror icon back for another go-around.

Chromeskull: Laid to Rest II begins filming Nov. 1. Hall penned the script with producing partner Kevin Bocarde. Hall, Bocarde and Chang Tseng are producing the film under their Dry County Entertainment banner. 

Returning for the sequel are original Laid to Rest stars Thomas Dekker (A Nightmare on Elm Street) and Nick Principe, who once again dons the familiar mask of Chromeskull. Although casting is still underway, the film already boasts a line-up of stars including Brian Austin Green (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, 90210), Michael Biehn (Aliens, The Victim), Christopher Nelson (Kill Bill: Volume 1, The Tripper), Jennifer Blanc (Bereavement, The Victim) and Danielle Harris (Halloween, Stakeland, Hatchet 2).

Writer/director Robert Hall introduced Chromeskull, the mysterious and relentless killer who hunts down young women and records their grisly demises while donning a silver skull mask and video camera, in 2009. And while it may have seemed like Chromeskull was dead at the end of the first film, every horror fan knows evil never dies.

Shawn and I really dug Laid to Rest, which has some of the best kills ever put on film, and highly recommend it to horror fans. We await the sequel!!

Ready for Fall

It's beginning to cool off here in Phoenix.  I'm finally able to start planting flowers again since the summer killed everything in sight.  I love this weather.

(Sorry about the dog butt)

You may think I'm trying to be funny with that sign up above but it's really a neccesity, you don't know our friends!

Have a great day!

Live Out Loud!

Holly

xxx-ooo

My Forever Friend

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden. ~Author Unknown

This is Kelly, my beautiful, amazing sister. She lives in Florida and I’m in Arizona so we don’t see much of one another. Of all the women in the world, she is the one I am most in awe of.

She’s four years older than I am so by the time I began high school, she was getting married and moving out of state. I didn’t have time to steal her favorite sweaters or ask her advice on makeup and boys.

She’s the kindest person I know, she’s strong (a breast cancer survivor), and she’s funny.

She is an amazing wife and mother and has always been an inspiration to me.

We had our fair share of "She's touching Me!!!" (Which she did A LOT!)

We did get chance to get together a few months back in New Mexico where they have an adorable mountain home. My parents live there so it was a wonderful family reunion.

I love you and miss you Sissy!
 
Holly

Weekly box office report: Gordon Gekko back in style

Michael Douglas's one-time master of the universe, Gordon Gekko, showed he could still close a deal, as Oliver Stone's sequel to his 1987 Wall Street won the weekend with $19 million.

Pairing Douglas with young Shia LaBeouf, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps also won the battle of long movie titles as it bested the $16.3 million announced for the 3D animated feature Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole.

Legend, based on the first three of Kathryn Lasky's 15-book fantasy series, can at least claim it's the top-opening owl movie ever, unless you count Harry Potter's mail carrier Hedwig. The film version united two disparate forces: Zach Snyder, the director of the R-rated fables 300 and Watchmen, with the guys who animated Happy Feet, that G-rated penguin movie of four years back. Legend started slow on Friday, picked up a number of Saturday-matinee kids yesterday and hopes to pull in more today than it did on its opening day.

The Town, the Boston-set crime drama, starring and directed by Ben Affleck, is expected to earn $16 million; its modest 33 per cent slump from its opening frame suggests that the movie will have long legs.

The Town easily outran this weekend's other wide release, You Again. The cross-generational romantic comedy was designed to appeal to all female demographics by starring actresses in their twenties (Odette Yustman), thirties (Kristen Bell), forties (Kristen Chenoweth), fifties (Jamie Lee Curtis), sixties (Sigourney Weaver) and oh-so-adorable eighties (Betty White), but grossed only $8.3 million.


Here are the Sunday estimates of this weekend's top-grossing pictures in North American theaters, as reported by Box Office Mojo:

1. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, $19.7 million
2. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, $16.3 million
3. The Town, $16 million; $49.1 million
4. Easy A, $10.7 million; $32.8 million
5. You Again, $8.3 million
6. Devil, $6.5 million; $21.7 million
7. Resident Evil: Afterlife, $4.9 million; $52 million
8. Alpha and Omega, $4.7 million; $15.1 million
9. Takers, $1.65 million; $54.9 million
10. Inception, $1.2 million; $287.1 million

New The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 4 Trailer

Mark Ruffalo to actually PLAY the Hulk in The Avengers!

Good news one and all! Not only is actor Mark Ruffalo going to play Bruce Banner in the upcoming Avengers movie but he will also play his green counterpart in a motion-capture performance!

Where the Hulk was solely computer generated in his last two outings (we're talking Eric Bana's Hulk and Edward Norton's The Incredible Hulk – NOT The Incredible Hulk TV series with Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno) this time the green hero will be the result of the performance of his main protagonist in actor Mark Ruffalo.

Speaking to Vulture, Ruffalo revealed that his performance will be motion-captured much like in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and in Avatar

"I'm really excited. No one's ever played the Hulk exactly, they've always done CGI. They're going to do the Avatar stop-action, stop-motion capture. So I'll actually play the Hulk. That'll be fun."

What's fun to see is that the actor is really showing his excitement at the prospect of playing the character of Bruce Banner as well:

"I really love the first TV version of it, the Bill Bixby one. I'm gonna shoot for that a little bit. He was an everyman in it. He's always on the run and trying to find love. It's really a sympathetic character, before he turns into the Hulk and fucks everything up." Also, if you needed one more reason to be excited for Avengers, Ruffalo tells he'll be playing history's first-ever 3-D Hulk: "I hope I don't bulge in anyone's face, that's all I have to say."

Directed by Joss Whedon, The Avengers will also star Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, and Jeremy Renner. Filming is set to begin in February with a release date of May 4th 2012.

This must be one of the most interesting news that I've come across today and I have to admit to be really looking forward to Ruffalo's performance in the movie. Are you?

[Vulture via Collider]

Happy Birthday to Us!!

Today was a great day!  Got to spend it with my daughter who is one of the sweetest, funniest people I know.  We almost share a birthday.  Mine is on the 25th and hers is on the 27th so we usually have a girls day to celebrate.  We started off by going out for lunch at a place called Pita Jungle. 

My daughter is a vegan so it can be difficult to find places that we both enjoy going to but this place was great!  Katie had some kind of pesto pasta salad and I had the chicken pasta salad.

We had a lot of fun and talked girl talk.  See how cute she is!??!!

Then we headed out to get Manicures and pedicures.  So relaxing.  Look at them toes!!

I love my sweet little baby girl and cherish every moment I get to spend with her.  Happy 23rd Birthday Katie!  I love you!

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Live Out Loud!!

Holly

Make Up Friday

Happy Friday everyone, it’s ‘Make Up Friday’ time again and today the wonderful Maria will be showing you how to recreate Kristen's fresh and minimal look from the Eclipse Rome Photo call. See the full fashion breakdown for this look  HERE.

You also may have noticed a lack of updates this week due to me moving to a new city, i promise this won’t last for much longer. I’m happily acquainting myself with my new surroundings and should be fully settled into a routine soon.

Follow @kstewemmakeup here

As always a big thank you to @kstewemmakeup for filming these tutorials for you guys and this blog. You can view her Emma Watson fashion blog Here and check out her other videos on her YouTube channel Here.

NOTE: For tutorials you do not need the exact make up @kstewemmakeup uses, similar colours from any brand you feel comfortable using will do.

   

 

Eclipse Rome Photo Call Video Tutorial

How To

PRODUCTS

AVON IDEAL SHADE FOUNDATION in IVORY
AVON IDEAL SHADE PRESSED POWER in FAIR
URBAN DECAY SHADOW PRIMER POTION
URBAN DECAY COLOURS in “MIDNIGHT COWBOY” and “TWICE BAKED”
RIMMEL LONDON WATERPROOF EYE DEFINER in BLACK
RIMMEL LONDON PROFESSIONAL EYEBROW PENCIL in DARK BROWN
MISS SPORTY JUST CLEAR MASCARA
AVON SUPERSHOCK MASCARA in BLACK
RIMMEL LONDON STAY GLOSSY LIP GLOSS in 120 NON-STOP GLAMOUR

FACE
Usual steps apply for foundation and powder. Add a little moisturiser before you put on your foundation to provide a better base. Apply powder to the jaw line, nose, chin and forehead.

EYES
After applying a primer, apply the “Midnight Cowboy” to the eyelid and lower lid. If you are using this exact colour be careful as there is A LOT of glitter! Next apply the “Twice Baked” colour to the sockets. Don’t use too much of this colour. Next, just blend the colours. Then apply liner to the top lid in a thin line and smudge the liner a bit. You can also add liner to the bottom lid but very lightly and smudge the line a little.

The usual steps for eyebrows apply also. First brush out the brows then add colour where it’s needed. Then add a thin layer of the clear mascara to hold the hairs in place. Then add mascara to the top and bottom lashes.

LIPS
For lips, just add a clear, nude or pale pink lip gloss or lip balm. Just remember to keep it natural.

 

All pictures taken from Google.com and belong to their original owners. No copyright infringement intended.

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