Top Ten Favorite Actresses

I have always been in love with films as long as I can remember. There are so many beautiful and wonderful actresses who have successful and hardworking careers. There are several others that I love watching including Lucille Ball, Betty White, Queen Latifah, Ashley Judd, Claire Danes, Tina Fey, Christina Applegate, and many more. However, as I had to narrow it down to just 10, these are the ladies I love and have enjoyed watching the most. Hope you enjoy.

10. Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten did a great job as Claudia in Interview with the Vampire. She was 12 years old and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in that movie. She also starred in some other of my favorites such as such as Jumanji with Robin Williams, Bring It On, Spider-Man, and Elizabethtown.

9. Kate Winslet
Kate starred in one of my most favorite moves ever as Rose in Titanic. Her and Leo (Jack) did a fantastic job working together in bringing that film and real story to life. Titanic is still the second highest grossing film ever. Other great performances I loved from Kate were in Finding Neverland with Johnny Depp, The Holiday, and again with Leo in Revolutionary Road. Kate has been nominated 6 times for an Oscar and won 1 for Best Actress in The Reader as well as winning 2 Golden Globes.

8. Maggie Smith
What a remarkable actress. Maggie has been one of the most distinguished actresses ever. I loved her in Hook as Wendy with Robin Williams and in Sister Act as Mother Superior with Whoopi Goldberg. And she was absolutely brilliant in the Harry Potter Series as Professor McGonagall. Maggie Smith has been nominated 6 times for an Oscar, winning 2 for Best Actress and also 3 Golden Globes.

7. Susan Sarandon
Susan stars in one of my favorite movies ever as Louise in Thelma & Louise. I also loved her in The Client, Stepmom, and Elizabethtown. Susan has been nominated 5 times for an Oscar winning 1 Oscar for Best Actress in Dead Man Walking. She has been nominated 8 times for a Golden Globe.

6. Reese Witherspoon
Reese started out acting at a young age. Her brilliant performance in The Man in the Moon is breath taking. Other favorite Witherspoon films for me are Pleasantville, Cruel Intentions, Election, Legally Blonde, Sweet Home Alabama, Walk the Line, Four Christmases, and Water for Elephants. Reese has been nominated 1 time for an Oscar and winning Best Actress for Walk The Line. She also has won 1 Golden Globe.

5. Christina Ricci
I have always loved Christina since I was a kid. Her first role in a film was with Cher and Winona Ryder in Mermaids. She does a beautiful job as Wednesday Adams in The Addams Family, Kat in Casper, Roberta in Now and Then, Val in 200 Cigarettes, Katrina with Johnny Depp in Sleepy Hollow, and Rae in Black Snake Moan with Justin Timberlake. Christina has been nominated for 1 Golden Globe.

4. Julia Roberts
She needs no introduction. What an amazing actress. My favorite Julia films are of course Steel Magnolias, her remarkable role as Vivian in Pretty Woman, Sleeping with the Enemy, Tinkerbell in Hook, The Pelican Brief, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Stepmom, Runaway Bride, and Erin Brockovich. Julia has been nominated 3 times for an Oscar winning 1 for Best Actress for Erin Brockovich. She has been nominated 7 times for a Golden Globe winning 3.

3. Drew Barrymore
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Bad Girls, Boys on the Side, Mad Love, Scream, The Wedding Singer, Never Been Kissed, Charlie’s Angels, Duplex, 50 First Dates, Fever Pitch, Everybody’s Fine, Going the Distance. Drew has been nominated for 3 Golden Globes winning 1. Drew also won a Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Actress for E.T. the Extra–Terrestrial in 1982.

2. Whoopi Goldberg
I adore Whoopi Goldberg. All of her films that I love are movies that I can watch over and over. Her phenomenal job in The Color Purple, Ghost, and in Sister Act. I loved her role as Guinan throughout the Star Trek: The Next Generation series and films, her animated voice in The Lion King, as well her entertaining roles in Corrina, Corrina, Boys on the Side, The Associate, Girl, Interrupted, Rat Race, and Call Me Claus. Whoopi has been nominated for 2 Oscars and won 1 for Best Supporting Role in Ghost. She was nominated for 3 Golden Globes winning two of them for The Color Purple and Ghost.

1. Sandra Bullock
What a woman! Who doesn’t absolutely adore Sandra Bullock? She is one of those actresses you laugh with and one that you cry with. She is an actress that emotionally attaches you to the character she plays and takes you along for the ride throughout each of her films. My favorite Sandra films are Speed, While You Were Sleeping, The Net, A Time to Kill, her role as Birdee in Hope Floats, her beautiful role as Sally in Practical Magic, 28 Days, Miss Congeniality, The Lake House, The Proposal, The Blind Side, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, and one of the most hilarious films ever The Heat. She has been nominated for 1 Oscar winning for Best Actress in The Blind Side. She has been nominated for 4 Golden Globes winning 1 for The Blind Side.

Top Ten iPhone Apps You Need

These are my Top Ten Apps you need on your phone. They range from all different interests including photography, movies, events, music, games, fitness, and of course Disney! The best part of all these apps are that they are FREE! Some of them offer upgrades, but those upgrades are optional yet worth every penny. These Top Ten Apps are my favorites and the ones that I actually use. Hope you check them out and enjoy!

10. Walgreens
Have you ever wanted to print the pictures that you have on your phone? Or even better, have you ever wanted to print the pictures you have on your Instagram account? Well with the Walgreens app, you can do just that! You can link your Instagram account up to your Walgreens account and have those pictures printed in an hour at any local Walgreens. They also allow you to make different prints such as posters and other neat projects!

9. Countdown+
If you ever wanted a countdown app, this one is it. There is a lite version that is FREE. This keeps all your upcoming events, birthdays, and special occasions in one place. You also have the option of uploading a personal picture that accompanies each event.

8. Xfinity Player/TV Remote
If you have cable through Comcast you definitely want these apps. The Xfinity Player App allows you to play ample TV series and movies on your phone or iPad. It also lets you download multiple shows/movies to your device! The TV Remote allows you to manage your Xfinity DVR! If you are away from your home and you want to DVR a show while you are at work, you just have to log in, find the show, and click DVR! It will be waiting for you when you get home.

7. Showtimes
This app is great for movie goers. After giving this app permission to use your current location, it will find all the local theaters surrounding you. It gives you those theaters’ phone numbers, directions to them, as well as what they are playing and the showtimes for each movie.

6. Shazam
If you haven’t downloaded this app yet you are missing out. How many times have you heard a song and you wanted to know who was singing it? It happens to me all the time during movies, listening to the radio, or in restaurants. With Shazam all you have to do is hold your phone close to where the music is playing and Shazam tells you who sings the song, the name of the song, what album it was on, and offers a downloadable link to iTunes.

5. Snapspeed
This is my favorite photo app on the iPhone. It is the best editing app to have for pictures. There are countless things you can do with your pictures with this app including cropping, several different effects, borders, color correcting, etc. It is the best photo app to have.

4. RunKeeper
If you run, walk, bicycle, jog – this is the app for you. My sister introduced this app to me and I love it. Once you start your exercise it maps out your location, records your pace, your elevation, gives your calories burned, offers to set personal goals, and works with your playlists of music to enable you to listen to them while you run. You can also add friends through Facebook to see when and where they run and encourage them with likes on their workouts.

3. My Disney Experience
It would be impossible to go to Disney World without this app. I have shared a little before about this app and how amazing it is. It gives you updated wait times, attractions for each park, dining reservation options, character times, entertainment and so much more. It links to your magic bands and fastpasses for each park as well. It can also work as a way to plan your trip through the app with the daily plan guide.

2. Instagram
Home of #ThrowBackThursday #FlashBackFriday #WomanCrushWednesday #ManCrushMonday #TransformationTuesday  – This is the top app to share your pictures and videos with your friends and family. The best part of this app is that is doesn’t have the drama that Facebook and Twitter are capable of. The filters that you can add to your pictures are great. It is also nice that Instagram can connect through your other social media accounts and allows you to share the same picture through those.

1. Heads Up!
This is the best app and by far the best game available on the iPhone hands down. Ellen and her producers created this fun filled app. It offers multiple decks of cards that fit all ages and all interests. Heads Up! also records the players’ actions during the whole game! Once the round is completely these videos are easily shared to your social media as well. Download this app, grab some friends and get ready for a hilarious time.

Top Ten Fall Movies

I am not a very big fan of Halloween. However I am a very big fan of movies. These ten movies are my top ten favorites that I like to start watching when summer comes to a close and fall begins. If you haven’t seen any of these movies, they are all must sees!

10. Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Christina Ricci and Johnny Depp bring this classic horror tale to perfect life through this film and script. Tim Burton does an amazing job throughout the movie with the consistency of color, fear, and suspense.

9. The Skeleton Key (2005)
This movie has one of the most unexpected endings of any movie I have ever seen. My mouth was wide open in disbelief for the last 15 minutes. It definitely has that dark New Orleans edgy feel throughout the whole film.

8. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1998)
I remember when my aunt Sheila took me to the theatre to see this movie. She had no idea it would be that terrifying. It was a great time. It’s a great thriller/suspense movie.

7. Scream (1996)
“What your favorite scary movie?” I love the Scream franchise. All the films are great, but especially the first one. I love Courteney Cox and David Arquette together. The suspense of this film is edgy the whole time as you’re wondering who the killer is and how the movie is going to end.

6. The Craft (1996)
This is another witch movie from my generation. I love this film. It truly shows that whatever you do to other people it always comes back to you. The soundtrack is amazing as well.

5. The Frighteners (1996)
Michael J. Fox is one of my favorite actors. The eeriness and suspense of this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole film.

4. The Silence of the Lambs (1990)
A lot of people would say this film is one of the best movies of all time. Hannibal Lecter has become a well known villain who eats his victims. Jodi Foster delivers one of her best works in this movie.

3. Signs (2002)
“Swing away Merrill. Merrill…swing away.” Signs is a beautifully written film. M. Night Shyamalan does a fantastic job at emotionally tying you to the family in this film and stringing you along on an emotional roller coaster throughout the whole movie.

2. Practical Magic
This movie became an all time favorite from the first time I watched it. The Owens have such a strong and rich family bond that holds them together through everything they face. I would love to live in their house. It has a killer soundtrack as well.

1. Hocus Pocus
Who doesn’t love this movie? I remember when this movie came out. My sister and I wore this VHS out probably more than any other movie. I appreciate how this movie is not only a classic, but it is standing the test of time. It hasn’t become a childhood film that becomes corny when you watch it as an adult. I watch it today and love it just as much if not more as an adult. The acting, music, singing, comedy, plot, everything is wonderful.

Disney World 2013 Top Ten

My wife and I just got back from our trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. My wife has been countless times since she was little. I have been several with cheerleading teams and judging, but never really got to go and soak up the Disney. Finally being able to do so, I have created a top ten list of things you should know more about and made our trip a blast! (My list is in no particular order.) These were my favorite things and suggestions for things that you should not miss for your trip!

10. The Magic Bands
Disney is still “testing” these bands out with certain resorts…meaning you have to stay on property at a resort that is testing these bands. I would highly suggest staying at one of these resorts and getting the magic bands! They are you park tickets, credit card, fast passes, room key, everything. This can really save you time with the fast passes, because you won’t have to go to the ride to get your fast pass! There are several perks to the Magic Bands! I love how Disney is upping their technology!

9. The Shows
All the shows in every park are fantastic. The Lion King Festival, Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones, Flights of Wonder and The Nemo Shows are among my favorites. They all have specific times so make sure you get a Times Guide as soon as you enter each park! You will want to try and plan your day around these and get to each show at least 20 minutes early to get good seats.

8. The Food
You will want to make reservations for the restaurants that are on property. I would most highly recommend Be Our Guest in Magic Kingdom. The food is amazing. This restaurant is really hard to get into so you want to book early. At the end of the meal, make sure you ask your waiter/waitress for “The Grey Stuff”!

7. The Fast Rides
Of course you cannot miss the roller coasters of each park: Rock’n’ Roller Coaster in Hollywood Studios is by far the best ride ever & the best seats are in the front! Once you get to the cast member directing everyone into rows, tell them you would like to be in the front row and they will place you in a waiting line for it! Believe me, its worth it! Mt. Everst in Animal Kingdom, Mission Space in Epcot, and Space Mountain in Magic Kingdom are among the other exciting roller coasters that you can’t miss!

6. The Shops
There are shops all over the Disney property and in each park. Though some of the shops have specific merchandise that can only be found in each shop. My favorites are Hollywood Studios: The Star Tours Shop, The Rocki’n’ Roller Coaster Shop & The Villain Shop. Magic Kingdom: Belle’s Shop In Fantasyland, and The Pirates of the Caribbean shop in Adventureland. Animal Kingdom: Disney Outfitters is great! Epcot: You must visit all the stores in each country in Epcot. These are all fantastic stores, but my favorite is in Japan.

5. The Pins
Disney pins are a part of the experience! Buy yourself a lanyard! Buy yourself some cheap pins, some that you like and some that you can trade, and trade with cast members! Its so much fun and only adds to your experience. TIPS: If you really want to be prepared, order a bundle of cheap Disney pins on Amazon before your trip, that way you will have some to trade once you arrive in Disney! You can only trade two with the same cast member a day. You cannot trade them for a pin and give them one they already have.

4. The Slow Rides
These have recently become my new favorite obsession with Disney World. You must take the time to soak in the real Disney World & yes that means more than just riding the roller coasters. My new favorites are Hollywood Studios: The Great Movie Ride, Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream, and doing the drawing class in Animation Academy. Magic Kingdom: The People Mover, Peter Pan’s Flight, & Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. Animal Kingdom: Kilimanjaro Safaris, Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, & Maharajah Jungle Trek. Epcot: Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land.

3. The Photo Pass
Of course you’re going to take your camera, or even use your phone as your camera when you go to Disney. I would also get a Disney Photo Pass card while you are there. You will be able to hand this Photo Pass card to every Photographer Cast Member and they will automatically send the pictures they capture to your card. These pictures will be viewable online!

2. The App
You will most definitely want to download the My Disney Experience App. You will want to set up a profile with your email and with each person/family member that you are traveling with. With this app you can set up your fast passes for everyone, dinner reservations for everyone, plan your days and events, see character meeting times, park hours, special events, etc. This is the hub of information you will need for your Disney trip! This is also the tool that will help link your tickets to your Disney Magic Bands! The app is of course free from the App Store.

1. The Characters
This past trip my wife and I met 32 characters while we were there! It was a blast! I have never had so much fun. Each character we met was unique in their conversation and really played their role well. They were also genuinely interested in us, where we were from, and striking interesting conversation. Don’t miss out on this fun part of the Disney experience! Meet characters and take pictures with them! You won’t regret it!