Amanda's Review: Tomorrowland

Hello Everyone!

I'm glad that we're starting to do movie reviews on here because it gives me a great excuse to see movies on the weekend! This past weekend...the day the massive storm hit Houston...I went to see Tomorrowland. I have to say, when I saw the trailer I thought that it was just going to be a dumb movie. I honestly had no interest in seeing it, until I had to pick a movie to watch on the weekend. This was the only movie I thought I could stand. Luckily for me, it was actually a great movie! I was pleasantly surprised! I'll be as vague as possible during this review so I don't spoil anything!

Okay, so here's the basic plot according to the trailer and IMDb: A young girl, Casey (Britt Robertson), finds a magical pin after she's released from jail. This pin allows her to basically transport to a magical world, aka Tomorrowland. This place is where inventors, creators, etc. live in order to change the world. She find Frank Walker (George Clooney) and asks him to take her to Tomorrowland. Apparently something bad is happening in Tomorrowland and Casey may be the person to solve it. Throw in some extravagant inventions and you have the film Tomorrowland. 

My rating: 7/10

My reasoning behind the score: this is a film that genuinely surprised me. Like I mentioned before, I had no interest in seeing it...none whatsoever, but I thought it was pretty great! I did look at the review on Rotten Tomatoes and it got a 51% (rotten tomato), which made me feel a little uneasy about the movie but I saw it anyway. Like I said, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would, but it still had some problems. To me, there were a little too many storylines, it just seemed to veer off in various directions. That definitely made it a little hard to focus on a main point. I also left the film feeling like a lot of my questions weren't answered and that's never a good thing...unless a sequel will answer it...but honestly, I don't think we need a second Tomorrowland...one is enough. 

I'm going to talk a little more about the acting and the cinematography.

Acting: It was sort of typical Disney acting...you have Casey, the perky/determined girl (Robertson), Frank, the kind of grumpy/mysterious man, and this random girl that ties them together, Athena (Raffey Cassidy). I didn't particularly see this film because of any of the actors, I've seen a couple of Britt Robertson's films and I'm a little wishy-washy when it comes to her and George Clooney, eh. He's not an actor that I would automatically see a movie for. So, these two actors...that I hardly even care about in a film? You'd think I'd hate it, or feel indifferent about it, but I don't...I actually like it. I respect both Robertson and Clooney a little more after this film, they definitely fit the Disney criteria very well. They were a little extravagant with the perky and the grumpy but that's exactly what I'd expect from a Disney movie. Aside from Clooney and Robertson, I have to say, newcomer Raffey Cassidy stole the show for me. Her character was definitely the most interesting and definitely had the most (in my opinion) character development.

Cinematography: This film was filled with intense CGI, but I didn't hate it. This is a movie about the future and about inventions and creativity and that's what it made me feel. Tomorrowland is like Emerald City (Wizard of Oz). There's something quite magical about a city that is surrounded only by nature. The film also had this sort of steampunk feel to it with some of the decor and props. I'm not an expert on steampunk so please to persecute me if you think I'm completely wrong. I left the film with a strong appreciation towards the actual Tomorrowland in Disney World. I honestly have to say that Disney did a great job with the cinematography. It did the film justice!

Would I see it again? While I don't have the urge to see it again in theaters, I wouldn't mind seeing it on DVD with someone who hasn't seen it. 

Note to the viewers: Keep an open mind. There were a lot of things going on...just accept it! 

Easy + Delicious Mason Jar Salad

Happy Memorial Day! With this extra day off of work maybe it is best to prepare some foods ahead of time so you can eat healthy and quickly throughout the week! Meal prep has been on my mind a lot lately which has lead me to wanting two things: the desire to eat more salads and the excuse to buy more mason jars.

On previous grocery shopping occasions I have passed a section of mason jars convincing myself I did not need them; but, today I looked up everything I needed to know about prepping mason jar salads and so I went shopping with this in mind. From many feet away I could see that those precious mason jars I have been eyeing had a lovely little coupon taped to the front: "Buy One Get The Second Half Off!" I was so excited and purchased them immediately! But, once I got home I realized all of the jars were purple! Luckily, purple is one of my favorite colors but this also means it is a little hard to see the ingredients from the side (oh well I still love them:)

So now I will let you know what I put inside of my mason jar salad. Keep in mind, you can put whatever you want and in whatever amount but this was taken from Organize Yourself Skinny's blog who gave great details on how to prepare these the best.

Step One: Gather all of your ingredients.

Mine includes:
 ☺ Balsamic Vinaigrette
 ☺ Tomatoes 
 ☺ Cucumbers
 ☺ Shredded Chicken
 ☺ Whole Wheat Pasta
 ☺ Mozzarella 
 ☺ Spinach


Step Two: Add your dressing.

Dressing MUST go first. This assures that your meats and lettuce will not get soggy. I used a balsamic vinaigrette by Newman's Own simply because this was recommended by Organize Yourself Skinny and I am not really one to make my own dressing (yet)!

I would definitely try whatever sounds good or what you already love :)


Step Three: Add some veggies. 

I added tomatoes for this part. You could add various items such as cucumbers, broccoli, asparagus, carrots, etc. This section is vital to the mason jar because it protects the other food from getting soaked in the dressing.





Step Four: Continue with your veggies. 

Again, it is best to layer up the vegetables so you do not get the rest of your salad soaked in dressing. Check out this page for the perfect reasons why these layers are so important!

After this you could also add some more vegetables such as beans, mushrooms, corn, and more!




Step Five: Add your pasta or grains, proteins, and cheese.

Of course when you want a salad you are usually trying to get away from carbs but if you want to include a little bit of pasta, rice or others, it is quite delicious.

I then added mozzarella and shredded chicken. You could add other meats, eggs, or a different cheese.



Step Six: Add your lettuce. 

I choose to put spinach only in this jar. You could put whichever kind of lettuce you prefer. I'd recommend about two cups or whatever room you have left in the jar.

Now seal it up! These should last you around five to six days. I will continue to try out more recipes and let you know what ends up being my favorite. These are super easy to make and I am so excited to stock up on more salad! :) 

A + A's Phone/Video Interview Tips

Hello Everyone!

Many of us never think that we'll have to do a phone or video interview ever in our lives. So we hardly ever prepare for one. We decided that we would list a few tips in the chance that you guys do have to have a phone/video interview, so you're not completely nervous when the time comes! Some of our tips relate to our previous A+A's Interview Tips but we can't stress enough how important those topics are! Feel free to check back on that post at any time!

1. Practice Beforehand. This is extremely important because you'll need to show that you're prepared for any questions they may have for you. Here are some typically asked questions:
• Tell me/us about yourself.
• What sets you apart from other candidates?
• What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
• What interested you about our company?
• Scenario Questions: How you would handle a certain situation. How you have handled a certain situation. What was the outcome?
2. Location Location Location. Location is extremely important for both a phone and video call. For the phone call, make sure you're in a quiet location and away from any distractions. The same goes for the video call. You want to make sure you have a nice background and you want to make sure that you're in a quiet area*. 
3. Resume. It is so important to know your resume! Questions may come up regarding a time you did this or a time you did that. It is extremely important to know what you've done!
4. Battery Levels. Make sure that your cell phone and/or laptop has enough battery life to last the duration of the interview! Be sure to either charge it beforehand or have it on a charger when you're talking.
5. Ask Questions. It is important to know about the company and ask questions regarding the company and the industry. Make sure you have at least 5 questions prepared and ready to go. Here are some questions that could be helpful:
• What is the company culture?
• What are the greatest achievements and/or challenges of the company?
• How did you get your start in this industry?
• Can you tell me a little more about the position/responsibilities?
• What are the next steps?
6. Sell Yourself. This is your time to show the interviewer what you've got. It's always good to have an "elevator speech" ready to go. This usually happens at the beginning of an interview. Here are things to mention:
• School - Major(s), Minor(s), Organizations
• Experience - Work, Volunteering, Internship(s).
• Future Plans - Grad School, Job(s), Personal Goals
7. Dress Up. It is very important to dress up for a video call because it is part of your impression. It's also nice to dress up for a phone interview because it gets you in the zone!
8. Test Call. Make sure for a phone/video call that you do a test run! That way you can solve any problems that may come up (i.e. network, mic, video issues). 
9. Have Headphones. In the chance that you may not be able to hear the interviewer, it's nice to have headphones around to help you out!
10. Bottle/Cup of Water. Having a bottle or cup of water nearby will help calm your nerves and be there for the times you feel parched.
11. Use the Restroom before. Make sure you use the restroom before the video or phone call. It would be so horrible to leave in the middle of either one because you have to go to the restroom. Take care of your business beforehand! 
12. Relax. The fact that you have an interview in the first place says that they're interested in you. Just relax and be yourself!
13. Say Thank You. It is important to make sure you thank the interviewer for their time and for the opportunity. 

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below! Also, if any of you have any additional tips we will gladly accept and add them to either of our lists!

*Make sure your mom isn't around when you're interviewing...she'll take pictures of you...trust us, Amanda knows. 

A + A's Interview Tips

1. Practice Beforehand. Before your interview you should look up frequently asked interview questions and start answering them. This helps you get more prepared for the actual interview and it helps avoid the evil "umm's." Here is a website that has 40 sample questions!
2. Know Your "Elevator Speech."  The first thing employers always say is, "Tell me about yourself." While we as humans love to talk about ourselves, this never fails to be one of the most difficult questions to answer.  Prepare A brief summary about yourself and some of your best accomplishments. Be brief, be smart, and be enthusiastic!  Check out this YouTube video  for an idea on what to practice.
3. Research the Company. Do a little research on the company you're applying for. Some interviewers ask about your thoughts on the company or what attracted you to the company. Plus, it's always good to know a potential workplace.
4. Bring your Resume. It is always good to bring additional copies of your resume for the interview. The interviewer will be able to have your resume on-hand and it shows that you're prepared. This will also make it easier for you to reference specific points. 
5. Review Your Resume Beforehand. Of course bringing your resume is a must but what if you slightly exaggerated on a few things? Remembering this before you step into the interview will be beneficial when they look over your past experience. We are not encouraging you to lie on your resume or in your interview, but make sure you can back up your "proficiency in excel" or "fluency in Spanish" before you meet with the company.
6. Clean up Your Social Media. Companies often come across great candidates but once they see what pictures these candidates are "tagged" in they sometimes choose to go with a different person. So, keep your social media professional or private (although you must keep in mind, many companies find ways around "private" profiles -- scary, we know!). 
7. Dress for Success. Make sure you dress for the company you're planning on working for (this also goes with researching the company). For example, if you're interviewing for a job at the Gap, dress in Gap-like clothing. If you're interviewing for a job at a Fortune 500 company, you may want to dress in professional clothing. 
8. Wear the right shoes! While your high heels are extremely cute they might not be practical   when trying to make a great first impression.  Many recruiters have told stories of ladies who end up tripping all over  themselves or simply do not look professional when trying to pull off heels  that are not typically suitable for work.  Try some fats or a low heel!  Here are some fabulous options!
9. Walk in 12 Minutes Early. Why twelve? Because 15 is too eager and 10 is a little too late. Twelve minutes is the perfect amount of time to let the company know you mean business. Remember to look up the location ahead of time so you know the route, get there 15 minutes early, rest in your car for 3 minutes, and then walk in with confidence!
10. Ask Questions. Asking questions helps you get a better sense of the job you're applying for and it shows the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in the position. Example questions would be: What are challenges I will face with this position? How would you describe the culture of the company? What is the next step? 
11. Follow up With a Thank You Note. Yes, a snail mail "thank you" card. While this may sound silly, especially in a world surrounded by emails and text messages, a thank you note will go a long way. It is personal and friendly. Plus, it shows that you went out of your way to make sure they knew how much you appreciated their time. 

Rainy Day Movies (Part 3)

The weather forecast for Houston/Austin shows that we have a lot of rain ahead of us...which is kinda lame, but what better better way to enjoy the beautiful weather than by watching some movies?! Here's a list I've compiled of movies that could possibly fill the sunshine void in your life.

1. The New Release // Still Alice

2. The Netflix Movie // Clueless

3. The "Oldie but a Goodie" // Fast Times at Ridgemont High

4. The On Demand Movie// Guardians of the Galaxy

5. The Tearjerker // My Dog Skip

Don't let the rainy weather get you down. These movies are all great, and I hope that you have a chance to take a break and go on a cinematic adventure!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Movie Review Monday: Pitch Perfect 2

Hello Everyone!

Many of us were so freakin' excited when we heard that Pitch Perfect was going to have a sequel. I know I was! I absolutely adored the first film and I could not wait! Luckily, I didn't have to wait too long because the film came out this past weekend! I obviously had to go see it! Down below is my movie review*.

* This review is spoiler free. 

Here's the basic plot according to both IMDb and the trailer: The Bellas have become so great and wonderful since the last film that they were invited to sing for the President of the United States. All things go wrong when Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) performs. Her performance leads to the Bellas getting suspended from any collegiate competitions. The Bellas make a deal with the aca-people and say that if they win an International competition (that America has never won before) then the Bellas can get reinstated and live happily ever after. Oh yeah, and this is basically everyone's senior year in the film, so just slap that onto everything else. 

My Rating: 6/10

My reasoning behind the score is simply that I did not feel that it upheld the standard of the first movie. I loved the first movie so much and I just expected a little more from the second. I felt that there were too many story-lines within the film that I just really got tired of jumping from one to another.  The whole movie just felt like it wasn't real and it just felt like it was trying way too hard to be funny...Trust me, I wanted to love it as much as the first one but I can't even bring myself to say that they're even remotely on the same level. 

It sounds like I completely hated the film, but I promise that I didn't. I'm always down for a sisterly/friendship-y type of film. I love that. I think there should be more movies in the industry that highlight on girls like that. Girls that will be there for one another and build each other up rather than break each other down. I loved that aspect of the film. I also thought that the music was also pretty good! I really enjoyed it, that's the thing that saved the score from going a little lower.

I could definitely go in-depth about many aspects of the film but I'm just going to touch onto two of them: The acting and the songs. 

The acting: I'm gonna just throw this out there, it was kinda cheesy. The actors are basically stereotypes and they tapped into that so much. I was kind of embarrassed that they played into that so much, why couldn't these people grow? The filmmakers jumped from freshman year (first film) to senior year (this film)...there should have been at least a little character development. The only person that really changes is Becca...I guess. 

The songs: Love the songs, I really did. There was one song that I was iffy about because it wasn't a well known song, but whatever. That one song kind of brought the music down a little bit, but that's just me, and they make some jokes about that in the film but I don't want to give anything away. 

Would I see it again? Probably, when it's on DVD or something? I don't see myself wanting to go out and willingly see it again on the screen. 

Here's a warning for the fans: Don't expect it to be as great and wonderful as the first. Yeah, it's a funny movie, and yeah the songs are great...but you're not going to leave the theater with the same feeling you left with the first time around. 

All of this is my general opinion. I'm not trying to speak for a collective out there. Go out there, see the film for yourself, and generate your own opinion. 

Amanda's Dream Body: Update

Hello Everyone!

So it has been a while since my last entry about my weight loss,  here are my results:

Loss since last post: 10 lbs

Total weight loss: 24 lbs

So basically, in a little over 2 months I've lost 24 pounds!

I could not be happier with my results.

Of course I want to lose a little more (don't worry, I want to stay healthy). Like I mentioned before, this is more about me being comfortable with who I am rather than being a certain number on the scale. 

It has definitely been hard to work out within the past two weeks because of finals but now that school is over I'll be able to work out even more! I cannot wait to see what happens during summer!

If you guys are starting a similar diet, I encourage you to share your story! Me sharing my story on this blog has made me be really strict with my diet. I allow myself one cheat day every week...just one, so I can take a break from the hardcore paleo. That doesn't mean that the temptation isn't around during the week...because it is everywhere! I have to tell myself that if I cheat today (a day that isn't my designated cheat day) I'll ultimately have to write about it, and that is going to slow me down from becoming my best self. 

Everyone has the right to feel happy with who they are and I just hope that if you're on this journey that you don't give up! Keep up the good work and stay healthy! 

Also, I hope everyone has aced their finals and I hope nothing but happiness and luck to the graduate of the year!