I have admitted, here or on someone else’s blog, that I’ve never read a Nancy Drew book. (I used to get up early on Sunday mornings just to watch The Hardy Boys with Parker Stevenson and Sean Cassidy, but that’s another story). And that said, my opinion on this topic may mean little, but I just have to rave about the 2007 Nancy Drew movie!

I watched it with hubby a couple nights ago and we were both very pleasantly surprised. I admit, I thought it would be another in a string of so-so teen movies, but I really got into this one. First of all, I LOVED that they portrayed her as retro–from her clothes to her car–to her sleuthing gear, complete with a single-serving canister for a blondie, she was perfectly adorable. I totally want my own travel canister and someone to fill it with a fresh, warm brownie every morning…

But beyond that, I thought it was clever (with what I assumed were several light-hearted allusions to the original books) and cute, just like the girl herself. Obviously, I checked to see whether there are plans for a sequel–there are!–and I’m hoping that the end-of-the-movie phone call Ms. Drew received from Scotland about the Loch Ness monster is a big ole hint. That would be just perfect.

Hubby and I give this movie four thumbs up.
(And for any of you who used to watch The Land of the Lost, they’re coming out with a movie this summer–with *yikes!* Will Ferrell!)

Yesterday was my birthday, and I enjoyed a positively lovely day of sleeping in, Mexican food, museum browsing, and decadent, four-layer chocolate cake. I didn’t even need to make dinner as we’re still surfing the wave of leftovers from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners. I received some awesome gifts, as well, including the ‘Boy Mom’ shirt I mentioned in a previous blog. I was gushing to my mom about how my boys bought it for me when my older son says, ‘We didn’t really buy it–Dad just made us write our names on the box.’ Nice. This was the same son who came in to lie on top of me and give me a full body hug, complete with Happy Birthday wishes in the morning, so I suppose I’m good.

I didn’t get any books for Christmas (except a couple I’d bought myself, only to have them nabbed by my husband for a couple easy gifts). So, I’m eagerly browsing Amazon, updating my Wish List, wondering which books should be put on my TBO (O=owned) list for 2009. Thoughts? Suggestions?

To all my loyal readers, to all the once-in-a-whilers, all the pop-ins, and those who’ve yet to visit…

I wish you a joyful, wondrous, magical holiday season!

I’ll be back after Christmas with movie reviews, book recommendations, and the continuing saga of my quest for publication (in whatever way it might manifest itself).

Until then…I recommend Martha Stewart’s recipe for Gingerbread Caramels…very, very yummy.

P.S. That is not my hedgehog. Just a passing Internet fancy…