Julie & Julia... here's to inspiration!

[sinkwriter]

I just finished watching Julie & Julia. I love how it balances two different but similar stories all in one film. I love that movie.

I love Meryl Streep. She can do anything, can't she? I think she could convince me she's a robot, or an alien, or a Russian mobster, or anything... she's just so good at enveloping the character and making you believe. She did such an amazing job portraying Julia Child.

And Amy Adams was wonderful as well. I love her side of the story because 1) she plays a writer, which appeals to me, 2) she plays someone who is beautifully, painfully human, someone who is a good, interesting, funny person who's trying to accomplish something but at the same time makes mistakes and isn't perfect, which also appeals to me because I can relate to that (the complicated mix of personality that makes up a person, good and bad, smart and foolish, thoughtful and clueless, lovely and imperfect), and 3) she makes me want to try harder and experiment and take chances.

Actually, both stories -- Julie Powell's and Julia Child's -- inspire me in that way. Both women took chances and stepped outside of their comfort zones and dared to TRY something new. And found that they loved it, and were meant to do it.

I want that. I want that. I wonder what I could do to actually use this inspiration, rather than simply feeling it. To channel it into an actual project of some sort. I want to dare to try, I want to have fun experimenting, and I want to find my niche.

Every time I watch this movie, I am inspired all over again, to try something new, to try something creative and fun, and see what happens.

Do you have something or someone in your life who inspires you like that? That makes you want to do more and be better? Tell me about it. :)

Comments

[limone1.livejournal.com]

Meryl Streep is the kind of actress who becomes the person she plays, you forget she's acting, following a script.

I love to cook or bake as a way to relax, to create something tangible and follow my instincts instead of the abstract thinking I do at work. But this weekend I did something completely different, I helped build a piece of furniture. Carpentry is not my thing (all that detailed oriented measuring ;) ), but it gave me energy to do something new, to find practical solutions to new problems. Although I love my work, I'm still trying to find my niche, that thing that will allow me to be more creative too.

Fingers crossed LJ will let me post this time, afraid I lost my temper when it wouldn't let me post the cold remedy for you the other week... Hope you managed to avoid the flu/cold!

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

What's your favorite thing to cook and/or bake?

What did you make this weekend? The most complicated thing I've ever put together was a bookcase from IKEA or a desk from Home Depot. LOL! Very cool that you explored something new. How did it turn out? :)

I'm sorry LJ was mean to you! So far, so good on the flu/cold front. *knocks wood* My aunts are still getting over their colds, but I've managed to steer clear so far. Any cold remedies are always welcome.

P.S. Your user pic is funny. :D

[limone1.livejournal.com]

Apart from steaming vegetables the oven is my favorite place/method for preparing food, often fish in parcels, roasted vegetables/root vegetables, or pasta layers with vegetables or vegetarian lasagna. My favorite fast food is goat cheese and walnuts drizzled with honey on a bed of spinach with an apple cider vinaigrette or quinoa/kasha based salads. I'm definitely a breadmaker when it comes to baking.

I helped make a large cupboard with cubbyholes in various sizes. It turned out fine. There's nothing like a good challenge :)

Fingers crossed all remain quiet on the flu/cold front for you!

PS. I was told today drinking my coffee is like being on speed...

[leucocrystal]

I've got one of those, if I'm honest with myself. He's a dope, but he's definitely kicked my formerly languishing creative juices back into gear a bit. ;) (If I ever post to my LJ again, I can share some fruits of that soon, I hope. It's a nice thing to have, and recognizing that, which I only did over the past few months, was a nice moment. I made a point of thanking him for that, of course. It's the kind of thing you don't realize is quite so unique and precious until you've got it, isn't it?

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Is it who I think it is? ;)

I'm so glad to hear your creative juices are starting to bubble up again! Have you been taking pictures, or is this in regard to a different creative endeavor? I would love to see anything you're working on.

[leucocrystal]

If you're thinking of some half-Mexican doofus who looks like a Muppet and is a basket case of emotional issues, then yes, lol, I think you are.

I haven't been taking photos like I'd like to be, but hopefully once things settle down from the move I'll have the time and energy to focus on that a bit too. I actually did a portrait! Which I'm about five years out of practice at, but ended up turning out pretty well! It was actually a (scratch board) portrait of Manny that I did for his 30th birthday; whenever I finally post a catch up, I'll include it in there. :)

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

That's EXACTLY who I thought it was! Heeeeeeeeeeeeee. Marvelous.

I forgot that you also can draw. That's amazing. (And what lovely subject matter. *GRIN*) Seriously though, a thoughtful birthday gift for him.

P.S. I keep meaning to ask you about this: every time I see a commercial for that new Ron Howard movie about racing -- Rush, I think it's called? -- I think of you and wonder if you're familiar with whomever that film is about. Have you seen the commercials for it? Do you know which one I mean?

[leucocrystal]

It was fun to do. One of the baristas at Peet's recognized him in it when I was starting work on it, so I think that means it's a pretty good likeness of him. ;)

Absolutely! Been waiting on that for months and months! Billboards all over Hollywood for it, it's great. I definitely know all about the Hunt/Lauda '76 rivalry, it's the stuff of F1 legend. Really hope it lives up to all the hype; F1 deserves one great movie (Senna is perfection, but it's documentary, if you know what I mean).

[ladysophiekitty.livejournal.com]

I seriously need to watch that someday! Especially now that I love to cook and bake so much.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

You totally should! I highly recommend it.

So, what's next on your list to bake or cook?

[ladysophiekitty.livejournal.com]

I'm actually planning to make some chili today! I'm in my college apartment now so it's hard to make anything too complicated right now. And then at some point I'm going to cook some fish, brown rice, and broccoli for dinner.

[ladymidath.livejournal.com]

My daughter is a chef, her specialty is French, Greek and Italian cooking.

She was actually inspired by a chef she met called Gabriel Gate. She met him when he was doing a cooking demonstration and he was so nice to her that she became enamored with chefing. Twelve years later she is still doing what she loves and all because a famous chef encouraged her.

I do love Meryl Streep, she is a brilliant actress. I loved her in The Hours.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

How cool! When can I come over for dinner? ;)

That is really heartening to hear, that a famous chef is willing to encourage and inspire someone new to the field. So, what's your favorite of all the dishes your daughter can make?

[ladymidath.livejournal.com]

LOL, you can visit any time. *^o^*

Oh there are sooooooooo many. Her Mediterranean Seafood platters are to die for. She also has a special tart she makes with horses milk. It's a very rare dish and I love her pasta dishes.
She does a lot of exotic dishes with really strange ingredients but she tends to do very modern dishes along with the traditional ones.

In Sydney, people love more modern types of foods but I like the old favourites myself. :-)

I think it was the fact that Gabriel Gate took the time to talk to her and explain all the dishes that he was preparing, not many people would do that. I saw him a couple of years later and thanked him for being Danni's inspiration, he was so pleased to hear that. He really is a lovely man, very approachable.