The Secret of Roan Inish

A personal favorite from childhood, this film is circled around a creature of Irish folklore that for once isn’t a leprechaun, but the half-human, half-seal selkie. Fiona, a little girl sent to live with her grandparents on a tiny island of the Western Coast of Ireland, listens to the dramatic tales of her grandfather and fellow townspeople about the ocean’s unforgiving nature in its stealing away of her baby brother Jamie during the family’s evacuation of Roan Inish. She eventually uncovers stories about an uncle who allegedly married a beautiful selkie woman and ran away with her, then one day sees Jamie herself running through the grass, and now must try to convince the family of her vision. The film dips into your inner child as it reminds you of the beautiful power of storytelling and cute kids with accents. It’s also rated 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Working class early 90s Dubliners band together to form a soul band only to fall apart once booze, romance, ego, and all-around Irishness get in the way. Music, drama, and dry comedy forming an amazing piece of cinema that has been voted the best Irish movie of all time – by Jameson Irish Whiskey. It also won the BAFTA for Best Film, but who’s to say which one is more prestigious than the other. Technically this isn’t really an underrated movie, but it’s sad how many people I know have no clue about the World’s Hardest Working Band. Subtitles strongly encouraged.

I honestly was debating posting this film considering its rough subject matter, but it’s impossible not to discuss the history of Ireland without hitting depressing topics. Three girls in 1960′s Ireland are sent to an asylum for “fallen” women, said by their families and Catholic society to be nothing more than slutty sinners. The most horrific part is that one of the women was raped by her own cousin, only to have her father turn his back on her and accuse her of being the seductress in the scenario. She meets an unwed mother and an “overly flirtatious” virgin at Magdalene Asylum, but it soon becomes clear that their reformatory is more of a manual-labor prison as the girls are forced to work long hours and endure endless physical humiliation and abuse at the hands of their head nun. There’s nothing lighthearted about this film, but its messages of female strength and personal freedom are key. Can we now finally move on from slut-shaming?

On the subject of strong women, enter the hilarious Janeane Garofalo! An assistant to a Boston senator, Marcy Tizard is sent to Ireland with the task of finding his relatives in order to win over the Irish-American vote. She’s all work, work, work, but the town is all love! love! love! as she arrives just in time for the annual matchmaking festival. What conflict! Watching guys try to court the dry-witted and quotable Garofalo makes this an even charming rom-com for those not so big into the genre. The dude’s got an accent, so of course they get together in the end. She also never manages to find anything on her boss’s ancestors, but it’s not because of loveytime or anything. Turns out he wasn’t even Irish. FATE?!

What are you favorite movies about Ireland?

featured image courtesy of Ebert Fest

The post Happy St. PatFlick’s Day: Four Films About All Things Irish appeared first on HelloGiggles.

It’s hard to believe that something we so casually do with family and loved ones out of obligation (ugh, gross Mom!) and admiration (ay boo!) is not the norm in other parts of the world, but the nation’s social values surrounding chastity and its low rates of pre-marital sex have made publicly showing showing affection almost taboo. As a result, any general outward expression of love is considered improper and, in your little brother’s words, pretty icky. Ironic to hear from a country that celebrates weddings for several days in epic party garb.

The New York Times discussed the gradual increase in public displays of affection amongst the country’s youth population, a trend that can easily be accredited to the exposure to media. In December 2012, the Bollywood film Jab Tak Hai Jaan featured the first ever on-screen kiss, not only marking the changing of the times, but pushing it right to its totally smoochable edge. Shah Rukh Khan, basically India’s answer to Ryan Gosling, planted his debut movie wet one onto star Katrina Kaif, so basically every woman there now wants to be her. The nation actually lifted its ban on kissing scenes in the 1990′s, but Khan and other romantic filmmakers mainly stuck to keeping their trembling mouths a breathy centimeter away from ladies’ faces, much like your run-of-the-mill Nicholas Sparks movie poster. Ya know, baby steps.

“That kiss was an incredibly important moment,” Dr. Sanjay Srivastava, a professor of sociology at the Institute of Economic Growth at Delhi University, stated. “Shah Rukh Khan defines what is mainstream. If he does it, it becomes acceptable.”

Just like everything Ryan Gosling does.

Now, the whole youth population is skipping class and pecking in the streets! Okay, not really, but in the grand scheme of things, making kissing socially acceptable in India creates more freedom for the female voice, a nation still largely committed to the arranged marriage lifestyle.

Over the last few years, young women have experienced a growing power in actually deciding who they want to marry. According to Dr. Debra Lieberman, an assistant professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Miami, “Women are now able to select mates without having to negotiate as much with family members.” If a gal doesn’t like a guy her parents have chosen for her, she is now offered the chance of a veto. Therefore, you get to marry a dude you might actually like and, as a result, want to kiss him all the time all over his socially progressive face.

While getting all romantic on each other in public is only slowly becoming more accepted, women are at least becoming more insistent when it comes to discussing their intimate needs with their husbands. Just like how American women are all like, “Blahblahblah why aren’t you Ryan Gosling?!”

The technologically advancing world is bringing Hollywood’s influence to more parts of the globe, and Bollywood is feeling the impact. Amongst the educated, urban 20-somethings whom make up its audience, this cultural shift into sexual revolution is no doubt due to its inspiration. While I find India’s reasons behind PDA disapproval understandable, a product of its zeitgeist, this social change will mean the rising voice of the nation’s female population. Young couples who find themselves on the cusp of new versus old, tradition versus progress, can find it more common to marry for love and not family status. Alright, I’m officially sapped up enough to go pop in my copy of Bend It Like Beckham.

Featured image courtesy of Examiner.com

The post PDA On The Rise Amongst Indian Couples appeared first on HelloGiggles.

Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough, aka Fergie’s husband and Ryan Seacrest’s girlfriend, pair up in many moments of “pretty people gazing and touching faces” and learn lessons about love, trust and conservation-starters for canoe rides while still always forgetting to bring an umbrella. Good thing running in the rain is super fun and makes people kiss!

Hough hangs up her dancing shoes for the first time in a film to play Katie, a girl who ends up in the small quaint town of Southport, North Carolina on a bus pit stop from Boston, clearly running from a dark past that only seagulls and grits can fix. In an aim to overcome her previous troubles and start a new life, she finds herself enamored enough with the Southern charm to slowly make the area her new home, and, eventually, falls for the delicious scoop of casserole that is Josh Duhamel‘s character, a widower named Alex. As her scary secrets eventually come to the forefront, Katie is faced with the choice of dealing with her traumatic history or moving forward into the muscular ‘ceps of Alex, her safe haven. Name plug! If you’re not already gushing, the setting itself is enough to make you want to drop everything and bury away into a small backwoods cabin that’s so quiet you can hear what the bugs are thinking.

This is the second Nicholas Sparks film for known Swedish “actor’s director” Lasse Hallstrom, who, to anyone interested, is responsible for a slew of ABBA music video perfection from the 70′s, but also for The Cider House Rules, Chocolat and 2010′s Dear John. Hallstrom is known for his heavily emotional films and is a favorite choice amongst Sparks as a director, as he “tends to draw fantastic performances from the cast,” states the novelist. There are also some adorable scenes with the two kids who play Alex’s young’ns in the film, a lot of which were improvised on set in order to keep their interactions with Hough’s character more grounded and real. Safe Haven even comes with a hefty dose of unexpected action and suspense, considering Sparks’ traditional work, making it an easier pitch to your date-mate come its Valentine’s Day release. Scenes featuring Hough in physical fights were actually done sans stuntwoman, per the dancer’s request and much to the stress of the crew, so she could still have that sassy choreographed feeling of a Footloose sequence. Not to mention it automatically makes you an all-around bad-a. Snaps, girl.

In preparation for his role, Duhamel spent two weeks in the real town of Southport to absorb the world of his character and the Southern lifestyle. “By the time we started shooting, I really felt like I was that dude,” said Duhamel, as his face grew another handsome chisel.

The characters of Katie and Alex are not only grounded and dynamic, but easily relatable in their strive for love, happiness, and security, like most of Sparks’ literary subjects and reader-base. What female audiences will hopefully appreciate about this film in particular, is our heroine’s ability to face her past without the aid of her new male love interest. Alex makes her feel safe, but is not the one saving her. She, when presented with the very thing that she is running from, is fully capable of rescuing herself and moving on to build the new life she helped create with him. Both of our heroes are extremely vulnerable, but neither struggle outweighs the other. The two are equals who come together and stabilize one another.

Hough describes Katie’s message as “being secure with who you are and moving forward.” The film’s biggest messages besides lovin’ and canoodlin’ and all that good stuff are definitely of sacrifice, facing fears, trust, personal transformation, and, most importantly, how to spearfish. Also, Cobie Smulders plays Jo, Katie’s gal pal neighbor, and she dons some serious jean-jacket-over-sundress action.

Safe Haven hits theaters today! Watch the trailer here.

Main photo courtesy of Relativity Media.

The post Things To Drag A Boy To: Safe Haven appeared first on HelloGiggles.

Clearly the invention of some bored barista hooliganism, the secret menu item known as the Cap’n Crunch Frappuccino is probably not understood at every location, but that’s what keeps it cooool, maaaan. If you don’t happen to stumble upon a savvy employee who is up to your tricks, the additional syrups are easy enough to remember and ensure you still get the nostalgic drink you so desire. Add whipped cream to take you even further back to the time in your life when calories didn’t exist.

Oh, what’s that you say? You feel reborn? You’re welcome.

The post Item of the Day: Starbucks’ Secret Cap’n Crunch Frappuccino appeared first on HelloGiggles.

What’s so great about this company in particular, is their exclusive collaborations with independent artists, punk bands and, most recently, TV shows like Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead to create truly interesting and one-of-a-kind pieces only available online. The name “Vannen” even means “friends” in Swedish, which speaks exactly for the kind of customer experience they look to create and beautifully deliver. Not to mention they’re straight up too cute to boot and are assembled with tender care by hand in their small Los Angeles office.

I’ve been rocking their Descendents “Timeage” watch for the past week and it only leaves my body for shower time. Don’t worry, they are completely water-resistant, I just feel weird wearing jewelry naked. But feel free to go ahead with those hot tubs or cliff divings I’m sure you’re all up to. With prices varying from $32 to $80, it’s a solid deal, considering these are quality limited edition releases from insanely talented artists.

Alright, I’ll stop so you can check ‘em out for yourself.

All images courtesy of Vannen.

The post Item of the Day: Vannen Art Watches appeared first on HelloGiggles.

I’ve never had a DUI, but thank you, the few that have said this to me, for assuming I’m some sort of carefree youthful daredevil. The truth is, I’m 24 and have never owned a car. I can go into detail as to why that is; a divorce that left my mother and I with a whittled-down income just as I turned 16, college in a bike and bus-friendly city and a lack of funds post-grad to even consider a vehicle, on top of loans and affording rent. Of course, I didn’t have to move to Los Angeles. Some have even assumed that I don’t own a car because I’m a New Yorker, which is always enough to make me beam a little bit even though I have no attachment to the city, besides the romanticism we all feel for it. Everyone knows LA is an obnoxiously car-heavy town, so why in the world would someone go there if they knew they’d be jumping into the shark tank without a wetsuit? Well, I was just a 22-year-old fresh out of college who figured if I didn’t make the move right then and there, I was going to become immersed in whatever else that distracts a person and never make it happen. So I did. And the second I moved to Los Angeles, I got a monthly bus pass.

My first place included three other girls I went to college with, so it’s not like I was some nomadic traveler woman with no access to a vehicle whatsoever, but I would of course have to venture off my own when it came to job interviews and general alone time and map out how I would go about my day. Of course, the disadvantages immediately showed. It generally takes me longer to get places, I’m more limited on how far I can travel out into certain areas, buses and people smell weird, cat-calling is a persistent nuisance, and your journey is in someone else’s hands, so, ya, the bus isn’t always on time. But I’ve become to used to it and appreciate it for the strange and amusing environment it is.

When it comes to a traffic-heavy city like LA, the first bonus must be quite obvious;

1. No Road Rage

I’m more than aware of my temper when I’m pushed to that level, and I feel it even as a passenger in the car with friends. I’m usually known as the one that will scream out what the driver is thinking, amusing all aboard that the one not even behind the wheel is getting so heated. You can see why I wouldn’t like to see myself when I actually have to navigate around the negligent texter-drivers and shoddy signal-users. Instead, I get to sit perched in my window seat with my headphones in and watch it play out in other cars like my own personalized reality show.

2. Money, Money, Money

Car payments. Car insurance. Smog checks. Gas. Maintenance. Parking aaanywhere. Permit parking. Parking tickets. Speeding tickets. Running red lights. Break-ins.

It’s absurd how much it racks up when it comes to owning a car in Los Angeles. Long gone are the days of huge open parking lots outside of Wal-Mart, and here come fights for spots at Trader Joe’s. I don’t have to worry about any of this. I spend a grand total of $75 a month for my Metro card and the occasional gas money I throw at friends when we carpool about town on the weekends. I can’t express what a relief it is that I don’t have to pay $10 to circle parking structures for an hour and get rear-ended in the process.

3. Taking In The Sights

Having to navigate my way through the city from the sidewalk meant I was quickly forced to learn the area or risk being stranded. I realized how much better I was with directions than some of my driving friends because I didn’t have a talking GPS to guide my way, but my own freaked out mind that screamed, “learn these streets or you’ll never make it out alive!”. Fortunately, this also allowed me to explore more of the easily overlooked things about Los Angeles. Popping into small stores and restaurants that I would’ve never bothered with in a car because the street parking would’ve been too much of a hassle. Taking in street art, meeting various dogs, window-shopping funny t-shirts, and running into familiar faces aren’t as attainable from behind the wheel.

4. Keeping Active

I keep myself centralized in Hollywood because of my car limitations, but this also means that I’m really close to a lot of fun antics and shenanigans. Having so many things walking distance means it’s easy to force myself to actually walk places, and for the workout-avoider that I am, it’s the one main thing that keeps me relatively in shape. I’m no buff goddess like most of the stereotypical yogi gals of LA, but I’ve got way fiercer calves than I did three years ago, and that’s what counts.

5. People-Watching At Its Finest

Man, aren’t people just the whackiest?! I’ve had enough creepy/hilarious/scary/downright absurd experiences on the bus I could write an encyclopedia, but unfortunately no one buys encyclopedias anymore. Needless to say, whatever kind of people you imagine yourself around when taking the bus, yes, they are exactly it. Completely. But I’d take a crying baby and guy eating sunflower seeds right next to me over having to navigate rush hour where the 405 Sepulveda Pass.

6. The Reassurance That I May Be Broke, But At Least I’m Eco-Friendly

As much as I have my moments where I long to be a car by myself with the music blaring and no funky smells besides the ones I’ve created on my own, the thought of my low carbon footprint provides a comfortable do-gooder gloat. Hey, you see all that smog? Wasn’t me! Blame that guy! *Chugs from reusable coffee thermos while simultaneously recycling someone else’s Starbucks cup*.

7. Feigning a New York/Any International City Lifestyle

NYC has their subway system, LA has street parking restriction signs that are basically word problems pulled straight from the SATs. Who wants to live like that? I barely passed math and I’ve moved on from that dark time in my life! It’s honestly tragic that in such a densely populated city, we don’t have a better public transportation system or more people that take it, especially since the weather is perfectly suited for it. Blame it on history. Los Angeles used to have a great electric street car system in the its old Hollywood heyday, but in a move to push the sales of personal automobiles, GM strategically bought out the lines and shut them down so we could all live the smoggy American dream. Yet, go to any other major city in the world and people are hopping on and off the metro like ants traveling up your cabinetry. I admire the social interaction that obviously doesn’t happen from the driver’s side window, no matter how crazy it can get sometimes. Where else would I be able to give attractive, map-wielding Swedish boys directions to Santa Monica beach?

I’ll eventually get a car if I plan on staying in LA, or most places for that matter, but for the time being I have to embrace my almost wanderer-like lifestyle. Sure, it has it moments of frustration, vulnerability, and questionable odors, but so does an IHOP, and we still all love IHOP. If Los Angeles could strengthen its public transportation system to the point that alleviates its traffic migraines, those of us who live here would all be better off and more stress-free because of it, and turning more horn-happy Angelenos into bus-riders would be a pretty decent start.

Featured image courtesy of Everyday Dutch Oven

The post Of Being A Sensible-Shoed Contessa: Car-Less and Carefree in LA appeared first on HelloGiggles.

If you’ve won Dancing With the Stars, MacKenzie from Dance Moms or were on the drill team at my high school, scurry off, this post isn’t for you! I’m talking to those that love to pop it and drop it and put it in all the various places, but are confused as to why no one has come running to your side in hopes of joining your West Side Story gang. Could you just so happen to be… a bad dancer?

1. When You Slow Dance, You Save Room For Jesus

We know, middle school was a painful time. New zits and new feelings came just in time for Winter Formal, and your mom was probably a chaperone who watched you and your date like a hawk circling two frolicking kittens. However, those days are no more, so unless your elbows are locked in place like a Barbie doll (so sorry to any IRL Barbies out there, must be a tough life), lighten up, ya goon! If he wanted a stiff dance partner, he’d be outside caressing a statue. I’m also pretty sure physical contact cures cancer or something.

take a note from these kids! they dance all over the face of cooties.

2. All Of Your Dance Moves Are Called “The [Some Inanimate Object/Wild Animal]“

The Lawnmower. The Shopping Cart. The Sprinkler. The Electric Slide. The Crabwalk. THE MACARENA. If it has to have some quirky name and/or group choreography only seen at weddings, it isn’t fierce. It exists so that your parents can brag about “getting jiggy” because they think we still use those words.

1) form diving position 2) Oliver Twist it 3) sass your date 4) sunbath upwards 5) do the Tut! 6) check yo’ back pockets 7) wiggle them back pockets 8) look around for whatever was supposed to be in your back pockets. then dive again!

AAAAY MACARENA!

And for those who find themselves inspired by the art of gardening;

Or for that person at the party who will only try to replicate the most famous pop star of all time for their moment of glory;

3. Your Rain Dances Cause Droughts

Do you ever wonder if the Dust Bowl of the 1930s was less a sassy act of Mother Nature and more of a result from some farmer’s daughter who decided to host a super awkward barn dance? Thanks a lot, Bessie. If you’ve ever single-handedly caused the destruction of a small village from endlessly practicing the worm to no avail, congratulations! You’re a bad dancer. But hey, at least you control the weather to some degree. So does Oprah.

sure, I guess I’ll trust that you look like you know what you’re doing.

CIVILIZATION IS DOOMED.

4. In Your Eyes, Dance Dance Revolution = A Russian Ballet Company

Admit it, DDR is the like the Guitar Hero of dance skillzzz. Remember that scene from Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen where Lindsay Lohan “dance battles” Megan Fox at the arcade wearing a cut up Knicks jersey and baggy denim and you were like, “well, this is just about the worst thing to watch.” Because it is! Dance Dance Revolution, revolting against nothing but actual fun, might as well be hopscotch at a rave. You wouldn’t really bust out your abilities to leap around within a certain foot radius on the dance floor. The only thing at an arcade that takes TRUE DIVINE ELEGANCE AND SKILL is Skeeball and everyone knows that. Now get outta of my Putt Putt.

Lindsay, you’re embarrassing me.

5. You’re A Sky Dancer

This toy was really just a method of child abuse if you consider the endless twirls all those 9 year olds tried to replicate or the bruised faces they endured from said crash-landing “Dancers”.

6. Everyone Tells You You’re A Bad Dancer

One could say the most obvious giveaway to your rhythmic shortcomings will usually come in the form of your friends aggressively holding you back from the dance floor or being the only gal at Homecoming a fella hasn’t asked to awkwardly save room for Jesus with. How do I know?! Because, Uncoordinated Queens of the World, I am one of you. If I had a nickel for every time a roommate cautioned me that my hips, in fact, DO LIE after a Shakira YouTube session, or I have found myself halfway stuck on the ground mid-split, unable to lift up my own person, OR almost hit someone in the face with my flailing spaghetti arms in attempts to windmill as a distraction from the hostile disconnection they share with my other limbs, I’d have enough to buy my own in-house Dance Dance Revolution machine. But who cares, right? I will forever stick to my life philosophy of never dancing when I’m expected to, and always dancing when it makes you super uncomfortable.

Now let’s take a moment and relate to this brave soul.

Featured image via BoiseWeekly

The post 6 Signs That You’re A Bad Dancer appeared first on HelloGiggles.

Alvy: Hey, what is this? You got black soap?
Annie: It’s for my complexion.
Alvy: What – are you joining a minstrel show?

Oh Woody, you and your zingy zings. But the joke might as well have been perfectly orchestrated product placement for those of us who are suckers for anything Diane Keaton says, does, wears or rubs on her adorable face. So, when I stumbled upon this in the body wash section of Target, I threw it into my basket without question. I may have even tweeted it to Miss Keaton herself. Whatever, seemed worth a shot for a moment of bonding.

Film nostalgia aside, this truly is a great product. I’m prone to redness and get oily very easily, and with regular use, stubborn blemishes disappeared and left my skin incredibly soft. Consisting of palm ash, tamarind extract, tar and plantain peel, it’s been used in Africa for centuries to treat eczema, acne, oily skin, psoriasis and more. At $6 a pop, (actually cheaper online, use link below) this bar is an incredible deal considering how long it will last you. Clean and simple and easy for any skin type.

Try the magic yourself! Buy African Black Soap here.

The post Item of the Day: Shea Moisture African Black Soap appeared first on HelloGiggles.