Clearly, there is a reason we keep seeing much of the same kinds of movies being recognized at the Academy Awards.

The voting population of the Academy is 94% white, 77% male, and 62 is the average age.

In 84 years, only 4 women have been nominated for a best directing Oscar.

1 has won.

In 2011, only 5% of the top grossing films in Hollywood were directed by women. The number has decreased since 2008.

[Lina Wertmüller in 1976 for Seven Beauties, Jane Campion in 1993 for The Piano, Sofia Coppola in 2003 for Lost in Translation, Kathryn Bigelow in 2009 for The Hurt Locker]

By role, women accounted for 5 percent of directors, 14 percent of writers, 18 percent of executive producers, 25 percent of producers, 20 percent of editors, and 4 percent of cinematographers last year. – Women’s Media Center

Only 2 out of the 9 films nominated for Best Picture pass the Bechdel Test.

What is the Bechdel Test? A movie has to have all three of these happen in just ONE scene in the entire movie (not a high bar to reach):

1. It has to have at least two women in it,
2. Who talk to each other,
3. About something other than a man.

For more information on women in media, visit Women’s Media Center.

image via AMPAS

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
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Seeing as I’m the Queen of All TV, my suggestions on what you should be watching or catching up on is pretty much gospel.

DOWNTON ABBEY

image via PBS

Downton Abbey, Season 1 – Masterpiece
Downton Abbey, Season 2 – Masterpiece

Good thing for all of us that there are only 2 seasons of Downton Abbey for you to catch up on and within those seasons are just 7 episodes. Set aside a weekend, lock the kids outside, and watch yourself into English royalty bliss.

Plus, you’ll totally get why these Downton Abbey paper dolls from Vulture I shared on We Know Awesome are so HIGHlarious.

image credit Kyle Hilton

BREAKING BAD

image via AMC TV

Breaking Bad

It’s shameful how I didn’t start watching Breaking Bad until just a few months ago. Lucky for me though that I had the chance to catch up all at once in a 2 week marathon of WATCH ALL THE BREAKING BADS.

And maybe you’ll understand why I have a woody for Jesse Pinkman. And LOOK! I can make out with him in his paper doll form! Don’t worry; I’ll laminate him first.

image credit Kyle Hilton

SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL

image via Showtime

Secret Diary of a Call Girl

It’s probably the best British import show you’ve never heard of. Secret Diary of a Call Girl has been on Showtime for the last few years, tucked in to a few other popular shows. In a quick synopsis, picture Belle, a London call girl entertaining men in her fashionable flat, who as Hannah, happens to be in love with her best friend. I know. It’s so good. Watch it.

WHAT NOT TO WATCH

I’m going to admit that I’m a joiner, wanting to be a cool kid and get all of the Doctor Who references I read. I tried watching the first episode. Friends, when I say it was the weirdest show I’ve ever seen, and not in a good way, I’m not exaggerating.

image via BBC

In my confusion with the mannequins and the alien Doctor and why Hannah/Belle from Secret Diary of a Call Girl was wearing high-waisted mom jeans, I couldn’t get past the first 30 minutes. How I got past the first 10 minutes is a testament to my passion for TV.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: breaking bad, doctor who, downton abbey, secret diary of a call girl, what to watch on TV

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Little known fact about me: I’ve never had a cavity.

Yes, I’m totally bragging about it. When you’ve been alive for 35+ years and have never had a cavity, you get to brag. There’s not much else left for me to have unabashed pride about, so when I find the opportunity to brag, I do.

It’s not like I do anything special with my teeth. I brush twice a day, sometimes rinse, and never floss. I know I should, but I’m just that lazy, and I figure if I’ve gone this long without a cavity, why start flossing now?

Which is pretty much the opposite of everything a dentist tells us to do.

Dentists tell us to brush twice a day, rinse with mouthwash, and floss.

Until very recently, I didn’t realize mouthwash was an actual healthy thing that needed to be done. I figured it was just a secondary thing those marketers wanted us to spend more money on buying. And then I learned that brushing your teeth rids your mouth of only 25% of germs.

Dudes. 25% is a total failing grade when it comes to the toothbrush.

But that’s why God and Listerine invented* mouthwash.

*So maybe God didn’t invent mouthwash, and I don’t know if Listerine actually invented it, but they’ve cornered the market on making a ton of different kinds of good-for-your-mouth mouthwashes.

I’ve already bragged about my never having had a cavity, but I can’t say the same for my 7-year-old. She’s already had one. Talk about a big MOM FAIL moment.

Apparently, she has crowded teeth, and with all of the mouth sores she’s prone to having, she’s not a good teeth brusher. Luckily we found a very good pediatric dentist who has nitrous on tap and took care of my girls.

I can’t say enough about finding a good pediatric dentist. When my girls were 3 & 4, I took them to a dentist who had “pediatric” on his office door, but there was absolutely nothing kid-friendly about his office, unless you count the treasure chest full of Oriental Trading crap.

My girls’ current pediatric dentist is pretty much a kid paradise. TVs hanging from the ceiling, sunglasses, murals, PSPs in the waiting room; I’m thinking of calling in for an appointment of my own. Plus she believes in nitrous, and any doctor who believes in nitrous is a doctor I like.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, and in partnering with Johnson & Johnson, Walmart, and The Motherhood, we’re bringing about awareness to the importance of proper dental habits like these from pediatric dentist, Dr. Kaneta Lott, DDS:

Tips for your kids for having a healthy mouth:

• Make oral care fun (e.g., make it a game; brush, floss and rinse to music; etc).
• Reward their behavior (e.g., give gold stars for good oral care).
• Show, don’t tell – make oral care a family affair.
• Involve them in their own oral care routine by providing products like LISTERINE® Smart Rinse, which can make the daily routine more fun, provides 12-hour cavity protection for kids and strengthens teeth 99 percent better than brushing alone.

Since I we discovered that my eldest daughter had a cavity and “crowded teeth,” we started our girls on a mouthwash routine. OK, so I’ll confess. It wasn’t “we started our girls” but “they saw commercials on TV that made them want to have healthy teeth” so we bought them some mouthwash.

We just went back for a follow-up dentist visit this week, and much to my PRIDE, no cavities! Plus, bribing my kids with $2 each for no crying during the dentist visit totally worked for a peaceful afternoon.

—- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —- —-

To learn more about the American Heart Association’s My Heart. My Life.™ initiative, visit www.MyHeartMyLife.org.
To hear more about improving your oral care routine and see an educational message from professional snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, visit www.Listerine.com. (Coming Soon!)

Disclosure: While this is a sponsored post is in partnership with The Motherhood, Johnson & Johnson, and Walmart, all ideas are my own unless specified.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2012. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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My 7-year-old daughter has a serious addiction to Nutella.

Or more specifically, Nutella and peanut butter sandwiches. Every single day, without fail, she requires that she have at least one N&PB sammich.

She’s so addicted to the Nutella and peanut butter sandwich that she’s already told me to plan on taking one to her birthday party at Chuck E Cheese’s instead of eating pizza. Her birthday is in July.

We have a membership to BJs (our warehouse food store like Costco) partly to buy the mega jars of Nutella.

And did you know the large jars of peanut butter are over $8 EACH?

Kids are expensive, yo.

I’ve written about our family’s love for Nutella in the past, but until today, I didn’t know how big that Nutella love could go.

photo credit Cay.Digests NY

Seriously, people. There are such things as 11 pound jars of Nutella. You can totally buy them on Amazon.

Because what can’t you buy on Amazon? Obviously you can buy happiness because the 11 pound jar of Nutella is happy in a jar for my Anna.

Also new to us, the Nutella and GO! Snack. This is a little different from the Nutella Snack and Drink, but I have to say, I’d rather eat my Nutella than drink it.

Please, do not tell my daughter there is such a thing as Nutella and GO! Snack or the 11 pound jars of Nutella.

There’s only so much Nutella one house can handle.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: nutella, nutella 11 pound jar, nutella addiction, nutella go and snack, nutella snack drink

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I recently read from a magazine interview with Emma Watson where she said she was asked by reporters if her short hair cut was her way of coming out of the closet.

“I had journalists asking me if this meant I was coming out, if I was a lesbian now.” She rolls her eyes. “That haircut did make me realise how subjective everyone’s opinion is. Some people were crazy for it and some people just thought I’d lost my shit. All I can do is follow my instincts, because I’ll never please everyone.” – Independent

You know, because short hair means a woman is gay?

I’m sad for society.

In my sadness for society, I created a few new gay hairstyles for me. And I have to say, I look pretty good as a lesbian.

If I were to cut my hair really short, straighten it, and dye it brown with some high- and low-lights, you’d get a questionably gay me with Emma Watson’s hairdo.

Here’s me as the very gay Ellen Degeneres.

And me with the fiery red hair of lesbian Cynthia Nixon.

And me with the (obviously) closeted Michelle Williams short hair cut.

And because I couldn’t stop at just white-girl closeted lesbian hair, I tried on Viola Davis’ hair.

Obviously, closeted gay women can have longer hair, because Oprah hides behind her luscious locks.

I’m totally gay for Rob Pattinson, so I had to try on his hair.

Now I’m considering jumping on the gay bandwagon because short hair is so much easier to maintain than the 2-feet-long straight-girl mop on my head.

hairstyle re-do by In Style

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: celebrity hair, emma watson, gay hair

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There are times in this blogging life where sometimes, we have to use our powers for good (money).

It’s kind of like when you actually pay for a magazine at the bookstore instead of reading the entire thing while you sip your coffee then put the magazine back on the rack for some other shlub to pay for it.

Basically, what I’m saying is sometimes, we bloggers have to do things to make money to make this whole blogging thing worth everyone’s time. Sometimes, that means we publish sponsored posts and include affiliate links in our posts. There’s only so many pennies I can earn from the CPM on those sidebar ads before I start writing controversial linkbait-y posts just for the negative attention-clicks. And NO ONE wants to see that happen.

I’ll always be authentic and truthful on this here blog of mine. Mostly because I have a hard time even keeping the truth straight. That said, these super awesome nerd shirts from Mental Floss are ones I totally want. Consider it a bonus that they’re linked using affiliate links.

Though this shirt may not work for me (because as we already know, my Patronus is Rachel Maddow holding a chimichanga), my Anna totally needs this shirt from Mental Floss. The kid is a reading wizard and is 1/4 of the way through Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire.

I don’t know what I did to have a kid who at 7 years old reads Harry Potter books proficiently, but if I could bottle her genius, I’d make gajillions and wouldn’t have to use affiliate links or ads on my blog.

But I guess we can say Anna gets her nerdiness from us, her parents, because we gave her a name that we spell backwards.

For two days, take an extra 20% off* everything in the Mental Floss sale for the President’s Day sale, starting on 2/20/12 at 12:01am EST through 2/21/12 at 11:59pm EST. Just enter Mental Floss coupon code 20BYGEORGE at checkout.

*The sale excludes clearance, magazine subscriptions and package deals.

SO really what I’m saying is don’t hate on us bloggers for doing what we can to make a couple of extra pennies so we’re not that magazine at the bookstore who gets used and abused then put back. Click a link or banner a few times. It doesn’t hurt too much, and it makes us love you more.

Your blogger thanks you.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 4 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: affiliate links, coupon code, mental floss, palindrome, patronus is a bookworm

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It’s the final installment of my 4-week series of pork recipes I’ve published in partnership with The Motherhood, Publix, and The National Pork Board.

Or as my girls call it, “that thing for your work where we have to eat pork all the time.”

There’s been 3 great recipes and dinners leading up to today’s finale:

The fourth and final pork meal I handed off to Patrick was tasked with making was a dinner with this week’s Publix special, Pork Sirloin Cutlets. The theme of the week is to create a meal inspired by comfort foods made healthy.

Because “comfort” means “fattening” to me, I scoured the Pork Be Inspired recipe database for a meal that was both kid-friendly and easy to make but also fit the bill as “healthy.” What did I find?

Breaded Pork Chops

4 boneless pork loin chops, 3/4-inch thick
2 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 egg, slightly beaten
1-2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

In my house, this is where I hand over this recipe print-out from Pork Be Inspired to Patrick, so I’m assuming he used all of the steps from Pork Be Inspired in the recipe below to make our breaded pork chops. Only, I think maybe he heated the oil too high because the chops came out slightly past “done.”

In small bowl, combine flour, salt, paprika and pepper. In another small bowl, combine egg and Worcestershire sauce. Coat chops with seasoned flour; dip in egg mixture, and coat with crumbs. In large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown chops on one side until golden brown (about 4 minutes); turn and continue cooking for another 4 minutes until internal temperature on a thermometer reads 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest time. Serve hot.
Serves 4

And Patrick did it again; he made a yummy dinner with his favorite meat, pork.

What? Can’t a man have a favorite meat? 

Just ignore those parts that are darker than golden brown. Think of it as Patrick doing you a favor with a warning to not set your oil too high when you cook your meat.

Giveaway

And because WHO DOESN’T LOVE PORK? other than vegetarians and pescetarians and vegans I’m hosting a little giveaway! Included in the giveaway (subject to change, but value will not) from the Pork & Publix campaign include:

• 8 $5 pork coupons (total value of $40)
• Water bottle
• Reusable grocery bag
• Meat thermometer (Patrick raves about the one I received)
• Pedometer
• Recipe book

To enter the giveaway, share one or all of my recipe posts on your Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest accounts, and leave one comment for each separately shared recipe ON THIS POST with the link to where you shared these recipe posts (limit to four total comment entries per person):

• Pork Tenderloin Sliders
• Stuffed Pork, Apple, Cheddar Grilled Sandwiches
• 5-Minute Crock Pot Shredded Pork Tacos
• Breaded Pork Chops

The giveaway is open now through Monday, February 27th. I’ll choose one random comment from those left below that include a valid link to where the recipe post was shared. The chosen winner will be contacted via email and must respond within 2 days to receive the prize from Pork & Publix.

Good luck! And happy porking.

—————————————————————————————-

Check the National Pork Board website for current Publix pork specials and other recipes to try out. Select cuts of pork are currently on sale at Publix through February 22nd. Like the Pork Be Inspired page on Facebook for updates on the new Love Me Tenderloin Giveaway. Follow @allaboutpork for additional information and specials. 

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: coupons, giveaway, pork be inspired, Sponsored

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It’s time for a pintervention, and I’m 110% sure I’m not the only one.

Sorry I haven’t stopped by to comment on your blog lately, but it’s just not as interesting as re-pinning food porn & gawdy nail polish.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2012. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
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I’m going to start by saying I’m not a prude when it comes to other people’s bodies. For my own body, I cover up and shut up. No one wants to see what’s going on under my unstylish clothes.

As a mother to two young girls, I may now be more conscious about how much skin they see on adult bodies than I used to be. But I think I’ve always been a bit less than liberal with what I think should be shown in public.

I think boobs are boobs, butts are butts, and privates are, well, meant to be private.

My own belief that women have choices with how we treat and present our own bodies is kind of a contradiction to how I feel about the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue featuring 19-year-old Kate Upton.

I don’t think it’s an appropriate cover to be on display in every bookstore, magazine rack, and as a massive billboard in Times Square.

Shocking to read from me, I know.

Girlfriend has a hot body, there’s no doubt. Great boobs, great stomach, great everything.

But I struggle with being OK seeing a bikini bottom so small that it looks to be one millimeter away from seeing Ms. Upton’s Front Butt.

While I don’t feel comfortable with this cover being everywhere for everyone to see, I’m very much OK with David Beckham’s H&M manties ad.

Though the combined fabric coverage of Mr. Beckham’s manties is only slightly more than Ms. Upton’s swimsuit, he is completely covered in the area of his “privates.”  There’s no peek of a Happy Trail, no definition of his bulge, no question that if he bent over, we’d be treated to a show of what’s currently covered.

I’m also very much OK with an ad campaign that shows women in their underwear.

I believe in the celebration of our bodies, no matter their size, shape, and purpose.

I don’t want to have to explain to my girls that it’s not OK to wear such an itsy bitsy, teeny weenie bikini in public, no matter their size, shape, and purpose.

If there’s a chance that your Front Butt may be exposed with a sneaked-out fart, the bikini bottom is too small.

My opinions may be contradictory, but I see a difference in the images and the messages they send.

Or maybe I wrote this whole essay as an excuse to look at David Beckham in his underwear. Maybe.

image credits Sports Illustrated, H&M, Dove

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 34 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: advertisement, bikini, campaign, david beckham, dove, front butt, H&M, kate upton, parenting, real beauty, sports illustrated, swimsuit issue

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You’d never know it from looking at me through the lappytop screen, but I have horrendous style.

Like, bad.

Like, my sister shakes her head at me when I show up at her house and wonders less-than-silently how we’re even related.

So like everyone else on the internet, I thought I’d give it a go at Polyvore to see just how bad my style measures up.

With some last minute help from alimartell, I don’t think I did 1/2 bad. (I’m required by no one other than myself to tell you that alimartell is not a fan of the Sperry’s, but I love them, so they stayed. She did love the striped shirt and picked out the wedges to include.)

Spring by awholelotofnothing

MICHAEL Michael Kors Plus – Plus Size Y/D Stripe 3/4 Length Sleeve Top

Levi’s Plus – Plus Size 542 Trouser Flare Jean

Sperry Top-Sider – Bluefish 2-Eye (Linen/Coral Seersucker Plaid)

Tignanello – Perfect 10 Studded Shopper

Lucky Brand – Textured Medium Oblong Hoops (Silver)

Obey – Danforth Necklace (Silver Oxide)

MICHAEL Michael Kors Plus – Plus Size V-Neck Poncho

Franco Sarto – Kashmir (Natural Canvas)

Now, if I could only get it together long enough to actually dress up when I leave the house, I’d totally get all of this cuteness.

All of these items I found on Zappos, with whom I am an affiliate.

Mama’s gotta make paper somehows, yo.

© Angie [A Whole Lot of Nothing] for A Whole Lot of Nothing • Your Favorite Blog, 2012. | Permalink | 11 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: clothing, nautical, plus size, polyvore

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