Bayport Noir

Something that a lot of people do not know about me is that I love graphic novels. I was never into comic books as a kid. It wasn't because I didn't like the concept, I just didn't have access to the kind of stories I enjoyed – as the whole superhero thing just wasn't for me. But today, some of my favorite books are in fact of the drawn variety as the graphic novel section in the bookstore is one of the best places to find interesting detective stories – and you all know how much I love detectives stories.

Now imagine my joy when I spotted my favorite teenage detectives on the cover of a new comic book series – The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew have gone noir.

I am a bit of a purist when it comes to the Hardys and Nancy. While I do love the 1970s TV show for all it's campy glory, I could never get into any of the book series that put them together. But I guess there's always an exception, and that exception is:

"Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie"

    

In true noir fashion, this new series starts on a very dark note when the Hardys find themselves in the middle of a corruption scandal that hits its peak when the boys are accused of murdering their own father. And when the whole town of Bayport turns against them they team up with an old friend to clear their names and find the real culprit.

What I love about this series is that even though it is a very modern and gritty take on the books, the characters are still recognizable and none of the conflicts feel forced. There is for example a rift between Nancy and her father — something that would usually be unimaginable — that is handled really well, and feels completely natural. Writer Anthony Del Col (Assassin’s Creed, Kill Shakespeare) and artist Werther Dell’edera (Batman: Detective Comics, House of Mystery) did not just throw these beloved characters into a noir universe, they found an organic way to make them a part of that universe — and I cannot wait to see more of it!

Get the first 3 issues on Amazon

And grab issue #4 this Wednesday (June 21)

For fans of:

The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, 

Veronica Mars, Riverdale

…and fans of Stratemeyer's mystery books will also appreciate a couple of fun cameos (those Bobbseys sure like to party). 

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura 

Documentaries

I'm finally at the finish line of this whole moving and renovating adventure and trying to get back into my regular Sunday posting routine. And today that means sharing a couple of must watch documentaries with you.

Mommy Dead and Dearest (HBO)

The thing that shocked me the most about this case was that I had never heard about it. Everything about it sounds too crazy too be true, but nope it actually happened. Mommy Dead and Dearest documents an extreme case of Munchhausen by Proxy. A mom tricked the whole world into believing that her daughter had every ailment one could imagine, until the daughter had enough and murdered her mother. It's as weird as it gets, but a must watch if you're a fan of true crime documentaries that are on the crazier side. 

Casting JonBenet (Netflix)

I've seen countless documentaries about this case (really, who hasn't?), but this one really stood out. Instead of a classic documentary, this is basically a casting session for a documentary where all the actors share their theories. It's definitely a fresh and unique approach and adds new interest to an old case.

American Epic (PBS) 

This three part event is the untold story of how the ordinary people of America gort to record music for the first time. Narrated by Robert Redford, and featuring performances from the likes of Willie Nelson, Elton John, and Jack White and T Bone Burnett who also lead theses truly epic recording sessions this series is an experience that every music lover will enjoy. And you're gonna want to buy the recordings right after. Trust me.  

Peace, Love and Lobster
Laura

November is for Romcoms

Instead of a regular “things to watch” post in list format, I'm trying this new thing were my friend Samantha and I discuss things. And today it's romcoms, because in November we watch romcoms (we'll explain why).

LAURA: It’s November. Or “romcom appreciation month” as we like to call it.

SAM: Yes! Putting a pause on the scary of last month, and gearing up for the holiday movies of next.

LAURA: Do you remember which movie started our tradition to have romcom marathons in November?

SAM: Serendipity? I think? That’s like the ultimate holiday romcom. That one your fave?

LAURA: It really is the ultimate holiday romcom. A chance meeting during Christmas shopping in New York City, then ice skating? It doesn’t get much better than than that. But I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s my favorite (even though it’s close), what about you?

SAM: I have so many that are all pretty much on the same level… A few of them involving Jennifer Garner and/or Reese Witherspoon, and both with Mark Ruffalo. 13 Going on 30 and Sweet Home Alabama are definitely up there. Oddly enough, I just realized, both involve the “childhood friends” trope. Go figure.

LAURA: Mark, why did I know he’d make an appearance? Sweet Home Alabama is a good one! I think that was the first one I saw where both guys were equally great. Usually one is always on the jerkier side (even though I am with you on the childhood friends thing, so Josh Lucas still had a small advantage over Patrick Dempsey).

SAM: You know me too well. And yes, it makes things feel more…real? Because chances are if you liked the guy in the first place… he wouldn’t be completely awful. The other guy being an actual decent option makes it better!

LAURA: Do you sometimes feel bad for the other guy? Getting dumped a week before the wedding just because his fiancée fell for the wedding planer, florist, chef or basically any random guy involved in the wedding? Not cool.

SAM: So much! Especially when their only flaw is being boring. I’d always wanted a movie from that person’s POV, picking up right after they get dumped at the altar or something.

LAURA: Forgetting Sarah Marshall kinda fits that description, or HighFidelity. But neither really has that classic romcom feel.

SAM: That brings up a good point. Nowadays, I feel like the “classic” romcom, is basically dead. There are movies with that element–and there always will be–but in terms of straight up romance, everything needs to be “edgier” now. Starting with The UglyTruth and What’s Your Number? Then all the way to Train Wreck now. Or action ones–like the hitman one with Anna Kendrick.

LAURA: Mr. Right, I loved that one! But with the level of gore that movie had, we might as well go ahead and call Zombieland a romcom (the subplot with Emma Stone and Jesse Eisenberg is actually very “romcomy”). But I agree, another thing I miss are those late 90s teen romcoms. I caught Whatever It Takes on TV the other night. I had not seen it in ages but it’s such a fun movie (complete with the childhood friends trope we love so much). I feel like – and that goes for many of the movies of that time – if it had come out 10 years earlier it would probably be considered a cult classic now. A lot of these can totally hold up to some of the 80s classics but kinda fell through the cracks.

SAM: And the closest we get now is a shirtless Zac Efron with /insert co-lead here/ acting pretty ridiculous (though hilarious) until they get together in the end. The frat-boy humor along with a few ensemble ones (Pitch Perfect, Bridesmaid) have the love interest story, but not the standard romcom formula like the ones you mentioned. Whatever It Takes is one of the few DVDs I still own…so fabulous. “Oh, the things I do for you…”

LAURA: Today we either get comedy (which is fun every once in a while, I'm already looking forward to Why Him?), the sappy kind (I'm looking at you Nicholas Sparks) which is just not my cup of tea, or the edgy kind. There is however one newer movie that combines all of this, and it’s very high up on my list . Care to guess which one I mean?

SAM: Do I get a hint?

LAURA: I like to refer to it as “Crazy Stupid Love: Unplugged”

SAM: Oh! I forgot the name, the one about the writer and his family! That one was pretty great.

LAURA: Stuck in Love. Perfect cast, perfect amount of dark material, and a Stephen King cameo (just a phone call but still). It is probably more of a drama than a romcom but it's still one of these feel good movies, despite the darker topics and all. But my favorite thing about it is that it really doesn’t have a big story, just relationships. No assassins, zombies, or other distractions.

SAM: Exactly, and just the right amount of heart without being sappy. Though I do have to say I'm with you on missing the "typical" formulaic boy meets girl film. Yeah, they're predicable as hell, but no one sees them with the intention of figuring out the end anyway.

LAURA: That’s why watching a Hallmark movie (even a brand-new one) is basically like watching your favorite movie, you can probably quote the whole thing backwards but you still enjoy it every single time.

SAM: Yes! That's why they have such a market for them now–since they're not mainstream anymore. So the bickering enemies forced to work together, the best friends who are too stupid to realize they're meant for each other, or the colleagues who pretend to date for a school reunion/family gathering/dying grandma come to life on TV instead of the big screen.

LAURA: And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Basically we're getting a free movie almost every week– two a week around the holidays. And who knows maybe there will be a big romcom renaissance in a few years. But until then we can stream Whatever It Takes on Netflix.

SAM: Or, there's always writing one ourselves.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura (and Sam) 

Murder Mystery

If there's one thing I love more than fictional mysteries, it's a good true crime story. Scratch that,  it doesn't even have to be good. Any low budget "mockumentary" will entertain me for hours (I promise i'm not a sociopath). So it doesn't come as a surprise that this fascination would draw me to the one thing I could never get into: Podcasts.  

It's not that I don't like the concept, I'm just not good at listening to them (the same goes for audio books). Unless I'm listening to them while doing a mindless activity like painting my nails I will either get distracted and wander off or just fall asleep.  

My Favorite Murder by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark changed that:  

Two best friends discussing notorious murders as casually as their favorite nail polish.  It's brilliant, a little scary, hilarious without being tasteless, and oh so familiar because it's pretty much how conversations with my friends tend to go.  What really makes these fascinating are, however, not the famous pop culture mysteries, but the "hometown stories" from friends and fans – as these twisted tales often don't make it past the local paper. Maybe it's the familiarity, maybe the subject matter, or maybe the unique way it's done – but suddenly I have no problem listening to a 90 minute episode without getting distracted halfway through. More please. 

That said, I know that talking about "favorite murders" might not sound quite right. So it is important to remember that "favorite" in this context is used to express fascination and curiosity and not approval.  

Check out My Favorite Murder on iTunes,  

and follow them Twitter for updates.

Peace, Love and Lobsters
Laura

Summer Break

I'm taking a tiny blogging break in July, but that doesn't mean that I'm gonna leave you hanging. So here's my "book summer" round-up with every thing you need to keep you entertained until August:

Here's the greatest classic summer reading list,  the best new releases of spring/summer 2016,  and what has to be the funniest book of the year. Then we have my favorite summer snack and a jamming playlist that you can take to the beach or into the woods.  

…But whatever you do: don't forget to keep cool!

See you in August for the final "book summer" month!

Until then…

Peace, Love, and Lobsters
Laura

Snow-Coms

We finally got some snow (a lot of snow!) last weekend. Sadly it's already melting away, but I'm not quite ready to let it go, and cuddling up with a good snow-com  (a rom-com set in a winter wonderland) is a pretty good way to hold on to it.  Here are my top-picks.

Chalet Girl:

This is hands down my favorite (and not only because Ed Westwick is in it). I love movies about sports, and I'm a sucker for a classic cinderella tale,  that paired with the gorgeous scenery, a stellar cast, and a killer soundtrack  …there's no better recipe for a feel-good movie.  

Cloud 9:

Another sports movie, and probably the first Disney Chanel Original Movie in a long time that actually has that classic DCOM vibe that has been missing ever since the musical craze.  Much like Chalet Girl it's a simple feel-good movie in a gorgeous setting. 

Better of Dead:

I can't write a movie round-up without including an 80s flick, and "Better of Dead" has to be one of the most hilarious films ever made (and that skiing date scene is so beautiful).

Snow Day:

It might be for kids, and you're gonna have Hoku's "Another Dumb Blonde" stuck in your head all week but it's alright, it's okay…

Honorable Mention: 

Two Night Stand

Technically there isn't that much snow in the movie, because most of it takes place inside an apartment, but the snow is the reason the characters are stuck in that apartment, so there you go.  

Do you have a favorite snow-com? 

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura  

25 years of Home Alone

Can you believe it's been 25 five years since Home Alone came out?  The movie will always hold a special place in my heart, not only is it the perfect Christmas movie but it was also my first  introduction to John Hughes  (he wrote and produced it),  which was the beginning of a lifelong obsession. And something this special has to be celebrated!

Home alone 25th Anniversary Edition

If your old VHS tape is slowly dying, it might be time to upgrade to the anniversary box. It includes all the movies on Blue-ray (yes, also the not so great sequels, but we'll look past that) plus some cute gimmicks (that battle plan poster!), and comes in the coolest paint can packaging.  

Punk Goes Christmas Deluxe

The "Punk Goes" Christmas Album is already home to many of my favorite holiday tunes, but the new Deluxe Edition features a rocking cover of the Home Alone Theme, and I've been playing it on repeat all week.

Boohoo Clothing

And nothing says I'm a fan, like owning a sweater with your favorite quote …I know what I'll be wearing on Christmas Day.

And then there's this hilarious article from TIME that explains what the movie would look like if it was made today  …#HomeAlone

Or this in-depth piece by James Hughes (John Hughes' son), in which some of the key cast and crew members reunite to share their memories and some behind the scenes secrets about the movie (a must read for every fan!)

Happy anniversary, ya filthy animals!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura  

Wrapped up in books

Just in time for the holidays, Out Of Print  has released two new items that are sure to make it on every bibliophile's  Christmas List: 

SHOP MUGS

Literary mugs…

SHOP SCARVES

…and library card scarves.  

The mugs are available with the banned books design, the library card design, and two novel designs (Breakfast of Champions and Alice in Wonderland), and the super soft scarves come in three different colors (gray, blue, and yellow).

I think both the mug and the scarf would make great Christmas presents, or you could even use the scarf as part of the wrapping if you are giving someone a book. Just wrap the book in nice paper and tie the scarf around it like a big bow. And, as with every Out of Print product, the purchase sends a book to a community in need, so you're technically buying two presents.  

But if it is the scarf you want, you have to act fast because they will not be restocked this year, and I imagine that they are going to sell out rather quickly.  

Peace, Love, and Lobsters 

Laura  

Christmas Post

I know, I know…  it's a tiny bit too early to get all excited about Christmas, but some things require a certain amount of planning. And ordering Christmas cards is one of them, especially if you are looking on Etsy.   If you order them too late, you'll get them too late, and you won't be able to send them out in time if your family and/or friends live farther away.

So, I put together a little selection in case you're looking for something special this year:

Antlers Christmas Card / Sweater Holiday Card / Santa's List  Christmas Card / Naughty Or Nice Card / Merry Christmas Card / Ghost Christmas Card / Moo Trees & Candy Cane Cards

How cute are the little Christmas trees from Moo (they are made out of fonts!).

Peace, Love, and Lobsters
Laura

Two shows to binge watch this weekend

I've always been more of a TV than a movie person, especially during the summer when I actually have the time to sit down and watch TV without any distractions. And this year my two favorite summer-shows could not be more different, but both are damn good:

Aquarius (Thursdays on NBC):

Picture: NBC

A cop drama set in Los Angeles during the late 60s?  I was in love with this before I even saw the trailer, and once I did I started counting down the days to the premiere and proceeded to watch the entire season over a weekend (NBC released it all at once, Netflix Style).  But I have to admit that my initial reaction was disappointment, not because it wasn't great but because the promos promised Manson – lots of Manson. While Charles Manson is one aspect of the show, he is not the center of it,  but about four episodes in all that was forgotten, and I could just appreciate the show as the gripping and visually stunning drama that it is.  And then there's the soundtrack, which is flawless in case you were wondering. 

UnReal (Mondays on Lifetime):

Picture: Lifetime

I really did not think I would enjoy this one. While the premise of a drama about the drama behind the scenes of a Bachelor type reality show sounds like an interesting concept, it also sounds like a little too much drama for my taste. And on top of that, I've never seen an episode of the Bachelor (or any dating competition show for that matter), so why should I bother with a fictional look at one?  But I still gave it a chance, and I am so glad I did! Even if you don't like reality shows, or rather especially if you don't like them, you will love UnReal.  It's cynical, snarky, and way darker than I expected – in other words: perfect! You can watch the first 4 episodes online - but be warned it's super addictive.  

What's on your "watch list" this summer?

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Punk Fiction

Out of Print never disappoints when it comes to "literary merch", but their newest design takes being a literature nerd to a whole new level of cool.

Meet the "Punk Rock Authors" tote: 

via: Out Of Print Clothing

Your favorite authors as  punk rockers – pretty sweet, right?  It's definitely one of these things that you never knew you wanted  until you saw it,  but that's what makes it so awesome.  

…and if the tote is not enough check out the matching coasters (interesting conversations are guaranteed if you keep them on your coffee table).

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura 

Penmanship 2.0

This is officially the longest time I've ever gone without blogging, but I do have a good reason, a Master's thesis that  required my undivided attention.  But now that's done and to celebrate I made my own font (nerd alert).  

Between my dad and me, there are at least four of those handwriting tablets floating around. But why go through the trouble of setting up an extra device when you can just save your own handwriting  as a font? That's right, you can save your own handwriting on your computer, and it is super easy, too:

Go to My Script Font, download and print the template, fill it out, scan it in (Don't have a scanner? Just use this),  name your font, and download it. That's it!  

You might need a few tries to get it to look just right (make sure to really follow the guidelines or the spacing will look wonky), and be sure to try out different pens to see what works best for your handwriting. 

Have fun!  

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Stay Tuned

I'll admit, if it wasn't for The Middle I would have no idea that today is "World Radio Day", and even after learning about it on the show I didn't really care, until I decided to look it up.

source

World Radio Day  is about celebrating  the importance of radio.  Personally, I was never much of a radio-listener. I sometimes listen to college stations, or the occasional tennis match  but that's pretty much it,  which is sad because it is such a diverse and important medium:  It offers millions of programs, reaches more people in more places than any other medium. And is a bridge of communication for remote communities, that often don't have other connections to the outside world. Yet, many still think of it as "boring" – but World Radio Day is doing its best to change that:  

Click here to find out how to celebrate World Radio Day. 

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Declutter

Personally I love cleaning out my closet. It's always fun to make room for new things, and maybe rediscover some old things you forgot about… But sometimes we are just a little too attached to these old things, so Vogue put together the ultimate "Do you really need this?" tool:

Check it out on Vogue.com

It's a keep, store, or donate flowchart that really gets into detail (Does it fit?  When did you last wear it? Does it have sentimental value? Would you rather wear it or look at it?). It's brilliant, and will really make you reconsider keeping that bedazzled denim skirt, you haven't worn in 10 years.

And while we're on the topic of decluttering, you might want to check out this wallpaper:

Desktop Organizer

The idea itself is super simple, it's a wallpaper that has a designated space for everything on your desktop (no more clutter!). While I am pretty good at keeping my desktop organized, things tend to pile up quickly whenever I'm working on a project, and this makes it so much easier to keep track of everything.  

You can download the chalkboard and other designs  here,  or simply create your own if you're photoshop savvy.

Happy decluttering! 

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura 

Focus!

I don't know about you, but I absolutely cannot work or study  in silence (seriously libraries drive me insane). The problem is that playing music is not really an option either, because as soon as there are lyrics involved I'm singing along. Classical would be an idea, but since I'm not really into classical music I usually pick a Vitamin String Quartett number...  and well, at some point I will recognize the song and try to remember the lyrics which is even more distracting than just singing along. Sometimes mindless TV can also be a good alternative, but my desk isn't anywhere near a TV. I could go and work in a coffee shop... but then I'd have to pack up all my books, and notes, and my laptop, and …nope.

So what's a girl to do? Download Coffitivity, that's what! 

Coffitivity is a website and app that plays endless loops of indistinctive chatter,  clanking cups, and  other coffee shop noises. Basically, you get the coffee shop experience without having to pack up your entire desk. It's the perfect stimulant for those of us who can't work in silence, and speaking for someone who's currently writing her Master's thesis: Thank you, smart people at Coffitivity! 

Visit Coffitivity or download the App.

And if you're interested in the research side of it all, check out this article.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Silent Night?

Just like  any real 90s kid I've always loved  R.L. Stine. I've read everything from Goosebumps, to his adult novels, downloaded the new Fear Street novel (it is SO good!) the day it came out, and already preordered the next one.  

Yet, I've somehow managed to completely miss his Fear Street Super Chiller Christmas trilogy

"Silent Night"…at least until now:

Part 1, 2, and 3

To me, the books about mean girl Reva Dalby, and her not so pleasant Christmas surprises (psychos, kidnappers, stalkers) are the perfect holiday escape (nothing's more relaxing than reading about psychopaths, am I right?). And then there's the nostalgia factor (all the white mohair turtlenecks), which is always nice around the holidays.  

Also, these books would make pretty awesome stocking stuffers for the R.L. Stine fan in your life.(Seriously,  there is nothing better than finding childhood favorites in your stocking. Nothing!)

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Good Morning Good Morning

I don't like to use the word epic for  everyday things like breakfast food, but in this case I will have to make an exception, because:

Beatles Pancakes!

Is there are cooler way to start your day? I don't think so. 

Also, let's add "pancake artist" to the ever growing list of  awesome back-up careers.

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Little Gems

The internet can be such a fun place, one minute you're looking  up the weather and the next you're on Pintrest learning how to cook oatmeal Fugazi Style. Ian MacKaye's elaborate recipe only has nine steps, and time is measured in phone calls instead of minutes. 'Cause why not?

(View on Pintrest / Or open in new window) 

Apparently it's from a 1989 issue of Flipside  …only on Pintrest.

What are some of your favorite Pintrest finds?  

Peace, Love and Lobsters
Laura

Literary Socks

Only a few weeks ago I blogged about Out of Print's awesome new composition book inspired collection, and  today I find this in my inbox:

I know it's a tad bit too early to think about  Christmas presents, but these socks are the perfect stocking (stuffer) for any bibliophile. 

The socks come in a banned books design, that's not only hitting the mark fashion wise but also raising awareness, and an adorable library card print, that's just perfect for keeping your feet warm after you kick off your boots to get comfy with a new book.  

Check them out (pun intended) at Out Of Print Clothing

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura  

Polka Dots

Happy Sunday! I hope you're all having an amazing weekend! Did anyone try the Skillet S'Mores?

Anyway, I'm usually not the "OMG this so cute!" type when it comes to electronics.  Because lets be real, the cute stuff usually isn't the best when it comes to the actual function of the device.

But in this case I'll just have to make an exception because: OMG this is so cute!

Emma Bridgewater

And going by the reviews on the website, the sound quality of this Emma Bridgwater Radio/iPod dock seems to be surprisingly good.

…I'm almost wishing that the black brick I'm using now would break, just so I'd have an excuse to get this.  

Peace, Love and Lobster

Laura