Tag Archives: bedroom
Movies in Bed: Maleficent
Post by Mark T. Locker.
Disney has been on quite the roll lately. It doesn’t hurt that they have gobbled up a number of hugely popular dynasties recently, from Star Wars to Pixar to Marvel. This time, however, Disney is not riding on the coattails of any of these, but rather on a retelling of one of their classic retellings of a classic fairy tale. I am talking, of course, about Maleficent, the dark and dramatic Sleeping Beauty spinoff, told from the perspective of Maleficent, who was so cruelly portrayed in the 1959 cartoon version. In the new telling of the story, we learn that Maleficent was a lovely and kind queen of the moors, cruelly betrayed by the greed of men. The king, her former childhood friend, is the real villain here.
Angelina plays the title role, and does a great job, although there are an awful lot of close-ups of her eyes watching through shadows. Perhaps this is some sort of tribute to the original; I don’t know because I haven’t seen it. Beyond that, though, it is a lovely movie. It has a lot of darkness; you would too if you’d been treated as Maleficent had. But Sleeping Beauty brings a brightness and joy to everything and everyone she encounters.
Don’t look for any hackneyed old plot points in this movie! Disney seems to be all about turning all the tired old clichés on their heads; especially the ones they’ve been guilty of perpetuating in the past. Now available on DVD, it’s a great movie to watch with the kids on a chilly autumn evening.
Bedroom Design: 5 Possibilities to Make A Guest Room More Inviting
Post by Tracy Kaler.
Before I went out of town this past weekend, I readied my guest room for our apartment/pet sitter. Mind you, this is a tiny room, and by most standards, the space wouldn’t qualify as a bedroom. (At about 7 by 12, it’s more like a walk-in closet.)
In a New York City apartment, however, where carving bedrooms out of living rooms is the norm, the room is plenty large enough to act as a sleep space. And for us, a modest nook is perfect for the occasional guest quarters.
Bedrooms like this are often ignored or passed over as unimportant or insignificant. But I find that these tiny gems remind us of the importance of a well-edited space –– one that is uncluttered, functional, and cozy. Try adding one or all of these items to make your extra room more enticing for overnight guests.
Fragrance
Scents containing lavender, bergamot, marjoram or citrus notes are a lovely way to enhance the room’s mood as well as the person staying in it.
Greenery
Greenery or fresh flowers add life to any room. Tailor your selection to the guest. Arrange simple ferns for younger guests, and roses with babies’ breath for grandma. Even a small green plant can breathe life into a simply decorated bedroom.
An extra blanket
Chilly nights will warrant an extra bed covering, so drape a blanket over a chair arm or stretch one along the foot of the bed.
A table fan
An oscillating table fan nearby can keep a light breeze and circulate stale air, keeping the space temperate for relaxing and sleeping.
Books
When I don’t feel tired enough to sleep, reading a few pages or an article or two is often enough to make me drowsy and nod off into a deep slumber. Have a selection of good books and a few magazines for late-night reads or a mid-afternoon escape.
The Search for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi.
