♦ Art Appreciation Monday! ♦

Welcome to Art Appreciation Monday! 

We had the pleasure of seeing photography by Logan Houchens, last Art Appreciation Monday. 

This week, I am very honoured to be joined by a very talented actress! 

I've never had an actress before on Art Appreciation Monday, and I'm really excited to introduce the wonderfully talented actress... *drum-roll*!

Jacqueline King!

Actress Jacqueline King, has an astounding reputation with films such as Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Hello Herman (2012), The Riverside Shuffle (2010), and recently portrayed Ariana (awesome name right?!) in The Exes episode, Prelude to a Kiss (2013).  Not only is Jacqueline King an amazing actress she advocates extremely green living and shares her healthy advice, and delicious recipes on her blog, Beverly Hills Farms!

Ariana: What's your name?
Jacqueline: Jacqueline king

 Ariana: Are you human/boy/girl?
Jacqueline:  Woman

Ariana: What Country/Planet/State are you from?
Jacqueline: California

Ariana: Do you have brothers/sisters/only child?
Jacqueline: I have one step-brother and one step sister

Ariana: Do you have any pets?
Jacqueline: Yes, a chihuahua named Lola and a bulldog named Shakespeare.

Ariana: What is your favourite colour?
Jacqueline: Periwinkle.

Ariana: Favourite movie?
Jacqueline: Sunset Blvd.

Ariana: Favourite song?
Jacqueline: I can't say that I have one favorite. It depends on my mood.

Ariana: Birthday?
Jacqueline: October 28th- Scorpio

Jacqueline King employs her amazing talents as an actress, she works to fit into each role with a natural ease and a clear mind- touching each part uniquely and individually, so that all of her characters are special. And they're truly given a special flair, by such an astounding actress!  

Ariana: What inspires you most to act?
Jacqueline: I love putting myself in other people's shoes. In getting to know my characters I get to know myself better and hopefully the same happens for the audience

Ariana: How do you cope with lack of inspiration?
Jacqueline: I do love good coffee but I don't think it helps with inspiration as much as stamina. When I'm preparing for an acting role if I get stuck the best thing is to go back to the text. When you read it triggers your imagination so I always feel like that's a good way in. When I'm working on a character I also like to think about what kind of music they like to listen to, what a normal day in their life would be like. How what is happening in the script is different. Scripts aren't written about average days. When I need a break or to change my mood yoga is always like hitting a reset button.

Ariana: Talking about munchies... do you have a favourite food/drink?
Jacqueline: My favorites would be truffles and champagne as special treats, Green smoothie and tofu are day to day favorites. Oh and even though I live in LA, I love both gluten and dairy. Love them.

Ariana: You have a lovely blog called Beverly Hills Farms, when did you decide to start raising your own garden?
Jacqueline: I started growing herbs and tomatoes on the patio when I lived in my old apartment mainly because I like to cook and it was nice to have them handy. When I moved to a house with a yard I figured "why not try to grow more?" so I did and was surprised how easy and rewarding it is.

Ariana: What started this idea of Beverly Hills Farms?
Jacqueline: I was really interested in the urban farming movement and I have always had friends tell me I should be a chef so I decided to start writing down my recipes and focus on cooking with fresh seasonal ingredients. I think eating healthy is really important as is the local and slow food movement, so I wanted to promote those ideas in a way that is fun and entertaining.

Ariana: You've got some amazing recipes on there, are these all your own original recipes or are they already existing recipes with your own modifications?
Jacqueline: They are for the most part my original recipes. Occasionally friends will give me recipes to share and I make a note of that when that is the case.

Ariana: What are some of your favourite things to grow in the garden?
Jacqueline: Tomatoes and lettuce.

Ariana: What you're doing is very important, to raise awareness of GMO and inspiring people to go out and work outside more and be part of the world. This isn't exactly what a lot of people would expect to find in Los Angeles- Are people ever surprised to discover you're as natural as you are?
Jacqueline: I don't think anyone who lives here would be surprised, but people from other places might have only seen the LA of the tabloids, movies and reality TV. This is another reason why I write my blog- to help dispel the myth that LA is full of only plastic people. There are so many wonderfully grounded, creative and spiritual people here. This city is an inspiration in itself.

Ariana: To return to acting... Acting can be very tiring, how do you manage to have energy afterwards to garden?
Jacqueline: Sometimes the garden gets unruly and things get overgrown, especially when I'm traveling, but its small enough that you can take an afternoon and get things back in good shape. We also have automated irrigation which really helps.

Ariana: Getting into character can be difficult, what is one of the hardest things for you to do on set? Jacqueline: Every day is a little different. Acting is a balance of staying relaxed and focused, and trusting the preparation you have done. Some days it's easier to find that balance than others.

Ariana: Of all the things you've done so far, what has been your favourite role so far?
Jacqueline:  I had a role in a small movie called "From Grace" the cast was amazing and we shot in a lovely little town called Idyllwild. I played a young woman with cancer so it was very challenging but I felt like I learned a lot about gratitude, the fragility of life as well as acting. So that was probably my favorite role. I had a very small role in Star Trek into Darkness but I got to work on that set for a month and again the cast was wonderful as was working with JJ Abrams. It was an incredible experience, a dream come true.

Ariana: What would you suggest for someone who is just beginning with acting?
Jacqueline: Learn your craft, take classes, do plays, read books but don't forget it's a business and you need to market yourself.
Ariana: When did you decide you wanted be an actress?
Jacqueline: I did my first play when I was in third grade.

Ariana: Do you have any interests outside of acting?
Jacqueline:  I teach yoga and I volunteer with an organization that is working to limit the influence of corporate money in politics and overturn citizens united.

Ariana: How do you wind down after a day of acting?
Jacqueline: I love to hike with my dogs, do yoga, hang out with friends or my fiancé, eat good food, drink good wine, listen to music...all the usual stuff.

Ariana: What would your advice to other artists/actors and actresses be?
Jacqueline: My advice to anyone would be nourish yourself. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. Do things and surround yourself with people who fill you rather than deplete you. Take time every day to sit quietly with yourself. Find a way to express your creativity, don't wait for someone else to give you permission. It's easier now than ever.

Jacqueline was recently featured on Big Morning Buzz Live, you can watch her here as she promotes her blog Beverly Hills Farms!

I want to thank Jacqueline so very, very much for participating in Art Appreciation Monday! She has, like so many of the past artists, encouraged and inspired new artists in the world. It is really fantastic to have different artists participate in Art Appreciation Monday, so that way all art can truly be appreciated! 

So, thanks to Jacqueline King again for participating, and taking the time to answer with such kindness as she did! :)

*****All the artwork/pictures/videos/music belongs to Jacqueline King!!!! 

There are links in blue which will direct you to 

the originals.**********

DO NOT USE ANY OF THE PICTURES/MUSIC/VIDEOS/or/WRITTEN WORK 

POSTED HERE WITHOUT PERMISSION!!!!!!! 

Book Review: Fifty Shades Into Darkness

Book Review: Fifty Shades Into Darkness

So over the past few years I've had the horrible realization that growing up and becoming an adult isn't worth it... sure you get a car and a job and you get to be included in grown-up conversations...but allow me to say how tedious it truly is. The thing I've learned about maturing is this...you finally understand what all those "Inside Jokes" are or the "You'll understand when you're older" means. 

Unfortunately...this means that I've finally gotten to the age where I "do" understand....sadly. 

Therefore, I decided to read my first ever "adult content novel", whilst keeping my dignity preserved. 

*Warning Contains Adult Content!* (And Spoilers)

"The good are never easy

The easy never good

And love it never happens like you think it really should

Deception and perfection are wonderful traits

One will breed love

The other hate"*

If you weren't a million shades of red by the end of this-you must either be used to this sort of material or are extremely good at masking embarrassment. I've read fan-fiction that was better than this! But what can I say, this was originally a fan-fiction... which was a mash-up of Twilight and Star Trek, so I can't judge the quality of the writing, nor the actual plot of the book with this knowledge in mind.

Khan Noonien Singh is a lonely being, who is conveniently rich because of the mass marketing of his "Super-blood". Mass millionaire and several mistresses later, he meets the lovely but rather shy Marla McGivers who is a clumsy brunette (the reason for her hair colour change is purely for...reasons unexplained...) who is sent to interview the fantastically wealthy (yes, don't forget he is wealthy because that is repeated over and over...) Khan, because her friend, Karol Marcus (the 'C' in Karol was changed to a 'K' for... well...more unexplained reasons...), is dealing with the Kamaraazite flu and can't interview Khan. 

Marla stumbles (yes, really) into Khan's office, which is upholstered in leather. Khan has a thing about leather coats as well as leather chairs and couches... he owns several leather companies...also in his office there is  a gigantic window that covers the whole wall...because we all know that Khan needs to have a giant window with no privacy whatsoever. (It must remind him of that well spent time on the Enterprise.)

The interview between Marla and Khan is the best part of the book, here is a section of it:

Excerpt of Into Darkness:

I was blushing under his smoldering gaze, "Well Mr Singh...how do you feel being head of a lifesaving cooperation."

He lent back in his chair and said sardonically, "Well, frankly the nation needs to be careful that I don't develop AIDS, if not...well...things will be quite bad, won't they."

"Unfortunately, sir, with your blood and its ability to regenerate there is no way for you to acquire AIDS..." I replied.

"Well... lucky me." He said coolly, making me feel slightly uncomfortable but I continue, "You're very young to be so successful."

"Simple... I don't age." He replied amused.

"Oh..." the breath is strangled in my throat, I feel as though he has knocked me down with his intense look, "how did you convince so many people that you were a friend even after you destroyed a huge section of San Francisco?"

"It's all in knowing the right people and having good oration skills. When they discovered that my blood was- special...they gave me a small fine to pay, meaningless now that I am so wealthy and have my own corporation. What I'm trying to say is this: believing a lie is a million times easier than trying to believe the truth." 

I haven't really been able to absorb everything he is saying, but I'm glad I've been recording this interview...because I'm going to listen to it over and over. A large beam of light shines into my eyes and briefly makes a purple line across Khan's throat. 

"Where did that light come from?" I ask.

"I don't know, you tell me...I've transferred to six different offices in the last two years and I still can't get rid of these damn light flares." Khan says irritated.

I'm worried that I've made him angry somehow, so I ask the next question on my list, "Are you...alien?" Crap. Why did I ask that, Karol would've worded this better.

"Do you think that I would be like you simple human beings, I...........am......Khan....." he pauses dramatically before continuing, "I am....." he pauses again, "better."

"At what?"

"Everything....." His nose flared seductively, filling me with lust, like a caveman lusting for fire.

♦

 You now have an insight of how truly intelligent, bright, funny and beautiful Marla is.

 Alas, the author portrays her in a way that makes her less appealing than a four hundred year old root-beer lollipop on the floor of a doctor's office. 

Not to mention the author's overuse of the word, "Crap" in this novel is very annoying.

 Enough of the bad stuff, what about the good parts? 

After the interview, Khan finds her again. Creepily stalking her to where she works, where he suggests that some pictures should go with her news article, which she agrees to wholeheartedly.

After the photo-shoot, they (Khan and Marla) go out for coffee. Then there is a very pointless scene where a cyclist(?) almost runs over Marla when she trips into the road(?) but not to worry because... Khan gets out a gun and shoots the man off the cycle(?) and is able to catch Marla before she falls...to a death which would have ended this novel and trilogy faster...an ending much less painful for the reader. 

You may have noticed --> (?) these things...

1.  A CYCLIST...that is the vaguest line ever. A motorcyclist or a cyclist...both go under the name cyclist. 

2.  "Trips into the road" Marla sounds like a walking, talking klutz! How did she live as long as she has?!

3. I think Khan overreacted a bit there... (*evil chuckle, but that adds to his mystery...eh?)

Moving along...they spend some time together, sharing pointless, meaningless dialogue which amounts to nothing...Marla goes to Khan's house which is made entirely out of glass with leather couches and dishes (dishes?!)...and engage in... what can I say...the writer... seems to have a deep knowledge of how aliens go about their intimate relationships...

Example:

He lifted the stun gun to my stomach and stunned me, one, two, three times in a row... I felt none of it, my heart was racing all the more, he then took my face between his hands and began to squeeze...

Obviously, there is no need to elaborate on why I found this part stupid. 

Have I mentioned the dialogue was dry and stale, not to mention poor- all our character seems to think about is Khan, and it gets boring...385 pages later and we still can't stop lusting over Khan's hair. (Well...what happens when he goes BALD someday?...*Pauses dramatically*...or his hair might go rather...Grey...) I realise this is a book for an audience who is perhaps bored with their own love life, or simply haven't had a love life yet...but honestly, don't take dating advice from this book. It is in many, many ways like Twilight, at the end of the book we don't really know any of the characters...what was the attraction between Rotel and Eggwart? (Bella and Edward) I don't know what it was beyond a physical desire...same with Khan and McGivers...there is just nothing there beyond...lusty desire. (* I do not have a problem with lusty desire...the book just needs some good dialogue to liven things up a bit.*)

Here is just one example of the bad dialogue from the book, because whenever Khan's lines weren't recycled they were really stupid. 

Example from the book:

He stared at me like I was a medium rare steak on a grill, steamy, mouthwatering, covered with eleven herbs and spices...I don't really know what kind of spice he saw on me, because I really am a simple, ordinary person. 

"What?" I asked.

"Why don't you McGiver me some lovin'?!" He whispered

"Give me a reason..." I said blushing

"23-17-46-11" he smiled, then added, "15-42-67-84-99-22-12-18-....."

So while I'll try to forget this book as quickly as I can...in the meantime...I hope you enjoyed this review...join me next time with another, book, movie, or something that is in need of a real honest review. 

What to eat and drink with this novel: Sugar Plum Tea (that stuff is, in my opinion,...icky...but that could be because that box of tea has been in our freezer for...how ever many years it has been in there), and probably the tea and the book will put you off so much you possibly won't have any desire for anything to eat.

What to wear while reading this novel: Nothing too hot, you'll be blushing enough that a homeless man could warm his hands off your cheeks in mid-December.

Where to read this novel: The bathroom. 

What is the sequel to this novel?: Wrath of Khan, only I won't be joining you. Although I hear, Marla really Steels the show in that one. 

Please know this review is meant as a comedy and not actually in any way related to- "Fifty Shades of Grey", for the following reasons: I do not read books like that. I do not write about books like that, (except to make fun of them). I do not want to read a book like that when there are so many other good books in the world to read. Allow me to elaborate, "Fifty Shades of Grey", might be your opinion of a good book, but it  is not mine.  So, this review is not meant to offend the author, or any of the fans of this series. And of course, I do not mean to break any copyrights...so...don't sue me, I just write cheap reviews. :)

*From Marina and the Diamonds song Homewrecker