Monday Movie Review: My Neighbor Totoro

I love movies! I adore sinking into in the big plush theater seat, inhaling the wafting aroma of freshly-popped popcorn drizzled in fake butter, and being enveloped by the surround sound in the overly-air conditioned darkness. Giddy feelings of anticipation wash over me as the lights go down, and the total immersion and escapism of the following two hours is - to me - divine.

This past weekend, I watched Disney/Pixar's Wall-E (by the way, definitely go see it!!!) and I started thinking about some of my favorite animated movies. For those of you who have not yet discovered Hayao Miyazaki, you're in for a treat.

Miyazaki, who started working in the animated film industry in 1965, is an award-winning director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli. His films have won the Anime Grand Prix, the Oscar for Best Animated Film, and Time Magazine voted him one of the most influential Asians of the past 60 years. His movies often incorporate worthwhile themes such as pacifism and environmentalism, and his main characters are commonly young heroines who are independent-minded and courageous. Even his villains are complex characters who are funny and sympathetic.
There are too many Miyazaki films to name them all here, but I did want to highlight one of my favorites: My Neighbor Totoro. It's an enchanting tale about a mysterious creature discovered by two young girls in their new farmhouse home. The nice thing about this movie is that it doesn't have a traditional villain, so I've seen children as young as 2.5 watch it and enjoy it without getting scared. Also, the movie has that Bugs-bunny ability to appeal to both adults and children, so you'll be as entranced as your children for two hours!

Do you have any movies of Asian origin you'd like to share - for kids and/or adults? We'd love to hear about them!

Shop Talk: Daisy's Bags...Funky, Eco-Friendly Fashion

Reuse. Recycle. Upcycle.

Upcycle? That refers to turning waste materials into useful products. And that's exactly what New Yorker Kristin Jordan is doing by transforming mounds of plastic bags donated by family, friends and neighbors into funky totes and handbags. Combine that talent with an entrepreneurial spirit, and there you have it - Daisy's Bags.

I found out about Kristin, a Korean-American lawyer by day and avid knitter by night (or during lunch and on the subway), while watching this segment on Fox 5 news. Kristin's business is named after her 5-year old pooch Daisy, and she's currently got three collections - the Shannon and Vivian tote bag lines and the Heather purses.

Creative, innovative, environmentally friendly, and not your typical department store or street vendor purchase. With prices that range from $40-$70, why not give it a shot? And if you've got plastic to spare, send her a note - info@daisysbags.com. Seems like she'll need all the supplies she can get!