This movie was definitely worth seeing if you don't know this inspirational story. The acting is superb. Helena Bonham Carter and Colin Firth are fabulous. It's a little slow at times, definitely not on the edge of your seat, but overall definitely uplifting and worth seeing. There ya have it folks! Thumbs up from Smartypanties.

Check out other short, sweet and to the point movie reviews I've done.

This Digital Short on SNL this past weekend cracked me up. And unlike her performances on SNL, Nicki Minaj's cameo was fantastic.

Usually I'm not one to be taken for these celeb designer collabs with the cheaper stores, all the hype and anticipation usually ends in long lines with cheaply made knock-offs of the designer's original line. Even though I haven't seen Ms. Nicole Miller's line for JCP yet in person, I think it looks pretty good. Yes, some of the line looks cheesy but some reflects her polished neat lines. Let us know what you think in the comments. Have you seen it yet in stores? 

Here are some of our fave looks:

I love no one more than Bella Swan, err, I guess Kristen Stewart, but is it just me? I am not digging this look. I know it's the innate bias in me to like dark haired women, but I just have never dug the dark eyebrows/light hair look. What do you think? Do you think this is a no-no? Or do you like her lightened locks? Let me know in the comments. 

We checked in with Fitness Guru to learn some healthy, delicious recipes for next Sunday at your Superbowl fetes. Whether you’re a football fanatic or just watch the Super Bowl for the commercials, game day celebrations are always full of unhealthy choices. With New Year’s resolutions still fresh on everyone's mind, choosing delicious, healthy appetizers and meals for a Super Bowl party is doable with help from celebrity personal trainer and wellness guru David Kirsch.

David Kirsch has incorporated his lifestyle philosophy – achieving mind, body and spirit balance – into his three best-selling books featuring healthy, delicious recipes and energizing workouts. Try recipes from his extensive collection including low fat dips, hearty protein-packed appetizers and tailgate-inspired main courses:

NO-FAT HUMMUS

Serve this as a snack with celery, whole-grain crackers, or cucumber. For more zip, add more cayenne or a few drops of hot pepper sauce.

·   11/2 cups cooked or canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained

·   1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt

·   1 tablespoon chopped parsley

·   1 tablespoon minced garlic

·   1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

·   1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne

·   1/4 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice

1.  In a food processor, combine all ingredients.

2.  Process until well blended.

3.  Use immediately, or refrigerate up to 3 hours.

Makes 2 servings. Per serving: 227 calories, 12 g protein, 40 g carbohydrate,

3 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 10 g fiber, 4 g sugar

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND ALMOND DIP

Serve this delicious dip with celery, sliced cucumber, or whole wheat crackers for a great midmorning snack.

·   Nonfat vegetable cooking spray

·   1 large garlic clove, smashed

·   1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

·   3 roasted red bell peppers, halved, membranes removed

·   1/2 cup organic raw almonds, coarsely chopped

·   1 tablespoon olive oil

·   Salt

·   Pepper

1.  Coat a medium nonstick skillet with cooking spray.

2.  Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook over low heat for 10 minutes.

3.  Place cooled roasted red peppers in a food processor, and pulse until coarsely chopped.

4.  Add the almonds, garlic, and red pepper flakes.

5.  Pulse just until coarsely ground.

6.  Slowly add the oil, and pulse one or two more times.

7.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Makes 3 servings. Per serving: 227 calories, 7 g protein, 15 g carbohydrate,

17 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 6 g fiber, 8 g sugar

TUNA AND SHRIMP KABOB

This is a really fun party dish and can easily be adapted to serve more people.

·   1/2 small eggplant

·   2 medium shrimp, peeled and cleaned

·   1/2 medium-sized, yellow bell pepper

·   1/3 cup water

·   4 ounces skinless tuna steak, cut into four 1-inch cubes

·   1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

·   1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill

1.  Preheat oven to 400°F.

2.  Cut eggplant in half lengthwise, then cut diagonally into 1/2-inch pieces; set aside.

3.  Cut pepper into quarters; remove seeds and stem. Cut each piece in half.

4.  Bake peppers and eggplant in foil packet for 20 minutes. Remove and cool.

5.  Place peppers and eggplant on skewers.

6.  Place tuna and shrimp on skewers, alternating tuna then shrimp.

7.  Place all skewers in a large shallow dish.

8.  Combine water, Dijon mustard, and dill in a small bowl. Mix well and pour over kabobs. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.

9.  Remove kabobs from marinade; discard marinade.

10. Spray grill rack with nonfat vegetable cooking spray. Place kabobs on grill.

11. Grill tuna/shrimp skewers 2 to 3 minutes each side and veggies 4 minutes on each side.

SESAME CHICKEN FINGERS

This easy dish goes over well at parties. It’s also great as a light meal served with broccoli.

·   1/4 teaspoon light soy sauce

·   1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard

·   1 teaspoon water

·   1 teaspoon turmeric

·   1 4-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast sliced into 4 strips

·   1 tablespoon toasted black and white sesame seeds

1.  In a small bowl, mix the soy sauce, mustard, water, and turmeric.

2.  Marinate the chicken in the mixture up to 1 hour.

3.  Coat the chicken with sesame seeds.

4.  Preheat oven to 350°F.

5.  Place the chicken on a nonstick baking pan.

6.  Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until chicken strips are cooked through.

Makes 1 serving. Per serving: 195 calories, 26 g protein, 2 g carbohydrate,

8 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 2 g fiber, 0 g sugar

GUILTLESS BARBECUE BURGER

Red meat need not come loaded with saturated fat. Buffalo meat tastes just as delicious as beef, but it comes much leaner. Because of its leanness, it cooks quicker as well.

·   4 ounces lean ground buffalo meat

·   4 ounces lean ground turkey breast

·   1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

·   2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

·   2 tablespoons low-sugar, low-sodium barbecue sauce

·   2 egg whites, lightly beaten

·   Nonfat vegetable cooking spray

1.  Mix all of the ingredients except the cooking spray in a large bowl.

2.  Form the mixture into two patties.

3.  Spray a barbecue grill or nonstick skillet with cooking spray, and heat to medium-high heat.

4.  Place the patties on grill or skillet, and cook about 8 minutes per side (for medium), until cooked through.

Makes 2 servings. Per serving: 185 calories, 33 g protein, 8 g carbohydrate,

3 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, .5 g fiber, 4 g sugar

TURKEY CHILI

Double this recipe, making a big pot of the stuff at the beginning of the week. Whenever you are rushed and don’t have time to prepare a more elaborate lunch or dinner, serve up some leftovers. The chili always tastes better the second time around.

·   Nonfat cooking spray

·   1 pound lean ground turkey

·   Salt

·   Pepper

·   1 cup peeled and grated carrot

·   2\3 cup chopped onion

·   2\3 cup chopped celery

·   1 clove garlic, minced

·   2 teaspoons chili powder

·   1 teaspoon paprika

·   1 teaspoon ground cumin

·   1\8 teaspoon ground cayenne

·   1 141\2-ounce can chopped plum tomato in juice

·   1\2 cup low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth

·   1 bay leaf

1.  Heat a 3-quart nonstick saucepan over high heat and coat with cooking spray.

2.  Add the turkey, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, breaking up the turkey into pieces, until browned.

3.  Remove to a bowl, and cover with foil to keep warm.

4.  Reduce the heat to low, and add the carrot, onion, celery, and garlic. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the vegetables begin to soften.

5.  Add the chili powder, paprika, cumin, and cayenne. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.

6.  Increase the heat to medium, and add the tomato, stock, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over high heat.

7.  Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 15 minutes, covered.

8.  Add the browned turkey, and simmer for 5 minutes more.

9.  Remove and discard the bay leaf before serving.

Makes 4 servings. Per serving: 240 calories, 23 g protein, 15 g carbohydrate,

10 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 4 g fiber, 8 g sugar

The perfect travel companion, ideal for weekend jaunts to the mountain and quick trips to the tropics! LavanilaLaboratories presents the Healthy Fragrance Collection in two pretty, portable, and airplane friendly renditions—The Healthy Roller Ball Fragrance and The Healthy Fragrance One-Ounce Collection. Completely free of harsh chemicals typically found in fragrance, now you can enjoy Lavanila’s fresh, clean blends and revel in powerful, skin-healthy ingredients anytime, anywhere.

All Lavanila scents are free of chemically-laden alcohol, petrochemicals, phthalates, synthetic colors, silicone, synthetic preservatives, sulfates, parabens, and propylene glycol that can dry and damage the skin and are instead formulated with 100% natural ingredients such as pure essential oils and skin soothing botanicals. With each spray or roll, a daily dose of 30 essential vitamins and mineralsand 19 amino acids is delivered to the skin and locked below the skin’s epidermis via an exclusive marine technology.

Lavanila Healthy Roller Ball Fragrance ($19 each): Housed in a sleek, spill-proof bottle, this travel-sized roller-ball perfume eliminates the risk of spills—a must for any purse or cosmetics case.

Lavanila Healthy Fragrance One-Ounce Collection ($39 each): These cute and convenient minis fit in your carry-on cosmetics case so you never have to be without your favorite Lavanila fragrances, even on the plane.

Available in the following scents:

Find them at Sephora, Sephora.com, and Lavanila.com

For more healthy fragrances check out my post about Ajne healthy fragrances.

Designer Warehouse Sale, Peeps!! Showroom Seven Warehouse Sale

Showroom Seven warehouse sale features brands like Issa London, Orla Kiely, Robin and much more. Women’s tee’s, shirts, sweaters, skirts, pants, dresses, jackets, coats & more. Limited footwear from Australia Luxe, Bloch & Charlotte Ronson.

Sale also includes

• Apart - tops, bottoms, dresses, jackets and coats
• Vakko - assorted one of a kind leathers
• Free People - from $10 – $25
• Tocca - tops $35, dresses $70 and more
• Michael Simon - new shipment of samples
• Sophomore - tee’s & tops for Women & Men
• and more to be announced

Starts January 25 through January 27 Tue-Th (11-7)

Go Here: 261 W 36th Street (between 7th & 8th Ave)
2nd Floor