These are a few of my (current) favorite things...

harry potter & the deathly hallows, part 1.

If you read my recent review of this film, then you know how much I loved it. Expectations were high for this film adaptation -- it's such an important book, but such a sprawling, momentous book as well. It seemed inevitable that they'd mess it up. At least, that's what I kept telling myself up to the very moment I took my seat in the theater on its opening day. But lo and behold, it not only met my expectations, it surpassed them.

This is the first movie that doesn't take place in the comfort of Hogwarts. There is no Dumbledore to guide Harry, Hermione, and Ron. This time around, they are on their own out in the "real" world." The film is great because it handles this with the right balance of gravitas and levity. Despite what you might think, it's not all gloom and doom -- there are some lovely moments of lightness that carry the movie through some of its darker patches.

But here I am, giving you yet another review when you can just read the original.

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cut the rope.

To be honest, the iPhone has lost some of its sparkly appeal for me. In the first few months when I owned it, it was like a shiny new toy. Much to my boyf's grief, it barely even left my hands. And woe betide anyone who tried to pry it from my death-grip. There was no app I wouldn't download, no game I wouldn't try. I had it bad.

But in the last few months, I kind of gave it a rest. New apps came and went. I didn't care. I stopped obsessively playing Words with Friends (which if you know me at all, is a real feat). But then a friend casually mentioned this new iPhone game she's been playing, something called Cut the Rope. She warned it was quite addictive. This was enough to prick my ears.

Curious, I decided to give it a try. And it is quite addictive! My iPhone is my shiny new toy again, thanks to this brand new game. Like most addictive apps on the iPhone, Cut the Rope is incredibly silly, but also incredibly fun. Best of all, it's incredibly cheap -- only .99 on iTunes.

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caramel brulée latte.

I first tried the wonder that is Starbuck's caramel brulée latte last year. I was despondent when they stopped carrying it after Christmas. The months passed and I forgot about it, but then I pulled into Starbucks last week and saw it listed in their menu. And I swear to you it was like a chorus of angels began singing Hallelujah. This, my friends, is heaven in a cup. Get it today -- you won't be sorry.

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tousle me softly haircare line.

I have naturally wavy hair that I can coax into curls or tame straight. It has the tendency to frizz in high humidity, which is what led me to do the Brazilian straightening treatment, otherwise known as keratin, two years ago. While it removed the frizz and made my hair easier to straighten, it wasn't without its negative side effects -- I did the treatment a few times but then stopped when I noticed my scalp and face had gotten much greasier, leading to bad breakouts in both areas. In addition, I began losing a lot of hair.

It's now been almost two years since I last did a keratin treatment and my hair still hasn't regained its curl completely. But then I tried some new products last week and it was like greeting an old friend -- the curls are back! And it's all thanks to Herbal Essences "tousle me softly" haircare line. I have used expensive products like Ouidad in the hopes of bringing the curls back, but nothing has worked except for this. I apply both the mousse and the spray gel on towel dried hair then dry on low heat, "scrunching" the curls between my fingers all the while. I'm left with bouncy, defined curls that are both shiny and soft.

I probably won't ever stop straightening my hair, especially on the weekend and for events, but it's nice to know I have another styling option now.

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the national.

I have my boyf Ricky to thank for introducing me to this band, as is the case with most of the amazing music I love today. (The boy's got taste, he does. ;D)

The National is an indie rock band from Brooklyn. The lead singer has a voice like molasses -- it's that deep and sweet. They have the tendency to layer their songs with multiple instruments, everything from guitar to violins. It gives their music an otherworldly feel, something I appreciate in other bands like Grizzly Bear and Wolf Parade.

Here is the video for my favorite song from The National, "Anyone's Ghost" from their album High Violet. Also-also, Amazon.com has their album High Violet on sale today for $1.99. Which is a steal.

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paddytum.

I first met Tricia Heighway, author of the book Paddytum, on the collaborative writing site Protagonize. It thrills me to no end that I know an actual, published author! Well, I know her over the Internet, which I suppose isn't the same... but still. I think it's cool. :)

One of her first pieces I remember reading on Protagonize was Paddytum. It's the story of an unemployed middle-aged man still living at home with his mother. One day while he is in his bedroom doing nothing productive (as usual), he hears a voice coming from his teddy bear, Paddytum. And that is just the beginning of the strange and wonderful things that you can expect from this book.

Intrigued? Here is a brief synopsis:

At one thirty-three in the afternoon, on the second Wednesday in May, something happened which was to change Robert Handle's life forever. At the time, he did not realise it would be a change for the better. Rob is man who has reached his forties without achieving anything at all. To his mother's dismay, he has dug himself into a rut so deep it will take more than a shovel to dig him out. It will take someone...or something, very special. Paddytum is the funny, poignant and heartwarming story of one man and his bear.

Tricia's writing reminds me of both Neil Gaiman and Roald Dahl, in its blithe acceptance of the fantastical. But her sense of humor is entirely her own -- it's both tongue-in-cheek and bittersweet, and utterly captivating. This is one of the best books I've read in the last year and I highly recommend it.

You can learn more about Paddytum and also purchase it directly from Hirst Publishing.

What are your favorites this month?

P.S.) I'm just 3 itty bitty people away from 100 "Likes" on my bloggy Facebook page. When the "Likes" reach 100, I will do a giveaway. So what's not to "Like"? ;)

{all pictures credit of Google images}