Remembering Great Films of the Decade: Before Night Falls (2000)

My husband and I nursed our New Year's hangovers with hot-and-sour soup and a late-night viewing of Before Night Falls. Julian Schnabel's 2000 bio-pic chronicles the life of Reinaldo Arenas, the Cuban poet, novelist, and political dissident. This movie is beautiful, if a little disjointed. Javier Bardem gives a dreamy and nuanced performance as the gay writer struggling with sexual and artistic oppression. I liked Schnabel's 2007 The Diving Bell and the Butterfly even more, I must say. It's a much more cohesive and moving film.

Norma Kamali for Walmart! Who Knew?

As a fashion-conscious mama and teacher, I'm always looking for great clothes and great value. I highly recommend the Norma Kamali line for Walmart. Her black All-In-One Jersey Dress looks fabulously chic and expensive at a whopping $24.00. I wore it to an upscale bar in Arlington, VA and a stylish new restaurant in downtown Norfolk, and got lots of compliments. Wear it as a boatneck, bat-wing dress for a more modest occassion, or vamp it up with the one-shoulder look! A great Glam Mama find!