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Confessions of a Shopaholic

By Bob on August 25, 2009 1:01 PM

You need to know this right from the start: Charlotte LOVED this movie.  Me? Not so much.

Shopaholic6.jpg Confessions of a Shopaholic is a likeable, if totally predictable, 104 minutes of cinematic cotton candy.  It won't fill you up, but hey, it's summer and we don't want to get in the pool after a heavy meal, do we?  No, didn't think so.

 

As the movie opens we find Becky Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) writing for a gardening magazine.  She's a ditsy redhead who, when she's not turning out pruning prose, is shopping and shopping and shopping.  Becky's MasterCard and Visa have been used so much they have skid marks.


Suddenly the world makes sense.  Maybe even fashion sense.


Young Becky is a likeable protagonist who lives with a quirky roommate in one of those "no-23-year-old-can-really-afford-this-place" New York apartments.  She desperately wants to write for the trendy fashion magazine that's owned by the same company that owns her gardening mag.  Before you can say "inciting incident" she gets laid off and has to find another magazine writing job.

 

She doesn't land a job at the fashion magazine.  But, since we all know that magazine writing jobs grow on trees in the Big Apple, it doesn't take her long to find work with a financial magazine.  This writing opportunity gives Becky plenty of time for fish-out-of-water shenanigans and the chance to fall in love with her cute boss.

 

Of course, there's just one problem with the new job: Becky is all about FASHION and not about financial.  You see the irony here, right?  She uses the "For Dummies" book series to write her first article and is busted by her boss.  Instead of firing her (note to 20-somethings who may read this review, this is what happens in real life) he challenges her to write the column using a (wait for it) FASHION angle.  Suddenly, the world makes sense.  Maybe even fashion sense.

 

Becky's column is an instant success and launches the dowdy financial magazine into the mainstream.  It also gives Becky enough notoriety to start appearing on morning talk shows.  This new found financial fame does come with a price. It raises her profile just high enough for the debt collector that's been stalking her to finally out her money misadventures on national TV.

 

Her cover's blown (the Emperor has no clothes!).  Becky's $16K in credit card debt sends her fleeing from the magazine, her cute boss and quirky roommate.  She heads back to the waiting arms of mom and dad.  These two Boomer parents (played by the always funny John Goodman and Joan Cusack) help her navigate the road to redemption which as everyone knows goes through New York City.  When this financial-fashion fairy tale wraps, everyone walks away happy...even MasterCard. 

 

In light of these troubling economic times a movie that makes light of credit card debt and layoffs may seem insensitive.  Then again, it may just be the sweet, airy lift you need.  Hey, it worked for Charlotte.  Why not you?

 

Confessions of a Shopaholic is based on Sophie Kinsella's book series of the same name (think Sex & the City with more emphasis on money than sex).

 

 

The Boomer Brief recommends Netflix for your movie rentals.  The monthly rental packages start at only $4.99 - and you can cancel at any time.

 

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Guest Room

Diabetes-Friendly Chicken Burrito Bowl

ChickenBurritoBowlEverydayDiabetes 600.jpg

By Laura Cipullo and Lisa Mikus, authors of Everyday Diabetes Meals
Image credit: Colin Erricson

Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.

Tips:

If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.

If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.

Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.

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Windy City

It's been almost 18 years since Alison Krauss gave us a solo album, but the wait is over with Windy City. The release (her fifth solo studio album) features ten covers of classic songs (and some bonus tracks) she picked with producer Buddy Cannon.

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