A little lacy blanket knitting in a car (wife at the wheel!) on the backroads of Southern Ontario on a rainy Saturday afternoon driving between small town yard sales. 🥰 🚗 🧶

#5SecondReview: The Mandalorian and Grogu Fan service for olds and youngs, great cameos, Mando action sequences that drip cool, loads of adorable baby Yoda bits, and lots of impressive in-camera effects. It’s not going to win any Oscars, but it’s an absolute treat for people who loved the show. 😊

Every year my wife buys our daughter tickets to see artists she loves for her birthday. For my part, I draw her a dumb little picture to announce it. She’s now 21. Too old for this little tradition?

#5SecondReview: Beef (S2) Maybe as good as the first season. We get four more people making one bad decision after another. It dives headfirst into legit conflicts found in relationships, generations, friendships, and societal status, delivering some harsh but fair insights along the way. 👍👍

#5SecondReview: Starship Troopers Less military sci-fi and more a manifesto for his idea of a future utopia—one that Voerhoeven rightly skewered in his film adaptation. He makes a case for earned citizenship that ignores the risk of creating second- and third-class humans. Fascinating, but flawed.

🧶 WIP Update: The Undying Lands Throw I’m about 15% of the way through my huge Lord of the Rings inspired project, and I did some YO learnin’! Now I have perfect row after perfect row. The leaves of Valinor and wavy edges are finally crisp and defined. Chunky lace is definitely my new favourite. 😊

#5SecondReview: The Pitt (S2) Still brilliant. Wildly authentic, and it somehow hits just about every emotion every episode. About a dozen characters tie for my favourite. Not quite as thrilling as S1, but I’m glad they didn’t try to top the mass shooting scenario. That would’ve been folly.

#5SecondReview: Is This Thing On? Will Arnett as a 50yo separated man using open mic comedy as a means of dealing with his marital issues is something I didn't know I needed. And Laura Dern as his unhappy wife? 100% authentic. Small movie, but a big win for director Bradley Cooper. Recommend.

#5SecondReview: The Drama Zendaya and Pattinson are well cast in this vaguely Woody Allen-ish postmodern love story about a woman who is judged *very* harshly after revealing the worst thing she ever did just before her wedding. Loads of biting and insightful social commentary.

Cast on The Undying Lands Throw (Tanis Gray, The Fellowship of the Knits). ✨🧶 Biggest #knitting project yet: ten skeins of wool = months of work. So I'm knitting everywhere—at home, in the car...even in my kilt. 😅 Luckily this rosy alpaca is textile heaven. Wish me luck! 🍀

#5SecondReview: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls Set in the south c. 1970. Shamed parents send preggo teens to a secret home to have their babies and give them away. The girls become witches and rebel. Nicely written, but the magic takes a backseat to social commentary—not quite what I was hoping for.

Time for a knitting brag. 🥰 🧶 I designed and knit a little D&D dice bag for my daughter. Used organic Irish worsted wool. Played with garter/moss for texture, used K2tog and YO for shaping/eyelets. Added a soft ruffle at the top. Closed the bottom with a spiral. #dndcrafts #handknit #knitting

#5SecondReview: Project Hail Mary I honestly thought the book—one of my absolute favourites—would be unfilmable, but kudos to Lord, Miller, Goddard, and Gosling for managing to keep nearly everything (intelligently condensing some of the sciencier bits) that made it great.

#5SecondReview: Starfleet Academy (S1) Dig the adults (Jet Reno ftw!), but the kids are unwatchable. Exceptions: SAM has a solid growth arc, and Jay-Den Kraag could be great with more development. The writers need to step it up. Episodes should be thrilling adventures, not emo black holes.

Whoops! Made some more Guinness sourdough bread. Couldn’t even take a picture before stuffing a buttered bit into my slobbery gob. 😋

🧶 I finished my first pair of mitts! 🧶 Now my wife has a full set of merino wool winter accessories (mitts, cowl, hat) made with lots of love. 🥰 Mistakes were made, but I'm still chuffed. A nice, even stockinette stitch in chunky wool is very satisfying. Next up? A D&D dice bag for my daughter!🗡️🛡️

#5SecondReview: Little Amelie or the Character of Rain Small and a bit melancholy in spots, but ultimately uplifting. Not sure it was worth an Oscar nom, but it’s a good little animated picture about a little girl who is either God or just super precocious.

My wife, SIL, and I attended a live filming of The Social. Second time for me, probably the 10th time for my bride. We also met the hosts after the show. They were delightful. 🙂

5SecondReview: Sirât Relentless and shocking. Made with the boldness and audacity of someone who legitimately doesn’t give a crap about audience expectations. Really needs to be seen in theatres, if only to ensure you aren’t looking at your phone when the shit hits the fan. Deserves its Oscar nods.

#5SecondReview: Kokuho Explores modern kabuki in Japan through the lens of a yakuza orphan who is taken in by a master actor and trained to be his adopted heir. Gorgeous costumes and makeup (worthy Oscar nom), and riveting performances from the whole cast—especially Yoshizawa as the grown orphan

Made some French onion soup with Gruyère and a sourdough baguette. 😋

Had some leftover yarn 🧶 from the hat I knit for my wife, and it somehow became a matching cowl. No initial pattern. Just knits, purls, cables and a healthy let’s-see-where-this-goes curiosity. Far from perfect, but for my first time going freestyle? I’m pretty chuffed! Working on mittens now. 😊

OK, so you'll get two years chopped off your life, but in exchange you have absolutely perfect pearly teeth and no need for dental work. Ever. From babyhood to grave. Any takers?

#5SecondReview: Diane Warren: Relentless This doc chronicles Warren's quest to earn an Oscar. Did not enjoy. But I don't want to be all hate-y. So here are three nice things I learned about her: 1. She has an animal rescue farm. 2. She is tenacious. 3. She's an Asperger's success story.

#5SecondReview: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms It’s got a different vibe, but the characters are adorable and the writing is sharp. Love the relationship between Egg and Dunk. And the big battle? Small in scale but absolutely brutal and riveting. A nice change of pace for the GOT universe.

#5SecondReview: Viva Verdi! A wonderfully feel-good doc about a retirement home in Milan constructed by the great composer Verdi over 100 years ago to look after the country’s aging and neglected musicians. Pity the song that earned it an Oscar nom has no chance against K Pop Demon Hunters.

Still puzzled about the validity of Melt the ICE hats? A stranger recognized the hat I knit for my wife (modelled by my ugly bald melon below) and struck up a conversation. Instant comeraderie, followed by a short, constructive discussion overheard by people around them. Worthwhile, I’d say.

#5SecondReview: 2026 Oscar Nominated Doc Shorts Perfectly a Strangeness I didn't get it. The Devil Is Busy Follows a heroic abortion clinic worker. Armed Only with a Camera The killing of a war journalist. Sad. 1/2

#5SecondReview: 2026 Oscar Nominated Animated Shorts Butterfly: Great story, meh animation. Forevergreen: Weird religious overtones. The Girl Who Cried Pearls: Vivid stop-motion. My pick. Retirement Plan: A witty, melancholy life lesson. The Three Sisters: Like a vintage Sesame Street short.

#5SecondReview: 2026 Oscar-Nominated Live Action Shorts The Singers: Great vibe, characters, music. A Friend of Dorothy: An ode to the power of plays. Butcher's Stain: Dark and depressing. Jane Austen's Period Drama: Basically an SNL digital short. Two People Exchanging Saliva: French and weird.

5SecondReview: Face/Off The concept is so ridiculous it feels like something AI would come up with before gaslighting us into thinking it's totally plausible. And Woo's stylish, unsubtle direction is what it is. Still, it's undeniably fun to watch Cage and Travolta doing impressions of each other.

#5SecondReview: Cutting Through Rocks Great doc about an Iranian woman who becomes the first elected woman in her district. She's an absolute hero as she fights for girls' rights, helps wives achieve equality, and personally manages the construction of a town park (Leslie Knope would be so proud!).

#5SecondReview: Zootopia 2 First one was pretty good. This feels more like a rehash full of fan service jokes. Funny and I suppose even clever (in a punny kind of way), but hardly worthy of Oscar gold.

This is the notions clutch my wife 😍 bought me for Christmas. I use it constantly. Keeps all the stuff I need (markers, scissors, needles, repair tools, measuring tape, tags, lotion, pins, more) and fits into my WIP satchel. But there’s still space! What is my mobile #knitting 🧶 kit missing?

Wanna whip up some chili tonight? May I recommend using my spicy Guinness-infused recipe? Done in an hour! www.youtube.com/shorts/1uaIA...

#5SecondReview: Song Sung Blue I liked this one more than I thought I would. Some nice, heartfelt moments. Still not a big Neil Diamond fan beyond the big hits, though. I’d have been one of the jerks in the audience wishing the band would just do “Sweet Caroline” rather than stuff like “Soolaimon.”

#5SecondReview: Arco Better than I expected! Didn’t love the animation style, but I enjoyed the ideas and characters. And Mikki the robot (voiced by Ruffalo and Portman, speaking in unison) is the unsung cinematic hero of the year. It has an almost Iron Giant-level emotional moment near the end.

#5SecondReview: The Ugly Stepsister This retelling of Cinderella is nominated for hair and makeup—which it deserves—but is simply a must-see for fans of body dysmorphia horror. Some amazing practical, in-camera effects. Would make an excellent pairing (both in themes and vibe) with The Substance.

#5SecondReview: Sentimental Value Family! Drama! Universal human truths! A moving exploration of the creative imperative! Anchored by Skarsgård & Reinsve—both acting their butts off—Trier’s look at an aging director’s attempt to reconnect with his family through his work was made to win awards.

Made my adorable wife a sous vide tenderloin steak, baked baby potatoes, and bacon-wrapped baked asparagus dinner for Valentine’s Day. 😋🥰

Wondering how your Oscar viewing is going, @trendygirl.bsky.social! We're at about 35/50. A few of the remaining are looking very hard to track down up here.

#5SecondReview: The Secret Agent One of the best of the year. It has a Scorsese-like visual language capable of conveying humour, drama, and horrific violence in a single frame. And it’s entertaining as heck. All of the characters feel lived in, like real people who just wandered onto the set. A+.

Made a classic Reuben with homemade Russian dressing, fresh corned beef, some quality sauerkraut, and plenty of Gruyère. 😋

🧶 Knitting update! 🧶 I made the Melt the ICE hat! I did it in under a week! Paid some money (that went to a nice charity) for a pattern, then zhuzhed it a bit so I could use a bulkier, warmer merino wool. It even fits its intended recipient, my darling wife.🥰

I'm realizing that—save for his cameo in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back—I may not have seen James Van Der Beek in anything! I do wish, though, that he had lived long enough to play Mark Carney in a biopic. I feel like he would have been a dead ringer in another 10 years.

#5SecondReview: The Alabama Solution This doc shining a light on inmate treatment in Alabama pens—largely shot by prisoners on contraband phones—is unreal. Lethal beatings, slave labour, solitary. They capture images of bodies lying in the open, dead, waiting to be carted away. It's like a gulag.

5SecondReview: The Voice of Hind Rajab A terrifying drama that inserts audio recordings of *real* calls received by the Red Crescent in Gaza of a preschool girl trapped in a car—surrounded by the bloody bodies of her family!—as the Israeli army keeps firing at her. A must-see. Just heartbreaking.

#5SecondReview: Wonder Man Sir Ben Kingsley is an absolute force reprising his role as Trevor Slattery (the Mandarin). He’s funny and flawed in one scene, then dramatic and wise the next. He brings such depth and authenticity. Maybe the first MCU performance worthy of some awards love. A+

#5SecondReview: Mr. Nobody Against Putin A Russian documentary filmed from the perspective of a small town teacher rebelling against the regime's orders to indoctrinate his students with war propaganda. It gives us a glimpse of how Russia manipulates its population. Sad he had to leave his home. :(

On to my next #knitting project! This was my first chance to use my new Amish spinner and winder, given to me by my excellent sister-in-law and adorable wife. But I did. One night working on the red tassel hat my wife asked for and I’m almost 5cm in. I think I’m officially a chunky yarn boy. 🧶