Just weeks away from the 87th annual Academy Awards, our countdown continues with one of our most prestigious categories. Five remarkable actors are nominated this year in a variety of genres for the Best Actor in a Leading Role. From Broadway plays to fighting on the frontlines of war to fighting the minds behind a war, the variety of style this year is truly exceptional. Here are the nominees for this year’s Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Steve Carell in Foxcatcher: The Office star leads in his most transformative film role yet. Carell plays John du Pont, an abnormal millionaire who decides to invest in an Olympic wrestler, having him live and train at his estate.

Bradley Cooper in American Sniper: Based on a true story brought to life by Clint Eastwood, brings Cooper portraying the role of Chris Kyle, a US military marksman who deals with the personal trauma caused by his deployment as a sniper.

Benedict Cumberbatch in The Imitation Game: In a period piece, the British actor plays a genius mathematician who works on a secret mission to crack the Nazis’ encryption code during World War II.

Michael Keaton in Birdman: Keaton plays Riggan, who once played an iconic superhero, attempts to regain his ego, family and acting career in the days leading up to the opening of his Broadway play.

Eddie Redmayne in The Theory of Everything: Our second British actor nominated this year portrays world renowned Stephen Hawking, a cosmologist who battles from a progressive motor neuron disease. The film looks into both his diagnosis and his relationship with his wife.

Week 5 of The Bachelor began and ended with just ten remaining ladies in the competition to win Chris’ #FarmBoy heart. We all, of course saw the “to be continued…” plug coming as 9:47 p.m. approached and we were screaming at our TVs, “Only thirteen minutes left?! There hasn’t been a rose ceremony yet and Kelsey hasn’t even had her panic attack?!” First world problems.

This week had a smorgasbord of emotions as the halfway mark for the season made the smokescreen of the concept behind it all fade just a little more. Each one-on-one conversation Chris has with the contestants has somewhat digressed from “tell me about your family” topics into complaining about why he was spending too much time with another girl. Natural conversation does not seem to be anoyone’s strong suit at this point.

More awkward moments made us cringe, from Love Guru intimacy tips for Carly, the cruise ship singer, and Chris, to when Whitney won the group date rose, leading everyone (*cough cough, Ashley I.) to conclude that she must be manipulative. Or then, there was that time when Chris woke up full-makeup-at-4:30 a.m.-Brit for their sunrise date, only to shush her roommate Carly as they shared a morning smooch session in front of her. And of course, that hot second when eliminated alcoholic Jordan drove flew all the way from Colorado for a second chance. This lasted long enough for everyone’s feathers to become ruffled, or one commercial break to pass before she was sent home for the second time, back to Colorado.

And I thought I had problems when I was single…

As social media sites like Twitter blew up in attempt to why New Mexico would be a fun getaway this week, and Megan thought they were actually going to the country of Mexico, Brit got the cream of the crop in the one-on-one date category this week. She and Chris enjoyed a sunrise over the wide-open spaces of Santa Fe from a hot air balloon as the audience’s standards for the perfect Valentine’s Day date skyrocketed.

The spotlight quickly turned as Kelsey, one of our widows on the show, decided to tell Chris the story of her late husband right before the cocktail party. Other contestants, thinking she pulled some sort of attention stunt in order to not go home this week, were outraged. Chris then pulled his second dramatic exit of the season, resulting in no cocktail party this week. At this point it was 9:57 p.m., an EMT was attending to Kelsey who was found on the floor in the middle of a panic attack and the rest of us all knew the rug was being pulled out from under this week. ABC left us with one hell of a cliffhanger as “to be continued…” flashed on our TVs– the anticipation at this point is seriously equal to American Sniper. Oh, Chrissy. Oh, #PrinceFarming. Oh, Iowa.

Tune in next week to finish what we started! Mondays at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Santa Fe, come for the art & culture. Stay for the beaches and sombreros #TheBachelor

— Chris Harrison (@chrisbharrison) February 3, 2015

Tonight’s episode of #TheBachelor had me like… pic.twitter.com/LpdZwaBcH5

— Kate Steinberg (@kstein99) February 3, 2015

It’s New Mexico, not Mexico. #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/wWA00uzPax

— The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) February 3, 2015

No way were the girls that excited for New Mexico. #TheBachelor

— Sean Lowe (@SeanLowe09) February 3, 2015

How many times will one of the girls say something that makes us look like this tonight on #TheBachelor?! pic.twitter.com/tmepjMWmnq

— E! Online (@eonline) February 3, 2015

Closed captioning for tonight’s episode provided by Gone Girl. #TheBachelor

— Jackie O (@JackieOProblems) February 3, 2015

As we approach week 5 of winter term, the final push of this chilly season can get the best of us, and the best of our motivation to go out every night of every weekend. Sometimes, staying in and watching a movie with friends or significant other sounds more appealing than walking to 17th and Mill in the pouring rain. Making an easy sweet treat to go along with your evening can make your couch all the cozier. Next time you decide to stay in, give these quick and easy items a try.

1. Microwave Chocolate Chip Mug Cookie

Because all good things come in mugs — and are chocolate.

2. White Chocolate Bark Hearts

Just in time for Valentines Day and the perfect addition to your RomCom marathon.

3. No-Bake Cheesecake Bites

Cheesecake without the mess of baking it first? Okay, I’m listening…

4. No-Bake Chocolate-Pretzel-Peanut Butter Squares

Food Network just became the fairy godmother, because your wildest dreams just came true.

5. Caramel Shortbread Squares

Because the kid inside of you is screaming with joy right about now.

6. Rice Krispie Treats in a Mug

Three easy ingredients and three minutes til ultimate satisfaction ensues.

7. S’mores Bars

Be right back, wiping up my drool.

8. Lastly, if you’re feeling really lazy, there’s always THESE. Find the current seasonal product at Safeway, and then in your fridge.

January is known for moving slower than molasses, and the release of quality films during this winter month tends to move at the same pace. Filmmakers over-advertise in the fall, bringing a buzz from social media portals to TV commercials. For months, The Boy Next Door had us all talking and not just about Jennifer Lopez’s dreamy co-star.

Lopez plays Claire, a high school teacher with a son and a cheating husband. In a vulnerable state, she befriends her neighbor, 19-year-old Noah (Ryan Guzman). A one-time affair ensues, leaving Claire distraught and regretful, but Noah takes things to the next level–stalking her to the point where a power outage and a butcher knife prove how grade-A psychotic he is.

Though this $4 million movie was a mediocre-at-best thriller, it had me hooked since I first saw the trailer back in October. Lopez is a triple-threat, but I’m especially a fan of her acting. My favorite movie of hers is not Maid In Manhattan, but her 2002 thriller Enough. I wasn’t surprised to see her do another thriller, but I was surprised by the story line she participated in.

Many actors in Hollywood have been shedding their traditional roles, trying to break out of their early 2000s chick-flick typecasting, but for what? Reese Witherspoon didn’t need to go makeup-less and rip off her toenail in the middle of the forest in Wild for me to take her seriously. Same for Jennifer Aniston, who also went makeup-less and yelled too loud in Cake, or Steve Carell, who added more makeup in Foxcatcher. Challenges can be accepted, but when they’re not immediately awarded with an Oscar or even a nomination, it just gives these actors another excuse to make headlines again about why they were snubbed.

People across the country raise their eyebrows when a film about an older woman and her affair with a teenager hits theaters instead of the Lifetime cable channel. Counts of sexual assault against female teachers and their students sweep national news weekly. “Disgusting,” we say to ourselves, yet we’re still intrigued to read just a little more of the article. The Boy Next Door intrigued me because someone was taking a risk and making a blockbuster out of a taboo topic.

Lopez made a bold move accepting the role of Claire and shedding the image we all knew her as: singer, dancer, American Idol judge and chick-flick actress. Though this movie was an average thriller, playing the role of a mother who sleeps with a 19 year old was something many of us were surprised to see. I both respected and enjoyed Lopez in The Boy Next Door, as she pushed her limits as an actress, proving that she is much more than Jenny from the Block.

We approached week 4 at full speed ahead as many surprises were unloaded on to the ladies, including a camping trip and a drop-by at the mansion from Chris’s three sisters to pick one lucky woman to spend an enchanting evening with Chris. Cue Disney Cinderella plug. Well played ABC, well played.

Down to just 14 girls in the running, the house was divided into two groups. The first set of 7 enjoyed a muddy LA lake and a night camping under the stars. *Cut away to my post-traumatic Shasta disorder. Chris wanted to see how they’d act outdoors, because Chris thinks none of these women have ever encountered dirt before. This may have been true for Kelsey; stone cold the entire time as the girls roasted her attitude like a marshmallow over the fire. Ashley I., the virgin, tried to hint to Chris in private that she is a virgin, but farm boy clearly didn’t get the hint. Looks like this was a no “fantasy tent” kind of date night.

Back at the house, Chris’s three sisters selected Jade to join Chris on the Cinderella fairytale date. “Who is that?!” America yelled flabbergasted into their glasses of Cabernet. Game changer, the woman, who nobody thought was a threat just may be our newest frontrunner.

The date was as beautiful as the Disney’s Cinderella movie trailer, which felt like it was being played in the background the entire time. Christian Louboutin heels as her glass slippers and a kiss at the stroke of midnight was all I needed to finish my pint of Haagen Daz.

The next group date got dirty and desperate as the other 7 ladies ran an obstacle course in wedding dresses through mud and grime for the chance to win a romantic date in San Francisco with our bachelor. Naturally, miss censored booty, I-can-bench-more-weight-than-Chris-can, Jillian won the competition, #LegDay. The dinner date went south fast as she came off too bold, making Chris realize her journey had come to a close, she was sent home, or back to the gym.

Chris’s feathers became ruffled as Britt called him out on rumors from other girls about the campout. Ashley I. confessed her virginity and immediately regretted her decision, as Chris seemed unfazed. *Cut away to Ashley I. crying all of her Kim Kardashian makeup off again. Chris and his girl voice then made an announcement to the women that if they doubted his intentions in this process, they could leave.

And on that bright note, the rose ceremony successfully weeded out who we hated to see go but loved to watch leave. I’m talking to you, Ashley S., pomegranates and zombies forever. Also sent home, other than Jillian, were Juelia and Nikki.

As the number of women left in the mansion with the possibility of being Mrs. Chris Soules decreases, our number of frontrunners rapidly increases with new eye candy being brought forward each week. Also the paramedics haven’t appeared in an episode yet so technically the juicy drama hasn’t even begun. Tune in next Monday for my live tweeting of week 5’s episode!

My favorite picture of Ashley S #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/oVW9dc7wgj

— Audrey Bittner (@PodgeTown) January 27, 2015

Apologies to everyone out there named Ashley feeling ashamed by #TheBachelor right now. We are with you.

— Us Weekly (@usweekly) January 27, 2015

“It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you. It’s just that I don’t want to swallow the last girl’s saliva.” #TheBachelor

— Sean Lowe (@SeanLowe09) January 20, 2015

I like how they play Wheel of Fortune right before #TheBachelor just so us single ladies can see what we’ll be doing in 30 years. Alone.

— MadilaRue (@MadiLaRue) January 27, 2015

I like how ABC doesn’t hide the fact that the girls are drunk the whole show #TheBachelor

— erinn scotland (@erinnscotland) January 27, 2015

Our countdown continues as we are just shy of a month away from the 87^th annual Academy Awards.

The supporting role categories are just as significant in films as the actors who play them. The supporting role in a film can serve as the lead’s wingman, comedic relief or even their voice of reason. It is an honor to be nominated in this category, and for this week I present to you the five lucky ladies who are each nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

1. Patricia Arquette for Boyhood: The highly acclaimed film that spent twelve years in the making highlights Arquette’s role as a struggling single mother trying to make a better life for her two children.

2. Laura Dern for Wild: Similar to Arquette, Dern plays a single mother of two who has an overly abundant love for life. In her untimely passing, she serves as her daughter’s inspiration and voice through her troubled journey in Wild.

3. Keira Knightley in The Imitation Game: Knightley is in her element starring in another historical drama that takes her into a group of code breakers during World War II. Her character, Joan Clarke is young, witty and has a strong talent for ciphers.

4. Emma Stone in Birdman: Stone is often known for her roles providing spunky comedic relief in many films. In Birdman, she continues to increase her variety of roles as she plays the daughter of a has-been movie star, always mocking his sincere efforts to be taken seriously as an actor.

5. Meryl Streep in Into the Woods: This classic fairy tale musical was brought to life this year by Disney, and who better to play the role of the witch than Meryl Streep? Her character tasks a baker and his wife to find magical items from classic fairy tales in order to reverse a curse.

Week three of The Bachelor left us with a few unmemorable departures and 17 women left in the running.

Who’s on everyone’s mind from last week? Jillian and her censored booty, Britt who’s America’s newest sweetheart, the Ashleys both becoming crazier by the day and Kaitlyn and her man laugh.

If you want to catch up, check out my recap of the first three weeks.

Live tweeting the show by night and recapping by the morning. Check back tomorrow for my latest!

Follow my tweets here:

Tweets by @PodgeTown

Calling all hopeless romantics: Are you sitting down? Because I’m about to make your day.

The good news is that Fifty Shades of Grey is not the only romantic film coming out in 2015. This year has everything: unexpected love, musicals and a new film from Mr. Cupid himself, Nicholas Sparks.

So get out that calendar and start planning your next date night because these soon to be blockbusters will be ones you won’t want to miss.

1. Love, Rosie: Starring Lily Collins and Sam Clafin as Rosie and Alex, best friends since they were 5 years old, who may just be each others soul mates without even knowing it. British accents and fighting for the one who got away? Pass the popcorn. In theaters Feb. 6.

2. Fifty Shades of Grey: The most anticipated romantic film of 2015 for women across America. Step into the mind of the handsome, yet tormented billionaire Christian Grey and his rocky relationship the woman he unexpectedly falls for, Anastasia Steele. Ladies, if you force your boyfriend to see this with you on Valentine’s Day and he reluctantly agrees, then you’re evil. But he’s a keeper. In theaters Feb. 13.

3. The Last Five Years: Take the sappiest New York City love story and add in a lot of singing about feelings and you’ve got The Last Five Years. This nationally profound Broadway musical comes to the big screen in just a few weeks! Watch the relationship between Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan come together and fall apart through a beautiful ballad. *Manhattan Brownstone included* In theaters Feb. 13.

4. A Little Chaos: Kate Winslet in the 1600’s! Versailles! Gardens! Classical music! Men with hair longer than mine! I can hardly contain my excitement. Watch Kate put a lot of men, including King Louis XIV (Alan Rickman…LOL), into their place in her latest female empowerment role. In theaters Mar. 27.

5. The Longest Ride: Scott Eastwood, yes, Clint Eastwood’s son, combined with a Nicholas Sparks love story has got everyone squirming in their seats just from viewing the trailer. The Longest Ride tells the story of a young couple that collides with an old man who reflects on his lost love and their relationships are more parallel than you think. In theaters Apr. 10 and yes, I am counting down the days.

On Thursday, the 87th Academy Award nominations were released to the public.

There was a plethora of exceptional films released in 2014 and I am one to believe the winners that are soon to come from each of the 24 categories will leave all of us satisfied. As we grew up, going to see the latest animated films at the theater was a favorable Friday night destination. It was always a treat to see the occasional short before the movie started. So grab your siblings and some popcorn, ’cause it’s about to get nostalgic up in here. As our first Academy Awards countdown, here are the five lucky nominees for Best Short Film: Animated:

The Bigger Picture– Daisy Jacobs and Christopher Hees

Not your typical kind of animation, this life-sized short film brings the home front explosively onto the screen as two brothers begin to care for their sick mother, increasing tension within their relationship.

The Dam Keeper– Robert Kondo and Dice Tsutsumi

An animated short film that melts and breaks your heart at the same time brings The Dam Keeper. A lonely little pig that holds the responsibility of maintaining the town’s dam is ruthlessly bullied by his other classmates.

Feast– Patrick Osborne and Kristina Reed

From the cuteness overload factory of Walt Disney Animation Studios, comes Feast. This short animated film tells the story of a young man and a stray puppy whose journey with the man is told through the food he receives. Feast makes you want a puppy and pizza really bad.

Me and My Moulton– Torill Kove

Previous Academy Award winner Torill Kove brings us another animated short film. Styled in traditional cartoon-like animation with bright colors and blocky characters, Me and My Moulton takes place in an unconventional Norwegian family. All three daughters are wanting to ask their parents for a bicycle but find it hard to be honest with the ones they love most.

A Single Life– Joris Oprins

Our final nominee in the Best Short Film- Animated category brings futuristic animation to match its time traveling story. A young woman who comes across a mysterious vinyl single gives her the power to move back and forth through the years of her life.

Mark your calendars: The Academy Awards airs Feb. 22.

ABC’s producers managed to make all our dreams come true this week by combining The Bachelor with one of our favorite talk show hosts, Jimmy Kimmel, as he crashed Chris’s dating parade.

This situation was as if America sent in a representative of what we’re all thinking at home. Not only did Kimmel give insightful dating advice but he also called the ladies (and Chris) out on how many times they called things (moments, Chris’s jaw line, the free booze) amazing.

Just call Kimmel cupid as he sticks around for the week, both planning and invading dates, which meant that he was there to do things his way. What’s Kimmel’s idea of a date? He sent Chris and Kaitlyn to the romantic island of Costco to shop and later have the couple prepare dinner for him. This led to Chris and Kaitlyn making out in a giant blow up ball in an aisle of the store. Of course. That’s what I end up doing whenever I go to pick up a rotisserie chicken too. *Cut away to Kimmel drinking champagne in the Costco parking lot — all hail.*

A group date with just about everyone and their mother was next on Kimmel’s checklist he liked to call a “Hoedown Throw-down . The competition included a relay of “farm activities” because ABC still doesn’t think its audience knows what people do on farms. Shucking corn, milking goats and then proceeding to drink that milk were a few of my favorites — especially when lactose-intolerant Carly literally put her life on the line to be crowned winner.

Later, a square dance of everyone making out with Chris ensued, leaving all the women distraught and jealous, as if this came to an actual shock to them. Except for Becca, who wants to drag out her stay on the show for as long as possible, making Chris wait to kiss her. Looks like Becca may have the ball because soon after, she got the date rose.

Jimmy seemed to favor Whitney much more on her one-on-one date with Chris, as he sent them to a winery. Then Whitney, in all pink, showed Chris her spontaneity by deciding to crash a wedding on their date. Just when I thought my clever-o-meter was at its breaking point, a pool party with all of the women and Chris led Jade to ask Chris for a tour of his place on the estate, which led to another three-minute, up-close-and-too-personal make-out session.

“Why didn’t I think of that?! Screamed everyone, myself and probably Jimmy Kimmel.”

A few more of the “who’s that?” contestants were weeded out during the rose ceremony; Amber, Tracy and Trina were cut from the cob. Leaving us Jade, Samantha, Juelia, Mackenzie, Kelsey, Megan, Becca, Britt, Jillian, Nikki, Ashley S. (who we didn’t see much of this week because she was busy fighting off more zombies) and the spotlight of the week … Ashley I. (the virgin who we will be seeing more of since she almost fell off the roof forcefully making out with Chris).

*Cut away to Kimmel driving off into the night holding The Amazing Jar — his work here is done.*

You’ve never seen an episode quite like this. It’s time for #KimmelOnTheBachelor! pic.twitter.com/H2jXf1WQ68

— The Bachelor (@BachelorABC) January 20, 2015

Chris and Whitney right now #TheBachelor pic.twitter.com/F7kMVzoq1G

— Bachelor Burn Book (@bachelorburnbk) January 20, 2015

“Remember how we kissed? Well, why are you kissing everybody else?” – girl who burns down your apartment complex #TheBachelor

— Jenny Mollen (@jennyandteets) January 20, 2015

Don’t cry, Ashley! Your Kardashian Face: Pool Party Edition will smudge. #theBachelor

— People magazine (@peoplemag) January 20, 2015