Have you seen this? 1

I’m starting a series of movie reviews for what I would consider ‘sleeper’ movies that aren’t real mainstream (although sometimes they may be), but the main focus will be movies that you may have missed.  I will also give each movie a ‘hanky’ rating on a 1-5 scale… based on how many tissues you will need when watching.

DISCLAIMER: I’m a girl… a sentimental, unapologetic emotional female, so these will have a ‘chick-flick’ leaning but not all.  A TV show, or movie gets me when it makes me laugh & cry “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion” (a quote from one of my favorite quintessential ‘chick flicks’).

So… for my  first review I am choosing my 2nd favorite movie of all time (1st would be “It’s A Wonderful Life”)… but my second is “Return to Me”

starring Minnie Driver, David Duchovony, Carroll O’Connor, Bonnie Hunt (who also c0-wrote, directed, and produced),and  James Belushi. It echoes back to another time in American cinema, when characters, classic actors, and sweet storylines ruled the big screen.

It is heartwarming, and sentimental, with a colorful cast of characters.  Characters who aren’t larger than life, but more average persons we may know in our own lives, with his/her own unique idiosyncrasies.    Most of the movie centers around “O’Reilly's” Irish Italian restaurant in Chicago (and Hunt uses the Chicago backdrop to create a warm friendly Midwest feel), and the persons who work, and frequent there.  The restaurant is run by Carroll O’Connor, and his brother-in law played by Robert Loggia.   These 2 characters, and their 2 friends create a foursome who lend the most comic relief to the film.  We all have an older gentleman in our life like one of these guys.  You can’t help but chuckle at their antics, and insight into life. 

One of the most endearing scenes  is when Grace (Driver) asks her grandpa (O’Connor) if he needs help closing up the restaurant to which he responds “No thanks… I’m blessed with work”.  Additional comic relief is provided by the husband & wife with a houseful of kids, played so believably by Bonnie Hunt, and Jim Belushi.

Of course, the center of the story is a love story between Duchovny, and Driver’s characters.  The sweetness in their romance is very endearing.  It is refreshing to see a good old-fashioned romance… where it develops, and evolves over the course of the film.  Not just two characters meeting, and immediately jumping into bed together.

Hunt also uses a classic soundtrack of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and the like to create a timeless feel to this sweet romance.

This movie unlike any other captures the ‘laughter through tears’ emotion unlike any other I have seen.

HANKY RATING;  I give this a 5 out of 5 hanky rating.  You’ll need tissues at the beginning, middle, and end… both from laughing, and crying.

TRAILER:

Brilliant!!!

I just came across this tip on opening those annoying 'clamshell' packaging for any item, gadget, gizmo, memory card, etc. Check out this article on Yahoo, and how you can open these annoying packages w/ a hand held can opener!! Brilliant I say!!!

Is it just me??

Am I the only one disturbed by the growing up too fast pressure society is putting on our daughters??? 

I've been casually browsing websites for Madalynn's halloween costume, and my jaw has dropped at some of the costumes being marketed to girls, and pre-teens... What is the rush all about? Why do they have to grow up so fast?  Can't we let them be (AND LOOK) like girls.... not women heading out to clubs.

These costumes come in sizes beginning at 7 years old!!!

 

 

These costumes below come in sizes beginning at 3 years old.... read that again THREE years old!!

They're young for such a short time... let them be little girls for as long as possible. 

I think this Dove video 'Evolution' should be shown to in every middle school & jr high in the United States

Hollywood??

I think Hollywood is running out of original ideas... we have TV that is saturated with 'reality' shows, that don't require writers, actors, etc thus the only creativity required is to come up with a concept (as an aside I think the producers of some of these shows use the term 'Star', and 'Celebrity' quite liberally... either that or I'm getting too old to know who these people are). It seems as if they're recycling (or as my Dad would say 'Re-treads'), old ideas, characters, etc.

Last season we saw "Beverly Hills 90210" (from my younger days), recycled as "90210" not only bringing back a similar story line, but some of the same actors/actresses now adults.

They are re-making "The A-Team" into a movie.

This season we have "Melrose Place" coming back as a TV series called "Melrose Place".

Were these shows so great the first time around that they need to come back?? How about something original or new?

Single Parent Menus

As a single working parent (or any parent for that matter), meal planning/preparing is one of my biggest challenges. Now that I'm a WAHM (Work at home Mom), it has gotten a little bit easier, but I still have to plan ahead. I find it's challenging too grocery shopping as a single plus a half, when a majority of food in the grocery store is 'Family Oriented'... you see "FAMILY SIZE" on bright red stickers in the meat dept, vine tomatoes are in buches of 4 & 5, and don't get me started on the chip aisle!! Additionally, a lot of these items are more economical to buy in the family size. So what's a non family size family to do? Become best friends with your freezer!!!

In the meat dept I buy the family size package (and rip that mocking sticker right off). Once I get home I break up the purchase, put it in a freezer bag, write the date with a sharpie on the bag, and throw it in the freezer. For example, chicken I might break up into packages of 2 or 4. Additionally I may throw some marinade in it (see a marinade recipe below). For hamburger I'll make 2 patties in one bag, and then freeze the rest as is, or go ahead and brown it, and freeze it, and then I have that ready if a recipe calls for browned ground beef. Or tonight, I cooked the entire package for tacos, added the taco seasoning, and then put some in a ziploc for another night this week, and 2 more ziplocs in the freezer.

Let me clarify I am NOT an organized person (I know the Sharpie marker may indicate otherwise). My house is cluttered, piles of mail on the kitchen counter, toys not put away, etc. I play before I clean. I do however have a few things that 'work' that I do consistently. This is one of them.

PROS; This is a great time & money saver that will keep sanity on those crazy weeknights when 'Pirana' hour hits... you know the time of day when you're trying to go through the mail, answer the phone, get some juice, and prepare dinner. (Not to mention washing the high chair tray from breakfast so it's ready for dinner).

CONS; This does take a little planning ahead, not only the process of freezing, but also remembering to take it out of the freezer to thaw when you plan to serve it. (Although microwaves thaw items well, not great, but well, you just have to watch it doesn't begin to cook the meat).

OK, here's the thing; This really is a relief when you don't know what to have for dinner, and you open the freezer to ziploc packages of ideas.

Marinade recipe... SUPER easy!!

• Italian salad dressing (enough to cover the chicken in the bag).
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (I recommend fresh)
• 4 pieces of boneless chicken (breasts or thighs)
• Place everything in a ziploc bag, rotate to coat, freeze.
• For a twist you can add soy sauce, or terriyaki sauce, but use less italian dressing.

Yummy on the grill, but can also be baked.

Have You Seen This??

I came across this breastfeeding doll on the news the other day... have you seen this?? It's a baby doll for little girls that comes with a halter top the little girl puts on that has two daisy flowers where her breasts should be. The baby cries, and she holds it to her daisies, and the doll begins to make suckling noises like the baby is eating, and then she burps the baby.

Hmmm.... there is something disturbing about it to me. I know breastfeeding is one of the most natural things you can do, and many little girls (and boys) will mimic their Moms if they see her breastfeeding an infant sibling which is sweet. On the other hand, what doll will they come out with next? There are other 'natural' acts that I don't want my daughter mimicing with her dolls. On the other hand I don't agree with those who say it's going to lead to 'oversexualizing' children.

Watch this demonstration, and let me know your thoughts.


.
This doll is currently not available in the United States just Spain.

PROS: It encourages role model play, and most little girls love playing 'Mommy'
CONS: There is a certain 'iccck' factor to it.

Ok, here's the thing; I think in the end it's a harmless doll for your little girl, but it does carry an 'ewwww' factor for adults. I would also have concerns with my daughter using it in public, you never know what kind of people are around,

Summer Pasta Salad Recipe

Okay... my Mom found this recipe years ago, and it's been a family favorite ever since. Super easy for summer cooking.

Spinach Pasta Salad

1 pkg frozen spinach
1 pkg pasta (any type you prefer, penne, ziti, farfalle, all work well)
2-4 tablespoons of butter (adjust to taste, or can use olive oil if you prefer)
2-3 cloves of garlic crushed(or more if you prefer)
Parmesan cheese (shredded cheddar can be added as well)

Boil pasta according to package directions, and salt the water. While that's cooking, microwave the spinach according to package directions* (Also can cook on stovetop if you prefer by package directions). Drain pasta, add butter or olive oil, add crushed garlic, cooked spinach. Stir. Sprinkle with cheese. Stir. Can be served warm or cold. It's great warm on the night prepared, and delicious the next day chilled.

Pros Super easy pasta salad to go with simple summer weeknight meals like grilled chicken, burgers, or seafood. Delicious way to get some spinach (into yourself & your kids).

Cons; You will have garlic breath.

OK, here's the thing; Bottom line is it's an fast, easy, healthy, light recipe that can be made from items usually in your pantry/fridge already. Excellent for weeknight rush!!

*There are many great steam in the package veggies at the market that make this so convenient.