MOVIE MONDAY

We went to see Jersey Boys  (IMDb) last Tuesday evening. My dad, brother-in-law Bob and me! This movie has had a lot of bad criticism against Clint Eastwood for doing a poor job. In fact my dad wasn't sure he wanted to go because a review he read.

I think he did an excellent job and there isn't a movie that he has directed that I haven't liked. I think he does a great job directing. You can't just count on one person's opinion, you need to go and form your own. 

Well let me tell you that WE LOVED IT! I would go back again to see it and I will buy this movie on DVD. I really didn't know much at all about The Four Seasons or Frankie Valli. 

I read one review where the woman wrote that she felt she was seeing Jersey Boys on the stage and I would agree with her. It's a movie but has more of a personal feeling like a musical on stage would have.

"The story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic 1960s rock group The Four Seasons."

Hope everyone has a wonderful week. I head home tomorrow evening. I will miss my dad and family here in Florida. Hard to believe tomorrow is July 1st! 

MISCELLANEOUS MONDAY

Anybody else loving the Olympics like I am. I'm watching the 3 to 4 hour shows each night on NBC and biting my lips a lot, especially watching the skaters.  

I have to say that I loved the opening ceremony. I'm a little tired about hearing about the ring not opening. Sure it sucked that it didn't work but the rest of the show was excellent in my eyes. I really liked the use of color and the choreography was impeccable. 

These dancers were one of my favorites. The men and 

woman in the background were amazing! 

I also enjoyed this colorful one too! 

I made some Chicken Enchilada Soup in the crockpot on Saturday. It is delicious and definitely my favorite so far. I will be making this one again and will also be eating it for dinner every night this week. My friend Alexis at Running Away! I'll Help You Pack! posted it last week.

Mine didn't come out as dark as hers or the original post but I'm thinking it is because I didn't have chicken broth so I used vegetable! Otherwise I didn't change up anything else. Give this one a try, it's so yummy......

I also spent a lot of time this weekend working on my address book. My old book must be over 20 years old and has about 100 crossed out address. I'm surprised I could even find an address in it with all the note and post its along with the little return addresses torn off of envelopes! 

So I spent time working on address labels on my computer and putting in all the important names, addresses, phone numbers and children's names, etc. Then I printed them out and put them on the proper pages under the proper alphabet letters in a new address book. It looks absolutely amazing and definitely organized. I tried to take a photo but without giving out names and addresses there just wasn't a good way to capture it. 

I'm enjoying getting my things in order....this is the year to get organized and implementing a "less is more" attitude. 

Mark landed safely in Europe at 2 am this morning and I will be spending Valentine's Day alone this year....sigh! But I'm going to keep busy and look forward to him coming home over the weekend. Right now I have sweet potato chips in the oven for the dogs and I even had some mashed sweet potatoes for breakfast.

We went to see Inside Llewyn Davis IMDb almost two weeks ago. It is a simple story about a folk singers life and we thoroughly enjoyed it! 

"A week in the life of a young singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961."

We had the opportunity to see Blue Jasmine IMDb on DVD from Netflix. We are Woody Allen fans and this movie was in true Woody form and very enjoyable........

"A New York socialite, deeply troubled and in denial, arrives in San Francisco to impose upon her sister. She looks a million, but isn't bringing money, peace, or love..."

Happy Monday!

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

 

Join Joyce in her Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's fun....what are you waiting for?

Volume 152

1. Are you settling for something?

I feel that I am but that is all I can say :(

2.  It wasn't that long ago almost every store in the US locked doors and turned out lights on Thanksgiving Day. This year many will be open all day Thursday, giving shoppers a jump start on 'Black Friday'. In your opinion is this a good thing or a not so good thing? Will you be shopping on Thanksgiving Day?

I think it is very sad. I understand that there are people who don't gather for Thanksgiving for different reasons who may want to shop but I think it is a day just to sit back, relax and reflect. I will not be shopping on Thanksgiving day or Black Friday.

3. Speaking of shopping... I saw a recent article on the twelve best shopping cities in the world. In order they are- New York, Tokyo, London, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Dubai, Madrid, Milan, and Seoul. Ever shopped in any of the cities listed? In which city would you most like to pull out the plastic or cold hard cash?

I have shopped in London and can't wait to shop there again someday but in the mean time I would love to shop in New York!

4.  When did you last dine by candlelight?

It's been a while since we have done that at home, however the SHe by Morton's that we ate at in Vegas was very dark with a candle on the table. I was actually thankful I had a little tiny mini flashlight with me....LOL!

5. What do you have too much of?

After working on my two trees recently, still having my miniature tree to do and 3 small trees to do which hold all my snowman ornaments I realize that I truly have too many ornaments. It's a bit crazy and I add about 40 each year and this year it felt like work. However now that they are done I just love sitting and admiring them, they are a piece of artwork to me! 

6. The Hunger Games...are you a fan?  Did you read the book(s)?  Will you/have you seen the movie?  Will you/have you seen Catching Fire?  No spoilers please!

Huge fan, did not read the books. Yes I saw Catching Fire last Friday, it was amazing. Hoping to go see it again and don't forget Hallmark has an ornament this year!

7. Share your plans for Thanksgiving Day. The who, the where, the what...especially the what! As in what's for dinner?  If you're one of my International visitors, whose homeland doesn't celebrate American Thanksgiving (the whole world doesn't ya know!), then still tell us your plans for Thursday. 

Mark, Adam, Amber, hopefully Tristen and me here at our house. (Tristen is busy preparing, flying and interviewing for jobs. She gets her Doctorate in 2014 and has been interviewing across the country for a position)

We will have butternut squash soup, turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, olives, gravy and Adam is making bread. Cheesecake Factory Pumpkin Cheesecake for dessert. Of course for those who don't like cheesecake they can have a Root Beer Float! 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Amber and I went to see The Best Man Holiday (IMDB) yesterday afternoon.  Absolutely loved this movie. It's a little bit naughty and a whole lot of nice.....along with laughter and tears. Of course Taye Diggs is so cute and Terrance Howard is pretty hot too! I know I will buy this one when it comes out on DVD. 

"When college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, they will discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be ignited."