What I'm Loving Wednesday 1.2.13

It is weird typing 13 instead of 12 for the date. 

Happy Wednesday! Here are a few things I'm Loving lately

1. Amazon Instant Video

Way better than Netflix in my opinion. Amazon instant video has tons of movies and TV shows on demand. You can rent or buy movies and they load and play instantly! I use my Vizio Blu-Ray player and have watched a bunch of movies using Amazon instant, including Breaking Dawn Part I, LOTR The Return of the King, Tomb Raider, and most recently Support Your Local Sheriff, an old James Garner western/comedy that Netflix doesn't even have. WIN!

2. Bernard Cornwell's The Saxon Stories

I have read the first two in the series, and though some reviewers seem to think they are written for men, I am enjoying them tremendously. They take place in the 870's and are a fictional account of true historical events. There are several more in the series, and I am ready to dive in. 

3. Online job hunting

It is nice to have so many job listings to review consolidated in a few places. Incidentally, if anyone knows of any training and development or trainer jobs out there, let me know! I'm actively looking at this point. 

What things are you loving lately??

Some of my Holiday Favorite Things

Favorite Christmas Songs

Favorite Christmas Movies

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Favorite Christmas Foods

Egg Nog...I like mine with a splash o scotch.

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Iced sugar cookies...only at Christmas!

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7 Layer Bars...only at Christmas!

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What are some of your Holiday Favorite Things? 

Holiday Lighting Tradition

Every good outdoor lighting extravaganza needs to start like this:

Chris and I decided to put up the outdoor lights yesterday (okay, I harassed Chris until he capitulated and agreed to put up the lights so I would shut up). Overnight the weather has turned from mild fall weather to COLD winter weather. We needed a little schnapps to warm us up from the inside out before we headed out to tackle the lights.

What is it about Christmas lights anyway? They are so cheaply made, and they always get tangled (even though we wrap and tape them every year) and they just generally cause arguments!

This year...no exception.

He looks happy, right?

Ha! It's not that bad, it's just not his favorite. He said that Christmas lights are like Valentines Day...all about the girl and nothing in it for the guy.

After spending an hour putting up the lights, trimming a couple branches off the roof in the process, and changing out some light bulbs we discovered a small problem.

One of our fuses in the lights kept blowing!

This required another hour of replacing fuses, testing strings to see which was the problem, coating the connections with rail zip (a liquid used on electrical connections to provide better "flow") and even using a wire brush on one plug that looked a little gunked up.

After all that, and about 7 different fuses, we are still having an issue. We have decided that later today we will need to pull down the string that is causing the problem and put up a different string.

Super fun, right?!?!

Our experience was sort of like this:



It's a beaut Clark!!

Poor Chris. He is such a good sport. Maybe I will make him an extra yummy dinner for all his hard work.

The rest of the day was spent doing some Christmas shopping, running a couple off errands and puttering around the house.

Leftover homemade mushroom soup (recipe soon!) for dinner with some delicious rosemary bread.

We wrapped up the night by watching one of my favorite movies:

If you haven't seen Moonstruck I highly recommend it; it is funny, heartwarming and has Cher, Nicholas Cage and Olympia Dukakis. It makes me want to be Italian!

Have a great Sunday friends!

Breaking Dawn Part 2

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A-H-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Okay, I know some people hate Twilight, and it has a bad reputation for being a terrible story that teaches young women to hook up with controlling boyfriends. However, I am an adult in a great marriage and I can totally overlook that aspect and just enjoy the movies/books. 

I did NOT want to read these books, but a friend wouldn't stop bugging me about it, so I eventually did...and loved them. 

The movies...they have definitely gotten better with each one (the first one is terrible!). 

This movie: amazing! 

They did such a great job!

Even Kristen Stewart really comes into her own in this film and gives us a good rendition of an angry newborn vampire. 

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I really love how they put this film together. I will not be telling any spoilers, but I will say that I loved it and I actually can't wait to see it again. 

My friend Allison had never seen any of the Twilight movies, nor read the books, so she, being the good sport that she is, came over last weekend and spent all day watching the first three movies with me (and snuggling with kittens). 

Yesterday, she was brave enough to come back over and watch Breaking Dawn Part 1 on Amazon instant (so love that!!) with me before heading to the theater in the evening to catch the final installment. 

It is somewhat bittersweet that the series is over now. 

The theater was packed, and it was a lot of fun (for me) to be surrounded by people who are just as into Twilight as I am. The woman sitting next to me and I were both gasping, laughing and tense at the same times. It was pretty funny. 

Even Allison agreed that the movies weren't as bad as she thought they would be and that Part 2 was a pretty darn good movie! 

It has been great to see all the movies this week, to watch the evolution of the films and the actors and the story all so close together. I am sad that it is over, but I tell you...these movies put a smile in my heart and laughter on my lips so, as far as I am concerned, they are a winner. 

Are you a Twilight fan? Love it or Loathe it? Have you seen BDP2 yet? 

Girlfriends Weekend

What  A Great Weekend!

As I said last time two my best girlfriends came to spend a long weekend with me. We had a great time and did lots of cool stuff! I have a couple of posts in the works but here is a rundown of our adventures.

Friday we got up and visited over coffee and then decided to head out for a walk.

Jennifer & Kelsey on the airport walking path

It was a beautiful day, not too hot. We walked just shy of 3 miles in a little less than an hour, chatting and catching up on life the whole time. When we got back we got cleaned up and headed out to our favorite local pizza place, Kaleidoscope Pizza. We got a half Pesto Supreme and half American Beauty. The pizza is so delicious!

Jennifer & Kelsey

Kelsey & me

Jennifer & me

Afterwards we did some Old Navy shopping and then went to Roxy Ann Winery for some tasting. I didn't love anything this time, but we still had a nice time.

We got home and decided to relax on the beach before dinner. 

Kelsey, Chris, and Jennifer in the shadows

Dinner was grilled salmon with baked potatoes and side salad. Delicious! We stayed up visiting for a while but had to get up early Saturday so called it a relatively early night.

Saturday we headed out to Grants Pass to go on the Hellgate Jet Boat tour of the Rogue River. Chris and I did this last summer with my other best girlfriend Heidi, but Kelsey and Jennifer had never been.

Me, Kelsey & Jennifer getting ready for Hellgate adventures!

Our ride

Kelsey, Jennifer & me on the jetboat

Me n my silly boyfriend

Hellgate Canyon...looking up at the rock walls

Hellgate Canyon

Kelsey & Jennifer got a bit wet on one of the spins!

 We saw several bald eagles, osprey, deer and the beautiful scenery of the Rogue River and Hellgate Canyon. It was a supremely lovely morning for a jet boat ride. Afterward we stopped at Taprock for lunch.

 I can honestly say this restaurant is probably *the* best restaurant we've been to here in Southern Oregon. The restaurant was beautiful, the service was amazing, the food was delicious, the prices were reasonable and we had a great view of the river.

Kelsey, Jennifer and me on the patio at Taprock

Kelsey, Jennifer and Chris getting ready to enjoy lunch

After lunch (the three girls had halibut and chips which were amazing, Chris had a fireburger-a burger with salsa and avocado) we headed back toward home. We stopped by Del Rio Winery to do a little shopping and tasting but unfortunately there were a bunch of morons at the tasting counter who were so oblivious and wrapped up in flirting with the gals working there that we couldn't get up to the counter. We tasted a couple wines but the whole experience was super annoying so we just left.

When we got home we hung out on the patio, in the sun or shade depending. Chris and I took a little nap and Kelsey and Jennifer read magazines and listened to music in the sun. It was a very relaxing evening. We had some margaritas and enjoyed some more time on the beach. Dinner was grilled steak and salad. We didn't have any early morning plans, but we were all feeling pretty tired so we headed to bed not too late.

Sunday we had a lazy morning before heading out to spend the day on the lake. It was hot but so great!

Kelsey and me (standing), Jennifer sitting with her new old navy cowboy hat on

mandatory boating self portrait

Kelsey in the back enjoying the sun and spray



Maybe a little too much spray! She got doused pretty good!



me and my silly boyfriend again

Kelsey & Jennifer enjoying the ride

After a long, hot day of relaxing on the lake we headed home. Us girls went and saw Snow White and the Huntsman which was amazing!! I was so enthralled the whole time. Loved it and suggest seeing it for men and women. It is an action packed, great film. Even Kristen Stewart doesn't suck as snow white. She actually does a really good job. Charlize Theron is amazing and Chris Hemsworth is just yummy. A great story, not at all predictable and not even comparable to Mirror Mirror (which wasn't good). GO see this! It is great!!

A little bit more visiting when we got home and then it was time for the girls to get packed up and ready for early Monday flights home.

We had a really spectacular, fun-filled weekend. Lots of laughs and sunshine and memories. I am so glad they came to hang out and am already looking forward to next time!



The Friday (saturday) Five # 6

I know it's Saturday (night!), but I am going to do a Friday Five post anyway. As you can see by how quiet it has been around here this week, I am back in school. I have taken pictures and thought about stuff to blog, but I am still getting adjusted to my schedule. Hopefully I will be able to work it out and get back to daily or every other day blogging quickly!

1. What I'm Reading:

Still working on Carson McCullers The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. So far it is a little weird and, uhm, not that engaging. But mostly what I've been reading are these:

So far I have read at least one chapter in each of those except Mass Media and Society, and I have read two chapters in Small Group, Mediation Theory, and Management. At least it is interesting and they all tie in together in various ways.

2. What I'm Listening To:

This exact second? Chris making a helluva ruckus in the garage. I think he is working on changing out a clutch, but good grief! I think every power tool we own in in operation out there. Very distracting.

Also, I downloaded the Pandora App for my phone and listened to my Justin Timberlake station on my wog yesterday (4.61 miles in 1:11:46 tyvm!). It was okay. The music wasn't quick enough. I may try the Lady Gaga station that everyone raves about.

3. What I'm Watching:

The best thing I watched this week was Wag the Dog with Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Anne Heche, William H. Macy, Denis Leary, Willie Nelson, Woody Harrleson, and Kirsten Dunst. It was for my Media Across Cultures class and it was SO good! I laughed so much. It is a story about the President of the United states sleeping with a teenager and it comes out in the press 11 days before his re-election. DeNiro, Heche and Hoffman are the key players in "distracting" the media from this story. It is a hilarious, and sadly probably very accurate, depiction of how the media is very manipulateable. I'm not sure if that's a word, but I like it. I highly recommend seeing it!

4. What I'm Eating:

SO DELICIOUS Dairy Free Coconut CHOCOLATE milk. 100 Calories per 1 cup serving. Tasty. Thick. Chocolatey. Today I poured myself a serving, adding some coffee and a splash of creme de menthe. Tasty afternoon warm me up treat that was both chocolate craving satisfying and warm satisfying and isn't going to ruin the diet satisfying. WIN-WIN-WIN! I have also tried their plain coconut refrigerator milk and I like that, too. Thicker than 2% but without the nasty flavor of cow milk.

5. What I'm Pinning  Thinking:

THESE THINGS ARE AWESOME!!

Sack Savers on Etsy - snack size

Bloomingdeals on Etsy- bigger than sandwich, sandwich and snack size.

Inside snack size

Thanks to Cassie over at Back To Her Roots, I went to Etsy and found these reusable snack and sandwich bags. I really hate using the plastic bags because I go through 2 or 3 (or more) a day! I make Chris' lunch almost every day and his lunch box isn't big enough for plastic reusable tupperware-style containers, so I am always using plastic bags. Sometimes I can re-use them, but often they have yucky mess on the inside and have to be thrown away. My lunch bag is big enough for containers, so I use those more, but these bags are a perfect option for both of us!

These are dishwasher or washing machine safe, or they can be handwashed and air dried. They have a liner on the inside that is easy to wipe clean and a full velcro closure. They hold a substantial amount of snacks, and the sandwich bags easily hold good size sandwiches. I am SO thrilled with these! 

If you are crafty you can make them yourself. Cassie has a tutorial on her site. I am not crafty, nor do I own a sewing machine, and even if I did...oh my gosh...just ask my mother about my "sewing" attempts. Yah. I will happily pay the $ for someone else to do the work.

I am actually thinking of going and seeing if they have cloth napkins, too. I use cloth napkins in our lunches already, but I would like to have a few more so we aren't using the same ones over and over.

BONUS #6. Mandatory cute kitty picture:



Okay, it's not the best picture and she looks a little deranged, but she LOVES this feather thing. In fact, she LOVES it so much she will NOT let go of it once she gets it in her mouth and she starts growling if you try to take it from her. It's cute but not, if you know what I mean. I was holding her trying to get it away from her and she was growling so Chris snapped this pic. She was none too happy about the whole thing. HA! Crazy kitty!!

Happy Saturday Night!

I know ya'll will be rooting for the Packers with me tomorrow, right??

Totally 80's Part Two

Okay, after I went to bed last night, I thought of a bunch more movies I should have included in my "totally 80's" classics or great movies.

Who can forget Sally's orgasm scene??

I don't know how I forgot this one....this was a favorite of mine that I would watch over and over.

BIG! Tom Hanks! Shimmie Shimmie Cocoa Puff! Awesome.

Here ya go, Mar! E.T. I didn't put it on the first list because I thought it was kinda like the Star Wars movies...not necessary... :-)

SO SAD.

Chevy Chase, Christie Brinkley, Beverly DeAngelo....what a hilarious movie! Probably my favorite of the National Lampoon's series.

Chris reminded me of this one. DUDE!

Friday Night Slumber Party CLASSIC horror movies. (btw-I am not listing all of the sequels of movies, because 1-most of them weren't as good, and 2-you get the idea!)

NEEEERRRRRDDDDDSSSS!! <---say in Ogre voice!

HAHAHAHAHA! Oh..I still remember the Steve Guttenberg scene at the podium. Nice.

They're heeeereee! Creepiest movies EVER.

Another classic sleepover movie.

Well...what can we say about this one? Every high school kids dream!

Robot movies are cool. Robot movies with Ally Sheedy are extra cool. Just sayin'.

There are tons of other great movies from the 80's but these are some of our favorites, or most memorable.

I know as soon as I hit send I will think of another one I should have posted!

What movie did I forget? What movie are you hitting your forehead and saying How Could She Forget THAT movie???  Share in the comments!