Tuesday Tunes: Mr. Sandman

Good music and a little beefcake for breakfast. This was one of the songs in the repertoire of our ladies acappella group.

Movies on My Wish List

As an avid movie buff, I have a large collection of movies in my personal library. However, there are still quite a few I would like to own.
The Godfather (Best Movie Ever)

Butterflies are Free (I love Goldie Hawn in this flick. A funny story with a serious message)

Year of the Dog (an off the wall story of a lonely dog lover who goes crazy)

Hannah and Her Sisters (One of my favorite Woody Allen flicks. I have no idea why I don't have this movie. I guess it slipped through the cracks)

The Nanny Diaries (read the book, loved the movie)

Sex and the City: The Movie (I laughed, I cried, I wanted to kill Big!)

I'm Not Rappaport (One of Walter Matthau's best performances)

Fatal Attraction (O, what a tangled web we weave...)

Spider-Man (First movie...the best)

Phone Booth (Colin Farrell. Enough said)

Lilies of the Field (Uplifting, inspiring classic. One of Sidney Poitier's best!)

No Country for Old Men (Not everyone's cup of tea...but Josh Brolin is amazing!)

Twas the Day Before Thanksgiving

The Grinch has stolen Thanksgiving. At least at my house. There is a revolution. Tomorrow I will not be slaving away cooking and cleaning all day. I will not have to listen to endless football games on TV. I will not have to set the table, clean the bathrooms, make the gravy, bake the pies, mash the potatoes and wash the dishes.

I will start the day with a morning run (the temperature will be in the mid 50s!) I will have a healthy brunch. I will meet my BFF at the park and we will walk around the lake. We will go to the movies to see Leonardo DiCaprio in "J. Edgar" and I will have popcorn and Pepsi. We will go to Barnes & Noble and have peppermint mochas and chat about fashion, books, movies, and all that jazz. I will go home and do whatever I want the rest of the day!

Best Thanksgiving EVER!

My Cupcakes

I love baking and my specialty is cupcakes. Hence, I will be making cupcakes for our church Thanksgiving dinner this coming Sunday. I've decided to make two flavors:

1) Chocolate espresso cupcakes with peanut butter cream cheese frosting, mini-reeses peanut butter cup garnish and chocolate sprinkles.

2) Pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, Hershey Kiss garnish and ginger snap cookie sprinkles.

Photos to come.

Friday Flicks: You've Got Mail

This is one of those movies I never get tired of watching. I love the chemistry between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Which reminds me, check out Joe Vs the Volcano (1990) and Sleepless in Seattle (1993).

You've Got Mail (1998) was written and directed by Nora Ephron (Yay, Girl Power!) and is a modern remake of The Shop Around the Corner (1940) and the musical In the Good Old Summertime (1949). Sweet and funny, it's the perfect romantic comedy.

Tuesday Tunes: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

In honor of Veterans Day this week, I hope you enjoy the musical stylings of the Andrews Sisters singing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy!

Sunday Sermon: Songs of Joy

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying his seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves with him.

Psalm 126

Friday Flicks: The Godfather

After I saw The Godfather (1972), I read Mario Puzo's novel three times in succession, analyzing every detail. I was mesmerized by the narrative. I didn't know much about the history of the Mafia and Puzo's story blew me away. (No pun intended). The film was a beautiful adaptation of the novel. A perfect movie, from score to screenplay to the stunning cinematography.

To Kindle or Not to Kindle...

So I'm seriously considering buying a Kindle. I was raised Old School with regular books where you actually turn the pages, flip the corners, write in the margins and enjoy the colorful cover art. So why am I chucking it all for an e-reader?

Good question.

My reading material lately has consisted of nonfiction, plays and magazine articles. I love reading fiction and something makes me think I would read more if I had a Kindle. It holds thousands of titles, as well as magazines. I could read my books while in line at the grocery store, post office, doctor's office, etc. 

Then again, if I did decide to get an e-reader, I would have to compare the Kindle to the Nook and do some comparison shopping. Look at the pros and cons, study the features of each and figure out which one is right for me.

What are your thoughts on e-readers? Do you have one? How do you like it? What do you like best about it? Least? What would you recommend?

Tuesday Tunes: Stuck in the Middle With You

Talkin' bout old times...this song always makes me smile. Not even Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992) ruined it for me. (That movie was FREAKY!) The video is bizarre, not exactly what I imagine when I hear the lyrics.