You learn something new...

Hi! Thanks to our friend Kristen at Windy Poplars, I have learned new facts about soap! Kristen has partnered with Mary at http://www.oilandspicebath.com/ for a soap giveaway! This isn't just any soap, it's handcrafted by Mary...she uses natural products and essential oils...I'm pretty excited about these little beauties! Enjoy...er but don't enter cause I want to win :) oops did I say that?!

Muffins

 source photo

So I've been recently experimenting with a recipe that is not mine own.  It belongs to a lovely person who's children I used to watch.  The recipe is for Banana Muffins.  But I think it's a great base for any muffin you want to make.  So far I have stuck with using bananas...which for me is good because I really don't care for bananas once they're past slightly green.  Then I always have bananas laying around because we don't eat them.  So this is a great way to use them up.

1 cup of sour cream
1 tbs of baking powder
1 stick of butter
1 cup of sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 cup of flour
1 cup of bananas (mashed, I use 2 bananas)
*1 cup of chocolate chips

First you want to mix the sour cream and the baking pwdr. and set aside.  (You'll see why in a few minuets as the mixture gets light and airy) Then in a separate bowl mix together the butter, sugar, and eggs.  At this point I mash my bananas in another container.  Then I mix the sour cream mixture into the butter mixture.  The add the rest of the ingredients in a "folding" fashion, meaning to lightly scoop up and edge and bring into the center.  It's important not to over mix.  Once the ingredients are combined stop.  Bake at 350 for 20-22 mins. Makes 12.

*I don't always have chocolate chips in my house and I have made it without them and they are just as good.  Also the last time I skipped the chocolate chips and added fresh strawberries, cut into little chunks.  Also very good.  Enjoy!

Farmer's Market

Yesterday my husband and I went to our local farmer's market!  They started a few weeks ago, but this was our first visit of the season.  We are very blessed to live in the largest agricultural community in the world, I think...anyways maybe Steph can back me up on that.  So this means that it's a waste to go to the grocery store for fresh produce, because we can get our produce direct from the farmer for cheaper.  It's also a great way to meet the farmers and show our appreciation for them!  By the way most of our bounty was organic!

A brief PSA for you all...please buy local and support your local farmer!  The more invested in what we eat and where it comes from the better it is for the farmer and us!  The farmer's job is to produce what the people want, if people only go to the grocery store farmers are forced to mass produce for the mass market which means we don't always know what we're eating.  Farmers don't want it this way!  If it's possible try and reserve your produce shopping for your local farmer's market! (I hope that you all have access to one...but I know not everyone does...but if you do...do your part!) Happy marketing!

In Honor of...

In Honor of Memorial Day coming up I have two military inspired films for you (and your hubs, will really enjoy them too!)  You might be thinking that you can't stand military films, so violent, so sad etc.  I know, I really don't enjoy them either but these two are different, and here's why...

 source photo

The first film is called The Great Escape.  This film was made in 1963, set in a WWII POW camp.  The goal of every Prisoner of War is to some how find a way to escape.  So men from all different countries united against the Germans, team up to escape their imprisonment.  It's really a lot of fun, there's men who specialize in different things like stealing and forging, digging, who all play apart in the biggest escape ever! This is a true story and for some the story doesn't end happily, but because it's true that some died in the escape they are all honored.  I've never passed up an opportunity to watch it.

 source photo

The next film is called The Best Years of Our Lives, from 1946.  This film follows 3 men as the return from fighting in the second World War.   It's amazing that they made this film directly after the war ended because it deals with the struggles that the men returning had, entering back in to "America."  One man is a young man who lost his arms and learns to live (and love) without them.  Brilliant acting from this man (who had not ever acted before) and who also won an Oscar for his performance.  The second story is about a man who was a celebrated Air-man in the war and comes home to find that his triumphs mean nothing and he can't find a job.  The last is an older family man who has to deal with reconciling the horrors of what he was witnessing in battle, and returning to "life as normal."

These are great films! They make you appreciate the freedoms we have and who fought and often died to protect them!

Silence

 source photo

While reading my devotion today (brief confession, I haven't posted about my devotions because i fell off the wagon so to speak, and I haven't been doing them, bad on me) the verses were from John 11.  It talks about Lazarus getting sick and his sisters sending word to Jesus to come.  When Jesus heard he sent back a promise that Laz would not die, and that this happened so that God would receive the Glory and that God's Son would also be glorified through it.  Then Jesus stayed where he was for 2 more days....

What?! So you've been here, you need God's help so desperately, and he is silent.  God has left reassurance in His Word, so we know that God has a plan to prosper and not harm us...but sometimes we have to wait it out.

My devotion then went on to say a quote from Oswald Chambers: “Has God trusted you with a silence—a silence that is big with meaning? "  Has God trusted me with silence?  This puts a different spin on things for me...to know that God has a plan but He is trusting me to trust Him.

Lord, thank you for your silence today.  Thank you for trusting me, what an honor it is to know you and love you! I pray that as I continue to face challenges that I remember that you've already reassured me and that now I am to be patient and wait for your plan to be revealed.  Amen.

Short and Sweet

 

source photo

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It is impossible for God to lie.  Really!  Lord please help me remember these words and to trust in your plans!

Drama, Drama, Drama

 source photo

Ok so week 2 in my "Dramatic Classic Movie Suggestions" I'm enjoying this a lot!  Ok so there is one actress, from back in the day, that if one of her movies are playing on TCM I pretty much always will watch it because I bet it'll be good.  That actress is Bette Davis.  Ok, ok so if you know her she probably scares you, in real life she was not the most warm and fuzzy woman.  Brilliant actress? Yes! Movies absolutely worth the time? Yes! If you could have and dinner party with 5 dead or alive people would she be on the list? No.

So some of my favorite movies of hers are...

Now, Voyager - a story about a child born to be her mother's companion, and what happens when she finds her independence.

All About Eve - Davis plays a stage actress who befriends "her biggest fan" who just wants to learn every things about Davis so she can...I don't want to ruin it.

Old Maid - I've only seen it once, But Davis falls in love has a baby, the father is killed and she doesn't want anyone to know about the baby.  She so starts an orphanage so she can have her daughter there to pretend she's an orphan and continue to care for her.  Until her bff comes wanting to adopt and takes her daughter....yah...

The Letter - Great movie, Davis kills her lover, makes up a story about it, get's black-mailed, surprise ending...

Jezebel - Setting is pre-civil war south.  Davis plays a wealthy girl who is a flirt and who constantly gets herself into trouble by breaking the rules.  She starts off having her life together but ends up being the cause of people's demise.

There is literally many more great films by Bette Davis.  But I think if you watch these you'll want more.  Enjoy!

  




 

I Can't. Why? The Price is Right is on.

It's been awhile since I've been blogging! This weekend my husband and I went to visit his mom for mother's day.  Which means a trip to Long Beach.  Got in some pool time, bike time, and of course and most enjoyable, time with his Siblings and Parents and Aunts and Uncles.

 source photo

I've been watching a lot of Leave it to Beaver episodes...Don't ask me why...I think it reminds me of home.  People don't think that life can be or is like that, yes you can like your siblings and enjoy being around your parents.  My family has been compared to the Cleaver's more than once. But I don't care. Anyways I'm having with drawls....cause I haven't seen it in like 4 days.

I get very "Phasey" like that....I'll watch like ALL  I Love Lucy's, or all Gilmore Girls, or whatever, I get sad when I miss The Price is Right.  Then I'm phasey with food...I'll eat the same cereal every morning, and now all I want is chips & salsa.  I suppose I am a creature of habit...and I'm very happy that way.  My poor husband is so spontaneous... and I'm like "Uh why didn't you tell me you wanted me to do this yesterday, I didn't plan on this being in my day!"

Do you gals have any things you do routinely? ...not compulsively (no, psh, that's a dirty word) :)

Turn left...I mean right...oops

 source photo

Q: What's the difference between people who think more with their left side of the brain vs. people who think with their right side of the brain?

A: A lot!

When I was in my first year of college I can across this book about the different functions of each side of the brain and how all people favor one side or the other.  We do not cognitively know that we're favoring a side it's just natural.  The left side of the brain controls verbal communication, exercises logic, analyzes, when solving problems looks at part (details).  The right side of the brain is creative, houses intuition, is more subjective, and when solving problems looks at the broad picture.  Now we all use both sides all day long, but we also all favor one more particularly.

I tend to favor my right side of the brain (some say this has to do with handedness, which hand you wright with, but I'm a righty and I totally favor my right side of my brain, some say I should be opposite) Anyways, I'm very creative and intuitive, I also can't give directions to save my life.  Something common among right brain thinkers is left and right confusion.  My right brain houses a lot of my thoughts I can visually see it but because it comes from my right brain I can't verbalize it fast, and often get it wrong first.  Researchers have done studies where they would cover your right eye and leave the left uncovered (left eye is controlled by the right- nonverbal- side of the brain) and would show people pictures and ask them to say what they were seeing.  The participants would get it wrong first or take a long time to answer the question.  It's pretty interesting stuff!

I took sign language in college and would sign with my left hand (left controlled by right side of the brain) because it's the non-verbal side, and even though I am right handed it was easier.  When I'm in the car and my husband is driving, but I know where we're going, I have to raise either hand up depending on which way we need to turn...because I can't verbalize it quick enough and I always say left when I mean right.  I know I sound crazy...or that I am not very bright, but I am my brain just favors my right side.

If you relate to me in someway, you might be a right brain thinker too...if not then you're a left brain thinker...someone else will have to blog on what that is like...

A New Direction

So I've been doing movies of the week for a few months now and for the most part they have been romantic comedies or cute musicals or fun family films.  But I want to venture out of those for a while.  I'm still only posting old movies but these will be on the more dramatic side.  Ready? Ok...

source photo

The first film I want to suggest is The Spiral Staircase from 1946.  This is a suspenseful film, but not scary.  The premise is that there is a murderer going around town killing young women.  So the town is taking precautions but the movie focuses on one family.  Some one in the family is the killer, but you don't know who till the end...you literally think its many people during the film.  There's also a love story. I like this film because it is very well done, and that you are on the edge of your seat through the twists and turns. 

source photo

The second one is called Mildred Pierce from 1945. This film starts with a murder but you don't know who did it.  So all the suspects are in custody and telling their story...and you are watching flashbacks to get the whole picture filled in.  It's again a "who dune it" where you don't know who did it till the end.  I love this movie and will watch it again even though I know who did it.  Another well done picture!


**I just want to mention again that I have seen these movies on the TCM channel.  Also you can rent them from Netflix or you can buy them at Amazon.com.