December Movies

Have you seen any movies over the holiday week?  I read this book a few years ago and want to see the movie as soon as I have time.  My sons saw Unbroken and said it was good, but the friends they went with were not too excited about it.

Update on movie-
I saw the movie Wild.  It was good, but as usual, the book is much better.

Gift for Anyone (Great Stocking Stuffer)

Seatbelt Cutter Window Breaker Emergency Escape Tool!  I've been meaning to buy this for years, so all the men in my life are getting one in their stocking.

Gift for Him

Last year, I bought this for my older son and he liked it.  My boys have thankfully outgrown Axe, which I made them spray in the garage before they left.  This gives a nice subtle smell.  LINK

Gift for anyone (over 21)

     Rum Chata is made locally in Wisconsin.  I had some on Thanksgiving at my brother-in-laws and it is very good.  It taste somewhat like the leftover milk after eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal.  It is very sweet and I could only sip what is pictured in the glass above.  There are a lot of drink recipes on the web with Rum Chata as an ingredient.  It would be great in a signature drink for a Holiday get together.

Jewish Meatballs

Here is recipe my husband loves.  I'm not sure where he got it, but he always ask me to make it this time of year.

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef
2 eggs
1 onion soup mix
1/4 C breadcrumbs or oatmeal


Sauce:
1 can sauerkraout
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 jar chili sauce  ( this is like cocktail sauce, not the hot stuff)
fill jar w/ water- 1C
1/4 C brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix together 1st four ingredients and form into bite size meatballs.  Layer in a pan.

Mix the sauce ingredients and bring to a boil.

Pour sauce over meatballs.

Cook for 1 hour.

It makes a great appetizer for parties. 

The Rivoli

     In a neighboring town is a great rehabbed movie theater.  We just saw the movie, The Good Lie, with Reese Witherspoon.  They charge $3.50 a person and the concessions are also reasonably priced.  The movies are a little old, but only by a month or two.  The employees all volunteer and the theater was refurnished with donor money.  It's a nice change from the mega theaters everywhere today.

semester abroad

    My oldest son gets home on Sunday from, a semester abroad, Down Under.  I'm so excited to have him home for a little while.  Here are some of his pictures from Australia.  I'm hoping he got some studying done.  I did not see any photos of books or classrooms.  His girlfriend is studying in Italy, but came to see him for a week.

Gift for her

I bought this slouchy beanie at Nordstrom's when I was in Nashville a few weeks ago.  It is very comfortable and comes in many colors.  Link

Weekend Wanderer

Favorite Fridays

Alterna Bamboo Styling Lotion.  I have been using this for about 6 months now and love it.  After washing hair, I take small sections and work into the hair.  It really smooths out your hair without causing dryness.  I have tried Kerastase, Oribe and many other similar products.  During the summer, I would let my hair air dry.  During the winter, I blow it dry while styling.  The product works well for both.

Chopped Taco Salad

Here is easy favorite I like to make for dinner.

Gift guide for late teen years

This is what one of my boys has requested for Christmas this year.  Sperry Bushwick Chukka Boots

Sauerkraut

Do you know about the health benefits of sauerkraut?  Here is a good article for you.  I try to take a spoonful about 30 minutes before every meal.  Cancer runs in my family, so this is just a little way I try to fight it.  The brand above is carried at my local natural grocer.  The brand below is carried at most grocery stores.  Do not by the sauerkraut that is usually displayed by the meat and is full of preservatives.

Happy Thanksgiving from Wisconsin!

Weekend Wanderer

Affordable Anti Aging Skin Care

Up date on the Roc cream:  It kept my skin moisturized all day, but it does have a perfume smell that I do not like.  I would rather have unscented products or products that use natural oils.



Yesterday, I was in Walgreens looking at this.  Some reviews have been very positive about the product-

My very pretty friend, that is my age, was there buying this-

She said she likes this Roc day cream and also an Oil of Olay day cream, but they are always out of it.  This Roc cream has SPF 30, which I was told I should wear even in the cloudy Wisconsin winter.

Opposites attract

My husband and I have different personalities.  Can you tell which is the introvert and which is the extrovert??????   I am the introvert.  My husband is a people person and can talk to anyone.  When we first met, he visited me in Colorado and we went on a road trip through Colorado and New Mexico.  I was so nervous about what we were going to talk about in the car for 4 days.  I didn't have to worry about that.  He was very easy to talk to and was even quiet for me when I said I needed a break from the talking.  As I get older,  I see that I like a lot of alone time, which is fine.  I like to go to parties, but find I feel drained after too much conversation.  My husband thrives in large groups and lots of people.  We have been together for 25 years, so maybe the key to marriage is marrying your opposite.

Weekend Wanderer

Spaces between children

     What do you think is a good amount of space between having children?  My first 2 were only 18 months apart and when I look back now, my oldest was still a baby when his brother came along.  It was busy with both in diapers, but there was still one adult for every baby.  When the 3rd boy came along, 26 months later, my husband and I really felt the difference of having multiple children.  The children outnumbered the adults.  I'm not sure if I did it the best way.  Sometimes I feel like I didn't spend enough time with the 3rd child, because you are always running with the older ones.  The 3rd boy has always been independent and I think that is because he had to entertain himself and go with the flow.  My brother and sister-in-law have 2 kids, 5 years apart.  I think that is a nice idea, because the child has a lot of individual time with you during their toddler years.  They are also spaced out for college.  One child should be done with a degree as the next child starts.
     In the long run, there is not a right or wrong way.  You work with what you were blessed with and enjoy every moment, because it goes fast!

Weekend Wanderer

"The Bear" turns 17!

My 3rd son, Josh, turns 17 today.  Here are some stories about "The Bear"

* He was my first child that my mom could not be here for after he was born.  She was was fighting cancer and died when Josh was 5 months old.

* My sister and brother-in-law were looking at him in the nursery after delivery and overheard someone saying, "There must me something wrong with that baby, he looks like he has been here awhile"  Josh was 10 lbs 3 ounces and looked like he was already 3 months old.

* He was the first of my boys to put his head under water, while we were swimming with him. He was probably about 8 months. Soon after, his 4 year brother thought that he had better try it.  Josh loved the water as a baby.

* I had one panic attack with him.  We were getting ready to go to my middle son's baseball game.  My friend, a couple houses down, was going with her son and kids and, I thought, my other 2 boys.  So anyway, we get to the game and I ask her if Josh is on the playground and she said, I thought you brought him.  Josh was probably 4. Both of us look at each other with that panic look on our faces as my heart feels like it's beating out of my chest.  I get in my car and start heading home which is about 40 min. away.  I call my other neighbor and the teenage daughter said she would look for him.  He was with her sister, playing outside.  She watched him until I got home.

Weekend Wanderer

Favorite Fridays

Dermalogica daily microfoliant is a favorite product of mine.  It gently exfoliates and does not have any harsh beads or seeds.

A Basin

Just a cool pic of my brother and dad skiing at A Basin, with Vuarnet sunglasses in the foreground.

Fathers and Sons

My middle son is having a tough time adjusting to college.  Classes are going great, but he misses home, family and thinks his school is not a good match for him.  My husband, Mike, is very good about letting him talk, listening to his concerns and giving him advice about life.  Last night, our son sent Mike a text-

"Thanks for the advice today D.  You're the best dad I could ask for and you always go out of your way to help me solve my problems.  Thanks for always being there for me."

I think "D" is doing something right.

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

This time of year I love making homemade pumpkin seeds.

After I remove and clean the seeds from the pumpkin, I soak the pumpkins seeds in salt water for 12 hours.  This makes them a little easier to digest and not so hard on your stomach.  After 12 or more hours, rinse seeds and lay out to dry.

After they are somewhat dry, put in bowl and drizzle with melted coconut oil or butter.  (If you use coconut oil, make sure it is the refined coconut oil used for cooking)

Lay out on cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned.