Has it really been a month since my last post? And a movie review

Not that anybody missed me :) I've been so focused on catching up on my hours at work that I've had little time for anything else. Or energy (such as cleaning my bathrooms, putting laundry away (hey, let's face it, we're lucky it gets done)). Anyhow, here's a review at least for what turned out to be a surprisingly good movie:



"Triston + Isolde" - I ignored this when it first came out and quite a while afterwards, assuming it to be a preteen cheesefest of a sappy romance. I'm happy to report I was mistaken.
It's a smartly written romance with characters who do noble and mature things. Yes, they make mistakes, but when faced with the personal consequences, they "man up". I love that the characters aren't black and white ("this is the good guy so everything he does is sympathetic and good, this guy standing in the way of their love is mean therefore making their love affair more justifiable to the audience" you know, that tripe). James Franco, Sophia Myles, and Rufus Sewell bring pathos and reality to their characters. This is supposed to be the legend/story that Romeo and Juliet was based on, though there isn't any definitive version. If you want a good romance, I definitely recommend watching this if you didn't catch it the first time around, or rewatching it if you did.

On a video roll

The Broadway Diva Patti LuPone in "A New Argentina" 1979 Tony Awards performance (two words: Madonna who?)

I must be the only one who DIDN'T know about the Graphic Fairy

Have you heard about this blessed blog?!? How can you beat free graphics of a plethora of images. From vintage apothecary labels to children playing, to animals, to... well, you get it, everything.
Here the link - go check it out!

http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

Rowan Atkinson fest

I've been watching "Black Adder" episodes while I work lately. And the first little season, Atkinson plays his normal bumbling idiot (I say "normal", but he is exceptionally talented at it, if you've ever seen an episode of "Bean" you'll know what I mean). But in Black Adder II he is surprisingly suave and dare I say, sexy.


Now, be forwarned if by some chance you are thinking of going out and renting these gems, there are a few instances of witty humor (moreso in Black Adder II), but the majority of the show is filled with infantile "male" humor and bathroom humor. Which, of course, I don't find funny in the least degree (she deadpans).
While this is all interesting, it brings me to my point of posting about this (Atkinson, that is) which is to say: his stand up comedy/ sketches. I had no idea about all this unfortunately, but was delighted when a few family members started sending me stuff.
The first is a sketch where Atkinson is the Devil, but you can call him Toby. Why doesn't anyone do comedy like this anymore?



Here's one where he has to accept an acting award for an acter that he was up against:



Rowan Atkinson and John Cleese and beekeeping. To quote one of the comments on this vid: "I liked this video before I'd even seen it." It's so dumb, but I find myself laughing anyway.:



Alright and one Black Adder II clip. Content advisory: much immature bawdiness ensues here.

Super Easy Thai Beef and Noodle Toss

First, thanks for all your well wishes on our Anniversary. And just an FYI, I am not a normal female, I don't name bad qualities about myself in order to be reassured by others. Truly I am socially akward and all those things, but for some insane reason ;) my husband does not think he's "stuck" with me, and in fact, thinks he's very lucky to have me. Who can account for taste these days? :)

Anyhow, onto our yummy, super easy recipe. A thanks to my mother-in-law for sharing this with me several years ago.

Ingredients:
1lb steak cut into bite size peices

1-2 jalepenos, seeded and diced

2 pkg Top Ramen Noodles Beef Flavor

1-2 carrots cut into strips (I just use my vegetable peeler on the whole thing, so they're nice and thin; but I have a poor man's kitchen so I'm sure there's some kind of nifty device out there that's easier)

1/2 C peanuts (or more if you'd like)

Steak Sauce to taste (around 1-2 Tb usually gives a nice flavor)

1/4 C fresh cilantro (I LOVE the smell of cutting cilantro - yum!)

Cooked Rice

Directions:

1. Cook rice according to package directions

2. Break Ramen noodles into 4 peices and cook (don't add seasoning packets, keep those till later) and drain.

3. Put a little oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook steak and jalepeno until meat is no longer pink (don't be tempted to turn the temp up, it will make the meat tough).

4. Set meat and pepper aside (keep warm), in same skillet add remaining ingredients (except for rice) and cook until carrots are tender.

5. Stir meat and pepper back in and serve all over rice. And Enjoy!!!

Anniversary

My hubby and I just celebrated our 8 year anniversary! Wonderful patient man that he is has unfortunately been stuck with a socially akward, showtune singing, forgetful, sci-fi/fantasy nerd.

Anyhow, I thought I would do something kind of fun (and super cheap), I wrote a little poem that then led him to the first of 8 riddles that each led to a place or object in our home that held funny or sentimental memories.

I don't know why I dare post this, but be kind, I only had a day to come up with it (did I mention that he's stuck with a super procrastinator as well?):

"On this day, eight years reversed,

I boarded ship, off to traverse

through life, it's joys and pains. My eyes

bright locked on my most handsome prize.

Though yet the journey's brief, it's true

and much is yet to come. We two

have traveling on our sea of life,

Left trailing wakes already rife

With tender memories of love,

of laughter, tears. Like hand in glove

We fit. Refined and redefined

Are each, till rougher edges grind

Away, revealing all the best.

Much greater far than all the rest.

No poet could describe with pen

What he to I and I to he have been.

Some riddles I give, a few, well eight,

Our happy lives commemorate.

These riddles are by me well versed.

Why are you waiting?.... Right! The first:"

I won't share all the riddles (we are married after all), but an example is -

The last movie we saw was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. So the clue read:

"A nude scene. You kidding? Better take a quick look,

Or, you might miss the scene that was not in the book."

We have the book. (Remember? Fantasy nerd.)

Anyhow, you get the idea. Anyhow the last riddle led to where I had 8 balloons (gotta love the dollar store) with papers attached to the ends. The papers each had some thing I love about him written on them. I love that he loved it and found many of the riddles very humorous. Here's to many years yet to come!

Design Home Fabrics 70% off!!!

If you are in the Salt Lake Valley, I would suggest you stop off at Design Company Fabrics at 196 W 12300 S - they will be closing that location and EVERYTHING in stock at that store is 70% off! Which means I got enough of this fabric to reupholster the chair I just bought on KSL and it only cost me $5.69/yd for fabric that is normally $18.95/yd!

















And this fabric for some curtains in Ava's room for only $2.09/yd

















AND this (which I would have gotten more of had they more there) for only $3.58/yd (ususally $11.95/yd). I think I want to use it with some coordinating fabric to make a bedspread for our bed. It's a far more subtle color than in this pic, much more of a dusty purple, but beautiful!!!

Basically, I got $181 worth of fabric for $55 plus tax! The lady said the owner is going to try to keep it open until the end of February, but will take it on a week to week basis. If nobody comes in, they'll just clos

e it down.

So.... what are you waiting for? Seriously, how often do you think you'll find a sale like this?!