Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus


Sometimes I just really wish Santa was real. I love the thought of a magical dream world that is the North Pole. I love the thought of a fat jolly grandpa-type guy who is quick to laugh sliding down chimneys. I love the thought of flying reindeer. I love the thought of elves making toys.

I watched Miracle on 34'th Street yesterday--the remake, not the original (I am a huge fan of both versions)--so I guess that's where this thought comes from...

Monday, November 19, 2007

"Let's Go to the Movies...Let's Go See the Stars..." (song from Annie)

"No form of art goes beyond ordinary consciousness as film does, straight to our emotions, deep into the twilight of the soul." --Ingrid Bergman

If you're wondering who Ingrid Bergman is, she's one of the mos celebrated actresses of all time...Casablanca, Gaslight, The Bells of St. Mary's, to name just a few. Anyway, I love this quote so much because it perfectly describes how movies affect me.

It's no secret to those who know me that I'm a movie freak. There are lots of things that make me happy...books, cooking, precious times with friends, my kids laughing, seasons...but today I'm just thinking about movies and how they make me feel. I would probably see most movies that come out if I had the time and the finances to back it. There was actually a time of life when I did that--a year with Gretchen and another year with Tishka when we saw whatever we wanted whenever the mood hit--many Friday and Saturday nights were spent sitting in a dark theatre. Oh what a time that was. =) As life moves on, things become different, family grows, and there are a lot more important things to pay for than the latest flick, which is completely understandable. =) I went quite a while there without seeing anything ever, even renting went out of the picture. But lately, it seems like I've been able to get to the movies that I REALLY want to see. I manage to scrape some extra dollars together here and there, and my loving husband who could not possibly care less about movies but knows how much happiness they bring me, gave me a gift card for my birthday last year that got me 3 precious friday nights out with a friend for a show.

I guess these thoughts stem from the fact that I've seen two great ones recently. One that left me laughing and floating, and one that did what movies SHOULD do...made my heart burst. At the end of both these movies, the crowd clapped! I had never seen that happen before, and then it happened twice in a row. You know a movie has done its job when you're left shaking, crying, smiling, and cheering. I'm also thankful for Mark who, when I come home soaring, floating, spinning around ranting and raving like a lunatic, listens to me and smiles even though it's not one of his loves. What great movies have you seen lately? I'm curious!


Monday, November 05, 2007

That's Amore!

Pizza has been a Saturday night staple for as long as I can remember. My mom always made homemade pizza on Saturdays and I decided to carry on the tradition in my own family, starting right from the first week we were married. It didn't come very easy though. It took a while for my stones to get seasoned, so the crust was iffy for a long time. And I didn't get my sauce recipe right or my cheese combination figured out for a long time. Basically, it took a year of trying to come out with a pizza we love. My pal, Gretchen, is known for being a pizza lover and she's always done experimenting with different crust flavors and a variety of toppings. I didn't get experimental until recently (I'm a pepperoni and onion girl), but now I'm hooked. I think I tried making barbecue chicken pizza a little over a year ago and I like it nice and thin and crispy. Then a few weeks ago, I tried buffalo chicken pizza. I used Rachael Ray's recipe, well, her sauce recipe anyway but I tweaked the cheeses and toppings. Let me just say I have never been more in love with a food in my life. I simply cannot get enough. If you're interested, the recipe is probably online (http://foodnetwork.com) I've started doing pizza buffets for Ohio State football games. I have 3 pizza stones and now I realize it's still not enough. I asked for a fourth for Christmas because if I'm truly going to offer a buffet, I need more options. Until then I'll borrow an extra...this Saturday the fourth pizza will be pesto, tomato, and chicken...my mouth is watering. Gotta love Saturday night!!!

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Gotta Love October 31!

As the kids get older, Halloween just gets more and more fun. We did a lot of great seasonal stuff this year...I love having kids who get just as excited as I do. I hope they keep that trait as they get older.


This was our Family Fun Pumpkin Night leading up to the big day. We carved this big ol' pumpkin, had pizza and chocolate milk in special mugs, and finished the night off by watching "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown."

Goofing off, trying to hold off until sunset.


Getting down to business with the costumes...it's time to head out!