Movie Review: "The Notebook"

Rating: PG-13

Our Rating: 14 and up, or 10 and up with fast-forwarding

Can Compare Rating To: "Dear John"

Great Review For Parents: http://www.pluggedin.com/videos/2004/Q4/Notebook.aspx    

Pros

• Casting: Overall, great casting, all actors fit their parts :)
• Acting: Well done-no need to expand. 
• Plot: Awesome! But it doesn't give you enough time to be sucked into their lives-but they couldn't do that without making the movie too long. 

Middles

• No middles for this one!

Cons

• There are a few things we cannot talk about here because it isn't "appropriate for younger ages", so we put up the link above that we trust which goes into all the details.
• Language: Not too bad, not PG  but then again not noticeably PG-13; however, we didn't count.
• Drugs/Alcohol: They drink a lot. They also smoke a lot-but its the 20th century-they don't know what it does yet.

Conclusion

• A great movie, but parents need to preview or trust their 14-and-under-children with this kind of a movie before allowing them to watch it. OR learn how to work the fast-forward-er.
• We could add a "Spoiler Alert", but we find its better to just let you watch it yourselves!

Food Friday: Home-made Pizza

This week we made home-made pizza! And it is a two-part recipe! We are trying to decide whether that makes this recipe more funne or fun (see our AAnary for more funne words!)

PIZZA DOUGH

1 C. Water

1 Tsp. Salt

2 Tbs. Olive Oil

3 C. Flour

2 Tsp. Yeast

2 Tbs. Cornmeal Optional*

Now you're SUPPOSED to mix this all up in a special order, but it works if you just mix it all together :). Once the dough is mixed (we used a captain hook mixer), spread onto a normal-sized pizza pan (*sprinkle with cornmeal). Place into an oven at 400 (where is the degrees sign?) for 15 minutes.

PIZZA TOPPINGS

1 Can of Pizza Sauce

2 C. Mozzarella Cheese

1 C. Pre-cooked Pepperoni or Hamburger Meat

After dough has been pre-cooked, place all toppings on pizza dough (in the order above). And put into an oven at 415 (where is the degrees sign?) for 10 minutes. 

And voila! You're done! Let it cool for 5 or so minutes and cut with a pizza cutter!

Courtesy of: Ashton's mom
YIELD: 1 pizza, for 4-6 people.

bon appétit!

Food Friday: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Today we made chocolate chip cookie dough truffles! They are super easy and really funne! It's another two-parter so here's the recipe!

COOKIE DOUGH

1/2 C. Butter

3/4 C. Brown Sugar

1 Tsp. Banilla

2 1/2 C. Flour

1 14-Oz. Can Sweetened Condensed Milk

3/4 C. Mini Chocolate Chips

Cream together the butter and brown sugar until combined. Add the vanilla and mix until combined. Alternately add the sweetened condensed milk and the flour and mix until combined. Add the chocolate chips. Chill the dough for 1 hour.

Using a 1 1/2 teaspoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough and then roll each portion into a ball and place on a lined cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer and freeze for 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE DIPPING SAUCE

2 12-Oz. Bags Chocolate Chips

1/4 C. Coconut Oil (or vegetable oil)

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate and the coconut oil. Heat for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each 30 seconds, until the mixture is smooth. Dip the frozen cookie dough balls in the chocolate and allow to harden. If desired, drizzle leftover chocolate over the truffles. Best served cold. 

Courtesy of: Our Best Bites

YIELD: Makes a LOT, like over 120 truffles!

bon appétit!

Thankful

Yes, today is NOT Thanksgiving. But tomorrow we will be super busy so we are posting today. Wellz...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

It's a day for eating, laughing, being with family, and most importantly, eating--ALOT being thankful. Why? Because we have a lot to be thankful for, and this year we wrote a poem.

________________________________________________________________

Thank-you God for everything,

for life and the necessities.

For yummy pie and chicken wings,

for always answering with ease.

For a home not a house,

and a beautiful blouse.

For a car--or 2,

for trips to the zoo.

Though this (to say) might seem crazy,

we're thankful for time to be lazy.

For sunny days,

mixed with Winter rays.

For our family,

for the love,

the tigerlilly,

that doesn't shove.

We thank You for this,

and all of your gifts.

________________________________________________________________

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

And for all to eat pie!

Life Is A Roller Coaster

You've all heard it, but have you really thought about it?

There are the ups, where you're climbing, climbing and climbing. You feel so good to be working yet you want to rest. You just can't think, just waiting to get past that moment, unable to breath, lost. 

Then there are the downs, sliding past your sight. And you can't think, can't imagine the adrenaline from the ups because the downs are there. Right there. You're in the moment, the world sliding past you and you wanting it to stop. Just stop because you want that perfect moment. 

Then there are those special moments, where you're suspended in air. The moment in-between the ups and the downs. Waiting, remembering. The climb up seems so far away, and the sliding down so close. But for some reason, you like that moment in-between, because when you're sliding down, you know what's happening next, another climb up. And when you're climbing up, you're tired, yearning for that peaceful moment. 

Maybe this isn't a perfect analogy. The ups are hard and the downs are easy. But maybe that's what makes the whole thing stick together. Because is it really bad to work? Or really good to rest 24/7? In the end, those moments of suspense are what we love because they're what's on the other side of the fence. Which always seems better. It's a breath of fresh air, like a cool glass of water after a run, or working out after watching T.V. It's new, it's different, it's life.

But in the end, you have to look at the big picture. There will be ups, there will be downs, and there will be times where you feel like throwing up! But always learn from the ups, remember the downs, and live in the now. Because it's only here for now. To paraphrase Kung Fu Panda, 'Let the past pass, forget about the future, and remember that now is a gift--that's why it's called present'.

Spa Sundays: Moisturizing Face Mask

Today we tried this moisturizing face mask! And it is AMAZING! Our faces are so smooth! And yours will be too! 

Ingrediants:

4 Tbs. Cocoa Powder

4 Tbs. Coffee Grounds*

8 Tbs. Dairy Product**

2 Tsp. Honey

YIELD: For 5-8 normal-sized faces

Mix everything together and apply to face, let sit for 30 minutes and remove with cool water (to close your pores). Next apply lotion to face and have a happy day :).

*You can use ones from your coffee you had this morning!

** You can use milk or Geek Yogurt (maybe even cottage cheese?) 

Food Friday: Tortilla Sandwich

Today we made tortilla sandwiches! We recommend having them for lunch!

Ingredients:

2 Tortillas

1/2 C. Cheese

1/4 C. Jalapenos optional*

9 Pepperonis optional**

Place a tablespoon of butter on a saucepan and set the oven at medium heat. Next put one tortilla on the saucepan. place on the cheese, *jalapenos, and **pepperonis on the tortilla and then put the second one on top of the whole thing! After 30 seconds, flip the tortilla over and let it sit for 30 seconds to a minute. Remove the tortilla and enjoy, maybe with some hot sauce mixed with ranch?

Courtesy of: Ashton
YIELD: One sandwich, for 1-2 people.

bon appétit!

Movie Review: "The Avengers"

Rating: PG-13

Our Rating: 10 and up

Can Compare Rating To: "Thor"

Great Review For Parents: http://www.pluggedin.com/videos/2012/q3/avengers.aspx  

Pros

• Casting: Overall, great casting, all actors fit their parts 
• Acting: Well done. Not much to expand :/
• Plot: O.K. But the movie seemed amateur  A good movie but you'd expect more if you've seen the original hero's movies. 

Middles

• Violence: The violence was essential but there wasn't too much. Personally, I, Ashton, fell asleep during the major fight scene.

Cons

• There are a few things we cannot talk about here because it isn't "appropriate for younger ages", so we put up the link above that we trust which goes into all the details.
• Language: Not too bad, not PG  but then again not noticeably PG-13; however, we didn't count.
• Drugs/Alcohol: Nothing really...unless you count rich people drinking champagne and NOT getting drunk...

Conclusion

• A great movie, but parents need to preview or trust their 10-and-under-children with this kind of a movie before allowing them to watch it. 
• We could add a "Spoiler Alert", but we find it's better to just let you watch it yourselves!
• As said in the "Pros", the movie seamed amaetur. Well to me, Ashton. Amber LOVED it. But I'm a perfectionist so I spot flaws a lot easier than others. 

Spa Sundays: Oil-Removing Face Mask

Today we tried an oil-removing face mask! And it really works! We recommend using it after the acne-cleansing face mask for maximum results!

Ingredients:
1 Tbs. Oatmeal
1 Tbs. Greek Yogurt
1 Tsp. Honey

Mix all ingredients together and apply to face. Let dry (10-20 minutes, depending on the weather). Remove and apply lotion.

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Lies Are Like Margarine

Odd thought hu? But think about it...

On one hand, you have the truth, butter. Which is hard at first, but once it sits out for a while, its smooth, easy flowing, and you like it way better than margarine, the lies.

And, on the other hand, there's lies, margarine. Which is easy all the way through. Some people can easily use it, but others have trouble getting it down their throats. 

I, Ashton, had used margarine (we're really talking about margarine here, not lies) all my life and never knew any different. Until I had butter, I realized how much better it was and now that's what I want in place of margarine! 

But then there are the people who can't see a difference, they go their whole lives wandering between the two, not noticing how one can affect you life. Now, we aren't saying margarine will kill you or it makes you a horrible person, we are saying lies will do that. Or something of the sort. Hence the "analogies" label. They don't fit perfect but they do connect.

So what's the leader in your life? Butter or margarine? Truth or lies? 

We aren't here to yell at you. We'er here to give you a different perspective! Some people don't realize how lucky they are to have butter their whole lives! And some people can't see past the margarine, going their whole life swimming through it. This post is to remind you, and us, that there is a difference. Not necessarily a huge one between the butter and margarine, but what if you switched out every time we said 'butter' with 'truth'? And 'margarine' with 'lies'? Then you have a very serious topic indeed. 

Best Friend Telepathy

Today we will be talking about best friend telepathy!

And no, we are not talking about the, 'On the count of three laugh, OK? Everyone will think we're talking to each other with our minds!'. No, we're talking about when one friend says, "It's just so, you know' , and the other replies,'Ya I know what you're talking about.' And they do.

It's that strange connection you have with your best friend. Where you don't need antecedents, or direct objects, or subjects. Where grammar doesn't matter, where it's just you two and half a sentence here and there. It's a connection you have for a lifetime. Like, when you're both getting older (like, 60), you can still say 'I was...' and the other would reply 'me too!'

It doesn't matter how long its  been since you've talked, you just know, that when it happens, you're best friends for life. And no other friends you have can beat that.

It's that thing where, when you talk about it, people think you're married. But we aren't. Trust us. We just have best friend telepathy. It's as simple as that.

So do you have best friend telepathy? Do you find yourself finishing your best friend's sentences? Do you have inside jokes that nobody can understand but you two, even if you explain them? Do you think we're asking too many questions? Yes? Sorry.

Anyhoo, best friend telepathy is a thing that happens between best friends, great friends, friends that would do anything for each other, and say anything to each other. We have best friend telepathy. Do you?