Theecarey's Journal
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12/24/2008 12:00 #47170
Muppet's Genocide and Cookie PooCategory: holiday
I made Sugar cookies- rolled out and used cutouts of, course! Christmas trees, Stars, Bells, Snowmen and Stockings (Santas and Angels never really look like anything to me, so I pass on those). Then frosted and decorated. A few or more eaten here and there. A different recipe was used this year and they were extra yum.
Gingerbread cookies. Again, rolled out and used cutouts. Among my regular cutters, I failed to realize that I did not have a "gingerbread man" shaped cutter. A run to the grocery store was almost fruitless, until I spotted one- a tiny package of six miniature cutters, one of which had a "gingerbread boy". Other shapes included a bell, star, tree, candy cane and holly. I used half of those shapes. Gingerbread Boys were made crispy then iced. The other shapes were made to be soft, then left alone as is. All yums.
The above cookies were all that I was going to make, then I decided to try out a few other kinds.
Among the extras, this included a peanut butter cookie, a chocolate mint cookie, some peanut butter drop cookie that was made with cornflakes- odd but kinda good, a shortbread with walnuts and then something of my own creation which included among the other standard ingredients, butterscotch chips, mini semi sweet chips, walnuts and almond extract.These turned out really nice, and I gave them all away. I pretty much kept all the "reject" cookies. Poor Snowmen getting decapitated mid decoration and the such.
As for my movie rental selection, I did not have a whole lot to choose from as others have done the same, but I picked up a few:
1. Muppet Christmas --the newer one, not the Muppet Christmas Carol, although I could have, should have, gotten that as well. Anything Muppets is sure to be a great pick. I agree, (e:james), something along the lines of, "Muppets: Gateway to Genocide with Kemit the lovable green Dictator" would indeed still be.. spellbinding-ly cute.
Heil Kermitler?
Speaking of Muppets-- EMMIT OTTERS JUG BAND CHRISTMAS!! ok, so I totally didn't find it, but I know that I can buy it at a local store, so hopefully I can still do that yet at some point soon. I havent seen that movie since I was a kid, and I LOVED it. It was awesome to see that as a suggestion, (e:matthew) and (e:iriesara)!
2. Elf. --Love that movie, haven't seen it in a long time, so this will be fun to revisit. Love Will Ferrel in it. "It's SANTA!!"
My bf has, Charlie Brown Christmas and "Polar Express", which we just watched. I enjoyed that a lot- very dream-like. I think that will be a 'once a year' sort of movie for me. Fra ra ra ra ra..!
I did not want anything with horror or nudity (i really don't like nudity in my movie watching- maybe if there was a more equal nudity factor, but really, I don't like looking at naked women. ever.So rare is the male nudity glimpses, right? Also, not what I was looking for in a Christmas themed movie.)
(e:mrmike), I passed on, A Christmas Story. There were a lot of those left. Maybe I will learn to like it. Maybe I would if I watched it now, as I haven't seen it in numerous years. Perspectives change. I just never really got into it. Might be the annoying look of the main character. As a kid, I was rooting for him to shoot his eye out. heh
You are correct, (e:metalpeter), the first Die Hard takes place on Christmas (or maybe Christmas eve).
I had to look up, Trapped In Paradise, as per (e:drew)'s suggestion. It sounded so familiar to me. IMDB helped me to remember that I have seen it. Good stuff!
I would have rented the Santa Clause (I think there are a few of them?) if it was there and possibly the first Home Alone-- but nada.
so, since I was open to a lame but feel good sort of movie, I was therefore open to RomComs.
I have, The Holiday, and it perfect for that need. I've watched it once recently and have had it on "as background" for a few days on and off. (I don't have cable or antennas to tune in to local channels)
3. Last Holiday- Queen Latifah, LL Cool J and others. She is told she is dying and has three weeks to live, so she takes all her money and lives out her last few weeks... Cute, but not as good/cute as I wanted. The idea was there, but it wasn't fully pulled off, for me.
4. Love Actually. eh, didn't really do anything for me. But Liam Neeson, Colin Firth and Alan Rickman.. that was worth the watch, but I wont revisit it. It was so .. blah to me. I had high expectations though. Enough of Hugh Grant already.
5. A Wrinkle In Time. (2003, i think) Not a "christmas movie", but I have been wanting to watch this for some time now, and I actually thought to look for it while at Blockbuster (I rarely rent movies). I was pleased to find it, and I am eager to watch it. I hope it follows the book and really brings the characters to life. A tesseract! I'm so excited!
I REALLY wanted to rent a few classics. Such as, A Christmas Carol like (e:janelle) suggested. Or Miracle on 34th or It's a Wonderful Life, as (e:jenks) suggested. Nothing. Only a few remakes- but I didn't want that. I don't want to see known current actors and actresses do their version of the classics. One that I can't remember the name for, was not only a redo of a classic using known people, but it was also turned into a musical (not a big fan). I should find those to buy- just build a holiday themed movie collection.
I caught a few of the classic animated ones recently on tv- Frosty, Rudolph, Heat Miser.. Those are so cool. I remember waiting for all of those to come on tv each year. Everyone knew when it was on, what channel and so forth. We tuned in. It was a special thing. Friends talked about it the next day in school. Now, we see things whenever we want to, losing its 'specialness', if that makes sense.
I look forward to watching the rest of what I rented. Hopefully I will quickly finish up what I need to in preparation for Christmas, and then I can relax to a few good/fun movies. Ahhh, wrapping time, here I come.
Stay warm!
Hmmm, how could I have possibly failed to take a picture of the end product? maybe somewhere..
the beginnings anyway:
ha, I just noticed that I jotted down recipe/ingredients on my
Cookie Monster paper. Fitting, right? :) Cookie Monster is so cool.
12/23/2008 11:12 #47148
I think you are right, JasonCategory: silliness
12/15/2008 19:52 #47071
Parties, Food, Cooking, anti ShoppingCategory: holiday
The night was cold and snowy going there, but leaving, the sky turned amazingly clear and starry, a nice backdrop for a full vibrant moon. I wore a cute but modest cocktail (tube?) dress and heels. Black with a hint of glimmering purple. The bodice went straight across my chest without any glimpse of cleavage, which I prefer for most all of my clothing. Directly under the breast area yet just above the waist was a black bow detail. It was/is really cute and I would like to wear it again, otherwise it will just sit in my closet. Suppose I could always sell it. So overall, I ended up spending more money on everything than I anticipated. Not a bad thing, it just isn't where I usually spend my money. I originally planned to wear a super cute dressy skirt and pair it with a new blouse or sweater, but in my shopping endeavors, I didn't find anything that I was comfortable with. So when I decided to try this dress on for the fun of it, I was greatly surprised how it would be perfect for the occasion. So I went for it. Really, I have more than a closet full of clothes but I wanted something new. I have SO many clothes, but I pretty much stick to the same things regardless of what the event calls for. I love clothes seeing different fashions and such, but I'm more of a casual, functional, adventure ready sort of attire wearer. In heals, I am pushed up over 6 feet tall, and I'm really more comfortable in flats and maintaining my 5'10" loveliness. But I do sport the heals on occasion, preferably when I know there wont be a lot of walking. I like to walk fast and without worry of toppling over. Anyway, all in all, I was pleased with my find and the end product. I may or may not have pictures. Although my bf always has a camera on him, we failed to get any of us at the event. Before hand, we set the camera to take a pic of us, but it wasn't a full body shot, something I wanted so I could post over at a fashion community group at Live Journal.
So we arrived at a nice banquet facility- I do not remember the name, and I plan to find out as it was small, classy, cozy, and well laid out. Hors d'oeuvres of stuffed mushrooms, clams casino, meatballs, vegetables were displayed and delicious to consume. I was craving more of the clams all weekend. An open bar provided for any sort of concoction one desired. I had two rounds of a vodka-soda with lime. A super cool magician guy kept us entertained. I was seriously baffled at times, which heightened my amusement. Later, dinner was a nice spread of all sorts of yummy food and continued conversation.
The company did a gift exchange, which was entertaining to watch. Everyone who wants to participate brings a gift. A bowl full of pieces of paper with a number written on each are circulated around to everyone. Each person draws a number, which indicates when it is your turn to go up to the gift table to select a gift. For example, person number One goes up and selects any wrapped gift they choose and opens it right there. Everyone sees it. At this point, they must keep the gift, so they go sit down. Person with number Two then goes up to the gift table and selects a wrapped gift, and then decides whether to open it and KEEP it-- OR (and this is where it becomes entertaining) if they prefer person number Ones opened gift they hand over their chosen unopened gift over to person number One and trade (which person number One has no choice- their gift might be snatched from them, and handed the unknown unopened gift that person number Two selected). So on it goes. Person number Three then goes to the table, selects a wrapped gift then decides to open it and keep it, OR before opening it, swap with either of the others gifts that have been opened already by person One or Two. And so it goes from there. There can be all sort of swapping and you never know what you have until the very end. The last person to have the option to swap, it the person who went up to begin with, person number One. Starting off as the number One person you have no choice, as no other gifts have been opened. But in the end, you have the ultimate choice, as you can choose from any of the other gifts that were opened through every last person having their turn. In this case, 15 people participated in the gift exchange. When our turn came, my BF chose a package and handed it to someone who had previously opened a gift of Baileys liqueur. So for a little while we had giant bottle of Baileys in our possession before it got swiped out by someone unknowingly holding a package of flashlights, which we had to open and keep (no more swapping by choice beyond the initial gift selection) and went home with. It was fun. There were some gag gifts of the sort and some really nice stuff and a few things in between. The Baileys would have been fun. The flashlights could be fun. Baileys and flashlights would be most fun.
I still have yet to get any shopping done. Well, I picked up one thing for a friend, and a movie for my mom, but that is all so far. I have to really think about what I want to get and then take care of it all this week- and then tie up loose ends next week. I am NOT going out this weekend- as anyone else who has put it off is likely to be out on the final weekend before the holiday! I'm not a 'shopper' and usually prefer to stay out of stores, unless it is for me- books, techy stuff, and occasional late night jaunt to wander Wegmans when I feel like I have the place to myself. Speaking of which..
I've been cooking a lot more lately- last week it was a green chicken/veggie curry over jasmine rice (perfect) and this weekend it was a beef stroganoff made with lots of sirloin and sliced baby portabella mushrooms. Everything I make is made with as fresh of ingredients as possible and from "scratch"- unless it is otherwise redeemed ridiculous, time or money consuming. I pretty much guess at what goes into my concoctions and I measure nothing, unless baking, then I follow more closely. I consult a recipe prior to shopping just to see what I might want to make sure goes into a dish- but I will add and take away as I feel creative. That is what I like about cooking- not so much anything to fill my belly, but to experiment and create. A nice balance of Art and Science, if you will. There is an end product, and it can be appreciated by others. I do less cooking if there is no one for me to share it with. Considering how well the last few things I have made turned out (seriously so yummy), I would be wise to write down as much as I can remember as to what went into it (still wouldn't know how much measurement wise). Also, I keep kicking myself for not photographically documenting the process. I know how many of us love some good food-porn.
This week, I aim to make lasagna and/or chili, if I have the time, money and ambition to buy what is needed. I have noodles and beans I want to use up, so it will be a matter of finding the remaining ingredients at the store. I am also trying to make a couple of different things using what I bought for the original intent (ie, I made a beef barley soup from rationed off stroganoff ingredients. Made a killer omelet using some of the veggies from previous curry recipe, etc). My mind feels more organized when I do that as well and besides, the food (and tastes) goes farther when I can make a couple of smaller batch items than one giant batch of something. Good stuff.
I still want to find some mistletoe- I entirely forgot when I was out last week shopping for an outfit for the party. Actually, I have a bit of "un-shopping" to do, as I purchased extra items for my outfit (as extra choices) that I certainly don't need (ie jewelery, stockings, bra-nothing worn, just decided against some of the things I purchased). So that will be a nice chunk of change back into my account that I can use to start/finish gift shopping.
oy.
That's it for now. Stay warm- don't blow away. it was so crazy windy this morning that the sounds of the wind/rain morphed my dreams. Eery stuff.
PS. I just realized that I have never had eggnog. Have I been missing out?
thought this was kind of cute when it was circulated in an email recently:
I love the smell of both basmati rice and jasmine. I have heaps of both in my cupboards. yum!!
as for the gift exchange, yeh, I tried to describe it so it makes sense, but its not as complicated as I made it out to be, haha.
I'm determined to try eggnog this year, maybe even a piece of fruitcake! I guess some people really like it- depends on how its made and so on.
OMG! Eggnog is the BEST!
Basmati rice is the best by far.
The gift swap has me a bit confused. But nevermind. :)
I recently tried Jasmine rice at home. After cooking and eating basmati forever, I am not sure I am so thrilled about the excess starch and stickiness in Jasmine rice
12/22/2008 11:52 #47138
Have it Your Way .. Flame Mmmm MeatyCategory: silliness
"the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat."
Yes, read it again. What we have here, is that Burger King has ventured into perfume, or rather "Men's body spray"- Or is that, La Vache De Toillette? That is as hilarious as it is disturbing.
Burger King launches beef-scented body spray
Thursday December 18, 7:27 pm ET
Where's the beef? A new meat-scented body spray makes men the answer, courtesy of Burger King
NEW YORK (AP) -- Looking to beef up your mojo this holiday season?
Burger King Corp. may have just the thing. The home of the Whopper has launched a new men's body spray called "Flame." The company describes the spray as "the scent of seduction with a hint of flame-broiled meat."
The fragrance is on sale at New York City retailer Ricky's NYC in stores and online for a limited time for $3.99.
Burger King is marketing the product through a Web site featuring a photo of its King character reclining fireside and naked but for an animal fur strategically placed to not offend.
The marketing ploy is the latest in a string of viral ad campaigns by the company. Burger King is also in the midst of its Whopper Virgins campaign that features an taste test with fast-food "virgins" pitting the Whopper against McDonald's Corp.'s Big Mac.
Burger King Holdings Inc. shares rose 15 cents to close at $20.53
I'd totally buy it as a gag gift.
awh, yeah.. you can almost see it..
.. and you can almost taste it.
ew. haha
Waaaaait a minute. Isn't that photo a take on Burt Reynolds?
I saw that on the news and thought how crazy! It looks like the burger king is being pretty innapropraite with that animal head.
Can you imagine somebody actually using it? The friends you'd make with the canine community....
12/17/2008 12:36 #47089
Christmas Movies- Your Faves?Category: holiday
I have such an urge to watch holiday themed movies. I don't really own any (unless you count Die Hard with its taking place on Christmas Eve, heh) so I will be heading out to Blockbuster or somewhere to pick up a few.
I recently saw for the first time, Polar Express, so that is out. I will likely watch it again, but that won't count towards my movie renting adventure queue, as with Charlie Brown Christmas.
"Elf" will be on my list- Will Ferrel just cracks me up in it.
But what else? I'm open to anything- new, super old, classics, funny, raunchy, dramatic, cartoons and/or even silly/lame romantic comedies (I own, The Holiday, now that I think about it- Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Kate Winslet)
I'm looking for a list of movies on line to choose from right now, but this will be so much better to have your input!!! :)
So, what are your favorite Holiday/Christmas themed movies???
I love anti-Christmas Christmas movies. Bad Santa is very enjoyable.
But Muppets transcend everything else. They could make a movie about genocide and i would sit in spellbound joy. So, even they can make a straight Christmas movie and make it wonderful.
Love Actually
Scrooged
Home Alone
Christmas Vacation
Rudolph's Shiny New Year
The Santa Clause
Deck the Halls
I haven't been TOO into christmas movies in the past, but have seen more and more of them recently. A Christmas Story is fantastic. I just saw Elf the other day- great. And Bad Santa. I agree with everyone, all fantastic. And, I have been told I *must* see Emmet Otter.... which I have never even HEARD of... but it seems everyone here loves it too, so.... Also saw an ad for a new muppet movie coming up soon... then there are the classics... it's a wonderful life, miracle on 34th street...
Preacher's Wife! :) Wonderful singing by Whitney Houston. Though I think people prefer the old one to the new one (I can't say because I have only seen the Denzel Washington-Whitney Houston one)
Elf. HAHAHA. It's so crazy and hilarious especially the mailroom scene. LOL
Son of Rahmbow. Its not a christmas movie but its in the christmas spirit! :P
The Family Man. I liked it.
I hear "The Ghost town" is good as well.
Well if your going to go with Bad Santa they have another DVD version of it with more stuff I've never seen called Even Badder Santa. If you are going to buy one vs. Rent go with "A Christmas Story" there is a set that comes with an apron and cookie cutters. Then find a nice retailer that sells the lamp from the movie and you are good to go. If you are renting though you need to test the video people and when you grab A Christmas Story tell them you want to rent the Sequale (the 2nd one) and see if any of them know what you are talking about, I have seen it but don't remember much of it or what it is called. I have never seen it But there is a Horror Movie called "Black Christmas". If there is an adult store walk in and sing some (if you know any I can't remember any of them myself) John Valby Christmas song, and then if some one asks you a question sing in a big christmasy kinda voice "do you have any good Christmas or Santa Porn"? There are a ton of comedies for Christmas and it is hard to know what ones are good. I would say for Sure the 1st Home Alone movie. On a side note I thought one of the Die Hard movies took place on Christmas, but not sure if that is right. I remember I saw "The Santa Clause" and that was pretty good, I don't remember what I thought about the 2nd one though. If worst comes to worst there is allways the animated and then the Jim Carey version of "The Grinch".
I loved Emmit Otter's Jugband Christmas when I was kid, it was like my favority (one of the only good things about having to watch Goldie & that other dude on the PBS donation drives when I was 4!)
Although for straight-up laughs, I'd have to go with Bad Santa, Billy Bob Thorton ROLLS me in that movie! It's classic!
Also, Trapped in Paradise: It's been a while, but I liked it a lot. Then I watched some clips on youtube, and maybe it has not stood the test of time.
Casting a vote for "A Christmas Story" Darren McCavin makes the movie for me. I know one of the cable channels broadcasts a entire day's worth, but there is something to be said for no interruptions from the commercials.
Oh! I have a tie for Christmas movie favorites; Emmitt Otter's Jugband Christmas and A Muppet Family Christmas (not the same as drew's A Muppet's Christmas Carol, which would probably be my third favorite).
My family watches the Christmas Carol with George C. Scott every year.
A muppet Christmas Carol
Oh yeah Christmas Vacation, with Chevy Chase, is by far the funniest Christmas ever and an awesome movie in its own right. I think I've watched it in August, some time ago, just for a few laughs on a rainy day...
I have Emmitt Otters on VHS...
It's also on amazon for something like $25 with shipping...
Happy CHristmas Carey!
Too bad you didn't like Love Actually. I think it's brilliant!
Those cookies sound good now I'm hungry. I hope you have a great Christmas. I do have one question for you it seems like a long time since I have seen you, was the last time I saw you last New Years Eve with the down a Smirnoff contest? That was fun. Hope you enjoy the other movies as well.
"Santa, I know him!" I dig Elf for all the laugh outloud moments. Christmas Story has proven to be the backdrop for my christmas wrapping on christmas day. When the kids were younger, I was building stuff through a couple of showing of that movie on TBS. Now, it's done in under one showing.