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Summer Movie Binge

I’ve seen more movies in the the theater this summer than the past two years combined and I’m sure quite a few people can say that as well. I’m a firm believer in choosing the big screen over watching a ‘new release’ at home on my own TV. I love nothing more than seeing one on the big screen, snuggled up in the recliner chair and with a popcorn, ice cold Coke, and some candy.

Here are a few of the ones that we’ve seen or plan to see this summer.

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

I cannot wait to see this one. Based on the 1958 book, The Poseidon Adventure, this movie follows Mrs. Harris as she, after learning the fate of her missing husband of 10 years, chases a dream of owning a haute-couture Dior dress from Paris. But, after arriving, she realizes her dream of owning one it’s not as easy as she’d imagined. This movie provides hope for those who have worked too hard or who may be thinking that they are too old to have a dream or purchase nice things. Nonsense. Do as Mrs. Harris and follow that dream!

Top Gun: Maverick

Has anyone not heard of this movie? No way. To be honest, I didn’t think this would be a keeper for me but I was pleasantly surprised. Not being a huge Tom Cruise fan, I thought he did a good job reprising the role of Maverick. It was nice to see Val Kilmer as Iceman again too. This movie has done so well at the box office which makes me believe that people just want to see a good action movie, with a feel good, happy ending without all of the sex, violence, and some agenda begin through at us. Keep on making’em like this.

Jurassic World Dominion

I don’t know why this movie received such negative reviews. I liked the fact that this film brought both casts, Jurassic Park/Jurassic World, together for the final movie. I do think it started off a bit slow but quickly picked up in the middle and towards the end with lots of dinosaur action. I also liked that the movie shows how we need to learn to live with nature even when we’ve created the environment that is less than ideal. I enjoyed seeing Chris Pratt, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Jeff Goldblum together fighting to save the dinosaurs, and each other, from man made greed threatening to ruin the planet.

Downton Abbey: A New Era

The Crawley’s are setting out for a new adventure. The family travels to the south of France to learn the reasoning behind why the dowager countess has inherited a villa from a man she knew briefly in her younger days. This movie is like being welcomed back home by family and I enjoyed the escape to a time when manners and decorum still meant something. The scenery alone makes this movie worth watching and leaves us all wishing we could inherit a villa in France.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Did someone say Thor? Yes, I’ll watch please! Having followed the MCU since the inception of Captain America and the Avengers, this one is a must see. Thor, who is seeking inner peace and retirement, has a rude awakening as Gorr the God Butcher seeks to rid the universe of gods. He must recruit Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster, who can now wield his magical hammer, to defeat Gorr and restore peace.

These are my summer movie picks. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Star Wars Day Dinner

Happy Star Wars Day, otherwise known as May 4th.

In celebration of this day, i decided to make a special, Star Wars themed dinner. On the menu: Chewbacca Chicken, Boba Fettuccine, Jedi Juice, and Cookie cake.

As for the theming, I raided my son’s room and pulled out a few Star Wars themed items for the table.

The Wookie Chicken was fried chicken with panko breading. I fried some bacon and which i wrapped around the chicken to resemble Chewbaccas’s belt. The Boba Fettuccine was a simple alfredo sauce with lemon.

I picked up green apple sodas (Jedi Juice which resembled the color of a Jedi light saber) and a Cookie Cake from Publix.

This was a quick and easy meal to put together but the Star Wars theme made it out of this world special. My crew like it. May the 4th Be With You!

Setting Better Resolutions for 2022

The start of the new year is tomorrow. It goes without saying that most people want to go into the new year making resolutions for self-improvement. They want to lose weight, get healthier, workout more, be kinder, focus more on work, etc, etc… Yet, it has been proven that 80% of new years resolutions fail. Why?

The start of a new year, new month, new week, new day always presents itself as a blank page for beginning again. An opportunity to do better and to be better. A clean slate (yes, I said it : ). The mentality of begin able to start again is hopeful to all of us. it’s an opportunity to make the most of but I believe there are better ways to do it than to make a slew of resolutions that we may not be able to keep. Here are a few ideas:

Make quarterly goals. There are 365 days in 2022. No need to get all of our changes done in January, right? Most people tend to make a list of resolutions (3 or 4) and begin implementing on Jan 1. It goes without saying that making too many changes at once will likely fail. Remember, it takes time to make lasting change and starting everything at once is too much for our brains and our bodies to handle all at once. Why not make quarterly goals? Resolution # 1 is set for Jan – Mar. Resolution #2, Apr – Jun and so on. Focusing on one goal at a time will be easier to achieve and allow you to focus your energies on maintaining that change. During that 3 months, you may need to adjust but at least you are only working on one thing now. Focus on it. Perfect it. Then move on to the next.

Rather than focusing on resolutions of things “to do”, make intentions for 2022. How do you want to be? Do a really thorough self-assessment. What were your triumphs and what were your challenges? We are all human so we’ve all made mistakes. Be kind to yourself but know what your values are. Making resolutions based on values and how you want to “be” is stronger than making them based on how to want to look or what you want to do?

Is there an inspirational person or a role model that you look up to? What traits do you admire about that person? What did they do? It’s good to have someone that you admire that provides inspiration but don’t forget, only you can be you. Each person is unique and comes with his or her own set of gifts and challenges.

Make a vision board. I don’t know about you but I am a visual person. I need to see something to understand it, most of the time. Vision boards are a great way to visually represent what it is your want to accomplish. Take some time to cut out pictures, phrases, projects, people, places, and anything that inspires you. It’s your clean slate to design where you want to be this time next year or in years to come.

Choose your word for the year. I really like this trend. I’ve noticed many people choosing a word for the year that represents what they want more of in their life. I couldn’t choose just one so I have two: Calm and Mindfulness. These are things I need to work on this year. I’ve done lots of learning about mindfulness but when things get chaotic, I struggle with this one. What’s nice about choosing your word for the year is that you can also carry it with you. There are so many bracelets, necklaces, keychains, other products in which you can wear or carry with you your word that you have chosen. In times of doubt and struggle, you can know that it’s with you and refocus your mindset.

I hope that these ideas will not only help you to plan for the upcoming year but also maintain progress towards your goals and intentions. I wish each of you a very Happy New Year!

Holiday Movie List

I don’t think it would be Christmas without at least one night of hot chocolate, popcorn, and a Christmas movie. And even though my kids are getting older, this is still one tradition not to be missed.

Here are a few of our favorites and some inspirational Christmas movies as well:

Polar Express – Has anyone not seen this one? A classic, and the music is wonderful too. Don’t forget the “hot chocolate” when watching this one.

Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas – The first one is good but we like the second one better. Mickey and friends find the meaning of Christmas.

A Christmas Story – Don’t worry about shooting your eye out watching this one. Funny and nostalgic.

Holiday in the Wild – This is one that I usually watch by myself or with my husband. A lovely, inspirational movie about a newly single woman who reinvents herself and finds her passion helping elephants in Africa.

Miracle on 34th Street – My all-time favorite Christmas movie. I watch it every year and it never gets old.

Love Actually – Multiple story lines but ending with the message of friendship and love.

The Nativity Story – The reason for the season. A beautiful movie about the days leading up to the birth of Jesus.

Daddy’s Home 2 – Hysterical and one that often gets left off of the holiday movie list and I have no idea why. Add this one to your list this season and get ready for some serious laughs!

The Star – A sweet and inspirational movie about the birth of baby Jesus. I remember taking my kids to the movie to see this one. Stellar cast and some big stars in this one too.

Welcome

Welcome to A Clean Slate 365.

We wake up each morning to a brand new day and a clean slate. A new day to do with it what we choose. To set your intentions. You get to decide how to live it and how to respond to it. Yesterday is behind us and all you have is right now, today. If mistakes were made, you can wipe the slate clean and begin again. If you’ve had successes or a breakthrough, then you can learn from it and repeat it, if you choose.

I believe that we should take one day at a time. This is a lesson that I’ve had to learn the hard way but I did learn it. As Eckhart Tolle states, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.” We are given a new day, each day, to enjoy simple pleasures, experience awe inspiring moments, soak in life experiences, right some wrongs, to continue to learn and challenge ourselves to become just a little better than we were the day before.

It’s your day to design. To make the most out of it. Keep an open mind, keep your chin up, and breathe.