Momma Told Me: True love is hard enough to believe without Vampires in the mix.
If I used the term 'Supernatural Romance' today, you might be inclined to think of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Edward and Bella (Twilight Series) or The Time Traveler's Wife (2009). Many of you may have a natural reaction to put down this article right now, to stop reading altogether. After all, even the most famous and beloved Paranormal Romance film, Ghost (1990) featured the deceased Patrick Swayze wooing his grieving girlfriend, Demi Moore. I have a hard time wrapping my head round vampires and ghosts in love- no matter how great the actors portraying the romance, it always comes off as cheesy. And that's precisely why In Your Eyes (2014) is a refreshing twist to the Supernatural Romance genre.
Something that had previously been reserved for over-the-top romance novels and science fiction, this particular genre is used ever so cleverly on an impressively natural level. Paranormal, in this case, deals more with the exploration of the tangible bond between two people who have never met. That is to say, if you believe in the existence of soul mates you are already on board with the plot's notion that two people destined to be together could in theory sense that connection no matter their distance.
At 105 minutes, with a true cast of around 10 characters, In Your Eyes is genuine romantic film dedicated to portraying the story and love of two people who being the film as seemingly strangers. The actors, who have had some sucess on and off screen in minor roles are brilliantly cast within the clever quirks of their own characters. Playing with the classic romantic notion of forbidden love, Rebecca is the affluent wife of a medical researcher wasting away her life at cocktail parties and fundraisers while her on screen counterpart, Dylan, is an ex-con struggling to find himself. However the true compulsion to watch comes from the unique connection these otherwise strangers discover.
It turns out both Dylan and Rebecca have in fact known each other, quite intimately, their entire lives. This discovery leads to a complicated and intense relationship between the two as they attempt to hold each-other up, despite the miles. While the tie that bonds them is a bit cheesy at some points the characters are quite endearing and the film will challenge you to smile, and even cry throughout it's ups and downs. The storytelling is shot beautifully, and it's not hard to find yourself falling in love with the characters.
One of the successes of In Your Eyes is the beautiful soundtrack (which I in fact purchased) that brings the characters and the plot through it's ups and downs. Twinbed's The Trouble I'm In is a haunting melody that so elegantly brings one of the film' most satisfying scenes to a climax while Eddie Ray's Glad I Found You helps steer one of the film's more playful scenes. The soundtrack is indeed as diverse as the emotions portrayed and the depth of each character is unmistakable as the viewer is helplessly drawn in.
I would love to suggest In Your Eyes as a Valentine's Day stream for you and your sweetie, though most cynical men will have a hard time latching on to a film that otherwise reminds me of The Notebook. Consider watching this with some girlfriends, by yourself as a guilty please, or with a teen daughter (there really is nothing graphic.) And I must add that leading man, Micheal Stahl-David is simply smoldering as the hopelessly awkward and unaware bad boy turned hero! In all, the timing for this Netflix release proved just right and I look forward to owning a physical copy soon!
What Daughter Says: Characters Rebecca and Dylan are soul mates at their best!
Momma Told Me: I don't have all day to stand around in the kitchen!
Some of my favorite childhood dishes were meals Momma whipped up with leftovers and a bit of ingenuity. They were haphazard, unlikely, meals that quickly became favorite weeknight solutions for their touch of gluttony and simple composition. There were the Tuesday night trash tacos made of just about any meat, veggie, or condiment Momma happened to have lying around in the fridge before doing the week's grocery shopping the following morning. Sometimes these 'tacos' included frozen chicken nuggets, flattened slices of bread ('tortillas') and even leftover Hamburger Helper. But my favorite was always the impromptu Bagel Pizza nights where I could build faces out of cheese and veggies under the premise we were having a family pizza night.
My point here, folks, is that meals are what you make of them, quite literally. Whether you're a busy mom just trying to serve 3 squares a day, or a laid back millennial trying to find the motivation to cook for just 2 when reaching for TV trays seems so much more simpler. It's nice to sit down to a fine dining experience at home, from time to time, but it's equally as rewarding to know you didn't slave over a meal and it still turned out amazingly delicious. The secret? Minimal ingredients- the less ingredients you have to handle the more you can enjoy the flavor of each individual ingredient, the less time you spend handling the food in the kitchen.
Refrigerated dough can be a lifesaver, providing countless meal hacks for the modern home cook. Did you know you can even get flat sheets of rolled 'pizza' dough in the cold case at your local supermarket? This past week Black Forest Honey Ham was on special at our neighborhood deli and I picked up a pound shaved extra thin for one of my favorite quick fix meals; Baked Ham + Cheese Wheels. I prefer the flavors of ham and Swiss, but you can also pair White Cheddar or even Provolone to suit your own tastes. Preparation is as simple as rolling out a refrigerated pizza crust into a rectangular shape, layering ham and cheese, and rolling tightly. Next cut 1.5" sections off of the roll and place your prepared wheels into a casserole baking dish.
The real magic to this recipe happens when you make the extra special glaze with Worcestershire Sauce, Butter, Dijon Mustard, Brown Sugar, and Poppy Seeds. Melt them together in a microwave safe measuring cup, stir well, and pour over the top of your prepared wheels. Let the glaze work it's way into the folds of the wheels and even pool down over the sides. Bake your Ham + Cheese Wheels in the oven for 20 MINS, or until the tops begin to turn a golden brown. We like our 'crust' a little chewy, don't be afraid to go extra golden for that flaky dough!
Not only do these Ham + Cheese Wheels look have a gourmet appearance, but they're incredibly easy to make ahead and freeze. One recipe's worth serves the two of us for several lunches when refrigerated, or they may be frozen after cooking and thawed at a later time. I would even wager that these would taste delicious over an egg with a cup of coffee the first thing in the morning. The possibilities are endless but your taste buds will thank you!
What Daughter Says: Flawless food doesn't have to take 5 hours.
I received an Avalon Bay Air Fryer for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.
Momma Told Me: There's no such thing as 'healthy' fried anything.
Many of you know I grew up in a household full of modern appliances and gadgets. It seemed, growing up, every other month there was a trip planned to the local Sears showroom or Dak outlet to shop for a new kitchen or home entertainment 'toy.' However, one thing we never had was an Air Fryer. Now, that may be in part due the fact my father, to this day, swears there is quite simply something 'not right' about calling a food 'fried' when it has not in fact been fried in a fat. Or perhaps it is because the very notion of 'fried' food has such a negative connotation, health wise, Momma never dared encourage the term be used on a regular basis.
Regardless, as a young girl, I made several attempts to bargain for fried foods, every year at the County Fair. In fact, there was an entire booth dedicated to frying the most delicious foods (most of them already quite sinful in themselves.) From funnel cakes and candy bars to deep fried Kool-Aid, I'd stare wide eyed up at the colorful list of treats. One year I felt I'd grown rather smart- I decided I would ask for the fried fruit basket, a selection of strawberries, bananas, and fried kiwis. Momma was quick to shoot that down, proclaiming, "There is no such thing as healthy fried food, it is ALL bad for you!"
As an adult I've always felt quite guilty putting a french fry in my mouth, or eating 'fast food' options I know are cooked in oil. At home I seek alternative recipes that often involve broiling and baking in the oven, but it's never quite the same. Let's just say, inevitably, one side of whatever I'm cooking always turns up more well done than another.
Enter the Avalon Bay Air Fryer 100W- A highly affordable, and compact, appliance who's only drawback has been the capacity of preparation allowed. I suspect, however, the compact size and 2-3 serving preparation lends itself to the efficiency of the air frying process. And just what is Air Frying? It's an entirely dry cooking process which uses a top grill to circulate heated air around the food of your choice via a suspended basket. This circulated air is so super-heated it surrounds every surface with an evenly distributed blanket of 'cooking' air.
You won't get the flavor my father attributes to 'fried' foods, but you will get efficiently cooked food with amazing texture, every time. Best of all the process is quite consistent, so not more burnt or dried pieces. And the unit itself is extremely intuitive to use, with a temperature guide located on the top, offering general heat and timing guidelines for common foods. Cooking can begin from a cold-start appliance, simply add 2-3 minutes to the timer and ensure that the proper temperate is set. The Avalon Bay Air Fryer 100W will do the rest!
One of the first things I made with my new Air Fryer was what I call a Fried Banana Split. Using simply ingredients you likely already have in your pantry I added an amazing texture to a classic banana split by Air Frying Cinnamon Bananas. For a simulated 'fried' coloring you can even plan cook your bread crumbs in a Vegan Coconut Oil Spread prior to breading! Not only did the Honey Coconut Oil Spread smell amazing melting in the pan but it gave my air fried bananas the perfect color! The rest as as easy as dipping ripe bananas in flour, egg, and bread crumbs (we use Panko,) then dusting in cinnamon sugar. The Avalon Bay Air Fryer did the rest!
Always remember that your Air Fryer needs to 'dry cook' ingredients to work most effectively, so work with a dry-wet-dry pattern when breading foods. This will mean a flour, egg, crumb layer in most recipes. In just 10 minutes, from a cold-start appliance, our Cinnamon Air Fried Bananas were ready. I simply removed the Air Fryer tray, separated the basket via the easy lift button, and shook and excess crumbs through the basket's grate into the collection chamber below. And cleaning up the appliance took 2 minutes- no messy grease!
Even if you're not a big banana person, these churro like bananas hit the spot, warm on the inside, against a pile of ice cream and fresh fruit. It's definitely the BEST way to enjoy a banana split with just a little extra indulgence and no extra guilt. In fact, you can cut up to 80% of the added fat out when air frying, over traditional oil based frying. What would you love to make first in an Air Fryer?
What Daughter Says: Enjoy the fried texture without the fried guilt when you Air Fry.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
#TreatThePups #CollectiveBias
Momma Told Me: Love is a four-legged word.
The month of love is almost upon us.
I can think of few relationships in my life as selfless and unconditionally loving as those between my pets and I. Even growing up, Momma taught me that love between a human and pet should know no boundaries. Our family frequently took in pets from shelters which would have otherwise been put down due to serious medical needs. In several cases our family was there to provide a stray or mistreated animal with exclusive love and comfort in their final weeks. Compassion for animals, and respect for their gift of returned love was a very important lesson in my childhood.
It's no secret that, as an adult, I feel my pets today are akin to children; and enrich my life on an immeasurable scale daily. Truffles, the cat, has been in our family longest and was adopted as the runt of her litter from a local chicken farm. Nora, our Maltese-Yorkie mix has always been more of a daddy's girl, having instantly picked up on the bond between myself and the cat. But, at her core, she is a lover- just one of the happiest, most enthusiastic, people pleasing dogs I have ever met. Every time I run into Walmart to pick up a prescription or grocery item I am always sure to stop by the pet aisle and grab a treat for both of my fur kids. This month I decided to stock up on some of Nora's favorite Big Heart Brand Pet Treats, Pup-peroni, Milk-Bone, and Milo's Kitchen for an extra special Valentine's Day Treat.
We will soon be gaining some extra space in our home when a tenant moves out and have decided to stop renting and simply enjoy all the extra space. Knowing this, I wanted to ensure the dog had her own defined area where she could retreat to when the cat was prowling the perimeter or the adults were merely having a lazy day. Because a big part of loving animals means giving back, we not only dropped some extra packages of Big Heart Brand Pet Treats to the local shelter, for donation, but I specifically shopped at a second hand store that also benefited the cause of homeless and needy local animals. It was there that I found the wooden entertainment cabinet that would prove perfect for Nora's Valentine's Day surprise, at just $25!
Like most dogs, Nora has a personality all her own. Forgive the saying, but she's a bit of a stereotypical blonde- very bubbly and not always quite the sharpest. She's the sort of dog, if she could speak, she'd interrupt a very intelligent conversation with "Squirrel" and immediately get distracted by something crinkly or sparkly. And she's very girly, with an almost 80's flare. All her accessories are neon or pink and her favorite toys are Star Wars, Sock Monkeys, or Lamb Chop- a retro dog all the way. Even her favorite dog treat is slightly vintage- Milk-Bones, which have been beloved by pooches worldwide wince 1908 especially get her tail wagging!
Turning a $25 Thrift Store Find into the perfect Dog Cabinet and lounge area for our small breed dog was quite simple. When we purchased the second hand furniture the hinged doors on the front were already missing. Knowing I wanted a safe place for Nora to be elevated off the ground, yet with a bed that was easily accessible, I made the design decision to move the center drawer down and remove the bar that had originally been supporting it. While I used spray paint to help give an aged and textured finish to the detailed and stained wood- applying 2 coats of interior paint by brush would have proved quicker. At the local hobby store we also found some vintage style knobs to hang her harness and leash, and on our recent trip stocking up on Valentine's Day dog treats at Walmart, some ribbon, jars, and additional accents to decorate with.
Nora took to her new bed with ownership, the sometimes hesitant and timid (territory wise) dog knew this was just for her. Perhaps it was the overwhelming aroma of a cabinet stocked with the best dog treats- her little nose was going quite wild! In the shelf directly above her bed I'd arranged a virtual 'candy shop' of treats in jars from Pup-peroni Bacon and Egg Mix-Stix to all natural Made-In-The-USA Milo's Kitchen Chicken Jerky treats. I'd even discovered new Milk-Bone Brushing Chews to help clean gums and support dental health on a daily basis! Though I can imagine the only thing that truly mattered to Nora was which one she'd get to enjoy first!
With the presence of potentially harmful to dogs chocolate everywhere in the month of February, it is important that you #TreatThePups with a well defined range of treats especially approved for them. Whether you have an adorable dog cabinet or not, creating a space that is clearly identifiable by your dog as their own can help minimize the roaming of noses where they don't belong. Keep all human hart day treats in cupboards and well out of the reach of pets, and an inviting supply of quality Big Heart Pet brand treats on hand to reward the four-legged lovers in your life.
February is a month of indulgence for humans. We present one-another with elaborate boxes filled with a variety of chocolates. Keep this in mind when shopping for your pet and craft a gift pack of treats as diverse as your favorite confections. Hard, dry, treats, such as several Milk-Bone varieties will naturally promote dental health with cleaner gums, while longer lasting chews like Pup-peroni will engage your dog a little longer and provide an aromatic eating experience. Last but not least, be sure to include a human grade treat, such as artificial free Milo's Kitchen brand pet treats, to help you connect with your pet through treats that resemble everyday human foods. You don't want to eat the same dessert every day, so why should your pet know only the flavors of one treat?
Wet kisses, tail wags, fetching the morning paper, patrolling the home for security, that embarrassing hot dog costume from Halloween there are plenty of reasons to #TreatThePups this Valentine's Day and plenty of inspiration on the Walmart Big Heart Pet brand micro-site. Starting January 15th you'll be able to view the best Doggy Valentines, gift baskets, pet treat recipes, and more on the Treat The Pups landing page. If you think our doggy cabinet is a home run just wait until you see all the creative treats and gift ideas my fellow bloggers and pet parents have whipped up for the Valentine's Day season! While you're there, don't forget to print out a special pet-themed Valentine to attach to your dog's favorite pet treats!
Tell me a little about the non-human lovers in your life!
What Daughter Says: I may not know 'I love you' in 50 breeds of 'Woof' but I do know the fastest way to a dog's heart is through their stomach!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DropShopAndOil #CollectiveBias
Momma Told Me: Take care of nice things if you want them to last!
There are few areas of my life I feel like I have complete control over. As a busy millennial running a household, juggling creative ambitions, and working full time I rarely have time to counteract the tornado that is my family and tenants. Contrary to what you may think, my home is not picture ready 24/7, and I frequently get an anxiety attack just looking at the living room. I demand one place in my life that is crisp, organized, and running like a well oiled machine. Okay, it is a well oiled machine- my car, a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Turbo Charged is my little purple people mover. Not only is she the first newer car I've ever owned (let's not revisit my super sexy 1991 LeBaron,) but her leather interior proves the perfect stress free oasis. When I am in my car everything is exactly as it should be at all times.
So it's easy to convey how important taking care of my car is to me. This pretty purple people mover is something I take pride in keeping clean and running well. I want her to be around for many years to come, so the first of the year marks a series of regular maintenance and check ups. Just like my home, I don't always have as much time as I'd like to focus on keeping up with these chores, so I choose to take my Purple PT to Walmart's Automotive Center where I can easily shop for the weekly groceries, pick up my prescriptions, and even grab that last minute birthday gift while my baby receives a fresh injection of 'sludge lesser' Pennzoil oil.
I used to spend hours sitting around in the mechanic's waiting room at the big name oil change centers watching tele-novellas as I nodded off. Getting my car cleaned up and refreshed used to be a 2-day process. This year I was able to get all of my checklist cleared, and more, in just an afternoon. But first I had to swing by the local car wash- Here in SoCal we were asked to NOT wash our cars through the Summer and Fall, as we have been in a severe drought. Local car washes provide a more environmentally safe option to washing one's car with the use of advanced recycled and reclaimed water systems. Next it was time to head to Walmart where I can always drop my car off for one of several trusted Pennzoil Oil Change Services without an appointment. Choosing Pennzoil means more friction protection for my engine and a chance to drive up to 550 more miles annually between changes. Being able to #DropShopAndOil all at the same also location means I don't waste valuable time twiddling my thumbs waiting for my car to hit the rack. Not only are the services more than competitive in pricing, but the automotive associate even handed us a car claim slip we could scan, at price checkers throughout the store, to follow the status of our car while shopping! And shop we did- just check out some of the affordable and quick hacks I was able to put together with items found at Walmart.
1. Reusable Bags- If you're like me, remembering to grab reusable bags when you head out the door has as good a probability as remembering whether you plugged your phone in before bed last night. And then there are the times when you decide to 'just stop in' at a store for 'one quick thing,' and end up walking out juggling a handful of items because you felt guilty about using plastic bags. Keeping a stash of reusable totes and bags on hand in your car is a must. We use the side storage in our doors, but you may also find a small plastic tub, or even a 'bag bag' will work fine in the trunk.
2. Combination Charger Cable And Trash Bag Station- This one looks advanced but it's really quite cheap and installs in minutes. Invest in a twin pack of Command sticky hooks and a decorative small gift bag. I grabbed both at Walmart for under $6. Clean off a smooth, relatively flat, surface along your center console with quick swipe of rubbing alcohol. Install the top hook traditionally, and the bottom hook upside down. Use the hooks to wrap up all those stray cellphone charger cables, and place your gift bag in front, viola, combination charger cable and trash bag station! Place a plastic bag liner in your gift bag if your car trash tends to be sticky or wet.
3. The Purse Organizer Storage System.I always seem to have a handful of 'necessities' rolling around my car. There's the pop up dog water bowl, super glue, tire pressure gauge, tissues, hand lotion, sunscreen, emergency water, band aids and more. A $6 in-purse organizer sleeve keeps all these things neatly tucked away and organized in door (or behind a seat, in the trunk shelf, etc.) If you're a bit more heavy duty, you can find larger purse organizers for a few dollars more and easily adapt those with additional 'emergency' tools.
4. Silicone Baking Cup Catch-Alls.One of the first places to get visibly dirty in my car is always the cup holders. Somehow every piece of lint, dust, french fry crumbs, and loose change all end up sliding around those plastic cut-outs. For $3 in the baking department at Walmart I scored a 5 pack of silicone baking cups that were perfect to line my cup holders. Not only do these easily bend to accommodate beverages and cups, but I can take these out and wash them ANY time, no more digging around with damp clothes and vacuum hoses! And how great is that purple color? These match my car perfectly!
By the time my baby was ready for pick-up I was excited to integrate all of my new-found car hacks into it's overhaul for the new year. My car truly is my sanctuary and the convenience of an oil change service is only paralleled by the piece of mind knowing that my Pennzoil High Mileage service helps to reduce leaks and oil consumption in worn or higher mileage
engines. It's a motor oil that is specifically designed for new or late
model vehicles with over 75,000 miles, to help keep the engines running
clean and going strong for a long time so I can get back to what really matters- cranking up the stereo and cruising the Pacific Coast Highway!
Drive into any Walmart Automitive Center today, no appointment needed, and give your car a fresh start for 2015! Pennzoil also offers a free warranty that covers 15 engine parts that
may fail due to engine wear or which experience abnormal wear due to
friction. (For more information, check out the Pennzoil Warranty Site.) What could you get done while waiting to get your oil changed at Walmart?
What Daughter Says: My car is my rolling sanctuary- I treat it like a temple inside and out!
Momma Told Me: When the pie was opened, the birds began to sing.
When I was a young girl, no older than 4 or 5, Momma would call me into her bed each night (thinking back my bedtime was probably 4 or 5 in the afternoon, but I digress) to read me a story from the official Grimm's Fairy Tales compilation. It was a large paperback book with more pages than any I had seen before, outside perhaps Merriam Webster's Dictionary, and out of the top smiled a Persian cat bookmarking where we had last dropped off. Now these weren't the colorful storybook fairy tales of traditional childhood, these were the unabridged, dark and brooding adaptations much closer to the originals. And, while some might question Momma's thinking in choosing to share these from such a young age, I assure you she always read ahead to lighten the darker parts.
Naturally, as a little girl who knew that Disney's fairy tales and Grimm's actual tales were far from one in the same- that at the end of The Little Mermaid Ariel is in fact offered a knife to kill her beloved prince and return to the sea, and much like the modern Into The Woods feature film indicates the stepsisters in Cinderella did indeed cut off parts of their feet in an attempt to fit them into the Prince's slipper. Morbid as this may seem, my ultimate point is that fairy tales were never intended for children at all- many of the stories we have sweetened up with fairies and talking mice were in fact meant as cautionary tales to bored adults and the men and women of the king's court.
What does this have to do with Blueberry Pie, you ask? Well, after recently watching, and thoroughly enjoying, Into The Woods in theaters this past holiday, I was reminded of the Grimm's fairy tales my mother used to read before bedtime. One in particular stood out- the tale behind the nursery rhyme 'Sing A Song Of Sixpence,' perhaps one of the first retold recollections of an animated pie. While historians gather the actual pie was likely of minced meat, it is more colorfully told that blackbirds swiftly emerged from the crust of this berry pie, when placed before the king. As crazy as it sounds, and an element of the tale that seems more exaggerated rather than real there are numerous accounts of 13th century pies bursting of living creatures from birds and small animals to actual tiny humans (dwarfs.)
So, while I wasn't about to craft any 4 foot pies with small animals inside, I was inspired to try my hand at a traditional storybook pie- Blueberry with a Winter comfort twist. I'll be honest, I've only ever used blueberries in scones, and never handled fresh blueberries (primarily because they can be so expensive,) so I was a bit nervous when I set out. I happened to have 2 deep dish pie shells in the freezer from the holidays (so I can't take credit for those) which especially motivated me to get in the kitchen yesterday and give this recipe a try.
I'm no Martha Stewart, but there is something inspiring about working with fresh ingredients- watching the rich blue berries cook to a beautiful purple. Naturally, halfway through baking I remembered I didn't own a pie crust shield (hard to believe, right) and had to emergency tent my crust rim to keep it from overcooking. Thankfully that worked like a charm, a few scalded knuckles later. I was skeptical about the streusel topping, but 20 minutes cooling on the window sill, in true storybook fashion, and this pie looked picture perfect- no small animals harmed in the making!
So try this Blueberry Custard Pie hot or cold (it was the biggest hit cold in our house,) and bake an extra to gift for a friend or neighbor- jut leave the birds out. As far as pie making goes this recipe's pretty straight forward, but the comfort level of a heaping slice does wonders after a long day. What was your favorite fairy tale growing up- what would you love to grab a slice and curl up while reading? What Daughter Says: This recipe is sure to put smiles on your guests faces, no animals harmed int he making.
