Happy Homemaker Monday - #14 - 2011

The weather in my neck of the woods:
63 degrees right now but then it's only 8am here lol


Things that make me happy:
The news that Osama Bin Laden is dead, while I don't celebrate his death, I rejoice at the end of his wickedness


Book I'm reading:
So many, have tons of reviews coming up


What's on my TV today:

Catching up on last night's show since I was too enthralled in the breaking news


On the menu for dinner:
La Bamba Mexican Casserole

On my To Do List:
Laundry
Housework


New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Spaghetti Squash with Garlic Alfredo and Bacon

In the craft basket:

Crochet pillows


Looking forward to this week:
Finishing the school year.  Yep, we're officially ending it today and the kids and I are excited :)


Tips and Tricks:
Got nothing this morning
 



My favorite blog post this week:
No blog reading last week, was busy with schooling.


Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Joyful Abode



No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):

Lesson learned the past few days:
That justice for the innocent will always be served.  You never know when and it may not be right away, but God does not let the wicked and the evil get away.


On my mind:
The troops overseas and at home, we have to be so vigilant right now.  Please keep everyone in your prayers.


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

1 John 2:12

New shows I'm watching.....

So since some of you have asked me to please continue sharing my latest movie and series finds, I thought I would oblige and bring you quite a few today.

Do you think you can handle a bunch more to add to your already growing "To Be Watched" list?

I tell you, I have a huge one and I never run out of anything to watch.  I think I actually get through so many so quick because I tend to carry my laptop around the house and watch my shows while I'm doing housework.  It makes it easier and I feel like I'm not just sitting around watching stuff and being lazy, feels like I'm accomplishing something, you know what I mean?

I've found quite a few lately that I've added to my huge list, now bear in mind that I'm such a huge fan of Period Dramas and Series so I mainly tend to drift towards the British TV Networks.  I don't care what anyone says, I still think they produce some of the best shows for TV in the entire world.  But that's just my measly opinion of course.

Please keep in mind that these are just merely suggestions and that most of them I have yet to see myself or am currently in the middle of watching.  Yes some may contain some raunchy stuff or language, so be forewarned, I would never intentionally promote such things.

So are you ready?  Do you have pen and paper at hand?  I'll try to provide links to where you can watch them online or download them or learn more about the shows.  Here we go:

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher on ITV

Based on the novel by Kate Summerscale.  

In 1860 Scotland Yard's 'Prince of Sleuths' Jack Whicher is sent to rural Wiltshire to investigate the murder of three-year-old Saville Kent,snatched from his bed at night and killed.Saville's nurse Elizabeth Gough is a prime suspect but released for want of evidence though local Superintendant Foley is convinced it is an inside job. Foley gives his help grudgingly,disdainful of 'modern' methods,speculating that Saville woke to see Elizabeth with a lover,possibly Saville's father,an unpopular man. Part of a woman's torn garment is found,stained in blood,and Constance,Kent's sixteen-year-old daughter from his first marriage, claims she lost a night-gown. Dr. Stapleton,the family physician,tells Whicher that Constance,like her mother,is dangerously unstable and jealous of Saville. Both she and younger brother William hate their stepmother Mary,their former nanny,with whom Kent cuckolded their mother. Whicher arrests Constance but fails to get a confession from her and,at her trial,a clever lawyer gets her acquitted,discrediting Whicher,who suffers a breakdown. Saville's killer is never caught.

You can download the movie here.

The Crimson Petal and The White on BBC2

Based on the novel by Michel Faber

Follow Sugar into the underbelly of Victorian London seething with vitality, sexuality, ambition and emotion.

I love a good period piece but usually they are a little lighter and romantic, this one delves into the darker side of the Victorian Era and I think I'm going to enjoy seeing it.  I've watched half of the first episode so far and I'm loving it.  Romola Garai, Gillian Anderson and Blake Ritson make up some of the cast :)


Trailer:


You can also watch the whole series on YouTube at PeriodxDrama's Channel.

Episode 1 - Part 1 
Episode 1 - Part 2
Episode 1 - Part 3
Episode 1 - Part 4
Episode 1 - Part 5
Episode 1 - Part 6

You can find the remaining episodes on their list too.  :)

The Abduction Club

Based on actual events that took place in Waterford, Ireland, in the late 1700s, director Stefan Schwartz's romantic comedy-drama concerns itself with a group of abductors who kidnap usually willing young women in order to persuade them to wed.

Watch the trailer:


You can download the movie here.

The Hotel on Channel 4 England

An intriguing look at life above and below stairs in the Damson Dene, a three-star hotel in a five-star setting - the Lake District

I just got hold of the first 2 episodes and I'm pretty excited to watch this one :)

 Here's a look at one of the episodes

1066:  The Battle for Middle Earth on Channel 4 England

Epic drama revealing the untold story of the Norman Conquest through the eyes of the ordinary villagers caught up in the chaos

I absolutely LOVE movies and shows like this, huge fan of historical pieces so I'm pretty excited to watch this one too.

Watch the trailer:


You can find most of the clips to watch on YouTube.  Or you can download the whole movie here.

Glorious 39

On the eve of World War II, as the formidable Keyes family tries to uphold its traditional way of life, daughter Anne (Garai) sees her life dramatically unravel when she stumbles upon secret recordings of the pro-appeasement movement.

SO looking forward to watching this one today.  Romola Garai is one of my favorite british actresses.

Watch the trailer

The Eagle

In 2nd-Century Britain, two men – master and slave – venture beyond the edge of the known world on a dangerous and obsessive quest that will push them beyond the boundaries of loyalty and betrayal, friendship and hatred, deceit and heroism…The Roman epic adventure The Eagle is directed by Kevin Macdonald and produced by Duncan Kenworthy. Jeremy Brock has adapted the screenplay from Rosemary Sutcliff’s classic novel The Eagle of the Ninth.

Super psyched to see this one.  Channing Tatum plays one of the main characters.

Watch the trailer

I have plenty more up my sleeve, but for now, I think I've given you quite a few selections to pick from. As always if you do watch any of these let me know what you think, or if you've seen them already, likewise, I would love to hear what you thought about them.

I'm off to start watching some of these.  But which to watch first.....decisions, decisions, decisions.

Dear Clothes Designers

 I know you don't know me from a bar of soap and I'm sure you don't give a hoot what little ol' me has to say, but after just returning from Walmart and failing miserably at finding a pair of comfortable shorts to wear, I found it imperative to bring to your attention a few little things.

Far be it from me to tell you how to do your job but I'm just hoping you can explain the intricacies of your shorts designing.  I'm just very curious.

See, I'm about to turn 37 years old and all I want is a comfortable pair of shorts for the summer.  It's hot here in Arizona, I mean really really hot, like scorching hot where you need shorts unless you want your pants to melt onto your skin.  So you may see my problem, or maybe you don't, but don't worry I'm getting to it.

I went to Walmart with my family today and while we were there I thought "well I am losing weight, I haven't bought myself clothes in a long time and I could really use some cute shorts to wear around the house and to go to the store or on vacation with the family this summer".  So I innocently proceeded to your ladies clothing department and much to my chagrin I found rack after rack with the cutest shorts......that I couldn't wear.

Don't get me wrong where you fail is not the actual fabric or pattern, but I feel I need to ask you.  Was there a shortage of said fabric when you were producing these shorts?

It may just be me, I don't know, but when did shorts become hot pants?  Do we no longer make shorts that go to at least halfway down the legs???  At least, I'm saying, see I'm not even telling you to make them capri's or bermudas, I'm just asking for an extra inch....or two....or in this case 6 or 7.

Listen, I don't know about you, but the last time I wore hot pants was............well...........actually now that I think about it, I've never WORN hot pants and I don't think that a 36 year old should take up that habit now, maybe embroidery or bird photography or something along those lines....but hot pants and showing off my butt cheeks in public???  NO THANKS!!!!

My husband of course would absolutely love that idea and I'm starting to think that you make these with the men in mind.  

So I implore you, please, if fabric shortage is the problem, I have tons here at home, feel free to look through my stash and use whatever you need.  Just please make some SHORTS for us modest ladies who don't want to look like a 2 dollar hooker.  It's really not much to ask.

Sincerely,
A thirty something who would rather keep her butt covered

Shopping the Case Lot Sales

I try to go to the Case Lot Sales held on base to stock up on things, but there are times that I honestly don't see anything that I need and I am not one to just buy just because it's on sale.  If I don't need it, I don't buy it, plain and simple.

Our local Base Commissary is having a Case Lot sale this weekend, so this morning the kiddos and I headed over to see what was on sale and this one actually ended up having quite a few things that I needed, so let me show you what I came away with.



Sliced Ham was on sale, for about $2 some were $3, so I got 4 which I've popped in the freezer.

Caprisun box of 4 packs - $5
Mac & Cheese (yes you'll see mac and cheese in this house lol) - $6
Martha White Blueberry Muffin mix, box of 12 - $5
Arizona Tea 2 x 12 pack - $3.00 each
Coffeemate 50 count - $1.49
Shampoo 6 count - $4
Conditioner 6 count - $4

Hamburger patties were on sale as well.  Packs of 4 for - $2.00
Personal pizzas - 99c each
Large 16 inch pizza - $6
BBQ Chips - $2

24 pack water - $3
Mission Tortilla rounds, HUGE pack - $3

Xtra laundry detergent - $5
Chef Michaels 11.5 lbs bag - $3 each

Big box of assorted cereal 10 count (my kids love the individual boxes) - $10


Total after coupons = $80

Not bad at all.    I'll have to go back tomorrow to do my grocery shopping but at least I have a few things that will last me quite a while, especially the shampoo/conditioner, the tortilla chips, the cereal and the dog food etc.

If you want to find out more about your local commissary or when the next case lot sale is for your base, just click on this link.

The great thing about buying in bulk is being able to freeze whatever you need.  I came home, got everything packed away and after I cleared out the fridge for tomorrow's grocery, I had a few things that I hadn't made that were on the menu for the past two weeks.  So I made them anyway and froze them for future meals.

Like this wonderful Mini Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches, great for a snack, a lunch or even a light dinner.



Do you shop sales?  Are you a coupon clipper?

I've been....

Been:::  Taking walks after dinner with the family and collecting flowers as we go

Been:::  reveling in my beautiful garden and amazed at the growth I see every day

Been:::  using up the last lemons from my tree to make limoncello

Been:::  reading a plethora of books for upcoming reviews.  Some really good ones like this one that I just finished last night.  Too Rich for a Bride by Mona Hodgson

Been:::  finishing up homeschooling for the year. Nicholas only has 4 lessons tomorrow and he'll be done with second grade and Jasmine has next week of lessons but she's determined to finish everything this weekend so she'll also be done with sixth grade :)

Been:::   getting wonderful surprises in the mail, like the new cookbook from Sheryl Crow and Chuck White called "If it makes you healthy".  I haven't even had a chance to page through it because it JUST came in the mail, but I can't wait to try some of the recipes and there will be a review coming up too.

What you been up to???