Saturday, December 27, 2014

Happy New Year's Eve


If you are bringing in the brand New Year at home we have some suggestions to keep you busy while waiting for the clock to strike midnight.  You have chosen to spend the night at home warm and cozy instead of going out to a party.  While waiting for the ball to drop in Time Square you can watch a movie and make some appetizers to go with your drink.  You curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and even invite some friends over. You have a quiet New Years Eve party at home.  

The movie we suggest is if you are not tired of Christmas movies should be Christmas Cupid.  It is an ABC Family movie that is their version of “A Christmas Carol.”  It stars Christina Milian, Ashley Benson and Chad Michael Murray. Christmas Cupid is a modern day twist to the memorable classic story of “The Christmas Carol.”  Christina Milian plays Sloane Spencer, a stylish and driven publicist who needs to change her ways before she loses everyone she loves.  Ashley Benson plays Caitlin Quinn, a spoiled celebrity whose life choices took her in the wrong direction and comes back to help Sloane change her ways.  Chad Michael Murray plays Dr. Patrick Kerns the first love of Sloane’s life.  To find out more about this movie click here...

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/christmas-cupid.html

You will need snacks to go along with this movie.  Since it is New Years Eve then make some appetizers.  Supermarkets have a wide variety of ready to serve appetizers.  You can get the pigs on a blanket, little knishes, puffed potato and little egg rolls just to name a few.  Here are some more suggestions....

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/appetizers.html

We hope you have enjoyed our adventure so far.  We will see you again in 2015.  Have a great time at your stay at home party.  If you chose to go out remember do not drink and drive call a cab they will get you home safe and sound.  

Don’t forget to comment and subscribe to our blog.

Happy New Year!!!

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Holiday Movies, Cookies and Hot Cocoa

 



Here we are in December and it is holiday time.  For the people of the Jewish faith this week they are celebrating Chanukah. That is the festival of lights and lasts for 8 days.  Next week people of the Christian faith will be celebrating Christmas.  That holiday remembers the day Jesus was born.  Then before you know it the New Year is here.  In this hectic time we think you should take a few hours to yourself and curl up on the couch, watch some holiday movies and have cookies and cocoa.  This could help you relax.

It wouldn't be the holiday season if you didn't watch at least one holiday movie and why not a classic movie.  We have chosen "Miracle on 34th Street" but the 1994 version. "Miracle on 34th Street" is a time honored holiday movie watching tradition at this time of year. The 1994 version is the second remake of the original 1947 movie. That movie starred Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood.  The first remake was for TV in 1973.  That star David Hartman, Jane Alexander and Sebastian Cabot.  USA Network sometimes still airs that version.

In the 1994 version of the movie you will notice that Macy’s and Gimbels are no longer the stores that are mentioned, the reason for this is because Macy’s wouldn’t grant permission to use their name and Gimbles went out of business in the 80's. It stars Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle, Elizabeth Perkins as Dorie Walker, Dylan McDermott as Bryan Bedford and Mara Wilson as Susan Walker. This movie is about and we are quoting a line from the original 1947 movie when Fred Gailey who was Kris lawyer in that movie says, “Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to. Don't you see? It's not just Kris that's on trial, it's everything he stands for. It's kindness and joy and love and all the other intangibles.”  Faith is something science can't prove. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut feeling.  This movie will at most will give you a good feeling. If you want to know more follow this link.

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/miracle-on-34th-street.html

The best snack for this movie is good old fashioned cookies and hot cocoa.  Here are some suggestions for that.

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/cookie-and-cocoa.html

Now sit back and enjoy some holiday entertainment and we will be bringing you an extra blog this month for New Years Eve.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Thanksgiving Weekend



Thanksgiving is the holiday that you get together with the people you cherish most in your life. For most of you it is your family.  There are some it is your friends.  It could just be you and that is fine.  This is the day you could enjoy the traditional holiday meal.  Then when everyone leaves you may have leftovers and wonder what to do with them. We will give you some suggestions for the day after Thanksgiving.  Now if you went to family and friends  for the meal but you still want to enjoy the leftover meal we have a shortcut for that.



The day after Thanksgiving some go Black Friday shopping.  Some sleep in late.  Some watch football.  When all that is done or you don't enjoy any of the normal day after activities we have a suggestion for a family friendly movie while that dinner is cooking.  The movie we suggest for you to watch is Dr. Dolittle.



You will make what we call a leftover casserole.  In a casserole dish or an aluminum pan.  First spray it with Pam so it won't stick.  Then put the mashed potatoes on the bottom of the pan.  Then cut up the leftover turkey and mix it with gravy.  Put that on top of the potatoes.  Then top it with the stuffing.  If you don't have leftover gravy then you mix the turkey with the green bean casserole. Heat in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until hot.



Here are our recipes for the Thanksgiving meal...  Now if you weren't home for the Thanksgiving meal and don’t have the leftovers but still want a leftover casserole you can make a turkey breast instead of the whole turkey.  You can use the boxed instant stuffing and boxed instant mashed potatoes.  The green bean casserole is easy to make too.  You can always buy your favorite pie for dessert.  There you have your left over casserole.  If you don't want to go to all this trouble you can buy the Thanksgiving meal at most supermarkets already made.  If there is a part of the casserole you are allergic to or don't like leave it out.  If you have some dietary concerns we have suggestions for that too...


Turkey

Vegetable Soup

Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes

Green Bean Casserole

Instant Thanksgiving

Vegetarian Options

Dr. Dolittle is a great day after Thanksgiving family friendly movie. This move stars Eddie Murphy as Dr. John Dolittle who discovers he can not only talk to the animals but help solve their problems.  Here is more about this movie...



If you have time you can watch Dr. Dolittle 2.  It has Dr. Dolittle trying to save the forest for his furry friends.  Here is more about that movie...





If you don't want to spend the time indoors you can always go to a parade.


Macy’s



Hollywood Christmas Parade



Go enjoy this weekend and take sometime to relax and spend it doing what you love.  Tell us what you like to do on the Thanksgiving weekend.  Make sure to subscribe to this blog so you know when we put up the next one.


Monday, October 27, 2014

Happy Halloween!!!


Hello fellow Ghouls and Goblins, it is your time of year to show your imagination.  Halloween is the time of year that anything ranging from ghouls, goblins and even a princess come to your door asking for a treat. Since Halloween falls out on a Friday this year you may even want to throw a party.  In some places it may not be easy for children to go trick-a-treating so a party in your home is a great idea.  We have a some party idea for the pre-teens to teenagers age range. Even adults may find this fun.

This is the time of year you wear your best costume.  Tell everyone they will have a costume contest.  You can give out prizes for most imaginative costume.  If you are having a multi generational party then have a prize for the different age ranges.

We found great recipe for food to serve.  There is "Mummy Hot Dogs that can also be served to your vegetarian guest.  Just use veggie hot dogs and leave off the cheese. Instead add mustard on the inside of the crescent roll before rolling up the hot dog.  If you have guests who can't eat gluten then just make plain mini hot dogs on plastic toothpicks that are safe for children.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/crescent-mummy-dogs/a8fa0d66-ca7c-49da-8699-ee79820317bf


Crescent Rolls
http://www.pillsbury.com/products/crescents

Hotdog
http://www.hebrewnational.com/

Veggie Hot Dogs
http://www.lightlife.com/

http://www.yvesveggie.com/


Child Safe Toothpicks
https://www.pick-ease.com/first-child-safe-toothpicks/

Here is a recipe for cheeseburger or just regular hamburger pie. If you want to bring it up a notch you can make a stuff pizza pie. Again for your vegetarian guests you just serve it without cheese and use veggie version of ground beef. You will also want to leave out the Worcestershire sauce Instead of Pie Crusts you may want to use Pillsbury Pizza Crust. For the guests who can't eat gluten then make the ground beef and instead of the pie crust put ground beef in a red or green pepper.

Pizza Crust http://www.pillsbury.com/products/pizza-crust

Veggie Ground Beef
http://gardein.com/

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/jack-o-lantern-cheeseburger-pie




Here is a great idea on how to serve dip.  You get some red or green peppers and hollow them out and cut a little face in them to look like pumpkins.

Now for the fun part, the sweet stuff.  You can make a fondue with different types of fruits for everyone but put the chocolate in a pumpkin style serving dish that can withstand the hot melted chocolate. If you can't find one then just get a chocolate fountain.

Here are some links to other fun desserts you can serve.

Halloween Cat Cake Pops

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/halloween-cat-cake-pops/69166e70-0605-471a-b661-6222f8c65117

Frankenstein Fruit Roll-Ups™
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/frankenstein-fruit-roll-ups-on-a-stick/fa15139e-8f74-4334-a9b2-bfab84c8093e

Jack-o'-Lantern Candy Apples
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/jack-o-lantern-candy-apples/79ffd4f3-a651-43dc-bc2d-92df89823b10

HERSHEY'S Chocolate & Candy Dipped Pretzel Rods
http://www.hersheys.com/spreads/Recipe-Details/id_96373

HERSHEY'S Brownie Cemetery Cake Recipe
https://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=8072&name=HERSHEY%27S-Brownie-Cemetery-Cake

REESE’S Peanut Butter Pumpkin Spider Recipe

https://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipe-details.aspx?id=8758&name=REESE%27S-Peanut-Butter-Pumpkin-Spider

A Halloween party would be complete unless you had a Bobbing for Apples contest.

We have some suggestions for movies that you can show at your party.  Both are great for Halloween and for ages 10 and up to see.  The first is "Beatlejuice" starring Michael Keaton, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis.  It is about Adam and Barbara Maitland who while at their vacation home pass away.  It is sold to The Deez Family.  The Maitlands aren't happy and try to get rid of them.  They ask Beatlejuice to help.

Here is more on this movie.
http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/beetlejuice_27.html

The next one we suggest is "Edward Scissorhands."  This stars Johnny Depp. Edward was created by an inventor who died before he could attach Edwards real hands.  Edward lives his life in a castle that no one ever goes to.  Then one day Peg who is an Avon Sales Lady comes to the castle and rescues him.

Here is more on this movie.
http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/edward-scissorhands.html

If you have younger children you may want to show the movie, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown." It is about Linus search for the “Great Pumpkin”.  They always have that on ABC TV this time of year.  If not it is on demand.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0019KAQEU/ref=cm_sw_su_dp




If you are going out trick-or-treating here are some safety tips.

We have tribute to Joan Rivers.  Did you know she was in the movie Spaceballs? Check that movie out she played the robot.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0792844890/ref=cm_sw_su_dp




On the west coast there is a parade too
http://www.visitwesthollywood.com/event/west-hollywood-halloween-carnaval-2014/

Have a fun and safe Halloween.  Tell us what you did.  Subscribe to this blog so you will know when we update it.  We have a special Thanksgiving blog for November.  

Happy Halloween!!!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Autumn, Back to School and Dancing with The Stars

We hope you were able to relax at last month’s picnic.  Let us know where you went, we want to know what you did.  Please share with us.

We now give you the month of September.  Fall is upon us so that means for some of you, it is time to go back to school or you will be sending your kids back to school.  What Fall also means is a new season of TV shows that will be returning and even a handful of brand new series.  To us Fall means the new season of Dancing with the Stars. 

This month we have selected 3 movies for your movie night, that we feel that goes along with Fall. First is Grease.  Grease is a movie musical from the 70's that stars John Travolta and Olivia Newton John playing teenagers who attend Rydell High in the 50's. Grease is based on the long running Broadway hit show. It was made into a film in 1978. Through the years there were many revivals of this Broadway show. If you want to know more about this film follow this link.


The next movie is Dirty Dancing.  Dirty Dancing takes place in the 1960's. It is also a love story with music and dancing set at a resort in the Catskills Mountains.  It stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey who play Johnny the dance instructor at resort and Baby who is his student and how they fall in love.  To know more about this film here is the link to it.


The last movie is Shall We Dance. Shall We Dance is about John Clark played by Richard Gere.  He is a middle age Estate Lawyer who is going through a mid-life crisis.  Everyday on his way to and from work he notices a dance studio with dance instructor Paulette in the window. She is played by Jennifer Lopez.  This movie follows his journey on how he get out of his rut by learning how to dance.  For more about this film follow this link.


Since this will be a hectic month we suggest that you have a pasta party.  Pasta and easy dish to make and serve to your guests.  To make Pasta, you just follow the instructions on the box.  You can put any topping with it.  You can just open a jar of sauce or a for less sodium just have it plain with tomatoes or veggies.  They have all sorts of different types of pasta.  If you have friends who can’t eat gluten then get the gluten free pasta.  Pasta is great for your vegetarian friends just leave the cheese off the pasta for them.  You should also make salad to go along with the pasta for anyone who doesn't want pasta.  For dessert make it simple and make a fruit bowl.

Here are the links to the Social Media for everyone who is on Dancing with the Stars this season

http://advicefromroseandlyssamarie.blogspot.com/p/dancing-with-stars-season.html

There you have this month’s movie night.  Remember in all the chaos that back to school brings take a few minutes to yourself and relax.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Time for a Picnic

August is the last month of the summer.  If you haven't been to the beach, your local lake, your neighborhood’s pool or the park take the opportunity to go before the summer ends.  Go have a picnic and bring along your IPod, CD Player or how every you listen to music.  We will give you some suggestions for music that you can bring along with you on this day out and about.  What is good about this idea it should cost you very little money.  All you do is just bring along a picnic lunch.  This is the one time you don't have to cook for your friends because they can make their own lunch. If you don't want to make a sandwich then you can stop at your local sandwich shop or deli to buy one.  So, go out and enjoy the fresh air.  Remember to bring your sunscreen.

After you have enjoyed the sun come back and share your adventure with us. Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog so you can know when we post the next one. Thanks!


Your Picnic Lunch
How to make a sandwich

How to make a salad

Here is a list of beaches and parks.  Check with the websites before you go to see if it okay to be there and have a picnic.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Here is our suggestions for great music for a picnic.

 

 

 

Backstreet Boys




98º

 


Tiffany








Village People
B.J. Thomas
Don McLean



Nat King Cole
http://www.natkingcole.com/


https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/nat-king-cole/id42616562


http://www.amazon.com/Nat-King-Cole/e/B000APBNRY/


Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer


LL Cool J
http://whaddup.llcoolj.com/


https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ll-cool-j/id50311


http://www.amazon.com/LL-Cool-J/e/B000APXJKI/


I Need Love

  
Big Mountain
http://bigmountainband.com/


https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/big-mountain/id509491


http://www.amazon.com/Big-Mountain/e/B000AQ2U1G/


Baby I Love Your Way

 


 

Witch Doctor - Ross Bagdasarian, Sr.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_Doctor_%28song%29
 

Ooh Eeh Ooh Ah Aah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing


Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini
 

Bryan Adams 


USA for Africa


Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole
http://www.izhawaii.com/

 Somewhere Over the Rainbow


This part of the playlist is dedicated to Robin Williams.  What a great talent he was.  He made many of us laugh. He will be missed. We are sending out hugs and prayers to his family and friends.

Friend Like Me
 

Broadway's Cast of ALADDIN Pays Tribute to Robin Williams

Aerosmith