March TV, Books, & Movies

Hello, dear friends.  This week whipped by.  I had a great lunch and did some shopping with my BFF, Anne and later in the week got a new snazzy hairdo.  Today we are expecting snow and next week temps are expected to be in the 60's.  Gotta love the Northeast.

This post covers some things that I am enjoying and look forward to in the month of March.

Synopsis

I have been watching Breathless on the treadmill.  It takes place in London in the 1960's.  It captures the glamour of the 1960's and is threaded with delicious intrigue.  Don't get too attached, though - it was not renewed for a second season.  Breaks my heart.

Synopsis

I have probably seen Gone With the Wind twenty times. Granted, Mercy Street is not Gone with the Wind, but it is a mesmerising series that focuses on some very captivating characters.  

Synopsis

I have been watching The Americans since its beginning.  The show never wins awards, but I think it is one of the best series on TV.  The new season begins on March 16th. 

I didn't think today would ever come.  Guess what the Miser and I will be doing this weekend.

I was a little worried that this series was going to be cheesy, but to my relief, it's not.  It's actually pretty good.

I also enjoyed this biopic of the downfall of  Bernie Madoff.  Richard Dreyfus and Blythe Danner were fabulous in it. 

synopsis

I'm counting the minutes until March 25th when the sequel of My Big Fat Greek Wedding opens.  I know the sequel is never as good as the original, but I have high hopes for this one.

Trailer

I saw a trailer for this comedy in the theater.  It looks pretty cute.  I have loved Sally Field since The Flying Nun.  It opens on March 16th.

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I listened to this darling book on my walk.  It was  Anne's pick for book club and all the ladies loved it.

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I'm listening to this one now.  I love Mindy Kaling's sense of humor.  This book is as funny as her first one, which is rare.

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I'm reading this one now and enjoying it tremendously.  I have never read anything by Kate Morton before, but I look forward to catching up on all her past books.
  

The following five books are scheduled to be released this month and look interesting.

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Lies and Other Acts of Love is the next book that I am going to read.  I can hardly wait to dig my teeth into this one.  I positively adored Kristy's last book; Dear Carolina. It debuts on April 5th.  By the way, Kristy and her darling Mom write one of my favorite design blogs, Design Chic.


Do you have any shows, books, or movies to add to my list?


Until next time...

An Oscar Worthy Hodgepodge

Hello, dear friends.  Happy day-after-Super Tuesday.  This seems like the longest election year in history.  And it's only the first of March.  I hope that you are having a good week. 

1.  February ended with an extra 24 hours in 2016.  What did you do with your bonus day?

On Monday, it was almost 60 degrees here in Massachusetts.  I donned my favorite walking outfit and took an hour walk.  I don't mind telling you I received a lot of cat calls and beeps from men.  When you look good, you feel good. 

I also used some of those hours playing ball with these two characters.

2.What's something in your life that's grown by leaps and bounds in recent days, weeks, months, or years?  I'm giving you lots of room to come up with an answer here, so no fair passing on this one.

This one is a no-brainer.

3.  Do you read reviews about a film before deciding if you'll see it?  Did you watch The Oscars this year, and if so your thoughts on the programs?  How many of the Best Picture nominees had you seen prior to the broadcast?  (Spotlight, The Martian, The Big Short, The Revenant, Mad Max: Fury Road, Room, and Brooklyn).  If you watched The Oscars who gets your award for 'best dressed?' 

Anyone who has read my blog for awhile knows that the Mister and I enjoy going to the movies.  I usually check out Rotten Tomatoes if we are trying to make the decision on which movie to see.  

But if I have my heart set on a particular movie such as the sequel to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which is coming out this month, I don't usually check out the reviews because I'm going to see it anyway. 

As far as the Oscar nominees go, I saw every movie except Mad Max and The Revenant.  

Chris Rock's monologue was funny at times, but I felt that he overdid the diversity thing. 

I loved the fact that Chris Rock took advantage of the situation and raised a lot of dough for the Girl Scouts. 

 

For me, it was a tie between Priyanka Chopra and Olivia Munn.

According to the Mister, Alicia Vikander took home the prize when it came to best dressed.

4.  When did you last have overnight guests?  Give your top three tips on being a houseguest.

The last houseguests that we entertained were our two girls.  I consider them "guests" because they never lived in our present home.  

That, and the fact that they think they are guests and expect their poor little Mom to wait on them hand and foot.

*****

I don't know about other people, but these are the strongly suggested tips that I have for my houseguests.


Top 3 Tips for being a Houseguest 
at the home of the 
Preppy Empty Nesters

1. Bring the beautiful hostess a very expensive gift.  Don't forget to compliment her every 15 minutes.

2.  If you have little kids, leave them at home.

3.  While cleaning up after yourself, feel free to keep going and clean the rest of the house.   

5.  March 2nd is Peanut Butter Lover's Day.  Will you be celebrating?  If so, would you prefer a homemade peanut butter cookie, a Reese's peanut butter cup, an old-fashioned peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or shall I just hand you a jar and a tablespoon?

I adore peanut butter.  Now, the only one that I inhale is a low cal version called Better n' Peanut Butter.  That way I can eat twice as much. Pass the tablespoon, please.  And if you have any Nutella, pass it my way, too.

6.  Why is failure important?  Or isn't it?

This quote says it all.

7.  Share with us one fun thing on your March calendar.

This month, we are having my bff , Anne and her Mr. and my new bff, Annie and her Mister over for dinner this month.  I am so excited because Annie and Anne have never met.  I think they will love each other because they have so much in common.  Also, they won't have trouble remember each other's first name.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Do you ever have a recurrent dream?  At least once a month I dream that my wallet or purse are stolen.  This week's dream took place at an airport and centered around my purse and phone being taken.  Some very handsome good Samaritan lends me his phone but I can't call anyone because I don't know anyone's number by heart.  (This is true.)  So, I just give up and move in with the handsome stranger.

What's your top tip for a houseguest?

Until next time...

A Tribute

Hello, dear friends.  Happy Monday.  If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I am a huge fan of Kelly Corrigan.  I've done several posts featuring her videos and even had the opportunity to meet her.  You can read about it here.

Kelly gives a beautiful tribute to nurses in this video.  I feel that nurses are underrated and unsung heroes.

During both of the births of my girls, I was fortunate enough to have wonderful nurses coach me through my many hours of labor.  They held my hand and gave me encouragement.   The Doctor, in both instances, waltzed in during the last minutes to deliver my babies and then promptly handed over my precious girls to a capable nurse.

I haven't talked about it on the blog, but my #2 has gone through two serious illnesses during the past five years.  We were lucky enough to have great nurses by her bedside during her hospital stays.  It was very important to me that she received great care and attention when I wasn't at the hospital with her.

Last, but not least, I have a great friend, Mary, the original Sudbury Sweetheart who happens to be a nurse in ICU at Children's Hospital.  As you can imagine, I am sure Mary has witnessed some very sad scenes.  She never talks about her work.  Mary has a such a sweet smile and kind manner.  I am sure that she is an angel to the sick children and their parents at the hospital. 

Have you had a special nurse in your life?

Until next time...