Age of Adaline - Movie Review

 

 

So by now you must know that my girl crush is Blake Lively. I just adore her style, grace, and pretty much all she does. I recently got to see Age of Adaline. I have been wanting to see it for a while now. I thought I had an idea as to what the movie was about - but I was about 50% wrong.

The Age of Adaline is about a woman who has stopped aging. She was in a car accident and electrocuted- which stopped the aging process. Adaline then has to face life as those she loves, her daughter included, begin to age and grow older. She changes her identity every 10 years and relocates to start a new life. She never, ever falls in love.

 

Until.....she meets a certain man. Later, we find out a strange connection she has with this man and the truth comes out.

 

Will she find true love? Check out the movie and find out! :)

 

 

Bouchard Chocolate

Who doesn't LOVE Chocolate! I consider myself well versed in the arena of chocolate and Love a sweet treat every once and a while.  Bouchard Chocolate sent me these Dark Chocolate Napolitains and they were to die for! I am not a huge dark chocolate fan, but these had just the right amount of sweetness to them. Bouchard makes their chocolate in Ghent, Belgium, they are the Real Deal!

 

You can find these chocolates Here or at your local Costco. These chocolates would be a great holiday treat!

This is a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.

Silicone Burger Press by Bear Grillware

I love the idea of preparing food ahead of time and freezing, don't you? It makes my life so much easy to spend a little extra time on the weekend to prepare healthy and fun meals for my family during the week. In our house, we LOVE to freeze things. We have a freezer in the garage that is basically just for meat, extra loaves of bread and chicken nuggets. Costco is our go-to for getting bulk -size meat and freezing it- Hello vacuumed sealed package of 6 tri-tips, and 5-pounds of grounds beef, welcome to my freezer.

The 8-in-1 Burger Press by Bear Grillware is a great way to buy or make fresh food and freeze it for later. It can be used to make burgers- think of all the ways you can customize burgers for all of your family and friends. You can stuff your burgers with cheese, jalapenos, or whatever you desire. You can make and/or freeze 8 quarter-pound burgers in one mold. I LOVE that this product can be used for other purposes. I used it for cookies. Whenever I make cookies, we end up with SO. MANY. COOKIES. AND, I eat way too many because they are just sitting there. With this product, I simply make the cookie dough and place it in the different slots. Freeze and then I can pop out one or 12 depending on what I want and just bake from there.

The slots are even big enough so that I can make a big pot of soup, pour it into the mold, place the top mold on the bottom to secure, freeze, and reheat later! The mold ends up laying flat in your freezer so you can stack until your heart is content!

This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own.

Moni's Cozy Kitchen

I am always on the lookout for new pretties for our new house. I LOVE to shop and find fun and unique items that can be displayed- even better if they can serve more than one purpose! Our kitchen is probably the least decorated room in the house at this point. The color of the cabinets and counter tops are basically the opposite of our old house so none of our old decor works.  I saw this perfect tempered glass cutting board. Moni's Cozy Kitchen Designs has created such a cute 16 x 12 inch cutting board that can also be displayed. I love that it shares 'Kitchen Rules' and the colors allow it to with basically any color scheme! This would be so cute displayed on the counter top and then can be used to cut up whatever is being served for a meal. You can never have too many cutting boards!

This would also make a great Christmas, birthday or Mother's Day gift for that special person in your life who likes to cook!

Check our Moni's Cozy Kitchen on Facebook Here.

This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.

Amazon Fire Stick

Recently, we got the Amazon Fire Stick. We don't have cable so there aren't a TON of fun and educational programs for the kiddos to watch. Sometimes we watch Netflix and they love to watch SuperWhy (I sing the theme song in my sleep, ugh) and Thomas the Train episodes.  I don't have a problem with them watching either of these occasionally because they offer good lessons and SuperWhy teaches a lot about letters, sounds, and spelling.

The Amazon Fire Stick allows you to plug it in to most new televisions and connect to the internet. One of the greatest things about it is that it is portable. You can take it to a hotel, to another TV anywhere as long as there is WiFi and an HDMI port. 

As a mom, I do not like the idea of the television being a babysitter for my kids, but I think it's a nice treat, or helpful when Aaron and I are cleaning or working on a project to let the kids watch some fun and educational television. 

The Amazon Fire Stick connects to your TV's HDMI port giving you access to over 4,000 games, apps and channels. This makes it very easy to take on trips, to dorm rooms, anywhere you want! We set ours up in the kids' playroom (more on that later) so they can have a little downtime and watch Winnie the Pooh or Clifford in their own little space.

Do you have Amazon Prime? If you don't, you should! I love getting to purchase just about everything and get FREE Two-Day Shipping! Just the free shipping during the holiday season alone was enough to cover the cost for the whole year! It felt like we were buying more items then we really needed to get to the Free Shipping threshold before we got Prime. We got our money's worth in just a short time and love that I am reaping the benefits of the decision to get Amazon Prime. I also take advantage of Amazon Prime Music and Aaron and I have watched several movies and television shows through Prime TV. If you haven't yet, check it out!

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, endless.com, smallparts.com or myhabit.com.

Stranger Things - Review

Have you watched it yet? Stranger Things on Netflix? I bet you have at least heard about it. This show was recommended to me by my sister and again by my boss. My sister- who is not a suspenseful or sci-fi enthusiast- described it as "kinda scary but in a creepy way, I hated it but I couldn't stop watching." Knowing her as I do, and typically loving suspenseful entertainment, I was game.

I had high hopes for the first episode, however was thoroughly disappointed.  Had my sister not recommend it, I probably would have stopped watching right then. But I persevered and I am sure glad I did. 

Let's start with the acting. I was BLOWN AWAY by Winona Ryder. Granted, I probably haven't seen her in a movie since Edward Scissorhands or The Crucible, but she was amazing! She made the show for me! I admit that I first thought it was a crazy idea to have her, but she sold it beyond measure. Her character was By Far the hardest to portray and she was amazing. And the kids, what a talented bunch. I don't think I have seen kid actors quite as the ones in this show. Very Impressive.

This is a very story driven show. A lot is going on and there are scary moments, but I think that in the end it was all about how these characters really reacted to what was happening. I still have questions though. I wasn't thrilled with the ending of Season 1 and was very happy to hear that there will be a Season 2. If you haven't watched it yet, check it out. With only 8 episodes, it is very easy to binge watch!

SHIKSHOOK

This is a sponsored post - all opinions expressed are my own.

I recently received this cocktail shaker from SHIKSHOOK and I am loving it! It comes in a fancy black velvet bag which makes storing the shaker and all of the accessories so easy. It comes with 2 pourers and a double jigger, as well as a code to get 100 recipes online (however, those can simply just be googled instead).

I haven't ventured much outside the realm of a daiquiri or Rum and Diet Coke, so I am excited to be able to try all sorts of new concoctions with my new Shaker. This would also make a great birthday, Christmas or any other special day gift too!

I think this will be my favorite new drink: 

The Orange Creamsicle

Ingredients:

• 1 oz Orange Vodka
• 1 oz Triple Sec
• 1/2 OJ (Orange Juice)
• 1/2 oz Cream
• 1 Scoop Ice Cream (Optional, Exclude ice cubes if using ice cream)

Preparation:

1. Add Ingredients into cocktail shaker with 2 or 3 cubes of ice
2. Shake 3-4 times
3. Pour everything into a glass
4. Garnish with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
5. Serve and Enjoy

Now You See Me 2 - Movie Review

I love a good robin hood story, don't you? And I love it EVEN more when magicians show you how they did their tricks or illusions. You get both of those in this movie. I loved the first one that came out a few years ago, so I was so excited to see that they made a sequel.

The movie starts off about 18 months after the first one ends. The Horsemen are still in hiding while the FBI is looking for them. However, they stage an epic comeback to take down a tech magnate and show the FBI the real masterminds behind it all. Now You see Me 2 did a great job to extend the story from the first movie and expand on it without being boring. This movie had me just as captivated as the first installment. Lizzy Caplan did a great job replacing Isla Fisher- even though Isla is set to appear in the third installment.

It is still weird for me to see Daniel Radcliffe as anything but Harry Potter, even though I know he has tried desperately to break that stereotype.

You learn more about Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and his connection to all of this, with a surprising twist in the end. There were a few predictable moments, but the ending, OHHH the ending. I was shocked. I typically spend a movie trying to figure out what is really going on and predicting what will happen. This movie was all about misdirection, as a movie about magicians should be. I loved the ending and how they pulled it off.

This is one of the best sequels I have seen in a looonng time. If you want to enjoy yourself while catching up with your old pals from Now You See Me, check out Now You See Me 2!

Can't wait to see the third one!

The Gambler - Movie Review

I have been a fan of Mark Wahlberg since he was Marky Mark. The movies I have seen of his, do not seem to dissapoint (however, I have not seen a few of his 'comedy' movies lately such as Ted or Daddy's Home). I prefer action movies to just about anything these days. I find myself getting bored with Dramas, too scared for Thrillers and that most Comedys nowadays are just an excuse to say bad words and show naked girls.  My favorite Mark Wahlberg movie is The Italian Job with Renaissance Man in a close second.

Recently, I watched The Gambler thinking there would be some similarities between it and the Italian Job. Boy was I wrong! This movie is way more intellectual that I want in a movie. I want to be entertained, not having  to think about the inner stuggles of every single character in the movie. In the movie, Jim Bennet (Mark Wahlberg's character) is an English Professor by day and a Gambler by night. He comes from a well-to-do family, but turns away from his silver spoon to decide who he really is. You feel for the guy in this movie. He owes a debt, plays blackjack to win back 80% of the money owed, they makes one final bet and losses it all. This happens over and over again.

This movie seemed very dark to me. He was so down on his luck and addicted to gambling that he knew death was a real possible outcome at any moment. He was willing to give up everything. It showed that life is about decisions. How one decision can change the course of your life. At one point, Bennet's mother gave him the money he needed to pay off his debts. His choice with what to do with that money, pay off his debts or gamble it away, was a key decision in his life. It also showed, how desperate he was to gamble. His life was on the line  yet he still chose to make bets instead of paying off those trying to kill him. In the end, does he make the right decision? Check out the movie and see for yourself.

j2 line Sports and Outdoor Towels

As a mom, I am always looking for new ways to keep things, and my kids, clean and dry.  I never knew who things could get so dirty and how many liquids could end on the floor in a day! Not to mention and I am already taking so many items with me when we leave the house; diapers, wipes, extra clothes, snacks, water bottles, an occasional toy and everything else that is for my person use. I don't need to add anything else bulky to my diaper bag. 

These towels from j2line are the perfect solution. This little package comes with 2 towels. One is similar to a regular bath towel (approx. 51 inches x 28 inches) and the other is closer to the size of a hand towel (approx. 27 inches by 13 inches). These towels are great for so many situations; spills, swimming, a day at the beach, camping, hiking and so much more! They are great camping towels because you can hang them or lay them on the ground to dry in under an hour.

These travel towels also come with these great snaps on one corner so you can attach them to a backpack or hiking pack. Genius!

 These towels are super soft, the kids love to use them!

This is a sponsored post. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

Batman v. Superman - Movie Review

Wow. I don't even know where to begin with this one. Let's start with some history....I have never read a comic book. There I said it. However, I have seen all of the Batman movies going back to Michael Keaton as Batman. I also love watching Gotham, which is currently about to start its third season. As far as Superman goes, I am far less versed. I never saw a movie with Christopher Reeves as Superman, but I was an avid viewer of Smallville and the more recent Superman movies with Henry Cavill and Brandon Routh.  I realize this doesn't qualify me as any kind of expert, but I do come into this movie with some background knowledge.

I wanted Batman v. Superman to be great. But we don't always get what we want, do we. This movie started out soooooo slow, which is exactly how I have felt about the more recent Superman movies, too. And it was very confusing as to what was going on. All you see is the city being destroyed by Superman and his fight with Zod, while the city gets destoyed and people die. Most of the citizens carry deep hatred towards Superman. I didn't like this idea that this person who does nothing but attempt to do good and save others, was disliked so much. However, it does resemble the idea of how quickly public opinion can change based on a spin of a story, or how others want us to view the story.

In my opinion, Ben Affleck looked too old in the movie. They made a mention that he had been fighting crime for 20 years - which makes no sense that it took this long for Batman and Superman to meet up...really? Oh! And the idea that you can basically try to fight someone to the death,  spend time to develop weapons that you know will make him a mere mortal to kill him and he mentions his mother's name, which happens to the be same as your mom's name, and all of the sudden you want to help and insist you will save his mother's life? Boy, that one threw me. That seemed a little too much like a a show from TGIF where there is some kind of conflict (DJ Tanner doesn't fit in on her first day of Jr. High), and then all is resolved before the 30-minute show is over.

I did enjoy watching Jesse Eisenberg and Gal Gadot portray their respective characters - Lex Luthor and Wonder Woman. And Henry Cavill and Amy Adams were great too. Jeremy Irons as Alfred didn't sit well with me, though.

I know I am not the only one who wasn't jazzed with this movie or Afflect as Batman. I read somewhere that 'they' want Afflect to portray Batman in about 5 more movies- through several Justice League movies and 3 more Batman movies. Do we really want a Batman that can join AARP? Five movies seems excessive to me, but maybe forcing it down our throats will change our minds. It's all about the spin, right?

Bad Moms - Movie Review

 

 

I had some girl time this past weekend with my bff (whaaat, first time in probably four years!) And we took advantage and went to see Bad Moms. I wasn't too sure what to expect because most comedies these days are just plain dirty. And you never know if they show all of the funny parts in the previews and the rest of the movie is just plain boring.

 

Bad Moms did not disappoint. You are introduced to 3 very different moms; a stay at home mom of 4, a single mom and Amy (the main character) who has too much on her plate. The combination of these 3 ladies is amazing. There were parts that we as moms could relate to very easily, lines spoken that maybe we wish we could say, and actions taken that maybe just maybe we dream about. This movie had me laughing more than anything I have seen in a VERY long time. Granted, sometimes I was blushing And laughing, but laughing nonetheless.

 

The was full frontal female nudity in the beginning of the movie that just didn't need to be there and a little more cussing than I am used to, but this movie is funny. And not funny in the way of "I hate my life as a mom and this movie shows that I can have a break from that and my life would be great" funny. But funny in how the women talked and the jokes about female anatomy, it brought me back to days as a high school cheerleader and the jokes and relationships you have then.

 

It all went back to family. It's her kids that keep Amy going and standing up for what is right. It's great to see the message that we moms are all doing what we think is best. And we shouldn't judge each other we should be each other up because being a mom is HARD. I also love a movie with such an ensamble cast. This movie is a good time.

 

 

Solar String Lights

In the past, I never gave much thought to the lighting in our backyard. But our new house already had a few solar spotlights set up at the base of the trees and it looks so neat. I love the idea of solar lights because you can set it and forget it as the sun charges the lights.  These fun solar string lights by Zeso will add a touch of color to anyone's backyard.

The package says that it takes 10 hours to charge, however the lights lit up after charging for roughly an hour.

Here are photos of the box:

I expected the lights to be larger, based on the pictures on the box. However, they give off plenty of light when they turn on.  The box comes with the string of lights (20 feet long), instructions, warranty card and the stake for the solar panel.

The stake was simple enough to put together

This string of lights was the perfect length to be placed between our palm trees. 

Here are the lights at night: 

This is a sponsored post. The opinions expressed are my own.