Let Me Entertain You

The fun part of a new season is the new entertainment that comes with it. New TV shows, new (and old) movies, books, yes books, blogs, songs and more. Let's take a bite of how I've been spending/wasting my time shall we? Thanks for the post inspiration MB!

What I'm Reading ::
On my nightstand: Present Over Perfect, Savour

In my mailbox monthly: Bon Appétit

In my inbox daily: The Newsette

What I'm Watching / movies ::
New releases: Sully, Girl on the Train

As I fall asleep: Dan in Real Life, You've Got Mail (the best fall movies)

THis is Us // Starring my #1 Gilmore Crush Jess aka MIlo Ventimiglia

What I'm Watching / TV :: 
On Tuesdays: This is Us (WATCH IT!!! Especially if you are a fan of the the next two shows listed)

On Netflix: Gilmore Girls, Parenthood

What I'm Listening To ::
My current fav: This Girl by Kungs vs. Cookin'

All day everyday: oldies by Van Morrison

On my neighborhood walks: OKC Over Easy, Bon Appetit podcasts

What I'm Playing ::
Even though I'm no help to the team: Kickball (They just keep me on around because I bring snacks and make up cheers).

via The Kitchn

How have you been entertaining your days this fall? Next up for me, a dinner party of sorts. Something that I always plan to do and never get around to. 

Annie

Countdown to the Oscars

It's finally Oscar time! I love a good award show, but you can't deny the glamour and prestige that the Oscars hold. I barely saw any of the movies up for awards, but I still can't miss it. I've made plans to catch a showing of The Big Short tomorrow night so hopefully I'll be a little more educated. 

brown sugar sriracha sesame popcorn // rocky road milkshake // oscar ballot

I fully plan to be staked out on my couch for most of Sunday. You have to start early to see all the red carpet action (the real reason we watch the Oscars). Fancy popcorn, milkshakes and most likely a glass of wine will all be attendance! Make sure and print out your Oscar ballot too! It's the Super Bowl of award shows.

Annie

Bites While You Watch: Christmas Edition

Since it's officially Christmas season I wanted to shake things up and revamp my Bites While You Watch post. This time I'm doing food and movie pairings with my favorite Christmas movies.  I'm a sucker for a good Christmas movie and shamelessly watch them in the dead of summer sometimes. I've picked a dish from each movie or a recipe that reminds me of them. I spy an ultimate movie watch party in my future full of lots of bites and Christmas cheer!

Eloise at Christmastime--whimsical sugar cookies

Eloise is one of my favorite fictional characters, so you can bet Eloise at Christmastime ranks high on my list of favorite Christmas movies. I was always jealous of her big pink Christmas tree that decorated her Plaza hotel penthouse. Bake up some of my signature sugar cookies in Christmas shapes, but break outside the norm and decorate your trees and candy canes with pink and purple icing! Eloise would sure love these!

Elf--spaghetti

Hold the syrup, pop tarts and sprinkles, but whip up a big bowl of spaghetti and jump on the couch to spread some Christmas cheer. 

The Holiday--fettuccine

Christmas fettuccine anyone? Miles apart, Iris and Amanda both enjoy fettuccine on Christmas Eve in the movie.  I don't know if you've ever recognized it, but my mouth always waters at this scene because it looks so good. Random I know, but next to you watch it you'll know what I mean. 

White Christmas--hot chocolate

"Snow, snow, snow, snow!" This classic Christmas movie deserves nothing but classic hot chocolate paired with it! Fun fact, White Christmas is my all time favorite Christmas movie!

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York--ice cream sundae

Better than the first Home Alone if you ask me. Kevin must have known about Eloise's Plaza Hotel penthouse because he too checks-in to the luxurious hotel. Right after he checks-in, Kevin treats himself to a rather large room service ice cream sundae. Pull out all the toppings and treat yourself, it's Christmas after all. 

While You Were Sleeping--mashed potatoes

"These mashed potatoes are so creamy, very mashed" Kind of an inside joke between my sisters and I, but there is a part in this Sandra Bullock flick where she is at her "future in-laws" house and the mom repeats how creamy and mashed the potatoes are. For some reason it caught on with us and it's one of our favorite movie quotes. 

Okay so now my question is what's your favorite Christmas movie and favorite Christmas dish? Do any of my pairings match up for you?

Annie

Bites While You Watch

Put in a movie, take a bite, and stay awhile. I got the idea for this post from Emily's food and movie pairings post from a few weeks ago. I wanted to create my own version using some of my favorite movies and the food that reminds me of them. Use these bite ideas to take your next movie night up a notch. 

Dan in Real Life--fluffy stack of pancakes

I sometimes like to watch movies on Saturday mornings and Dan in Real Life is my favorite to do so with. Fluffy pancakes like the ones Marie makes in the movie are the perfect dish to pair with this good for your soul movie. 

Don't ask but, "I don't want to go, with, the pig, face" is one of my sister and I's favorite movie quotes. You probably don't even remember what part of the movie it's from but we find ourselves referencing it a lot. I told you, just don't ask. 

It's Complicated--french croque monsieur

One of my all time favorites! Whip up these fancy croque monsieurs for you and someone special like Meryl Streep does for Steve Martin. If your feeling crazy, they can be followed by "warm chocolate croissants," Meryl's specialty in the movie!

Mystic Pizza--take out pizza

An oldie, but a new favorite of mine after my boss from this summer recommended it to me. Mystic Pizza sets the scene for the perfect girls night in. The title says it all but take-out pizza is the required food pairing.

Father of the Bride--hot dogs

You might think I'd choose something a little classier, like wedding cake, but I love the scene when George Banks loses it in the super market "because some big-shot over at the wiener company got together with some big-shot over at the bun company and decided to rip off the American public!"

Father of the Bride is family favorite movie, perfect for grilling out then crowding on the couch to watch this classic. I'll go ahead and guess FOTB will be on repeat in the coming season with Kathleen getting married, we love to refer to my dad as George Banks. Try  this  recipe for homemade buns to classy your dogs up a bit. 

Because I Said So-big bowl of single girl pasta

Because I said so is my ultimate, night to myself, movie. The opener of the movie shows Mandy Moore and Diane Keaton both in their homes cooking up a big bowl of pasta and a big glass of red wine. Every time I watch this movie I wish I had a big bowl of pasta to accompany me. 

One Fine Day--frozen hot chocolate

"one fine day, you'll look at me, and you will know, our love was, meant to beeeeee" 

This movie used to always come on ABC Family when I was growing up. I always think of New York and Serendipity's Frozen hot chocolate when I think of this movie. Since I'm thousands of miles away from Serendipity, this recipe has me intrigued. Nothing compares to a good movie and a yummy sweet treat!

Do you have any food and movie pairings of your own? I'd love to hear them.

Annie

Few of My Favorite Things

" I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel soooo bad!"

Going along with my New Year's resolution of maintaining happiness and working to change any bad mood to a good mood, I'm going to start a new blog series were I share a few of my favorite things a couple times a month.

First up, my all time favorite movies. They have been my favorite movies for forever! I could watch these a million times and never get tired of them! I've seen them so many times I can quote almost every line and feel like I am a part of the movie. They are all romantic comedies and have a lot of the same actors. I stick to what I like.

1. Father of the Bride Part 2 (The best sequel there ever was)
"Mother and daughter pregnant togeeeether!" 

I'm partial to this movie because my parents got the idea to name me Annie after seeing the first Father of the Bride. Anyway, it is my all time favorite movie and always will be.

2. Because I Said So

A story about an overprotective mother trying to find a date for her daughter. With three quirky sisters and their crazy mom it reminds me of my family, although we are much more sane than these girls.

3. It's Complicated

I've watched it the past three nights, it's just that good. It makes me want to move to Southern California and open a store like Meryl Streeps bakery!

4. Dan in Real Life

"I don't want to go with the pig, face!" I know it doesn't make any sense, but it is one of my favorite movie quotes. 

5. You've Got Mail

Last but certainly not least. You've Got Mail is a Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan classic. Without doubt it makes me crave fall and a bouquet of sharpened pencils.

images

Annie