Every time I go to the store for practical items, I budget a little time to walk the toy aisles just to see if there's anything new, fun, and/or interesting.
When visiting Target the other day to buy a new planner, I couldn't help but get distracted by the new Star Wars LEGO display featuring the new little figures.
(Is there an official term for that?)
Any who, miniature people, LEGO Star Wars style!! With lights flashing on and off above the pieces.
I was dazzled. I want all of them.
As a kid I was LEGO deprived. First because the sets are super expensive. And second, because I have 3 younger brothers, and we're each three years apart (Robbie's nine years younger), and kids like to eat small things, possibly swallow said small things.
I was also playdough deprived, too, but that's because my Mom got tired of the colorful dough ending up smooshed into the carpet and drying, solid, unremovable, unless the carpet itself was snipped.
Regardless, these LEGO pieces are cool, and it's on my bucket list to visit LEGO land, just to see all the miniature cities built out of LEGO.
I've always wanted to take a cooking class. It's been on my bucket list.
The opportunity came with Sunsational Gourmet Melanie's, which is located in Pleasant Grove. The cooking school is upstairs, and down below is a shop that sells British goods and a British bakery:
587 W. State Street, Suite A-1, for those who want to check it out. (It's next to a Dance Studio).
801-785-0400
We took two classes, the first week being an Italian theme, and the second week French in theme. Both weeks we arrived with all the ingredients we needed at our station, complete with an apron to wear.
We never had to do dishes once as we prepared each meal, which was awesome. Melanie was there taking each item that needed to be cleaned and then giving it back to us.
Chef Scott has a lot of experience in the culinary world, and he's an excellent instructor. I learned so much each time I went.
The recipes.
Cooking the Chicken Cordon Bleu.
I was intimidated when I found out I was cooking this, but it was really easy!
And it's the best Chicken Cordon Bleu I've ever eaten. Pretty awesome since I made it, and can cook it again.
Italian Wedding Soup. So easy and affordable to make at home.
Beet Salad. This was so, so good!
The brochure.
The classes are $65 dollars a person, and for a class there needs to be 6 people in attendance. Classes must be scheduled 2 weeks in advance.
That may seem like a lot of money, but you definitely get your moneys worth. Chef Scott and Melanie work very hard, and they go out of their way to get the best ingredients.
The FIFA fútbol, aka football, aka soccer (because we Americans are weird) World Cup ended this last Sunday, and it's been a crazy month.
(And for the record I believe Soccer in the States should be called Football, and American Football should be called Grid Iron, but that's just my two cents.)
Anyway, Spain not surviving the group round was a total shock. That game they played with the Netherlands was tragic.
And the USA making it to round 16, kicking out Portugal, was such a pleasant suprise! And it put Tim Howard on the map. (He's a total Time Lord BTW, in case you were wondering :0)
And then Argentina and Germany played their final match. My brother Robbie, who lived in Argentina for two years serving a mission, was so focused on the game: curled up in a ball, pillow to his chest, eyes glued . . . I'm only half exaggerating.
Robbie: This game is going to be so intense! Steven: I'm rooting for Germany. Robbie: Shush! Shush your mouth!
* Later *
(Steven catching the last minute of the game)
Steven: Robbie.. Are you ok? Robbie: ... *Looks left, then right* ... Me: Robbie? Robbie: Yeah.. I'm just super bummed.
Poor kid.
Germany won. They played a great game. Germany played many great games, including beating us in Group G, earning 7 points to our 4.
But still . . .
This happened, coldness between Manuel Neuer and Lionel Messi, the Golden Glove Winner and Golden Ball winner, respectively.
Meanwhile, over in the magical land of Hogwarts, aka Pottermore.com, the Quidditch World cup was underway. Quidditch World Cup 2014!! And we even got the last match in real time via instant posting on the site.
The top 4 teams was USA, Japan, Bulgaria, and Brazil. We took 3rd and 4th with Japan, meanwhile Bulgaria and Brazil went for first and second.
Ginny Weasley Potter is the Daily Prophet sport reporter. You can read all her commentary under the Daily Prophet tab on Pottermore, all 23 entrees between all the countries. Honestly, it's a lot of fun.
Rita Skeeter, that ol' snoop, provided the gossip, which was hilarious! If you want to know what modern-day Harry and friends are up to, you need to wander over to the Daily Prophet.
Worth it!
And just so you know, us Muggles can play Quidditch, too . . .
And yes, they run around with a broom between their legs.
There's A LOT of teams around the US that play. And you can even support the USQ (United States Quidditch) team by buying your very own USQ jersey.
Planes: Fire & Rescue is a step above its predecessor Planes, a Disney Toons flick that was released only last year. Even Cars didn't get a sequel this fast.
But that's okay with me. I might be in the minority, but I really enjoy these movies that live in the world of Cars. And my Nieces love them, too.
In this round we meet up again with Dusty, a crop duster turned racer. He lives in a humble town, but outside those fields Dusty is famous, winning race after race. Problem arises when Dusty's gears have problems, and while trying to prove he can race, Dusty takes flight only to crash, causing a huge fire and getting the local landing strip closed down.
It's at this point where the movie really soars. When Dusty begins learning the art of Fire Fighting, flight style.
Usually when a movie throws in a set of new characters it's easy to feel bogged down and lose interest, but in this case I loved these new characters Dusty meets up with. I like them so much more then Dusty's hometown friends.
And the fire scenes are intense and beautifully animated.
As a kid I first became aware of Fire Fighting Planes and their danger through the movie Always, a 1989 film directed by Steven Spielberg. (Must watch film, by the way.) And this movie plays tribute to the brave men who fight fire, saving those they've never met. Risking their lives.
I went with my Dad, taking my two nieces, and they sat through the whole thing! Completely engaged with the movie.
I wish more time could have been spent with the new fire fighting characters and their perils. Planes: Fire & Rescue would have been a stronger movie.
MPAA: Rated PG for action and some peril.
BTW, I LOVE the song that plays during this trailer, which always plays during the film. I need to download it. Great song.
Yesterday morning my Grandpa R. got to fly in a B-29.
FiFi, the planes name, is the only operational B-29 in the World.
This occasion was all the more special because my Grandpa was a B-29 Crew Chief during the Korean War. Back then he was apart of the 15th Air force.
And he was in Strategic Air Command.
We watched Strategic Air Command staring James Stewart, all about the B-29, in preparation.
I love classic movies.
Waiting for the flight.
Getting debriefed.
My parents waiting after the flight to take some pictures.
My Grandpa loved it! Heh, he was actually pretty nervous, saying over again that "He's too old for this." There just happened to be a 90 year old WWII vet. who flew as well, who also said "He was too old." By the end they both had fun.
My Grandpa with the pilot.
Good times :0)
Funny story: My Grandpa R originally enlisted as a Marine, went through basic training and everything, but when the Korean War started he had an inkling his regiment was going to be shipped out, so to speak, so my Grandpa immediately transferred to the Air Force. He never heard back from his Marine friends who went over to fight at the start of the war.
Your Bijoux Box is a Jewelry Subscription monthly box, costing $35 with free shipping. Ships to the USA and Canada.
And this is the anniversary box with 4 pieces instead 3 :0)
The big reveal!
Each box comes with an info card talking about each piece, why it was selected, and some styling options. The Your Bijoux Box Blog also has some styling tips.
Tropical Firecracker Necklace
This was the spoiler necklace for this month, and I love it! Unfortunately it arrived damaged. I emailed them this morning, and usually I hear within a few hours, but haven't heard back. Hopefully they can send a replacement, because I already have an outfit I want to wear with this necklace.
Fiji Drops
I love these earrings, simple and elegant.
Daisy Adair Collar
This is my favorite piece in the box. I can imagine this looking beautiful with a lace top. Heh, unfortunately I don't have one, so I'll keep a look out :0)
Pretty Parfait Earrings
This months birthday gift. Simple in a beautiful mint green. These will look nice with the Daisy Adair Collar.
The original Planet of the Apes, circa 1968, is the stuff of legend. A young Charlton Heston finds himself on a planet where the Ape/Human roles are reversed, only to learn by films end that this alien world wasn't alien at all, but a future Earth.
Ground braking and memorable.
Both Rise and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes are prequels to this 1968 film.
Knowing the ending before the beginning makes watching Dawn of the Planet of the Apes all the more interesting. (And you don't need to see "Rise" before "Dawn." Dawn stands all on its own.)
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes starts where Rise left off. The World covered by plague and war, the Human race in shambles as we speed towards self annihilation. Are all humans dead? Caesar, the first Ape to be given intelligence by a caring scientist Will Rodman, discuses the possibility of humans being alive with Koba, an Ape who was abused and experimented upon by humans. Caesar remembers humans fondly, thanks to Rodman, whereas Koba is filled with distrust and rage.
The Apes follow Caesar, who is the leader of their community. They're situated amidst the giant Red Woods, North of San Fransisco. Already these Apes are starting to seem human, with rooms and family quarters in their woodsy village, yet they're still wild and animalistic, adjusting to their new heightened sentience.
What follows is a film full of suspense and intrigue.
When I go to the theater, I go to be entertained and transported. I didn't feel time pass, though this movie is an even 2 hours in length. The whole experience was a journey with interesting concepts, great character development, cinematography, effects, and plot.
And the animation/CGI of the Apes is incredible. I was impressed with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which mainly had Caesar, yet in this film there's a lot of Apes in prime roles, and they blended well into the environment and felt real. What made them feel all the more real was the animation of their eyes. "The eyes are a window to the soul," and the animators did a superb job animating the Apes eyes, telling a story in moments where dialogue is not needed.
All the performances are strong.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is worth all the hype it's getting. This is a great film that improves upon the first.
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief strong language. In terms of the MPAA rating, I do caution adults bringing children to this film, because it really is quite violent.
(I always provide a trailer at the bottom of my reviews, but I actually recommend not watching it and just seeing the movie. It's best to be surprised, and trailers these days give away too much.)
