The Movie Theatre Experience...Do You Still Enjoy Going?
Times have changed when it comes to the big screen experience. Prices have gone up like crazy for the tickets and do not even get me started on the concession stand prices. I mean $12 for a bucket of popcorn, seriously.
And despite all of the lecturing promos about talking excessively and cellphones use during the movie people still do what they want without any consideration to you.
Why bother going? Why not invest in a nice size television, a surround system, and a comfy recliner. It would probably save you lots of money in the long run. You can buy the DVD, rent from Red Box, or subscribe to Amazon Instant Video, which I love.
You can eat what you want and the bathrooms are always to your liking. Plus movies go from the theatre to DVD in a matter of months now.
Having said all of that I still love going to the movies. Some movies are a must see at the theatre. Nothing really beats to movie going experience but it is pricey, particularly for a family of 4. I have some recommendation for saving you some money.
First I always go the AMC theatre at the mall near my house, so I purchased the AMC Stubs card. The card is $12 a year and pays for itself during the summer block bluster months. You earn money/points on the card when you purchase tickets or buy at the concession. Not only do I earn $10 every couple of visits, I can upgrade my drinks and popcorn for free. Pay for a small and get a medium. Another recommendation is preparation.
I head to Target before a movie trip. Target carries movie theatre size candies for about $1, which will save you about $3 per candy item. Lastly, I always bring a bottle of water in my purse. I refuse to pay $4 for something that is practically free.
Share your tips for saving at the movies.
Sunday Dinners...Go Big Or Keep It Simple?
I tend make big Sunday dinners, except during football season. During football season my Sundays consist of finger foods all day long. The rest of the year I enjoy making roasts, grilling, and going all out. If I am going to make a big meal, this is really the only day of the week when I will have the time.
I guess for me, big Sunday dinner have always been sort of a tradition in my family. We went to church on Sunday morning and then had people over after church and provided a mini feast. As a child I always looked forward to Sunday school and lots of food and friends afterwards. I could not be more opposite as an adult.
Now I enjoy the intimate family meal, blowing up the bounce house in the backyard for the girls, and having a nice cocktail or two with the hubby. Sundays are good but unfortunately Mondays are just around the corner.
Sick Days..This Is What You Need In Your Survival Kit
Today has physically been a rough day for me. I have had a headache, ear ache, and a sore throat. Add to that runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and fatigue, and you get downright miserableness (if that's a word). I have been lucky, so far, to dodge this horrible flu season. However, I am not feeling so lucky right now.
Before leaving work today, and yes I went in and possibly spread my germs, I was given lots of advice about how to get better. I was told to go home and get some rest, drink some tea, eat some soup, gargle with ginger, and drink lots of water. All sound advice right?
The sick day survival kit can consist of many items. There is tea, which will usually be recommended as herbal, or green tea. There is the over-the-counter medication, and sleep or rest are the biggest recommendations because the body needs to rest to truly recover.
Here is the complete list of my recommendation for your survival kit...
- Tea
- Water
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- DayQuil/NyQuil, Mucinex
- Tylenol
- Sleep/Rest
- Humidifier
- Vicks Vapor Rub
- Cough Drops
Sleep is by far my favorite from the survival kit, with tea coming in a close second. As a matter of fact I am sipping tea right now, decaffeinated of course, and soon heading back to bed. Thank goodness it's almost the weekend.
The cold and flu season is upon us. Get your flu shot, wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, and disinfect where you can. And if all else fails, you may need a survival kit. What's in your sick day survival kit?
What's Your T.V. Guilty Pleasure? Come One Fess Up!
I'm going to be honest, I am already suffering withdraws with both "American Horror Story" (AHS) and my new favorite "Sleepy Hollow" (SH) wrapping up their seasons. What's a girl to do with her favorite shows on hiatus. I am left feeling like something is missing. I am not sure how I feel about the season finale of AHS: The Coven. I enjoyed that the most evil characters received their comeuppance, but sad that Misty became stuck. As far as SH, the new season should start off with a bang this Fall, and I could not be more excited. How many shows leaves everyone of the main characters in such serious peril. I mean stuck in purgatory, stuck in jail, buried alive, kidnapped by the Headless Horseman, and possibly dead. OMG! I cannot wait for the return.
Well, I do take comfort in the fact that "The Walking Dead" (TWD) returns this Sunday, and "Scandal" my true guilty pleasure is back. I am so excited to see what is going to happen to the group on TWD now that the prison has fallen and everyone is scattered. Rick suffered a major beat down at the hands of the Governor, Darryl and Beth are on the run, baby Judith is missing, and Michonne looks as if she is having a break down after taking out about 20 Walker. Don't let me down TWD.
On Scandal we get to see what Mama Pope is up to. From the looks of things Mama Pope will be up to no good. Anyway I am super excited. How about you? What's your guilty pleasure or t.v. addiction?
Can Fast Food Be Healthy?
The words fast food and healthy do not usually go together but can they? Is it possible to enjoy fast food without loading up on fat? I think the answer is yes. Many fast food chains offer healthy, low calorie options, but that is not usually what we are there for. Just like many Americans I love french fries and burgers, but I also love a great salad, turkey sandwich, or a yummy soup.
At Wendy's you can get a half size caesar side salad for 250 calories and you can add a small chili for another 180 calories. That's not bad and is actually really filling. Or you can grab some Panera Bread for breakfast and have their breakfast power sandwich, which is delicious, for 340 calories. Go back for lunch and get their cream of chicken wild Rice soup for 310 calories.
Don't get me wrong, I love cooking and taking leftovers for lunch. But sometimes there are no leftovers from the night before, or I am craving something different. It is nice to know that I can get fast food, and have healthy options. Now, whether or not I am choosing the healthy options is between me, and my scale.
I would also like to add the caveat that low calorie doesn't necessarily mean healthy. Don't forget to look at the fat, sugar, and sodium content.
When you go fast food, do you go healthy?
Saturdays...Do They Make You Miss The Weekdays?
My weekdays are crazy with dropping off kids, going to work, picking up kids, cooking dinner, and bath and bedtime rituals. All week long I look forward to the weekend and when it comes I ask myself what exactly was I looking forward to? As a mom with young girls my Saturdays are super busy. I need to squeeze in a workout, both my girls have swimming and dance classes, there's the obligatory family fun time usually to Sea World or the zoo, and hopefully date night with the hubby.
Don't get me wrong, I love my family and feel unbelievably fortunate, but my Saturdays are exhausting. Rare are the days of sleeping in and silence but I guess I would not have it any other way. Despite my griping this is what I signed up for. Every time I think to complain I remind myself that my girls are growing up fast and before I know it I will have an empty nest.
I do get to have wonderful Sundays though. A nice cup of coffee, watching the news, chatting with my husband, and relaxing. So I guess my Saturdays are busy but in a good way. And my Sundays are awesome and revitalizing. When I think more about it I would not change a thing.
How are you spending your Saturdays???
To Be Organic Or Not To Be... Is Buying Organic Worth The Cost?
I must say that the word organic has a nice ring to it. It makes me think natural and healthy but unfortunately also makes me think expensive. The cost of organic fruits and vegetables are nearly double that of the chemically soaked others. So I guess the question is "is it worth it to buy organic?" I think the answer is both yes and no. I saw a news story once that talked about the value both monetary and health wise in buying organic. The story basically said it is worth the cost if you are purchasing fruits with thin skins, such as tomatoes and peaches because the pesticides and chemicals are more likely to penetrate the fruit. But not worth it for the likes of banana or melons with thicker skins.
I grow my own tomatoes so I guess I am safe there but I also started buying free range, cage free organic eggs. These eggs are nearly triple the price of your typical dozen but I feel good about "possibly" supporting a more humane existence for the chickens. That brings me to my other concern and that is trust. How do we know that these products are truly what they say they are. How do I know these chicken weren't kept in cages and fed hormones and chemically tainted feed. I guess I will never know for certain but I guess I can hope and know that I am always trying to do what is best for my family.
Thoughts? Do you buy organic food? Do you buy other organic materials such as towels and sheets?