2016 Steamy Valentine's Playlist

For your listening pleasure this Valentine's Day

The English Patient

As last night was Valentine's I wanted to spend my "mommy time" (after Liam is asleep) watching one of the greatest tragic love stories.  It is one of my favorites.  It is a love that transcends the reality of their worlds and yet they have beautiful and pure moments of snatched time in between their lives to spend with one another.  So much hanging on by the thread of a single promise.  It helps teach us that no matter what happens in life you need to tell someone you care about just what they mean to you.  Holding it in and hiding it from them is never the right way.  If you truly care for someone, deeply, passionately, from your very soul.  You need to let them know, sooner rather than later.  With that said, here is a bit about this epic movie in case you have forgotten it or have never had the opportunity to see it!






The English Patient came out in 1996 as a romantic drama.  The screenplay is based off of the book with the same name by Michael Ondaatje which was released in 1992.  The film envelops the elements of fate, desire, passion, romance and tragedy that unfold during World War II Italy, as told through the flashbacks of a burn victim.  The burn victim was once a charismatic archaeologist whose love for another man's wife and his sacrifices for that love ultimately spell his end.  In the final days of the Italian Campaign of World War II Hana (A French-Canadian nurse) looks after a critically burned English man who claims amnesia and the inability to remember his name.  While Hana is helping make his last days comfortable she has the company of a questionable former thief named David and a bomb diffuser named Kip.   Originally 20th Century Fox wanted Demi Moore to play the love interest but but the producers refused, causing the film to them go with Miramax.  I can't imagine Demi pulling off the poise of the role in the same way. 

Themes of the movie: Real vs Fiction: The Real life count Laszlo Almasy (the burn victim in the story) discovered a cave in the Sahara of people swimming, which was a very rare and important find.  This is also portrayed in the book and the movie, although whether or not the location is the same is questionable.   The film was actually shot on location in Tunisia & Italy.  The film was critically acclaimed and took home 9 out of 12 nominated academy awards to include: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art Direction, best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Film Editing, best Original Score, Best Sound.  It was nominated for but did not win the best lead Actor, Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.  It also won the Golden Globe for Best Drama Motion Picture and Best Original Score.

It is a film that evoked this review from the late Roger Ebert "Backward into memory, forward into loss and desire, “The English Patient” searches for answers that will answer nothing. This poetic, evocative film version of the famous novel by Michael Ondaatje circles down through layers of mystery until all of the puzzles in the story have been solved, and only the great wound of a doomed love remains. It is the kind of movie you can see twice--first for the questions, the second time for the answers."  With that sort of review, you know it is one of those few gems released by Hollywood. 

It also had an all-star cast that worked seamlessly into bringing this story to life:
Burn Victim/Count Laszlo Almasy: Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter, Red Dragon, Schindler's List)
Hana the nurse: Juliette Binoche (Dan in Real Life, Chocolat)
Katherine the love interest: Kristin Scott Thomas (Bel Ami, Gosford Park, Mission: Impossible)
David the theif: Willem Dafoe (Boondock Saints, Spiderman, John Cater, Daybreakers)
Kip the bomb diffuser: Naveen Andrews (Once Upon A Time, Lost, The Brave One)
Geoffrey, Katherine's husband: Colin Firth (Love Actually, King's Speech, Bridget Jone's Diary)

All in all, this is an epic story.  One I like to revisit at least once a year and many more times if I can find the free time.  Despite it all, there was REAL and true love here.  I have heard a lot about the book lately and will be adding it to my list of books to read (it is long, but never TOO long).  And I want to learn much more about the Hungarian Laszlo Almasy whom was the inspiration for the story!  All in all I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars.

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Valentine's Corned Beef & Cabbage

I know that St. Patrick's Day is coming up, but I thought that Valentine's would be a perfect time for me to enjoy some much craved Corned Beef & Cabbage!  I am glad that I did, because it was delicious!  Very easy to make! 

Ingredients:

2.5 lb Corned Beef Brisket

Tarragon

1/2 Cup Chicken Stock

1 tea bag of finely ground Earl Grey Tea

Directions:

Place the corned beef brisket in the slow cooker and season on both sides with the Tarragon.  Cook with the fat side up.  Spread the spice packet over the top of the brisket and sprinkle the Earl Grey Tea on top as well.  

Pour the chicken stock into the cooker on the sides to preserve as much of the seasoning on the top of the corned beef as possible.  Add water until the level of liquid comes up to just the top without covering. 

Cook for high for about 2 hours and turn down to low for about another hour to hour and a half.  The roast is now done and ready to serve! 

Season all over the corned beef

Fill with chicken stock and water just to the top of the corned beef and cook with fat side up

Serve & Enjoy

DIY: Valentine's Ideas For Women

With Valentine's Day fast approaching I know that I will be spending another year without a Valentine.  I do not say this with regret, sadness or loneliness, just as a statement of fact.  I bring this up only because I want to do something special for myself.  I want a nice homemade gift from one of my favorite people in the world me!  And then an even more favorite person in the world can help me, my son of course!  So in the true crafty spirit I have found a few DIY ideas that will get the creative juices flowing and allow Liam and I to choose something awesome to create that I can enjoy on Valentine's Day!  I decided to write a blog about it because I know that I am not the only woman out there that loves a more personal gift, and what better time to receive than Valentine's.  Here are some of the top ideas that I have come up with and will pick one to do a step-by-step blog on in the spirit of Valentine's Day!  I would love to see other DIY projects that anyone else has come across and hear about any of your attempts to recreate these ideas!  Good luck and I hope that in whatever capacity you spend V-Day in that it is full of happiness and love!

Sweet Orange Lip Balm
This sounds delicious and doesn't look TOO difficult, although I don't think I need to make so much or but it in as crazy of containers.


 If you are interested in making this check it out at:
All Natural Lip Balm













If you would like a salve that was a bit more earthy you could make the homemade salve:

Directions here:
Homemade Salve












Kitchen Herb Garden

I know that there are MANY MANY variations as to how to make a quick and easy herb garden, but this is just one example. 

check it out here:

Kitchen Herb Garden







Bath Tea

I love tea and I love a nice hot bath...  So why not combine the two!  Bath tea, what an excellent ideas! 

You can find the directions here:

Homemade Bath Tea











Valentine's Day Journal

This may have been originally intended for a teacher and for V-Day but I could easily see this being made for ANYONE and using any sort of decoration.  I can totally see Liam helping me out on this and giving me an awesome hand print or something cool! 

If you would like to make your own check it out here:

Valentine's Day Journal









Soaks & Scrubs

I am down with either one.  You can never have enough of this stuff and homemade is always great because you get to chose your own scents and customize it!  So easy to do!


For the herbal Foot Soak go to :

Herbal Foot Soak Recipe
















For the sugar scrub go to:

Lemon Sugar Scrub