My Take on Ford vs. Ferrari

life, movie review

Run don’t walk to your nearest theater before Ford vs. Ferrari departs. This is a movie full of excitement, suspense, and emotion. Not a race car fan? No need to worry! This is a movie to please everyone.

While I like cars and know different models, I do not follow the racing scene. However, this movie is not just about racing, it is a movie based on the true story of the Ford motor company trying to design a race car to beat the best, Ferrari.

It all starts with a trip by Lee Iacocca to Italy to purchase Ferrari for Ford. When Ferrari refuses to sell to Ford and insults him, Ford decides to hire Carroll Shelby to help build a race car to beat Ferrari at the famous Le Mans race in France.

Of course there is always a bad guy and in this movie it is the head marketing man at Ford who is against Ken Miles being the driver of the Ford car. Shelby insists that Miles is the only choice if Ford wants to win the Le Mans. This creates tension throughout the movie.

I did not think I would have been so excited about this movie. However, I enjoyed it very much and think it was one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I do recommend bringing a hankie or a few tissues, as the ending will start the tears a flowing. Also, be careful on the drive home. After seeing this movie it may be hard to drive in the slow lane.

Yes Virginia…

life

Years back, my husband and I were shopping in Chicago at Christmas-time. As we rose up the escalator, a man with white beard who looked exactly like Santa but dressed in street clothes was heading down the escalator. I gently nudged my husband. As we passed the man turned to me and simply said, “Yes Virginia”. So it was Santa!

Yesterday, I saw Santa again. This time while waiting for a parking spot. He was dressed partially in his Christmas attire, his Santa hat. Otherwise he looked quite casual in t-shirt, pants, and flip-flops. He pushed his cart in front of my car to put it in the cart return and as he turned to make his way back to his car, he gave me a quick smile. Off he went with Mrs. Claus (obviously) at the wheel.

These brief, yet memorable encounters have reminded me of the wonderful editorial “Yes, Virginia”. Read it below and have a Merry Christmas!

Yes, Virginia …

We take pleasure in answering thus prominently the communication below, expressing at the same time our great gratification that its faithful author is numbered among the friends of The Sun:

Dear Editor—

I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?

Virginia O’Hanlon
115 West Ninety Fifth Street

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.

We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! He lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

—————–

“Is There a Santa Claus?” reprinted from the September 21, 1897, number of The New York Sun.

Little Changes in Teeth Care Can Make a Big Difference

Style and Beauty

Last time I visited the dentist I had a new dental hygienist. She seemed to love her job and liked talking about improvements that could be made as far as teeth care. She gave me the simplest tip that I did not think could possibly make a difference and yet it made all the difference in the world. She is now my go to hygienist.

I did not like that feeling of tartar build-up that develops between visits. I have an electric toothbrush and this helps but not completely. To solve this problem my hygienist recommended I brush my teeth with toothpaste as normal and then dry brush. Dry brushing, she explained, is when you rinse your toothbrush and mouth of all toothpaste and brush again for a minute or so. That’s it! That little tip has made my teeth feel just as clean as when I left the dentist’s office six months ago.

I had my six month appointment yesterday and told the hygienist I followed her advise with the dry brushing and loved the results. She checked my teeth and agreed that the difference was visible. Less build-up, which made for an easier cleaning.

So, for cleaner teeth, why not give dry brushing a try. Oh…and don’t forget to floss. Happy Smiling!

Alternative Gift Wrap

Projects

Got presents to wrap? If so, do not be afraid to think outside the box when choosing the gift wrap. There are other creative ways to wrap presents besides the obvious gift wrapping paper or gift bags.

Some options to think about may be…

Towels

Find a pattern or print that matches the occasion.

Socks

Cozy socks add cushion to bottles of wine.

Pillowcases

A pillowcase stuffed with a holiday sweater- what could be better.

Newspaper/printed paper

Recycled text for a charming wrap.

Whether cutting back on paper or just being creative, alternative gift wraps are a fun twist on presenting a present. So, if running short on wrapping paper do not fret. Other options are available and may be appreciated even more as the wrap could be a bonus gift as well. Happy gifting!

Day Trip to Laguna Beach

Travel

Laguna Beach, California is a little slice of paradise. Not only are it’s beaches beautiful, but the art is not too shabby either. Laguna Beach is known for it’s art festivals. It’s also a nice place to take in the shops and art galleries that line the streets.

Of course, all that looking around is enough to work up an appetite. Stop for a bite to eat at an outdoor cafe or if a sweet is needed, there is ice cream and chocolates. One shop even carries one of my favorite things…frozen chocolate bananas. Oh my!

La Rue du Chocolat

A must see for art lovers is the Laguna Art Museum. This cozy museum had wonderful exhibits on display while we were there. I thoroughly enjoyed the etchings by Mildred Bryant Brooks and the paintings by Thomas Hunt. One unique thing about this museum is that it displays art only by California artists or art representing the state of California. The museum shop also was most impressive in the selection of books available for purchase as well as jewelry and other items.

Another must see is the ‘Pirate Tower’ on Victoria Beach. The tower (privately owned) is located next to the bluffs and is a means for accessing the home above. Upon seeing the ‘Pirate Tower’, I imagined Rapunzel throwing her hair down to the beach below. This tower was just so incredibly cool to see in person.

Laguna Beach has much to see and do. It is a great town to visit for a day or longer. Don’t forget the camera and flip flops. If it’s summer, be sure to pack the swim suit as well. Bon Voyage!

Crazy Christmas Hairstyles

life

The following are a few crazy Christmas hairstyles that I find interesting. I, however, do not have long enough hair to pull this off. Perhaps a wig? These styles will surely put a smile on your face or in the least, add conversation for the dinner table.

doyouremember.com
doyouremember.com
hair.com
youtube hair by lori

reference featured image: marieclaire.com

How to Clean a Toaster

Cooking

Making toast is messier than one might think. I guess the action of popping the toast out of the toaster helps shed a few crumbs. Over time the crumbs can build up.

Toasters can be cleaned by emptying the little crumb tray at the bottom of the toaster. However, not all the crumbs are kind enough to make their way onto the crumb tray. Some like to stay stuck to the bottom of the toaster. Turning the toaster upside down and giving it a good shake will dislodge a few more of these crumbs, however, the really stubborn ones hang on for dear life. What to do? It is a narrow space and a long tool is required.

First off, unplug the toaster. Next, wrap a paper towel around a pencil or kabob stick and secure with a rubber band. Now this little cleaning tool can be used to reach down to the bottom of the toaster and dislodge those stubborn crumbs who could not be shook out.

Place pencil in folded paper towel
Wrap the pencil in paper towel and secure with a rubber band
DIY Cleaning Tool
Using the tool to clean inside the toaster

The outside of the toaster can be shinned up as well with a little white vinegar. For the metal parts, use a little cream of tartar and water made into a paste and use a non-abrasive scrubber to buff out any residue. Voila! The toaster is as good as new!

All shined up!

My Take on The Sharper the Knife the Less You Cry

Book Reviews, Cooking

I found the book The Sharper Your Knife the Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn when searching the cook book shelves at the library. It looked interesting so I picked it up. From then on it was hard to put down.

The Sharper Your Knife the Less You Cry is a memoir of Kathleen’s journey to Paris after being let go from her job in London. Encouraged by her boyfriend, Kathleen enrolls in the famous Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris to fulfill a life long dream. It reads like episodes from Master Chef. Also entwined in the book are her daily adventures of being an American in Paris, learning the French language, outings and entertaining friends, and life with her boyfriend Mike. She includes recipes as well. So the book is also a cookbook.

I found the book entertaining and really enjoyed sitting down to read it. It’s the kind of book I hated to see come to an end. I should also mention that Kathleen Flinn has a background in journalism, so the book is well written. If a fan of cooking, cooking shows, Paris, or just want to learn a bit about how Le Cordon Bleu works, this book fits the bill. Bon Appetit!

Oh Christmas Tree!

life

‘Tis the Season for holiday decorating . I found some unusual and awesome tree decorating ideas…

https://www.hikendip.com/best-christmas-tree-decor-ideas-inspirations-for-2019/
https://www.hikendip.com/best-christmas-tree-decor-ideas-inspirations-for-2019/
https://princesspinkygirl.com/christmas-tree-decorating-ideas/
https://princesspinkygirl.com/christmas-tree-decorating-ideas/
https://princesspinkygirl.com/christmas-tree-decorating-ideas/
https://www.simplemost.com/christmas-tree-decoration-ideas/
http://bargainbabe.com/10-unusual-christmas-tree-decorating-ideas/
http://bargainbabe.com/10-unusual-christmas-tree-decorating-ideas/
http://bargainbabe.com/10-unusual-christmas-tree-decorating-ideas/
https://pattiewack.blogspot.com/2007/12/glass-bottle-christmas-tree.html

(Featured image: An upside-down Christmas tree is suspended from the ceiling at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport hotel in Richmond, B.C. ( Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press ))

Happy Holidays!

My Take on the Movie Christopher Robin

life

I popped some corn and settled in to watch Disney’s Christopher Robin with my son last night. I had heard some time ago that it was a good movie. I must say, I will have to agree with that.

Christopher Robin is not an animation as with the Winnie the Pooh movies. It has human actors as well as “stuffed” animals playing the parts. Ewan McGregor plays Christopher Robin, Hayley Atwell plays his wife, Evelyn Robin, and Bronte Carmichael plays their daughter, Madeline. It was set in past England in the 100 acre wood and London.

Christopher Robin is all grown up now, having married, gone to war, and come back to the responsibilities of adulthood. However, he seems to be a bit more concerned about his responsibilities at work than to that of his friends and family. Then Pooh drops into his life again seeking his help and his old friend soon gets him to remember what is important in life.

Pooh and Christopher Robin
The animals of the 100-acre woods

Some movies I watch once and that is enough. Christopher Robin is a movie I would like to see again. It would be worth owning a copy of this movie to watch from time to time. It was entertaining, laugh out loud funny, cute, and touching. I loved it as a ‘period piece’ as well, as it was set in an earlier era. The animals of the hundred acre wood are as adorable as ever. The movie Christopher Robin sends a wonderful message to us all. A reminder to not forget who you are or who is important to you as you make your journey through life and to have fun along the way. Bravo for Christopher Robin!