2020 Winter Bucket List

Posted on December 21, 2020 by

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Welcome winter! We\’ve had a mild start to our Michigan winter, and I am hoping that maybe the official start to winter will bring on some snow. Without further ado, here\’s my 2020 winter bucket list! I can\’t wait for snowy adventures, making more hot cocoa bombs, and try out ice fishing. Since we are still in the midst of a pandemic, I made sure that all the activities on my list could be done safely. Be sure to share your progress with me on Instagram and be sure to let me know anything else you\’ve added to your list!

2020 Winter Bucket List

1. Go ice skating
2. Dine in an igloo
3. Shop local
4. Go snowshoeing
5. Cozy cabin getaway in the woods
6. Take a snowy hike
7. Build a snowman
8. Do an act of kindness
9. Start a journal
10. Unplug for 24 hours
11. Cross country ski
12. Have a bonfire, and make a s\’mores board
13. Build a snowman
14. Make hot cocoa bombs
15. Take a virtual cooking class
16. Make pasties – an Upper Peninsula tradition
17. Adventure off on a wintery road trip
18. Give ice fishing a try
19. Light a bunch of candles
20. Try out a new soup recipe
21. Make a delicious brunch board
22. Create a vision board with 2021 goals

Movie Review: The Croods: A New Age

Posted on December 19, 2020 by

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the croods a new age

It has been seven years since we all fell in love with the Croods, a prehistoric family that is finding their way out of their cave life and into the real world. If you\’ve been waiting to find out what has been happening in the life of the Croods since they met Guy, you don\’t have to wait any longer. A New Age the sequel to the Croods is ready to come home to your living room, and let me tell you it\’s even better than the first movie. Grab a copy, a bucket of popcorn, and get ready to watch your favorite Neanderthal family head out on their best adventure yet. 

What I thought of The Croods: A New Age
Despite the time that has passed, The Croods: A New Age picks up right after the first movie. The Croods a family of Neanderthals trying to survive the elements while still searching for a new place to call home, continue on their journey. While Eep (voiced by Emma Stone) and Guy (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) teenage romance continues to bloom, and Eep\’s dad Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage) worries about losing his daughter. And, Guy is working towards his dream of finding \”tomorrow\” a place his parents told him to find as a child. 
Instead of finding \”Tomorrow\” the Croods end up discovering the Bettermans emphasis on the better, a new age couple and their daughter living in a \”world\” that may seem too good to be true. The Bettermans \”world\” is filled with amazing inventions, an elaborate treehouse, plenty of food and more. Since the Bettermans knew Guy when he was little, they decide to take the clan in as their first houseguests. But tension quickly rises between the cave family and the modern family.

When you think all hope is lost, a new threat brings both families on an epic adventure that takes them outside the safety of the wall, where they have to embrace their differences and pull strength from each other including welcoming the Thunder Sisters (my favorite part of the movie).

As the story progresses the wild beasts that they fend off become…. interesting. We\’re introduced to characters known as \”punch monkeys\” who communicate by slugging each other. We\’re also introduced to the adorable wolf spiders and now want Jack to be one for Halloween next year!

My favorite part of the whole movie is when the Thunder Sisters come out and venture off to go rescue the guys in the movie. This part is power, has a super kick-butt theme song, and is just a lot of fun! I love when Eep says to Dawn \”See those wolf spiders? Wanna ride them\” – that is totally me right there and I love that they\’re showing the female characters can do anything. The \”banana bros\” part is also pretty comical. 

The Croods: A New Age is filled with amazing animation, crazy and adorable creatures (those wolf spiders though!), interesting situations, funny jokes, and my favorite part the Thunder Sisters. The clan faces all kinds of perilous moments, most of them are over-the-top, for instance, a bee sting makes one character act drink – which is hilarious. 

If you\’re looking for a fun movie that will leave you laughing and wanting to watch it over and over again. Check out The Croods: A New Age. 

Friday Favorites 12.18.20

Posted on December 18, 2020 by

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Welcome to this week\’s roundup. Last week I posted that Michigan was having a very warm December, and today I would like to let you all know Michigan has returned to normal. While I can still see the grass, the side streets are now icy and flurries are still falling. 

This week has been a week for me, and if you follow along on Instagram, you saw I did a poll and many others were having a week as well. Cheers to Friday, and it\’s officially one week until Christmas! 

Follow along on Instagram to see what we are up to this weekend! Now here\’s a few favorite finds from the week.

If you\’re looking for something to do tonight – grab a copy of The Croods: New Age and join me on Twitter for #TheCroodsWatchParty at 6:30 pm for the pre-show, and then hit play at 7 pm, so we can all enjoy the movie together. Jack and I will be live-tweeting and watching while we car camp! 

If you haven\’t jumped on the hot cocoa bomb bandwagon, what are you waiting for? You can even make your own at home with my step-by-step tutorial!

Since temperatures are dropping it may be the perfect weekend to make a hot chocolate charcuterie board. 

Eleanor\’s Very Merry Christmas Wish – The Musical has gone VIRTUAL and I cannot wait to watch it this weekend while indulging in hot cocoa and Christmas cookies. Get all the details here.

In case you missed it, I dined outdoors at Tonia\’s Victorian Rose Tea Room in Downtown Rochester, Michigan, and had a splendid time.

I shopped local this year for all my gifts, with the majority from Lottie Mae, Michigan Mittens, and Ryba\’s Fudge Shops Mackinac Island.

Eleanor\’s Very Merry Christmas Wish – The Musical is VIRTUAL

Posted on December 17, 2020 by

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It\’s been a tough year, one thing I am really missing is broadway shows. I was thrilled to hear that Broadway in Detroit is presenting Eleanor\’s Very Merry Christmas Wish – The Musical, VIRTUALLY!
Now through December 27 you can grab tickets for yourself or your loved ones and start a new holiday tradition with this virtual holiday theater experience!

Broadway In Detroit has teamed up with Eleanor Management LLC to present ELEANOR’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS WISH – THE MUSICAL, a critical and commercial success in its 2019 Chicago World Premiere run, for streaming this holiday season. Tickets for the holiday 2020 streaming production are available using the code NEDDET20.

Based on the heartfelt book of the same name by Chicagoan Denise McGowan Tracy, the family-friendly production is recommended for all ages and is available to stream now through December 27, 2020 directly into homes for $20 per household with the special theater promo code. Adding to the fun is the availability of two immersive Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Party in a Box options, ranging in price from $45 – $60 plus shipping and handling fees. The 2020 virtual production will feature additional holiday music and the recorded opening night performance from the successful 2019 World Premiere.
Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Party in a Box choices offer additional family fun with items inspired by the production. Shipped from The North Pole’s special Chicago-based distribution center, the Super Fun Sprinkle & Sparkle Box ($45) includes a softcover copy of the book that inspired the show, a 2020 Eleanor Christmas keepsake ornament, Eleanor’s own stationery notepad and pencil for children to write their letters to Santa, and four (4) holiday fun hats. The Super Duper Fun Eleanor Box ($60) features all items in the Sprinkle & Sparkle Box with a hardcover book, cookie cutter with recipe card, and Twinkle’s favorite reindeer ring toss game.
“Our wish is to keep the magic of the holidays sparkling in the eyes of children no matter what challenges we face this year,” said Denise McGowan Tracy, executive producer. “Home has become even more important to families this year as it adds office and school to its responsibilities. And through it all, ‘home’ remains our safe place. A happy place filled with family and friends. And now Eleanor’s wish for her home can come safely to your home for the holidays with the reminders of what is truly important. Home. Hope. Heart. And the sprinkle, sparkle, and twinkle of holiday magic. This holiday season we gather together – possibly apart – but connected by Eleanor’s story of hope.”
ELEANOR’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS WISH – THE MUSICAL tells the story of a rag doll named Eleanor who lives in the magical world of The North Pole. Despite her love for her family there, including Santa, Mrs. \”Cookie\” Claus, Clara Claus, and the elves – Twinkle, Sprinkle, and Sparkle, Eleanor\’s very merry Christmas wish is for a best friend and home of her own. Realizing that wishing is not enough, she writes a letter to Santa expressing her dream. The letter opens the door to answering many questions and to the journey which leads to her wish (and others) coming true.
Starring in the streamed production of ELEANOR’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS WISH – THE MUSICAL are Samantha Bonzi as Eleanor, Scott Gryder as Sprinkle, Lindsey Jane Bullen as Twinkle, Emily Rohm* as Holly/Clara, Sydney Swanson as Noelle, Erin Parker* as Mrs. “Cookie” Claus, Kim Green as Sparkle, David Turrentine* as Santa, Claire Latourette as Glimmer, and Cara Chumbley as Shimmer. The production and design crew include Denise McGowan Tracy (Playwright/Executive Producer), Kathleen Butler-Duplessis (Music and Lyrics) Zachary L. Gray (Director), David Fiorello (Musical Director and Music Arrangements), Kehoe Designs (Scenic Design), Tatjana Radisic (Costume Design) Kevin Barthel (Wigs/Milliner/Accessories) John Kelly (Lighting Designer), Keegan Bradac (Sound Designer), and Khaki Pixley (Makeup Artist).
For more information or to purchase tickets for ELEANOR’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS WISH – THE MUSICAL, please visit Broadwayindetroit.com and use the code: NEDDET20.
For more information on Broadway In Detroit, please visit www.BroadwayInDetroit.com Follow Broadway In Detroit on Facebook at facebook.com/BroadwayInDetroit as well as on Instagram and Twitter @BroadwayDetroit.

How to Make a Christmas Charcuterie Board

Posted on December 17, 2020 by

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Sugar and spice and everything nice come together on this Christmas charcuterie board. Make the holidays merry and bright with a Christmas dessert grazing board. This board is quick and easy to make, in fact, I bought everything on this board from Trader Joe\’s – hello one-stop-shop. I went with a peppermint theme with a hunt of gingerbread. Even if you\’re spending the holidays alone this year, you can still come up with an adorable Christmas charcuterie board or Christmas grazing board for yourself. They\’re perfect to enjoy while watching a movie. 

Christmas Charcuterie Board List: 
Gingerbread men cookies
Peppermint Jo Jos
Peppermint bark
Dark chocolate stars
White chocolate peppermint pretzels
Peppermint meringues
Peppermint creams
Spice cookies
Chocolate covered pretzels

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