Watched That!

Happy dark season.  I mean fall er November umm dark at five o'clock in the afternoon time.  I have a love hate with this time of year.  First and foremost - sunshine is my friend.  Therefore, I'm an autumn complected girl with a mad crush on summertime.  The flip side is I love some television and I love some couch time with a blanket and a remote.  

Over the past couple of weeks I have been watching a lot of streaming television and movies.  Today I thought I would compile a little list of things I have watched.  I also decided to rate it.  This is all just in case you have some down time and decide the little screen and your blanket are all too inviting and you cave.

Sure, Hallmark started their Christmas movies in July or mid October.  You will not find any reviews of their movies in this post.  I have watched a couple (old ones) but nothing worth writing down.  

To all of you who are like "Stop forgetting about Thanksgiving!" This first movie I watched is all for you.  If you have Hulu then you may have seen the ads for Pilgrim.  First off, this is a Thanksgiving movie but it's also a "thriller" - the premise - a suburban mom decides to have some pilgrim re-en actors come spend the holiday with her family.  The outcome is pretty freaking disgusting.  This movie is a gory.  It's bloody.  And it sucks.  This is part of the "Into the dark" horror series on Hulu and I have heard that it seriously lacks.  The actors aren't good, the storyline is stupid, and they try to put some comedy in it but it just doesn't work.

Now to Netflix.  The Laundromat is a film by Steven Soderbergh and it has a really great cast.  Meryl Streep, Antonio Banderas, and Gary Oldman.  The movie starts out, "Based on true secrets," and I have high hopes for it.  Trust me when I say I could watch this with much more interest than I could watch Pilgrim.  This story is based on a true news maker from a few years back when a shell company got outed in Panama and took down several foreign leaders exposing them for scamming and scheming (The Panama Papers.)  The story line is twisting and turning as it is broken into multiple parts and each part is a different story that you will find does link to the next story you are told.  I do recommend this over Pilgrim and if you are interested in how scammers work and how money is...well washed.

Hey Amazon, I see you.  Though I don't watch you very much.  Modern Love - at the time I publish this I will have watched the first two episodes.  The first one I fell in love with.  This show is based on the NYT column with the same name.  And this is good.  Watch it.  If I type more I will spoil what I have watched so far!

And now we move to my dork side!

I love documentaries.  I also am an anglophile.  Here are a couple of my favorite docuseries....

Netflix is where I get my nerd on.  I really like Secrets of Great British Castles.  This show takes you into the history of selected castles across Britain and it is a great weekend binge watch!  

Secrets of Henry VIII's Palace: Hampton Court is another wonderful hour long dive into a really remarkable castle and it's history.  It's actually the fusion of two (or was it three) different reigns of different Kings and Queens. 

Finally for the family I had to pick Anne with an E.  This is also Netflix.  My daughter and I actually wrapped up this series at the start of October.  Remember Anne of Green Gables?  Well this is her.  Its the traditional story with all the Hollywood  or rather Canadawood? additions.  Though I hate when classics stray to be more "relevant" I dealt with it.  This is a great series!  However, Anne can be a little annoying so you have been forewarned!

And a little side note:

My filler show (when I wanted to watch something to veg out to) I finished over the past weekend.  The Mindy Project ahhh you will always be a favorite.  Now I must find a new show to veg out to.  Any suggestions?

Oh and my husband was a Monty Python virgin until I showed him the awesomeness that is Monty Python & The Holy Grail.  We also started Life of Brian.

OK time to sound off let me know what you have watched and recommend or don't!

Food.

I am an A Type.  This is something I struggle with on the daily.  It keeps me very organized but also makes me go ape sh*t when things get off kilter.  One thing I do - every month - is make out a whole meal plan for the entire month.

Each week I have three meals planned and shopped for.  I try to make double what we need so we can have left over night and still have options.

Trim Healthy Mama Stew of Love - You're going to read Trim Healthy Mama quite a bit.  Sorry not sorry.

Trim Healthy Mama Cream of spinach & Chicken Soup - If you are like me you try to balance your meals so that they are not always chicken.  It can be a struggle.

Trader Joe's Orange Chicken - This will probably be the first thing I make in the air fryer.

Meatloaf - A family favorite and perfect for Sunday dinner.  One thing I love is making dinner on Sundays and we all sit down and eat together.  Trust me - that doesn't happen a lot.  I will fix potatoes and green beans to go along with this and a dessert.

Trim Healthy Mama Queso Chicken Bake - Because I get bored with Taco Tuesday...

Trim Healthy Mama Chili Pie - I feel like sometimes I make too much chili in the cooler months this is a good switch up.

Cajun Shrimp Dinner - From Skinny Taste - another air fryer meal to try out.

Stouffers Lasagna - Because on Monday I like it ready to go into the oven without me doing anything.

Chicken Tacos - Chicken will cook all day in the crock pot and then we'll dish it on the tortillas - easy peasy....because sometimes I do not get tired of the ease of taco Tuesday LOL!

Trim Healthy Mama Creamed Spinach & Bacon Smothered Chicken - No words necessary.

Trim Healthy Mama Greek Chicken - Rando fact about me Greek food is my favorite food.

Salmon Patties - get ready air fryer you're up!  

The moral of the story is...I eat a lot of homemade food from recipes in the Trim Healthy Mama cookbook.  I'm glad I could have this right in front of my face.

Now for the good stuff....

This my go to for Thanksgiving meals and fall potlucks.  

Oh and this no bake keto pecan cheesecake makes me go yaaasssss too.

Now lets talk about the turkey of the month - Thanksgiving.  At the current moment I am working on Thanksgiving. But in previous years and for about ten years we had a family tradition of going to the moutains and having the traditional lunch then going to get a Christmas tree.  Then we had to alter that a little and opt for a trip to Cracker Barrel and Walmart.  (Long story.)  This year there is nothing more I want than to go back up to the mountains - eat til we're fat and miserable and then go get a tree.  (Our fake tree's prelitness is not very litness anymore.  That's me being a middle schooler in my jargon.)

This post from Justdestinymag.com is exactly what I'm dreaming of.

And to be honest - I can find myself in a Cracker Barrel on any given Thursday throughout the year eating turkey, dressing, green beans, and potatoes...just saying.

Ok now that we are all hungry....

A

Two Books & An Air Fryer

What's better than books and food?  

I read two books in October that I wanted to share today on the blog.  I also purchased an air fryer after contemplating the purchase for two months.  Both of these highly interesting topics are what make up this post today.

, 

It was supposed to be a typical sleepover for three twelve year old friends Cora, Violet, and Jordyn.  But after a decision to sneak out and head over to the railroad yard everything changes.

The sleepover ends in a bloody scene with questions and no answers.

This book dives into the friendship, betrayal, and social pressures.  It is told from different perspectives:  the girls, the doctor, and the police, as well as the family members.

I love a good thriller and considering I have a twelve year old myself - I couldn't put the book down.

Amazon $14.99

Start Without Me 

Adam is home for Thanksgiving.  He is a recovering alcoholic and ex musician.  

Adam breaks a coffee pot.

Marissa is a flight attendant.  She is married and has a little time between flights to drive to Vermont to have Thanksgiving with her husband and in-laws.

Marissa meets Adam in an airport restaurant.  Marissa takes Adam with her to Vermont.

And so it begins...

It's a good book.

Amazon $12.95

****

I bought an air fryer.  I'm not sure why I spent two months asking myself a couple times a week if I wanted one or not.  Last week I was perusing Amazon (a favorite pasttime) and there was an air fryer on "lightning deals" for $50.  

I hit "buy now" - and that's all she wrote.

The thing came on Tuesday and I haven't used it yet.

What I'm wondering is this:

Do you have one?

Can you share a favorite recipe?

My daughter is ready to make donuts.

I'm ready for chicken tenders and sweet potato fries myself.

***

Happy November, friends.  This month is one of my most favorite aside from the time change (you're well aware that happens Sunday morning.  I am too.)  Oh and the temperatures dipping into the thirties.  

This is my last weekend as a thirty-something before I turn thirty-something-else.  I have a goal of getting to my favorite little spot in the high country - Blowing Rock.  

xo

A