Favorite New Products

 I love taste testing new products.  I am a grocery store's dream as I impulsively buy anything that seems new and exciting.  

I'll start with a local favorite.  I discovered V Chocolates years ago when our flooring vendor became a part-owner in V Chocolates.  We would get sent these amazing baskets of treats (yes, I can totally be bought!) - from apples to pretzels and caramels to peppermint bark.  It's all amazing and some of the best chocolate you will ever have.  My hands-down favorite are chocolate dipped caramels with sea salt.  They are a-mazing.  I was excited to see two locations this Christmas season for you to buy them - one downtown and one on Highland Drive.  Taipan Trading and a cart in the Fashion Place mall are other places I know you can get these delectable treats. 

I love pomegranate seeds in salads.  I've even learned how to expertly get the seeds out without making my hands red by breaking the pomegranate under water and gently separating the seeds from the casing.  The seeds float to the bottom and the casing stays at the top.  But, even better than that are the seeds already to eat.  My beloved Harmon's had this little container of seeds right as I walked in.  Yep . . . I grabbed it.

I heart Angie's kettle corn.  I have written about it before.  But, now there are holiday flavors.  I read about a chocolate drizzled version that I haven't found yet.  And, then both Kristen and I got this holiday version with white chocolate and peppermint over the sweet and salty kettle corn.  We finished the bag in one night. 

 And, I was so excited to see the kettle corn available in individual sizes as well. I saw these at Target and had to have them.  

Now that Trader Joe's is open in Utah, we are excited to discover some of their private label foods.  Melinda had learned about this version of Oreos and gotten some for us to try - chocolate with peppermint cream on the inside . . . so good!  I was telling a co-worker about them and he went out immediately and got a few boxes too.

And then these Pringles have a mixed review.  Melinda told me about the cinnamon sugar version and they are quite yummy.  The white chocolate peppermint is not bad . . . but I think I like the cinnamon version better.  I haven't been able to find the pumpkin spice version shown below . . . but I love all things pumpkin, so I'm sure I would love these too. 

Guilty as Charged, Part 3

As in 2011 and 2009, it's time again for my reviews of this year's crop of cheesy holiday movies. I've really been burning up my DVR this season.  Here they are, in the order I watched them:

Love at the Christmas Table
Plot: Winnie Cooper (welcome back!) from The Wonder years and her best friend spend Christmas together for 30 years...until they realize they love each other.  
Lovable old person: Leah Thompson as a spinster aunt and Luke from the Gilmore Girls, who has not aged well (sorry, Julie).

Overacting: 3/5, but it's done with a wink.

My guilt level: 3/5, mostly based on the title.

Handsomeness of male lead: 4/5.  Where has this guy been?  
Best scene: An adorable dance sequence starting with the two leads and ending with the whole family.  
Overall: 3/5.  Some genuinely sweet, funny moments between the two leads make this one more memorable than your average. 

Hitched for the Holidays
Plot: A Jewish woman and a Catholic man (Joey Lawrence, woah) both need to find someone to pose as their boyfriend/girlfriend to protect themselves from their overbearing families for the holidays.  Spoiler alert: they fall in love. 
Lovable old person: Marlo Thomas as the Jewish mother. 
Overacting: 2/5. 
My guilt level: 2/5. 
Handsomeness of male lead: 4/5.  Joey Lawrence is cute but BITSY.  
Most unbelievable moment: Of all the reasons they could've contrived to create a misunderstanding between the two leads, the best they could come up with is that she broke up with her former boyfriend instead of him breaking up with her? Even my generous holiday suspension of disbelief doubts that.  
Overall: 2/5

The March Sisters at Christmas 
Plot: Modern-day (e.g. skankier) Little Women try to restore their parents' dilapidated house while they're out of town so that their mother won't sell it. 
Lovable old person: John Shea as a protector/guardian of sorts, whom I could not place until I IMDB-ed him.  It's Lex Luther of Lois and Clark!

Overacting: 2/5.

My guilt level: 3/5. Four words: Teddie in a toga.  Handsomeness of male lead: Teddie: 5/5.  Mr. Baher: 4/5 Most unbelievable moment: See below.

Overall:  3/5.  This has the benefit of a literary masterwork to boost its plot, and has a cute ending despite the FAKEST SNOW I HAVE EVER SEEN DEPICTED ON SCREEN. 

Matchmaker Santa

Plot: Party of Five's Lacey Chabert stars as an owner of her own bakery (cough) who goes to meet her hot-shot fiancee's family.  One problem: her fiancee's a jerk who sends his hot best friend/lackey to bring her.  Luckily, guys, THE REAL SANTA has taken time away from his duties to personally bring the two together. 

Lovable old person: Florence Henderson (!) shows up as a motel owner, and John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin) makes an appearance as a small town mechanic/mayor (really). 

Overacting: 3/5. I'm talking to you, Florence Henderson. 

My guilt level: 4/5. Again, the title. 

Handsomeness of male lead: 5/5. He's ADORABLE.

Most unbelievable moment: Of COURSE Florence Henderson needs help with the cookies! Wait, Lacey Chabert is a baker??  To the rescue!

Overall:  3/5.  Sure it's dumb, but it's dumb fun.  This is all I ask for in a holiday movie. 

A Bride for Christmas

Plot: Not to be confused with Hitched for the Holidays, or last year's A Holiday Engagement, A Bride for Christmas is about a runaway bride/interior designer who's left three fiancees at the altar and swears off marriage...until a handsome client/dog owner named Aidan shows up to woo her.  Too bad he made a bet with his cad coworker that he could get her to agree to marry him in four weeks. 

Lovable old person: No one famous.

Overacting: 1/5.  This is the best-acted of all the movies I watched this season. 

My guilt level: 1/5. 

Handsomeness of male lead: 6/5. Call the fire department, holy smokes this guy is HOT!!!

Best scene: A genuinely funny moment with a leaping dog as our heroine realizes she loves Aidan. 

Overall:  5/5. What a pleasant surprise!! This is a keeper.  

Come Dance with Me

Plot: In perhaps the most generically titled Christmas movie, which is saying a lot, Andrew McCarthy stars as a slick business man about to propose to his boss' daughter, but ends up falling for his dance instructor.  Also: an unnecessary sub-plot about how he was involved in the deal that's going to shut down the dance studio. 

Lovable old person: No one famous, unless you count Andrew McCarthy.  There is no way to sugar coat this: He is 50, and he looks it.  An extra floppy haircut and scenes of him lifting weights, playing racquetball, and (heaven help us) going clubbing with a woman 20 years his junior don't help matters.

Overacting: 3/5.  

My guilt level: 3/5. 

Handsomeness of male lead: 1/5. See above. 

Most unbelievable scene: That the dance instructor would bring Andrew McCarthy's mother a love bird ornament that EXACTLY MATCHES one she has. What are the odds? 

Overall:  1/5. Talk about downed expectations. On paper, the movie has everything I like (it's a dancing movie, for crying out loud!).  But even my low barometer can't abide a movie this awful. 

Christmas With Holly

Plot: Holly is an adorable little girl who hasn't spoken since her mother died.  Her hot caretaker uncle, Sean Faris, takes her back to his home on an island with his two brothers.  Everyone's a little skeptical about his taking her on - including the stereotypical Baroness Schroeder-type he's dating. That is, until a lonely toy-shop owner moves to the island.  Will Holly speak? Will hot Sean Faris ditch the Baroness?  I think you know the answers. 

Lovable old person: None

Overacting: 1/5.  

My guilt level: 0/5, because Hallmark Hall of Fame is the classiest breed of TV movie.  

Handsomeness of male lead: 4/5. One-point deduction for his floppy hair. 

Best scene: When hot Sean Faris tells Holly a bedtime story and finally gets this grief-stricken little girl to smile. 

Overall:  4/5. Get the tissues out, folks. This is a very cute, well-done movie (i.e., you can tell they actually had a budget).  And the little girl is just so adorable. 

Your turn. What holidays movies have YOU seen? 

My Favorite Songs of 2012

For some reason, I can't embed a playlist anymore, so get your iTunes handy and see what you think of some of my favorite songs from the last year!

Some songs that are lovely

• Lost in the Light - Bahamas.  He almost sounds Jack Johnson-y.  It's sooo slow and relaxed that it's the kind of song you just sort of have to settle into. Then the harmonies come in at about 1:23, and it's like, ok.  This is good.
• The World is Watching - Two Door Cinema Club. MAN I love Two Door Cinema Club (more from them later).  This is different than their regular sound, but so so good. I love the harmonies. 
• Come Back Down - Greg Laswell with Sara Barellis.  I love Greg Laswell's voice.  He and Sara Barellis together?  Sold. 
• Into the Wild - LP.  LP is a wild-haired, tattooed female with a super unique voice who incorporates violins, what sounds like a ukelele, and whistling into a song that actually has very broad appeal - because it's just a darn fine song.    
• King and Lionheart - Of Monsters and Men.  This Icelandic band made a really great debut album.  I also like "Little Talks" on their album, but "King and Lionheart" is lovely. 

Some songs that feel retro (but aren't)

• Glitter & Gold - Rebecca Ferguson. I heard this on a promo for "Nashville" and HAD to find out what it was.  
• 365 Days - ZZ Ward.  My app "Band of the Day" turned me on to this artist.  She has a raspy, "don't-mess-with-me" voice and makes songs that sound both old and new at the same time.  
• Oh My! - Hailey Reinhart.  Oh my, this is a good song!  They had me at the horns in the intro. 
• The Real Thing - Audra Mae and the Almighty Sound. 
• Hold On - Alabama Shakes.  Nominated for Best New Artist in the Grammys this year, this band is led by a female lead singer named Brittany who, frankly, sounds like a dude.  Don't let that dissuade you - her heartfelt wails are what makes the band sound unique. 

Girls and Guitars

• Flinty - Anya Marina. This is a good song to run to. 
• Keepsake - Grace Potters & The Nocturnals. This is a great band and I hear they're great live. 
• Synthetica - Metric.  I downloaded much of Metric's new album just before I went to Europe, so I had this on repeat. Not everyone's cup of tea, probably, but I like 'em. 

Songs that are just fun

• I Want You Back - Noisettes.  Love the cowboy feel in the beginning and then how it turns into a pure pop song. 
• Hang it Up - The Ting Tings. If you liked the Ting Tings' last album, they're back with more of the same.  I love the drums on this one. 
• Cameo Lover - Kimbra.  Kimbra, also known as the female voice on Gotye's "Someone I Used to Know," released an album of her own this year.  It's nothing like "Someone I Used to Know."  It's quirkier and pop-ier at the same time. Give Cameo Lover and its "bum bum bum bum bum, bum bum BUM bum" hook a try. 
• This Head I Hold - Electric Guest.  Makes me want to boogie. 
• Watch me Work - Melanie Fiona AND Do My Thing - Estelle.  Two British gals that do the female-empowerment/kiss off thing so well. 
• Power & Control - Marina & the Diamonds. Marina & the Diamonds should be as popular as say, Katy Perry.  She writes songs that are just as catchy.
• Pop Gun - Erin McCarley.  Remember her of "Love, Save the Empty" fame?  She's back with a new album, and this song is fast and fun. 
• Annie You Save Me - Graffiti6 AND Come Home - CHAPPO.  These songs are kinda in the same vein.  Kinda pop-y, really fun. 
• Sun - Two Door Cinema Club. Love the part 50 seconds in where they just kinda break it down.  Also - horns!
• Techno Fan - Wombats.  Such pure joy when the chorus hits.  "I never knew I was a technoooo faaannn..."

Christmas Prep

It's easy to tell the Christmas season is here because my house is a mess!  The Relief Society was in charge of our ward Christmas breakfast last Saturday . . . for 400!  That was a relief to get done after months of planning and prep.  At that event, we collected pantry items from an online angel tree we did (thank you to the SignUp Genius website . . . it truly is brilliant).  So, then my house looked like this . . .

. . . with baskets and baskets of food that our neighbors generously donated.

I've been turning these ingredients into almost 50 different bag meals to be distributed to various families.

And, this week, my Relief Society friends came over and we made this year's Christmas gift for over 180 ladies . . . 7-Up Lifting Ways to enjoy the holiday season and new year . . .

And, I teased them about this last year, but, Camille and Mandy . . . look what I have for us to deliver these gifts in  . . .

You're on your own for the skirt . . . wink, wink. :)

The Ornaments at the Back of the Tree

Even though it's my first year without the sequined Santa ornament, I still have plenty of ornaments that only go on the back of my tree. You know the ones, because you have them too.  Growing up it was always fun to pull out our ornaments from our bags and remember what we have.  And to make fun of our siblings' ornaments as well.  For instance:

• Brent's three little pigs made of paper mache'
• Melinda's salt dough ornaments
• Melinda's bell made out of a plastic cup and glued-on sparkles
• My plastic baby Jesus
• The sheer number of Precious Moments ornaments Julie has 

Now that I have my own place, I can do whatever I want with my ornaments!  But there are some that always get the spot at the back. Today, I'm giving you an exclusive tour of some of them:

Strawberry Shortcake.  Julie has the same ornament, and I'll be curious to know where she puts it on her tree...

I actually think this ceramic dog is pretty cute - but nonetheless - back of the tree, every year. 

I have multiple ornaments that have pictures of me.  Automatic back of the tree.  

One of the reasons my mom was the best room mother ever: she brought in these plaster ornaments and let the kids in my class paint them.  THEN she cut out pictures of each class member and put them on the ornament.  Here's an example of one she painted...

...and here's the one I painted.  Get a good look, because it's never seeing the light of day again!

What are the ornaments on the back of YOUR tree?

Thanksgiving!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving.  We headed up to Roy to Brian and Lisa's new home.  I should have gotten a picture of the turkey, because it was amazing!  All of the food was so good!  Then Brian had planned a scavenger hunt around the town.  We split up into two cars and followed the clues - doing challenges along the way.  We came back and fit our clues together to form a map that would lead us to our dessert.  Luckily, it was good weather, and the kids are fast runners - so we had the chocolatey goodness in no time.  Such a fun day together!

Hooked on Phonics Worked for Me!

Heard over the cubicle wall: "So, would you say that the other person was driving erotically?" No, no, no! The word you are looking for, is "eratically." Big difference. Huge. Although, I do like to wink, so maybe I'll try to drive whilst winking and see where driving erotically gets me.