Monster Squad

The love affair with Monster Squad is over 20 years old.  This much beloved movie has been watched by my family more times than we can count, well that was until it was taped over.  My Grandfather taped a copy off of cable and it accidently was destroyed.  From that moment on we searched for over a decade for a new copy.  Even Farmer Wade got in on helping find it, that meant most of the East Coast was covered in this search.  Library sales, garage sales and video rental sales were all searched.  You may wonder why not just buy a new copy.  The short of it is the rights to the movie were in legal limbo.  So the only available copies were VHS released once in 1988.

I know what your thinking why care so much for a silly horror (not even close)/comedy.  It is a piece of my childhood which of course holds a special place, but it is brilliant in a campy way.  My family still quotes the film. Monster Squad is as if the Little Rascals meet monsters who are trying to take over the world. The original Preview can be seen at this link.

Sean who is the leader of the monster squad ( a group of kids who love monsters)  gets Van Helsing's diary from a garage sale. Unfortunately, the diary is in German, so he goes to "Scary German Guy's" house to have it translated.  During the translation the squad finds out that there needs to be a balance between good and evil.  That balance is controlled by an all  goodencompassing  amulet.  Of course the monsters lead by Dracula want the amulet so that they can have the world ruled by evil.

The rest of the movie is how the children of the monster squad save the world from Dracula, Wolfman, Mummy, Gilman (creature from the black lagoon look alike), Frankenstein and of course EVIL.  I won't ruin it for you but you have to see it.  It is hysterically funny and I promise you will want to have a copy of your own, which is so much easier now.  The film was re-released for its 20th anniversary in 2007.  We literally raced to the store and did a dance in the parking lot.

"Wolfman's got NARDS!"

J2 Jewelry

I am in love with J2 Jewelry, I have purchased two necklaces for myself and one as a gift.  I was playing on Etsy one day when I can across a honeycomb necklace.  I thought about it and searched for it months later.  The honey omb necklace was being made by J2 Jewelry.  I only wear silver and almost all of the products are silver.  Items are made to order and can be customized.

Here are the items that I have ordered:

Podling

The podling is about the size of a dime and sits in the perfect spot on your neck.  It is wonderfully sparkling on the inside and gives a little hint  fun.

Button

The button is just as tiny but with amazing detail.  It has been cast from an antique button the artist found.

Honeycomb

The necklace that started it all is the honeycomb.  It is big enough to make an impact and intrigues others to look at the intricate details.

Every time I have ordered I have received the jewelry in 3 days.  They come in a cute little box with an adorable handmade tag.  The artist always writes a little note that gives you a connection J2 and their jewelry.

Please check out her home page on Etsy and look at these wonderful little treasures.J2 Jewelry

The Poisoner's Handbook

Summer is the time for book reading for most people, especially me.  The Poisoner's Handbook by Pulitzer Prize winning Deborah Blum is amazing on so many fronts.  Now the title may sound scary, it is about poison, but not about how to use it.  It is how to catch those people who do use poison, the old fashioned way.  Forensics as we know them have only really been around since prohibition and this is their story.

Modern forensics owe a lot to two men from New York, first chief medical examiner Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler, toxicologist.  Before Norris medical examiners could be anyone doctors, funeral directors, musicians.  There was no standard until Norris sunk his own money into the examiner's office as well as Bellevue hospital.  This dynamic team solved so many murders and accidents because of their desire to continue against all odds.

The chapters are set up by poison. Each chapter shows how Norris and Gettler managed to find a definitive way to prove the specific poison caused the death.  It also contains the fight against city hall for keeping the office running.  Even Laguardia took away their clocks to save money.

If you love the history of Prohibition, this is the book for you.  It maps the rise of rail liquor in New York City and the results of drinking this liquor.  During prohibition there were more alcohol related deaths than before its inception.  Norris & Gettler found a way to prove prohibition was killing us and that stiff drinks were making us stiffs.

If you like history, forensics, prohibition or New York pick up this unassuming book.

Nasty Bits & Medium Raw

For years my family and I have been huge fans of Anthony Bourdain.  We have watched every episode of a Cook's Tour and No Reservations, and even have it on our instant play when we feel the urge for some snarky banter.  Our addiction all started with a book called, Kitchen Confidential, you may have heard of it.

Kitchen Confidential hurled Bourdain from chef to writer/tv personality.  Nasty Bits is everything that didn't make it into No Reservations as well as some background on what has happened since he became a celebrity.  His voice is unmistakable in his writing, you can actually hear his voice while you read it.  Nasty Bits also contains an addendum to perviously written works, which lend a little more clarity to what we already know.

Medium Raw is Bourdain's newest book, and it does not fail to please.  He explains why he loves some chefs and can't stand others.  He has even changed his view on Rocco and Emeril.  Bourdain also explains how his life has changed since his daughter and all the traveling.

If you love Bourdain you have to read these books and gain greater insight into the man we love to watch eat God knows what in places we would all love to see.

Yelp

Ever looking for somewhere to eat or shop and you want something new.  I always turn to yelp, www.yelp.com

Yelp is basically a blogger reviewers page.  Each review is kept listed and is averaged for stars.  I like this method, better than the other old fashioned style books or newspaper reviews since there are way more people's opinions.  Even better if you find someone whose reviews are to your liking you can become a follower.

I use yelp mostly for food, but you can find just about anything.  Its also a good way to keep a food diary of places you loved or worse hated.  I you are interested in my reviews check out copious424.yelp.com

Once you try yelp you will become a yelper yourself, most people do.

Skippyjon Jones

As some of you may know I teach, young children to be exact.  If you are looking for a series that children love you need to take a look at Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner.

http://www.skippyjonjones.com/

It is all about a Siamese cat that has a wild imagination.  Every time he gets in trouble an adventure ensues when he enters his closet.  He transforms from a Siamese cat to a Chihuahua, because "his ears are to big for his head."

The children laugh uproariously at all the Spanish words used by the Los Chimichangos.  They are the group of spanish speaking dogs, Skippy is always saving.  He encounters a giant bumblebee, dinosaurs, mummies and even travels to mars.

Lost in Spice comes with a CD reading from the author.  My class always choose this book over all the other books on CD when it is there turn.

Skippy lets children use their imaginations.  My class choose Skippy as our favorite character for Read Across America Week.  Each child wrote their own Skippyjon Jones stories, some examples they came up with were Skippyjon Jones in Candyland, in the World Cup and many others.  This is a great way to get your child writing in an imaginative way.

Give this series a try and the children in your life will be hooked.

Sopa de Tortilla

I was obsessed with this soup about ten years ago, to the point where the family banned it from the menu.  It is a super simple soup which is really the answer to left overs.  You can put anything in this base soup such as chicken or beans.

You need a few key ingredients that can be found in any well stocked pantry

• 2 tomatoes, broiled
• 2 T corn oil
• 2 med onions, chopped
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 pasilla or ancho chilis, chopped 
• cilantro (to taste)
• 12 cups of broth
• oregano (to taste)

 You will first need to place the dried peppers in boiling water so they are ready when you need them.

Broil the tomatoes, this can be done in the oven, toaster oven or even over a gas burner in a pinch. After the tomatoes have been broiled to the point the skin is coming off by itself, peel and place in food processor or blender.  Blend until smooth.

While the tomatoes are broiling, heat oil and onions until they are transparent.  When transparent add garlic, salt and pepper, heat until fragrant.  At the point the mixture is heated through add to the blender and blend until lumps are gone.

Place the blended mixture in the pan and heat on medium until it is thicker and darker in color.

 When darker add broth, cilantro, oregano and pepper (I have been know to use any pepper, fresh or

dried.  If it is fresh broil it with the tomatoes). 

I like to blend the pepper with a cup of broth to make sure it is chopped well

Simply simmer partially covered for 30 minutes.  Add whatever you want for protein to the soup.

The soup can be topped with cheese, sour cream, cilantro, oregano, crisped tortilla slivers or tortilla chips.

The soup is simple and tasty.  You can make it anyway you want it a little taste of Mexico from your pantry.  Just don't make it too often or too might be banned from making it.

Envirosax

I don't proclaim to be the greenest person, but there are things that I do that are green.  I have many different reusable bags, ones that stand on their own but can't be rolled up. Bags that are kept in pouches when not in use, that always have shoulder straps that seem long enough until filled with groceries. They each have their flaws. I LOVE envirosax. www.envirosax.com

I cannot find one flaw with the envirosax bags. The bag rolls up to about 4 inches by 1.5 inches.

 

When open it is 19.5 x 16.5 inches. Believe it or not this bag can hold 44 lbs and only weighs 1.4 oz.

 I have tested it over the past three years and it has never failed. I have carried anything from groceries to library books. They are completely washable!!!

The best part about these bags is you can have a collection in your purse at all times. Which means you never forget to bring them. I usually have three on me at all times. That 5 additional ounces is never noticed in the purse. So whether you know you are going to need them, or you just happen to need one you are always ready.

They come in all sorts of colors and patterns. There are collections but I purchased all of mine at different times so they don't match. There are bags for kids too, even Sesame Street themed.

Give these bags a try and you will never go back.

New Addiction

For days I have been thinking about starting a blog. I love to try new things and love to share them with others. What better way than to start a blog. I will write reviews about books, food, restaurants, products and awesome things I find along the way. I might every once in a while add a rant or opinion. So stay posted and see what comes up.