What I love! | Peaches Prattlings

{December 5, 2014} Steel Magnolias…Why do I keep watching this movie?

I do not really like this movie, but for some reason I keep watching it.

Any other movie that comes on that I don’t really care for, I don’t watch, I change the channel, for some reason, I am drawn to this movie like a moth to a flame!

It has an amazing cast: Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Shirley McClaine, Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, not to mention Tom Skerritt, Sam Shepard and Dylan McDermott.

It is well acted, parts of it are entertaining, there are a lot of laughs, but there are also a lot of tears, it’s heart wrenching! The underlying theme is friendship. A circle of friends who have been there for each other through everything imaginable and don’t even realize just how much they will need each other.

I don’t know what it is, but I don’t care for the movie, but as I said, I keep watching and here I sit watching it while I talk to you. It is the same way for me and The Ya Ya Sisterhood, I keep watching.

HELP ME!

{December 2, 2014} Austenland

I love Jane Austen novels, just like every romantic girl in middle school or high school.

I love Pride and Prejudice for one, I read it cover to cover, more than once and I have seen and/or own at least three versions of the movie or tv mini-series. I have not watched many other movies related to Jane Austen, Becoming Jane being one of them.

On one of my recent flights, United had free movies, so I gave in and watched Austenland and this was an interesting choice…

The premise is that Keri Russell is a HUGE Pride and Prejudice fan, could be considered creepy and has been this way for a long time. Finally, one day, she cashes in her retirement to take a trip to Austenland, an estate run by Jane Seymour, and at the airport she meets an eccentric, yeah, that’s a nice word for it, fan, Jennifer Coolidge, so you know it’s going to be crazy!

Depending on the money you spend, you get a particular package, for example, Jennifer Coolidge’s character got the platinum package, which included a grand room in the main house, fabulous frocks and the priviledge of being wooed by one of the main characters in the main house, while someone like Keri Russell’s character, Jane, go figure, has a smaller room in the servants wing and forced to wear the clothes of a lower class character and the disdain from Jane Seymour’s character is apparent.

As time goes on, Jane becomes a discouraged little by little and begins to think she may have gone a little overboard with her obsession and now is disillusioned with the idea and…that’s all I am going to tell you.

It was a cute movie if you are into Pride and Prejudice or anything Jane Austen, just dont expect anything Oscar worthy.

I will leave you with this Jane Austen quote from Pride and Prejudice “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! — When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”

Enjoy!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1985019/?ref_=nv_sr_1

{November 30, 2014} A family tradition continues…The Nutcracker

Today, the family continued a fine tradition started when my sister and I were kids, we went to see The Nutcracker Ballet.

When we were kids, we got one big family gift for Chanukah and went to see The Nutcracker on Christmas Eve, performed by the New York City Ballet Company at Rockafeller Center. We did this for years and years and years, we would get dressed up and go to a matinee at the City Company and then go out to dinner, it was usually my parents, sister and grandmother [mom’s mom, who lived in NYC].

It has been along time since I have been to a production of The Nutcracker and it brought back so many memories. Now, you know how when you do something over and over and it becomes a tradition and the way you saw it first is how you always remember it and it is a good and happy memory and when you see it again and it’s different, you’re like…huh…

Let me preface by saying, this was a wonderful performance! The dancers were fantastic, the choreography was beautiful, the sets, the orchestra, everything, it could not have been better and to see the enraptured look on both EJS and MGS during the performance and MGS twirling her little heart out after the curtain closed, almost to the car, made it all worth it and I could not imagine a better picture, being there with not only my nieces and brother-in-law, but with my dad and sister, just like when we were kids, I was transported back in time all at once as if in a dream.

I have been to see The Nutcracker once on stage in Atlanta, I took my grandmother when she was visiting and once at an IMAX 3D. Both were different and I was not crazy about them, despite being a wonderful performance, but good memories because of the company and story. Something important to point out, the version that we grew up with was the George Balanchine version, each Ballet Company chooses to do their own choreograpy, what we love…Balanchine.

For those of you “not in the know’, here is a link to the entire production by The New York City Ballet Company filmed in 1993, and in the role of the Nutcracker Prince was Macaulay Culkin, who was 13 at the time, and of course we were in attendance that year, he was quite good in the role. Now, just so you are aware, there happens to be some narration during the performance in the video [I found it odd when I first heard it]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ5Se2ErinU

Act I takes place at a party and Act II takes place in The Land of Sweets. We love the entire ballet, but everyone has their favorite parts and I am going to tell you about ours and I will tell you where they are in the video link. In Act I, I love the when Clara and Herr Drosselmeier’s nephew part company at the part [23:05], when The Nutcracker becomes a boy [46:00].

There are so many to love and dad, GES and I love the entire production, but here you go. We all LOVE when the tree grows [32:52] in Act I, then in the Land of Sweets, my mom adored Coffee, from Arabia, her ultimate favorite part was at the very end, what she does with her feet, amazing! Mine is Tea [52:18], so funny and charming always makes me laugh and GES is Candy Canes [53:24] when he hula hoop skipping, you’ll know when you see it, I must admit, I love that too! We love Mother Ginger, always played by a man dressed as a woman, and her polchinelles [57:00] with her tamborine and hand mirror. My dad’s favorite is The Pas de Deux, with the Sugarplum Fairy and her Cavalier, but the bestest part of it is towards the end, when he pulls her, on point, on a block across the stage [1:09]

I hope some day you get to experience this in person, but if you don’t, please enjoy the link, I know I am in heaven sitting here listening to the music while I talk to you! Happy of happies!

http://www.nycballet.com/Season-Tickets/Nutcracker-Additional/Synopsis.aspx

{November 29, 2014} Family Photos

Today, we took family photos, in the snow.

It was a lot of fun. We had breakfast food: bagels, lox, cream cheese, whitefish, tomatoes, cucumbers and lunch food: deli, cheeses, pickles and then there were desserts: cakes and pies, some new and some leftover from Thanksgiving.

ACS’ brother and his wife, JS and AS, then B&A, who are like grandparents to MGS abs EJS were here too. We had lunch, caught up, figured out what to wear and LS showed up to take pictures.

We took turns heading outside, it was a bit cold out, still a lot of snow on the ground. The girls went first, MGS in her Elsa Halloween costume and EJS in her karate uniform. Then they changed into ‘everyday’ clothes.

There were pictures with just the adults, then the adults with the kids, all sorts of combinations, one big one with the entire group, at one point EJS took one of the cameras and took lots of pictures of whoever was there at the moment.

There were a lot of laughs, especially with the kids, EJS kept tickling our legs.

After, everyone else left and GES, ACS, EJS and MGS took some photos on the couch like they have done in the past. Then, ACS and dad took off and there were play dates and the day went on as normal, as normal as crazy is around here, perfect.

I can’t wait to see the pictures!

{November 28, 2014} Bittersweet

This year, celebrating Thanksgiving in Boston was bittersweet.

The reason I say that is that this was the first time in six years that I celebrated Thanksgiving in Boston and not Atlanta. When I was married, we celebrated the holiday in New York City, Boston or Atlanta and the year we got divorced, I came to Boston with TS to celebrate.

Since then, I have hosted Thanksgiving for all my “orphan” friends, people like me, who didn’t have any extended family in Atlanta, who were not going home to be with families. Sometimes, people don’t have the opportunity to go home for the holidays, sometimes they have to work the next day, so I stated hosting and I have loved each year!

It was as pot luck, with me making the turkey, yes, the vegan makes the turkey! One year, I remember flying in from Nevada the day before thanksgiving, getting there either late the night before or early thanksgiving morning and going right to work. Last year it was even Thanksgivingka, the first night of Chanukah was thanksgiving, what a great meal that was!

Different people have joined different years and some people were each year, CKM, SDL, DJL, Miss A, CC and JC and their baby M, JCT and her family, DCM, AB, JB and A and their son, E, just to name a few.

Last year, I don’t know if you remember me telling you about the dollar store thanksgiving! I had already moved to Colorado, but when we came back to Atlanta for thanksgiving, stayed in my house and hosted using things I bought at the dollar store!

There were so many great memories built over the years and I would not trade them for anything. This year, being with my family in Boston was so very important and while I would not have missed the opportunity, I was missing my family in Atlanta and not hosting, very much. Hence, bittersweet.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and celebrated with those they love and care about! I know I did!

{November 28, 2014} Today, I am thankful for…

So very many things!

Today is the American celebrated holiday of Thanksgiving. It is the day we give thanks, it doesn’t matter to anyone else what you are thankful for, they are your thoughts and if you want to share them, go for it, if you want to keep them to yourself, go for it!

Today was a simple day, got up way too early, par for the course, but had a good time playing with the girls, making egg sandwiches, hanging with my brother-in-law, dad and my sister, nice and easy. At some point ACS and dad took the girls to the local high school football game, for the longest running rivalry football game, between Needham and Wellsley High School, the Thanksgiving game has been played on Thanksgiving day since 1882! How’s that for tradition! http://needhamhistory.org/features/articles/needham-wellesley/

While they were gone, GES and I tried to watch a terribel movie, Adult Store and when that didn’t work, we put in “And So it Goes” but didn’t get far because everyone came home and it was more time in front of the fire, holiday movies on The Hallmark Channel, doesn’t this all sound so idyllic?

Then it was time for me to make my corn souffle while everyone took showers to get ready to go to T&S S’ house, we piled in two cars and off we went. We got there, headed in and joined the commotion! There were 4 families there, each with two kids, then three granddads, two grandmas and one extra auntie, me! When I got there, I found out that Little E went home last weekend and told his mommy that he wanted Auntie J to come and babysit! I am SO ready for that! I am spoiled!

We all worked together to get the finishing touches done on the food, heating up things, setting things on the table and then it was time to sit down to eat. Now, as most families do, you go around the table to talk about what you are thankful for and our fabulous hostess started. There are a lot of things that this group is especially thankful for and it was a very touching and tearful time, it has been a tough year and we are so thankful to have made it through and come out of it and we can see 2015 will be here soon and it will be the start of a wonderful new year.

After TS, then it was my turn, then my dad’s and so on down the line. There were some funny things said, some insightful, poignant, tearful and of course, whenever the kids have a turn, it’s always adorable. Some kids are thankful for their friends, their family, their grandparents, their food and we all laugh and smile when they say it, they are being honest. Last, but not least was our very own MGS and she became a bit shy, so together we said for her…”Let’s eat!”

Hours to prep and cook, minutes to devour! The funny thing is the one question I am asked the most at this time of year “But Auntie J, what are you going to eat? Well, if you think about it, usually, all but the turkey and stuffing are vegetarian! We had greenbean cassarole [made with cream of mushroom soup], brussel sprouts with carrots, green beans, there was vegetarian stuffing, carrot souffle, mashed potatoes, home made applesauce, rolls and cranberries, now you tell me…out of all that, what couldn’t I eat?

After dinner, we all helped to clean up, then started to prep the desserts. We had apple crumble, pumpkin pie, fresh fruit, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate and heathbar cookies, coffee cake, peacan pie and ice cream. I think we were set!

After cleaning up we were treated to a show by all the kids, SO cute and then it was time to go, the kids were getting tired and wound up and the grownups were in food coma mode! Time to pack up, suit up and head home. We got outside and it was flurrying, so pretty and I loved watching MGS trying to catch snow flakes on her tongue!

Home for pjs, relaxing and talking to you!

I know I have said this before, but I am thankful to you, my friends, family and follwers for taking the time to read my posts, comment, like and enjoy my posts. I am thankful to have an audience who likes what I have to say and I will forever be greatful! I hope you all had a fabulous thanksgiving and got to spend the day with friends and family.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving

{November 26, 2014} Traveling the day before Thanksgiving

Was not that bad!!

The day before Thanksgiving is known as the busiest and worst travel day of the year. In most places it is very true.

I got on an earlier flight today, 12 pm, so I headed to the airport about 10am, no traffic. No line at check in, no line through TSA pre-check, got to my gate in about three minutes.

There were no crazy lines, crazy people, no overcrowding, no screaming kids, was this really the day before Thanksgiving?

Boarded flight, sat down and about 10 minutes into boarding, a flight attendant comes over and asks my name and then hands me a boarding pass…for first class!

I move to first class, ahhhh…go United Airlines!

I sit down and immediately get offered a drink. We take off, I start watching a movie, thank you free United Airlines entertainment.

Then came the warm towels, bowl of warm mixed nuts, then the offer of lunch. I had an Asian chicken salad, minus the chicken and warm tomato bisque, then came the warm oatmeal raisin cookie. Not too shabby for a flight just over 2 hours.

Then I got my luggage no problem, except for going to the wrong baggage claim first. Got a taxi quickly and no traffic, made it to my sister’s in no time, despite the freezing rain and sleet.

Got to see my dad and sister alone for a little bit, then the girls and b-i-l came home.

All in all, an easy trip, way better than expected!

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you, one and all!

{November 23, 2014} The Presidential Suite

I know, hold yourself back, another early post! Don’t get too used it, I am in a happy place right now!

The reason I am in a happy place and blogging early is that I am relaxed and happy! I just got out of the jacuzzi!!! Ok, let me start from the beginning…

So…since I started on the project in Chicago, I have been staying at the Sheraton, since the Doubletree was booked for the week and I am doing a status match at Sheraton, a few more nights and I am platinum, hey, we already know I’m spoiled, so why not! But…ever since I started staying there, I felt like I was cheating on Hilton! I know, these companies don’t give a flying fig about me, but I am a loyal person!

This week, I had to be in early on Monday morning, so I flew in on Sunday evening and I am staying at the Doubletree. Since I am Diamond status, I am always on the upgrade list, if I can only book a Queen, I get a King. Well, when I checked in, Dwayne, at the front desk, told me he was able to upgrade me…to the Presidential Suite! What? I’ll take it!

Ok friends, Hilton has spoiled me before, I know I have told you, but let me just say dayum!!! I totally geeked out and took pictures, which you see below. Let me paint a picture…You walk in and there is a walk in coat closet, could be a clothes closet for your guests. There is a full bath next to the closet, a sitting area with a fold out sofa, arm chair, dining table in the center of the room and a big screen tv opposite the arm chair. Oh, I forgot, there is a kitchen sink, microwave and refridgerator when you first come in on the right.

Walk through the door off the sitting room into the master bedroom, nice king sized bed, arm chair, desk, dresser, big screen tv, could be a walk in closet, and next to the closet is a door to the balcony, on the right, you could sit or stand, to the left, two chairs and a table under the cover, you could have a dinner party out there!

Then…ahhhh…the master bath!!! I thought the bathroom I had in Michigan was awesome…to the right, a jacuzzi tub! To the right, the water closet with the toilet, big enough for a few people, across from the jacuzzi…double vanity and to the left…a shower big enough for at least 4-6 comfortably! Double shower heads on opposite walls of the shower!

The front bathroom has full toiletries, the master bath has double toiletries, how happy am I! Oh, don’t forget the robe in the bathroom and another in the bedroom closet!

So…after I went to the mall, not a fun experience, a necessary evil for the week and had a decent dinner at Stir Crazy, one of those wok/stir fry places, I came back to the room, put some shower gel in the jacuzzi, filled the tub, sat down, started the jets and said ahhhhh…after a long soak and subsequent pruning of the fingers and toes, I got out, put on a robe and now I am sitting in the arm chair in the living room, watching and singing along to The Wizard of Oz and writing to you, could anything be better?

I AM SPOILED! And I LOVE IT!!!

{November 23, 2014} Big Hero 6

Tonight, I had a movie date with two of my favorite movie buddies, EJS and MGS.

We went to see Big Hero 6, the description from imdb.com: The special bond that develops between plus-sized inflatable robot Baymax, and prodigy Hiro Hamada, who team up with a group of friends to form a band of high-tech heroes.

It had all the elements of a Disney movie, deceased parents, a hero who doesn’t seem it, who finds himself conflicted between right and wrong, a group of friends who want to help and eventually get through to the hero that s/he doesn’t have to go through anything alone, our loved ones are always with us in our hearts, you can do anything you set your mind to and good will conquer evil. That sounds about right.

At one pont, there was a sad part and EJS asked if there would be a happy ending, I said of course, it’s Disney, animated and a kids movie. There you go.

Boy genious [fourteen and graduated high school at 13], unassuming looking, he and brother are being raised by aunt, quirky friends, weird pet, big bag guy, surprise bad guy! special relationships, big fight scenes, big finish, follow up with happy ending. Sound good?

What is really important is…if you are a Marvel fan, you MUST do two things. Really look at the family portait and stay past the credit to the extra scene at the very end.

Bottom line, a good movie for kids and adults alike.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/?ref_=nv_sr_1

{November 21, 2014} I did it!

I am in the “parent club” again.

You know when you do something and your kid gets embarrassed? Yelling “I love you” at them from across the way at school, kissing them goodbye, existing?

Well, tonight it happened to Me. I picked up EJS from school, everything seemed fine, we drove home and… nothing.

After we get home, I was putting some things away and I heard GES and EJS talking about something that was bothering her, she didn’t want to say anything. I heard GES say if something is bothering you, it won’t get better if you don’t say something.

I walked into the room and looked at GES and pointed to myself, asking if it was me and she nodded. So I looked at EJS and asked what was wrong, she wouldn’t say and walked into the kitchen, I followed. I asked if I did something that embarrassed her and she nodded yes.

Please tell me what it is so I won’t do it anymore, but if you don’t tell me I will keep doing it. She finally told me and we agreed on what I could and could not do in this situation. Done deal.

I’m in the embarrassing parent’s club again! Wahoo, I have arrived!

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