Moulin Rouge!

Happy Monday! May your day be as swift and merciful as an execution. Haha. Just kidding. However, today is New Year's Eve so I'm sure you'll want the day to pass with some haste so you can get to your New Year's Eve plans.

via Imp Awards.

I was in the mood to end the year with a bang, so I went for an extremely over the top movie that everyone loves! Moulin Rouge! is a musical unlike anything you've ever seen. The year is 1899, and young Christian, a poet, (played perfectly by the gorgeous Ewan McGregor) has left his humdrum life to move to Paris and become a part of the Bohemian revolution. He crosses paths with an eccentric gang of artists putting on a show. Christian quickly becomes swept up in the world of sex, drugs, and love when he decides to write the show and falls for the city's most beautiful courtesan in the process. 

He's not the only one enamored with the beautiful courtesan Satine. What started out as an innocent theater production has turned into a dangerous search for truth, beauty, freedom, and love when a wealthy duke agrees to invest in the production in exchange for Satine. Check out the trailer for Moulin Rouge! below: 



Everything about this movie is above and beyond: the acting, the costumes and set designs, and especially the chemistry. Featuring hits from some of the biggest names in music of the 20th century, the soundtrack alone is reason enough to give this movie a watch. Moulin Rouge! is sure to reinvent your perception of the typical love story. With performances from an A-list cast including Nicole Kidman, John Leguizamo, Jim Broadbent, and Richard Roxburgh this movie will be sure to remind you that of all things, the most important is love.

Moulin Rouge! is now available on blu-ray and DVD.

Movie trailer courtesy of YouTube.

Out of Commission

Photo courtesy of Peachtree Business Products.

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone had a beautiful holiday.

Just when it seemed like I was getting back into the swing of things the charger of my laptop crapped out on me, so I was out of commission for a little while. And just when I was starting to get into a flow of blogging regularly. The one good thing that did come out of not having a laptop for a week was that I had a lot more time to cook, watch movies, drink wine, partake in some DIY crafts and take pictures! Of course that also means I have more to share with the world in 2013.

I'm very excited about the new year. Everyone talks about how much they want to change things, but there are big things ahead for not only myself, but Wilfred and perhaps this blog as well.

Candy Cane Mice

You're probably not aware, but Martha Stewart is one of my absolute favorite people ever! The woman can do anything and everything. She wears many hats: chef, interior designer, wedding planner, and have you seen the woman's collection for pets at PetSmart? She's an absolute genius.

So when I found this candy cane mice craft on her website, I knew I just had to try it out. It's super simple and only requires a few things to make. You can even make one for every member of your family!

Tools:
a few sheets of felt fabric
scissors
pen or sharpie
photocopier/printer
candy canes

How-To:
1. On a photocopier enlarge mouse template by 150%. Print.
2. With a pen or sharpie trace body and ears onto felt; cut out.
3. Cut inner ears and a dot for a nose from felt in a contrasting color. You can also cut eyes from black felt. I  didn't have black felt, so I just used Sharpie.
4. Glue the face and inner ears in place. 
5. Make slits in body for ears and candy-cane tail where marked; to make cutting easier, fold felt across center of slits, and snip.
6. Slip ears through slits at front; then slide wrapped candy cane through body slits, tucking the end underneath the ear piece at the back.

Wilfred's is the blue one (because he's blue), and mine is the cute little pink one with the backwards ears.

2009 Oveja Negra Cabernet Franc Carmenère

Although Oveja Negra translated means "black sheep", this blended wine is anything but. Oveja Negra wines are harvested in the Maule Valley region of San Rafael, Chile, a culture rich in wine growing tradition. With a blend consisting of 71% Cabernet Franc and 29% Carmenère, one of the first things that drew me to this wine was it's rich red color and deep violet overtones. The notes are a little intense, evoking scents of ripened fruits like red and black berries, cassis and plums. It takes me back to the days of my childhood, running barefoot through the wide open fields picking berries from the bushes.

Image courtesy of Wine Library. 

Ideally served room temperature with roast meat, seasoned vegetable stews, grilled white meats, or even yesterday's chicken dish, this wine would be perfect for serving at a dinner party, although I must warn it is an acquired taste with it's delicate notes of tobacco and coffee and touch of black pepper and good finish. 

Oveja Negra has quickly transformed itself into one of the chief winemakers of Chile. Their penchant for using sustainable viticulture practices makes for an amazing experience. It's the street corner where innovative style meets responsible structure to create a truly unique wine in which quality takes precedence over everything else.

Oveja Negra is redefining black sheep not as the outcast, but as a unique and extraordinary individual. One that immediately draws all eyes in the room. Dare yourself to be the black sheep of the group and try this earthy wine. At around $13 a bottle it could easily be yours! 

12/12/12

Hello world! Today is December 12. Normally this means one thing to me: my best friend Kathryn's birthday, but today is December 12, 2012 or 12/12/12 which is something else in it's entirety. It's not just a triple date sequence on a calendar, it's the last one we'll ever see in our lifetimes. 

A lot of people are celebrating in a big way, for example GETTING MARRIED! However I will admit that is a pretty cool wedding date. Lots of other non-wedding events are occurring as well including the music fundraiser "12/12/12 The Concert for Sandy Relief" in Madison Square Garden.

So cheers to the last triple date sequence we'll ever experience! And don't forget to tune in to the Concert for Sandy relief tonight at 7:30/6:30c 

Chicken with Black Beans and Rice

When I'm at a loss for what I wanna eat, I always come back to the delicious and colorful one-dish recipe. The juiciness of the chicken will have you wanting to enjoy this dish again and again.

Ingredients:  
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons chili powder
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2½ to 3 pounds meaty chicken pieces (breast halves, thighs, and drumsticks)
2 tablespoons cooking oil 
1 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained 
1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes with onion and green pepper, undrained
1 cup V8 vegetable juice
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn 
⅔ cup uncooked long grain rice 
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 
2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions: 
1. In a large resealable plastic bag combine flour, 1 teaspoon of the chili powder, the salt, and black pepper. Add chicken pieces, half at a time. Seal bag; shake to coat. 
2. In a large skillet brown chicken on all sides in hot oil over medium heat about 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Remove chicken from skillet and set aside; discard drippings. Add the remaining ½ teaspoon chili powder, the beans, undrained tomatoes, V8, corn, rice, cayenne pepper and garlic to the dish. Bring to boiling. Transfer rice mixture to a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Arrange chicken pieces on top of rice mixture. 

3. Bake, covered, in a 375°F (190°C) oven for 45-50 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and rice is tender. 

I can't lie, preparing this dish is almost as fun as eating it! I always like to put on a little Spanish music and dance around the kitchen. Not to mention all of the colors of the rice, beans, and vegetables is like a fiesta on a plate. Just try it and see why it's one of my absolute favorites. 

The Princess & the Frog

Happy Monday dolls! I don't know about the weather out there, but here in Baton Rouge it's been cold which has kind of put a damper on my mood. However, today's Monday movie is sure to bring a smile to your face and a twinkle to your heart.

movie poster courtesy of imp awards.

Set in New Orleans, The Princess and the Frog is an updated take on a modern fairy tale classic. Tiana is a young, 19 year old girl working two jobs to achieve her dream of one day owning her own restaurant. Naveen is the spoiled, arrogant prince from Maldonia who is swept up in the magic of New Orleans and its notorious shadow man who tricks him and turns him into a frog.

Naveen, having read the story of the frog prince, convinces Tiana that all he needs is one kiss to turn back into a human. She reluctantly agrees, but instead of him turning human she is transformed into a frog!

They embark on a journey through the mystical bayous of Louisiana to find Mama Odie, a voodoo priestess who can turn them human again. With the help of Ray the firefly and Louis, a trumpet playing alligator they find themselves on a race against time to navigate the swamp, along the way learning the importance of hard work, love and following your dreams.

The Princess and the Frog includes and all-star cast featuring Oprah Winfrey and Terrance Howard as the parents of the independent, assiduous Tiana (voiced by the beautiful Anika Noni Rose), Keith David as the scary shadow man and the hilarious Jennifer Louis as Mama Odie and was nominated for three Oscars at the 82nd Academy Awards ceremony. Tiana is definitely one of the most memorable Disney princesses, I'm totally jealous of her southern charm, determination and not to mention those cooking skills! Disney returns to the genius of 2D with this tale that is sure to become a classic with the likes of The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and so many others!

Check out the trailer for The Princess and the Frog below:

With the holidays just right around the corner, this is the perfect movie to watch. The Princess and the Frog is available on Disney blu ray combo pack and DVD.

Vacation

Dallas from above via Instagram.

I went to Dallas to see my mom for Thanksgiving, and it was a blast! I hadn't seen my mom in over a year, so seeing her alone was eventful in itself. However, we not only cooked an amazingly delicious Thanksgiving meal, we explored the new parks, saw a few movies, and (of course) took a couple pictures which I shall be sharing later this week.

But alas, all good things must come to an end. I am back now. Shoved into a hectic world of endless studying, football games, photography assignments and final exams. And of course, more food and crafts. So stick around, because I've got a lot more up my sleeve.