Sunday, October 6, 2024

Finding Strength in Struggles: Everything Must Go – A Five Star Movie Review

Finding Strength in Struggles: Everything Must Go – A Five Star Movie Review

The Storyline of "Everything Must Go"

"Everything Must Go" tells the story of Nick Halsey, a man whose life falls apart. He loses his job, his wife leaves him, and she locks him out of their house, throwing all his belongings onto the front lawn. 

Instead of picking himself up right away, Nick chooses to live on the lawn and starts selling everything he owns in a yard sale. 

As the days pass, he learns important life lessons about himself and what's truly valuable.

The movie is about hitting rock bottom, facing harsh realities, and figuring out how to rebuild when life takes a hard turn. 

It's a simple yet impactful story that hits home for many who have faced unspeakable challenges.

An Excellent Cast

Will Ferrell plays Nick Halsey, and it's not the usual comedy role you'd expect from him. 

I was surprised by how serious and believable he was in this part. I got so drawn into the story that I stopped seeing him as Will Ferrell, the comedian. He became Nick, a guy struggling with his life falling apart, and it was easy to forget his other famous roles.

Another standout in the movie is Rebecca Hall, who plays Samantha, Nick's new neighbor. She brings warmth and depth to her character and helps push Nick toward figuring out what he wants and maybe needs. 

Christopher Jordan Wallace plays Kenny, a young kid who helps Nick with his yard sale, and I really enjoyed his performance. He was so effective in his role, and his character was a nice reminder that friendships can form in unexpected ways. 

Lastly, I've always liked Laura Dern. Her small role as Nick's high school friend added believability and heart to the movie. Her presence brought extra star power, making her character feel real and relatable.

Why I Enjoyed This Movie

What I liked most about "Everything Must Go" was how, unfortunately, it would be relatable to some.

This character-driven movie delivers some important messages about life—sometimes, everything falls apart, and we must figure out how to rebuild. 

It resonated with me because it shows that even when life hits hard, there's always a way forward, even if it takes time to see it. 

Will Ferrell's performance was a huge surprise. I didn't expect him to be so convincing in a serious role, but he made me forget I was watching the same actor from all those comedies. 

I also really enjoyed Christopher Jordan Wallace as the young boy Kenny. He brought a lot of heart to the story, and his character was more than just a sidekick—he was a big part of Nick's journey. 

Oh, and the movie does offer an unexpected twist - I didn't see that coming!

The Tone of the Movie

The tone of Everything Must Go is a mix of raw realism and subtle hope. 

It shows life's harsh realities—flaws, failures, and the messes we make—but it also leaves you feeling like there's a way forward, even when things seem broken. 

The movie doesn't sugarcoat the struggles, yet it sprinkles in moments of light, reminding us that no matter how flawed we are, we can find a path toward rebuilding if we're willing. 

It's a reflective, grounded story that feels real yet offers small glimmers of hope.

If you're into a serious movie about life lessons that doesn't leave you feeling like there's absolutely no hope, this is your movie. Despite the struggles of the main character, some light shines through.

Check out the trailer:






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Saturday, October 5, 2024

Old Bay Seasoning Review


A delicious seasoning for seafood, poultry, salads and meats.


Shrimp Dish with Old Bay Seasoning


Old Bay Seasoning History


Old Bay is a blend of 18 spices, with the main ingredients celery salt, paprika, red & black pepper, and mustard seed. It was invented by a German Jewish refugee, a spicemaker who specialized in making blends for sausages. He invented Old Bay in 1940 after immigrating to Maryland and it became a very popular spice in the Maryland and Chesapeake Bay area. 


Brunn founded the Baltimore Spice Company and produced the “Delicious Brand Shrimp and Crab Seasoning” which was later renamed ‘Old Bay’ after a ship line of the Chesapeake Bay. McCormick obtained the rights to this seasoning in 1990.


Old Bay Seasoning Uses


If you are wondering what Old Bay Seasoning is used for, the answer is ‘on anything’.  


Low Country Shrimp Boil
Image Source: Wikipedia

I was first introduced to Old Bay in the 1990s after moving to Coastal Georgia and discovering the iconic southern dish - the Low Country Boil. This southern treat consists of shrimp, corn-on-the-cob, potatoes and sausage all cooked together and seasoned with Old Bay Seasoning. 


When Old Bay Seasoning first came out, in Maryland where it was invented, it was a popular addition to many shrimp and crab dishes. 


More than 80 years later, it still has the same great taste and is tasty sprinkled over your favorite seafood dishes, plus poultry dishes, roasted potatoes, burgers, and even French fries. 


How Much To Use


As with any spice addition, the amount used is according to individual taste. But for some examples, it is recommended you use approximately 2 tablespoons of Old Bay Seasoning for one pound of shrimp, and ½ cup for a dozen crabs.  A typical Low Country Boil also calls for ½ cup of Old Bay. Check out the suggested recipes for steamed shrimp or crabs, or for crab cakes, printed on the can of Old Bay Seasoning, or find many delicious uses for Old Bay in online recipes and on the McCormick Old Bay Recipes site.


Summary


So, for your next seafood dish, or any dish, give Old Bay Seasoning a try and see if you agree that it is the perfect addition that brings a distinctly unique taste experience. 


Old Bay Seasoning Related Reviews:



*Old Bay Seasoning Review written by Wednesday Elf

 




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Friday, October 4, 2024

Love's Portrait - Hallmark Movie Review

Love's Portrait Movie Review
It seems some faces are just meant to be painted, photographed and filmed.  That is certainly true for the Love's Portrait star, Aubrey Reynolds.  

In the movie, Reynolds portrays a young woman who is still grieving the death of her husband, even though it has been 3 years since he died in a car accident.  Hallmark picked the right actress for this movie.  She comes across as being very gentle, kind and considerate, as well as content, but some of her facial expressions convey sorrow.  

She is truly the portrait of a sweet soul with an aching heart.

In the first few minutes of the movie, you are introduced to Lily Young (Aubrey Reynolds) and her co-workers who adore her.  We find out about Lily's life, what she does and does not want now or in her future.  The movie moves forward quickly when a stunning portrait arrives at the museum where she works and plans are quickly made for travel. 

 

Love's Portrait Movie Synopsis

Lily's boss, Michelle, is determined to help Lily find someone to date.  She has even gone so far as to add a profile to a dating app on Lily's behalf.  However, Lily isn't ready to start dating again and refuses to play along.  She is happy with her job as the museum curator and is content to focus on that.

When a new portrait arrives at the museum, everyone is immediately interested in it because it appears to be a portrait of Lily.  However, there is no packing slip in the box and the painting is not signed.  Thus, they all want to find out the identity of the artist.  Michelle is certain the artist is Lily's destiny and she is determined to find out the origin of the painting.  She sends her assistant to the deliveryman's home and he finds the packing slip in his truck. 

It turns out that the painting was shipped from a small town in Ireland.  Before Lily even has time to process it all, Michelle hands her a ticket to Ireland and tells her she must go!  Somewhat reluctantly, Lily agrees because she really is intrigued by the painting and would like to solve the mystery of the artist's identity, plus why he painted her.

And, this is where the fun begins .......

 



This really is a delightful movie.  All of the people in Ireland are awesome and fun, starting with the postmistress who clearly has her own interest in the painting as well as Lily's mission to find the artist.

Be sure to check this movie out on a day when you are seeking a bit of romance and mystery together.



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Love's Portrait - Hallmark Movie Review by:
House of Sylvestermouse




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Thursday, October 3, 2024

Plant Based Ice Cream Review

plant based ice cream
I had been trying to eat more plant based and began a journey of trying out different types of plant based ice cream. My first attempts on this journey left more to be desired. It just seemed like something was missing, but mostly, the types I tried were rather sweet to me.

I'll give you some background on that. I had been switching my preference for ice tea from sweet to fifty percent sweet, and then to three quarters unsweet and only 1/4 sweet. So I was becoming less inclined to go for anything overly sweet.

For the most part, dairy based ice cream did not seem overly sweet to me. Perhaps that was due to the ratio of fat to sweet. Since there wasn't much if any fat in the plant based ice creams, that might have been part of the reason for the extra taste of sweetness.

The types of the plant based ice creams that I tried, (ones I purchased from grocery stores), had a base of either soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and cashew milk. The first three plant based milks I tasted seemed very sweet, and they were from different brands. I was about to give up, and then I happened upon cashew milk based ice cream. It was the best. It had good ice cream flavor and wasn't overly sweet.

There weren't many flavors of the cashew milk based ice cream to choose from, but it did do in a pinch. I highly recommend the ones made with cashew milk. Perhaps the fat content in the cashews also helped with the flavor.

On with my ice cream journey:

I was also exploring various vegan type recipes on YouTube and found quite a few on making your own ice cream. I took the basics from what I learned from various recipes and decided just to give a go with the basics only. This is the recipe that I came up with.

Basic Plant Based Ice Cream Recipe

1 part frozen sliced bananas, 1 part fresh or frozen desired fruit, and 1/2 to 3/4 parts of plant based milk

frozen bananas strawberries


Put all three ingredients in a good performance blender and blend.

ice cream ingredients in blender


It will come out more like soft serve ice cream. If you want it softer, add more of the plant based milk, and less if you want it firmer.

strawberry ice cream in blender


I used my Ninja Auto IQ Kitchen System blender when I am making enough ice cream for two or two plus. Sometimes the portions are larger, lol.

Here are some tips on using the Ninja Auto IQ Kitchen System:

+Plug the unit in once the base is secure on your counter, table. (It has suction feet.)
+Add the ingredients and attach the lid. +Push in the power button. The almost full circle with a vertical line at the top of the circle.
+Then selected the Smoothie button.
+The machine blends and pauses according to it's built in program. It will count down the seconds until it is completely done blending. (I love this part!)
+Almost done. Remove the lid then carefully lift out the blending blade unit. The blades are very sharp. Use a spatula to slide any ice cream into the blender and transport the blending blade to the sink.
+Rinse and then use a bottle brush, I use foam dishwashing liquid to spray it with, and proceed to clean using the bottle brush and the foam cleaner. Do Not Touch the Blades.
+I clean these blades off at this part so that everything comes off more easily. Then it's a breeze. The blender container and the blade assembly can also be washed in the dishwasher. I do it the way I previously described, so that water doesn't set in any of the insides. It's also pretty quick.
+Then, if the mixture is thick enough for ice cream, use a spatula to scrape out the goodness into your bowls or pour the liquid into your cups.

This particular batch turned out to be a milkshake batch! Yum!



The ice cream is fresh and tasty, and not overly sweet unless you add additional sweetener of some kind.

If you want to freeze this ice cream, it will come out really firm. You will need to let it defrost at room temperature for 20-30 minutes or more, depending on how much ice cream you are trying to thaw. I really do prefer enjoying it freshly made.

Does it matter which plant based milk to use?

I have used almond milk or oat milk. Those are my main go to's that I have on hand. I occasionally buy cashew milk if I know I am making mashed potatoes. There is only one store here that carries the cashew milk, so I make it with whatever I happen to have on hand. Any of the plant based milks that I have used have turned out well.

This link will take you to the Ninja Auto IQ Kitchen System on Amazon if you are interested in checking that out. https://amzn.to/4eNBs7n
.

This is the link if you're a one serving kind of person and want to check out the NutriBullet blender. This one has 1200 watts, which is good one to use for blending frozen items. https://amzn.to/4042pzB

If you are interested in checking out the plant based Butterless Pecan Ice Cream that I came up with, you can check out the recipe post card in my CherylsArt store on Zazzle:

It is scrumptious!

Have you had and or made plant based ice cream yet? What did you think? Will you try making your own batch of plant based ice cream?

Cheryl Paton


Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Wednesday, October 2, 2024

All the Broken Angels ~ A Book Review

Sometimes a title grabs you and doesn't let you go.  That's what happened to me with this Book Title and I'm so happy that it did in fact grab me!

As part of the Netgalley.com community, there are books offered to members for their honest and true reviews. 

Pat Black-Gould and Steve Hardiman have hit all the right notes with All the Broken Angels!  It is a Finalist in the upcoming 2024 Royal Palm Literary Awards!.  

If you grew up in the 1950's, 60's and 70's you will be able to place yourself into this book without any trouble at all. 
 
These decades were the decades of many changes!  I'm talking about big changes!  There were changes in the church, changes in the schools, changes in our collective feelings about war, peace, space, family and our own roles in society!



These were the decades of Peace Walks and Talks, Vietnam, distrust in organized religions, protest marches, army drafts, women working to break the barriers in the job markets, and mother's who wanted more out of life than just raising a family.



It was a time of great upheaval in the family and society as a whole.  

All The Broken Angels hits on many of the "hot" topics of the day and brings many painful memories and some of our broken innocence or naive notions to light.

Cousins Cate and Albie are in the center of all this turmoil.  They are best friends, go to school together, play together and are being raised by mom's who still care for their immigrant parents.  They are "old school" and "new school" at the same time.  Falling back into what worked for their grandparents when they first arrived in the country they chose to call their new home, many old fashioned notions needed to change.  That change did not come easily for the elders as many stuck to their customs brought to this new land from their old countries. 

Cate and Albie are close and yet so far apart in their thinking.  Cate is a bit of a rebel and Albie is very much focused on being just like his dad ( a World War II vet).  Cate tries to challenge many things she sees as "unbelievable" and "wrong", while Albie knows when to keep his mouth shut and ride whatever wave they are travelling on.  Parochial schools with their hard edge on religion and beliefs did not sit well with Cate and try as she might, she really was trying to understand.  Albie was much more easy going and let all these things ride without too much personal comments.  Needless to say Cate and Albie's school life was not what we look back on with good humor.  School could be very distressing to some young minds.

This novel had me laughing and crying, admitting that many of these things were happening around me at that time and by the end of the novel I was totally a part of the world as seen through their eyes. Oh the memories that this book brought to light.  Things I hadn't thought of in a long, long time.  

All of life has a way of working out and Cate does find her way in this new world with all of it's possibilities. She is able to make peace with many things that caused her numerous sleepless nights.  Heartwarming and true to life is this story of All the Broken Angels.

https://amzn.to/3N8Yxpe



Indies Today writes about All The Broken Angels: "Younger audiences will appreciate the richness of Americana, and older audiences will be kissed by nostalgia!

In my humble opinion this novel rates 5 Stars!  I don't give those out easily, but this book really deserves it and I do hope that you will find it and read it.  I'd love to hear if you reacted the same way!
Congratulations to the Authors Pat Black-Gould and Steve Hardiman!














Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Reviewing Gifts To Keep Loved Ones Warm In Winter.


Brown and cream Faux fur heated throw


With cold weather fast approaching and along with it rising energy costs many people are concerned how to pay for their energy bills to heat their homes and keep warm. Many people may well be thinking of not putting the heating on so high or so much this winter. 

This may especially apply to older people who can feel the cold more, or maybe less able to keep moving around to keep warm. The very old and the very young and those who have conditions or are on medications that  make them feel the cold more will be the most affected in the colder weather. 

So I was thinking how to help people in this situation who perhaps will not accept money to help with bills, but who would consider it normal to receive a winter birthday gift or Christmas gift.

While it is important that the heating is on for some part of the day to keep the home free from damp, it might be thoughtful to give a gift of something that will help to keep them warm and cosy this winter. This thoughtfulness may also extend to yourself.

Depending on your budget, some of these suggestions are affordable, others more considered purchases and perhaps the more expensive ones could be purchased by a family or  friends clubbing together for a present. Or you may like to purchase these as a treat for yourself, as we did. 

So gifts that are lovely, cosy, warm and beautiful like these can be a lovely thoughtful present for any person to help them keep warmer and more relaxed in the colder months of the year. 

 

Blue with cream fleece heated throw

Heated Throw

The first gift idea and one that we have found very useful is a heated throw. These are blankets or throws that you put on over yourself to keep warm and have a timer facility so you can choose the temperature the throw warms up to and the length of time you have it on. 

The best ones have a cut off function once the time is reached so I consider this a vital function, especially for elderly people or anyone just busy, so it cannot over heat or be left on all night. 

We have a couple of these throws for use in the living room when watching TV and for one to go over the bed which we put on an hour before bed to warm up the bed and the room. We find that these do heat us up very well and also put some heat into the room which is useful in winter.

One is a Faux Fur heated blanket and one is a Sherpa Fleece Blue heated blanket. They are deliciously cosy! We have used the heating far less since we got these blankets and so saved on our heating bills, while still keeping nice and warm.                    

Read more about my personal experience of using these in my article Reviewing Benefits And Considerations Of Heated Throws 

 SEALY Electric Throw Blanket, Flannel & Sherpa Heated Throw with 6 Heating LevelsCheck Price

 


Warm Wearable Hooded Fleece Blankets.

We have two each of these warm wearable hooded fleece blankets and we really appreciate them in the autumn and winter. Wearing them can certainly delay us needing to put the heating on. 

They are great during the day when at home as you can move around freely wearing them, yet you are warm and certainly cosy! However you still feel Ok answering the door to people which I would not be Ok with if I was in a dressing gown! In the evening they are just wonderful and snuggly and so warm.

 Wearable Blanket Hoodie for AdultCheck Price

 

We especially like to wear them first thing in the morning when getting breakfast and once we settle down for the evening. I also like to wear mine when doing computer work and we both wear them watching TV or playing games in the evenings.

Read More about how we enjoy wearing these in my article Reviewing Warm Wearable Oversized Hooded Blankets 


Warm oversized Hooded Fleece Blanket in purple and white

Warm Bedding 

In the autumn we start switching out our bedding to warmer fleece and blankets to go with our duvets. It makes more of a difference than you might think and is an easy switch.

 As long as you know the persons bed size, a warm bedding set would be a lovely thoughtful gift. I love this Microsoft Sheet Set with a flat sheet, fitted sheet and two pillowcases for its warm, cosy and beautiful look on the bed. This set is available in a wide choice of beautiful colours to suit any person and any bedroom decor. It has deep pocket fitting on the fitted sheet and is machine washable on cold, tumble dry low so easy care

Even if you are not sure of the bed size, then a comforter to go over the bed would be a great gift and less dependant on size especially if you size up so you can be sure it covers the bed. 

My friend and contributor Barbara wrote this useful article about her personal experience of owning this Warm Sherpas Comforter Set. 

 Microsoft Sheet SetCheck Price

 


Warm Cosy Bed Socks

I don't know about you but if my feet are cold I am cold. So it is vital to keep feet warm and cosy. There are many choices of lovely bed socks for everyone in different colours . So if you know the persons shoe size a special cosy pair of socks can be a thoughtful gift.  

I especially like these Non Skid Gripper Fleece Socks as in addition to being warm and cosy, they have grippers on the soles so are more non slip that most socks and so safer if you forget to put on slippers when you first get out of bed or go to get a drink in the night.

My friend and contributor Olivia writes in her review about how bed socks and the subsequent warm feet can equal a happy marriage ! How Bedsocks Can Equal A Happy Marriage

 Non Skid Gripper Fleece SocksCheck Price

 


Shoulder Wrap Heating Pad

This is a great gift idea especially if you know the person has any shoulder issues or feels the cold around their shoulders. 

I know if my shoulders are cold I find it hard to warm up. I carry any tension in my shoulders and a warm wrap does help to relax the muscles. A definite benefit is that you do not need to hold this wrap against your neck, it stays put there by itself! 

 My friend and contributor Sylvestermouse reviews her personal experience in her article about the Sunbeam Shoulder Wrap Heating Pad.


So a few well chosen gift ideas that we here have found lovely and beneficial can really be a beautiful and warm, lovely present for a loved one who may feel the cold this winter.

 Whether it is a Fall/Autumn Birthday present or a Christmas gift or just because you love them, any of these items will help towards keeping you and your loved ones warm and comfortable this winter.  


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