Despite the weather getting a bit warmer, it's a dismal day full of rain, wind and all over unpleasantness. Add a headache to that mix and one tired little girl, and you have what I consider a movie day.

So, today I'm posting my Top 5 Kids Movie Picks. These are movies that we love to watch all together. They aren't necessarily the best of animation, but our kids love them and because of that so do we.

#5. Wall-E 

Having a son that is obsessed with robots makes this an obvious choice for us. Despite critics bashing it for the fat people and the goody-goody green earth message, I must say I think it's brilliant. It mixes the future of machines and technology with the broader message that we must continue to care for our world. I'm a proud tree-hugger and not afraid to admit that I want my kids to learn my crazy hippy ways. Hooray for kids movies going green!

#4. Ratatouille

I love this movie about a rat who wants to become a chef. Some people may find it boring because it's not action packed, but not me. I love food and I think it's great that there's a movie out there getting kids to think about what they put in their mouths. Also, the greater message of friendship in the face of adversity is an important lesson for kids to learn.

#3. Monster's Inc.

When I first saw this movie I couldn't get over how horribly clever it was. I mean it's about monsters scaring kids! The whole thing is hilarious, especially the scene where the little girl hits Randall with the baseball bat turning him different colors. That still sends me into fits of laughter. Need I say more?

#2. Kung Fu Panda

Jack Black is one of my favorite funny men. I absolutely loved him in High Fidelity, so I knew that Kung Fu Panda would be a knock out. I love the quirky humor and awesome fight scenes. A lot of animation series let the second installment go, but Kung Fu Panda 2 was just as good.

#1. Despicable Me

There are so many reasons to love this movie - the minions, the cool evil devices, the crazy Dr. Nefario, squid launchers.... And I absolutely adore the three little girls. Isabel reminds me so much of the littlest girl...sweet, innocent, slightly diabolical. I can't wait to see the sequel. I hope they take the time to do a good job with it. 

It hasn't been much of a winter up here in Kingston, but I've still been craving winter food. Here are my Top 5 Winter Comfort Foods.

1. Chili and Cornbread
For me, there's nothing better on a cold winter day than chili.  There's so many different ways to make this delicious bowl of warmth. There's something for everyone - vegetarian, vegan, meatlovers - you name it and we love them all! Serve it with a square of crumbly cornbread on the side and hear the kids cheer!

2. Grandma Sandro's Spaghetti and Meatballs
My Grandma's spaghetti is legendary in my family.  We had it every year at Christmas when we visited my grandparents and now I cook it for my own family when the weather gets chilly.  The meatballs have raisins in them and sweet potatoes are simmered in the sauce.  Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

3. Red Beans and Rice
This simple dish is a staple in our house - red kidney beans, garlic, onion, and diced tomatoes simmered together and served over rice.  Mmmmm.  Yummy.  If we're feeling extra hungry, I throw some sausage or shrimp into the pot as well.

4. Cheesy Potato Soup
Man, I went to the grocery store this morning and now I'm wishing I bought the stuff for this dish. I love it chunky and cheesy, warm and gooey. It's especially good if you use Velveeta. Clay tells me it's the only acceptable way to utilize processed cheese.

5. Bangers & Mash
I don't know what the deal is, but the sausage up here in Canada is soooooo much better than what they sell in the states. Pair them with some silky smooth mash potatoes and gravy (made with beer) and you'll never be cold again.

So I've finished Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and I loved it so much that I had to share a Top 5 list.

1. Austen's Style - The story is written in third person, but it feels different that other books of this style. It's as though an outside observer is telling the tale. Somehow, Austen is able to invite you inside everyone's head for a more intimate look at what each character is thinking rather than just the main character. For me, it makes the story that much more interesting.

2. The Humor - I'm a dry humor sort of gal, so I really appreciate Austen's sense of comedic timing. I especially love Mr. Bennet in this regard. He's hilarious.

"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents. Your mother will never see you again if you do not marry Mr. Collins, and I will never see you again if you do." -Mr. Bennet

3. The Humanity - None of Austen's character are without fault and each character suffers from a very real flaw - greed, vanity, pride, silliness, etc. Only Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are able to escape their own shortcomings and then, only after they have openly wounded each other.

4.Wickham & Lydia - I have to single these two characters out. They are both so absurd and cause so much trouble throughout the whole story that you can't help but feel like that deserve each other. Lydia's sole ambition is to get married while Wickham's is to get money. From their union, each is given what they long for though neither is content for long. The fact that they are stuck with each other in the end is poetic justice.

5. The Romance - I love Love, so it's easy to like this book. But Austen brings more to the table when she writes the romance between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. It's a potent commentary on what we expect in love and what it actually should be. Both characters must search within themselves to find a person worthy of love. And that's what makes their relationship compelling. The willingness to be more than what the other person expects.

Well, Isabel is sick again. It just seems to be some sort of cold this time, so it should pass soon. I can't really help but be a bit annoyed though. I mean come on! Winter hasn't even started and she's already been home from school 3 days because of illness. Sigh.

In honor of my sweet girl being home all day, here's my Top 5 (Ways to Spend a Sick Day).

1. Napping

  As a full time mom, I rarely have an excuse to be napping. There's always something I should be doing - washing dishes, folding laundry, cooking dinner, answering snack requests, etc. Napping does not fall anywhere near the top of my to do list. Today, however, Isabel woke me up at 5 a.m. It took a bit coercion on my part, since Isabel has never been a keen on the idea of sleeping...ever, but I won in the end and I'm happy to say that I just woke up from a solid 1 1/2 long nap and she's still going strong. Hooray!

2. Reading a Book
  
  I'm all for silence when I'm sick, so reading a book is high on my list. It so easy to oscillate between reading and napping. Like peas and carrots, they go together. I don't know if this would make it on Isabel's list since she still needs someone to read to her. However, she did try to sell me on reading books instead of napping this afternoon. 

3. Watching T.V. or a Movie

  This makes the top of Isabel's list because it's the only way to confine her to the couch when she's sick. Only a few times has she ever been so sick that it's sapped all the energy out of her. Most of the time, fever and all, she's running around wasting her bodies fighting energy on playtime, so the television becomes a necessary evil. For me, sickness is an excuse to re-watch all the girly romantic comedies in our collection that I've seen 100 times. They always make me feel better.

4. Eating Popsicles
 
  When your throat is terribly soar, and nothing sounds good to eat, a popsicle is a soothing treat. I keep popsicle molds and gatorade around the house for times just like this (and retched hot summer days).  In just a matter of hours I can make something my sick little munchkins will eat and help them maintain their fluid levels.  Popsicles are a year round necessity in our house.

5. Playing Cards

  Solitaire is such an old school way to keep yourself busy.  It's great for passing the time when you're sick.  The kids prefer War or Casino, but I bet when their old enough to get solitaire, they'll get hooked on it too.  


There you have it. Here's to hopping this nap helps Isabel feel better and doesn't keep her up for half the night.  Enjoy your weekend everyone - Cheers!

Because it's raining here in Kingston and I would rather be somewhere else, here are my Top 5 (Places I Want to Visit):

1. Ireland

  I have absolutely no Irish in me that I know of, but I am strangely drawn to the Emerald Isle.  I've been dreaming of going there for many years now, and hope it will come true for my 10th anniversary.

2. Italy

  I do, however, have a whole lot of Italian in my blood, so it seems only natural to want to go and see where some of my family is from.  Besides that, what's not to love about the idea of Italy? Food, wine, art, lots of gesturing - sounds like the perfect playground for me.

3. South Dakota

  This may seem totally out of the blue and for the most part it is.  All I know is that Clay and I watched Deadwood for a while and now I want to go see Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, the Badlands and all the like.  There's no doubt I would have been a gunslinger if I was around during the days of the wild west...or a saloon girl...or an old school marm....

4. France

France makes the list not because of the food, or the art, or even the Eiffel Tower.  Nope.  All those things make France interesting, but they're not the reason I would like to visit this European destination.  I want to go to France and watch the Tour de France.  I started watching with Clay because he likes it and now I'm hooked.  Little skinny men on bikes - count me in.

5. Southern Mexico

  I didn't even really know I wanted visit Mexico until I started thinking about this post.  There's something about the food and the history that feels very inviting to me.  Maybe I'm just missing mexican food since it doesn't exist in this town, but Mexico is definitely on my list.

We've all had meals that are so good, so tantalizing to our taste buds that we'll never forget them.  And try as we might to reproduce those meals in our own kitchen, it just isn't the same.  In honor of those happy moments, here are my Top 5 Food Memories - 


1. Bi Bim Bap @ the University Cafe in Ann Arbor, MI

  For years, I listened to my mom complain about my dad's undying devotion to Kimchi, without giving it much thought.  I didn't even wonder what Kimchi was, let alone what it tasted like until Clay took me to lunch at the University Cafe.  Now, Bi Bim Bap is typical Korean fare from what I understand, but everyone puts their own little spin on it.  My own veggie version is shown in the picture above.  The dish mingles an amazing mix of sweet and salty, cool and spicy, chewy and crunchy.  It is my all time favorite dish to eat (preferably with Clay)....which is saying something.
2. Hot Garlic Noodles @ the Hotel Supreme's Rooftop Restaurant in Madurai, India

    I traveled to India during May term of my sophomore year of college and it's been changing my life ever since.  And while I have a lot of food memories from India (like scarfing down a large cheese pizza in Bombay with Lindsay-lou), I just can't get over the Hot Garlic Noodles from Hotel Supreme.  These noodles show up in my dreams.  They are spicy and garlicky and amazing.  I've searched and searched for a recipe that recalls even a fraction of the taste of this dish, but I cannot find anything even remotely close.  If any fellow India travelers out there know what I'm talking about and can hook me up with something similar, I would be in their debt.


3. The Breakfast Burrito @ the Sunspot in Knoxville, TN

  I may have some unsettled issues with Knoxville, TN - but food is not one of them.  Some of my favorite food memories happened in that crazy town we called home for two short years.  The Sunspot's brunch menu ranks at the top of those memories.  It changes every Sunday so you'll always find some new twist on brunch waiting for you when you sit down.  They always have some version of a breakfast burrito.  No matter what concoction they put in the burrito, they always serve cheddar grits on the side.  Chalk one up for the South because cheese grits for breakfast is where it's at.

4. The Leggs Inn in Cross Village, MI
  
  Do you find it confusing that I didn't choose a specific dish at this restaurant?  Well, if you have ever been to the Leggs Inn, you realize that there is no possible way to choose a favorite dish because they are all amazing.  Besides the food, the restaurant is set high on a hill above Lake Michigan and you can dine outside, overlooking the water.  It's nothing short of breathtaking.  Amazing food, amazing view, and amazing company (both time I was with my happy little family & my parents)....what more can a girl ask for?

5. Spinach & Mushroom Etouffee @ Yats in Indianapolis, IN

  I can't remember exactly when my in-laws, Doug and Karen, sent us to this little dive in Indy (certainly back before it had 4 locations).  However, I do know that it is precisely the moment I fell in love with Cajun-Creole food.  Ever since I have been cooking up my own versions of Etouffee, Jambalaya, Gumbo, and Beans and Rice - much to the dismay of my children and the blissful happiness of my husband.  In fact, Etouffee is on the menu this week.  Mmmm....

The "Top 5" game is sort of special thing in our family.  Clay and I are fans of the movie High Fidelity, so we always like to come up with crazy topics to stump each other with (and giggle about how funny that movie is).  It goes beyond that though.  My father-in-law is a tremendous movie and music buff, so he's always posing interesting "Top 5" scenarios as well.  Could there be "Top 5" gene?  

This list was the topic of debate for our family last year around this time, so I thought I would post it to get other people thinking about their Top 5 Songs (that instantly put them in a good mood).  These songs can pull me out of just about any funk I'm in and I can't keep myself from singing (loudly) and dancing along when I hear them.

Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Walking on Sunshine - Katrina and the Waves
Rollercoaster - Red Hot Chili Peppers

I'm looking forward to hearing what other people list as their Top 5.  Let the game begin!