Still Snowed In? Family Movies to Watch Together

I don't know about you, but my family is looking to be in for a 5-day weekend due to snow. We've baked cookies, we've played every board game on the shelf, we've even done a little schoolwork, and now we're ready to just plop down with a big bowl of popcorn and watch a movie. But what movies are fun to watch for literally ALL ages? What movie will appeal to your pre-schooler, your middle-schooler, your college kid, and even Grandma and Grandpa? Here's a list of my favorite kid-friendly movies that adults don't just tolerate, but actually enjoy.

Inside Out (2015)

This movie is the story of a tween girl named Riley who moves from Minnesota to San Francisco with her parents. We see the inner workings of her mind as she adjusts to her new surroundings, her new school, and her new life. This movie is full of bright animation, brilliant voice work, and spot-on analysis of human psychology at all ages. Little ones will find Joy's exuberance, Anger's loud outbursts, and Fear's wacky hysteria to be hilarious, older ones will identify with Riley's middle school trials and tribulations, and parents will understand the struggles of balancing the needs of every member of a family. The story is heartwarming and sad and funny, much like life itself, and the peeks inside the minds of various types of people (and animals) during the closing credits is well worth waiting for.

The Incredibles (2004)

Superheroes Mr. Incredible, his wife Elastigirl, and their children Violet, Dash, and baby Jack-Jack hide their identities and superpowers to blend into a "normal" suburban life. But when a supervillain appears on the scene, they come out of hiding and work together as a team to save the world. There are some great ongoing themes of teamwork, accepting and celebrating individual differences, and supporting family and friends which can be understood by all ages. Adults will appreciate the many nods to famous action movies from Indiana Jones to James Bond, and kids will appreciate that the younger members of the Incredible family have as much to contribute as the adults.

Heidi (1937)

There are a lot of Shirley Temple movies that could be included in this list, but Heidi is a favorite in my house. A young orphan is sent to live with her crotchety old grandfather on the side of a mountain, and charms him with her sweet ways and curiosity. When her aunt kidnaps her and forces her to be the companion of the invalid daughter of a wealthy man, the old man does everything in his power to get her back. The characters are all larger than life, from the grumpy old grandfather to the always hilarious Arthur Treacher as the rich father's butler to the blatantly villainous housekeeper Fraulein Rottenmeier, and this delightful story includes the obligatory song-and-dance numbers that all ages will enjoy.

Mary Poppins (1964)

Everyone knows the classic story of a magical nanny who swoops in and changes the lives of not only her two young charges, but their parents, as well. The only part of this movie that I don't completely love is Dick Van Dyke's horrific (and ever-changing) Cockney accent. Julie Andrews is sheer perfection, the mixed live-action and animation scenes have held up remarkably well in the age of picture-perfect CGI, the marvelous character actors Glynis Johns and David Tomlinson chew the scenery to the delicious hilt as Mrs. and Mr. Banks, and I'm happy to forgive Van Dyke the accent after watching his amazing dancing in "Step in Time". In addition, the movie can kick off some great family discussions of saving money, women's voting rights, and the whole style of life during the Edwardian era. 

Wall-E (2008)

Humans have abandoned a post-apocalyptic Earth for the safety of a huge spaceship, waiting hundreds of years for a signal that it's safe to return, relying on robots to feed them, take care of them, and even navigate their ship. One little trash-collecting robot continues his "duties" back on Earth, collecting all kinds of bits and pieces of human detritus - everything from a bra to a Rubik's cube to a spork to a DVD of "Hello, Dolly!" The only living things left on Earth seem to be a cockroach and a single seedling, which is detected by a robot sent to look for plants growing on Earth. The two robots return to the human ship and mankind finally returns to their home, determined to work hard to learn from their mistakes and to create a better world than before. The movie has some good (if a bit heavy-handed) messages about environmentalism and stewardship, but also about friendship and teamwork. It's a serious message, but delivered in a fun and light-hearted way.

Newsies (1992)

The youthful cast and multiple high-energy production numbers will entertain younger children who don't quite understand the plot, but older children will be entranced by the (somewhat fictionalized but still true) story of the New York City newsboys strike of 1899. These tween and teen boys, many of whom were the only breadwinners for their whole families, protested against the price hike set by the powerful and wealthy Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst, and brought them to their knees. The story shows that there is power in numbers, and that even young people can make a difference in the world if they have enough passion and determination.

Nanny McPhee (2005)

This movie shares some similarities with Mary Poppins (misbehaving children neglected - but not unloved - by their father, a magical nanny transforming not only the children but the whole family dynamic, a villainous old woman determined to bend the children to her will), but it is much subtler in some ways and much more blatant in others. It uses more slapstick and physical comedy (Angela Lansbury and Celia Imrie both getting hit in the face with cream pie is worth the price of admission), but Nanny McPhee (played by an unusually solemn - but always brilliant - Emma Thompson) has a much more noticeable effect on the behavior of the many children in this family. She teaches them to be courteous and kind, but they learn much more from her than mere good manners. The film is a good balance of silliness and solemnity that delivers a serious message with a (pardon the expression) spoonful of sugar.

Up (2009)

The plot doesn't sound especially interesting for kids: An elderly widower travels to South America to fulfill his late wife's dreams, meeting his lifelong hero and discovering that the hero has feet of clay. But throw in that he travels by tying hundreds of balloons to his house and floating to South America, his young neighbor accidentally stows away on the trip, and they meet a bunch of talking dogs and a large tropical bird in their travels, and the youngsters suddenly find themselves entranced. Like Newsies, the bright visuals and bold humor will keep little ones entertained even if they can't follow the plot, and adults will be moved by the poignantly wordless sequence depicting Carl and Ellie's marriage.

The Lego Movie (2014)

The story of an extremely ordinary Lego figure who discovers how truly extraordinary he is, this film is funny on so many different levels that it will keep everyone entertained throughout. The voice work by Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Ferrell, and Morgan Freeman is brilliantly done (as evidenced by the fact that everyone in my family mimics their delivery of lines from the movie on a regular basis), and the animation style really captures the spirit of playing with Legos. The eventual triumph of a band of misfits led by a simple everyman may be a trope, but it's really successfully and sweetly done here.

Toy Story (1995)

The whole Toy Story series is worthy of being on this list, but the original movie is really the best of the bunch, in my opinion. Little ones love the wide variety of familiar and unfamiliar toys, older ones love the vintage toys from our own childhoods (Mr. Spell, anyone?), and everyone loves the catchy, upbeat score by Randy Newman. We've all got a friend in Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang.


What's YOUR favorite family movie for a snowy evening?

Snowed In!: Pantry Recipes for Unexpected Snow Days

I hate going to the grocery store when there's a storm brewing, especially a Nor'easter. It's crazy busy, they run out of stuff I need, and everyone is kind of edgy. So over the years I've built up a collection of recipes that I can make with pretty much just what I have in my pantry and my freezer. Admittedly, my pantry (and, to a lesser extent, my freezer) tends to be unusually full and complete, so I'm also including a list of everything needed to make these recipes, all of which can be stored for months in the pantry or freezer. If you happen to have fresh items like milk, butter, eggs, bacon, and onions on hand, you can use them rather than the pantry or freezer version. There are also a few additions or garnishes, such as guacamole and sour cream, that aren't strictly necessary but are nice to add if you happen to have them on hand.

Pantry Items:

• Baking supplies: flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, unsweetened cocoa powder, vanilla extract, chocolate chips
• Nonfat dry milk powder
• Vegetable oil
• White vinegar (or lemon juice)
• Pancake syrup
• Canned black beans
• Salsa
• Chicken broth
• Canned chicken
• Spices: cumin, garlic powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, bay leaves, black pepper, taco seasoning
• Canned tomatoes (with or without herbs)
• Olive oil
• Pre-cooked bacon
• Canned kidney beans
• Pasta
• Sticky rice
• Soy sauce
• Tortilla chips (optional)
• Boxed cake mix (any flavor)

Freezer Items:

• Eggs (Note: you can buy cartons of frozen eggs, but you can also freeze your own eggs: Beat them just until blended, then seal tightly in freezable containers or ziploc freezer bags. Thaw overnight in fridge or quickly under running water when ready to use.)
• Butter
• Chopped onion
• Corn
• Chicken breast (or tenderloins)
• Mixed (or stir-fry) vegetables
• Vanilla ice cream or Cool Whip (optional)

Optional Refrigerator Items (all can be omitted or a freezer or pantry version substituted):

• Milk
• Eggs
• Butter
• Shredded cheese
• Sour cream
• Guacamole or sliced avocado
• Bacon
• Onion
• Minced or fresh garlic

Breakfast
Bread, eggs, and milk are breakfast staples for me. But when I have time to make something a bit more involved for breakfast (say, on a snow day), there are some great breakfast options that take a little time to make, but that are well worth the wait, and they don't call for bread or eggs, and the milk is incorporated so you don't notice it's reconstituted nonfat.

Cinnamon Popovers

1 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tablespoon butter, melted and cooled
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil

For coating:
   4 tablespoons butter, melted
   1/2 cup sugar
   1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Beat together milk, eggs, and 1 tablespoon butter. Add flour, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, salt, and vanilla and beat until smooth and frothy. Also to sit while oven preheats to 450. Preheat muffin tin in oven for 2 minutes. Remove from oven and brush each cup with vegetable oil. Briefly beat batter and fill cups halfway full. Bake for 15 minutes. DO NOT OPEN OVEN DOOR. Reduce oven temperature to 350 and bake for an additional 15 minutes until golden brown and dry to the touch (you may open oven door during this time). While baking, combine sugar and 1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon in small bowl and set aside. When done, loosen popovers with a sharp knife and pierce the bottom of each to allow steam to escape. Cool on a wire rack until still warm but handleable. Brush with melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar.


Vanilla Cinnamon Buttermilk Pancakes

2 cups milk (scant)
2 tablespoons white vinegar (or lemon juice)
2 cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1/4 cup butter, melted

Combine the milk and vinegar and allow to set for several minutes to create buttermilk. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk, vanilla, cinnamon, and egg. Whisk in melted butter. Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, whisking just until completely mixed. Cook on a hot griddle, flipping when bubbles form and do not pop and edges appear dry. Serve with butter and syrup.


Lunch
I love soup for lunch, but most of my favorite soup recipes spend hours simmering on the stove or in the crockpot. But there are still some great quick recipes that rely entirely on pantry and freezer ingredients. And nothing tastes as good as hot soup on a cold, snowy day!

Chicken, Black Bean and Salsa Soup

2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn
1-1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup chunky salsa
1 teaspoon cumin
2-3 tablespoons frozen onion
1 can chicken, drained and broken up with fork
Optional garnishes: shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole or sliced avocado

Combine all ingredients (except optional garnishes) in a saucepan and heat thoroughly. If desired, use immersion blender to puree small batches. Serve plain or with any combination of suggested garnishes.

Pasta and Red Bean Soup

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2-3 slices bacon, crisped and crumbled (optional)
1 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon garlic powder OR 2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained
4 cups chicken broth
2 cans kidney beans
2 bay leaves
1 cup small pasta (shells, elbows, etc.)
salt and pepper

If using bacon, crisp and crumble; set aside. Heat olive oil and butter in large saucepan over medium heat (or use leftover bacon fat) and add onion, garlic, oregano, and red pepper, stirring constantly for about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, chicken broth, beans, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes, adding pasta for last 5-10 minutes (based on cooking directions on package). Season with salt and pepper and discard bay leaves.

Dinner
The trick for cooking main meals from the pantry and freezer, for me, is finding dishes that are not adversely affected by quick-thawing techniques. One of the best ways to do this is by using a crockpot; the other is parboiling (which works best with chicken).

Chicken Fried Rice

1-1/2 cups uncooked sticky rice
3 cups water
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 chicken breasts, frozen (can also used canned chicken)
salt and pepper
garlic powder
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons minced garlic or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1-2 cups frozen mixed (or stir-fry) vegetables
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 egg, beaten (optional)

Heat water, butter, and salt until boiling. Add rice, cover tightly, and cook 20-25 minutes until tender. Allow to cool. (Can also make ahead of time and keep in fridge until ready to add.) While rice is cooking. place frozen chicken in a deep saucepan and just cover with water. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder and heat until boiling. Boil for 15 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to cool. Cut into bite-size pieces.

Heat vegetable oil in large skillet or wok, add onion and garlic and stir for several minutes, until fragrant. Add vegetables and continue stirring. When vegetables are partly thawed, add rice and mix well. Pour soy sauce over and mix well. If using egg, pour over and mix well to combine. Add chicken and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly mixed and heated through.


Crockpot Fiesta Chicken

2 to 2-1/2 pounds chicken breasts
2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups frozen corn
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 package taco seasoning
Shredded cheese (optional)
Tortilla chips (optional)

Combine all ingredients except cheese in crockpot and cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8 hours. Shred chicken with a fork and stir before serving. Top each serving with shredded cheese and tortilla chips, if desired.

Dessert
When you're stuck in the house all day - or worse, you've been out shoveling snow all day - you could use a little treat, right? Not to mention that baking a yummy dessert is a great way to keep kids from getting cabin fever. So here are some recipes that don't require any fancy ingredients, and are a nice reward for surviving that snow day!

Brownie Pudding

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup flour
2 cups sugar
4 eggs (room temperature)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup butter, melted and cool to room temperature

Sift together cocoa powder and flour and set aside. In a large bowl, beat sugar and eggs on medium-high speed with electric mixer until pale yellow and creamy (5-10 minutes). Reduce speed to low and add vanilla and flour-cocoa mixture and beat just until combined. Slowly add the melted butter and mix on low until just combined. Butter a 2-quart baking dish and scrape the batter into the dish, then place inside a large baking pan and add hot tap water until it reaches halfway up the inner dish. Bake at 325 for 1 hour (center will appear unbaked but will set as it cools). Remove the inner dish and cool on a wire rack. Serve at room temperature. Top with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, if desired. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Cake Mix Cookies

1 box cake mix (any flavor)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup chocolate bits (or butterscotch or peanut butter chips, or M&Ms, or rainbow jimmies, etc. - if using chocolate cake mix, you can roll balls of dough in powdered sugar before baking)

Combine mix, oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Stir in chocolate bits. Drop by teaspoonsful onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes, then allow to cool completely on wire racks.


Happy Snow Day!

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Wearing John Malkovich: A Fashion Review

One of my favorite Super Bowl ads this year was the one featuring John Malkovich. In it, Malkovich is trying to get the rights back to a website called www.johnmalkovich.com. If you go to that website, you find Malkovich's actual fashion design website. I expected his designs to be a bit crazy, much like Kanye West's fashion disasters. But in fact, many of his designs are actually quite attractive. Here is a review of some of the pieces in his Spring/Summer 2017 line.

I love the lines of this sweater. It's slightly fitted, with a dropped neckline so it can be worn over a shirt and tie, has two low front pockets, and buttons down the front, cardigan-style. This version is navy with a hint of red trim at the neck, but it is also available in ivory with black details, as well as in a non-cardigan version, which has a slightly squared-off neckline without the contrasting trim, and the same front pockets. The non-cardigan version is just a hair shorter than the cardigan. It's an elegant but casual style that works well in a work or a more casual setting.

The collection includes several jacket styles, three of which are shown above. The first style features four patch pockets with large buttons and a Mao-style collar, which according to the website can also be turned down and worn like a more traditional lapel. The jacket is nicely fitted and has beautiful seaming and topstitching details, and falls to a nice "first knuckle" length. The second style, shown here in a black-and-white pattern (which I LOVE), has a notched lapel, buttons quite high on the chest, and has three welted pockets (i.e., a finished slit-style opening). Like the first style, it is barely nipped in at the waist and skims the hips. Both styles are very tailored and sleek. The third style, however, looks to me like an oversized shirt. The notched lapel flares into a larger collar, the sleeves end in buttoned shirt-style cuffs, and the double seams down the front don't create a fitted silhouette. In fact, the side view shows how flared the the back of the jacket is. It reminds me of a poorly-fitted work jacket or even a smock. Well, as the song says, two out of three ain't bad.

Matching the above jackets, these straight-leg, flat-front pants are also beautifully tailored. These three images show three very different hem lengths, but I think all three work in different contexts. The first length, which doesn't quite touch the top of the shoe, is a very youthful and almost edgy design. The second has just a hint of a break at the ankle (a "break" is when the fabric creases instead of hanging straight down, a sign that the hem is touching the top of the foot), a more classic and formal cut. And the third is quite long, nearly reaching the floor at the heel, which gives a much more relaxed and casual effect. The linen-silk blend fabric is available in multiple colors, from classics like the black-and-white and greyed navy, to the brighter "blue heather".

The Bermuda shorts is where he loses me a little. The length is right in the middle of the knee, which seems unflattering to anyone. Traditional Bermuda shorts generally fall just above the knee. Also, this version is extremely flared, which in a crisp fabric looks uncomfortable and tends to make the wearer look slightly bowlegged. The red and blue houndstooth pattern isn't scoring any additional points, either. To his credit, the shorts are well-tailored, I just don't like the lines.

The shirts in the collection are more classically styled, but with a few tiny details that I like. The first shirt above is available in several solid colors as well as the whimsical face print shown here. The shirt has button cuffs and a single patch pocket, but the feature I really love is the barely curved collar, which lays beautifully and creates a soft line. The second shirt is a collarband style with a dropped yoke and narrow cuffs. Available in blue or white, both interestingly textured fabrics which add visual interest without being too busy.

I'm slightly less enamored with these two scarves. The blue one seems too stiff for the way it's draped, sticking out where it should lie softly, and pattern of faces along the coral one just seems odd. But kudos for designing men's dress scarves; it's a look that it growing on me and I'd like to see more of it.

The collection wraps up with a number of elegant knitted neckties. All in red, white, and blue, these knitted ties are straight and narrow, and the bottom is edged with either red or blue, a nice little finishing detail.

All in all, Malkovich's collection is crisp, businesslike but not overly formal, nicely tied together in style, and very wearable. Just skip the ugly shorts and you can look like a wealthy movie star!

Anything You Can Buy, I Can Buy Cheaper

I fell down the Pinterest wormhole this morning. It's been a while since I looked back over some of my boards, so I started browsing some old pins, including a board I have called "Stuff I'll Buy When I Finally Write That Best Seller". And I started thinking, "I wonder if I could find a nice, inexpensive (or at least, less expensive) version of some of these items?" So I put on my Bargain Hunting pants (they're fabulous and I got them on sale, of course) and started shopping. Here's what I found!

Jimmy Choo Swarovski Crystal-Covered Suede Sandals: $638 at Saks Fifth Avenue

These sandals are, sadly, no longer available, but according to the site linked above, they were previously available at Saks Fifth Avenue for $638 - which, considering that many similar Jimmy Choo styles I found cost as much as $2,000+, is something of a bargain. What I love about these shoes are the graceful curlicues of the straps and the restrained crystal detailing, particularly along the stiletto heel and the ankle strap. So what is the closest affordable version?

This Fioni Lumiere strappy heel is only $35 at Payless Shoes. It features a similar silhouette, with a tall, tapered heel, peep toes, gracefully arched straps up to the ankle, and a glittery crystal finish all over. It's no Jimmy Choo, but it'll still make you feel like a movie star.

Movado Museum Watch - $495 at Movado.com

I love the simplicity of this watch: a basic black face with a single silver dot in the twelve o'clock position, silver hands, and a plain black leather band.

This similar Seiko diamond-accent watch from JC Penney is still slightly pricy at $206, but significantly less than half the price of the Movado. It has a plain black face with a single diamond chip at twelve o'clock, gold hands and a thin gold band at the edge of the face, and a textured black leather band.

Vintage black velvet and satin Valentino gown - $5,000-$15,000 at Neiman Marcus

Julia Roberts wore a similar stunning vintage black velvet and satin Valentino gown to the 2001 Oscars. The front is a slender velvet column with a y-shaped line of white satin down the front and a black mesh inset, and the back features a flared train accented with black and white beaded stripes cascading down from a large white satin bow. I'm just guessing at the pricetag on this one; most of Neiman Marcus' Valentino collection runs from between five and fifteen thousand dollars, although some are upwards of thirty grand.

Not surprisingly, it's not easy to find a gown similar to the vintage Valentino that's not simply another vintage Valentino. However, this gown, a cool $173 from JJ's House, is a long black column descending into a train at the back, and the front features a black mesh yoke with rhinestone trim. You might not look like a Julia Roberts level movie star, but you'll look like a movie star.

Harry Winston Holly Wreath Diamond Choker - About $1M at auction from Christie's

Even the rich and famous often borrow Harry Winston diamonds rather than buying them, that's how pricey they are. So even if I do write that best-seller, I probably won't be picking up this gorgeous choker. But maybe I can find a pretty cubic zirconia or glass version that has a similar pattern.

The pattern of these gems is noticeably simpler, but still a similar style. For only $35 from Etsy, I'm willing to go for a bit simpler.

Mink Coat - $6,597 from Macy's Fur Vault

There's nothing that says luxury quite like a genuine mink coat. The feel, the color, the warmth...it appeals to every sense. But if the real thing is out of your budget, what's a reasonable substitute?

This beautiful full-length faux fur coat from Burlington Coat Factory is only $109, but it still provides wonderful luxury with its soft, thick fur. Details include contrasting trim on the collar, cuffs, and hood. And no minks were harmed in the making!

Karmann Ghia Convertible - $17,500 on the Collector Car Network

There really is no reasonable  - and affordable - equivalent to this sweet little Karmann Ghia convertible. So until I can afford the real thing, I guess I'll just tuck this one into my purse and dream: