I Secretly Love Nanny McPhee . . .

I don't like it when my husband's gone: night noises are more alarming, the days are longer, and the girls miss him too.  But I do actually like having a few evenings where I can watch girly movies and eat an entire bowl of popcorn.

I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to rent Gnomeo and Juliet, but alas.  So instead, last night I rented Nanny McPhee Returns.  It was Lovely.

First of all, I ADORE ADORE ADORE Emma Thompson.

I think I've loved her in every movie of hers that I've seen, particularly Sense and Sensibility (her crying scene at the end is PHENOMENAL!).

But these Nanny McPhee stories are just delightful and not only does she play the Nanny, she's written and directed them so her influence is, of course, huge.

For this second movie, it's set in World War II with a woman (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who is struggling to keep it together while her husband is away at war.  She also takes in a niece and nephew who create quite a bit of havoc and of course the entire situation warrants the help of Nanny McPhee.

Nanny McPhee teaches her character lessons (all wonderful ones) and of course works her magic in the process.  I loved the story, the emotion of a husband and father away at war and the family dynamics.  It made me cry, it made me laugh, and it did make me roll my eyes at the ridiculousness of it -- but I love that too.  And it's completely clean.

I highly recommend both of these movies.  Oh and it was a joy to see not only Thompson (Professor Trelawney) but Ralph Fiennes (Voldemart) and Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall) together in something entirely different.  Maggie Smith particularly was a joy!

And it's wonderful for children of course -- although I haven't had my girls watch it because it might still be over their heads (we're in cartoon stage of course) but I'll save them for later for sure.

If You Loved Little Women

Louisa May Alcott's birthday isn't until November 29.  But I don't think I can wait that long to celebrate her!

  I just read a book about her that has made me want to pick up Little Women again and of course watch the movie version that stars Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, and Christian Bale (whom I love love love just below my husband and Robert Sean Leonard -- long story!).

Anyway, it's called The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Connor McNees.

Despite being an English major and an English teacher, I am ashamed to say that I learned so much from this book!  And I'm only ashamed because I feel like I should have known it all before.  But despite it being historical fiction (which I love actually), the history and biographical information about Alcott is very artfully woven in to enhance the story and promote reader understanding of Alcott's motives and life.  Wow -- that sounded a little too academic -- teacher moment, sorry.  In other words, it still reads and feels like a novel, not like a biography.

Anyway, the premise of the story comes from a few facts: Apparently, because Alcott was famous in her lifetime, she frequently burned letters and destroyed documentation of things that she felt were too personal.  Also, a comment was made by Julian Hawthorne (son of Nathaniel -- The Scarlet Letter) that she must have known love to write so wonderfully about it.  Thus, the book is about a love affair that Alcott had one summer where the documentation of her life has been very scarce (that's the fictional part). 

I found this book informative, compelling, and romantic.  I can understand now why Alcott would CHOOSE to be an "old maid" rather than marry.  Of course, the affair itself is speculation, but given her parents marriage, her father's EXTREME transcendental ideals and their impact on his family, and how the roles of wife and mother would affect her independence and her ability to write, I think that had there been a love interest in reality she most likely would have chosen to end it.  

But the romance was so sweet.  And genuine.  And I cheered for it even as I knew that is was doomed.  Oh, but be warned, there is a "scene" in the middle.  It's not graphic or explicit but it is the one issue I had with the book -- good romances don't need sex.  And that is evidenced by Alcott herself, as well as many other wonderful writers of romantic novels (not romance novels though of course!).

I also had never realized how closely Little Women mirrored her own life.  My next task is to reread that -- it's been years!  And then on to Whitman's Leaves of Grass which plays a key role in the novel and (again I am ashamed to admit I have never read the whole of it!) then maybe even a biography!  McNees references one by Martha Saxton that she just loves.

So between all that and projects I'm trying to finish, I should be busy!  And in such a delightful way.

Happy Royal Wedding Day!

I don't really know if that's even good grammar but that's what I feel like shouting at everyone.  Because I'm such a nerd.

Please understand -- Kate Middleton can have him!  I don't mean that in a rude way though.  But I like my husband just a little bit and I really don't think I would want to be married to a future world leader.  I already get annoyed by my hubby's very frequent scout trips.  And I have informed him that he is not ever to run for President.  But she seems more than capable and they seem to love each other (the television can only tell you so much) so congratulations!

Oh, but I covet that dress.

And I love the commoner to princess, happily-ever-after, fairy-tale story that just took place.  Every girls does.

So in honor of William and Catherine, I will be enjoying some other great princess romances so that I don't become a stalker of their wedding footage . . . 

And I will start with The Princess Diaries movies because Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews are marvelous and of course Mia is something of a commoner to princess.  Plus, I really love her wedding dress too.  And her coronation gown.  And they are fun, clean movies.

That will be followed up with The Princess Bride.

Classic story of "twu wuv" and the fact that "mawidge is what bwings us togever today".  How many times have I seen this movie?  Not enough to stop laughing at it's humor and pining over it's romance.

After those three the popcorn should be all gone and I'll be exhausted from being up at 4:30 a.m. so I'll probably go to bed.  But it will have been a great day for me AND the royal couple.  And that is the great thing about celebrations.

A Birthday for the Bard!

As a former English teacher I can't let the day go by without acknowledging that today is Shakespeare's birthday!

Since it's Easter weekend, we're involved in Easter activities but I've been cooking up some ideas for  a Shakespeare party and am kind've sad that I can't pull it off this year!

Every party needs to start with the food right?  You're more likely to get a good turnout if the food is good I think . . . 

So start with a "hamlet" for breakfast.  Ok, it's really a mini ham and egg cup from Our Best Bites.  But after a student told me on their extra credit question that one of Shakespeare's plays was called "omelet", I've never been able to think of an omelet with ham as anything other than a hamlet!  Strange?  Well, it makes me laugh every time honestly . . . 

Because of a lack of ingredients, I did not use spinach and roasted red peppers.  Instead I just used fresh green pepper but they were quite tasty regardless!  And because they're muffin-size, I think the name hamlet fits quite well -- it's a small village of egg and pepper and cheese . . . and that's probably another stretch!

Anyway, on with the food!  For a dinner celebration . . . 

Don't forget a Julius Caesar salad -- super easy with romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, a good Caesar dressing (I do like Newman's Own), some croutons, and maybe some chicken in there.

And of course Funeral Potatoes and chicken baked with rosemary and butter.  I have no idea where the name for the potatoes came from but that's what they've always been called around me and since everyone dies in his plays . . . 

Shakespearean Funeral Potatoes

Mix together 1 can cream of chicken soup, 4 Tablespoons melted butter, 1/4 cup shredded onion, 1 cup grated cheese,  and 1 pint sour cream.  Stir in 1 32 oz. bag of southern style hash browns and cook in the oven at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes . . . so good!

And dessert?  Well anything that invokes love of course but what would really take the cake would be an English pudding.  Hmmm, maybe I'll see if I can get a good recipe . . . 

Entertainment?  Of course!  You can't celebrate Shakespeare without entertainment.

My favorite movie options are West Side Story, Much Ado About Nothing starring Emma Thompson (lovely!) and Kenneth Branagh (please be aware there is bare back in this one -- oh and it also has Robert Sean Leonard whom I have loved since I was fifteen, sigh)

  The Taming of the Shrew starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor is FABULOUS! 

 Hamlet with Mel Gibson (and Helena Bonham Carter -- one of my favorite actresses ever)

 and for the younger set -- The Lion King. 

 Please be forewarned that anything Shakespeare is liable to have some questionable material but these ones in particular are so good!

There are a million more out there of course -- Shakespeare has permeated so much of life.  I could go on and on for hours.  In fact, I think I'll do a separate post on books and teaching Shakespeare -- make that 10 separate posts.  There's just too much!

Harry Potter!!!

As if you didn't already know that today is the day The Deathly Hallows part 1 comes out on video -- excuse me, DVD or Blu-Ray.  Can you even buy a VHS of new movies any more?  I don't think so . . .

What I love about the final movie (part one anyway) is that it stayed so true to the books.  The others have been great but I always get an earful from my husband afterwards about what was different.  It really bothers him.

What I didn't love?  The vamped-up sexuality of the scene where Ron is trying to destroy the horcrux and it's presenting him with his fears about Harry and Hermione.  Because someday I would like my teenagers to see these movies and I really don't think that was appropriate.  Or necessary.  Or sold more tickets.  Please, it's Harry Potter people.  It doesn't need it.  This is the reason I hesitate to spend money at movie theaters.  I never know when I'm going to have to walk out.  The rating system doesn't really help.

That's my soap-box.

Rapunzel's Story

Back in the fall, I won some tickets to see Disney's Tangled when it previewed in theaters.

I was unable to go!

Don't worry, the tickets were put to great use by some friends, but I was so bummed by the circumstances and have been dying to see the movie ever since.  The day it came out, I purchased it, movie unseen.  And it was totally worth it.

I love fairy tales.  

But it did get me thinking.  The stories (ok the pretty versions) of Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and all of those are fairly well known.  Of course Disney always gives it a twist from the original -- most do.  But Rapunzel's story is not one that I was too familiar with.

So I channeled some Hermione Granger and went to the library!

I found this Rapunzel by Paul O. Zelinsky.

First of all, beautifully illustrated story book -- and the pictures in fairy tales have to completely do it justice or it goes back on the shelf!  Secondly, he does explain that it is a retelling of the original.  But it's pretty close I guess (I need to read the Grimm original really . . . ).  Rapunzel is an herb.  Ok not the girl, the name.  And, like most Grimm books, the ending is pretty grim (haha) before it gets good again.  Because there is a happy ending after the disturbing parts.  There is a witch-slash-sorceress-slash-old lady who is pretty much the villain and there is long golden hair.

Then I read Cameron Dokey's Golden.

The elements that I am now becoming familiar with as the bones of the true (in this case original) story are there but there is a unique twist that makes love and acceptance the central moral of the tale.  It was a quick read, kept me engaged, is really geared towards teenagers, and is totally appropriate -- no violence, language, or sex!  How fabulous is that?

And now, when I watch Tangled again (because you know I will -- you know, for the sake of my 3-year old, hehe), I can see the bones even better in them but I can really appreciate the Disney elements.  And I love the Disney elements: the lanterns, the character and her strength and goodness, the family "stuff", and the humor.  I laughed, I cried, I sighed with contentment and I will do all of those things most likely every time I see it.  I tend to be emotional.

But now I'm curious about the Grimm stories . . .