Come back every Tuesday for “The Bees Knees”, where I post the best quotes from my favorite movies, TV shows, songs, and books.
Monthly Archives: January 2017
5 Beautiful Winter Salads
Oh salad…how I love and hate you.
I know they’re health and all that, but seriously…WHERE’S THE FLAVOR?? Salads often come drenched in dressing and are packed with veggies that are bland and water-logged. No. Thanks.
If I’m gonna jump aboard the salad train, I’m making it myself…and these five stunningly beautiful winter salads are just the ticket!
Packed with flavor, color, and nutrients, these salads make great lunches or dinners…or could even be served alongside a chicken breast or pork chop.
The great thing about these winter salads is that they’re packed with seasonal ingredients…no where will you find meely tomatoes and soggy cucumbers that are all out of season…these salads feature bright and juicy pomegranate seeds, seasonal nuts and berries, Brussels sprouts, kale, and a whole slew of other vegetables that you can easily find at the store during these cold winter months.
So keep in mind that not all salad is created alike. You CAN have a healthy salad that actually tastes GOOD with these tasty and easy winter salad recipes!
Warm Brussels Sprouts and Pear Salad
Butternut Squash and Bacon Salad
Mandarin Pomegranate Spinach Salad
Pomegranate Pecan Salad with Cinnamon Apples
Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips.
Filed under salad recipes
13 Books to Read Before They Become Movies – 2017 Edition
It seems like books of all genres are getting the Hollywood treatment. Just last year we’ve seen several books come to live on the big screen, and 2017 will be no exception. The Circle, Captain Underpants, The Dark Tower series, and The Bell Jar are just SOME of the books that will be turned into screenplays in 2017…and honestly, I’m really looking forward to a few of these!
But, like any true student of literature, I just must read the book first…so I’m powering through a few of these books before they are released as movies later this year (I’m on The Circle now – this one is gonna be intense).
So if you’re looking to kill some time between now and when Beauty and the Beast comes out – because let’s be serious, that’s happening – here are 13 books that are getting the movie treatment sometime in 2017!
13 Books to Read Before They Become Movies – 2017 Edition
The Zookeeper’s Wife
This true story follows the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo, who help save hundreds of people from the Nazis during World War II by smuggling them into empty zoo cages.
Movie Release: March 2017
Wonder
Wonder tells the story of Auggie Pullman, a boy who is born with a facial deformity, and his struggle to fit into his new school.
Movie Release: April 2017
The Lost City of Z
This national best-seller tells the story of how a British explorer got lost searching for an ancient, fabled civilization in the Amazon in 1925.
Movie Release: April 2017
The Circle
A young woman named Mae Holland gets a job at a tech-savvy company (most likely modeled after Google), and learns things both amazing and scary about her new job and the company she works for.
Movie Release: April 2017
Before I Fall
After Sam dies on February 12th, she’s forced to relive that day over and over again, eventually unraveling the mystery of her death.
Movie Release: March 2017
The Dark Tower
Stephen King’s magnum opus is a series that follows a gunslinger through a magical society, looking for the mysterious Dark Tower.
Movie Release: July 2017
The Mountain Between Us
Two strangers must rely on each other to survive after a plane crashes in the wilderness and leaves them stranded.
Movie Release: October 2017*
*Just a PSA that this movie is set to star Idris Elba and Kate Winslet…so, you know, despite the content, it will be just beautiful to watch!
Murder on the Orient Express
This classic mystery follows a detective as he pursues a murder on a famous train.
Movie Release: November 2017
The Nightingale
Two sisters in France end up in different positions during World War II; one fights with the resistance, the other becomes a prisoner.
Movie Release: TBD
Thank You For Your Service
A non-fiction account following the lives of soldiers who have come back from overseas, most still suffering from PTSD.
Movie Release: TBD
The Glass Castle
A memoir of Jeannette Walls, chronicling her bizarre upbringing and her strained relationship with her parents.
Movie Release: TBD
The Bell Jar
The story of author Sylvia Plath’s battle with mental illness.
Movie Release: TBD
Big Little Lies
Things take a turn for a group of moms whose perfect lives begin to unravel.
Movie Release: TBD*
*This is actually slotted to be a mini-series on HBO.
Looking for a new book to read? Check in every Friday for a “Bee Happy” post, where I share reviews of books I’ve read or other book-themed lists.
Filed under book lists
The Wonder Years…Where Are They Now?
We all have TV shows that have changed our lives – shows that stick with us forever and that we can go back and re-watch over and over again without exhaustion. When I think of shows under this category, a few come to mind…but none as prominent as The Wonder Years.
I don’t know if it’s because I was Kevin Arnold’s age when I started watching the show…or maybe it’s because it was a show my dad and I watched together, but The Wonder Years remains, to this day, one of the best series I’ve seen on television. I identified with it when I was 10, and then fell in love with it in a completely different way when I watched the series again when I turned 30. Though the music and the clothes might date it a little, the themes of this show still ring true even in today’s day and age.
Starring a very young Fred Savage, The Wonder Years tells the story of a boy named Kevin Arnold. Together with his childhood friends, Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar) and Paul Pfeiffer (Josh Saviano), Kevin learns valuable lessons about love, loss, family, and understanding. The show brings controversial themes to the forefront, including war, violence, death, abuse, drugs, and alcohol…and through the voice of a narrator, eventually revealed to be Kevin as an adult, we learn all about these magical years of wonder and adventure as we grow and learn with Kevin and his friends.
The Wonder Years gained valuable praise during its run (1988 – 1993) and won a Primetime Emmy Award after only six episodes. In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked it #63 on its list of the 100 Greatest TV Shows of All Time and the cast of The Wonder Years has remained very close to this day…several of them even acting in other projects together.
It’s a format that worked well for TV, especially for Savage’s younger brother, Ben, and his successful show, Boy Meets World. Though much more upbeat in nature, Boy Meets World has a similar makeup, with similar characters in similar situations. Both shows are staples in the lineup of the best coming-of-age TV shows and both hold loyal and true fandoms made up of viewers of all ages.
It’s been about 24 years now since The Wonder Years ended…and the cast that once made up this groundbreaking show remains active. Check in below to see what’s happening with Kevin, Winnie, Jack, Wayne, and the rest of the characters we’ve grown to know and love through this amazing television classic.
The Cast of The Wonder Years…Where Are They Now?
Fred Savage
Kevin Arnold
OMG HE LOOKS THE SAME!!
Fred Savage, a native of Illinois, grew up in the northern suburbs of Chicago before moving out to LA. Before being cast in The Wonder Years, Savage had several small roles in movies and TV, perhaps most notably in The Princess Bride. For his work on The Wonder Years, Savage received two Golden Globe nominations and two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and was the youngest actor ever to receive both honors (he was 13 at the time). After The Wonder Years ended, he did mostly guest spots on TV and film, including a cameo on his younger brother’s show, Boy Meets World. In 2015, Savage returned to acting with the FOX series, The Grinder. Throughout the early 2000’s, Savage also dabbled in directing, standing behind the camera to produce several TV episodes, including work on the short-lived NBC sitcom, Working. He’s also directed episodes of Modern Family and 2 Broke Girls. Currently, Savage serves as a producer on the hilarious show, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Unlike Kevin Arnold, Savage actually married his childhood sweetheart in 2004 and they have two children together.
Danica McKellar
Winnie Cooper
Oh, Danica…the ultimate in beauty and brains. Scoring the role of Winnie in The Wonder Years in her early teens, McKellar found it difficult to transition into adult acting after having so much of her childhood dedicated to one job. After The Wonder Years ended, McKellar had several guest roles in various TV shows and appeared in a couple Lifetime TV movies. She returned briefly to TV with roles on The West Wing and How I Met Your Mother and even did some work as a voice actress in a variety of video games. Outside of acting, McKellar got her Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics, graduating summa cum laude, from UCLA in 1998. She’s a huge proponent of the importance of mathematics in education, especially for young women, and has authored four books on the subject: Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail (a New York Times bestseller), Kiss My Math: Showing Pre-Algebra Who’s Boss, Hot X: Algebra Exposed, and Girls Get Curves: Geometry Takes Shape. Her latest book, a children’s book titled Goodnight, Numbers, is available for pre-ordering now. And for those who are obsessive like me, McKellar, Savage, and Saviano all still talk and keep in touch!
Josh Saviano
Paul Pfeiffer
Josh Saviano, who played Kevin’s best friend, Paul Pfeiffer, throughout the series, grew up in New York and New Jersey before being cast in The Wonder Years. His role as Paul is actually one of his few TV or movie roles. He stopped acting after The Wonder Years to continue his education at Yale University, where he studied Political Science. After graduating in 1998, he decided to enter Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in August of the same year. He passed the bar and joined the law firm of Morrison Cohen LLP in New York, becoming a Senior Counsel in 2011 and Partner in 2013. He left Morrison Cohen two years later and founded two start-up endeavors: the JDS Legal law firm and the celebrity brand consulting agency, Act 3 Advisors. Saviano returned to acting briefly in 2014 and 2015 to play a lawyer on the NBC series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Jason Hervey
Wayne Arnold
Another actor who had various childhood roles before The Wonder Years, Jason Hervey got his start with small parts in several popular films, including Back to the Future, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, and Diff’rent Strokes. His big break came when he was cast as Kevin’s big brother, Wayne, on The Wonder Years, a role which helped Hervey launch a somewhat successful voice-acting career. While his on-screen credits are few and far between these days, Hervey does maintain ties to the entertainment industry as the producer of various sports-themed videos and specials, most notably with the World Championship Wrestling channel. From 2001 to 2003, Hervey served as the Senior Vice President of Media Communications for HealthSouth Corporation in Alabama. He was involved in a fraud scandal and later sued his employer, demanding $300,000 in compensation.
Dan Lauria
Jack Arnold
A Vietnam War veteran, Dan Lauria served as an officer in the US Marine Corps; ironically, he served at the same time his character on The Wonder Years was shipped off to serve in the Korean War. Best known for his role as one of the greatest TV dads of our age, Lauria has also had several roles in various TV shows and on and off-Broadway stage productions. In 2010, he appeared as Vince Lombardi in the Broadway play, Lombardi and was cast as Jean Shepherd in the 2012 Broadway production of A Christmas Story: The Musical. Most recently, Lauria can be seen in the FOX series, Pitch.
Alley Mills
Norma Arnold
Another native of Chicago, IL, Alley Mills starred as the loving mother, Norma Arnold, on The Wonder Years. Since its end, Mills has had recurring roles in various soap operas, including Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and The Bold and the Beautiful. Outside of her work on the soap opera circuit, Mills has been pretty quiet. She married actor Orson Bean in 1993 and currently lives in LA.
Olivia d’Abo
Karen Arnold
Known for her role as Kevin’s rebellious hippie sister, Karen, Olivia d’Abo is a British actress who starred on The Wonder Years for the first four of its six seasons. She had two guest appearances in the final two seasons, as well. After her work on The Wonder Years, d’Abo had a recurring role in the NBC series, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and has been cast in numerous supporting roles in other TV programs and films, including The Spirit of ’76, The Big Green, and The Twilight Zone. She also appeared in the 2005 Broadway production of The Odd Couple alongside Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane. Like her fellow The Wonder Years cast members, d’Abo has also done a fair share of voice acting and has lent her voice to several video game characters. Like Karen Arnold, d’Abo is also a singer-songwriter and guitarist. She has composed music for several movie soundtracks, including the song “Broken” from the movie, Loving Annabelle. Her debut album, Not TV, was released in July of 2008. Most recently, d’Abo was in the 2016 films, Blue Weekend and the made-for-TV film, Inspired to Kill.
Daniel Stern
Narrator/Adult Kevin Arnold
Yes, yes that’s Marv from Home Alone. I know, I know!! You’ll never look at The Wonder Years in the same way again! After a variety of small successful films, Stern was cast as the narrator/adult Kevin Arnold on The Wonder Years. Ironically, both he and Fred Savage appeared in the film, Little Monsters, with Stern playing Arnold’s father. Stern also directed several episodes of The Wonder Years and would go on to direct other shows, including the CBS series, Danny. Currently, Stern works as an artist, specializing in bronze sculpture. He’s created art for public projects in San Diego, Agoura Hills, and Pasadena. He is also the artist in residence at Studio Channel Islands Art Center in Camarillo. Him and his wife have started several arts commissions and clubs and, in 2009, President Barak Obama awarded him the highest honor for volunteerism, the President’s “Call to Service” Award. Stern now owns a 500-acre cattle ranch in California’s central valley.
Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!
Filed under where are they now
Sweet Notebook Paper Goodie Bags
My dad was a sucker for Valentine’s Day. He always showered my mom with cards and gifts and would get us kids little Valentine’s for our lunches.
I loved getting little Valentine’s from my dad, and with the holiday of love on the horizon, these Sweet Notebook Paper Goodie Bags make wonderful Valentine’s Day treat holders!
Great for filling with candy, cookies, or just a sweet love letter, these adorable paper bags are super easy to make and only require a handful of supplies.
One sheet of notebook paper will make two bags, so don’t be surprised if you create a whole bunch of bags in less than a few hours!
Also fun for birthday party favors or just for wrapping a simple gift for someone, these cute paper goodie bags are just as fun for kids as they are for adults!
Sweet Notebook Paper Goodie Bags
Materials:
- Notebook paper (1 sheet will make 2 goodie bags)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Stickers
Directions:
- Cut your notebook paper in half hamburger style. Fold short side of the notebook paper up to the red margin line.
- Bring other side of paper up to folded line, tucking it underneath the flap. Fold.
- Place glue on underside of flap.
- Seal down to close.
- Fold bottom of bag up to middle of bag, creating a fold about 1.5 in. to 2 in. high.
- Open bottom fold and fold in both corners, forming two triangles.
- Add glue to long ends of triangles and bottom of bag, as shown in photo above.
- Fold top flap down to center line.
- Press to secure.
- Fold bottom flap up to close bag.
- Press to secure.
- If desired, cut pattern on top of bag.
Fill bag with whatever you’d like! Fold to close and secure with a sticker or tape.
Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.
Filed under party ideas
What Do You Stand For?
Come back every Tuesday for “The Bees Knees”, where I post the best quotes from my favorite movies, TV shows, songs, and books.
Filed under quotes
10 Tasty Doughnut Recipes
Cupcakes…whoopee pies…cake pops…those are so 2016. This year is all about DOUGHNUTS.
From sweet to savory doughnuts, this craze is taking the Interwebs by storm. Whether you’re into baked or fried doughnuts, there’s bound to be a tasty round pastry just for you!
There are all kinds of doughnut pans and baking tools on the market now, with more sure to be coming out this year…so start gathering tasty recipes now…starting with these top 10 doughnut recipes.
Coconut, blueberries, chocolate, peanut butter, sprinkles and more top these amazing doughnuts…and you’re sure to sweeten up your morning in no time with these delicious doughnut recipes.
Pinterest Top 10: Doughnut Recipes
Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake Doughnuts
Jelly Doughnuts
Maple Pecan Baked Doughnuts
Churro Doughnuts
Apple Cider Doughnuts
Key Lime Coconut Doughnuts
Blueberry Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts
Chocolate Peanut Butter Doughnuts
Baked Vanilla Doughnuts
Coconut Cake Doughnuts
Want to see more delicious doughnut recipes? Check out my Pinterest board, “Dough-nut Even!“.
Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips.
Filed under breakfast recipes
It’s a Long Story Book Review
In the summer of 2014, I had the pleasure of seeing Willie Nelson live at Ravinia in Chicago. Together with Alison Kraus and the Union Station band, Willie filled the night with amazing music and helped open my eyes (and ears!) to the beauty of classic country tunes.
After seeing Willie live, I ran to the store and bought two or three of his albums, including his recent duets album titled “To All the Girls” – which is fantastic, by the way. I quickly fell in love with Willie’s unique way of singing and the wonderful stories he tells through his music.
Not surprisingly, Willie is a master of songwriting. After all, he has 80+ years of experience to pull from! And in his autobiography, It’s a Long Story: My Life, Willie tells the story behind the stories, diving into his own life in a series of memories told “as clear as a Texas sky and in the same rhythm that I lived it.”
Filled with stories about growing up in Abbott, Texas, of selling vacuum cleaners and encyclopedias, of writing song after song and trying, despite all odds, to strike big in the music business, It’s a Long Story is an intimate and candid look into the life of the man who influenced the art of songwriting.
One of the most surprising things I learned in reading It’s a Long Story was the massive influence Willie Nelson has had on the music industry…not just in his style of singing or his love of musical storytelling, but in the lyrics he’s written, both for himself and other artists. Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues”, Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”, and Elvis’s “Heartbreak Hotel” are just SOME of the popular tunes that were actually written by Willie Nelson.
A funny and honest story about true love, wild adventures, friends and family, It’s a Long Story opens the door into the life of one man who entertained millions with his tales of adventures on the road, at home, and on the road again.
Looking for a new book to read? Check in every Friday for a “Bee Happy” post, where I share reviews of books I’ve read or other book-themed lists.
Filed under book reviews
35 Fun Facts About Gone with the Wind
On January 17, 1940, the town of Atlanta, Georgia became a hub of activity. Some of the wealthiest families of the day, including the Vanderbilts, the Rockerfellers, and the Astors, flocked to the Loew’s Grand theater to be a part of what would become a historic evening.
On that cool day in January, the streets of Atlanta became a buzz with locals and tourists, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars soon to be walking into the theater. Afer days of parades and parties, the moment had finally arrived…the premier of the grand and anticipated classic, Gone with the Wind.
Thought to be one of the best movies of all time, Gone with the Wind opened to massive success. When the novel was released in June of 1936, it sold millions of copies within months of hitting the shelves. When word spread that it would be turned into a movie, it became the talk of the country…and celebrities of all kinds flocked to the studio to try to become a part of this soon-to-be classic.
Now, near 77 years later, the movie still continues to draw in large crowds whenever it’s brought back to the theaters. It sits comfortably on several top movie lists and shot front-runners Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable into Hollywood stardom. It won several Oscars, including the first Oscar to be awarded to a black actor, and instantly became a record-setter that wouldn’t be touched for nearly 20 years.
Like most classic epics, Gone with the Wind is a commitment, clocking in at about 4 hours long…but it was a monumental achievement in its time. It tired out 3 directors, 16 writers, and every actor in the Screen Actor’s Guild at the time.
In my life, I’ve made it through Gone with the Wind twice, once on my own time and once in the theaters. It’s an amazing film and worth seeing just for the costumes alone! With amazing acting, beautiful cinematography, and elegant prose, Gone with the Wind is sure to stay a classic for years to come!
To help honor this film and shed some light onto what it cost, both financially and emotionally, to create this epic piece of cinematic history, here are 35 Fun Facts about Gone with the Wind…all of which will certainly make you give a damn the next time you watch it!
35 Fun Facts About Gone with the Wind
The original director of Gone with the Wind was George Cukor, who had spent more than two years in planning and developing the film. However, there was friction on the set when it became public knowledge that Cukor was gay. Clark Gable (Rhett Butler) voiced concern in working with Cukor for a variety of reasons…one being that Gable himself had been a homosexual hustler in his youth and didn’t want Cukor to expose him…the other being that Cukor had a reputation for making “woman’s films” and therefore Gable would lose the spotlight. Whatever the reason, Cukor wasn’t the only one to walk. The film actually had three directors throughout the course of its production (Cukor filmed 18 days, Victor Fleming filmed 93, and Sam Wood filmed 24).
Leslie Howard (Ashley Wilkes) absolutely hated his role in the film. He felt his slender 40-year-old frame wasn’t believable as a handsome 21 year-old, as Ashley was supposed to be. He felt he was “not nearly beautiful or young enough to play Ashley”.
Producer David Selznick wanted no less than 2,500 extras to lie in the dirt, portraying the dead and wounded Confederate soldiers toward the end of the war. However, the Screen Actors Guild only had 1,500 to offer at the time. Therefore Selznick ordered 1,000 dummies to round out the scene.
It took 16 different writers to make the screenplay a viable length.
Selznick used all 7 Technicolor cameras in existence for the filming of Gone with the Wind.
Author Margaret Mitchell started writing Gone with the Wind out of boredom. She was recovering from an injury when she decided to dabble in writing. Her project would take her 10 years to complete. You’re not alone, GoT fans!
Old West gunslinger Doc Holliday was Mitchell’s cousin…and many believe he was the inspiration for the character of Ashley Wilkes.
It is estimated that if Selznick included all the dialogue from the book in the movie, Gone with the Wind would be about 168 hours long!
Selznick bought the movie rights from Mitchell for $50,000. At the time, it was the highest price ever paid for a first novel.
The novel Gone with the Wind had been a phenomenal best seller upon its release…and the movie was hotly anticipated. Over 1 million people poured into Atlanta to witness the premier of the movie. The Governor of Georgia declared the day a state holiday and the mayor of Atlanta organized three days of parades and parties.
Attendees of the premier included the Vanderbilts, the Rockerfellers, the Astors, J.P. Morgan, and all the Govenors of what used to be the Confederacy.
In fact, there were more people at the premier of Gone with the Wind than there were in Atlanta at the height of the Civil War.
The title Gone with the Wind comes from the poem “Cynara!” by Ernest Dowson.
Half a million feet of film were shot for this near 4-hour movie. It was cut down to only 20,000 feet in the end.
About 1,100 horses were used in the making of this film…oh the days before CGI…
Gone with the Wind was the first film to receive more than five Academy Awards, receiving eight regular and two special Oscars. The record stood for 20 years until Ben-Hur won 11 in 1959.
Among its accolades, Gone with the Wind took home Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Set Decoration, and Best Editing. Both Clark Gable and Olivia de Havilland (Melanie Hamilton) were nominated, but lost their categories.
Hattie McDaniel (Mammy) became the first black actor to win an Academy Award for her part in the film; however, she and her fellow black actors were banned from attending the film’s Atlanta premier.
About 1,400 candidates were interviewed for the part of Scarlett, and of those, only 90 were given screen tests. Selznick had Katharine Hepburn as his front-runner, but in the end thought she wasn’t sexy enough for the role.
Unable to make a decision, Selznick turned the search for Scarlett into a publicity stunt. He asked the public who they thought should score the role. Top choices included: Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Susan Hayward, Lana Turner, and Tallulah Bankhead.
Despite not having Scarlett cast, Selznick went on with filming. Legend has it that during the filming of the great “Burning of Atlanta” scene, actress Vivien Leigh was just being introduced to the producer by Selznick’s brother. She beat out about 1,400 other girls for the role of Scarlett O’Hara.
The Florida chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy were greatly offended that a British actress had been chosen to play such an iconic southern character; however, when they learned the role was close to going to Katharine Hepburn, they stopped their protest. Better a Brit than a Yankee!
In an epic example of fair wage rights, Gable was paid $120,000 to work on the film, working about 70 non-consecutive days. Leigh, on the other hand, worked 125 days and received about $25,000.
Despite their steamy on-screen romance, Leigh has said that kissing Gable wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. He wore false teeth and smoked a lot and she was quoted as saying, “his dentures smelled something awful”.
The “Burning of Atlanta” scene was actually the first scene they filmed, as it would be the most expensive and they really only had one shot to make it work. They actually made it quite successful by burning old sets on the backlot.
It took 15,000 gallons of water to douse the flames after filming ended.
The character of Ashley Wilkes was one of the few countrymen to survive the war. Ironically, the man who played him (Leslie Howard) died as a soldier in WWII.
Unlike other epic war movies, Gone with the Wind doesn’t actually show any battles…only the effects of the war.
At auction, Michael Jackson paid $1,542,500 for David Selznick’s Best Picture Oscar for Gone with the Wind.
A Brazilian woman, who claims to have seen Gone with the Wind 8,000 TIMES, bought Scarlett’s pink dress worn during the “Burning of Atlanta” scene for $95,500.
If Gone with the Wind were to be made today, it’s estimated it would come with a $40 million price tag.
Three of the four principal actors playing southerners (Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, and Vivien Leigh) were British.
Overall, Gone with the Wind cost about $4.25 million to make. In its initial run, the film grossed $21 million in North America alone and a total of $32 million worldwide.
When adjusted for inflation, Gone with the Wind is the highest grossing film ever made, grossing about $390 million worldwide. In today’s money, that’s about $3.3 billion, more than today’s two biggest blockbusters, Avatar ($2.8 billion) and Titanic ($2.7 billion).
It’s also believed to be the most watched film of all time, meaning more people bought tickets, regardless of price, to this film than any other.
Sometimes you just need a little fun in your life! Check back every week for a new “Just Bee-cause” post, where I discuss everything from celebrity news to favorite videos and websites!
Filed under fun facts
Easy DIY Sharpie Mug
From craft fairs to Etsy shops, everyone is loving on the Sharpie Mugs. Often sporting quotes from some of our favorite TV shows, movies, and books, Sharpie Mugs are a fun and easy project for anyone to do (and they make great gifts for pretty much every occasion)!
But first, a lesson. Let’s talk tools. The two things to keep in mind when creating your Sharpie Mugs are A) quality of your mug and B) types of markers you use. These two things will insure you have great results every time!
First off, the mug. For this project, the cheaper the mug, the better! You don’t want a mug that’s glazed beyond belief, as it will be hard for the markers to set on this surface. Shop the dollar store for cheaper mugs that don’t have layers of protective coating on them. You can always add coating yourself once your design is set.
Second, the markers. Though these are called Sharpie Mugs, not all Sharpies work here. The regular Sharpies will not last and will easily rub off your mug with a sponge or a run through the dishwasher. What you want are OIL-BASED Sharpies…these are like paint markers that will set and ensure long-lasting results. You can find oil-based Sharpies at almost any craft store.
Finally, I also suggest hand-washing these only for best results. Supposedly these mugs will survive washes in the dishwasher, but they’re sure to last longer if you take the time to just carefully wash them by hand.
So for my first Sharpie Mug project, I decided on this quote from Peter Pan. I really like how it turned out and can’t wait to create more mugs to add to my already large mug collection!
Easy DIY Sharpie Mug
Materials:
- Plain ceramic mug
- Graphite Paper
- Quote printed on computer paper
- Scotch Tape
- Ballpoint pen
- Sharpie Markers (make sure they’re oil-based…regular Sharpies will wear off over time)
Instructions:
The graphite paper step is optional, but I love using it because I’m not artistically gifted when it comes to hand-lettering…so the graphite is an easy way to transfer your design onto the ceramic mug without having to sweat the details!
- Tape the graphite paper to your cup following the instructions on the package (I carefully ripped my graphite paper to a more workable size).
- Tape your quote over the graphite paper.
- Using the ballpoint pen, trace over your pattern.
- Remove both sheets of paper from the mug. Your outlined quote will appear on the mug. This is washable and will come off easily if you accidentally mess something up.
- Once your design is how you want it, simply color over it with the markers.
- After I colored in my quote, I wanted to add a few more details, so I threw in some flower sprays, just for fun!
- Once your design is done, let your mug dry a good long while…at least 2 hours, if not overnight.
- When it comes time to bake your mug, there are several schools of thought. Here’s my way: Place your mug in a cold oven (I put mine on a baking sheet for stability). Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Let the mug sit in the oven for 30 minutes, starting from the time you put it in the cold oven. After 30 minutes, turn the oven off and leave the mug in there until the oven has cooled completely. This process will help prevent cracking, since the ceramic slowly gets used to the changing temperatures.
- Once your mug is cooled, you’re all done! If you really want to set your design, you can repeat the entire baking process, but keep in mind the coloring of your design may change with further baking time.
- If you still have graphite paper trace marks on your mug, you can remove them with an ear swab or cotton ball dipped in warm water.
Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.
Filed under gift ideas for all occasions
The Hob-bee Hive 