Monthly Archives: October 2017
12 Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes
When the wild fall winds blow and the rain pelts your window, there’s nothing better than sinking into your couch with a hot bowl of something tasty from the slow cooker. I love using the slow cooker in the fall. When I get home at 5:00 pm and it’s already pitch black outside, there’s absolutely no part of me that wants to cook dinner…so having dinner cook as I work throughout the day is the perfect solution!
This is a collection of some of my favorite slow cooker recipes. Great for fall and winter, these slow cooker recipes are sure to become seasonal staples you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again!
12 Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Steak Diane
- Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
- Slow Cooker Apple Rhubarb Crisp
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
- Slow Cooker 5-Cheese Macaroni
- Slow Cooker Ramen Bowl
- Slow Cooker Lasagna
- Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
- Slow Cooker Thai Beef Stew
- Slow Cooker Homemade Apple Cider
Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips.
Filed under dinner recipes
Rhett and Link’s Book of Mythicality Book Review
Rhett and Link wrote a book. Let’s talk about that.
If you’re not familiar with Good Mythical Morning, allow me to educate you. This is Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal:
They are the “Internet-tainers” behind YouTube’s most popular daily talk show, Good Mythical Morning. Every weekday they release a video where they try new things for the good of science. Want to know if LEGOS make good shoes? Want to know the hottest hot sauce in America or the best-tasting pumpkin spice item at Trader Joe’s? Rhett and Link put their taste buds, stomachs, and sanity on the line for us in this highly addicting and amazing YouTube series.
I’ve been a Mythical Beast (GMM fan) for at least four or five years. I tune in every morning to watch GMM and even crafted my own Rhett and Link poster for my workspace!
I’m seriously in love with these guys.
When Rhett and Link announced that they were working on a book, I was literally gitty with excitement. I knew it would be nothing but MYTHICAL in its amazingness and I have to say, it met – nay – EXCEEDED my expectations!
Rhett and Link’s Book of Mythicality is everything Mythical Beasts would want and more. Filled with hilarious stories, amazing photographs, and top-notch advice for how to be your mythical best, this book is an intimate look into the lives of Rhett and Link and is a testament to true, unadulterated friendship.
Want to throw a party that will go down in history as one of the best? Rhett and Link show you how. Want to know the secret to eating tarantulas, pig’s blood, and other disgusting things for possible post-apocalyptic survival? Rhett and Link show you how. What to learn how to tell someone you love them in the most mythical way possible? Rhett and Link show you how…well, at least their wives do. Want to know about Rhett’s dog curse, Link’s standards for quality BFF material, and their mutual love for Merle Haggard? It’s all found in the colorful and hilarious pages of Rhett and Link’s Book of Mythicality.
Just like the show that inspired its birth, Rhett and Link’s Book of Mythicality aims to teach readers new things: how to laugh more often, how to eat things that scare you, how to invent something ridiculous, and how to own your hair style. Complete the fun activities and prompts along the way, this book is even more fun to read with your BFF…plus you earn Mythical “merit badges” as you make your way through the book!
For those who don’t know, Rhett and Link have actually been BFF’s since the first grade when their teacher made them miss recess for writing profanity on their desks. They spent their time drawing and creating mythical beasts and, thankfully for us, it was the start of a beautiful friendship. After rooming together in college, attempting (and failing) to start a band, and abandoning their degrees in engineering, Rhett and Link decided to take to the Internet as a way to talk about their lives, air their grievances, and just make each other laugh…
Now with more than 12 million subscribers, Good Mythical Morning has spawned several other YouTube channels, including Good Mythical More, which airs after GMM, Rhett & Link which features behind-the-scenes content and other fun videos, This is Mythical, which is a channel devoted to the beloved Mythical crew behind GMM, a YouTube Red series titled Rhett and Link’s Buddy System, and even a pod cast titled Ear Biscuits where Rhett and Link continue their discussions about creativity and tomfoolery.
Here’s the fact of the matter…If you love GMM, you’re going to love Rhett and Link’s Book of Mythicality. And if you’ve never seen GMM, allow me to share some of my favorite episodes:
Also these:
- The “What If?” Game featuring Danielle Radcliffe
- Extreme Yoga Challenge
- “NeverWet” Episode
- Weirdest Workout Videos Ever Episode
- The Christmas Song Challenge featuring Miranda Sings
- Sourest Food Challenge
What I love the most about Rhett and Link is that they are 100% authentic to who they are, something that is ever more apparent in their mythical field guide. With heartfelt stories that will literally make you laugh out loud, Rhett and Link’s Book of Mythicality is like the BFF you always wanted: filled with great advice, funny stories, and plenty of heart.
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
18 Fun Facts about Katy Perry
You don’t have to know me long to know that I’m a hard-core Katy Cat! I love her message, her style, her music, her attitude, and her love for those who just march to their own drummers.
Yesterday was Katy’s 33rd birthday and since she’s always been one to celebrate a birthday –
here are 18 Fun Facts about Katy Perry!
18 Fun Facts about Katy Perry
Katy Perry is actually a stage name. Katy’s real name is Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson. Perry is her mother’s maiden name.
Both of Katy’s parents are pastors. She started her singing career at her parents’ church at the age of 9.
Her parents also make an appearance in her “Hot n’ Cold” video.
Katy is the only musical artist since Michael Jackson to have 5 #1 hits from the same album (“California Gurls”, “Teenage Dream”, “Firework”, “E.T.”, “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)”). “The One that Got Away” also made it to #3.
Katy has ghost-written songs for Selena Gomez, Ashley Tisdale, and Kelly Clarkson. Hear her roar!
Katy also has four Guinness World Records under her belt. One for “Best Star on the US Digital Chart by a Female Artist” and another for “Best First Female with Five Number 1 US Singles from 1 Album”.
Katy also became the first artist with multiple videos to reach one billion views on Vevo with the videos for “Roar” and “Dark Horse”.
In addition to her Guinness Records, Katy also has five American Music Awards, a Brit Award, and a Juno Award. She was also included in the Forbes list of “Top-Earning Women in Music”.
She briefly studied Italian opera at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara.
Before her big breakthrough, Katy was featured on the soundtrack to the 2005 film, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and provided vocals on Mick Jagger’s song, “Old Habits Die Hard”.
Madonna helped get Katy’s name out there with her public praise of Katy’s song, “Ur So Gay”, which Madonna coined as her favorite song of Katy’s.
Katy met her ex-husband, Russell Brand, while filming a cameo appearance for his film, Get Him to the Greek. Her scene, in which the two kiss, was ultimately cut from the film.
Katy and Russell were married on October 23, 2010 in a traditional Hindu ceremony near the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan. After 14 months of marriage, the two divorced.
Katy’s Super Bowl performance garnered 118.5 million viewers in the US and became the most watched and highest-rated show in Super Bowl history. The viewership for half-time was higher than the game itself, which was viewed by an audience of 114.4 million people.
In 2010, Katy was named #1 on the Maxium Hot 100 List and was quoted as being a “quadruple kind of hot” by editor, Joe Levy.
Katy is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. A portion of the money generated from tickets to her Prismatic World Tour was donated to UNICEF.
Katy is also a huge advocate for gay rights and HIV/AIDS healthcare. She’s also campaigned on behalf of the democratic party twice. Once for Obama, then again for Hillary Clinton.
Despite her many accolades, Katy has never won a Grammy Award. However, she’s been nominated 10 times for various Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for Teenage Dream, Record of the Year for “Firework”, and Song of the Year for “Roar”.
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
7 Day of the Dead Crafts
YOU GUYS…have you seen this preview for Pixar’s new film, Coco?
DOESN’T THIS LOOK ABSOLUTELY STUNNING?
Besides the fact that I love almost everything that Pixar does, I cannot wait to see their interpretation of this Dia de los Muertos story. The color palette alone is reason enough to check this film out, but I have a feeling the music, the plot, and the overall message about death and remembrance will help this film go down in Pixar history as one of the greats…fingers crossed, at least!
I’ve always been fascinated with the sugar skulls and other decorations that make Dia de los Muertos one of the most ironically colorful holidays in existence…and if you want to add a little color to your Halloween décor this year, be sure to check out these 7 sugar skull-inspired Day of the Dead Crafts!
7 Day of the Dead Crafts
Felt Day of the Dead Doll
Day of the Dead Garland
Sugar Skull Perler Beads
Sugar Skull Painted Rocks
Day of the Dead Planters
Day of the Dead Lollipop Wrappers
DIY Painted Skull
Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.
Filed under halloween
There’s a Light That Never Goes Out…
“To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die.”
–The Smiths
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
12 Soul-Satisfying Chili Recipes
Sometimes nothing warms your soul like a big ol’ bowl of chili. Whether you’re a lover of veggie, turkey, chicken, or beef chili, these 12 Soul-Satisfying Chili Recipes are sure to warm your soul (and your kitchen!) with absolute deliciousness.
12 Soul-Satisfying Chili Recipes
Cajun Instant Pot Chili
Three-Bean Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Smoky Chipotle Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
Crockpot Chili with Peanut Butter Sandwich Croutons
Spicy Korean Chili with Kimchi
Slow Cooker Taco Chicken Chili
White Bean Chicken Chili
Pumpkin Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili
Easy Ground Beef Chili
Fall Pumpkin Chili
Chipotle Pumpkin Turkey Chili
Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips.
Filed under recipe collections
Lincoln in the Bardo Review
When I was about 11 years old, I watched a made-for-TV movie about Abraham Lincoln titled, Tad. It starred my crush at the time, Bug Hall, as Lincoln’s son Tad, as well as Jane Curtain as Mary Todd Lincoln and Kris Kristofferson as Abe Lincoln. I don’t remember much about it, but that movie changed my life in two major ways:
- It was the motivation behind me wanting to take up the trumpet, which became a massive part of my middle school, high school, and college career
- It instituted in me a life-long obsession with Abraham Lincoln
If you’re REALLY interested in watching Tad, it is available on YouTube. I’ve been on the fence about wanting to watch it again, but you can check it out in all its glory right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBedzZ7QAW0
I honestly can’t tell you what it was about the movie that made me love Lincoln so much…but it was enough for me to ask for a family trip to Springfield, IL so I could dwell in Lincoln nostalgia. It was enough for my family to start buying me any book with “Abraham Lincoln” in the title. It was even enough for me to dress up like Abraham Lincoln for Halloween one year and have an Abraham Lincoln-inspired birthday cake. The love was real, guys.
I still have a soft spot in my heart for Honest Abe…and I think I always will. I still gravitate to TV shows, movies and books about him, which is what led me to pick up today’s book, Lincoln in the Bardo.
Told from the perspective of several ghosts two nights after Abe Lincoln loses his son, Willie, to typhoid fever, Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Organized more like a play than a novel, this book begs for a stage or film adaptation, and a rather creepy one at that (word is that actor Nick Offerman and his wife, Megan Mullally have purchased film rights to this book…so read it before it hits theaters)!
The entire book is set over the course of one night and is narrated by a handful of spirits, some long since dead, some only recently so, and is a thrilling exploration on death, grief, the afterlife, and the powers of good and evil.
In Tibetian Buddhism, The Bardo is a sort of limbo state between death and rebirth into the next life. Willie Lincoln lingers there, unable to move forward, along with a collection of spirits who are all being held back for one reason or another. And Abe, who would often visit the crypt of Willie after his death to stroke his face and hair (true story), also lingers in a bardo of sorts, trying to steer the country forward during the brink of the Civil War while also dealing with the death of his beloved child. If that’s not enough to break your heart, Willie’s narration throughout the book helps give insight into Abe Lincoln’s character as only a son can…with deep understanding, respect, and love.
I’m gonna be honest…this book was hard to read at times…not because of the content, but just because of the way it’s written. It’s different. There are parts that are repetitive and there are parts that don’t really flow, but as you read on, things begin to make sense…and though it’s not a heart-racing dash to the big finish, the ending is just what you need it to be…honest and meaningful and bittersweet.
Lincoln in the Bardo stands up to its reputation of being bizarre and irreverent; heartbreaking and surreal. It’s a profound meditation on grief, loss, and how painful it is to let go of something we hold dear. It’s not for everyone, but for those who look for a book that will challenge you to think differently or a book that will help give you perspective, you cannot go wrong with at least giving this book a try.
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
23 Fun Facts About Horror Movies
Well, we’re about 12 days from Halloween…time to line up those scary Halloween classics and indulge in some monster movie marathons!
Now, I’m not ashamed to say that I’m a total wuss when it comes to scary movies. My Halloween movie line-up usually consists of five movies:
Then probably Beetlejuice again…Yeah…I’m daring.
But recently I’ve had a bigger appreciation for the horror genre. I still hate gore and blood, but I love a good psychological thriller or ghost story…
So here are a few fun facts about some classic (and not so classic) horror movies! For more fun facts about Beetlejuice or Hocus Pocus, you can check out these posts:
23 Fun Facts About Horror Movies
In the 9 MINUTES of screen time Max Schreck has as Count Orlock in the classic, Nosferatu (1922), he only blinks one time.
The Exorcist was the first horror film to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. It actually earned 10 Oscar nominations, including one for Best Supporting Actress for Linda Blair, who was just 15 at the time.
Popular British actor David Warner was actually the first choice to play Freddy Krueger.
Psycho (the original) was actually the first American film to feature a toilet. It’s also the first film in which we hear a toilet being flushed.
Stephen King was actually not a fan of Kubrick’s The Shining, and actually didn’t like the casting of Jack Nicholson, either. SCANDAL.
To better entice Fay Wray into staring in King Kong (1933), he told her, “You’re going to have the tallest, darkest leading man in Hollywood.” She was hoping for Cary Grant, which is why she said yes.
Serial Killer Ed Gein was the inspiration behind Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Among the items discovered in his Wisconsin farm were four noses, nine masks made of human skin, numerous heads, lampshades and bowls made of skin, lips and a belt made of nipples.
Paranormal Activity is the most profitable film of all time. It cost $15,000 to make and grossed $193 million worldwide.
In 1909, Key West painter and author Robert Eugene Otto claimed that one of his family’s servants placed a voodoo curse on his childhood toy, Robert the Doll. He would knock over furniture and conduct conversations with Otto. This true story was the inspiration behind the film, Child’s Play.
The name of the demon in The Exorcist is Pazuzu. It’s never mentioned in the film, but it’s taken from the name of the king of the demons in Assyrian and Babylonian mythology.
Sissy Spacek was adamant that her own hand appear in Carrie’s final scene. She was buried in the ground to film the iconic scene.
The Blair Witch Project was filmed in only 8 days.
The skeletons in Poltergeist are real human skeletons.
Tony Todd had a mouth full of REAL BEES in Candyman. The only thing preventing him from swallowing the bees was a mouth guard…and the only thing preventing them from stinging him was seriously calm nerves.
The color red is present in almost every shot of The Shining.
Crewmembers were so creeped out by Tim Curry’s performance in It that most people avoided him during filming.
To make the tension between the actors authentic on The Blair Witch Project, the directors gave them less and less food each day. This would NOT be okay with me!
Michael Myers’ mask in Halloween is actually a William Shatner mask modified and painted.
The writer of The Mummy (1932) was present for the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb.
The 20-second transformation scene in The Wolf Man (1941) took 10 hours to film.
Pennywise’s hair in It was Tim Curry’s real hair.
Bosco Chocolate Syrup was used as blood in Night of the Living Dead.
The director of The Exorcist, William Friedkin, would have the prop man occasionally shoot shotgun blanks into the air to surprise the actors and get a more authentic reaction.
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
DIY Notepad
I’m a sucker for notebooks and notepads. Though I haven’t kept a journal in several years, I like the IDEA of having a journal…and I certainly have enough blank ones to just get started already.
I also love making (and crossing things off of) lists. I have grocery lists, to do lists, lists of books to read, lists of things to buy…it helps keep my brain organized and I can’t help but feel just a little accomplished when I finally get to cross something off!
Before I started making my own notepads, I just had a purse full of receipts and post-its with various lists on them…but these cute little DIY Notepads are so easy to make that you’ll have your life organized in no time!
DIY Notepad
Materials:
- 30 sheets of white computer paper
- Ruler
- Scissors (or a paper trimmer if you have one)
- Stamps and ink pad (optional)
- 2 sheets scrapbook paper
- 2 binder clips
- Paint brush
- Mod Podge
- Cardboard (optional)
- Embellishments
Instructions:
Cut your computer paper (or cardstock if you want thicker sheets) into 5 in. x 7 in. rectangles. Do the same with the scrapbook paper you want to use as the cover of your notepad.
Gather all the pages together and secure with binder clips on the 5 in. end.
If you want to decorate the pages with stamps, do that before securing with binder clips.
Using paint brush, apply a generous coat of Mod Podge glue on the 5 in. end to hold all the pages together. Once that coat has dried, apply one more coat. Let dry fully.
In the meantime, cut your cardboard, if you’re using it, into a 5 in. x 7 in. rectangle.
Cut the second sheet of scrapbook paper (I just used a scrap piece, honestly…or you can use the flip side if your paper is double-sided) into a 7 in. x 3 in. rectangle. This will be the binding cover.
Once your binding has dried, remove the binder clips. Use Mod Podge to glue your paper pad onto your sheet of cardboard. Place cover on top of pages. Glue backside of 3 in. rectangle and carefully attach over binding. Let dry completely.
Once that’s done, you can decorate your notepad cover to look however you’d like!
And there you have it! A cute little notepad with removeable sheets that’s great for gift-giving and keeping your life organized!
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 