Love Actually - a Christmas staple

I'm on the bus listening to my music on shuffle and a great song, Songbird by Eva Cassidy, comes on and reminds me of one of my favorite soundtracks in one of my favorite films, Love Actually.  How can you get through the Christmas season without watching this movie at least once?  Many movies have tried to copy its intertwined multi-story format but haven't been successful in eliciting as strong emotions.

A big reason why Love Actually works so well year after year is the brilliant writing of Richard Curtis.  (By the way, he also wrote one of my favorite Doctor Who episodes, Vincent and the Doctor.)  Although we only get short vignettes of every storyline - in some cases literally just a beginning, middle, and end - the characters are so well-developed we instantly become attached to them.  He also manages to navigate a range of emotions in short succession.  The movement between funny, poignant, cute, heartbreaking, solemn, and romantic is seamless.

It also helps that the cast is full of talent.  Liam Neeson expertly plays the tortured father, but his "special set of skills" in this movie is less violent.  Emma Thompson makes us all cry when she tries not to cry.  Bill Nighy brings out his wild side, delivering a strong performance as we'd expect from him.  Colin Firth and Hugh Grant each bumble in their own way, as they know how to do so well.  Laura Linney is just stellar.  This film also happens to be the first time I saw Joanna Page, Martin Freeman, and Nina Sosanya - all of whom are some of my favorite actors now.  And that's just a partial list of the cast.

In addition to the writing and the acting, what really makes the film work is the music.  I can't talk about the music without mentioning the amazing voice of the then 10-year-old Olivia Olson.  I prefer her "All I Want for Christmas" over Mariah Carey's.  That song and almost every song from the movie are on my commuting playlist.  The soundtrack is one great song after another, and the way they're used in the background makes each scene have more impact.  Richard Curtis mentions in the commentary that he always has music playing when he's writing, and the songs picked in the final edit really fit what he's written.

So whether you kick back and watch Love Actually or take part in another tradition, I hope you have a relaxing and wonderful Christmas.

Sweet tea - my southern comfort

I spent two years living in the South, and I enjoyed it even more than I expected.  A key part of my time there was spent eating the great food and BBQ.  For all the good and bad, I became obsessed with sweet tea.

Sweet tea is a traditional drink prevalent in all areas of the South.  It's not just iced tea with sugar added.  (I actually prefer that type of iced tea unsweetened.)  It's made differently and tastes much better.  The good of my obsession is how delicious sweet tea can be and how comforted it makes me feel.  The bad, of course, is the sugar content, but even worse, in my mind, is how difficult it is to get a good glass of it now that I'm living in the north again.

While I was down south, my favorite place to get this sweet nectar was a fast food chicken and biscuits chain called Bojangles.  They also had scrumptious biscuits and gravy, but the sweet tea was always my favorite.  Before leaving town to move back north, my last stop was Bojangles to buy 6 half gallon jugs of sweet tea to take with me.  Whenever I go back to visit, it's my first stop.

I've been told it's not that difficult to make sweet tea, but I've also never bothered to look up a recipe. I recently found a cookbook published by Southern Living that includes a recipe for sweet tea along with a bunch of other southern goodies.  Maybe I'll take a look and start making my own - create a little bit of the South in my northern kitchen.

Thankful for TV Binging

Happy Thanksgiving!  I am thankful for many things, including all of you that read and support my blog.  It truly has been very helpful and means a lot to me.  I wish you and all your loved ones many blissful moments.

One great thing about long holiday weekends is being able to binge watch TV and catch up on or start shows you've been meaning to watch.  Here are two of my favorites that are pretty quick to get through.  Really I was just going to mention one, but since it's a bit dark and heavy, I thought I'd throw in a comedy for those of you that want to watch something lighter during the holiday.

Broadchurch
This series follows a small seaside town as it copes with and tries to find the culprit in the murder of an 11-year-old boy.  Leading the investigation are a detective brought in from out of town, who seems to be damaged and have secrets of his own (David Tennant), and a capable and kind local who was passed up for a promotion when he came in to fill that role (Olivia Colman).  As the series unfolds, we find that in this small town where everyone knows each other, everyone has secrets to hide and anyone could be guilty.  You're left guessing whodunit right up until the end.  Even the cast didn't find out who the murderer was until near the end of filming.

In addition to gripping writing and amazing acting, the tellers of this story were brilliant in their choices for cinematography, editing, and music.  It's no wonder it received such critical acclaim, awards, and viewer popularity.  It was brought back for a second series with a different crime at the center of the story, so if you have time after watching the first series, go ahead and watch the second.

The Thick of It
One of the funniest shows I've seen, this political comedy follows the ridiculous (and maybe not that far off) dealings of Members of Parliament and their staff.  The star of the show is a character named Malcolm Tucker, wonderfully played by Peter Capaldi, who is the character we all know exists in politics everywhere but who we may not always know by name.  He's the spin doctor, the puppeteer, the guy that can "convince" people to act, speak, and vote in the way that's needed at the time.  In real life we hate them, but as a TV character, we can't help but love this particular foul-mouthed incarnation.

Just a warning, there is a lot of foul language in The Thick of It, so if you're sensitive to that, I'd recommend watching something else.  Another comedy I like is Rev. - It's about a vicar and his relationships with his parish, the church, and his family.  It's funny, sweet, and also has the lovely Olivia Colman in a very different role than the one she plays in Broadchurch.  (For some reason, the third season of Rev. doesn't seem to be on Amazon at this time, but it may be available on Hulu.)

So those are my two (or three) picks for this Thanksgiving weekend.  Something entertaining to avoid the stress and mess of shopping.  If you need a shopping fix, you can always shop online while watching these shows.  Why deal with grumpy, swear-y, aggressive shoppers when you can watch grumpy, swear-y, aggressive, but lovable characters on TV?

Basketball - from the NBA to college

It's almost time!  In two days, we see the first official game of the college basketball season.  I love watching college basketball and have since 2000, but every year between April and October/November, I seem to forget how much.  When I watch that first game in the fall, I am consumed by bliss stronger than I anticipated.  No matter what happened that day, I instantly feel great.

I've written and talked about my history with basketball quite a bit in school applications, job interviews, and elsewhere, but for those of you not familiar with the story . . .

I haven't always had such kind feelings towards basketball.  I remember going to my brother's games when we were younger, but I don't actually remember watching much.  I was probably finding some other form of entertainment like climbing on and under the bleachers or checking out the concessions stand while the game was going on.  I remember getting Gene Keady's autograph but really only finding it interesting/exciting because other people found it interesting/exciting.  And I definitely felt some resentment towards my high school athletics department in general because they kept getting funding even though our teams were not very good while the music department experienced cuts and had some of the best choirs in the region.

But in 1998, my attitude started to soften.  I accidentally started watching the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers.  As often happened, I was doing homework with the TV on, and I was too lazy to change the channel.  I caught myself watching the game, and I became hooked.  Maybe Reggie Miller's three-pointers have some hypnotic quality.  I actively tuned in to the rest of the finals, disappointed when the Pacers lost and thrilled when the Bulls beat the Jazz.

For years after that, I followed the finals closely, picking which team I would support on a series-by-series basis.  Growing up in an area where the closest NBA team were the Toronto Raptors, I didn't have any strong allegiances. Which brings me to college basketball.

While I became a fan of the NBA in '98, I still didn't have much interest in college, high school, or any other form of basketball.  Those other games just didn't seem as exciting.  Then team allegiance sucked me in.  I got into a college that had a decent team.  Even before I finished the first semester of my senior year in high school, I started following the Stanford Cardinal.  Not having cable, I couldn't watch the game, but I definitely knew and celebrated when Stanford beat Duke in the Pete Newell Challenge in December 2000.  And I closely watched and followed every game in the NCAA tournament that season, and every season since then.  (More on the tourney some other time.  It deserves it's own post.)

Having a team to root for made the game that much better.  And the more I watched college basketball, the more I appreciated the strategy, skill, team dynamics, leadership, etc.  It quickly overtook my love of the NBA, which to me had more flash but not as much heart and soul.

The best part of college basketball was being able to watch all the home games in person.  Before college, I had never gone to a live game, other than my brother's or my high school's.  There's nothing like watching 10 talented players and 2 legendary coaches battle it out while standing on the floor, center court, with just two rows of rich people in folding chairs in front of you.  In college, every single game matters, and everyone involved cares deeply about what happens and the outcome.

That's why, come Friday night, you know what I'll be doing.

The comfort of tea

Although I've been drinking tea almost my whole life, until recent years, I'd been more of a coffee person.  I don't know why the switch happened, perhaps it was an attempt at being healthier and reducing my caffeine intake, but now I drink tea more than any other drink.

With the holiday season is approaching, I'm looking forward to the reappearance of one of my favorite tea varietals: decaffeinated peppermint green tea.  This tea tastes great, and it's comforting and soothing.  That's what I love about tea: it's a great way to unwind, and it also has health benefits.

I've read that peppermint tea is supposed to be good for stress relief and stomach issues.  Green tea is rich in antioxidants and is said to improve blood flow, lower cholesterol, and help prevent heart-related issues.  Because peppermint tea is herbal, it is already decaffeinated.  Green tea usually has caffeine, but I try to find decaffeinated varieties so I can stick to my goal of reducing caffeine intake.  The health benefits of tea are a great bonus, but mostly I just love the taste and how it makes me feel.

The first peppermint green tea I tried was Trader Joe's.  Their "candy cane" description made it sound delicious, which it is.  But I soon discovered Celestial Seasonings' peppermint green tea which I feel has a stronger flavor, so now that's my preferred choice.


Since I started drinking so much tea, I've also had to find a way of efficiently heating a lot of water.  My brother introduced me to a great system of an electric kettle and a thermos.  Most electric kettles these days are pretty quick at heating water, and some allow you to set the temperature of water you want.  I just use a simple one by SPT.  But the best part of this system is the thermos because we found one by Zojirushi that does a great job of keeping water hot.  If I fill the thermos with just-boiled water before I go to bed, it's still piping hot when I get up in the morning and want to drink my first cup of tea.  The thermos lets me drink tea with less wait because I always have hot water waiting for me.


If you're not as frequent a tea drinker as me, the approaching holiday season might put you in the mood.  The ready-waiting hot water is also great for hot cocoa!  Just thinking about it is putting me in the holiday spirit.

Museums - my favorite fact-based fun

Since I was little, I have loved museums.  There's something about walking into that vast clean building, hearing the echo, and knowing there are interesting tidbits around every corner.  It's even better if it's interactive or has interesting facts to learn.

I still remember stopping by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis during family road trips and seeing my favorite exhibits - the giant rotating globe and a miniaturized house.  Those trips are so ingrained in my childhood memory that I thought about visiting after a 20 year absence during my last trip to Indy, but I was too busy witnessing and celebrating a national championship (more on that in a future post.)

My favorite museum as a child, though, required a longer drive - the National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.  That building was full of wonder and history and inspired the future.  My parents would buy me the freeze-dried Neapolitan ice cream from the gift shop.  It was such a treat.
Science-based museums are still my favorite.  Even if I don't remember everything I learn from them, the experience of the learning is fun.  The exhibits are also visually fascinating and spark the imagination.  It's the perfect outing for families because people of every age can get something out of it.

I recently created a video of my visit to the American Museum of Natural History in New York.  You can check it out here, along with baby, toddler, child, and adult clothing to match.  And a video I made previously of the MoMA can be seen here.

 

Shirt store: http://teespring.com/stores/littlethingsofbliss 

AMNH video: https://youtu.be/Px0ro58_0Dk 

MoMA video: http://youtu.be/4yHVt88oug0

I hope that this post and these videos inspire you to get out to more museums.  They truly are things of bliss in this world.

Sitcoms of the 80s and 90s

What ever happened to predictability?  The milkman, the paperboy, evening TV?

A while back, I wrote about 80s toys, which all had corresponding cartoons.  But the shows that probably had even more of an impact on my development were the sitcoms of the 80s and 90s.  Those shows were a cultural phenomenon.

They were shows the whole family would sit together and watch.  Shows that taught us all valuable lessons - don't do drugs, don't lie, be nice to everyone, take time for your family.  Yes, the lessons were for both kids and adults.  Remember when Uncle Jesse almost missed the Tanner family picnic because he was working, even though he promised Michelle he would be there?  Luckily, it all worked out in the end.

Everything always did, unrealistically, work out in the end.  That was okay because I knew that TV wasn't real, that real life wouldn't always work out.  It was nice watching something that gave you a warm fuzzy feeling and an ideal to strive for.

Along with the entertainment and lessons, I loved the catchphrases and theme songs.  Just hearing part of them brings a smile to any child of the 80s and 90s.  Don't we all still know all the lyrics to the Fresh Prince rap?  And who could forget when the name "Thicke" was associated with a loving family theme song?

Whether your favorite show was Full House, Fresh Prince, Growing Pains, Family Matters, Who's the Boss, Family Ties, or any of the other great sitcoms, all the shows then made you feel at home.  They were like friends and family.  Thanks to technology, we can still revisit them.  So remember: when you're lost out there, and you're all alone, a light is waiting to carry you home.

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Side note: I've designed some shirts related to sitcoms and other little things featured on this blog.  You can view and buy them on the Little Things of Bliss store on Teespring.*  For Doctor Who-themed shirts, visit the Reboot Whovian store.

If you have any requests or suggestions for other shirts, please let me know.  I will continue to design more and add them to the store.

Here are some of the sitcom-themed shirts so far - currently in baby and toddler sizes in a variety of colors:

Full House

Toddler shirt: https://teespring.com/you-got-it-dude-toddler-shirt

Baby onesie: https://teespring.com/you-got-it-dude-onesie

Family Matters

Toddler shirt: https://teespring.com/urkel-toddler-shirt

Baby onesie: https://teespring.com/urkel-onesie

Fresh Prince

Toddler shirt: https://teespring.com/this-is-a-story-toddler-shirt

Baby onesie: https://teespring.com/this-is-a-story-onesie

Toddler shirt: https://teespring.com/carlton-dance-toddler-shirt

Baby onesie: https://teespring.com/carlton-dance-onesie

Growing Pains

Toddler shirt: https://teespring.com/show-me-that-smile-toddler

Baby onesie: https://teespring.com/show-me-that-smile-onesie

Who's the Boss

Toddler shirt: https://teespring.com/im-the-boss-toddler

Baby onesie: https://teespring.com/im-the-boss-onesie

*Teespring only prints shirts if the number of shirts ordered reaches a threshold.  If the threshold isn't reached, the shirt won't be shipped and you won't be charged for your order.  See their website for more details, and see each shirt's page for it's threshold.

Super moon cakes

Has everyone recovered from the excitement of the super blood moon lunar eclipse?  In spite of less than ideal conditions, I managed to grab this shot:

But other than this astronomical phenomenon, I was super excited yesterday because it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, which means . . . moon cakes!  The Mid-Autumn Festival is the second biggest celebration in Chinese culture after the Lunar New Year.  One tradition during the festival is the sharing and eating of moon cakes with friends and relatives.  As someone whose holiday preferences seems to revolve around food (Thanksgiving's my favorite US holiday!), it shouldn't be a surprise that my favorite part of this holiday is being able to eat moon cakes.

Moon cakes are delicious pastries that have a pie crust-like outer shell and fillings of different varieties.

My favorite filling is red bean paste (pictured above).  Other fillings I also like are lotus paste and green tea paste.  Another common aspect of fillings, although I'm not a fan, is including hard boiled egg yolk along with the paste.  I just generally prefer my desserts to be sweet and not have anything savory added.

This year I had quite a journey to Chinatown to find my beloved red bean paste moon cake.  I went to at least five bakeries, a grocery store, and two impromptu street stands, not having much luck finding what I wanted.  The vendors either didn't have what I wanted, had what I wanted but the way it was made didn't seem like what I'm used to enjoying, or were sold out of the red bean variety.  Finally I found a place that had what I wanted (I got the last one!), although the moon cake was square rather than round and they charged more than any of the other stores, but I only have this treat once a year, so I splurged.

Then I was looking around online and discovered that there are kits to make moon cakes!  I like baking, but I don't know if I'm that dedicated.  Who knows.  If it continues being this difficult to find the ones I want, maybe I will try making my own one day.  Or I can plan better and not wait until the last minute to go searching for red bean moon cake.

Autumnal bliss

Autumn is here!  Not only is today the day of the autumnal equinox but also it's feeling like autumn - with a cool breeze in your hair, pumpkin spice lattes in cafes, and candy corn on store shelves.  It's my favorite season of the year.

It makes me happy just strolling outside, where the temperature is ideal and the sky is usually overcast.  You really feel the crispness of the air.  When I was a child, my dad and I would go on hikes, and I'd collect the most beautiful fallen leaves and acorns (don't worry, there were plenty left for the squirrels).  I still love seeing the leaves change color, but it's a little more difficult now that I live in a city.  At least it's better than when I was living on the west coast, since I can at least go to a park that has trees . . . or enjoy a stranger's bike decoration on the street:

Thinking about autumn, my idealized autumn, brings about a calm.  I'm ready to relax with a cuppa tea and listen to one of my favorite jazz standards, Autumn Leaves.

A tale of The Writer's Tale

Lately, I haven't been posting as frequently as I'd like to on this blog.  I've been a bit busy with other things, and to be honest, when I don't have to be doing something else, I've been reading The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter.

I definitely wasn't planning to write another Doctor Who-themed post, but I've become slightly addicted to this book.  And season 9 of the show is starting tomorrow (!), so maybe I'll allow myself this indulgence?

The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter is a book that features email correspondence between Russell T. Davies, the Doctor Who showrunner for seasons 1-4 of the rebooted version, and journalist Ben Cook.  The correspondence takes place while RTD is writing and running season 4 of Doctor Who, and it gives very honest and candid insight into his writing process, what happens behind the scenes of a highly successful and much loved TV show, and the truth of how the show's stories and characters went from an idea to our TV screen.

For those of you not familiar with the TV show, I give a rough overview of it in my previous Doctor Who post.  I would recommend watching the show that was rebooted in 2005 (at least season 4) before reading this book, since it references those episodes, and it will allow you to get the most insight and enjoyment from reading it.  Also, there are spoilers about Doctor Who seasons 1-4 and another show, Torchwood in this book.  If you don't plan on watching the show but are interested in writing and TV show production, Amazon lets you "look inside" to see a bit of the book so you can decide if you'll enjoy it without being familiar with the show.

For anyone that has already seen the show and is a fan, you will love this book.  Did you know the 10th Doctor's last companion was almost going to be someone else?  You learn how it all changed. Some episodes were originally going to be completely different than what was aired, and some characters were going to be played by different actors.  You can read the early stages of scripts and ideas that were never brought to life.  For those that love gossip, you'll also see the seemingly mundane moment that gave RTD the idea to give the 10th Doctor a daughter, which eventually led to a real-life marriage.

This book is fun to read and insightful and let's me re-live the RTD years of Doctor Who.  I've never really enjoyed reading non-fiction books, but I'm actually enjoying this one more than some fiction books.  Frankly, I can't believe I put it down to write this blog post.

The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter is available on Amazon, Kindle, and iBooks.  (Right now the Kindle and iBooks formats of the book are only $4.99!)

For more Doctor Who fun - check out our friends at http://rebootwhovian.blogspot.com, and for Who-themed t-shirts visit http://teespring.com/stores/rebootwhovian.

Musicals - because life is better with a score

Since middle school, I have loved performing in and watching musicals.  Some people may find them cheesy and unrealistic because characters will be talking and then break into song and dance.  But I say, we need to break into song and dance more in real life!

In a way, we do break into song in our everyday life, but it may not be as melodic or entertaining as in a musical.

In a good musical, songs don't just come up at random.  There is always a motivation and a reason for a song.  It highlights something significant and is a vehicle for characters to express something that spoken dialogue can't do as powerfully.  It heightens the level of storytelling.

In everyday life, we all have those moments where we're trying to convey something, but we just can't find the words to make the other person really understand what we mean or how we're feeling.  Our voice and speech changes from what we use for normal chit-chat.  We might repeat ourselves or use words that don't entirely make sense at face value.  We may even get so animated that our body's doing a badly choreographed dance.

In those moments, wouldn't having a lyracist and score with an appropriate tempo, instrumentation, and melodic progression help?  In our most devastating and joyous moments, don't we connect more deeply with the moment if an appropriate song is playing at the same time on our iPod?  I know I always feel better after blasting a song in my apartment and singing at the top of my lungs - although my neighbors may not appreciate it.

So I say again, life should be more like a musical!  At the very least, it's nice having a soundtrack playing in the background as you go about your day.

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Here are some of my favorite musicals and songs, available on iTunes, in case you'd like to check them out:

Evita

• Buenos Aires
• Another Suitcase in Another Hall
• You Must Love Me

Jekyll & Hyde

• Once Upon a Dream
• In His Eyes
• Someone Like You
• This is the Moment

Les Miserables

• I Dreamed a Dream
• One Day More
• On My Own

Miss Saigon

• Why God, Why?
• The Last Night of the World
• I Still Believe
• I'd Give My Life for You

Once Upon a Mattress

• In a Little While
• Shy
• Yesterday I Loved You

Ragtime

• Goodbye My Love
• Your Daddy's Son
• New Music
• Wheels of a Dream
• He Wanted to Say
• Back to Before
• Make Them Hear You
• Wheels of a Dream (reprise)

Rent

• One Song Glory
• Out Tonight
• Another Day
• I'll Cover You
• Take Me or Leave Me
• Without You
• What You Own
• Your Eyes

West Side Story

• Tonight
• One Hand, One Heart
• Somewhere
• A Boy Like That/I Have a Love

Wicked

• Defying Gravity
• For Good

Doctor Who?

In 15 days, a show that has been airing for 52 years (ignoring a brief break in the 90s) returns to our screens.  Yet another recent discovery for me due to mini marathons on BBC America.  Any British person will know I'm speaking of Doctor Who, but since the show relaunched in 2005, it has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Doctor Who is classified as a sci-fi show, although due to the nature of the show, it can be a drama, comedy, romance, thriller, action adventure, period piece, mystery, western, and any other genre that exists.  This range is due largely to the main character, an alien called The Doctor, and his time machine, the TARDIS, that can travel through all of space and time.

It's a bit difficult to describe - "timey-wimey," if you will.  But here goes. There is a non-Earth being, who's called The Doctor (not Doctor Who).  He happens to look human, but he is actually a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey.  He has a time machine that looks like a 1960s London police box on the outside, but it's much bigger on the inside.  This time machine is called the TARDIS, which stands for "time and relative dimension in space."  Using the TARDIS, he can travel to anywhere in the universe and any time past or future.  He usually has a traveling companion, often a human.  They go on adventures that seem to always turn into them saving someone, a planet, or humanity.


How has this show been in existence since 1963?  Another core part of the show that provides flexibility - the Doctor is not human.  His species happens to have the ability to regenerate when they are about to die.  They just happen to change the way they look when they regenerate.  To date, the Doctor has had 12 different faces (and been played by 12 different actors).

Doctor Who is incredibly well-written and very well-acted.  These days, the special effects are quite impressive, especially considering the budget of the show.  The show is family friendly, although similar to Harry Potter, there have been some bits that would be scary even for adults.

Many people say, if you're new to the series, you should start by watching the episode Blink.  The odd thing is the Doctor isn't very central to that episode, but it is a self-contained story that deals with monsters and time travel, so it is a good way to get familiar with how the series works and feels without needing any background information.  Some other good ones could be The Girl in the Fireplace, Voyage of the Damned, The Fires of Pompeii, A Christmas Carol, and Vincent and the Doctor.  You can purchase single episodes on Amazon Instant Video and iTunes to see if you like it before committing to the whole series.  iTunes also gives you a 30 second preview clip of each episode.

I actually started with a complicated two-parter (Silence in the Library and Forest of the Dead), and I was still able to catch on and fall in love with the show, so it doesn't matter too much how you start - just start.

For more Doctor Who fun - check out our friends at http://rebootwhovian.blogspot.com, and for Who-themed t-shirts visit http://teespring.com/stores/rebootwhovian.

Cash back and offers from Amex

As mentioned when I wrote about my Discover card, I love getting cash back for behavior I was going to do anyway.  Another one of my favorite cash back credit cards is the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card.

There are certain brand associations people have with American Express that the company is trying to adjust, and the Blue Cash Everyday Card is one of the vehicles they're using to break false perceptions.  There is no annual fee for this card, and the rewards structure encourages everyday smaller purchases, not just the large travel-related purchases people used to associate with Amex.

The Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card gives you:

• 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
• 2% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations
• 2% Cash Back at select U.S. department stores
• 1% Cash Back on other purchases.

And because it's an Amex card, you can participate in the merchant offers that Amex arranges with different companies.  For example, I just redeemed a deal for getting $10 back on a purchase of $10 or more on iTunes.  Offers like that are available from local businesses and big brands alike if you register and use your Amex card.

Now is also a good time to get the card because Small Business Saturday is coming up.  Every year since 2010, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Amex has encouraged its Card Members to support local businesses.  So far, they have added an incentive by providing cash back on purchases ($X back on $X+ purchases) made at a local business using a registered Amex card on that Saturday.  I'm guessing they will have some sort of cash back incentive again this year, but you can only get it with an Amex card.

As you can probably tell, I use my Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card differently than my Discover.  Because the Amex percentages are constant, I use my Discover in certain quarters for the 5% categories, and I use the Amex for groceries and department stores when they aren't one of the 5% categories.  Since I don't have a car, the gas category doesn't factor in for me, but if you do have a car, the 2% may be useful.  I also use the Amex for specific offers as they come up.  Because neither of these cards has an annual fee, I have the freedom to pick and choose whether to use a card and for what.

Right now, if you apply through one of the Amex links in this post and are approved for the American Express Blue Cash Everyday Card, you can get $100 back in statement credit after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

Fan-fare

It feels like we're getting a little break from the scorching summer temperatures, but the heat is supposed to pick up again next week.  I'm so grateful I've had my nifty convenient fan to get me through it.

To be honest, I'd really love a Dyson fan.  I've seen them in stores, and they look and feel like they'd be a blast (apologies for the pun)!  But they are on the pricier side - although Amazon has sales on Dyson products going on now if you've been in the market for one.


For those with a lower budget, like me, I've found a decently strong fan in Lasko's Oscillating Tower Fan with Remote Control.  I like tower fans because they cover a larger area.  After all, it's my whole body, not just my face, that needs cooling.

I really love this particular fan because it has a full-function remote control.  How many times have you gone to bed with the fan on only to wake up in the middle of the night and have to get out of bed to turn it off because it's gotten too cold?  With the remote, I can turn the fan off/on, change the wind strength, start/stop fan oscillation, and set a timer for how long I want the fan to stay on - all without lifting my head from the pillow.


This Lasko fan is effective and convenient when it's hot and the last thing you want to do is waste energy setting up and adjusting a fan.

Un-wrinkling skin problems

Having dealt with skin issues for most of my life, I've tried many different skin products.  Some don't work for me and others do for a while, but then my skin changes, and I have to go through the process of finding new products again.

In my experience, there isn't any product that gives your skin the perfect appearance promised/desired.  Products don't change your DNA.  But about a month ago I started using a product that has noticeably helped my skin from the first use.  It's not a miracle product, but it's effectiveness for me is impressive enough to share, and maybe it will be even more effective for people who don't have as problematic skin as me.

Peter Thomas Roth's Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads are designed to help improve the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, pores, and even skin tone.  For me, the most noticeable change is in the reduction of acne, softening of skin texture, and a general healthier appearance.  The peel pads contain alpha, beta, and gamma hydroxy acids that exfoliate the skin.  After applying, you may feel tingling that's usually associated with those ingredients, but after rinsing with water, you can feel that your skin is smoother.  I notice even more of a difference after waking up the next morning and washing my face.  I can't help but touch my skin and marvel at how much healthier it looks and feels.


These pads retail for $45 (for a 60 count container) at Sephora, which isn't cheap, but like many skincare products, you can find them for cheaper on Amazon.

PTR's Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads haven't completely fixed my dermatological issues (no product can), but they have made me feel better about my skin.

My Truthiness of Stephen Colbert

In just three and a half weeks, Stephen Colbert will be returning to our screens on a daily basis as the new host of the Late Show.  It's been a long time since his last episode of the Colbert Report in 2014, so it might be a good time to revisit some of his past work.

I first saw Stephen Colbert on his show, the Colbert Report, a parody news program where he portrayed a character also named Stephen Colbert.  Colbert the actor could make Colbert the character hilarious, thought-provoking, mocking, poignant, and sentimental all at the same time.


I so loved that character that I refused to watch any interviews or programs where I might see the real Stephen Colbert, for fear of shattering the illusion.  Luckily, a friend of mine convinced me to watch an interview he did with Larry King.  I saw that as himself, Colbert still had great humor and charisma, which is why I know the Late Show will be in good hands.

The writing for the Report and his character development was so well done that when Colbert published his book, I Am America (And So Can You!), I bought it right away.  As I was reading, I realized I missed hearing the character deliver the words.  My imagining of the character speaking could not have been as good as how he would have delivered it.  I should have bought the audiobook.

At that time, I was still in the mindset that audiobooks were "cheating," but I wasn't in school anymore, and this book was for my enjoyment.  Of all the books to listen to rather than read, surely this would be the one.  So when America Again: Re-becoming The Greatness We Never Weren't came out, I did the smart thing - I signed up for a free Audible trial and downloaded that audiobook as my free book.  (Tip: Now Audible is giving you 2 free books instead of just 1 during the free 30-day trial!)

Hearing the book read by the Stephen Colbert character was definitely more entertaining than reading it myself in my head.  So in addition to the hundreds of hours of entertainment Colbert provided me through his show and books, I also have to thank him for opening my mind to audiobooks and realizing that sometimes it can be preferable to reading myself.

The world will be watching with anticipation on September 8, as Stephen Colbert walks onto the stage at the Ed Sullivan Theater.  As a long-time fan of the David Letterman, it will be odd not seeing him, but based on his past work, I am excited about how Stephen Colbert will carry on the torch.

More free coffee and treats

If you frequent Starbucks, you really should sign up for their loyalty program, My Starbucks Rewards.  I just earned another free drink today.  I think I've probably had as many free drinks as I've bought drinks from them this year.

All you have to do to sign up is register a Starbucks gift card with your information, and you'll get a free drink or food item on your birthday.  You don't even have to make any purchases, just register the gift card.  Make sure you opt-in for emails to get promotions.  You'll see why later.

Once you reach the green level, which requires earning 5 stars in a year (an equivalent of 5 purchases but could be less if there are promotions), you also get free refills on hot or iced brewed coffee and tea.

When you earn 30 stars in a year, you reach gold level.  Gold gives you all the same benefits as the lower levels, plus you get a free drink or food item for every 12 stars you earn.

Reaching gold is actually not that difficult, especially if you're a regular Starbucks customer.  I started the program when I was working for a company that required having a lot of "coffee chats" with co-workers, so I was having to buy coffee several times a week.  I figured, I was spending the money anyway, so I might as well get some free drinks now and then.

Loading a gift card and using it to make a purchase doesn't cost any more than using cash or credit card directly at the register.  And I was still getting my cash back benefits (see my post on Discover) because reloading of Starbucks gift cards usually counts as a restaurant purchase.

The best part about earning stars after reaching gold level is it's incredibly easy.  If you sign up for their emails, every now and then, you'll be notified of a promotion where you can earn bonus stars for your purchases.  There are some really good ones like earning 4 bonus stars for a certain type of purchase.  I've also had a deal where if I make 3 purchases in a certain time frame, I get 10 bonus stars.  That means those 3 purchases alone get me a free drink.  Note that a "purchase" means a "swipe" at the register, so buying 20 coffees in one transaction counts the same as buying just 1 cake pop.

As a special, if you sign up through this referral, you get a free drink without having to wait for your birthday.  Enjoy the buzz!

Care Bears and other 80s toys

It seems like toy brands hit their peak in the 1980s, back when parents had to line up around a store, hoping to be able to bring back that special doll.  Of course, being a child of the 80s, I may be biased.  Here's a list of some of my favorites.  Let me know what you think.

• Care Bears
• Rainbow Brite
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Glo Worm
• Cabbage Patch Kids
• Transformers
• My Little Pony

Not too shabby, huh?  Many of these toys have been resurrected and made a comeback.  Perhaps it's because they were great toys and can't help but be a part of mainstream society again, or perhaps the kids that played with them are now in positions at various companies to bring them back.  Either way, they made an impression, triggered something sentimental, and I'm happy they're available for another generation.

Sure, the toys and games today are pretty impressive, and I'm sure kids love them, but it's hard for me to grow an emotional attachment to them, probably because they're not made for someone my age . . .  At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old person starting a rant about how things were better back in the day, I'll just say, the great thing about these revamped 80s toys (even though they're not exactly the same as they used to be) is that the parent and child can both appreciate and connect over them.

So for those of you about to have or that already have young children, yes, go ahead and get the latest toys and useful equipment.  But also make room on your registries for something you had also wanted as a child.  The great thing is nowadays, it's all available and easy to get without having to line up around the store.

In-N-Out Burger is in

The west coast doesn't have Wegmans, but it does have In-N-Out Burger.  I don't often miss living in California, but when I do, it's usually because I'm craving In-N-Out.

Even if you've never been near one, you've probably heard of it at some point.  People love In-N-Out and its not-so-secret secret menu.  I'm boring and usually just get a regular cheeseburger (lettuce, tomatoes, raw onions, no spread) and fries, but the cheeseburger and fries aren't boring.  Everything is fresh and you can actually watch them cut the potatoes for the fries while you're waiting for your order.

When I feel adventurous, I will order off the In-N-Out secret menu.  My go-to are animal fries with spread on the side.  Anything "animal style" consists of having grilled onions on it, and some other stuff depending on if you're getting a burger or fries.  Animal fries are their normal fries with cheese, grilled onions, and "spread" (In-N-Out's sauce which is similar to thousand island dressing).  For burgers, you can get them animal style, and you can order different patty/cheese counts:

• double-double - 2 beef patties, 2 cheese slices
• 4x4 (pronounced "four by four") - 4 beef patties and 4 cheese slices
• 8x8 - you get the idea
• And I'm sure more.  But you have to wonder why you're getting so much meat and cheese.

For those on a bread-free diet, you can get "protein", which means the burger is wrapped in lettuce instead of bread.  And for the vegetarians, you can get grilled cheese, which can have the same ingredients as a cheeseburger minus the beef.

I'm not a milkshake fan, but people who are seem to like them.  In-N-Out serves vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, but you can ask them to combine flavors if you'd like.

Why I like this place is not just the good food, but also it was a fun place to go in my college days.  It's usually open until 1am or so, and I actually think I didn't go there during daylight until after I graduated.  When you go during peak times (lunch, dinner, or late at night if you're near a college) it can be tough to get a table.  But sometimes it was fun to stake out different corners of the restaurant with your friends, so one of you could claim a table for the group as soon as someone finished eating and stood up.

These days, I usually go through the drive thru or get my food to go, but every time I bite into one of the "ketchup and mustard instead of spread" burgers, I am brought back to my college days and soothe my craving.

Top presenting team (can I say "top"?)

I woke up today to a happy announcement - Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May's new show will be exclusively on Amazon Prime!  This is great news for those of us in the US who will still be able to watch these three buffoons and now without any transmission delay.

A couple years ago, I accidentally started watching a show called Top Gear.  It was inevitable since they routinely have mini marathons on BBC America, so you really can't avoid it if you ever watch that channel or flip across it.  I am definitely not a car person, but somehow this motoring show drew me in, and I became hooked.  What made this show so compelling was the odd but unmistakable chemistry between the three presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.

At first I thought I liked the show because of the crazy challenges that inevitably ended up in disaster like building a motorhome that was meant to be livable, sailing across the English Channel in an "amphibious" car, or traveling through the Amazon (no pun intended) in cheap 4x4s that were barely functioning at the beginning of the journey.  If watching a recorded version of the show, I would skip over many of the boring car bits, including the news section of the show.  But as I watched more, I realized it wasn't the challenges that I loved but how they perfectly showcased the relationship and differences of the three presenters.

It's hard to describe or explain, but these three work incredibly well together on camera.  They do have running gags.  Richard is a short secret American that is at home with all things rural.  James is a pedantic old man that drives slowly, always gets lost, and wears shirts that are probably making my eyes deteriorate.  Jeremy is the loud lazy orangutan that only cares about speed and power.  But what makes them interesting is more than the gags.  There have been other versions of Top Gear and other motoring shows with similar formats, challenges, and presenters that get along and don't get along at the same time, but they are not nearly as entertaining to watch.  These three make you feel like you're there with them, that you're in on some joke together.


I have since re-watched many of the episodes, this time not skipping the car bits and making sure I catch the news, which has become my favorite segment, since it involves all three of them together.  I'm still not a car person, but I have picked up some things along the way.  For example, I instantly recognize and then cringe every time a Porsche Panamera drives by on the street.  No idea why people spend so much money on such an ugly car, especially when they're in a city where traffic won't let you go over 30 mph.

When I learned of their deal with Amazon this morning, I was thrilled.  In all of the talk about if they would go online or to another British network, I just wanted something accessible in the US.  It will be interesting to see how they work with being online.  On the one hand, they probably have more freedom to do what they want, but on the other, it was funny watching them make fun of and appear to circumvent network censorship.

Clarkson, Hammond, and May's new show is scheduled to be released in 2016, so make sure you have Amazon Prime by then.  In the meantime, you can check out some of their previous shenanigans on Top Gear.  For newbies, I'd recommend starting with the motorhome episode if you want to see the standard format, but any of their specials where they go abroad or to the North Pole are good, too.

Supplies - the best part of back to school

Now that I'm out of school, there are several things I miss about it.  Some you would expect, like the camaraderie, stimulating environment, independent lifestyle, etc.  But one that may be a little odd is the back to school shopping aspect.

I always loved back to school shopping because it meant getting fresh new notebooks, smooth-working pens, perfect pristine crayons.  I don't know what it is, but I just like office supplies.  Maybe it's the feeling of getting organized or feeling productive - or maybe I'm just weird.

When I got ready for college, it was even better.  Not only did I get new supplies (some were even school-branded!) but I also got to shop for dorm furnishings and decorations.  It was a chance to show my dorm mates who I was, shape how I wanted my college experience begin, and feel like I had a home away from home.

Of course I can still buy supplies and things for my home, but it isn't quite the same as before.  That doesn't mean I can't still take a look when the sales come around this time of year, though.

Twenty Twelve - a humorous view of the Olympics

It's been three years since the 2012 Olympics in London, an Olympics that many consider to be a huge success.  Ever wonder how they managed to plan it all?  Maybe not, but it would be fun to see a comical version of Olympic planning filled with awkward mishaps, quirky characters, and absurd-but-maybe-not-that-far-off scenarios and bureaucracy.

That's the television series Twenty Twelve in a nutshell.  I stumbled across this show several months ago, and it's a great way to unwind with a laugh.

Twenty Twelve is a mockumentary about the London 2012 Olympic planning committee and stars Hugh Bonneville of Downton Abbey fame.  The cast is full of talented actors, including the brilliant Olivia Colman of pretty much everything on British TV.

If you work in business or government, you may recognize some of the ridiculous situations the characters find themselves in, but it's done in a way that makes you laugh and appreciate the joke even more.  I managed to enjoy it without being traumatized by personal flashbacks to unnecessary meetings where nothing is really said or gets done.


It's the type of show where you want to watch more.  Luckily the first season was such a success that they added a second one, but even after that, I still hadn't had enough.

With the Olympics over, a third season wouldn't make sense, but they did create a new show that's kind of a continuation of Twenty Twelve called W1A, which brings Hugh Bonneville's character to the BBC.  For those of you lucky enough to get access to it, you should also check that out after finishing Twenty Twelve.

I scream for mint chocolate chip ice cream

On a hot day like today, I instantly slip into a moment of bliss with mint chocolate chip ice cream.  That cold when it hits your tongue.  The sweet creamy texture.  And the refreshing taste with bits of chocolate.  What could be better?

Every time I go into an ice cream shop or decide to venture down the freezer aisle in the supermarket, it's difficult for me not to choose mint chocolate chip.  I like this flavor in pretty much every brand of ice cream.  Some of my favorites, though, are Breyers, Edy's, and Friendly's.

The ice cream is, of course, great on its own, but for more indulgence, add brownies, chocolate cake, and/or chocolate chip cookies.  An unexpected tasty combination I stumbled on is mint chocolate chip ice cream with ginger cookies.

For something that also quenches your thirst, make an ice cream float with Sprite.  With the float, I find that Breyers is the best, but they're all good.  It's a treat my mom made for me when I was growing up, and it still hits the spot today.

Lumos on Harry Potter

It may be a minority opinion, but I love overcast days.  Temperatures are comfortable, and you don't feel the burning of the sun on your skin.  There's also something calming about the light yet grey tone of the environment.

If it's raining, and you want to stay indoors, it's the perfect time to grab a cuppa tea and curl up with a good book.  Some of the best indulgences - the books in the Harry Potter series.  I started reading the series in college, and I still love rereading it today.

The stories are captivating at any age and a treat for your imagination.  For those of you that have somehow managed to avoid all the hoopla, the series is about a boy who learns he's a wizard and gets swept up in the wizard world.  While going to a wizarding school, he develops lifelong friendships with classmates and teachers who help (and hinder) him in various adventures.  The overarching adventure, however, is the classic battle of good versus evil.  The evil in this series are the forces of a powerful wizard gone bad.

Like any great work, the stories are entertaining at face value, but there are also deeper undertones on life, humanity, and morality.  Depending on what you like to get from entertainment, you can read it as you wish.


I will admit, some of the books are a little slow in the beginning.  It's not that they're bad, but they're not as page-turning as later on in the book, once you've passed the scene-setting and are in the thick of the plot.  Usually about a quarter of the way through, though, you are compelled to keep reading until the end.  That's how some die-hard fans finish a book in one day.  It usually took me a week to finish a book - a few days for the first quarter and one day into late night for the last three quarters.  Now that I've read them all, every now and then, I go back and just read the bits I'm craving at the time.

So why not watch the movies and save some time and effort?  Please do!  I find them highly entertaining.  The Harry Potter movies are some of the better adaptations from books that I've seen, but the main reason I would also read the books is the internal monologue that doesn't come across on screen, which allows you to connect more deeply with the characters.  There are also significant elements and subplots in the books that aren't developed or shown in the movies.  Elements that make the books that much more enjoyable.

So put the kettle on, get settled in your cozy chair, and welcome to the wizarding world of Harry Potter!

Discover cash back credit cards

I love cash back credit cards.  There's nothing like getting a little change back for something you're buying anyway.  I also feel a little sense of joy when I feel like I'm being strategic and optimizing my spending across cards, loyalty programs, sales, coupons, etc.

One of my favorite cash back credit cards is Discover.  While their standard cash back percentage isn't as high as others, they do have those rotating 5% cash back categories every quarter, so I like to use it when the category is relevant to me.  Since there's no annual fee, I can also choose not to use the card when that quarter's category isn't useful for my spending habits (i.e. for gas purchases, since I don't have a car).  Last quarter they had 5% cash back on restaurants. I get takeout and eat out a lot, so I got a good amount of cash back those three months - enough to get myself a $25 gift card.

That leads me to one of the best things about Discover's cash back program - their cash back redemption options:

1. "Cash" back - You can redeem ANY amount of your cash back balance as straight cash back in the form of a statement credit or direct deposit into your bank account.  Most other cards make you wait until you reach a minimum or only allow you to redeem in set increments such as multiples of $25.  With Discover, you can choose to redeem the amount you earn every month - great for those firm believers of time value of money.


2. Gift card deals - While I love the flexibility of cash, I actually prefer redeeming my Discover cash back for gift cards because they have deals on their wide selection of merchant gift cards.  For example, that $25 gift card I mentioned earlier only cost me $20 of my cash back balance.  I've also redeemed $20 cash back for a $40 car rental instant e-certificate before.  Basically, I got cash back on purchases I was making anyway and then doubled the value of the cash back I received.  In a way, I was getting 10% cash back on my purchases.


3. And more - You can also shop with your cash back at select online merchants and donate to certain charities.

On top of that, Discover has a pleasant and easy to use website, and they give you your credit score on every statement.

Right now, eligible new cardmembers can get a $50 cash back bonus if they open a new account and make a purchase within three months.  And if you want to get in on this quarter's categories, your purchases from July through September at Amazon.com, department stores, and home improvement stores get 5% cash back.

Coca-Cola - the real thing

One of my earliest, if not original, little thing of bliss is an ice cold bottle of Coke.  I was reminded of that after working this afternoon and walking home in the hot sun.  There's nothing like that first moment after you open the bottle and take the first sip.  You can't help but sigh and exhale "ahhh."

My attempts to reduce my soda intake obviously aren't perfect, but if I do have one of those wonderful bubbly drinks, I enjoy every moment of it.  And as an added bonus, I enter the code on the bottle cap into My Coke Rewards.

MCR is a free loyalty program where all you have to do is sign up for an account using an email address (here's another chance to use that email account saved for shopping, loyalty programs, and spam!) and enter the codes you find on Coca-Cola products' bottle caps or 12-can boxes.  You get points for entering codes, and you can redeem those points for goodies, sweepstakes, or coupons for a free bottle of Coca-Cola product.  If you're going to be drinking those drinks anyway, might as well get a free drink out of it now and then.

Go on and open some happiness . . . and then get some more happiness out of it.

Orphan Black - low commitment binge watch

Recently, I cancelled my cable subscription.  The only reason I didn't do it sooner was because I wanted to watch the final episode of Orphan Black season 3 as it aired.  I literally called the cable company right after I finished watching.

I didn't start watching this show until after season 2 had finished airing, but I got through all two seasons very quickly and couldn't wait for the third to start.  It's a great binge watch because every episode is compelling, and there are only 10 episodes per season.  It's easy to finish in one weekend and get caught up before the next season starts - perfect during this slow season for TV.

Yes it is a sci-fi show, but it's not just for sci-fi lovers.  There's mystery, suspense, action, dysfunctional and unexpected relationships, and of course the occasional comic relief.  The premise is about a woman who finds out she is a clone and has many clone sisters that look like her around the world.  She and some of her sisters embark on a hunt to find out the truth behind their existence while still trying to live their normal lives.  It sounds a little quirky the way I describe it but it definitely isn't once you watch it.  Check out the first episode for free (with ads).


Tatiana Maslany, the actress that plays all the clones, is remarkable.  Each character is unique and incredibly well-developed.  They also have great chemistry together.  You forget that it's one person playing all these people.  Think of how much time she must put into just filming, let alone all the other work that goes into playing each clone.

If the storytelling and acting isn't enough, special effects lovers will be impressed by how seamlessly they create the scenes with more than one clone.  They go through a bit of it on the special features of the season 2 DVD and behind the scenes footage available on Amazon Prime.

Right now the first two seasons are streaming for free on Amazon Prime.  And the first episode with ads can be seen for free by everyone.  If you're not a Prime customer, you can sign up for a 30 day free trial, which is plenty of time to get through all the episodes.

Enjoy the show!