Tag Archives: entertainment

Sep13

Groovy Movies: The Conjuring Last Rites Edition

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Groovy Movies: The Conjuring Last Rites Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! If you are a horror movie fan like me, it is your time to shine because there are SO many good scary flicks that have come out or are due to be released soon. One that I was particularly looking forward to was the fourth installment of The Conjuring called Last Rites. I think we can all agree that the first movie was excellent, the second was so so, and the third one sucked on ice. However, those sentiments did not deter me one bit from wanting to see what happens next and I’m glad for it. The Conjuring 4 was better than the second and third one combined! As always, this will be a spoiler free review but I’ll be placing a trigger warning on the movie for pregnancy difficulties, injury to an animal, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ I have no rights to this video!!

Ed and Lorraine Warren are getting older and have decided to put their paranormal investigations on an indeterminate hiatus for Ed’s declining heart health. Their days are now spent lecturing and doting on their beloved daughter, Judy, who is now all grown up and dating a young man named Tony. Like her mom, Judy is increasingly having visions of the dead and things that have already happened and are yet to come. It’s a balancing act but both of the ladies manage it the best that they can. Aside from these visions, the Warren’s lives are quiet and peaceful which is in sharp contrast to the Smurl family in a small town called Pittston in Pennsylvania.

The Smurl family compiles of the parents, four daughters, and the father’s parents. They are a devout Catholic family who is in the process of celebrating the confirmation of Heather. The family has a good meal, cake, and Heather is treated to a huge gift from her grandparents: An antique mirror that is as beautiful as it is creepy. Just as soon as the mirror is unwrapped, the entire family begins experiencing paranormal activity to the highest degree. We’re talking levitation, items moving, terrifying spirits, injuries to the family, and a puke storm that would make the little girl in The Exorcist jealous.

Try as they might, the Smurl family cannot find help to rid their home of the angry spirits and take their scary story to the news. The Warren’s are none the wiser about this case but Judy has been keeping up to date and feels the Smurl household drawing her in. After tragedy strikes a dear friend who tried to help the Smurl family, Judy heads to Pennsylvania and her parents follow suit. By the time they arrive in Pittston, Grandma Smurl is being wheeled into an ambulance because something pushed her down the stairs. Judy has already offered her assistance and Ed and Lorraine reluctantly agree to help too. What happens next? You’re going to have to see The Conjuring: Last Rites to find out!

For the most part, I enjoyed this movie. My main qualm I had with it was the pacing because this was a slow burn and I mean slow. The first forty minutes or so of Last Rites was a back and forth situation. It got you up to speed on the Warrens and Judy’s relationship while showing minor instances of the Smurl family haunting. All the while, I was mentally willing this part of the flick to hurry the hell up because I wanted to get to the good stuff. The scary stuff! What transpired in the Smurl home really was scary but it felt like it was over before it even began. The major portion of their haunting consisted of roughly the last thirty-five minutes of the movie and it didn’t feel like it was enough. I always felt like The Conjuring films had an issue with pacing and Last Rites was a shining example of my complaints.

Other than the choppiness of the movie, it really came together once all of the key players of the film were together. Last Rites provided scares reminiscent of the first Conjuring movie – perhaps even more scary. I will never forget my level of fear seeing the first one in theaters and definitely was having similar reactions all of these years later. Also, it is worth saying that any movie with Patrick Wilson is alright by me because he is a dreamboat! If you are a fan of The Conjuring franchise, Last Rites is definitely a must see. Was it great? Absolutely not. But all in all it was a pretty good conclusion to the series.

I am going to rate The Conjuring: Last Rites with a six out of ten stars. It was certainly above average and I will happily watch it again when it comes out on streaming services!

What is your favorite scary movie? What is the last movie you saw in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Sep8

Snap & Switch Trick ‘r Treat Sets

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Snap & Switch Trick ‘r Treat Sets

Hello! A few months ago, I saw a preview of 5 Below’s Halloween collection on social media and one thing in particular really caught my eye: A pseudo Lego set called Snap & Switch featuring precious Sam from one of mine and Johnny’s favorite Halloween movies, Trick ‘r Treat. I was on pins and needles to finally snag a set for myself and was keeping my fingers crossed that it would be available during a recent 5 Below trip. Despite the fact that it wasn’t there, I still had a fabulous Halloween haul but, of course, Sam was weighing heavily on my mind.

With my eyes on the prize, I returned back to 5 Below two days later and could not believe my good fortune: The box containing the Trick ‘r Treat builds were on the shipment cart, I asked an employee if I could have one, and actually got two sets. Snap & Switch made a Trick ‘r Treat candy set too! There were only three of each set in the box and I got mine before they even went on the shelves. GREAT SUCCESS. AND Johnny and I built them over the long Labor Day weekend. DOUBLE GREAT SUCCESS! Check it out:

^^^ His lil sucker!!!!

^^^ My lil builder hard at work!

^^^ My Sam plushie has a friend now!! ❤

^^^ Very aware that random black piece doesn’t belong there! -_-

^^^ All done!!! 😀

The first build we tackled was Sam himself and that was easy peasy. It had less than one hundred pieces and we finished it in about fifteen minutes. However, Snap & Switch is obviously no Lego lol. The bricks in the Snap & Switch sets were tiny and I mean TINY and they also were a pain in the butt to snap together. Not a snap at all! Pieces kept flying off constantly and a lot of them were difficult to fit into the build correctly. But, hey, for five bucks what do you expect? I think it’s a great thing that little sets like these are available for on the cheap! You can get a taste for building with bricks without spending an arm and a leg because I guarantee if this were a Lego set, it would be thirty dollars bare minimum. And, regardless of the ease of use for this product, we were still very pleased with the end result!

After quickly building Sam, we expected the candy Snap & Switch to be, well… A snap lol. We couldn’t wait to build Sam’s sucker and then things went horribly wrong. About five steps into the build, we were stumped. The directions were showing one thing but it was very much impossible with the pieces they allowed. Johnny and I tried several different approaches to no avail and we ended up having to use an extra piece to supplement for what couldn’t be done. That left us sans a piece we needed later on, hence the random black Lego brick. For such a small build, this one was frustrating AF and buyer beware that the directions in this set are wrong and you will need an extra piece to complete it fully.

Once we were done with our makeshift sucker, all that was left to do was make the razor blade chocolate. Thankfully, this one went without a hitch because we couldn’t take much more Snap & Switch after the sucker debacle lol. The candy bar was thrown together in under ten minutes and we loved the fact that the piece of chocolate slid off so you can see the danger that looms underneath. This candy set was a surprise because I wasn’t aware of it at all and I am still happy with it although it caused some difficulty. Yes, it bites that the directions weren’t accurate and pieces were missing but, hey, what do you expect for five dollars?!

If you are a Trick ‘r Treat fan, the Sam build is available on 5 Below’s website as far as I know. Definitely worth it for an hour or so of fun with an adorable end result!

Do you like to build with Lego? What is the best off brand Lego? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug29

Why Do Live Performances Hit Different Than Streaming?

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Why Do Live Performances Hit Different Than Streaming?

Live performances are among the most unique and exciting adventures you can have. No matter what you enjoy, from stage plays to rock concerts, no streaming channel can match what being there offers. From sensory engagement to unpredictability, here are some examples:

Adventure and Experience:

With the rise of streaming services, it’s easy to forget the unique experience of attending a show. What’s better, relaxing on the couch and pressing a button, or planning, booking with Broadway.com, and venturing out on a trip? The convenience of streaming has its benefits. But there is nothing like experiencing a live performance, even if you do it only once. Nothing compares to the overall adventure of seeing musical idols, stunning plays, and comedians right before your very eyes.

Engaging the Senses:

Just being in the same space as a performer you love creates a tangible experience that brings the senses to life. The sound, sights, and even smells of a packed auditorium are like nothing you can get at home. Adding to the excitement is the energy of the crowd, which makes a significant contribution to the experience. Through light, sound, and smell, your brain creates powerful memories connected to emotions that will typically last for the rest of your life.

Live Performances Feel More Connected:

In 2024 alone, Ticketmaster sold 637 million tickets. It’s safe to say live performances are alive and well, and whether you enjoy stage plays like Hamilton or want to rock out at an AC/DC concert, you can only get the connection you crave from a live show, and not a TV channel:

  • Performers will usually interact with the audience in a direct manner.
  • The experience feels more personal and conversational because of this.
  • Being among an excited crowd provides more energy and electrifies a performance.

Unpredictable and Organic Performance:

While stage shows and artists might tour with a set of performances, every show is unique. There are many variables that can impact a show directly, making each experience different from the last. Improvisation, audience participation, and surprising moments can make a show memorable. Singers might begin to sing in a different key than usual, actors can bring an audience member on stage, and an unexpected event can cause the show to change to a once in a lifetime memory.

The Emotional Impact:

The vivid sensory experience of a live performance is unlike anything else. Because of this, the emotions attached to it while you are there become much more pronounced, and this forges solid memories. More than a studio production, a live show has the power to evoke an even deeper emotional response due to the unfiltered energy that a band, singer, or actor exudes over the crowd. What makes it even more special is that that moment will never happen again.

The adventure and experience are why live performances deliver something no streaming platform can. Go to a show and have the time of your life!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jul26

Groovy Movies: I Know What You Did Last Summer Edition

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Groovy Movies: I Know What You Did Last Summer Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the latest summer slasher, I Know What You Did Last Summer. When I ordered the tickets for the flick, the employee told me “I doubt it” lolol. Nice! This is bad but I did not see the original movie so I went into this reboot with zero expectations. I was, however, a huge fan of the author of the book, Lois Duncan, back in the day and knew I was in for a fun afternoon at the movie theater! Let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Southport is a lux ocean town for the ultra wealthy, but that wasn’t always the case. In 1997, brutal murders of a group of friends by a hook wielding fisherman took place. Two survivors remained who will never forget while the Southport police did everything in their power to erase the past. After a fancy land developer took the reigns on the town, it turned into the posh place to be with stunning ocean views. Southport is moving forward and the heinous crimes that took place are the last thing on anyone’s mind as they day drink their lives away. It’s certainly the last thing on bride to be, Danica’s mind.

Danica and Teddy are soon to be married and their old crew is back for the celebrations. There’s Ava and Milo as well as a straggler of the group, Stevie, who joins them before the night is out. After a big engagement party, the friends decide to keep the party going with some drinking and driving, sparking up blunts, and heading to a winding road with the best view of fireworks for the Fourth of July. Teddy has gotten turnt and a dangerous game of chicken as fireworks light up the sky brings a car crashing down into the rocky cliff. Rather than call the police, Teddy calls his dad who is the police and will make it look like this never happened. All they have to do is keep their mouths shut.

Fast forward to a year later and the gang is back for Danica’s bridal shower. As she opens her prezzies, she picks up an envelope expecting cash inside. What she receives is a card with the warning “I know what you did last summer” and just as we were all expecting, shit is about to hit the fan. The hook and harpoon wielding fisherman is back with a vengeance and whoever it is won’t stop until Danica, Teddy, Milo, Ava, Stevie, and a newcomer are six feet under. Their only choice is to stick close together and seek out advice from a survivor of the 1997 massacre. Her answer is simple: Kill whoever it is before they kill you. Who will make it out alive? Watch I Know What You Did Last Summer to find out!

Now, I am well aware that I Know What You Did Last Summer has gotten extremely lackluster reviews. Myself, on the other hand, liked it a lot! Maybe it’s because I didn’t see the original or maybe it’s because I saw the movie for what is was: A straight to the point summer slasher. A popcorn movie that requires nothing from you but to jump in and put your hands up for the ride. Was it the best movie I have ever seen? Of course not. Did I have fun watching it? I sure did!

I Know What You Did Last Summer was often hilarious, had insane kills, and a cast that worked really well together. The core group of friends was easy to root for which allowed for me to literally jump in my seat during the jump scares. It was a classic story with fresh and exciting twists and turns that had me hooked (Pun intended!). If you are feeling wishy washy about seeing this movie because of an attachment to the original film, think of it as watching something completely different. Something brand new that’s meant to entertain. I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to watching it again with Johnny!

Overall, I am going to give I Know What You Did Last Summer a seven out of ten stars. I absolutely think it is worth seeing and I don’t think this movie’s reviews did it any justice!

Have you seen any movies this summer? Is there a movie coming out that you would like to see? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul13

Groovy Movies: Jurassic World Rebirth Edition

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Groovy Movies: Jurassic World Rebirth Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the newest edition to the Jurassic Park franchise: Jurassic World Rebirth. Since this flick has come out, I have heard nothing but lackluster reviews and I’m honestly not sure why. I thought it was a perfect summer popcorn movie! It was fun, fast paced, action packed, and exciting. If a movie entertains me, it has done its job and I really enjoyed it. Let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!!

In a world where people are caring less and less about dinosaurs, a Martin Krebs cares about them deeply. Or, rather, cares deeply about the almighty dollar. His pharmaceutical company thinks that they can provide a life saving cure for coronary disease. All they need is a DNA sample from three of the biggest dinosaurs of land, air, and sea as they have the biggest hearts and lifespan. With the promise of saving lives and a massive payday, he enlists the help of special operative Zora Bennett and her crew as well as the paleontologist, Dr. Henry Loomis. With the team assembled, they travel to the only place where dinosaurs still roam: Isle Saint-Hubert – a small island close to the equator that offers a habitat where these magnificent creatures can continue to thrive.

As the crew begins their journey, we cut to a family enjoying a day at sea. Reuben and his two daughters Isabella and Teresa and Teresa’s boyfriend Xavier. They are in the middle of a lovely vacation when all of a sudden, something big hits their boat. It’s not an ordinary something but a Mosasaurus, the biggest dinosaur at sea. The family’s tiny boat is no match for the mighty creature and they will be lost at sea if they don’t get help quickly. A life saving radio call alerts Team Dinosaur to their rescue and they will track down a village located on the island they are traveling to so they can return home.

The ride to Isle Saint-Hubert is not smooth sailing in the slightest and they are being foiled by dinosaurs at every turn. The boat is being destroyed, people are falling overboard or being eaten, and by the time they get to the island the family is separated from the crew and the boat can no longer function. On the bright side, they did manage to get a sample from the Mosasaurus. As the family attempts to make their way to the village, Team Dinosaur begins hunting down the remaining two samples they need – Titanosaurus of the land and Quetzalcoatlus of the air.

The mission for the DNA is essentially timed as the crew must obtain them and reach a helicopter port in the village. The helicopter will circle for two minutes and leave for their own safety, with or without any passengers. As the family works together to get themselves to the village, tensions rise in Team Dinosaur. Krebs is risking the safety of his crew left and right and leaves Zora and Loomis questioning their mission. Is all of the money in the world worth a cure that is not obtainable to anyone but the super wealthy? There in lies the rub should all of the samples be obtained. Will the crew and family too leave Isle Saint-Hubert in one piece with an accomplished mission? Watch Jurassic World Rebirth to find out!

From start to finish, this movie was just pure fun. The cast was rocking, the scenery was stunning, and the dinos were out of this world. The plot was incredibly straight forward and simple but obviously the location added such a sense of urgency that it kept this almost two and a half hour long flick moving at a rapid pace. It felt so much shorter than that because I was so invested! Minus the token villains on Team Dinosaur, everyone in the cast was so darn likeable that it made it feel like you were right there with them every time they got into trouble. It certainly made for a thrilling ride!

Jurassic World Rebirth tipped its cap to so many Jurassic Park classic moments: Tumbling falls, close calls, don’t wake the sleeping dinosaur, and yes – a trapped under a car scene too. This movie was a celebration of a beloved franchise and the bad reviews shocked me after all was said and done. Jurassic World Rebirth asks nothing but to join in on the adventure and it is up to the viewer to immerse themselves in it or not. If you do, you are going to be in for a treat and will leave the theater wanting to see it again. I definitely did. 🙂

Overall, I am going to rate Jurassic World Rebirth with a seven out of ten stars. This is a must see summer feature and I highly recommend it!

Have you seen Jurassic World Rebirth yet? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun20

Groovy Movies: Dangerous Animals Edition

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Groovy Movies: Dangerous Animals Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! One of my clients is a huge horror movie fan and one of her favorite things to do is catch the newest scary flicks in theaters. Just like me! She also has a passion for creature themed scary movies so Dangerous Animals was an absolute must see for her. We ended up seeing it this past week and it was an excellent choice because we both loved it. In fact, everyone who we talked about it with wants to see it too. In a spoiler free setting, as always, let’s discuss:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!!

Dangerous Animals takes place in beautiful Australia with all of the sun, sand, surf, and… sharks that you could ever imagine. Zephyr, our leading lady, finds solace in the waves and spends her time on the beach, hocking snacks from gas stations, and living in her car. Tucker, our main baddie, also feels the call of the ocean – particularly to the sharks that inhabit the water. He runs a swim with the sharks cage diving adventure via his business “Tucker’s Experience”. When he’s not on his boat getting wasted, he is on the prowl for his newest victim. Tucker’s Experience is not simply cage diving, but a front for his favorite hobby of all: Watching the sharks nosh on the people who were looking for the thrill of a lifetime.

Tucker has been watching Zephyr and is intoxicated by her beauty, skills on the surfboard, and all of the booze that he chugs throughout the day. He must have her and blindsides her during an early morning surf. She wakes up on his boat handcuffed to a bed and meets another girl who got caught in his trap. Crafty Zephyr immediately sets to work to get them out of this deadly situation, but Tucker is just as clever too. With every step Zephyr takes towards freedom, Tucker is always one step ahead. He dubs her his “marlin” because of her fight, but let’s it be known that the marlin will always end up on the fisherman’s boat. Does Zephyr stand a fighting chance? Or will she end up as Tucker’s latest shark bait? Watch Dangerous Animals to find out!

From start to finish, Dangerous Animals was just pure fun and funny too! Jai Courtney as Tucker was a formidable leading man and carried this film with gusto. From his drunken dancing, drunken singing “Baby Shark”, and the ridiculousness he is constantly spewing, you could just tell that Courtney was having a ball playing this character. He was the ideal antagonist to the calm, cool, and collected Zephyr. While she was level headed throughout her terror, Tucker was on an entirely different planet and the juxtaposition between the two of them created a strong sense of urgency. No matter how cool Zephyr played it, crazy Tucker was there to play chess and it was a game of cat and mouse on the open seas.

Dangerous Animals clearly didn’t take itself too seriously and it made for a slasher that was so highly entertaining while still serving that classic horror movie gore. In fact, the humor that was consistent throughout the movie made all of the scares even scarier. It really did lull you into a false sense of complacency! This flick is the perfect summer slasher and was a wild ride. I would love to watch it again and can’t recommend it enough!

Overall, I am going to award Dangerous Animals with an eight out of ten stars. It was innovative, hilarious, and scary all in one and Jai Courtney did a phenomenal job. It’s worth a watch for his performance alone!

What movies are you looking forward to seeing? What was the last movie you saw in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May3

Garden Party OOTD Bloopers

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Garden Party OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Garden Party OOTD! Today we are going to take a look at the yikes shots that definitely didn’t make the first cut. In fact, this outfit didn’t even make the cut either because I changed into jeans and a hoodie immediately after these pictures were taken lol. This fit was worn prior to visiting Johnny’s parents for Easter and we both wanted to be comfy for the occasion. I’m so glad we did because I was in a full fledged food coma afterwards! Let’s get to it:

Always tryna crank that Soulja Boy

Who, me?

Looking like I’ve got a mouthful of lemon but STILL werking

Going any way the wind blows

Lol, what is even happening?

Which shows do you like to put on purely for fun? For me and Johnny, we enjoy watching and playing along to game shows. This isn’t a constant occurrence but it’s always a good time and gives us the chance to take a break from whatever true crime show we are binging. In fact, we recently swapped out Fear Thy Neighbor for The Floor because we weren’t aware that a new season just ended! The Floor is a game show that really humors us because it’s essentially just naming pictures. We call it “adult flashcards” lol. Regardless of the simple premise, we like that we truly can play along with the game, use minimal think work, and still get answers right.

It has been a while since the last season of The Floor and I honestly forgot how much fun it was to put it on after work. By the time we are settled and the TV is on, it is game time! Johnny and I took great pleasure in rooting on our favorites, laughing at all of the peanut gallery commentary, and witnessing the major upsets. And, of course, the thrill of yelling answers at the TV and crushing categories in our own right. We breezed through the entire season of The Floor and were genuinely sad when it was over. Thankfully, there is always Family Feud because The Floor inspired us to have a laugh after work, yell stuff at the TV, and see what sticks!

However Johnny and I spend our time after work is great, but those game show viewings just hit different! 😀

What is your favorite game show? Which game show would you like to compete on? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr20

Groovy Movies: Drop Edition

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Groovy Movies: Drop Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Groovy Movies! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing a new thriller out in theaters called Drop. I was going into the theater with the mindset that this movie would be just okay. I went out of the theater thinking it was excellent! Drop was a fresh, exciting take on a thriller that kept me on my toes with delicious twists and turns the whole way through. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Drop for domestic violence, violence, and disturbing content. Now, let’s get to it:

^^^ As always, I have no rights to this video!

Violet is a single mom who is trying to put her dark past behind her and get back out there again. She has a date tonight with a handsome man she met on an app, Henry! Her sister will be watching her son named Toby, she has on a hot outfit, and Henry is taking her to a very exclusive and very expensive restaurant. What could possibly go wrong? The answer is literally everything. While Violet waits at the restaurant bar for Henry to arrive, she begins receiving strange “drops” to her phone. They are from an anonymous source and the messages are popular memes with a threatening twist. Yes, it’s weird but Henry just showed up, they sit at their table, and Violet is ready to enjoy her date.

As Violet and Henry go through their introductions, the drops just keep coming. She tells Henry about it and they chalk it up to pranksters until a drop sends that Violet can’t ignore: There is a man in her home right now that could hurt her sister and Toby and there is only one way for this not to happen: Kill her date. Violet is now completely alone in the situation and will do anything to avoid this fate. She must be crafty because the person threatening her sees all, hears all, and will not stop until she spikes Henry’s drink with a vial of poison. Time is running out and Violet must act quickly. Will she carry out the deed to protect her family? Watch Drop to find out!

The plot to Drop was, admittedly, very straight forward: Threatening messages, an impossible situation, and problem solving. I didn’t mind this in the slightest, however, because it was something I hadn’t seen before. I thought it was absolutely ingenious to play on the “airdrop” function, which somehow seems so much more ominous than a text from a random or blocked number. And, due to having to be within a certain range to use said function, it had to be someone in the restaurant rather than an unknown in an abandoned building. But who in the restaurant? The friendly bartender? The snarky hostess? The man who claims to be “waiting for his sister”? The possibilities were contained to a space but felt endless and that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Not only was Drop highly suspenseful but there were parts in it that were truly hilarious. Amidst all the tension were perfect moments of comic relief that came from Jeffery Self as Henry and Violet’s waiter, Matt. Their first date happened to be his first shift at the high end restaurant and, as an aspiring actor, he made a MEAL out of every single line. He was the kind of waiter who showed up at all the wrong times, made the silliest comments, laughed hysterically at all of them, and would have patrons mentally willing for him to go away. Every time he made an entrance, it was like the rest of the movie stopped, you watched his little show, and then the suspense came back and gripped like a vice. It was such a juxtaposition to the thriller vibes and not only was it an interesting way to go, but it worked beautifully.

Overall, I am going to rate Drop with an eight out of ten stars. It was far fetched, sure, but it sure was fun and kept me guessing and that is good enough for me!

What did you think of Drop if you saw it? What is the last movie you saw in theaters? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr18

Peter Pan At Playhouse Square Review

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Peter Pan At Playhouse Square Review

Howdy everyone!! I had an absolutely fabulous weekend and I hope all of you did too. On Friday, I got my hair done and chitchatted all evening long on FaceTime with my blogging bestie. Then, on Saturday, I went to see Peter Pan with my sister and two eldest nieces at Playhouse Square and a minor league baseball game in the evening with Johnny, our bestie Cliff, and my brother. It was a whirlwind of a few days and so much fun! You can peep my new hair as well as all of the minor league baseball hilarity soon but now it’s time for a review of Peter Pan. Let’s get to it:

If you are unfamiliar with the story of Peter Pan, it goes a little something like this: Peter Pan lives in a fantastical place called Neverland where there are adventures at every turn and no one ever grows up. Peter is the captain to a group called the Lost Boys and they love to hear stories. So, Peter shows up at the window of a home where the mother tells stories every night to Wendy, John, and Michael – the Darling residence.

While trying to hear how Cinderella ends, Mrs. Darling ends up catching Peter’s shadow and he and Tinkerbell must get it back. During his heist, he meets the Darling kids and to Neverland they go. Wendy will be the mother to the Lost Boys and they will play, explore, and never grow up. Of course, in a land of adventure comes danger and the dastardly Captain Hook and his band of pirates are ready to get Peter and the Lost Boys once and for all. Newfound friends, fairy magic, and the ingenuity of children will be the key to peace being restored in Neverland for all of the kids who refuse to grow up!

It is always so exciting to go to the beautiful Connor Palace at Playhouse Square for a show. Regardless of if the performance is a home run, there is sure to be plenty about it that I still enjoyed. This was very much the case for Peter Pan because it fell under my “good but not great” category. Let’s dish about what worked. First and foremost, Kruz Maldonado was nothing short of a delight as the titular character. His vocals were spot on and he played the part so well. I was charmed by his air of mischief and the cocky attitude of a kid who is the leader of his pack. And, when he wasn’t puffing his chest, he still showcased the sensitivity of a child when things aren’t going their way. Kruz was cheeky and pure fun to watch and this really helped keep the show moving forward, even when it was getting stale.

I can’t say that I was overly impressed with the rest of the cast but where they lacked was made up for in production value. The dance numbers were a blast – particularly the tap dancing during “I Won’t Grow Up”. I am a huge fan of anything tap dance and this number delivered with something I had never seen before: Tap dancing on tortoise shells! Perhaps the best scene of all, though, was right at the beginning. Peter Pan came out swinging in magical design. Between Peter dancing with his shadow and the sequence of learning how to fly and traveling to Neverland, I was simply dazzled. So much so, in fact, that it made the rest of the show fall short because how can you top something that incredible?

In terms of other key players in the show, they all felt a bit lackluster in comparison to Peter. Aubrie-Mei Rubel as Wendy was… a lot. Her voice was very shrill and loud in delivery and literally no other character matched that energy, making it feel disjointed every time she spoke. I also had a major problem with Cody Garcia as Captain Hook. When I picture a fearsome pirate, he looked the part but didn’t sound it. I wanted classic booming, sneering pirate who still managed to charm and I got a watered down version. Despite this being a show made primarily for an audience of children, Captain Hook is still the villain and I would have liked to see that tapped into.

As I mentioned, the opening scenes of Peter Pan were so strong and so engaging that everything after felt weak in comparison. It was actually funny to watch my nieces react to the show because I could definitely tell every time they were getting bored. They got fidgety, were in the mood for snacks, and having a chat and I can’t say that I disagree with them lol. A majority of the scenes felt drawn out because of the different “crews” in Neverland. Each bunch had five to seven or so members and each song highlighted them individually in some way shape or form. While this is nice for introductory purposes, it made the numbers feel never ending and almost like a roll call. And, although there were several songs I really did like, the formula didn’t change and there came a point when they all blended together to a point where I was ready to go home.

Is Peter Pan the best show to take your kids to if it comes to your neck of the woods? For as much as I loved my time with my girl squad, I would say this is one you could skip on because the chances are very high it won’t keep them engaged the whole way through!

Have you been to the theater recently? What did you see? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr1

Fun & Games: Horrified – American Monsters Edition

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Fun & Games: Horrified – American Monsters Edition

Howdy!! One of mine and Johnny’s all time favorite board games is called Horrified. In this game, you save a village from classic horror movie monsters like Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, etc. While we love the first edition of the game, we would always lament over the fact that different boards weren’t available. So, you can imagine our delight when we found out that wasn’t the case at all. Actually, there are three additional boards of Horrified. There is World of Monsters, Greek Monsters, and our newest addition – American Monsters. We played our first round a few days ago, absolutely crushed, and a fun time was had by all. Check it out:

Like the other expansions of Horrified, the game play in American Monsters remains the same: Complete the tasks to defeat the monsters and bring safety to a peaceful town. The only difference is, of course, the monsters, heroes, villagers, and items. In the American Monsters expansion, the monsters are all cryptids that include Bigfoot, Mothman, the Jersey Devil, Chupacabra, Banshee of the Badlands, and the Ozark Howler. As per the game’s recommendation, we played against the Chupacabra and the Banshee of the Badlands. And, as per random selection, I played as the Cryptozoologist and Johnny played as the Mountain Man and can I please repeat that we totally dominated!

The pairing that the directions suggested was a way to dip your toes in the water in terms of difficulty. Despite the Chupacabra and the Banshee of the Badlands being the easiest way to start, I really think it was the characters we ended up with that helped the most. If you are new to the game, the Cryptozoologist and the Mountain Man worked incredibly well together against these monsters because of their special powers. Johnny’s character could move to any space and mine could move to any space with a monster in it. This gave us the ability to move here, there, and everywhere with ease which was so beneficial for the tasks we needed to do. Had we randomly drawn different heroes, the game probably wouldn’t have gone as smoothly and I highly recommend the monster and hero pairings we did if you are a brand new player. It will definitely help boost your confidence to learn the game in a lower key way and get an easy win under your belt.

Because Johnny and I are not new to Horrified, we plan on going BALLS TO THE WALL when we purchase the Greek Monsters expansion. We know the game like the back of our hands and the training wheels are coming off. We are going to break in the board with the most difficult pairing and see what happens. I can’t wait!

Have you played Horrified before? What is your favorite cryptid? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah