Puddles o' fun, plus GRAND Social No. 151 link party for grandparents

/

Welcome back!

My spring break didn't go quite as I'd expected thanks to an unexpected bout with a bug that's just now beginning to loosen its grip. Still, it was a break, and we all need one of those now and then.

I'm glad to be back, though, and I'm doubly glad you're here with me!

Puddles o' fun

Racking your brain for something fun to do with the grandkiddos during the oft-rainy days of spring? Make the most of that moisture by grabbing some boots (or not!) and pouncing in some puddles.

These kids demonstrate just exactly how it's done:

 

There's nothing like...

Read More

Saturday movie review: Wild Canaries (update!)

/

Last fall I published a movie review on a screwball comedy called WILD CANARIES. I screened it as part of the 2015 Starz Denver Film Festival and at the time, there was no trailer for the film, no rating for the film, no release date for the film. Still, I was compelled to share with you then the wildly entertaining film.

Well, good things come to those who wait!

Wild Canaries film poster

I'm now compelled to tell you there is not only a...

Read More

Adult slumber parties, plus GRAND Social No. 147 link party for grandparents

/

Adult slumber parties

I hope your weekend was fabulous! Mine was, thanks to a slumber party I attended Saturday night. A slumber party at a mountain lodge with lovely women with whom I've been friends for more than 35 years yet I hadn't seen all but one of them in more than a decade.

We started with lunch at a yummy Mexican food spot then headed on over to the lodge. We talked and laughed and cried and reminisced and drank lots of wine until late, late, late. Then we got up Sunday morning and started all over again—with coffee instead of wine, of course.

high school friends 

It was a truly...

Read More

11 men I'd love to hug other than my husband

/

As many of you know, about a year and a half ago I was called out of the audience at a national conference by none other than movie star Andy Garcia. He invited me to the front of the stage, in front of hundreds of conference attendees, so he could simply give me a hug. (If you missed that story—or just want to giggle about it again—you can read "On Andy Garcia and me" here.)

Now, when I met (and hugged) Mr. Garcia, I was shocked, surprised, delighted! I never, ever expected such a thing might come of my writing in a movie review of Garcia's latest film that I'd love to give the guy a hug. So if that is all it takes to get a hug from a man I admire—simply putting it down in writing for all the Internet to see—here are eleven other men I'd love to hug...and why:

men to hug

David Sedaris. He doesn't seem the hugging type, so Mr. Sedaris would likely...

Read More

Saturday movie PREview—and giveaway: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

/

The last time my husband and I went to see a movie at the theater, we did as we always do: Jim headed off for the popcorn while I made my way to the theater to nab our seats. As I sought out the correct theater, a middle-aged couple walked just ahead of me. Suddenly the woman stopped in her tracks as her hubby kept walking. The woman was mesmerized by the movie poster in the hallway.

As I got closer, I realized what had caught her eye... and I joined her in front of the colorful, oversized promotion for THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL.

second best exotic marigold hotel

"I can't wait to see this! Did you see the first one?" she asked in dreamy tone.

"Oh, yeah," I said in an equally smooth voice as we...

Read More