February 07, 2015

Saturday movie review: Birdman

February 07, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

I just might be the only movie reviewer in the country that doesn't think BIRDMAN should be included on the list of Best Picture nominees for this year's Academy Awards. A quick Google of the film results in endless accolades for the movie. Sure, I thought the acting was fabulous, the filming genius. But Best Picture? Nah... not in my mind.

Birdman movie

BIRDMAN—subtitled OR (THE UNEXPECTED VIRTUE OF IGNORANCE)—is a black comedy starring Michael Keaton as...

February 05, 2015

Musing elsewhere: When a teen mom hits midlife

February 05, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

In the summer of 1982, I graduated from high school, got married, turned 18, and had a baby. I went from kid to wife and mother in the span of three months, just like that.

teen mom and baby

My husband was 21 at the time. Now, 33 years later, we're empty-nesters. We've patted ourselves on the back for a job well done. We beat the odds and raised three lovely and amazing daughters from diapers to dorm rooms and into the real world. Our journey featured little outside the typical bumps, bruises and pains of parenthood, despite the fact that we were mere children ourselves at the outset. Our girls are grown and gone—one has even made us grandparents.

Time to rejoice! Time to enjoy midlife!

Time for an unexpected reality check, is more like it.

Once my kids split and I recovered from the initial empty-nest jitters, it became clear that having been a teen mother would...Click here to continue reading my article published on PurpleClover.com.

February 04, 2015

Compassion and the boy I've failed to tell you about

February 04, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

Not long after our youngest daughter had settled into the college life, Jim and I decided to add another youngster to the family. As females dominated our family for years (even our two cats were females), we decided to go with a little boy.

compassion child

So ten years ago, years before there were grandsons—heck, before we even had our first son-in-law—Jim and I adopted Erick. The

February 03, 2015

Valentine's Day Marshmallow Pops

February 03, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

A fun and tasty activity and treat in one!

marshmallow pops

What you need:

20 large marshmallows

4 ounces or so vanilla candy...

February 02, 2015

Mac makes strides, plus GRAND Social No. 142 link party for grandparents

February 02, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

Mac makes strides

Remember when Mac reviewed the Strider no-pedal bike? Well he's still loving his lean, green, bicycling machine... and making great strides on it. Here he is zooming along and making Gramma chuckle:

I must admit that watching my grandson zoom about on the Strider on the back patio was far less nervewracking for me than if he were trying to get the hang of a real bike on the road. Yeah, I am indeed a paranoid grandma like that.

GRAND Social No. 142 link party

Whether an old hand or a newbie, welcome to...

January 31, 2015

Saturday movie request: This or this or this?

January 31, 2015/ Lisa Carpenter

I've not been to the theater to see a movie in months, and I'm having withdrawal symptoms. I must go this weekend. I must. As there's only time for one film, though, I can't make up my mind what to see.

So I'm asking you. Instead of giving you a review of something on DVD, I'd like to as what you recommend for viewing in the theater. I've narrowed it down to these three:

UNBROKEN...