...... Reviews…

“LIFE OF PI “

I will admit, when I first saw previews for Ang Lee’s ”Life of Pi” I was not impressed. What I saw in those commercials did not stand out from any other films being screened before. A boy stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger sure, sounds interesting. But when put to practical application, you begin to wonder, is this really possible? To see the shimmering whales, and the many different colored fish, and all of the exotic animals, you had to question whether or not the entire movie was just one big waste of time…

I found Life of Pi, entertaining, amusing at times, and it’s deepest, heartwarming. It is a story that will not only entertain you, but also make you rethink both the course of your life, and the purpose of your faith. The ending was completely satisfactory, leaving an open air of mystery that I can only compare to that of The Nutcracker.

It’s a story with many themes, many motifs, and a little something for everyone. If you haven’t taken the liberty of seeing Ang Lee’s award winning work, I urge that you do. You’ll be glad that you did. “I rate it 5/5 stars”

2014 New Year's ResolutionsI am so “happy” to say that this year is going to be much harder….

-Be more polite. Not just "thank you, sorry, please and you're welcome." I want to get better with my conversational skills and be more inviting to talk to

- A better handwriting. This is vital. I can not write a paragraph without changing my handwriting 10 times.- I would like to dress more conservatively this year. This doesn't just include skin-bearing outfits, but it also means that I want to stay away from tight-fitting clothes.-I am in high school now! You'd expect a nerd like me to have a countless studious goals, right? Wrong. I only have one! I want to start revising the work as soon as I get it so I wouldn't have the load and pressure a day before a test or quiz. - No more binge-eating. This is quite a touchy subject to talk about.Recently I've been eating way more than my stomach capacity can handle. -   Manage two very important factors in life: money and time. A) I'm so bad with money; I have to spend it as soon as I get it. I never look for promotion codes, coupons or any good dealsB) You know what they say: "Time is key." -Now that I'm nearly 16, (eeek!) I need to start becoming more independent and responsible. I have to stop relying on my mom to talk to the doctor or the salesperson. I want to know my way around town and be more mature in that sense.- Get in the kitchen more. I can hardly make eggs and I can't use measuring spoons and cups properly. - Filter what I say. Words literally flow out of my mouth without me noticing it. Think before you speak- Be more patient. Time actually does heal everything. I just need to sit and listen to whoever is in front of me.-Do favors and expect nothing in return. This one is self-explanatory.- Don't lower your standards and pride, but never make anyone feel as if they were inferior to you. In the long run, you are not completely better or worse than anyone.- Try, for the love of God, not to judge. Or I should just keep my judgments to myself. Who cares if the girl in the grocery store looks like she is about to walk a red carpet? Maybe she needs to pick up some sweets for a party?

14. Grow thick skin. You will never satisfy the entire human race. People you consider close to you will talk behind your back. Follow your instincts and do what you think is right.

So Relatable posts

27 Truths About Being A Teenager

Nobody keeps their middle school friends forever.

-You'll fail a math test once in your life.-Your teachers will assign you seats away from your friends -You're going to get drunk and say something you'll regret.-You're going to cry over boys whose names you won't remember in 20 years.- You're going to call your friends names behind their back when they make you mad, and they're going to do the same to you.-You're going to be on your own once in a while.-Your opinions of people will change once you get to know them.-You're going to run from the police.-You're going to hold someone's hair back at one o'clock on a Saturday -You're going to find one book in English that you actually read.-People are going to make fun of the music you like, and other people are going to like it just the same.-You're never going to finish ALL your homework.-You're going to cry and maybe, just maybe, need a hug from your mom.-You're going to suck practically every essay you write and than pray that you sounded like you knew what you're talking about.-You're going to get lost in a neighborhood that you don't know and walk around until you find where you're going.-You're going to sing teenage songs alone in your room when no one is home.-You're going to dream of finally getting out of your town, and you're going to miss it when you leave.-You're going to take pictures that you will blush at in five years.-You're going to get whistled at, cheated on, yelled at, ditched by your friends, played by boys, and laughed at.-You're never going to stop looking for yourself.

.....Reviews…

“The Great Gatsby”The Great Gatsby is based on the 1925 classic novel, written by famous author F. Scott Fitzgerald. This film in a crucial way portrays important themes such as power, greed, betrayal, and the true meaning of living the American Dream.

I recommend The Great Gatsby to anyone who likes a movie that has it all- romance, drama, and suspenseful action. At first, I thought the movie was boring and very slow in getting to the main plot. I even loved a few characters that changed and turned out very different. However, forty minutes into the film, I found myself glued to the edge of my chair. The cast of The Great Gatsby did an exceptional job of portraying each character the way the novel describes them especially Leo Di Caprio who played the role of a truly and madly in love man with beautiful and poisonous girl named Daisy. Personally, I felt the best part of the movie was the unpredictable, action-packed ending. The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite movies because there are many components such as romance and suspense, all rolled up into one film. Rated 5/5 stars

Banana Granola

3 cups / 250 g / 700 ml rolled oats (gluten-free, if needed)

1/2 cup / 80 g / 120 ml almonds, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup / 80 g / 120 ml pumpkin seeds

1/4 tsp vanilla extract or ground vanilla

1 pinch sea salt

3 tbsp coconut oil, room temperature

3 tbsp maple syrup or runny honey

2 very ripe bananas, peeled and broken into smaller pieces

Preheat the oven 400°F / 200°C and line a baking tray with baking paper.

In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, vanilla and salt. In a

separate bowl add coconut oil, maple and bananas. Use your hands to mix

the ingredients Add the banana mixture to the dry mixture and combine

well, using your hands, for about a minute, so all is well-coated and clumpy.

Turn out and spread the granola in an even layer on the baking tray. Place in

the middle of the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, check at around 10

minutes and turn the granola over with a wooden spoon. Allow to cool

completely than serve with organic yogurt or almond milk and fruit

What we learned from Disney !!

Ingredients1 ¼ cups caster sugar300 ml thickened cream½ cups milk1 teaspoon vanilla extract6 eggs

Directions:

As always, start preheating your oven while you combine ¾ cup

sugar and 1 cup cold water in a saucepan and cook over low heat.

After the water has evaporated, cook at maximum heat for 5-7

minutes until golden. Pour the mixture into desert forms. The

cream, milk and vanilla come together in a saucepan and are

cooked while stirring. End by mixing the eggs and sugar in a bowl

until smooth and adding it to the desert forms. Bake and cool in

the fridge.

Italian Potato Salad

(1 kg) small potatoes, well scrubbed and halved

15 – 20 cherry tomatoes, halved

5 stalks celery, chopped

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

15 olives, pitted

fresh basil, chopped

Marinade:4 tbsp olive oil1 large lemonsea salt & black pepper to taste

Start by boiling the potatoes (unpeeled) in lightly salted water for about 20 min or until fork tender. Let them cool.Mix olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in small bowl than set aside.Toss tomatoes, celery stalks,onion, olives and basil in a medium bowl. Add the potatoes and the marinade and toss gently again. Serve on plates and top with fresh basil and some freshly grounded black pepper