Really?

Unfortunately, I had to buy a mouth guard due to stress related jaw clenching in the night. While I'm asleep, I clench my jaw. I unknowingly, while I'm asleep, clench my jaw. See the pattern here? I"m unaware that I'm doing something because I am asleep when it occurs. 

Take a look at the package insert language in the photo above. I'd like to thank "Sleep Right" for the shaming language of how one should take accountability of their actions while they're not awake or consciously doing it. Assuming people are already stressed if they're in need of your stupid product and this is the best you can do? Blame it on them? Can't wait to write a glowing review. 

Read

Every year it seems as though "read more" is on my list of things to achieve and every year as of late, I fall flat of that goal. I've dabbled in Audible (audio books) in the car as an alternative but couldn't keep up with the monthly allotment of reading (listening) opportunities there either. As someone who used to read 2-3 books per week, yes per week, I miss them! I miss the time to myself, the stories and the sense of accomplishment when completed.

I've tried taking books to work to read on my lunch break but typically work through that hour instead (or get distracted). You can forget telling me to read once I'm home in the evenings because the last thing I want to do is crack open a book after reading hundreds of emails and reviewing paperwork all day. I've tried reading before bedtime but usually doze off before much is accomplished so, what gives? When do you do your best reading? Any suggestions? My current slow-read is "No Better Friend" which I'm thoroughly intrigued by but have been "reading" since last November! Crikeys!

Wordless Wednesday

~ Out for a Walk ~

Online

I love on-line shopping! I'm not one to spend a lot of time browsing as I'm pretty deliberate in my needs. I hop on, click and buy. That's it. I appreciate the crowd-less ease and quickness of being able to shop whenever my schedule allows. Thankfully, on-line shopping enabled me to take advantage of a soon-to-expire, $35 coupon for new running shoes at 10:30 at night (because I didn't make it to the store during business hours)! These new babies, Brooks Ghost 12, are arriving soon along with my favorite energy drink which is now offered in my favorite flavor, strawberry!  I really appreciate online shopping for my every day needs, and of course holiday shopping too - it's probably my favorite modern day convenience! What is your favorite convenience or invention that you take advantage of or can't live without?

~ New Year Resolution Helpers ~

Questions

1) Brothers: 0
2) Sisters: 1
3) Pets: 0 currently
4) # of surgeries: 1
5) Tattoos: 5
6) Piercings: 1
7) Been to an Island: Lots!
8) Flown on a Plane: Yes, big and small.
9) Ridden in ambulance: Sadly, yes.
10) Ice Skating: Poorly.
11) Been on a Cruise: Yep!
12) Ridden a Motorcycle: Yes.
13) Owned a Motorcycle: No.
14) Ridden on a horse: Yes.
15) Ridden in police car: Nope.
16) Stayed in a Hospital: Eww, yes. And didn't eat a single meal they served, bleeeh!
17) Eye Color: Blue.
18) Last phone call? A friend by the same name.
19) Coffee: With French Vanilla creamer please.
20) Favorite pie: Apple.
21) Favorite Food: Hotdogs!
21) Favorite dog: Currently in love with my neighbor's dog, Evie. As for breed, Rotties perhaps?
22) Favorite season: Late Spring, when the mud clears ups.
23) Favorite holiday: My birthday.
24) Favorite sport: Cubs baseball.
25) Ever been handcuffed: No.
26) Favorite color: Purple.
27) Favorite Beer: Belgian Trippels typically, but a Corona light on a hot summer day!
28) Can you drive a tractor: Probably not, but let me try!
29) Can you drive stick? No, but believe I can in my head.
30) Have you traveled by train: Yes.
31) Have you traveled by bus?: Yes.
32) Have you ridden in a helicopter? Yes.
33) Lived in different states? Yes.
34) Marital status? Married.
35) Children? 2

Bleh!

It's the weekend. It's snowing and cold. I should be running (ok, jogging) a 5K on an outdoor forest trail. My fear however, snow and rainy slush induced, is that I will twist my ankle or hurt myself in some way on the ungroomed path. After talking to friends, I decided not to risk my well being and to forego the race. I'm completely disappointed. As a back up plan, I got a one-day pass to a local gym so I could do an equivalent 5K on an indoor treadmill, safely. Apparently, my body had other ideas on partaking in any activity as I woke up with a new ache in my hip joint. Seriously, what the hell?

As I sit on my couch drowning myself in disappointment and Netflix movies, I highly recommend "Holiday in the Wild" by the way, I receive a text from a friend stating it's gorgeous out. I look out my window for a double take, perhaps she sees something I don't? Nope. It's still gray, wet, cold and snowing. I stand up, open my patio door and take a few photos with my cell phone. Perhaps the camera will show me something more brilliant than what I see with my own eyes? Not the case. I look at my pictures and still see nothing more than boring shades of depressing gray. What is my friend thinking? Today totally sucks.

As I sit here here and wonder what's so great about today, I think perhaps it isn't the weather at all. Ok, it's definitely not the weather. I think some more, wishing I had some warm coffee to accompany me and realize that the beauty of today is, I have a friend who thinks of me often and texts. I have a friend who loves me unconditionally and would appreciate nothing more than time together. That is what is gorgeous about today and any other day that makes me feel like tunneling under the blankets and staying there. Thank you my friend for just being you and shining through even on the grayest of days! 

More?

So I had that stretching appointment I couldn't wait for and I'm not sure what to think about it! I signed up for a 30 minute session expecting the worst because I have tight muscles and assumed some of the therapy would be painful. In reality the stretching was actually just 20 minutes (to allow for a 5 minute pre and post discussion of what occurred) but it FELT more like 5 minutes! It went SO fast! I enjoyed it but left feeling like I wanted and needed more and because of that, I questioned if it was worth the money. 

The pros of my visit include that my therapist was amazing! She was personable and very knowledgeable of her craft. She advised me how I could do the stretches at home with or without modifications and she taught me new stretches as well as how to improve upon old familiar ones. During the actual stretches I felt my muscles being worked, but not to the point of pain, which is a good thing, right?  

On the flip side though, I expected pain. Twisted, right? But somehow, I equated the idea of pain with feeling better. So now my question is, do I go back and try the 60 minute session (really 50 minutes) to see if I "feel" it more? Am I even supposed to "feel" it? Am I a victim of believing the old adage of "no pain, no gain" therefore thinking it wasn't effective when it really was? (Pretty sure I am!) I guess only another session, with a no-pain expectation set, will tell. Wish me luck! 

Remote

I've never been much of a TV watcher in my adult life but now that I compete with a young teen and a sports nut for rights to the remote on any given night, I feared I was missing out. Apparently, I am not! Now that I actually have the remote in hand there's nothing I want to watch or have an interest in! Seriously, what do people tune into these days? My current TV interests are "The Good Doctor" and "The Conners". That's less than 90 minutes (subtract the commercials) of TV per week. 

How much TV do you watch on average? Addicted to any favorite shows? Do you feel relaxed while watching TV, or unproductive and distracted by things you feel you should be doing instead? 

Habits

Popular belief is that it takes 21 days to make a (new) habit, so being that it's now the 23rd of January all of us new year revolutionists should be safe, right? Not! 21 days might be okay if your new habit is as simple as brushing your hair a new way, but it is not realistic for those life altering changes most of us want to accomplish. Actually, 21 days is the minimum amount of time it can take to create a new habit. New habits can take anywhere from 2 to 8 months to feel "normal" and even then, it depends on how hard the new task is and the personality of the person wanting to achieve it. I'm not here to bring anyone down because hey, I have some lofty goals for myself this year, too! This is just your 21+ day reminder that you're doing awesome and to keep going! You are part of the 26% who have stuck with their resolutions so keep going you totally got this!  

AFI

This weekend I tackled two movies from the American Film Institutes (AFI) top 100 list.  Not wanting to brave the cold to go out Saturday night, I opted to watch Platoon at home and then Sunday went to the theater to see the classic presentation of An American in Paris. These movies, by subject alone, are at two different ends of the spectrum and separated by 35 years of film technology. 

While I thought Platoon lasted too long (for my liking) I got the gist of the movie, the loss of innocence, right away. It was definitely a thought provoking film and well done over all. I appreciated Charlie Sheen's character narrating the film through letters to his Grandma, which hammered home the sentiment of the story line. 

In contrast to this war movie, An American In Paris was a lively dance musical, love story. I believe this is the first time I've seen Gene Kelly in any movie and came to appreciate his talent (and looks) immediately. While I enjoyed the light heartedness of the movie, along with the colorful scenery and costumes, I didn't like the 17 minute dance sequence at the end nor the fact the story closed without resolution to his character's art career. 

Despite the differences in these two movies and my opinions of them, I still appreciate this mission that I am on, to watch all 100 of the AFI's top rated American films. This goal has shown me many movies that I would not have sought out on my own, but have enjoyed. These movies have also helped provide many date-nights with the husband, shown me where some of our cultural quotes and references have come from and given me conversation topics with my father in law numerous times! Who would have thought it?

PS) In case you're wondering, I have 42 more movies to go!

Smooshed

What's in the bag you ask? Sports gear? Luggage? Dead body? Nope, none of those. After struggling to stuff the 3 pieces of it inside, my Christmas tree has finally been packed away. Imagine a human stuffing three pieces of tree inside, wedged in far too many different directions than should be allowed, and then rolling the bag around the floor and laying on top of it all in hopes to compress it enough in order to pull the zipper shut. I looked like a cartoon character trying to pack 100 pounds of stuff into a 50 pound limit suitcase. I prayed as I sat on top of the bag and continued to smoosh and shove the contents that the zipper wouldn't give out as my only back up plan would have been to hog tie it with duct tape. After about 10 minutes, which really seemed more like half an hour of alligator wrestling, I got that fat bastard stuffed away for another year. Phew!

Cheery!

This past weekend I had a breakfast/brunch date with a new friend and pampered myself with a much needed manicure and pedicure! This of course, is in keeping with one of my previous posts to spend more time doing things for "me". I chose a cheery spring-like color at the spa because, well, quite frankly I'm bored with the winter grey and dark colors! Only 8 more Mondays until Spring! Bring it on, me and my toes will be ready. 

PS) I couldn't stop myself and binge-watched all the new episodes of "Grace and Frankie" on Netflix. Now what?

Easy

I've been looking for ways to make things easier for myself in this new year. One major improvement has been to meal plan dinners for the week and buy groceries according to my menu. This way I am not making multiple trips to the store for last minute groceries or stressing to answer the dreaded question,  "What's for dinner?". The benefits of this practice has included stress relief, a happier budget and healthy leftovers for easy pack lunches for the week. 

To make dinner even easier, I brought out the crockpot for Mississippi style pulled pork sandwiches (a basic recipe of pork tenderloin and pepperoncinis). Nothing like a dinner you can set and forget about with minimal clean up. I opened a jar of pepperoncinis and dumped them and the tenderloin into the crockpot and that was it. Yep, it's that easy! You can add an onion and other spices if you like, but I chose to keep it simple. 

I served this mix on a toasted deli-fresh bun and topped it off with some shredded mozzarella. The original recipe calls for provolone, and my husband prefers cheddar so when it comes to cheese choice I don't think you can go wrong! 

What's on your menu today?

Tea Time

You know that feeling you get when you change coats for the season and put one on that you haven't worn in months and find money in the pockets? Well, yeah, that didn't happen. But I did have an ah-ha moment when craving coffee (for the caffeine) wherein I opened a drawer and was reminded, I have all the caffeine I need at my fingertips. TEA! I brewed myself a mixture of Passion Berry Jolt and Pineapple Blues and got my happy dance on! Yay tea! 

Rothy's

After much deliberation and search for coupons, I ordered the shoe(s) shown below online. I needed a neutral flat and was looking for a sassy yet comfortable leopard print shoe. With fingers crossed, I clicked away and waited for their arrival. As my feet are not the same size and a little wide, I didn't expect much in the way of fit. And because most flats don't offer a lot of support, I second guessed what kind of comfort the shoe would bring as well. 

Upon delivery and trying these bad-boys (or girls) on, I was super impressed! They fit my feet perfectly (a rare feat - no pun intended) and are super comfortable! There doesn't seem to be much of, if any, "breaking in" time needed either. I am happy to report that Rothy's delivers on their promise of comfort and fit. I could seriously order these in every color! 

What's your favorite shoe or footwear? 

Grateful = Happy

Happiness, for me, is really the things I choose to be grateful for. I've been doing my best to recite and reflect upon what it is I am grateful for each morning and each night before I go to sleep.

There is no magic happy pill that puts me in a good mood because lets face it, life happens and it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Life can throw some curve balls that, quite frankly, just suck and have to be dealt with no matter what our intentions were for the day. We all do our best to get through those times and move forward in a more positive direction. We move on to new and better experiences, and our focus shifts.

To help with those transitions from not-so-great to pretty-darn-good moments, I choose to focus on what I'm grateful for each day. It's not a fancy conversation, it's not scientific. It's literally just me, taking a few moments in my head to run through the day and point out to myself the things that went well. These are the things that I am grateful and give thanks for.

On any given day, happiness for me is...


...waking up with no headache, aches or pains.

...having both prescriptions ready at the pharmacy versus just one, saving a call to doctor.

...sriracha hot sauce.

...dates with friends.

...smiling, happy people in the gym at 5am who are excited to see you (and vice versa).

...days that aren't frigid or windy.

...mail order shoes that fit perfectly, fresh out of the box!

...morning bird songs (a rarity in the cold weather).

...a teenager in a good mood.

...phone calls with friends (versus text).

...waking up before the alarm and actually feeling rested.

...gorgeous sunsets and knowing that the daylight is lasting a little longer every day!


What does your happy look like? 

G&F

Today's the day! The 6th, and sadly final, season of "Grace and Frankie" comes out on Netflix! I stumbled upon the girls, Grace and Frankie (played by Jane Fonda and Lilly Tomlin, respectively) perhaps sometime early last year and have absolutely adored them. Their characters are yin and yang and quite colorful in their older age! 

The over all story line of the series is one of overcoming life's obstacles, at any age, which is enhanced for the better when you have a true friend by your side. I don't know how many times I've caught myself genuinely belly laughing (which is rare) at this show, but it's countless! The energy and sass of the ladies reminds me of the sarcasm and snarky remarks found in my all time favorite series, The Golden Girls. 

If you haven't heard of Grace and Frankie, go to Netflix and check out a few episodes! Hopefully, you'll like them as much as I do. Now my only problem is to binge or not to binge. I haven't been able to stop at just one episode so far! 

What's a Netflix favorite of yours?

Stretch

I don't stretch or do yoga often enough despite knowing how beneficial it is so I thought I'd set up a stretching session with a local massage chain. They offer two different types of fitness stretching sessions however, despite multiple on-line attempts to schedule an appointment I grew frustrated and found an alternative location (because yes, it was too difficult to pick up the phone!) that offered a stretching massage. 

Upon arrival I explained I wanted to be stretched. A lot. Like Stretch Armstrong stretched. Unfortunately, despite some stretching and a great massage, the experience of "stretch" fell short. Like, really short. My masseuse stretched my arms and upper body for a few minutes on each side and did minimal to no leg work. So, ultimately, I still feel the need to go back to my first choice of massage chain to schedule the original stretch session I had in mind. D'oh!

Despite the lack of stretching, the upside of my massage experience was that CBD oil was used. Having no experience with CBD products, I didn't know what to expect, if anything. I  was pleasantly surprised by the scent and relaxation effect.  My shoulders and upper back, where I carry the most tension, felt at ease for the rest of the day. I don't know how much of that was due to the massage versus the oil, but I'll take it either way!

What are you doing for you today? 

Face to Face

In efforts to focus on self care this year, I scheduled a facial for myself. Knowing I don't have the best skin care routine, I wanted to address the aging process and see what the experts had to say about my skin. My esthetician confirmed my oily t-zone, an abundance of blackheads on my nose and surprisingly questioned if my skin was reactive to the cold. Which, it is. In extreme cold I get "cold hives". If you don't know what those are, look them up. It's literally an allergic reaction to the cold which does not bode well for a person exposed to Chicago winters! But I digress.

Not having had a facial for at least two decades, I didn't know what to expect from the service. I was surprised to experience a body balancing massage, a hand treatment and aromatherapy in addition to heating pads on the tummy. The treatments to my face were overall gentle, barring the extraction of the blackheads (which is to be expected). My girl, of course, tried to up sell me on additional products which I did partake in. I had a lifting-collagen serum applied to my face for an additional fifteen dollars, which I thought was budget friendly considering I was at a high end, local salon.

The results of my facial are immediately noticeable. My face looks fresher and is more "plump". Although I'm sure it's not permanent, whatever was applied to my face diminished the nasty crease (wrinkle) in my forehead that my husband tells me only I notice. I was pleasantly surprised by and pleased with my facial experience and will schedule more to come in the future. When I asked my esthetician on how often I should get one, I appreciated that she acknowledged that schedules rely on budget first and foremost, and a minimum of 3-4 times a year as the seasons change would be of great benefit. 

As I currently use a good facial cleanser, lotion and exfoliant (thank you Aveda), I was not much in the market for new skincare products, however I did purchase a vitamin C serum which I look forward to using. It is a highly recommended product for anti-aging, which is what I wanted to address during my appointment. The vitamin C serum should help prevent the negative effects of the sun, free radicals and wrinkles, but time will tell! 

What are you doing for you today?

Sunday

If Sunday were a person she'd be a wise, perhaps middle aged yogi. She'd be a calm soul, slow to action or anger, but purposeful in all she did.  

Sunday would know how to appreciate the morning quiet and set intentions for her day. She'd have goals to be mindful and choose kindness when interacting with others. 

Sunday would go about her daily tasks and more than likely, get side tracked by others. Others who want to share in her warmth and offer the same sense of peace she radiates and perhaps others who might concern her due to their pain. Sunday would see past the hurting and do her best to offer a comforting moment to those in need. And while Sunday would do her best to appease, help and guide all those around her, Sunday would grow tired.

She would then know it was time to replenish her own soul and retreat. It may be within a favorite book or television show, but Sunday would steel herself against the day. Settling into her comfort once again, she would replay the highlights of her day, along with the low-lights. She would ruminate far too long on what she could have done better and then force her mind to shift to take stock of her blessings. Ending the day with gratitude, Sunday would pray for a return to the quiet and calm soul she awoke with and hope to bring it into her meeting with Monday, the next day. 

Spring

In case you needed to hear this today, there are just 70 days left until Spring! Take the time to appreciate the sunsets until then and notice that the amount of daylight is lasting longer, minute by minute, each day. Just like the daylight grows stronger and longer every day, so will you. No matter how much you may want instant change for the things and goals going on in your life, know that your Spring will come. All you have to do is take your challenges, day by day, minute by minute just like Spring. Hang in there!

Let's Taco 'Bout It

I mastered recipe number 2 from my MDM (million dollar magazine)! I made the low-carb, low calorie taco-stuffed acorn squash from "Eat This, Not That". Again, I found their recipe very minimalist in seasonings and pretty easy to prepare. As the dish calls for ground turkey, which I find pretty tasteless, I did add more than the requested cumin and chili pepper and despite the guilt, found myself adding a little salt for flavor (and garlic powder, too!).

Despite the final product looking more like a baked potato than the picturesque squash in the magazine, I enjoyed this dish and found the squash very complimentary to the taco flavored stuffing. I topped this baby off with some added scallions, a dab of sour cream, diced jalapeno and a spoon of fresh avocado for added flavor and kick, but it does taste great on it's own, too! 

What's on your dinner menu this week? 

I Wouldn't...

In reading a book of writing prompts, one suggested topic was to create a list of "25 Things You Would Never Do". At first I thought making this list would be an easy and fast blog post. But then I really started thinking. What wouldn't I do? 

As it is, there are already so many things that I thought I would never do in life, some good and some bad, that I've already done. Who hasn't stayed at a bad job or in a bad relationship far too long after swearing they'd leave or make a change? Who hasn't sworn off a list of scary activities due to fear of heights but finds themselves on roller coasters or umm, ahem, hot-air ballooning? 

And what about that saying, "never say never"? I mean, I'd like to think there's a clear list of laws I'd never break. You know, like I don't foresee myself ever killing anyone but what if it was a case of self defense? And what if someone offered me a million dollars to jump out of an airplane? Pretty sure I'd consider that offer.

Sure, maybe I'm overthinking a subject that was supposed to be simple and light-hearted. Or maybe this is exactly the debate the author intended? Either way the question remains, what would you never do? Below is my list of 25 things I would like to think that I'd never do. But then again, you just never know what circumstances life will bring you, good or bad! What wouldn't you do?  


I Would Never...

1) ...make a list of 25 things I wouldn't do! (But here I am, attempting it anyway.)

2) ...want to die without having positively impacted the world, or at least a few people in it.

3) ...intentionally hurt people.

4) ...run a marathon. (Pretty confident on that one!)

5) ...order a dessert with coconut in it. Eww.

6) ...become a hoarder. I like clear surfaces and minimalism.

7) ...own a pet hippopotamus. I mean, who has a pool big enough to house them, right?  

8) ...bungee jump or skydive.

9) ...cliff walk.

10) ...tight rope walk. (Are you seeing a theme here?)

11) ...cut my own hair. 

12) ...forget to say "I love you" or "I appreciate you" to those who matter.

13) ...get back together with any of my exes.

14) ...say no to traveling.

15) ...forget to be grateful for the things, events and people I enjoy in my life..

16) ...give up on chasing my dreams or making new ones for that matter.

17) ...fear change. (Ok, I might a little but I won't let it stop me!)

18) ...pay for something in all pennies.

19) ...be materialistic.

20) ...stop smiling.

21) ...hang out with pessimistic people.

22) ...let a once in a lifetime opportunity pass me by (I hope!)

23) ...fear asking questions.

24) ...define myself based on other people's thoughts of me.

25) ...take things too personally or myself too seriously.

  

Improved!

My life is forever improved by finding out that Starbucks has "to-go" packets of sriracha hot sauce! Why didn't I know about this sooner? And if you're wondering why on earth would Starbucks need hot sauce packets - I personally put it on their breakfast items (not their drinks!). I love the added heat of sriracha on their spinach and feta egg white wrap. What would you spice up from the Starbucks menu? 

Lo-Mein

I made this lightened up version of shrimp lo-mein from my million dollar magazine last night. It was super easy, the hardest part was peeling garlic! The recipe was very simple and very tasty despite it's limited ingredients. In case you want to give it a try, I've shared the recipe from "Eat This" below - it comes in at about 300 calories per serving. Enjoy! 

Ingredients
12 oz lo mein noodles (or whole wheat spaghetti - I found they had about the same calorie and carb content)
1 tbsp peanut or vegetable oil (I used sesame oil and garlic olive oil)
2 cloves garlic, minced (I used way more than suggested because I LOVE it!)
1 tbsp grated fresh ginger (I omitted this as I can't stand it)
4 scallions, whites and greens separated, chopped
4 oz shiitake mushrooms (I omitted as I somehow didn't think the recipe called for them - oops!)
2 medium carrots, cut into thin slices
½ red bell pepper, sliced
¾ lb medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 Tbsp oyster sauce (I used 1 tbsp and found it tasty!)
2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

Directions
1) Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions.

2) In a wok or large skillet, heat the oil over high heat.

3) When the oil is lightly smoking, add the garlic, ginger, and scallion whites and stir-fry for 30 seconds, until lightly golden.

4) Add the mushrooms, carrots, and bell pepper, and continue cooking for 3 to 4 minutes, using a metal spatula to keep the vegetables in near-constant motion.

5) Toss in the shrimp and cook until just pink and slightly firm.

6) Add the cooked noodles, oyster sauce, and soy sauce to the pan.

7) Cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, until the sauce is thickened and covers the noodles in a light sheen.

8) Divide the mixture among 4 plates and garnish with the scallion greens.

Monday

I don't think I've worked a full week of work since November so this week may be a bit of an adjustment for me, returning to the office grind full time. Thankfully in my time off I've been, or at least felt, productive. I'm 95% caught up on laundry, I've grocery shopped based on an actual meal plan for the week and my house is in somewhat decent order. I've ran every errand on my list and I even went to bed early last night in order to prepare for a 4am wake up call (in order to attend a 5am workout class). 

Yes, I was full of great expectations as to how my first Monday of the new year would go. I wanted to be "bright eyed and bushy tailed" and an inspiration for all who interact with me. You know, glowing and full of new year cheer! But the reality is, I'm tired. I didn't sleep well, not much at all really, and I'm just plain tired. It would have been easy to throw in the towel on my scheduled workout but then I'd just be pissed at myself in addition to being tired. And well, that's not a fun or constructive way to spend the day. 

So, here's to Monday! You came whether we wanted you to or not, and I will conquer you - tired or not. Fingers crossed for a better night's sleep tonight. 

Classics

My "AFI" page, within this blog, is a listing and dedication of my own to watch the then published (2011?) American Film Institute's top 100 films. Over the years I've casually worked on this goal and continue to mark movies off one by one. Thankfully, Turner Classic Movies in conjunction with Fathom Events release a monthly "classic" to be shown in select theaters for two days only. Yes! I get to see (some of) the classics as they were meant to be seen, on the big screen! I'm excited to see that this month's release is the yet to be seen (by me) movie, "An American in Paris"! 

What's your favorite classic?


1.CITIZEN KANE (1941)

2.CASABLANCA (1942)

3.GODFATHER, THE (1972)

4.GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)

5.LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)

6.WIZARD OF OZ, THE (1939)

7.GRADUATE, THE (1967)

8.ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)

9.SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)

10.SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)

11.IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)

12.SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)

13.BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, THE (1957)

14.SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)

15.STAR WARS (1977)

16.ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)

17.AFRICAN QUEEN, THE (1951)

18.PSYCHO (1960)

19.CHINATOWN (1974)

20.ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)

21.GRAPES OF WRATH, THE (1940)

22.2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)

23.MALTESE FALCON, THE (1941)

24.RAGING BULL (1980)

25.E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)

26.DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)

27.BONNIE & CLYDE (1967)

28.APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)

29.MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)

30.TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)

31.ANNIE HALL (1977)

32.GODFATHER PART II, THE (1974)

33.HIGH NOON (1952)

34.TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)

35.IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)

36.MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)

37.BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES, THE (1946)

38.DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)

39.DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)

40.NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)

41.WEST SIDE STORY (1961)

42.REAR WINDOW (1954)

43.KING KONG (1933)

44.BIRTH OF A NATION, THE (1915)

45.STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, A (1951)

46.CLOCKWORK ORANGE, A (1971)

47.TAXI DRIVER (1976)

48.JAWS (1975)

49.SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)

50.BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)

51.PHILADELPHIA STORY, THE(1940)

52.FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)

53.AMADEUS (1984)

54.ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)

55.SOUND OF MUSIC, THE (1965)

56.M*A*S*H(1970)

57.THIRD MAN, THE (1949)

58.FANTASIA (1940)

59.REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)

60.RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)

61.VERTIGO (1958)

62.TOOTSIE (1982)

63.STAGECOACH (1939)

64.CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)

65.SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, THE (1991)

66.NETWORK (1976)

67.MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, THE (1962)

68.AMERICAN IN PARIS, AN (1951)

69.SHANE (1953)

70.FRENCH CONNECTION, THE (1971)

71.FORREST GUMP (1994)

72.BEN-HUR (1959)

73.WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)

74.GOLD RUSH, THE (1925)

75.DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)

76.CITY LIGHTS (1931)

77.AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)

78.ROCKY (1976)

79.DEER HUNTER, THE (1978)

80.WILD BUNCH, THE (1969)

81.MODERN TIMES (1936)

82.GIANT (1956)

83.PLATOON (1986)

84.FARGO (1996)

85.DUCK SOUP (1933)

86.MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)

87.FRANKENSTEIN (1931)

88.EASY RIDER (1969)

89.PATTON (1970)

90.JAZZ SINGER, THE (1927)

91.MY FAIR LADY (1964)

92.PLACE IN THE SUN, A(1951)

93.APARTMENT, THE (1960)

94.GOODFELLAS (1990)

95.PULP FICTION (1994)

96.SEARCHERS, THE (1956)

97.BRINGING UP BABY (1938)

98.UNFORGIVEN (1992)

99.GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)

100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

Frozen...

And just like that, I'm signed up for my first 5K of the year! 

Wish me luck and warm temperatures!