Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria

The Museum of the Moving Image is probably my favourite museum in New York. The main reason for that? It encourages interaction (ie. there are things you can touch and do there). And the exhibits are constantly changing, which I love. They had the tiny door from Being John Malkovich last year! And Walter White's undies! 

The current Chuck Jones exhibit is even a great one to see.

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Chuck Jones exhibit, November 2014

Even their permanent collection's great. Some people may not consider it the classiest of museums, but its focus is on movies and television so my question to those people is, "You think you're better than getting to see Robin Williams' fat suit in Mrs. Doubtfire?"

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Fat suit from Mrs. Doubtfire

Who wouldn't want to get a glimpse at the intricacies of The Elephant Man's head? 

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The Elephant Man's head

There's even a (classic) video game arcade area WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY PLAY THE GAMES. Why is this happening?! I feel like this place is a kid's version of what a museum should be.

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Frogger

And of course there are areas that detail the history of cameras, television, etc. but I tend to briskly walk through these rooms (partially 'cause I've already learned about all that stuff the first time I came to this museum and partially because I know where I need to go to get to the fun).

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The Film Cameras

The best part of this place? This spot right here (below).

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Stop Motion Animation station

You can sit down here and make your own stop motion animation that you can email to yourself. It seems like it might be just for kids - but since there are no signs informing me of that silent assumption, I'm more than happy to plant myself here for at least twenty minutes to craft my masterpiece. It's way more fun than I'm letting on. Or wait, am I accurately emphasizing how fun it is? I feel like I might be.

There's also a sound booth station where you can go in and alter existing movies with your own voice. If that doesn't sound neat, I'm not accurately describing it - 'cause it's neat.

Anyway, I love this museum. I feel like it should be the gateway museum for when you're taking a kid to a museum for the first time. Actually, no! It'd be horrible to take a kid here for their first museum. It'll ruin them for all the others that exist in the world where you can't touch anything. Yeah, don't take them. Also, they tend to hog the animation table props whenever I'm there, so it's probably best to keep them at home. 

Gloves Hanger

Winter is coming and what comes along with it? Wet gloves. Is there a handier way to get them to dry quicker than hanging them up to dry? Hell no! This is a great idea. I know it seems like I'm constantly telling you to hang things and, well, I am - but it's because some things greatly benefit from hang-age.

I feel like they're so cheap because only suckers would buy them, but man? I'm all over these.

(P.S. The thanksgiving croissants at Momofuku Milk Bar are now available throughout November. EAT ONE OF THESE. I swear you won't regret it.)

Christmas Season Guff

Let's get one thing straight. I start Christmas on November 1st. I'M SORRY. I happen to have some valid reasons, too, so shut up and hear me out.

1. Winter is long and cold, agreed. So doesn't it make sense to make the most of the holidays for the maximum amount of time (ie. November 1st - December 25th) since, well, come January 1st we, as a human race, have NOTHING to look forward to until SPRING?! THREE MONTHS OF GARBAGE WEATHER WITH NOTHING FUN IN SIGHT?! Can't I bask in a loving, warm, Christmas-y feeling for the maximum amount that should be socially acceptable by now?
2. Christmas is (and should) be mostly about giving. Is it not too early to put a little bit of extra thought into whatever you're giving people as gifts? You need that extra time! You need that November time.
3. I'm Canadian and we already had our Thanksgiving, so our next holiday technically is CHRISTMAS. It's the next one on our horizon! Deal with it. I'm putting up lights, bitch.
4. So you're telling me you'd say no to a Christmas cookie that was served to you in November? Yeah, right. You're gonna eat that damn cookie and we both know it.

Let me also get another thing clear, I do not pump any sort of Christmas music this early because, personally, I'm not the biggest fan of Christmas music all the time. However there's no need to be so utterly hate-filled when you're out and about and you happen to hear it. Get out of the streets/stores/world if you hate it so much! Online shop! 'Cause it's Christmastime, baby. And the music is gonna blare. 

And no, I haven't put up my Christmas tree yet. Nathan said it's "too early". My Dad would say the same thing to me every November 1st. One day, dammit. One day I'll show these men how things need to get done.

Anyway, my point here? LET ME START CHRISTMAS WITHOUT ANY OF YOUR GUFF, please.

“Locate and eat one of these fantastic, limited edition Coffee Crisps.”

— #lizadvice

Happy Halloween!

Tina Belcher! Maybe you're not as impressed with this one as you were with last year's or the year before, but screw you (!) 'cause I love it. And if you're wondering, yes - that is Nathan's butt up there. He didn't even pry and ask me why I wanted to take a photo of it, he just said okay - isn't that a nice trait to have in a man? The no-questions-asked trait? I'm into it. The trait and the butt.

Anyhow, I hope your Halloween is the best. Eat candy! Watch something scary! Celebrate, dammit! Y'aint better than Halloween.

Movie To Watch - Baghead

I saw this movie forever ago and I still think about it every so often. Other than really liking it, I like to encourage almost everyone I know to watch it. You can stream it over here, if you like. I absolutely loved it.

(Also, Happy Devil's Night!)

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Mom Says

“If you wash clothes on the last Friday of the year you wash out one of your family members.”

Asparagus & Chicken in Peanut Sauce

I will never be a fan of the combination of chicken and peanuts. Ever. I've never thought they tasted good together, I don't know why I feel that way but I'm certain that I can't change. I've been making this recipe a lot recently, though, because a certain someone has told me it's among the best things that have come out of our kitchen. 

Ingredients

• 1/2 of a small red onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (or peanut oil, if you have it)
• 2 pounds boneless chicken breast, chopped into 1 inch pieces
• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/2 cup water, more if you like less chunky sauces
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 bunch of asparagus, chopped into 1 inch pieces, ends trimmed

Instructions

1. In a large skillet, cook the onion and garlic over medium heat for 1-2 minutes until softened.
2. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink.
3. In a blender, mix together peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, ginger, lime juice, 1/2 cup water, cumin and red pepper flakes until combined.
4. Add asparagus to the skillet and stir well. Cook for a few minutes until asparagus turn bright green.
5. Add the peanut mixture and mix well. Cook over low heat for 3-4 minutes until chicken and vegetables are thoroughly coated. Serve immediately over quinoa, rice, noodles or alongside some corn.

The recipe has been adapted slightly from Lauren Kelly Nutrition. 

“To write a diary every day is like returning to one’s own vomit.”

— Enoch Powell

Tip of the Day - Hang Your Boots

Ugh, this is so smart. I just read about this on Browne Eyed Belle's blog and I absolutely love this idea. Instead of having your (longer) boots flop over onto one another on the floor and ruin their shape, you could instead hang your boots from pants hangers to keep them straight. You can find the pants hangers with sliding clips at Target. Such a great idea.