It's that time of year....*update*

Today I was telling Chris in my world the holidays don't start until AFTER Thanksgiving. Then I realized we were in the car driving to Wal-Mart to buy supplies for a Thanksgiving feast tomorrow, and that the holidays had officially commenced without my say-so! RUDE holidays...RUDE.

 I even broke out the 'ol Thanksgiving decorations complete with socks and a clothes hanger.....

 I came home, popped in the movie "Elf" starring Will Ferrel, and made spinach dip in a bread bowl and a pumpkin cheesecake with caramel sauce (question: Do you say CARA-mel or CAR-mel? I say CARmel. I also pronounce Crayola Crayon like cran so I could be wrong on the whole cara vs. car-mel debate).  I'm also making these Meatball Bubble Biscuits and White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread cookies.... I have some work to do.....AND we're going bowling tonight (c'mon 300!!).

I will take a lot of pictures of our feast tomorrow so you can see how it's done in good 'ol Missouri!!!

***udpdate***
 I forgot to mention that yesterday I asked Chris to be my sous chef by reading me the online recipe for the salted caramel cheesecake.  I really didn't need a sous chef, but I was bored and wanted someone to talk to while slaving away in the kitchen......NEVER AGAIN. 
 Here is the sad sad sad truth and fate of the delectable dessert:

Chris: "Ok next up.....add 3 tablespoons of salt."
Me: "Really? Gosh that seems like a lot.........Ok so 3 tablespoons of SALT."
Chris (confident): "Yes. 3 tablespoons."
Me: "3 tablespoons of SALT"
Chris (even more confident): "Yes."
Me: "3 TABLESPOONS"
Chris (confident and annoyed): "YES!"
Me (shakes head in bewilderment but trusting Chris and unknown recipe to know what they are talking about): "oooookay!" *dumps in 3 tablespoons of SALT*

2 hours later...... 

Me: OH MY GOD THIS IS THE MOST DISGUSTING CHEESECAKE I'VE EVER TASTED IN MY LIFE! I FEEL LIKE I'M EATING THE OCEAN IT IS SO SALTY..... *THUMP* (that was the sound of the precious cheesecake hitting the trash can while trying not to puke).


My moral of the story: If you want someone to be your sous chef, don't have them read the recipe to you out loud they might mistake TABLESPOON for TEASPOON...........that and everybody Wang Chung tonight. Oh and if you think 3 tablespoons of salt is a little suspicious and is too much for a sweet dessert...you're probably right and you should go with your gut instinct to double-triple check that fact.

Just call me Marty,...

I consider myself quite the connoisseur on a few things: Pizza, Disney, funny internet videos and Time Travel movies. A text to Chris last September:

"Btw I forgot to tell you I watched: 'time cop' with Jean Claude Van Damme yesterday. It was mediocre to poor as far as a time travel movie goes...Completely implausible because technically by going back and saving his family he should have created an alternate reality not just stepped into his 'new life' Pathetic! I now will watch every time travel movie and judge it on a scale of 1-10. Time Cop gets a 4." 

I also particularly enjoy movies/books when the main characters have to swap bodies (literally placing them in the other person's shoes) to learn a lesson. Classic example, Freaky Friday:

 

Yes I love the re-make instead of the original,

  AND despite all of this mess: 

 

I still REALLY REALLY REALLY love Lindsay Lohan. Sad I know. Don't do drugs, kids.

I think the slight (ok fine, major) Time Travel obsession started as a freshman in college with this little known 1970's novel (#4 on Amazon's  top 25 books of Time Travel-no big deal).  

**Side note: I just realized I have such a reverence and fascination with Time Travel I've been incorrectly capitalizing Time Travel like it's a proper noun since the beginning of this blog.**

Buy it. Love it. Live it. You won't regret it.

As far as Time Travel movies go there is one movie that is so glorious and has achieved such pure perfection it gets a 10; therefore, all other Time Travel movies are compared to it: 

                                                          BACK TO THE FUTURE

                    I own the 3 disc collector's set but still watch it every time it's on t.v.

Every. Single. Time.

I like the idea of someone given a second chance (or in Marty's case, a chance) to change an event in their past for a better future. I'm all about the redemption and making things right. It's even better when they have to go to an unfamiliar place and try avoid certain calamity (like your mom having a crush and hitting on you-constantly).

We had NO idea when we went to Branson last weekend we'd be Time Travelers, but we were and it was magnificent. Time Travel movies/books all have a machine to transport the person to the past (or future). A Delorean. A hot tub. A cop car. Spaceship, etc.

Our Time Traveling vessel:

A tram.

Unsuspecting Time Travelers:

Ahhhh!! What a beautiful day here in 188- WAIT. WHAT?!

This can't be right....

 

After a quick walk around, Chris determined that we did in fact, Time Travel. 

Being the Time Traveling expert that I am, I was no longer frightened, and I chose to enjoy the day rather than have a panic attack.

Me: Oh! Oh! Oh! A school! Go stand in front of it and do something teacher-y!
Chris: Like what?!  

Me: I don't know! Just be a teacher!

Chris: ....uhhhh.......Like this?
Me: Nevermind.

We got to watch this old timer make bats and rolling pins. I told Chris I don't think people make those that way in 2011 so we were lucky to witness it.

I even spun the Wheel of Fortune.

It was eerily on point: "Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly" Shut up Wheel of Fortune what do you know? You're from 1881!

 

          As quaint and charming as this 1881 city is, it's surprisingly progressive (and expensive):

                                             What the What?! A little risque for this era!

                                     Ocean treasures for $1.99? And we didn't even see an ocean?

There was also these crazy metal contraptions the people rode on, kind of like our modern-day roller coasters:

                        These swings took us up in the air and went round and round- just incredible!

 Unfortunately, our Time Travel day did have to end (Chiefs were playing).

We made our way back to our glamorous Time Travel machine-tram and jetted off into the future.......


Even though I didn't really have a chance to change anything in my past to effect my future like a true movie Time Traveler, I was just grateful I didn't come back looking like this:

                                                             

Poor Lindsay,

 

 I bet she'd really like to go "Back to the Future" right about now!

We're so Hollywood:

After discovering our dream cars (and love of Branson), Chris and I continued our adventurous trek. We unknowingly stumbled upon a little hidden gem where ALL the celebrities, young and old, like to hang out during their free time. We were so popular they pleaded with us to stay forever:

  Ok maybe King Kong on top of your building doesn't really make it hidden but it's still a gem!!

           He isn't yelling, Chris just told him a joke and he has a really ugly "laugh" face...

First we met Forrest Gump. He was quite the talker and did NOT offer to share a chocolate. Rude. Chris is saying "Forrest you're so wise and smart even if you don't- hey look at that squirrel!"

Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antionette. Everyone says that Chris' sister, Amanda, looks like her - Kirsten Dunst that is, not Marie Antoinette. I tend to agree with them, but if that really is the case then the next photo is extremely inappropriate:

                   Oh don't act like you aren't enjoying it, Marie! You French hussy you!

Well I knew I most certainly could not let Chris have all the fun, so I grabbed the closest celeb and gave him the 'ol 'JESSICA MAGIC' :                                     

Pierce Brosnan, you sexy bea- hey! Why are you trying to run! Get back here! Hold still, YOU!!

That's ok if he ran from me because I saw Jeannie and she granted me a wish.

What did I wish for?? Matt Damon of course!

WISH GRANTED! Although,

Chris didn't like that so much, and beat him up....I just can't take him ANYWHERE!

I decided to brush up on my comedic skills with Charlie Chaplin...

 

he wasn't too please that I took his signature hat right off his head, and shooed me away with his cain.

Chris was not intimidated by the fact we were in the presence of genius comedians and challenged  Groucho Marx to a thumb wrestling match. 

Chris may have one the thumb wrestling battle, but Groucho undeniably wins the "best mustache" war.

Chris was intrigued by the hand placement of Stan Laurel of Laurel and Hardy.

He determined it to be some kind of early century comedian gang sign. 

We were then whisked away to the star ship 'Enterprise' where Chris challenged Spock to an intellectual debate. 

Already knowing I was smarter than Mr. Spock and no debate was needed, I just shouted: 

"Beam me up Scotty!" 

This picture goes to show you that Chris is a sly devil....

he'll get on your good side with his good looks, charm and those blue eyes but if you cross him....

LOOK OUT!

"No one says the Chiefs suck and gets away with it!" 

(The fact that Chris looks to be smiling in this photo makes me slightly nervous....)

It's a good thing I was there to protect and serve with Charlie's angels because,

Willie Nelson was there, and he's OLD....

   he was also super paranoid his illegal substance hiding spot would be found out (hint: he wears that bandana an AWFUL lot!).

Life tip: If Elvis offers you an ice cream cone you do NOT refuse!

 

Elvis and the gang were just chilling out in the diner. Chris decided it was 'now or never' and went to show Marilyn his TRUE feelings.

Then he realized there is NO WAY this beauty was Marilyn Monroe, but a cross-dressing imposter!

He kissed her anyways.

Nacho Libre was mad that Chris was hitting on 'ol Marilyn and challenged him to a duel:

so Chris body slammed him.

Nascar racers also like to hang out at this "hidden gem" of Branson, Chris was so excited to meet "Ricky Bobby" of Talladega Nights, he didn't know what to do with his hands!

You wouldn't know it by his  extremely serious face, but right before this picture

Will Smith told me a HIGHlarious joke.

I tried to tell the Men in Black that their car was at the Branson auto museum, but they were extremely distracted by this (or should I say these):

I tried to tell myself, Chris was really just interest in Angelina Jolie's brain, but I knew the truth:

The round body parts on the chest are FAR more interesting than the round part that sits atop of Halle Berry's shoulders!

I wasn't jealous though.

I totally married Johnny Depp while I was there.

Chris was ok with my marrying Johnny, but he was NONE to please with Hugh Hefner:

Why? Because Chris walked into this:

"Not tonight, Hef darling, I've got a headache."

So next time you're in the mid-west Las Vegas, make sure to hit this spot up.....

and tell them a very angry Samuel L. Jackson and Jessica sent you.

**Check back tomorrow, and I'll tell you how we definitely time-traveled to the great year 1881**