Netflix’s latest content acquisitions are Pretty Little Liars, The Lying Game

While it’s unlikely to make anyone who’s intentionally avoided Netflix from signing up for the instant streaming service, the digital video platform has nonetheless announced that it just picked up a couple new TV show seasons. On tap for Netflix are now the first season of The Lying Game and the second season of Pretty Little Liars.

The latter will make its way to Netflix instant steaming beginning July 3. The Lying Game, meanwhile, is a distant announcement. It won’t be hitting the digital airwaves until next year when the second season begins airing on TV. Netflix has found a pretty solid partner in ABC Family, with shows like Melissa & Joey, Greek, Kyle XY, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager all making their way to the streaming platform.

As we all know, TV on Netflix is a godsend. Nobody wants to go out to the store and buy those terrible expensive DVD or Blu-ray box sets anymore. Just clicking the remote to Netflix and streaming classic episodes of your favorite shows has revolutionized the way we stay connected to serial dramas, comedies, and more. Bringing both Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game to Netflix means it will gain new fans who will, hopefully for ABC Family, begin watchin the new episodes when they air.

[via TV Over Mind]

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So much to talk about…so little time.

Normally I find myself having a difficult time trying to find topics to blog about. Today, though, I’ve got three separate topics that could each be a post…but I think I’ll combine them into one just because I need to get these ramblings out of my head!

1. My fantasy football team blew chunks this past weekend. Okay…that’s a bit harsh, but I was really disappointed in the stats from some of my players.  I mean, the Eagles have had no defense all year long but all of a sudden they shut down a potent Dallas offense??  Miles Austin (again) got horrible numbers.  Not only that, but all of my running backs totally under-performed this weekend.

Darren Sproles has been a great sleeper pick for me, but he had a rough time against the pitiful Rams (as did the entire Saints team, apparently). Ahmad Bradshaw had a difficult time against the woeful Dolphins.  And honestly…Bernard Scott performed as well as I expected for a one-week fill-in for Cedric Benson against a tough-against-the-run Seattle team.

Tom Brady…well, I don’t know what to say about Brady. It seems that ever since he cut his hair, his performance has gone downhill fast. He needs to pick it up and deliver like he did at the beginning of the season.

Thank goodness for my Detroit pick-up.  They did exactly what I hoped they would do while my Jets were on a bye. In fact, if it wasn’t for them this weekend wouldn’t have at least been as respectable as it ended up being.

4-4…yeesh.

2. I got to take my son out for Halloween. I wanted The Ex to bring Ankle Biter over my place so I could see him dressed-up for Halloween. Turns out that she wasn’t going to be able to get off work early enough to make it happen.  So she asked me if I wanted to come with them trick-or-treating.

I really wanted to see Ankle Biter and the thought of being with him on Halloween night seemed like fun. So I showed up just as he was dressed and ready to hit some houses. The Ex and I get along pretty decently 99% of the time, and this was a fun experience…watching him go from house to house and getting excited about the candy. Mind you, he was done after about 10 houses…but that was fine. I got to experience trick-or-treating with him and he really enjoyed having the both of us there.

I think this may become a tradition for the next few years…both parents taking him out for Halloween.  As long as we can continue to get along, this should be a regular event.

Oh…and Ankle Biter was Bumblebee for the night. He couldn’t have been more excited.

3. I’m participating in Movember this year.  I had thought about doing it in previous years, but didn’t know the reasons or rationale behind it all. After reading up on it (and after a suggestion by Sunshine), I decided to do it this year.

But I’m not just about growing a moustache, but also about the message behind it. I have joined “the movement” and will be donating my upper lip to the cause for 30 days. My Mo will spark conversations, and no doubt generate some laughs; all in the name of raising vital awareness and funds the battle against prostate cancer.

So why am I now so passionate about men’s health?

On average men live 4-5 years less than women 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime 25,500 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year in Canada

I invite you to support me by donating to me http://mobro.co/toddiscanadian

You can even go old school and write a cheque payable to “Movember Canada”, reference my name and Registration Number 1912536 and send it to: Movember Canada, 119 Spadina Avenue, PO Box 65, Toronto, ON M5T 2T2

All donations are tax deductible.

We only have a month to grow Mos and raise awareness and fund, so please come along for the ride. Funds raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others. Through the Movember Foundation and their men’s health partner, the Prostate Cancer Canada, Movember is funding world class awareness, research, educational and support programs which would otherwise not be possible.

For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please click on the links below:

About Movember
Prostate Cancer Foundation research
Global Action Plan

Please donate here – http://mobro.co/toddiscanadian

Thank you in advance for helping me change the face of men’s health. Go the Mo!

Moustache Season. Now Open.
Obviously, I’ll update throughout the month with new pictures and I’d love to have you join me in my journey!

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So much to talk about…so little time.

Normally I find myself having a difficult time trying to find topics to blog about. Today, though, I’ve got three separate topics that could each be a post…but I think I’ll combine them into one just because I need to get these ramblings out of my head!

1. My fantasy football team blew chunks this past weekend. Okay…that’s a bit harsh, but I was really disappointed in the stats from some of my players.  I mean, the Eagles have had no defense all year long but all of a sudden they shut down a potent Dallas offense??  Miles Austin (again) got horrible numbers.  Not only that, but all of my running backs totally under-performed this weekend.

Darren Sproles has been a great sleeper pick for me, but he had a rough time against the pitiful Rams (as did the entire Saints team, apparently). Ahmad Bradshaw had a difficult time against the woeful Dolphins.  And honestly…Bernard Scott performed as well as I expected for a one-week fill-in for Cedric Benson against a tough-against-the-run Seattle team.

Tom Brady…well, I don’t know what to say about Brady. It seems that ever since he cut his hair, his performance has gone downhill fast. He needs to pick it up and deliver like he did at the beginning of the season.

Thank goodness for my Detroit pick-up.  They did exactly what I hoped they would do while my Jets were on a bye. In fact, if it wasn’t for them this weekend wouldn’t have at least been as respectable as it ended up being.

4-4…yeesh.

2. I got to take my son out for Halloween. I wanted The Ex to bring Ankle Biter over my place so I could see him dressed-up for Halloween. Turns out that she wasn’t going to be able to get off work early enough to make it happen.  So she asked me if I wanted to come with them trick-or-treating.

I really wanted to see Ankle Biter and the thought of being with him on Halloween night seemed like fun. So I showed up just as he was dressed and ready to hit some houses. The Ex and I get along pretty decently 99% of the time, and this was a fun experience…watching him go from house to house and getting excited about the candy. Mind you, he was done after about 10 houses…but that was fine. I got to experience trick-or-treating with him and he really enjoyed having the both of us there.

I think this may become a tradition for the next few years…both parents taking him out for Halloween.  As long as we can continue to get along, this should be a regular event.

Oh…and Ankle Biter was Bumblebee for the night. He couldn’t have been more excited.

3. I’m participating in Movember this year.  I had thought about doing it in previous years, but didn’t know the reasons or rationale behind it all. After reading up on it (and after a suggestion by Sunshine), I decided to do it this year.

But I’m not just about growing a moustache, but also about the message behind it. I have joined “the movement” and will be donating my upper lip to the cause for 30 days. My Mo will spark conversations, and no doubt generate some laughs; all in the name of raising vital awareness and funds the battle against prostate cancer.

So why am I now so passionate about men’s health?

On average men live 4-5 years less than women 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime 25,500 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year in Canada

I invite you to support me by donating to me http://mobro.co/toddiscanadian

You can even go old school and write a cheque payable to “Movember Canada”, reference my name and Registration Number 1912536 and send it to: Movember Canada, 119 Spadina Avenue, PO Box 65, Toronto, ON M5T 2T2

All donations are tax deductible.

We only have a month to grow Mos and raise awareness and fund, so please come along for the ride. Funds raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others. Through the Movember Foundation and their men’s health partner, the Prostate Cancer Canada, Movember is funding world class awareness, research, educational and support programs which would otherwise not be possible.

For more details on how the funds raised from previous campaigns have been used and the impact Movember is having please click on the links below:

About Movember
Prostate Cancer Foundation research
Global Action Plan

Please donate here – http://mobro.co/toddiscanadian

Thank you in advance for helping me change the face of men’s health. Go the Mo!

Moustache Season. Now Open.
Obviously, I’ll update throughout the month with new pictures and I’d love to have you join me in my journey!

Read more >>

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little miss dinah

Well my little fur baby finally went for a long overdue hair cut and doggie ‘spa day’ last week. The poor thing was so shaggy, she could barely see through her hair, and bore more resemblance to a sheep dog than a schnauzer!

My girl went from looking like this, shaggy and unkempt:

…to trim and elegant! Check out those eyelashes would you? Oh la la!

We have totally lucked out and found a wonderful groomer who does an amazing job! Check out this cutie! I wish I got to go to the spa every twelve weeks! She totally looks like a different dog! I have to say though, I think she’s a little chilly on her walks — good thing ‘mum’ ordered a fleecy sweater to keep her warm

Happy Monday everyone!

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Little Old Lady Recipes: Classic Frugal Cooking

Today I'm thrilled to announce release of my new book — Little Old Lady Recipes: Comfort Food and Kitchen Table Wisdom, published by Quirk Books. It's a collection of simple comfort-food recipes; sassy advice; and photos (by the excellent Michael Reali) of wonderful women in their kitchens.

The recipes in the book came from several different sources, including my own grandmother, the women whose photographs are featured in the book, and bygone cookbooks like the 1921 Atlanta Women's Club Cook Book. But no matter what their source, one thing that I love about all of these these recipes (well, besides the fact that a lot them call for real butter) is that classic "little old lady" cooking is more than simple and tasty, it's also darn frugal. Recipes like chicken and dumplings aren't just aiming to pair delicious chicken soup with bready dumpling goodness, they're using those dumplings to stretch a little bit of meat into an inexpensive, filling meal. Vegetable scraps and leftover meat bones aren't trash, they're what you make fragrant soup stocks out of. And a good weekend pot roast, well — that will serve you convenient leftovers all week long. (See also: Stretch Your Food at Every Meal)

One of my favorite recipes that I had the pleasure of including in the book is my family's baked bean recipe, one of my personal favorite comfort foods. The beans can be made in a crock pot, or they can slowly cook over several hours in the oven (if you use your oven, make this recipe in the fall or winter and turn your house heat down accordingly while cooking so you're not wasting energy). In the evening, you're rewarded with rich, not-too-sweet beans that are great served with another money-saving powerhouse — coleslaw made from that super-cheap vegetable, the cabbage.

The beans are also fantastic served with Boston Brown Bread. I've included both recipes from the book below, and I very much hope you enjoy them.

1 qt navy beans1/2 lb salt pork1/2 tbsp dry mustard1 tsp salt2 tbsp molasses3 tbsp sugar1 onion, chopped

Baked beans are best served with brown bread; save your empty coffee cans to steam it in. Although thrift is always a virtue, do not skimp on the salt pork. It's what adds the majority of flavor.

Cover beans with cold water and soak overnight. Drain. Pour into a pot or casserole dish with the rest of the ingredients. Add enough water to cover the beans. Cover and bake in a 250°F oven [or crock pot] for 8 hours. Serves 4 to 6, and tastes great with coleslaw.

1 egg1/2 cup sugar1/2 cup molasses1 cup sour milk2 tsp baking soda1 tsp salt2 3/4 cups graham flour

Between baked beans and this moist, molassesy bread, they're doing something right up in Boston.

Beat eggs, add sugar and molasses, and then the rest of the ingredients. Mix and place in 3 greased 1-pound cans. Cover tightly. Steam 1 to 2 hours by placing on a steamer over boiling water, letting the water go about halfway up the can. Basically, you just don't want the can touching the bottom of the pot you're boiling in. (You can also steam the bread in a deep oven-safe pan in the oven itself. Just make sure to replenish the water if needed.) Bread is done when a toothpick comes out clean. Makes enough to sop up a lot of delicious bean juice.

What are your favorite frugal "little old lady" recipes? Share in the comments!

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