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May 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 am

Top 40 Patriotic Country Music Songs

» by Aly Adair in: Holidays, Music, Patriotic

The 40 best patriotic country music songs are included in this MP3 music video player as a tribute to those who died on 9/11. Click on the player to begin a song. Click on the More button in the player to change songs.

40 of Country Music’s greatest singers and songwriters have recorded and performed these great patriotic songs for America that are included in the MP3 playlist of Top 40 Patriotic Country Music Songs.

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March 20th, 2009 at 9:47 am

Top 10 Ways to Deal With Grief and Death

» by Aly Adair in: Health, Life

Grief doesn’t only happen to people when a death of a loved one occurs. It can also happen when a person divorces, loses a job, moves to a new place, prepares for a holiday alone, loses a pet, fails at a business, drops out of school, or any other life changing event. If you are a spiritual person, first and foremost remember this about Heaven if you are grieving over the loss of a loved one:

10 Reasons to Go to Heaven

Here are some other ways I have been able to deal with the grief and to help others through their grieving process. These are links to articles I have written for dealing with the death of a loved one or how to handle grief.

You really don’t know how you will handle this until it happens: When the Doctor Asks: Would You Like to Order Comfort Care Only?

My sister had her husband cremated when he passed. As you get older you wonder whether you want to be buried or be cremated. This is an interested article about how people choose between cremation and burial: Cremation vs. Burial: How Do You Choose?

Often times people do not feel that they need counseling to help them through their grief. When signs of depression set in, think about the benefits of grief counseling by reading this: Grief Counseling; Should You Take the Next Step?

My childhood girlfriend recently lost her 30 year old son from a drug overdose. Learn about new programs to help prevent drug overdoses from opiates by reading: Death by Drugs: It’s Our Culture. My girlfriend coped with her grief by volunteering to speak at the graduation ceremony of the drug rehabilitation center where her son had graduated. Here are the YouTube videos of her speech:

Poor Choices Kills Friend Part 1

Poor Choices Kills Friend Part 2

Think of something that person did especially well and write a tribute about the things they loved. See my tribute to Jim McKay with the Top 10 U.S. Olympic Athlete Moments in History

Celebrate the person’s life with a Memorial Tribute to that person’s using photos, music, and thoughts about that person’s accomplishments and what makes them unique. See my Tribute to Tim Russert.

Build a Family Tree with information about your ancestors and loved ones. Visit this article for online resources and links to web sites to search for your family members: Find Your Fallen Ancestors.

Here is a link to FREE online Family Tree printables to start documenting your family history: Free Online Family Tree Resources.

This is a bit extreme for some people to imagine, but my girlfriend launched her deceased husband into space because he loved space! Think about it as you read: Launching Your Deceased Loved One Into Space.

I actually have relatives whose death or surgery was botched by medical malpractice. My brother had one surgery where the surgeon left a surgical instrument in his body. He had to have a second surgery to remove it. Another relative was on the operating table and almost had a hysterectomy because the hospital mixed up medical records. My Dad had a heart attack and when they gave him morphine in the ER before they did an EKG, the heart attack was misdiagnosed as indigestion. If these stories sound familiar and you think you have legal recourse, you may want to read: I’m Sorry Laws Nationwide Protect Medical Professionals and then contact your own attorney for legal advice.

Tags: death, depression, dying, grief, grieving, Health, Life, loss, loss of a job, loss of a loved one, personal loss, sadness

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March 14th, 2009 at 6:59 am

Top 10 FREE Resources for Finding College Financial Aid

» by Aly Adair in: Life, money

These FREE Internet resources will help people seeking college financial aid. There is information about FREE college scholarships, tuition assistance, financial aid, grants, fellowships, internships, work study programs, apprenticeships, cooperatives, military education assistance, Veterans’ education assistance, and International student exchange programs. Most of these resources allow to customize your search for your own specific needs and geographic location.

EXPLANATION OF WAYS TO FINANCE OR ADVANCE HIGHER EDUCATION GOALS

Scholarships - do not have to be paid back; can be based on academic performance or economic need

Tuition Assistance - often times is provided as a benefit by an employer, a union, or a church organization; also referred to as a Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) at institutions of higher learning

Financial Aid - usually in the form of a low-interest loan; see FAFSA below for the most common aid offered by the federal government

Grants - in some cases, grants do not have to be paid back; the Pell Grant is the most common

Fellowships - programs lasting 6 weeks to several years that allow individuals to enhance their advanced subspecialty training

Internships - monitored or supervised work or service experience where the individual has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he or she is learning throughout the experience; learning goals can include: academic learning, career development, skill development, and personal development

Work Study Programs - usually are jobs provided by the higher education institution

Apprenticeships - career exploration job in the field of interest; usually includes compensation in the form of a grant in exchange for working at an organization for a limited time period

Cooperatives - career exploration through mentoring that combines classroom learning and on-the-job training; does not usually include pay but gives students valuable experience to enhance their career opportunities

Top 10 FREE Resources for Finding College Tuition Assistance

FastWeb

CareerOneStop

The U.S. Department of Education’s Student Aid on the Web

Student Jobs

State Scholars Initiative

Federal Government Financial Aid Loans

Monster Financial Aid

GovLoans

Pell Grant

Military Scholarships

For more extensive information about FREE college tuition assistance including tuition assistance for military family members, international college students, and veterans, read this article:

Digging for Dollars: Finding College Scholarships and College Financial Aid

Tags: apprenticeships, college, college dollars, college financial aid, college scholarships, college student, college tuition assistance, cooperatives, fellowships, financial aid, finding college money, FREE college scholarships, grants, International student exchange programs, internships, Life, military, military education assistance, money, Pell Grant, student loans, tuition assistance, tuition assistance for veterans, tuition for military family members, veterans, Veterans’ education assistance, work study programs

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February 22nd, 2009 at 9:27 am

Tops In Life: Desert View Homes in El Paso - Extreme Makeover Home Town Heroes

» by Aly Adair in: Food, Life, Magic, Television, love

The Amazing Ruiz Family in El Paso, Texas Gets A New Home After Extreme Makeover Home Edition Volunteers “Move That Bus” on Sunday March 15 (ABC 8/7 C). Maria Ruiz is a CNN Hero.

How Do You Build A House in 160 Hours for Ty Pennington’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition? Ask Randy O’Leary, Owner of Desert View Homes in El Paso, Texas! Randy is another El Paso Hero.

by Aly Adair

Photo: Randy O’Leary, Owner of Desert View Homes in El Paso, Texas

Ever wonder what it is like to build a home in 160 hours with Ty Pennington and his amazing team from Extreme Makeover Home Edition? Check out the Q and A with Randy O’Leary, owner of Desert View Homes in El Paso, Texas. He did it! Would he do it again? “In a heartbeat.”

Q and A with Randy O’Leary
Desert View Homes
Story by By Robert Gray
El Paso, Inc.
2/15/2009

I was so excited to get an email from my friend in El Paso telling me about the amazing story of his nephew, Randy O’Leary and their volunteer efforts for Ty Pennington’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition El Paso episode airing Sunday March 15 (ABC 8/7 C).

I grew up in El Paso, Texas so for me this story has heartfelt deep meaning in many ways. My friend, Cliff, together with a team of volunteers and sponsors in El Paso, gave their hearts, their time, and their resources to help an extraordinary Mexican family for Ty Pennington’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

In an email from my friend Cliff he writes: “Ty is as good natured off camera as he is when being filmed. The entire production staff (over 100) was as concerned for the charity as El Paso was for having them here.” Volunteers and spectators who participated in the Extreme Makeover Home Edition El Paso episode were asked to bring one or more canned good products. Here’s why:

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Has El Paso Border Town Twist: Bring a Can

Thanks for sharing your story, Cliff! Love ya!

Tags: ABC television shows, Aly Adair, arts and entertainment news, Associated Content, charitable foundations, charity, citizenship, CNN Hero, Desert View Homes, economy, El Paso, El Paso charities, El Paso homebuilders, El Paso homes, El Paso Texas, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, family, Food, food bank, helping others, hero, heroes, Hispanic charities, immigration, Juarez, Life, lifestyle, love, Magic, March television, Maria and Jesus Ruiz, Mexican charities, Mexico, nonprofit organizations, people, philanthropy, Pioneer Bank, poverty, Randy O’Leary, Rio Grande River, society, Television, Texas charities, Ty Pennington, volunteer, volunteers

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February 8th, 2009 at 1:55 am

Top 25 Movies Based on Real Life Love Stories

» by Aly Adair in: Books, Life, Movies, love

Listen to the Academy Award winning song Falling Slowly from the independent film Once based on the real life love story of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

Walk the Line

What else can I say about Johnny Cash and his relentless pursuit of June Carter to be his wife? This real life romantic love story has to go down in history as one of the most endearing love stories ever to end happily for two people in love. Despite tumultuous times, the love of Johnny Cash and June Carter was unconditional and something we all strive to achieve in our own lives, but few may actually know. It shows that people really can change when they love someone enough to not want to lose them. John and June met in 1956 and were married for 35 years. John and June are buried next to each other in Hendersonville, Tennessee. It was there where they lived most of their 35 years together in an 18-room home on Old Hickory Lake. After Johnny’s death, Barry Gibb and his wife Linda bought the 13,880 square-foot Cash family home to use for songwriting.

Anna and the King

Although this movie was banned in Thailand because of historical inaccuracies and disrespect for the monarchy, the love affair of King Maha Mongkut of Siam and British governess Anna Leonowens is passionate, romantic, and classically untimely. Anna and the King is a remake of The King and I, but provides viewers with compelling scenery and gripping performances by Jody Foster and Yun-Fat Chow. In real life, Leonowens wrote two books about her life in Siam and romance with King Mongkut. Margaret Landon later used Leonowen’s books for the novel Anna and The King of Siam. The love story inspired a movie with Rex Harrison, and a Broadway play, a movie, and a television series with Yul Brynner.

Napoleon and Josephine - A Love Story

Napoleon was a young soldier who rose to become the Emperor of France. Josephine was a beautiful widow who narrowly escaped the guillotine during the Terror in Paris in 1794. In 1796, they married but divorced in 1810 after Josephine failed to produce an heir. The romance between Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais that shocked the whole world is one of the best in history. Ultimately, Napoleon was exiled to Elba. Their passionate love story is further illustrated by the letters Napoleon wrote to Josephine, including this sample:

Dec 29, 1975
I awake all filled with you. Your image and the intoxicating pleasures of last night, allow my senses no rest.

Cleopatra

Cleopatra was a queen of ancient Egypt and one of the most fascinating women in history. According to legend she was not a particularly beautiful women, but rather a charming, seductive one. Cleopatra developed relationships with Julius Caesar as well as Mark Antony, two of the greatest Roman leaders of the day. We get a special bonus in the movie Cleopatra since Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton also had their own historic real life love affair.

Shadowlands

The real-life 1950’s romance between British writer C.S. Lewis and divorced American poet Joy Gresham is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The sheltered life of C.S. Lewis brought us his mythical, magical fantasy land of Narnia. In 1952, at age 54, Lewis would find that life is not just about fantasy as he met with Joy Davidman Gresham, a married mother of two and an award winning poet. Prior to their meeting, Gresham had corresponded with Lewis about his Narnia works, enjoyed by her children. In 1954, Gresham divorced her also famous writer husband after he asked Gresham to participate in a threesome with his mistress lover. In 1956 C.S. Lewis and Gresham married. After a long bout with cancer, Gresham died in 1959. During their short life together, Gresham and her children brought C.S. Lewis the happiest times of his life; ironically the fantasy he never wrote about as a bachelor became the best real life love story of his career.

Reds

Reds is the epic real-life love story of political activist John Reed and journalist Louise Bryant during the Communist revolution in Russia. In real life true Warren Beatty hopeless romantic fashion, Beatty wanted his long-time love Julie Christie to play Louise Bryant. Beatty was passionate about the making of Reds and he wanted it to be “their” movie together. Julie Christie was game to the idea up until Beatty was ready to film and then she backed out saying the role should be played by an American.

Mrs. Soffel

The unimaginable ending of a family is played out in this gripping real life love story between mother and housewife Kate Soffel and killer Ed Biddle. Kate Soffel regularly visited inmates to comfort them and read to them at a rural jail where her husband Peter was warden. Kate falls in love with inmate Ed Biddle and leaves her children and her husband. In real life, Ed and Jack Biddle were on death row for murdering a grocer during a robbery and for murdering Detective Fitzgerald from Pittsburg during their arrest. On January 30, 1902, Kate Soffel abandoned her children and husband to help Ed Biddle and his brother Jack escape from the Allegheny County Jail. Two days later, both Biddle brothers were killed and Kate was injured. Kate Soffel served two years in prison for her role in the escape. Kate Soffel died in August 1909 from typhoid fever at a Pittsburg hospital where her daughter Margaret was a nurse.

Gable and Lombard

Clark Gable and Carole Lombard met while filming No Man of Her Own in 1932. Lombard was married to actor William Powell, and Gable was married to a Texas widow with money who was 10 years older than Gable. However, it wasn’t until 1936 when they attended a party, danced all night together, and began one of Hollywood’s most notorious love affairs. In March 1939, while Gable was filming Gone With the Wind, Lombard and Gable were married in Kingman Arizona. Frankly my dear, this real life love story was meant to be.

Becoming Jane

This is the story of Jane Austen’s life and while not historically accurate, the plot leads viewers to believe that at a young age, Austen’s love affair with Irishman Tom Lefroy inspired her to write the romantic novel Pride and Prejudice published in early 1813. In fact, the real life romance was described as more of an adolescent crush. Austen was not known outside her circle of friends and family for writing Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen went on to write Emma and Mansfield Park. Austen died on July 18, 1817 at age 42 and later would become one of the most loved writers of British literature. Anne Hathaway, who stars as Jane Austen, learned to play the piano and worked with a dialect coach to prepare for the making of Becoming Jane.

Shakespeare in Love

William Shakespeare, while a minor, married Anne Hathaway who was 26 years of age and pregnant with Shakespeare’s child at the time of their marriage. Some scholars believe Shakespeare was in love with another woman, Anne Whateley, while others believe Anne Hathaway and Anne Whateley was the same woman. It’s a mystery! While the movie Shakespeare in Love includes fictional characters, the romantic plot does portray the insatiable lust and love Shakespeare had for women.

Amadeus

Amadeus is not your typical romantic love story movie, but the story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri fills our romantic hearts with a love of classical music, while ripping our hearts in half with the portrayal of jealousy and tragedy from a rival composer. Aside from falling in love with Mozart’s music all over again, we see Mozart and his love Constanze Weber in their glory. In real life, Mozart fell in love with Aloysia Weber in 1977 while looking for work in Mannheim. After four months in Mannheim, and no work, Mozart spent the next several years traveling around before settling in Vienna. In 1782, he married Constanze Weber, Aloysia’s younger sister.

The Sound of Music

Photos: The real Von Trapp Children and the real Baroness Maria von Trapp

The real-life love story of Maria and Captain Von Trapp cannot be left off this list. What are the odds of a singing nun leaving the convent after falling in love with a widowed singing Naval Captain with seven singing kids, and then marrying him? This real-life love story is just too much for hopeless romantics everywhere.

The Other Side of the Mountain

This is the real-life story of skier Jill Kinmont destined to win the 1956 Olympics but tragically paralyzed for life after a skiing accident during training in Alta, Utah. Jill’s husband left her after the accident, but Jill became a teacher and later found true love with Dick Buek played by Beau Bridges. Once again, Jill’s courage and strength is tested when Dick dies in a plane crash during their engagement to be married. Olivia Newton-John sang the Oscar nominated theme song Richard’s Window for this movie. Get the kleenex box for this one, but know that Jill is happy and currently living in California. Jill Kinmont is an inspiration to all.

Blaze

The real-life love affair of West Virginia burlesque stripper Blaze Starr with Louisiana Governor Earl K. Long from 1958-1960 shocked the nation. Mrs. Blanche Long had her husband committed thinking this would end the love affair, but Long and Starr stayed lovers until he died in 1960.

A Beautiful Mind

The real-life love story of John Forbes Nash and Alicia Larde may not be romantic but it certainly is another fascinating story of unconditional love. The movie shows us Alicia’s commitment to helping her husband overcome paranoid schizophrenia and later go on to win the 1994 Nobel Prize in economics. In real life, Alicia has to deal with a lot more than Nash’s mental illness. Nash had secret homosexual affairs and a child out of wedlock with a nurse while he dated Alicia. Despite Nash’s colorful lifestyle, Alicia and Nash married in 1957. The couple had a son in 1959 who suffers from episodic schizophrenia, and they divorced in 1963. Still devoted to their love for each, Nash and Alicia began living together again in 1970.

Bonds of Love

This is the real-life love story of divorced Rose Parks, who falls in love with Robby Smith, a mentally challenged man. Smith’s family is not happy about the relationship.

Bonnie and Clyde

Another Warren Beatty classic real-life love story teams Beatty and Faye Dunaway in a timeless portrayal of love between Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Everyone knows the ending, but who can argue that this real-life love affair was one of the most bizarre tales of dominance and commitment in romance history?

Bugsy

Finally Warren Beatty marries the real love of his life, Annette Bening, after playing real-life lovers Ben “Bugsy” Siegel and mistress Virginia Hill. Bugsy Siegel, a celebrity gangster who seized the mob opportunity of Las Vegas, and Virginia Hill, his outspoken Georgia peach, was a match made in Heaven - or Hell. Either way, their love affair was steamy, dangerous, and short-lived. It is thought that Benny and Virginia were married in Mexico in April of 1947. Benny summoned Virginia from Paris to their Hollywood home in June. Virginia came home only to fight with Benny, break a bottle on a Flamingo customer’s head, and flee to Zurich. On June 20, 1947, Benny Siegel was sprayed with gunshot and killed in their Hollywood home. Only five people attended Benny’s funeral, none of who were Virginia or Meyer Lansky. Nobody knows who killed Bugsy Siegel.

Mask

Mask is the true story of Roy L. “Rocky” Dennis played brilliantly by Eric Stoltz, who finds love with beautiful Diana Adams played by Laura Dern. Roy died in 1978 from a rare disease, craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, at age 16. Sadly in 1987, Roy’s 32 year-old brother Joshua died of AIDS. Ironically, Rocky’s overly protective but loving mother, Florence “Rusty” Tullis played by Cher, died at age 70 from an infection almost a month after a motorcycle accident. Tullis was riding a three-wheeler when a tire fell off causing her to lose control and throwing her into a telephone pole. During Rusty’s rehabilitation from two broken legs, she complained about stomach pain and was taken to a hospital where she later died. The lesson learned: all of these family members, while not perfect, lived life to its fullest and accepted each other despite their faults.

Once

Once is a modern musical based on the real life romance of Glen Hansard of the Irish band, The Frames, and Marketa Irglova, a Czech singer/songwriter. In a serendipitous twist, Marketa’s vacuum cleaner broke and it just so happened that Glen repaired vacuum cleaners for his dad’s production down the street from where Marketa sold flowers. During the next week they play music together using a borrowed piano in a nearby store and by the end of the week, record an album together.

Power and Beauty

This is the wild story of mistress Judith Campbell Exner who was made famous from her real life love affairs with Frank Sinatra, mob boss Sam Giancana, and most controversially John F. Kennedy. Judith died of cancer in September 1999.

Sugartime

Sam Giancana was no stranger to romance and love. The nation was once again stunned as we learned of the unlikely real life romance of Sam Giancana and Phyllis McGuire of the famous McGuire Sisters singing act. Sam and Phyllis met in 1960 in Las Vegas when The McGuire Sisters were on top of their world. Years later, during the production of Sugartime, Phyllis became furious and wanted nothing to do with it. The movie is criticized for its historical inaccurate and insensitive content, however the story of this real life romance still captures people’s curiosity of how a beautiful, successful McGuire sister, raised in an Evangelical setting, could fall in love with a notorious mob killer.

Titanic

You either love this movie or hate this movie. I still think this is one of the best romantic movies based on a real life story that was ever made. Even though the Titanic story is so tragic in real life, the fictional love affair of Jack and Rose in the movie seemed to pay tribute to the real people aboard the Titanic whose love was lost that fateful day. I cannot even imagine the grief of those families as they watched their loved ones die or know that they will die, never to see their loved ones again.

The Aviator

While this movie is more about Howard Hughes as an accomplished aviator, it still grabs the intriguing romantic involvement of Howard Hughes with Hollywood’s Katharine Hepburn and Ava Gardner. There is just something about a real life daredevil bad boy falling in love with real life Hollywood glamorous stars that makes The Aviator a die-hard romance story.

Evita

The real life love affair and marriage of former prostitute Evita Duarte with Argentinian president and dictator Juan Perón has to be one of the greatest rags to riches love stories in history. The chemistry between Madonna who plays Evita, and Antonio Banderas who musically narrates the love story, as Ché, is so passionate you will melt. Argentina was changed forever with the controversial leadership of Eva Perón.

Tags: Amadeus, anna and the king, Anne Hathaway, Annette Bening, Beautiful Mind, best movies about real love stories, best movies about real people, best romantic movies, best romantic movies about real people, best romantic movies about true stories, Blaze Starr, Bonds of Love, Bonnie and Clyde, Books, British governess Anna Leonowens, Bugsy, C. S. Lewis and Joy Gresham, Cher, cleopatra and marc antony, Ed Biddle, falling in love, Glen Hansard, Jane Austen, Jill Kinmont, john and june cash, Johnny Cash, Julie Christie, June Carter, King Maha Mongkut of Siam, Life, Louisiana Governor Earl K. Long, love, love, love affair, love story, Marketa Irglova, Mask, Movies, Movies, movies about real life love stories, Mozart, Mrs. Soffel, napoleon and josephine, Once, Phyllis McGuire, Pride and Prejudice, real life love affairs, real life love stories, real life romances, Reds, romance novels, Romantic movies, romantic movies based on real life, romantic movies based on true stories, Sam Giancana, scandalous love affairs, shadowlands, Shakespeare in Love, Sound of Music, Sugartime, The Other Side of the Mountain, top 25 love stories, top 25 love stories about real people, top 25 movies based on real life love stories, top 25 real love stories, top 25 romance stories, top 25 romances in history, top 25 romantic affairs, Valentine’s Day, Virginia Hill, Von Trapp, walk the line, Warren Beatty, William Shakespeare

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January 2nd, 2009 at 9:25 am

Top 20 Love Songs on MP3 Music Video Player

» by Aly Adair in: Life, Magic, Music

I Love You!
I Love You!
I Love You!
You Are My Soulmate!

Here is an MP3 music video player with these Top 20 Love Songs included:

Up Where We Belong by Joe Cocker
Somewhere by Barbra Streisand
The Boys of Summer by Don Henley
The Music of the Night from Phantom of the Opera
See You in September by The Happenings
I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
Come What May from Moulin Rouge
I Cross My Heart by George Strait
Any Way You Want It by Journey
Falling Slowly from the movie Once
I Walk the Line by Chris Daughtry
Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra
You’re the One That I Want by Olivia Newton John and John Travolta
Dancin’ in the Streets by Mick Jagger and David Bowie
Country Roads Take Me Home by John Denver
Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific
Summer Nights by Olivia Newton John
Summer of Love by the B-52’s
Lay All Your Love on Me by ABBA
Lady by Styx
You’re Timeless to Me from Hairspray

Tags: best love songs, Life, love, Magic, MP3 playlist of best love songs, MP3 playlist of love songs, MP3 playlist of top 20 love songs, Music, Music, relationships, songs about love, soulmate, top 10 love songs, Top 20 love songs, top ten love songs

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January 1st, 2009 at 11:55 am

Top 200 Romantic Movies

» by Aly Adair in: Movies, love

I guess you could say that watching romantic movies is my favorite pastime. After all, my husband is a sports fan - all year long. The 200 plus romantic movie titles on my list are broken down by: Guy Gets the Girl Romantic Movies, Other Great Romantic Movies, Classic Romantic Movies, Tearjerker Romantic Movies, Great Animated Romantic Movies, and Honorable Mention Romantic Movies.

My criteria for these romantic movies making the Best Romantic Movies list is whether the movie was good enough that I wanted to watch it more than once. Believe it or not, I have seen every movie on this list more than once. I may have left some off that I forgot I watched. LOL. The romantic movie titles with an asterisk by the title are movies that I have seen at least five times, making them my favorite romantic movies ever. My brother once asked what my favorite romantic movie is. That is a tough one, but I would have to say all versions of Pride and Prejudice.

Guy Gets the Girl Romantic Movies

Pride and Prejudice*
Sweet Home Alabama
The Notebook*
The Wedding Date
Sabrina*
Ever After *
French Kiss*
While You Were Sleeping*
The American President*
Dave
Grease*
Two Weeks Notice
Pretty Woman
The Wedding Planner*
The Cutting Edge
Return to Me*
You’ve Got Mail*
Medicine Man
Music and Lyrics
Life or Something Like It
Someone Like You
Murphy’s Romance
A Walk in the Clouds
Indecent Proposal
When Harry Met Sally*
Kate and Leopold
The Holiday
What a Girl Wants
She’s All That
Pure Country
Hope Floats*
The Truth About Cats & Dogs
Fools Rush In
Overboard
Notting Hill
Bed of Roses
One Fine Day
Doc Hollywood
Moonstruck
Babyboom*
Must Love Dogs
Something’s Gotta Give
As Good As It Gets
Only You
Serendipity*
The Butcher’s Wife
Love Affair*

Other Great Romantic Movies
Horse Whisperer
Shakespeare in Love
An Officer and A Gentleman
Failure to Launch
The Illusionist
What Women Want
City Lights
Bridget Jones’ Diary
Walk the Line*
Legally Blonde
Quigley Down Under
Pirates of the Caribbean
Atonement
Emma
Ladyhawke
Romancing the Stone
Annie Hall
There’s Something About Mary
Father of the Bride
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Far From Heaven
Witness
The Big Easy
Benny and Joon
Crocodile Dundee
The Fabulous Baker Boys
Sense and Sensibility
Raising Helen
Dracula
The Long Hot Summer
Yentyl
Mrs. Doubtfire
Frankie and Johnny
Dances with Wolves*
Bridges of Madison County
The Four Feathers
Say Anything
The Three Musketeers
Tombstone*
Bodyguard
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
The Majestic
Princess Bride
Working Girl
Milk Money

Classic Romantic Movies

The Sound of Music*
The King & I
Anna & The King
My Fair Lady*
Splendor in the Grass
It’s A Wonderful Life*
Magnificent Obsession
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Cleopatra
To Sir With Love*
Giant
The Graduate
An Affair to Remember*
Somewhere in Time
Roman Holiday
The Quiet Man
Casablanca
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner
Dr. Zhivago*
Reds
South Pacific
From Here to Eternity
Pillow Talk
Gone With the Wind*
Dangerous Liaisons
Romeo and Juliet*
Phantom of the Opera*

Tearjerker Romantic Movies

Love Story*
Up Close and Personal
Titanic
Evita*
Ghost
The Way We Were*
Braveheart
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Moulin Rouge*
West Side Story
Forrest Gump*
Autumn in New York
Always
In Love and War
Splendor in the Grass
Harold and Maude
Bugsy
Meet Joe Black
A Streetcar Named Desire
Tristan & Isolde
King Kong*
A Walk to Remember
Bonnie and Clyde
When A Man Loves A Woman
The Great Gatsby
Terms of Endearment
Untamed Heart
Legends of the Fall*
City of Angels
The Last of the Mohicans*
Funny Girl
Wuthering Heights*
Message in a Bottle
Forever Young
Michael
Pearl Harbor
The English Patient
Les Miserables
Out of Africa*
A Star is Born

Great Animated Romantic Movies

Lady and the Tramp*
Beauty and the Beast
The Lion King
Cinderella
101 Dalmatians
Anastasia
Shrek
Sleeping Beauty
The Little Mermaid
Aladdin
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Honorable Mention Romantic Movies

First Knight
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Just Like Heaven
Crossing Delancy
Babel
Alice’s Restaurant
Big Fish
Joe and the Volcano
Once
The Candidate
Sweet Dreams
The Aviator
Coal Miner’s Daughter
Troy
50 First Dates
The Saint
Coming to America
I Love Trouble
Love Actually
Splash
Never Been Kissed
Muriel’s Wedding
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
The Mask of Zorro
Far and Away
Dirty Dancing
Don Juan DeMarco
Man From Snowy River
Cocktail
Green Card
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Runaway Bride
Circle of Friends
Jerry Maguire
Chocolat
The Mirror Has Two Faces
The Wedding Singer
The Family Man
Peggy Sue Got Married
The First Daughter
Chasing Liberty
Princess Diaries

Tags: best romantic movies, classic love stories, classic romantic movies, DVDs, entertainment, love, love stories, Movies, Movies, movies about love, movies with happy endings, romantic comedies, sad movies, tear jerker movies, tear jerkers, top 200 romantic movies, top romantic movies

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December 31st, 2008 at 9:16 am

Top 10 Heartbreak Songs on MP3 Music Video Player

» by Aly Adair in: Life, Music

How Do You Mend A Broken Heart?

That’s another good Heartbreak Song along with this MP3 playlist of the Top 10 Heartbreak Songs. The MP3 media player includes these Top 10 Heartbreak Songs on music videos:

Cryin by KD Lang and Roy Orbison
I Fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline
I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.
Here I Go Again on My Own by Whitesnake
Cruel Summer by Ace of Base
It’s Over by Roy Orbison
The Winner Takes It All by ABBA
Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley
Love Hurts by Nazareth

Tags: best break up songs, best heartbreak songs, break up songs, broken heart songs, hurt songs, hurting songs, Life, MP3 playlist of best songs for heart break, MP3 playlist of broken heart songs, MP3 playlist of heartbreak songs, Music, Music, songs after breaking up, Top 10 Heartbreak songs, top ten heartbreak songs

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December 14th, 2008 at 10:09 am

Top 10 Songs About Luck for the New Powerball Lottery

» by Aly Adair in: Games, Life, money

Powerball Gets Better and Florida Joins: New Game Odds and Fun Facts About Lottery History

Before You Spend Your Millions, Read the Tragic Story of Powerball Winner Jack Whittaker

by Aly Adair

Winning the lottery is the only chance for many people to ever become a millionaire. The popular Powerball multi-state lottery game will change in 2009 and make your chances of winning any Powerball prize even better. The Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) is owned and operated by member lotteries and runs multi-state games like the Powerball game. The first Powerball drawing was held on April 22, 1992 and has since become the number one lottery game in the United States. Powerball is played in 29 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In 2009, the state of Florida is joining the MUSL and will offer the popular Powerball lottery game. The MUSL is changing the Powerball game to make it easier for more people to win prizes and make the Powerball jackpots even bigger. But, before you make your list of how to spend your millions of Powerball dollars, be aware that not all Powerball winners have had positive life changing experiences. One tragic story about a Powerball winner is Jack Whittaker who won the $315 million Powerball jackpot on Christmas morning in 2002. You can read the tragic story of Jack Whittaker at this page: ABC’s 20/20 to Air Tragic Story of Powerball Winner Jack Whittaker

New Odds and Prizes in the Powerball Lottery Game

The Powerball changes expected in January 2009, will create better overall odds for more people to win any of the Powerball prizes. The odds will drop to one in 35.1 of winning some Powerball game. This drop in the overall odds of winning any Powerball prize means that an estimated 3 million extra prizes can be won each year.

The Powerball jackpot odds will increase to one in 195.2 million, but with the addition of Florida, the average size of a Powerball jackpot is expected to increase to exciting levels. It is expected that the average Powerball jackpot will increase from $95.5 million to $141 million. In addition, the starting Powerball jackpot will increase from $15 million to $20 million. The Powerball jackpot pool percentage will increase by about 2% to help make the jackpot grow faster and larger. These new odds in the Powerball lottery are a result of adding 4 new white balls and removing 3 red balls.

The Powerball lottery ticket will still cost $1 with the option to Power Play with random prize multipliers for a cost of $2. The Powerball lottery game will also still include the Match 5 BONUS. More than half of the Powerball lottery players have used the $2 Power Play prize option.

Myths About Lottery Ticket Buyers

Many people think that the lottery is played by very poor people who cannot afford to be gambling. In fact, a 1999 Gallup Poll study was done called Gambling in America and found that 57% of American adults reported buying a lottery ticket in the past 12 months. People with incomes of $45,000 to $75,000 were the most likely to play. 53% of those people with incomes less than $25,000 a year were least likely to play lottery.

Read about lottery fun facts and the history of lottery here: Associated Content

The Ultimate MP3 Playlist of Lucky Songs:

Music videos for these songs about luck are included on the MP3 music video player below.

Luck Be A Lady Tonight - Frank Sinatra
I Feel Lucky - Mary Chapin Carpenter
The Lucky One - Faith Hill
Lucky - Britney Spears
I Got Lucky - Elvis Presley
Good Luck - Mirsa
We Are the Lucky Ones - Charmed
Trying Your Luck - The Strokes
Good Luck Charm - Jagged Edge
Lucky Song - Dean Martin

Click on the start button to hear a song. Click on the More button to change songs.

Tags: 2009, Aly Adair, Associated Content, best songs about luck, Florida joins Powerball, gambling, gambling odds, game, Games, Games, gaming, gaming news, good luck, Life, lottery, lottery fun facts, lottery games, lottery history, lottery myths, lottery news, lottery players, lottery winnings, luck, lucky, lucky songs MP3 playlist, money, new odds for Powerball, new Powerball game, new Powerball odds, Powerball, Powerball changes, Powerball improves, Powerball jackpots, Powerball states, Powerball winners, songs about feeling lucky, songs about good luck, states that have Powerball, top 10 good luck songs, top 10 songs about luck, top ten good luck songs, top ten songs about luck

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December 8th, 2008 at 8:59 am

Top 20 American Idol Performances on MP3 Player

» by Aly Adair in: Music, Television

These Top 20 American Idol Star Performances of All Time are my favorites.

The MP3 playlist of the Top 20 American Idol Performances of all time includes these songs:

Angels - David Archuleta
Bohemian Rhapsody - Constantine Maroulis
Always on My Mind - Fantasia Barrino
I Have Nothing - Jennifer Hudson
Sweet Home Alabama - Ruben Studdard
Solitaire - Clay Aiken
Islands in the Stream-Carrie Underwood and Kenny Rogers
Apologize - One Republic and David Archuleta
MacArthur Park - Carrie Underwood
Hallelujah - Jason Castro
Dream On - Michael Johns
You’ll Never Walk Alone - Jordin Sparks
I Walk the Line - Chris Daughtry
Let It Be - Brooke White
Super Bowl 2008 National Anthem - Jordin Sparks
Billie Jean - David Cook
Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me - David Archuleta
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Clay Aiken
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Katherine McPhee
Nessun Dorma - Paul Potts, BGT
National Anthem at Utah JAZZ Game - David Archuleta
Summertime - Fantasia Barrino

Tags: american idol, best american idol performances, Billie Jean, Bohemian Rhapsody, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Brooke White, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, David Archuletta, David Cook, Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me, favorite american idol performances, favorite american idol performances of all time, Hallelujah, I Walk the Line, Jason Castro, Jordin Sparks, Katherine McPhee, Let It Be, MacArthur Park, Michael Johns, Music, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Television, top 10 american idol performances, top ten american idol performances, You'll Never Walk Alone

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December 2nd, 2008 at 8:42 am

Top 20 Graduation Songs

» by Aly Adair in: Music, party

Congratulations Graduates on a Job Well Done

Here is the ultimate MP3 playlist of graduation songs for your graduation party.

The MP3 playlist for graduation songs includes these video performances:

Dream On by Aerosmith
Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo Ole
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Simply the Best by Tina Turner
First Day of My Life by Melanie C.
Suddenly I See by KT Tunstall
Friends Forever by Vitamin C
Change the World by Eric Clapton
Live to Win by Paul Stanley
Good Riddance by Green Day
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen
If I Can Dream by Celine Dion
What A Feeling from Flashdance
It’s My Life by Jon Bon Jovi
You’ll Never Walk Alone by Jordin Sparks
The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha
Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship
Schools Out for Summer by Alice Cooper
I Did It My Way by Elvis Presley

Tags: accomplishment, achievement, best graduation songs, best songs for graduation parties, body, college graduation, college graduation songs, education, friends, friendship, future, grad, graduation, graduation music, graduation songs, high school graduation, high school graduation songs, love, mind, mindbodysoulpatio, MP3 playlist for graduates, MP3 playlist for graduation, Music, Music, parenting, parents, party, soul, success, top 10 graduation songs, top ten graduation songs, ultimate graduations songs

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December 2nd, 2008 at 1:07 am

Top 10 Hatch Green Chile Recipes

» by Aly Adair in: Food, Holidays, Life

h1>Hatch Green Chiles Are in Season in August

Freeze or Can Hatch Green Chiles to Last All Year Long!

by Aly Adair

Are You a Chilehead?

What was Peter Piper thinking when he picked a peck of pickled peppers? Did he not know about New Mexico’s world famous Hatch Green Chiles? Apparently he was not a Chilehead who takes hotluck dishes to parties for the Chile Fix that gives you Chile Flashes. Well, I am a Chilehead and I thought I would share some fun stuff about chiles. For some great New Mexico green chile recipes, click here.

Is it Chili or is it Chile?

New Mexicans officially named their peppers “Chile” in the 1983 Congressional Record in order to differentiate their native specialty from the hamburger meal “Chili.” After all, New Mexico is the Chile Capitol of the United States, and to honor the efforts of the chile growers in the Hatch Valley, Senator Pete Dominici stood before the entire United States Senate and stated unequivocally that the dictionary spelling of the pod word was WRONG! Hatch is a village located about 30 miles northwest of Las Cruces and cultivates over 30,000 acres of the green chile pods each year.

Is it Hot or is it Not?

Chile heat levels are the results of two factors: genetics and environment. This is what makes the Hatch Valley one of the best areas for producing the tastiest green chile in the world. People often ask me what makes the Hatch chiles so much better than the rest. Hatch, New Mexico has the ultimate combination of perfect water levels, drainage, temperature levels, sunlight levels, and soil nutrients to grow green chiles. Plant breeders can often use genetics to produce a mildly hot pepper or a super hot pepper.

People ask me all the time in the grocery store - why am I smelling the peppers? After eating chiles my whole life, I can tell how hot the chile will be by smelling it. If you hold a chile close to your nose, usually, the stronger the smell, the hotter it will be. If it is really hot, it may give your nose, eyes, and fingers a little burning feeling. The painful way to determine the heat level of a chile is to taste the pod, but you can’t do that in the store. There are other laboratory methods used to determine heat levels of a pod, but who cares?

Capsaisin is what makes chile hot and is located around the stem, in the membranes and in the seeds. It you want to lessen the heat level of the chile before you use it in a recipe, remove the seeds and membranes from the pod. The hottest of peppers is the orange habanero, followed by the red habanero. Some people may be surprised to know that there are about 12 peppers hotter than the jalapeno. Dairy products like milk or yogurt are the best chile painkillers to use. Drowning your mouth with water will not take away the heat of a chile. Use gloves when roasting, peeling, and packing your chiles.

How to Roast a Peck of Peppers

Each year, I purchase 150 pounds of the world’s most famous New Mexico green chile and have them delivered to where ever I am living. I roast them and freeze them for use all year long on everything I eat. I use poblano, habanero, jalapeno, Serrano, Tabasco, and cayenne peppers. I have learned over the years how to perfectly roast a Hatch Green Chile so the skin peels right off:

Place the chiles on a cookie sheet
Set your oven on Broil and use the center rack
Broil fast until chiles turn brown on top - then turn them over to brown other side
When brown and skins start to swell, take them out and immediately put them in a baggie
Let the hot roasted peppers sweat in the sealed plastic baggie for 30 minutes
Put them right into the freezer or refrigerator until ready to use
Peel the peppers before cooking; skins should come right off after sweating in plastic

The Chile Pepper Institute

The Chile Pepper Institute is located at the New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. You may laugh, but Paul Bosland, Horticulture Professor at The Institute is considered one of the leading chile pepper breeders in the world. They provide all kinds of useful information about chiles:

* Chiles have one of the highest nutritional values of any ingredient. Chiles are loaded with B vitamins, Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C, and Vitamin A. Contrary to myth, there are no varieties of chiles that are poisonous, including the ornamental varieties.

* Chiles are believed to have originated in Brazil and Bolivia and found their way to the southwest by birds and natives. In 1888, a New Mexico horticulturist experimented with breeding by planting some seeds near Anaheim, New Mexico. The plants did well and in 1987, the Anaheim chile became a variety in the New Mexico pod type category.

Festivals for Chileheads

I Survived the Hatch Green Chile Festival in at Chuy’s Restaurant in Austin, Texas! This is a MUST attend Hatch Green Chile festival if you are in Austin from August-September.

Other Hatch Green Chile Festivals:

New Mexico Wine and Chile Festival - Memorial Day weekend
Hatch Chile Festival - Labor Day weekend in Hatch
Whole Enchilada Fiesta - first weekend in October in Las Cruces
The Chile Pepper Institute - Chile teaching and gardening - open daily

Mucho bueno comida! (or - Happy Eating!)

Tags: cooking with green chile, Food, fun facts about chiles, fun facts about green chiles, green chile, green chile festivals, green chile recipes, green chile stores, hatch, hatch green chile, Holidays, Holidays, how to roast green chile, Life, native americans, new mexico, ordering hatch green chiles

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December 1st, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Top 20 Food Ideas for Your Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Party

» by Aly Adair in: Food

ALL IN at the Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Party!

Playing poker at home is a great way to entertain guests in a social setting. Poker parties have never been more popular and a good poker party will be something that everyone talks about for weeks. Of course, there are laws about gambling in your home, so you have to be responsible about how you choose to conduct your home poker game. If you are not sure about the gambling laws in your state that cover home poker games or home gambling, you can visit pokerpages.com Home Poker and the Law to see the laws in some states.

One thing if for sure, a good home poker party has to include good poker food and good poker drinks. Here are some great poker party food ideas if you want to have a Texas Hold ‘em Poker Party or any kind of poker party for your friends.

Poker Party Hatch Green Chile Dip
For your Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Game

2 packages cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup milk
1 Tablespoon granulated garlic
2 small cans chopped Hatch Green Chiles
Whip together until smooth and serve with Fritos Corn Chips
This is a favorite family recipe that everyone will want to take home.

Poker Party Mexican Finger Food Tray
For your Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Game

3 varieties of Tacquitos cut in half: Chicken, Shredded Steak, and Ground Beef
Stuffed jalapenos
TGIF potato skins
Turkey wraps rolled up and cut in bite size pieces
Pico de Gallo Dip
Pace Tequila Lime Salsa Dip
Guacamole Dip
Chile con Queso Dip

Poker Party BBQ Finger Food Tray
For your Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Game

BBQ Wings
BBQ Ribs
BBQ Brisket
BBQ Sausage
Small party sandwich rolls
Cole slaw
Potato salad
Dill Pickles
Sliced Onions
Favorite BBQ sauce in center dish

Poker Party Sausage Finger Food Tray
For your Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Game

Sausage Biscuits
Little Smokies baked in BBQ sauce
Queso Flameado with Chorizo served with crispy tortilla chips (click here for recipe)
Pork Tamales dipped in Chuys hatch New Mexican Green Chili Sauce (click here for recipe)

Poker Party Food Entrée Ideas
For your Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Game

Chili con Carne served with Hushpuppies or Corn Bread. Top with grated cheese and minced onions
Carne Asada rolled in flour tortillas served with 7 Layer Bean Dip
Chuys Hatch New Mexican Green Chile Sauce w/Pork stewed and served with flour or corn tortillas (click here for recipe)
Fried Crawfish, Catfish, and French fries with Hushpuppies or Corn Bread; Peel and Eat Gulf Shrimp on Ice
Sizzling Beef and Chicken Fajitas, Shrimp Tacos, and Ground Beef Nachos
Chicken Fried Steak with mashed potatoes and gravy

Poker Party Dessert Food Ideas
For your Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Game

Flan
Low Fat Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing (click here for recipe)
Pecan Pie
Individual assorted cheesecakes with cherry, blueberry or strawberry toppings
Peach Cobbler
Homemade ice cream
Pecan Pralines
Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookies (click here for recipe)

Poker Party Snack Food Ideas
For your Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Game

Caramel Corn
Peanut Brittle
Rocky Road Candy (click here for recipe)
Sugar free candies for your diabetic and dieting poker party friends (click here for best)
Texas Trash (click here for recipe)

Poker Party Drink Ideas
For your Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Game

Margaritas
Virgin Mango Daiquiri
Sun Made Iced Tea
Sweet Leaf Tea
Texas Tea Cocktail
Corona Beer
Shiner Bock Beer

Poker Party Decoration Ideas
For your Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Party

Lone Star table glitter for the food table - red, white, blue stars
Texas Longhorn decorations
Sheriff badges on TV tables placed around poker table
Plastic bibs for that messy BBQ
Piñatas
Hanging strings of chile peppers
Green felt table cover

Sources:

http://www.pokerpages.com/articles/homepoker/law.htm

http://www.grouprecipes.com/4880/chuys-hatch-new-mexican-green-chile-sauce.html

http://www.recipezaar.com/60800

http://www.texascook.com/desserts/20.html

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/584005/ultimate_low_fat_chocolate_birthday.html?cat=22

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/436896/best_sugar_free_gourmet_candy_and_chocolates.html

http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe524.laurabushscowboycookies.html

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,164,158164-240198,00.html