The Lego creations in the Lego store in Disneyland Paris were pretty fantastic!
More Advent News!
Hello Coffee and Crochet Lovers,
Last year Jen made fantastic festive coloured baskets. (I liked them so much I asked for one for Christmas.)
This year she levelled up her game and decided to make 3 new types; Santa, Snowman, and Gingerbread Man.
Aren’t these fantastic? Each Advent calendar will come packaged in one of the baskets and the 24 packet 2 oz will require 2.
Here are the options for this year:
- 24 Bags at 1oz each ($50)
- 12 Bags at 2oz each ($50)
- 24 Bags at 2oz each ($100)
This is a pre-order for our Advent Calendars. Flavours will be picked from our current selection and a few experimental flavours.
There will be two sets of pre-orders.
Deadline to order first wave September 30th – Orders will ship mid-October.
Deadline to order second wave November 9th – Orders will ship mid-November.ALLERGY If you have allergies please email us at JenEricDesigns(AT)gmail.com to let us know your specific allergy.
Enjoy your coffee!
Éric
High School Musical – JenEric Movie Review
How This Works – Read Other Reviews
Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2006 film High School Musical.
Story
This movie simplifies everything about high school and condenses it into a plot that is much less stressful then the real thing. The loves story, which could have been super annoying, is played low key and the focus is really on expressing yourself through multiple likes and dislikes.
It’s simple and works well to get the message and the music through.
Score: 0.5
Characters
The characters are desperately trying to not be two dimensional in a one dimensional world. There’s growth and even the main characters that could have been bland were endearing.
They are cleverly built and work perfectly for the movie.
Score: 1
Dialogue
There’s nothing fantastic about the dialogue, but there are a few moments of tenderness between the love interests that is both sweet and genuine.
Score: 0.5
Visuals and Music
This is one of the most lavish high schools I’ve ever seen; it’s beautiful in it’s own right. Add in the singing and dancing and it works really well. I’ve always wondered why they have a camel for this musical. The music is poppy and very mid-2000’s but it has heart and is used to push the story forward.
The character framing for the love interests is always perfect, both reflecting their feelings and in showing them vs the world.
Score: 1
Fun
Despite never wanting to be in the same situation, I love the meet-cute at the beginning and the overall feel of the romance.
I despise the teachers and the complete lack of understanding of theatre and science. I also really dislike the “character says something to shut up friends that is mean and gets them in trouble with the love interest” trope.
I’m also extremely amused that this has one of the most realistic portrayals of computer hacking. (The science girl uses a preset macro program to shut the gym down.)
Score: 0.5
Overall
This is a fun movie that reminds me of high school while not looking anything like my high school. The music and story are fun and overall it’s pretty good.
I do wish that the character of Kelsi was more used, or that she got a spinoff.
Final Score: 3.5 Stars
Top 5 things I didn’t notice I did before Covid
Hello My Imaginary Friends,
There are a few odd tics that I noticed recently that I’m thinking I always had but didn’t notice…maybe it’s quarantine.
5. Misunderstand
I’ve noticed that when I want to lighten the mood, distract, or get further clarification, I’ll act as if I don’t understand any part of what the person is telling me. I think it’s a way of avoiding me making false assumptions, rather than playing dumb.
It’s a lot of fun with a 3 year old though. Especially with the old, “Hello hungry, I’m Papa.”
4. Sing
I knew that I sang with my headphones. (Poor coworkers and other passengers on the bus) But it turns out that I’ll sometimes make up songs about what I’m doing using a borrowed tune. It’s not pretty but it is funny and lifts my spirits.
The 3 year old seems nonplussed with a side of, “Papa, you’re just being funny.”
3. Mumble
I talk through my issues when I work or write. Normally that’s in my head but sometimes I’ve noticed that I do it out loud. Again my poor coworkers.
2. Fidget
I have a standing desk or I work on the couch… I do not stop moving my body for very long. I fidget and sit weirdly. I’m a bad stereotype of Bi people.
It’s not a problem unless the 14 month old decides he wants to play at my feet… then I invariably step on a toy.
1. Fools
I call people, situations, and things FOOLS more often than anyone who isn’t a cranky Middle-Earth wizard or a Disney villain should.
I know I do this more than I used to but 2020 and its people seems to need it.
Stay Safe and Be Kind,
Éric
Life-sized Beanies!
What a fantastic comfy cosplay of Beanie Babies by Ujjio Cosplay and friend (@molamolacosplay)!
Week 2 – Cinderella
Cinderella is one of my favourite classic Disney movies. Dragon agrees with me.
Here is the link for the downloadable materials. (Again, please let me know if you have any problems so I can fix it!)
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Watch movie | Sewing a button | Learn about mice | Make paper dolls | Flex |
Daily details:
Dance
Ballet and martial arts on alternate days
Music
Singing, listening to different pieces, learning piano
Crochet
The project she is working on (currently she is making herself a poncho)
Basic Information
We talk about the days of the week and play games with the cutouts of the names. We do the same thing with the names of the months of the year. You can find the print-outs here.
Printing words
Download materials
Counting objects/math-type activities
Practice counting objects and writing how many of each type – in download materials
Work on clocks – putting numbers on a clock and understanding hours (web link to blank clock faces)
Cinderella has how many stepsisters?
How many different types of animals help Cinderella? Mice, birds, dog, horse
Count popcorn kernels
We also added a clock activity! Here is the link to the clock.
Storytime
Activity
Sewing a button
Learn about mice (info here)
Make paper dolls (web) – do not use this link. The clothes are missing flaps and do not stay on the dolls.
Next week: Moana!
What a Croc!
This crocodile (or is it an alligator? I can never remember how to tell them apart!) was a cool little surprise in the shopping district of Disney Paris. Good thing it was only an animatronic – people kept putting their hands through the bars!
Beans to Coffee ratios
Hello Coffee Lovers,
Here’s a question that we’ve been asked in reference to the Coffee Advent Calendars:
How much coffee does a 1 ounce bag of beans make?
The issue is that ounces are a measurement of weight and not of volume. I went out and weighed the exact amounts and found: 1 ounce of coffee beans grinds to approximately 4 TBSP (59ml) ground coffee.
According to our brewing guide, you should be using 1 TBSP of coffee grounds for 3-5 Ounces of water.
1oz bag of coffee should make 12-20 ounces of coffee
I recommend using it to make 16 ounces for the perfect strength.
*WARNING*
A cup of coffee on your machine is equal to 6 ounces and not the standard US cup of 8 ounces. This can cause some serious confusion.
Thank you and hope this helps you brew a better cup!
Éric
Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe – JenEric Movie Review
How This Works – Read Other Reviews
Hello Cinephiles,
Today we’re talking about the 2020 movie Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe.
Story
The story was very well crafted to appeal to both old and new fans. It’s set in the middle-ish of the series and managed to balance character growth without affecting continuity. The humour is the wonderful mix of absurd and heartwarming that we come to expect from Phineas and Ferb. For a movie that has “Against the Universe” in the title, it didn’t feel quite as epic as it could have, more like a really long episode.
Score: 0.5
Characters
These are all the stock P&F characters – there’s little really new. I enjoyed the Isabella vs Doof and the development for Candace is pretty good, but being stuck in the middle means nothing too big or important could happen. (They can’t really wipe their memory again.)
Score: 0.5
Dialogue
This is the distilled power of writers who know their characters and world extremely well, but haven’t lost the love of them. The jokes are sharp and quick. There’s a lot to love from a canoe, to the absurd idea that the aliens explode, to a specific funny noise.
Score: 1
Visuals and music
Beautifully animated, if in a simple style, and fantastic music. The animators know how to use camera angles better than most directors.
The songs are peak P&F and absolutely awesome.
Score: 1
Fun
This series has been around for 13 years and the writers have only improved. It’s a fitting continuation to the show. I laughed and my daughter was glued to the screen.
Score: 1
Overall
A wonderful movie for old fans and great introduction to the show. It’s fun and funny, worth seeing but doesn’t really add anything new.
Final Score: 4 stars out of 5
Coffee Advent Calendar 2020
Hello Coffee Lovers!
We are doing the Advent Calendars again this year adding an extra option.
Here are the options for this year:
- 24 Bags at 1oz each ($50)
- 12 Bags at 2oz each ($50)
- 24 Bags at 2oz each ($100)
This is a pre-order for our Advent Calendars. Flavours will be picked from our current selection and a few experimental flavours.
There will be two sets of pre-orders.
Deadline to order first wave September 30th – Orders will ship mid-October.
Deadline to order second wave November 9th – Orders will ship mid-November.ALLERGY If you have allergies please email us at JenEricDesigns(AT)gmail.com to let us know your specific allergy.
Thank you!
Éric