New Dark Shadows T-Shirts

My husband and I have been watching the original Dark Shadows on Amazon and I was inspired to make these t-shirts.

The original vampire heartthrob! Barnabas Collins of Dark Shadows. Available in other colors. Get ours now!

Every episode of the cult classic tv show, Dark Shadows, was introduced by a voice over that began "My name is Victoria Winters." What a great way to pay tribute to one of tv's greatest cut classics! Other colors available. Get yours now!

 

New Twin Peaks T-Shirts

Four new designs from KRW Designs to celebrate one of my most favorite show - the 90's TV classic by the twisted and fabulous David Lynch - Twin Peaks!

This is my favorite (so far).  Poor, tragic Harold Smith. Agoraphobic grower of beautiful orchids in Twin Peaks. Who could forget his haunting suicide note? "J'ai une âme solitaire" - loosely translated from French, it means I am a lonely soul. Get this exclusive "I am a lonely soul" shirt.

Who can forget when Pete Martell accidentally served Special Agent Dale Cooper and Sheriff Harry S. Truman coffee that had been fish filtered? Classic! Get this exclusive "Fish in the Percolator" shirt.

 

And who didn't wish they could be Diane and be on the receiving end of all of Dale's hilarious recorded messages? Get this exclusive "Chocolate Bunnies" shirt

 

 

 

Then there's everyone's favorite - The Log Lady! Thank goodness Margaret was there to translate for her log! Get this exclusive "My log does not judge" shirt

 



Murder By Death Talking Moose T-Shirt

Who doesn't love Murder By Death! See the video clip below.

Get this Exclusive T-Shirt from KRW Designs

 

Oy with the Poodles Already Gilmore Girls Shirt

 

Get this one-of-a-kind Oy with the Poodles Already Gilmore Girls Shirt!

 

$25.99 - on SALE now for $22.09

 

Get Yours Now!

 

(watermark does not appear on printed shirt)

 

Tribute to the Late, Great Robin Willimas

This is a tribute video my son, Aidan, created for Robin Williams

Tips For Creating a Successful Subscription Box

This post was originally made on my Subscription Box Report blog

 



I recently received a box to review from a nice lady who was offering demo boxes to bloggers. I have to say, I was disappointed and I felt horrible making my reveal video, which I have chosen not to post.  Why? Because I truly believe this lady can do better, and I hope she will. And while some may think I owe it to my readers to help them avoid what I think is a sub-par box, I just couldn't in good conscience post it.

I could see the effort that went into what was sent. I am a crafter and creator myself. I saw the heart she put into what she made. It was a failure based on, what I believe, is truly not knowing better rather than not caring or trying to get away with not doing her best, as some boxes might do. So, I sent her a long email and explained my position. I've only just sent it, so I don't know yet how she'll take it. I hope she takes it in the spirit it's intended. I do think with a few tweaks and a little extra effort she can produce a much better and more desirable box. And I hope I will be fortunate enough to see that happen.

But it has made me think. I get emails and Tweets a lot from people asking me questions about starting subscription boxes. Honestly, I'm not sure why people ask me. I don't run a subscription box myself. But I suppose I subscribe to enough of them to know what works and what doesn't. I did work for a company for 2 years representing independent artists at celebrity gift lounges in Los Angeles, and I did work with many of them to improve their packaging and presentation.

(Dance Mom Kelly Hyland with my Swarovski Crystal Clutch)

I have come up with what I feel is a good rule of thumb: The Three Ps of Subscription Box Creation: Presentation, Packaging and Pricing. (** Actually now the Six Ps - the other 3 will follow at the end)

Presentation: To me, this is one of the most vital parts of a subscription box. Yes, obviously, the content of the box is the most important part, but packaging is the 2nd. Unless you purchase custom shipping boxes like the ones PopSugar, Loot Crate, Marvel Collectors Corp and Nerd Block use, you really need to make sure you are packaging your products inside some sort of container before you put them into your shipping box or envelope. 

Many companies purchase boxes from suppliers and customize them with a label. You can print the labels at home or get them from a company like Vistaprint.  If you really want to make an impression, you can get custom printed or embossed packaging, which, obviously makes a great impression, but it's not necessary.

Now, not every outer packaging needs to be expensive or custom.  For example, Ipsy, a monthly cosmetic subscription, puts all its products into a small cosmetic pouch every month and then ships in a fun, hot pink bubble wrap envelope.  The cosmetic pouch is part of your monthly subscription, but it holds everything together and protects items during shipping, plus makes a fun reveal. And every month when that hot pink bubble wrap envelope comes, I know my Ipsy bag has arrived!

(My last 3 Ipsy bags)

Packaging: Is closely tied to presentation. Presentation goes beyond the outer packaging. Once your customer opens that box or bag, what do they see? Is everything tossed in willy-nilly? Are your individual products packaged?  Now, naturally, depending on your items and packaging, you might not be able to arrange things nicely. Or perhaps you can, but by the time they arrive at their destination they are all jumbled. Customers understand the difference between those packages which could have been organized and those that will shift around no matter what.  And some items won't have additional packaging. For instance, lip stick and lip glosses usually come as is. So do nail polishes.  But other items, especially items that you received in packaging originally, should be packaged when going to your customer.  If you purchase something in bulk to divide up amongst your subscription boxes, make sure you create packaging for them.  Customers know when something that should be wrapped up isn't an it doesn't sit well.

If you have a lot of items to send, or items that you can't arrange nicely, consider a bag. E.L.F Cosmetics send their items in a nice black box, but when you open that box, there is a big, black, drawstring bag with their logo on it. You get to reach into that bag and take your treasures out one by one - or dump it all on the table if that's your preference. It's like Christmas! Consider your items and your customer and what will make the best reveal for them.

Also, if you create products to go into your box, or you curate items from creatives, insist on professional packaging.  No cardboard cut outs. No slips of home printer paper. No zip lock baggies or brown paper lunch bags. The internet is full of sources to package products. Whatever you put in your subscription box should look like it's ready to be put on display in a retail store.  If you wouldn't want to see something in a retail store packaged like that - don't put it in your box.

Scented items: Most of us love a nice scented candle or other scented item. They're lovely. But items with an odor, no matter how pleasant, can leach into other items in the box. If you have an item that has an odor or will absorb and odor (like a cloth item), please make sure to package it, even it if is not normally packaged.  No one wants to get a lovely eternity scarf that smells like the eucalyptus foot balm that came in the same box.

Pricing: Most boxes promise a retail value of a certain amount or range. This is one of the draws of subscription boxes: Getting a deal on items you might not otherwise have tried or even known about.  But you must be realistic and honest about your pricing.

Of course, if you obtain your products from known retail channels, people can see for themselves what the retail value is and you are covered. But if you include hand crafted items, please take the time to research the items on various channels, such as Etsy and eBay. Just because an artisan you are considering including tells you their item is worth $20 doesn't mean it really is. If you look around and similar items are selling on various markets for only $12, you need to have a serious talk with this vendor.  Your customers are savvy. They know what they are getting and they know if you are valuing it too high.  Sadly, in the world of hand-crafted, far too many people aren't willing to pay what an item is truly worth to begin with, which is unfortunate, and can, understandably lead to the temptation to inflate a value. After all, if an artist can say his or her work was featured in a subscription box with a value of $20 and now they are offering it to you on sale for $18, you should think you're getting a deal, even though in reality you can buy similar items from other vendors for $12.

Ask yourself: If I saw this in a store for this price, would I buy it? And be completely honest with yourself. If the answer is "no", don't include it, or reduce the value to a more reasonable and realistic value.

If you are getting products from retailers and you want to include luxury products, make sure your customers know you are working with luxury brands. If a customer is expecting $40 worth of product for their $20 investment and you send them 2 items and say 1 of them is worth $35 and it's some tiny sample size of some big luxury line, that customer might not feel they got their money's worth, even if that really is what the vendor charges for that trial size.  Perception is everything.  Your customer needs to be prepared for the idea that they could get such items, so if you work with luxury products or high ticket items, make sure it' clear to your subscribers.

UPDATE:

The other Three Ps: Paperwork, Perspective, Philanthropy.

Paperwork. I recently received a box from someone with no paperwork inside. The return address was a shipping warehouse. I have no idea who sent it to me. It's not something I subscribed to. I have had several people say they are going to send me a box to review, but they don't always follow through. So.... I have no idea who sent this box.  None.

Also, I have received boxes where the list of items or other info was on regular printer paper.  Look people, even if you take the time to trim the edges with fancy scissors, it's still basic printer paper and looks cheap and unprofessional.  No one wants to subscribe to any box that gives an impression other than being 100% professional.  Avery and others offer postcards, business cards, rack cards etc, that you can print at home. Invest in some.  Or use Vistaprint - but invest in putting your best foot forward. A subscription box that comes across as someone's home hobby does not instill confidence.

Perspective: What your customers perceive your box is about versus what they actually receive, and the perceived value of those items is paramount to the success of your subscription service. You must make sure your box is clearly defined. I got a box that is literarily called a "fashion box" - it's in its title - that contained a can of coconut water. Huh? What was I supposed to do - put it on a cord after I drank it and wear it around my neck? How is that a fashion item? 

Do not deviate from the niche you have designated for your product. You have given your customers a certain expectation and you need to meet it.  If at any time you decide you want to broaden the scope of your company, you need to either offer additional box options or redefine your box and give our customers ample time to decide if they want to stay with you or not. Don't pull the rug out from under them and say "surprise, we're becoming a lifestyle box! Here's your latest box!" You need to give them at least one billing cylcle's notice.

Perspective also comes into play with your products. As I discussed in the Pricing section, the concept of luxury is subjective. If you claim to offer luxury products, make sure your items are something your customers can easily verify as luxury. Now, if you are Nina Garcia or Rachel Zoe and you include an item in your box from an up an coming designer or artist and call it luxury, you have an established reputation to back up your claim. Customers acknowledge not only your years of experience and hard work in your field that have earned you that reputation, but that you are putting that reputation at risk when you back a new horse. If you aren't famous or well-known, you don't have the clout to support your claims of newly discovered sources. So what do you do? Stick to brands and designers that can be found and verified by your customers, or do not refer to items by new sources as 'luxury' if you aren't 110% certain there is evidence to support your claim.  It's going to take a long while for your word to mean something.  I know that's hard for some of you to take. especially if you've got an education and job experience that you believe qualifies you to make these decisions.  And perhaps you are qualified and you are right - but, unfortunately, it comes down to Perspective, and you are going to have to earn your customers' trust first.

Not just with luxury products, but with all products.  Don't fill out your box with items from Oriental Trading Company and places like that. If it looks or feels like it could come from the Dollar Tree or the dollar bin at Target - leave it out. You might think it's cute, but your customers are expecting a perceived value and you have to meet it. No skimping, no cutting corners and no simply pleasing your own self. You must always consider it from the perspective of the people who have paid you for their subscription.

Philanthropy: This is a tough one. To donate or not to donate?  It may be cynical, but a lot of customers will say "oh isn't that great, part of the subscription price goes to charity", but what they are thinking is "why do I have to pay more so you get a big tax write off at the end of the year?"  Does that mean everyone thinks that? No. Of course not. There are some customers who will like the idea of a donation going to some organization or other.  But they will be the exception, not the rule - on most boxes. There are exceptions to this rule too.

So, what do you do if there is a cause dear to your heart and you were hoping to make a difference with your subscription boxes? You have to make a choice. Do you want to be in the subscription box business or do you want to be in the fund raising business? If your main goal is to raise funds for charity, a subscription box service is probably not the best choice.  But if your main objective is a subscription box business, consider other avenues for the charity. Put links on your website. Offer special items or limited edition boxes for sale where the proceeds go to that charity. Enclose info about your charity with your boxes. You can even offer a choice to opt in for an extra charge for a donation per box. But let your customer decide if and when they want to contribute.

The exceptions: Some boxes may be in so specific a niche that having the price raised slightly to include donations might be a plus. For example: If you offer a food box that is all non-GMO and part of the subscription price goes towards lobbying for GMO labeling and other causes that matter to the type of people who would subscribe to your box, then that is probably actually a selling point.  But it's only in niche boxes where things are very specific that involuntary charitable donations would be a fairly universal plus to your customers.


Bottom line: Competition is fierce in the subscription box industry. You only get one chance to make a first impression. Make sure you are always putting your best foot forward every time a box goes into the mail.  Always ask yourself if you can do better, look for ways to improve and offer your customer a better experience.  Remember, you are creating these boxes for your customers, not for yourself, so put yourself in their shoes. Even Wantable, one of the leading subscription box companies, recently made a change to its packaging for its accessory box for a better experience for customers.

I hope some of you who have subscription boxes or are looking to start subscription services find this helpful.




Some Helpful Links:
VistaPrint
PaperMart
Nashville Wraps









** This page contains affiliate links

PHISHING WARNING: AVOID WALLPART AT ALL COSTS

Reposted from Peter and Company

PHISHING WARNING: AVOID WALLPART AT ALL COSTS
Over the past 24 hours I have been notified by several people about pages of Peter & Company and other pieces of my artwork being supposedly “available for sale” through a site called Wallpart (which I will not link in this post, for reasons explained below), and in the same time span I have seen many other artists make journals/submissions/posts talking about finding their own work on there as well. Naturally, the inclination of any artist finding their work available for sale without their consent is to head to the “Report Violation” link attached to every listing and file a complaint to have it removed.

PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT FILL OUT THE VIOLATION REPORT ON WALLPART’S WEBSITE.

This site already has a bit of a history, and I’ve read several posts from people who dove into their site code and snooped around. Long story short, there are some very devious bait-and-switch tactics going on. Essentially:

- I have not found any confirmation that they are actually selling any of the images/prints that appear on their site. Their “search function” is nothing but scraper software, which essentially just loads up hits from Google Images and displays them within a pre-built “shop” template based on the image’s resolution. This is why every single piece on there has a title that is lifted directly from whatever gallery site (FA/DA/Weasyl) or general website was hosting it. Example: They have my title card from my Kickstarter page for the P&C pilot, with the title lifted straight off the description.
- The dependence on Google Images is also why doing a search for your own name will turn up different results each time, or possibly no results at all, even though the listings still seem to exist if you have a direct URL to them. Their “search” function never actually searches their own listings; it even offers the same real-time suggestions that you’d get from a Google search bar. Confusingly enough, performing the same search multiple times often returns different results at different times throughout the day. I was able to find dozens of P&C pages supposedly for sale by searching my name yesterday, but today none of them show up in search results – even though the direct links to the page forms (which I saved) still exist.
- Their “Report Violation” link is actually a 100% phishing form. If you fill it out, no matter what you put there, you will be sending them a LOT more than you anticipated. This is actually the main purpose for the site’s existence – they completely anticipate artists being upset about their work supposedly being sold, so they developed a system to exploit those who complain.
- Various pieces of malware and other malicious code have been found embedded throughout their pages at different times. This site is just bad news all around.
- The site itself is hosted in Russia, and has already swapped web hosts 4 times in the past few months. The current host is listed as ENOM, and other bloggers/artists have already sent complaints and reports to their contact page, with little luck. It looks like it’s already been branded and caught in the past and is trying to keep itself alive.
- Also, for a site claiming to have “billions of images” available for print, to only have a little over 3,000 “happy customers” should be a pretty big red flag on its own.

So please – DO NOT VISIT THIS SITE. Do not attempt to search for your own artwork in its listings; if your work shows up on Google, it is guaranteed to be on that site. They’re even listing “prints” of web banners and other graphical elements that were never intended for printing. Do not give it page views, and most importantly DO NOT FILL OUT ANY VIOLATION FORMS, EVEN IF THE ARTWORK ON THE PAGE IS YOUR OWN. Instead, there is a Change.org petition asking for the domain to be stripped and brought down.

Please share the word around as much as possible so other artists don’t potentially fall into their trap by thinking that their “Report Violation” page is actually what it claims to be. These people are pure scam artists, plain and simple. Avoid them at all costs.

Zoro the Gay Blade, Dressing Poorly T-Shirt

Zoro the Gay Blade, Dressing Poorly T-Shirt

An original design by KRW Designs on American Apparel Unisex Fitted Tee – Red.  Available only at Skreened

 

One of the funniest movies of all time. Well, I think it's one of the funniest movies of all time. If you haven't seen it - I highly recommend it! George Hamilton is hysterical! An original, one-of-a-kind design by KRW Designs $22.99

WKRP Turkeys Away T-Shirt

Classic WKRP Turkeys Away Thanksgiving T-Shirt

 

An original design by KRW Designs on American Apparel Unisex Fitted Tee – Lemon. Available only at Skreened

 

Perhaps the most iconic Thanksgiving television episode of all time. Who can forget Less's remote report from the Pine Dale Shopping Mall? Don't wait for Thanksgiving though - this baby's good all year long! An original, one-of-a-kind design by KRW Designs  $22.99

 

Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right Funny Tee Shirt

 

Clown to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right Funny Tee Shirt

An original KRW Design on American Apparel Unisex Fitted Tee – Black available only at Skreened

 

I've always loved the Steeler's Wheel song "Stuck in the Middle With You", even before Reservoir Dogs made it cool again.  Now you can have this humorous shirt with clowns lining up on your left and jokers lining up on your right.  An original, one-of-a-kind design by KRW Designs $24.99

Don't Forget The Inner Beauty

This was originally posted to Subscription Box Report

As you may have noticed, if you've been following my blog, Pinterest, FaceBook, YouTube etc., I haven't posted any photos of myself. Not even in the videos.  All you see are my hands and arms. I don't like to have my picture taken. I avoid it as much as possible.

I wasn't always this way. When I was young, I'd jump in front of the camera, especially with my friends without any provocation at all. Just so long as a camera was present, I was ready to be photographed, even if it would end up being a silly picture.  I didn't mind being laughed at. Then.

I'm 47 now. I have 2 wonderful children, who you may have seen in the May BarkBox video. And I am happily married.  Like most women, I look very different from when I did when I was young. And I'm ok with that, for the most part. I've got no problem with growing older. I'm vain enough to cover the grays when I get fed up with them, but I don't obsess about looking younger. I'm 47, and I don't care if I look 47. I've lived all of those years and gone through a hell of a lot. Some of it good, some of it bad, some of it terrible and some of it wonderful.  And it's all made me who I am today, and I'm a pretty darn good person, even if I do say so myself. Oh, sure, I'm as full of flaws as anyone, and I admit it. But I try to be a good friend, good sister, good wife, good mother and good person in general and I think I succeed more than I fail.

So what does this have to do with photographs? Good question. One of the things that has happened in the course of 47 years is that I have gained weight. A lot of weight. I was never thin and I have always had a very round, full face that made me appear heavier than I was, even when I wasn't plus sized. But now I am very plus sized. And there is a long list of things that went into making me this way. And no, it wasn't sitting on the couch, eating bon bons while I watched soap operas.  I've had various illnesses and life situations that have contributed, and yes, I take responsibility for the fact that I do not always eat well. I eat too much take out and too much junk food, though I have tried to curb that.

But one of the things that has contributed the most was the 2 years I didn't want to leave the house and literally hated myself. Why? Because when I weighed much less than I do now, but was still quite heavy, I noticed people starting to treat me differently. They looked at me different. I would try and strike up conversations with the other moms waiting for their kids at school and I would get the "once over". You know, where they do an obvious up and down look, letting you know they are judging you on how you look. And then it would be made clear that I wasn't welcome to the "group". Nothing would actually be said, it was all body language. Like closing ranks, so I was standing outside them and their backs were to me and I wasn't included in conversations. I would be in stores and people would think it was ok to make comments. Like the day I was shopping and I put a bag of Doritos snack packs in my carriage because my son liked to have them with his lunch and a total stranger actually said to me "yeah, 'cuz you need those."

Those are only a couple of examples, but there are many more. And eventually, I felt worthless. I felt I must be so disgusting to everyone who saw me that I shouldn't even be allowed to be seen and I wouldn't leave the house except to take my son to and from school, go to Dr.'s appointments or go to my sibling's homes. For nearly 2 years. Two years.

I won't get into how I eventually over came it and fought to get myself back in the world, but I did. It wasn't easy but I did it and I had a lot of help from people who came to know me without seeing me and didn't judge me when they did.

Recently, on May 4th, I was out with my family at a comic book store.  I was sitting alone on the steps while the others were inside because I have arthritis in my hips and knees and there were no chairs in the shop and I had been standing and walking a long time. While I sat a lot of people passed the shop.  Two young guys pointed at me and said "look, they got Jabba the Hut out for Star Wars Day." What makes people think that it's ok to say things like that?  For a little while I was taken back to that time in my life where I didn't want to leave the house. It was a terrible feeling.  I posted about it on FaceBook and got a lot of positive reinforcement from friends on there. Ironically, even from some people who picked on me for being fat when we were kids. Just goes to show how times change.

Today, I had to go renew my driver's license. Since I had put on makeup and gone through all the trouble of dealing with our RMV, I decided to try taking a "selfie". Not something I'd ever done. I debated posting it and then made a command decision to post it without thinking. I don't know when I've got some many likes and comments on a picture.  People I've been friends with online for years were "glad to see me". Friends from the past were happy to see me again and say they can still see the "me" they knew. And many kind and complimentary things were said, though, trust me, that wasn't expected. A couple of "nice pic" comments from my nearest and dearest were the most I thought would happen.

I was brought to tears, happy tears, by some of the comments people made. And those comments made me remember, these friends see me as beautiful even though many of them had never seen my face. I am beautiful to them because I am kind, generous, thoughtful, etc.  One of my friends said: "...and the smile that makes other people happy and makes THEM want to smile is still there.. NONE of its changed honey. Plus the heart, soul, spirit that drives the whole thing has just gotten better with age, making the whole Damn pkg MORE beautiful. Don't let some lil dumb stranger keep you from the world or hiding in the house, the world outside might be a better place if you joined it."

And she's right. The world needs people who are kind and thoughtful and want to be good to others.  So, for all you plus size ladies, or ladies who aren't "perfect", don't hide. You are more beautiful than you realize. And the world needs you so much more than it needs another anorexic Barbie doll who cares more for their own looks than for other people. (or jerks who think it's ok to amuse themselves at the expense of others. Who raises these people?)

This was me in 1985. I was very average sized. But I was still picked on for being "fat", though I was not plus-sized.

This was me in 2011 when I self-published my first book. People asked for pics of me to promote the book. So what did I do? I hid behind the book.

 

And this is me today. Literally, today. I took this in the car this morning and it's the first "selfie" I've ever taken. And I'm actually posting it here for the world to see.

So, while I post on this blog, FB, Pinterest, etc about beauty products and fashion accessories, I hope you will all remember that there is so much more to beauty than what comes in those boxes and what we see on the magazine pages.  You are worth the cost of any beauty products you choose to buy and use. If they make you feel good, feel happy, then buy them and use them - and be seen! Don't be afraid to wear the big statement necklace because you don't want to attract attention to yourself - attract all the attention you can! You are lovely! You do that jewelry just as much justice as someone in a size 2.  Develop a style, a flair of your own and fly your flag high and proud!

Because you are beautiful!

TCM's 2015 31 Days of Oscar Schedule

It happens every year, just like clockwork. Turner Classic Movies shows some of the very best movies ever made during its 31 Days of Oscar salute.  Here is the schedule below. Set your DVRs!  (Especially since, inexplicably, some of the most popular movies seem to be on in the middle of the night)

I have highlighted my most favorite recommendations in red. Not that that doesn't mean I don't recommend other movies on this long list. Just that these are the ones I return to again and again.

For more info, go to TCM.com

Enjoy!

2015 SCHEDULE


Sunday, February 1
Daytime Genre: Adventure
6:00 AM The Old Man and the Sea (1958)
7:30 AM The Jungle Book (1942)
9:30 AM The Four Feathers (1939)
11:45 AM The Wind and the Lion (1975)
2:00 PM The Great Race (1965)
5:00 PM Around the World in 80 Days (1956) (best picture winner)
Primetime
8:00 PM And the Oscar Goes To… (2014)
10:00 PM Wings (27) (Paramount pool title) (best picture winner)
12:45 AM All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) (best picture winner)
3:00 AM Cimarron (1930) (best picture winner)
5:15 AM The Broadway Melody (1929) (best picture winner)


Monday, February 2
Daytime Genre: Melodrama
7:15 AM Camille (1937)
9:15 AM Random Harvest (1942)
11:30 AM Humoresque (1946)
1:45 PM The Great Lie (1941)
3:45 PM Magnificent Obsession (1954)
5:45 PM Imitation of Life (1959)
Primetime
8:00 PM Little Women (1933)
10:00 PM 42nd Street (1933)
11:45 PM Public Enemy (1931)
1:30 AM Grand Hotel (1932) (best picture winner)
3:30 AM Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1932)
5:30 AM The Champ (1931)

Tuesday, February 3
Daytime Genre: Spy
7:00 AM The Red Danube (1949)
9:00 AM Suzy (1936)
11:00 AM The Fallen Sparrow (1943)
12:45 PM Ice Station Zebra (1968)
3:15 PM Foreign Correspondent (1941)
5:30 PM North by Northwest (1959)
Primetime
8:00 PM A Tale of Two Cities (1935)
10:15 PM Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) (best picture winner)
12:45 AM The Thin Man (1934)
2:30 AM Top Hat (1935)
4:30 AM The Lost Patrol (1934)
5:45 AM Roberta (1935)

Wednesday, February 4
Daytime Genre: Sports
7:15 AM Good News (1947)
9:00 AM Million Dollar Mermaid (1952)
11:00 AM Grand Prix (1966)
2:00 PM Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)
4:00 PM The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
6:15 PM Pat and Mike (1952)
Primetime
8:00 PM Swing Time (1936)
10:00 PM The Awful Truth (1937)
12:00 AM Grand Illusion (1937)
2:00 AM The Life of Emile Zola (1937) (best picture winner)
4:15 AM The Last of the Mohicans (1936)

Thursday, February 5
Daytime Genre: Gangster
6:00 AM Manhattan Melodrama (1934)
8:00 AM Star Witness (1931)
9:30 AM Smart Money (1931)
11:00 AM The Public Enemy (1931)
12:30 PM G-Men (1935)
2:00 PM Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
4:00 PM Pete Kelly’s Blues (1955)
5:45 PM Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964)
Primetime
8:00 PM The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)  * a 'must see'
10:00 PM And the Oscar Goes To… (2014)
12:00 AM You Can’t Take it with You (1938) (best picture winner)
2:15 AM Four Daughters (1938)
4:00 AM Boys’ Town (1938)

Friday, February 6
Daytime Genre: Coming-of-Age
6:00 AM Captains Courageous (1937)
8:00 AM Little Women (1949)  * a 'must see'
10:15 AM My Life as a Dog (1986)
12:00 PM The 400 Blows (1959)
1:45 PM Splendor in the Grass (1961)
4:00 PM Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
6:00 PM The Reivers (1969)
Primetime
8:00 PM Wuthering Heights (1939)
10:00 PM Gone With the Wind (1939) (best picture winner)
2:00 AM The Man in the Iron Mask (1939)
4:00 AM Pride and Prejudice (1940)

Saturday, February 7
Daytime Genre: Westerns
6:00 AM How the West Was Won (1962)
9:00 AM The Naked Spur (1953)
11:00 AM And the Oscar Goes To… (2014)
1:00 PM She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949)
3:00 PM Cheyenne Autumn (1964)
5:45 PM The Professionals (1966)
Primetime
8:00 PM The Philadelphia Story (1940)
10:00 PM Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)
11:45 PM Citizen Kane (1941)
2:00 AM Mrs. Miniver (1942) (best picture winner) * always mean to watch. Going to make sure I dvr this year!
4:15 AM The Great Dictator (1940)

Sunday, February 8
Daytime Genre: Family
6:30 AM Tom Thumb (1958)
8:30 AM The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962)
10:45 AM Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)
1:15 PM The Brave One (1956)
3:00 PM National Velvet (1944)
5:45 PM The Yearling (1946)
Primetime
8:00 PM Lassie Come Home (1943)
10:00 PM Casablanca (1942) (best picture winner)  * a 'must see'
12:00 AM Gaslight (1944)  * a 'must see'
2:00 AM Woman of the Year (1942)
4:00 AM Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)

Monday, February 9
Daytime Genre: War
6:30 AM Destination Tokyo (1943)
9:00 AM Bombardier (1943)
10:45 AM Sahara (1943)
12:30 PM They Were Expendable (1945)
3:00 PM Battleground (1949)
5:00 PM The Young Lions (1958)
Primetime
8:00 PM The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) (best picture winner)
11:00 PM The Story of G.I. Joe (1945)
1:00 AM Laura (1944)
3:00 AM Mildred Pierce (1945)
5:00 AM The Harvey Girls (1946)

Tuesday, February 10
Daytime Genre: Mysteries
7:00 AM Julie (1956)
9:00 AM Crossfire (1947)
10:30 AM Suspicion (1941)
12:30 PM Mystery Street (1950)
2:15 PM The Fallen Idol (1948)
4:00 PM After the Thin Man (1936)
6:00 PM Charade (1963)
Primetime
8:00 PM Gentleman’s Agreement (1947) (best picture winner)
10:15 PM The Killers (1946)
12:15 AM Duel in the Sun (1947)
2:45 AM The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer (1947)
4:30 AM Smash-Up: The Story of a Woman (1947)

Wednesday, February 11
Daytime Genre: Swashbucklers
6:30 AM The Corsican Brothers (1941)
8:15 AM The Flame and the Arrow (1956)
9:45 AM The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)
11:30 AM Captain Blood (1935)
1:30 PM The Sea Hawk (1940)
3:45 PM The Three Musketeers (1948)
6:00 PM The Four Musketeers (1974)
Primetime
8:00 PM All the King’s Men (1949) (best picture winner)
10:00 PM Twelve O’Clock High (1948)
12:15 AM The Bicycle Thief (1948)
2:00 AM The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
4:15 AM Mighty Joe Young (1949)

Thursday, February 12
Daytime Genre: Biographies
6:00 AM Edison, the Man (1940)
8:00 AM Lust for Life (1956)
10:15 AM Sergeant York (1941)
12:45 PM The Miracle Worker (1962)
2:45 PM The Spirit of St. Louis (1957)
5:15 PM Funny Girl (1968)
Primetime
8:00 PM The Gunfighter (1950)
9:30 PM The Third Man (1949)
11:30 PM An American in Paris (1951) (best picture winner)
1:30 AM Born Yesterday (1950)
3:30 AM Father of the Bride (1950)  * a 'must see'
5:30 AM The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)

Friday, February 13
Daytime Genre: Horror
7:00 AM The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
9:00 AM The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945)
11:00 AM The Bad Seed (1956)
1:15 PM What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)
3:45 PM The Birds (1963)
6:00 PM Poltergeist (1982)
Primetime
8:00 PM How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)
9:45 PM Roman Holiday (1953)
12:00 AM From Here to Eternity (1953) (best picture winner)
2:15 AM A Place in the Sun (1951)  * a 'must see'
4:30 AM Ivanhoe (1952)  * a 'must see'

Saturday, February 14
Daytime Genre: Romantic Comedy
6:30 AM Vivacious Lady (1938)
8:15 AM Libeled Lady (1936)
10:00 AM Holiday (1938)
11:45 AM Skylark (1941)
1:30 PM Adam’s Rib (1949)
3:30 PM The More The Merrier (1943)
5:30 PM Irma La Douce (1963)
Primetime
8:00 PM The Red Balloon (1956)
8:45 PM The Harder They Fall (1956)
10:45 PM The Caine Mutiny (1954)
1:00 AM Marty (1955) (best picture winner)
2:45 AM Blackboard Jungle (1955)
4:45 AM The Man with the Golden Arm (1955)

Sunday, February 15
Daytime Genre: Film Noir
7:00 AM Johnny Eager (1941)
9:00 AM T-Men (1948)
10:45 AM The Naked City (1948)
12:30 PM The Asphalt Jungle (1950)
2:30 PM The Blue Dahlia (1946)
4:15 PM The Maltese Falcon (1941)
6:00 PM Key Largo (1948)
Primetime
8:00 PM The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) (best picture winner)
11:00 PM The Defiant Ones (1958)
1:00 AM I Want to Live! (1958)
3:15 AM Raintree County (1957)

Monday, February 16
Daytime Genre: Epics
6:15 AM Quo Vadis (1951)
9:15 AM Exodus (1960)
1:00 PM Giant (1956)
4:30 PM Doctor Zhivago (1965)
Primetime
8:00 PM Anatomy of a Murder (1959)
11:00 PM Pillow Talk (1959)
1:00 AM Gigi (1958) (best picture winner)
3:00 AM Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)
5:00 AM The Brothers Karamazov (1958)

Tuesday, February 17
Daytime Genre: Crime
7:30 AM Fury (1936)
9:15 AM Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
11:30 AM The Mark (1961)
1:45 PM In Cold Blood (1957)
4:15 PM The Thomas Crown Affair (1967)
6:00 PM Bullitt (1968)
Primetime
8:00 PM Ben-Hur (1959) (best picture winner)  * a 'must see'
12:00 AM Psycho (1960)
2:00 AM Sunrise at Campobello (1960)
4:45 AM The Sundowners (1960)

Wednesday, February 18
Daytime Genre: Religion
7:15 AM The Big Fisherman (1959)
10:15 AM The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968)
1:00 PM The Singing Nun (1966)
2:45 PM The Nun’s Story (1959)
5:30 PM The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Primetime
8:00 PM The Apartment (1960) (best picture winner)
10:15 PM To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)  * a 'must see'
12:30 AM The Hustler (1961)
3:00 AM Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
5:15 AM Lolita (1961)

Thursday, February 19
Daytime Genre: Courtroom Dramas
8:15 AM Twilight of Honor (1963)
10:15 AM Trial (1955)
12:30 PM Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
2:30 PM Inherit the Wind (1960)
5:00 PM Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
Primetime
8:00 PM Dr. Strangelove (1963)
9:45 PM The Sand Pebbles (1966)
1:15 AM A Man for All Seasons (1966) (best picture winner)
3:30 AM A Hard Day’s Night (1964)  * a 'must see'
5:00 AM Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)

Friday, February 20
Daytime Genre: Prison
7:00 AM Weary River (1929)
8:30 AM The Big House (1930)
10:00 AM I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932)
11:30 AM White Heat (1949)
1:30 PM Caged (1950)
3:15 PM Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
5:45 PM Cool Hand Luke (1967)
Primetime
8:00 PM Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
10:00 PM Planet of the Apes (1968)
12:00 AM Easy Rider (1969)
1:45 AM Oliver! (1968) (best picture winner)
4:30 AM Rachel, Rachel (1968)

Saturday, February 21
Daytime Genre: Comedy
6:15 AM Speedy (1928)
7:45 AM She Done Him Wrong (1933)
9:00 AM The Ladykillers (1955)
10:45 AM A Day at the Races (1937)
12:45 PM Way Out West (1937)
2:00 PM Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)
3:45 PM Auntie Mame (1958) * a 'must see'
6:15 PM The Producers (1967)  * a 'must see'
Primetime
8:00 PM Patton (1970) (best picture winner)
11:00 PM McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)
1:15 AM Papillon (1973)
4:00 AM Klute (1971)

Sunday, February 22
Daytime Theme: Science Fiction
6:00 AM One Million B.C. (1940)
7:30 AM When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970)
9:15 AM The Time Machine (1960)
11:00 AM Forbidden Planet (1956)
12:45 PM 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
3:30 PM 2010 (1984)
5:30 PM Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Primetime
8:00 PM The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
10:30 PM One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) (best picture winner)
1:00 AM Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
3:15 AM Network (1976)
5:30 AM Bound for Glory (1976)

Monday, February 23
Daytime Genre: Drama
8:00 AM A Patch of Blue (1965)
10:00 AM Kings Row (1941)
12:15 AM Of Mice and Men (1939)
2:15 PM East of Eden (1955)
4:15 PM Jezebel (1938) * a 'must see'
6:00 PM Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974)
Primetime
8:00 PM Annie Hall (1977) (best picture winner)
10:00 PM The Goodbye Girl (1977)
12:00 AM All the President’s Men (1976)
2:30 AM Barry Lyndon (1975)

Tuesday, February 24
Daytime Genre: Fantasy
6:00 AM Finian’s Rainbow (1968)
8:30 AM The 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)
10:30 AM The Thief of Bagdad (1940)
12:30 PM Kismet (1944)
2:30 PM A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1935)
5:00 PM Berkeley Square (1933)
6:30 PM It Happened Tomorrow (1944)
Primetime
8:00 PM A Little Romance (1979)
10:00 PM Being There (1979)
12:30 AM Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) (best picture winner)
2:30 AM The Great Santini (1979)
4:30 AM “10” (1979)

Wednesday, February 25
Daytime Genre: Military Comedy
6:45 AM General Spanky (1936)
8:00 AM What Next, Corporal Hargrove? (1945)
10:00 AM Take the High Ground! (1953)
12:00 PM Once Upon a Honeymoon (1942)
2:00 PM The Americanization of Emily (1964)
4:15 PM Here Comes the Navy (1934)
5:45 PM Mister Roberts (1955) * a 'must see'
Primetime
8:00 PM Arthur (1981) (WB)
9:45 PM Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)
12:00 AM Out of Africa (1985)
2:45 AM Fame (1980)
5:00 AM Gloria (1980)

Thursday, February 26
Daytime Genre: Political
7:15 AM The Gorgeous Hussey (1936)
9:00 AM Seven Days in May (1964)
11:00 AM Z (1969)
1:30 PM Meet John Doe (1941)
3:45 PM Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
6:00 PM The Candidate (1972)
Primetime
8:00 PM Absence of Malice (1981)
10:00 PM The Verdict (1982)
12:15 AM Chariots of Fire (1981) (best picture winner)
2:30 AM The Big Chill (1983)
4:30 AM Diner (1982)

Friday, February 27
Daytime Genre: Historical
6:30 AM Julius Caesar (1953)
8:45 AM Disraeli (1929)
10:15 AM Knights of the Round Table (1953)
12:15 PM The Lion in Winter (1968) * a 'must see'
2:30 PM 55 Days at Peking (1963)
5:15 PM The Emigrants (1972)
Primetime
8:00 PM Running on Empty (1988)
10:15 PM Gandhi (1982) (best picture winner)
1:30 AM Glory (1989)
3:45 AM A Cry in the Dark (1988)

Saturday, February 28
Daytime Theme: Thrillers
6:00 AM The Window (1949)
7:15 AM Night Must Fall (1937)
9:15 AM Kind Lady (1951)
10:45 AM Wait Until Dark (1967)
12:45 PM The Narrow Margin (1952)
2:00 PM Strangers on a Train (1951)
3:45 PM Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
5:45 PM The China Syndrome (1979)
Primetime
8:00 PM A River Runs Through It (1992)
10:30 PM A Few Good Men (1992)
1:00 AM The English Patient (1997) (best picture winner)
4:00 AM The Fisher King (1991)

Sunday, March 1
Daytime Genre: Musicals
6:30 AM Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)
8:15 AM Shall We Dance (1937)
10:15 AM You Were Never Lovelier (1942)
12:15 PM On the Town (1949)
2:00 PM The Music Man (1962)
4:45 PM Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
Primetime
8:00 PM Life is Beautiful (1997)
10:15 PM Chicago (2002) (best picture winner)
12:30 AM Shakespeare in Love (1998) (best picture winner)
2:45 AM The Cider House Rules (1999)

Monday, March 2
Daytime Genre: Disaster
5:30 AM San Francisco (1936)
7:30 AM Green Dolphin Street (1947)
10:00 AM The Hurricane (1937)
11:45 AM The Last Voyage (1960)
1:30 PM Them! (1954)
3:30 PM The Swarm (1978)
6:00 PM The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Primetime
8:00 PM Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
11:15 PM Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
2:30 AM Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) (best
picture winner)

Tuesday, March 3
Daytime Genre: Romance
6:00 AM The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
7:45 AM Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)
10:45 AM That Hamilton Woman (1941)
1:00 PM Dodsworth (1936)
2:45 PM Now, Voyager (1942) * a 'must see'
4:45 PM Love Affair (1939)
6:15 PM Georgy Girl (1966)
Primetime
8:00 PM The Artist (2011) (best picture winner)
10:00 PM The King’s Speech (2010) (best picture winner)
12:30 AM No Country for Old Men (2007) (best picture winner)
2:45 AM The Queen (2006)

Funny Cat Video

Absolutely funniest cat video I have ever seen!

Be patient - it's there - it just takes a second to load.

Post by Murfreesboro.com.

Thanksgiving Dinner Meatloaf

Those who know me know that I am a "let's see what I get if I put these ingredients together" kind of gal. I also am one of those annoying cooks who doesn't measure, so it often makes it hard for me to share my recipes. However.... I knew that if this idea turned out, I would want to share it. So, like a good girl, I tried very hard to write down everything I did and remembered to measure and not just add by sight and smell. You're welcome.

So, as the title says, this is a Thanksgiving Dinner Meatloaf.  Ok, so other than ground turkey, what does that mean, right? Well, it means cornbread stuffing (sort of), and veggies, and cranberry sauce and potatoes.  All in one dish. And yeah, I know - ugh, ground turkey, it's always dry - right? Well this was not!

Now, to be clear, I made this by the seat of my pants. I had no idea what I was doing. I made it all up as I went along.  I am going to give you the recipe as I made it and then, at the end, I will give you some notes as to anything I might change, add in, leave out... you get the idea.  Also, this is a great recipe for using up left over veggies, so keep in mind, as you read the ingredient list, you can easily substitute other items or even add some more.

One more thing before we start. Like a total doofus, I was doing this without my glasses on - which means, my pics are not in focus. Yeah - that's right - idiot! But I figure better a few blury pics than nothing. So - sorry guys.

Here we go!

Ingredients (enough for 2 meatloaves, I always make 2 at a time. 1 to freeze)

3.25 lbs of turkey (approx.)
1 bag 14 oz Pepperidge Farm Corn Bread Stuffing Mix (or any brand)
1 small shallot
1 stalk of celery
salt pork (you can get from butcher if not in meat case)
2 cans diced potatoes
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup green beans (canned, frozen or fresh)
1 cup chicken stock/broth plus a splash
1 8 oz can cranberry sauce
1 tsp sage plus 1/4 tsp
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp ground rosemary
1/2 tsp ground thyme
1/2 tsp celery salt
1 pod Knorr Chicken Homestyle Stock
approx. 2 oz apple sauce
3 tbsp. brown sugar
butter
olive oil

Finely dice the shallot and celery and sauté in a pan with butter and olive oil until soft.

In a bowl, place approx. half of the corn bread crumbs.  Add the 1 cup of chicken stock to the crumbs.  Add the celery and onion. Add 1/4 tsp sage. Mix until just combined. Set aside

Place ground turkey in a large mixing bowl.

In blender or food processor add the carrots, the green beans and the salt pork.
Why the salt pork? Because turkey tends to dry out easily. I don't want to add a package of pork and alter the flavor, but I want to add a little extra fat to help keep it moist. Personally, I choose not to use the heavy rind.  I cut out two of the fattiest parts. They weighed out to be 1.7 oz, but you can see from the pick they weren't particularly big. Remember, you are just trying to add a little extra fat. And of course, this is entirely optional.

see - sorry, blury. But give you an idea of how much salt pork I used.

Blend until completely pureed. You may need to add a splash of chicken stock to keep the carrots from sticking to the side of the bowl. Be prepared, when you are done, the contents will look very unappetizing lol.  Add to the ground turkey. (these pureed veggies worked as a binder and helped keep the meatloaf moist)

Add 1/4 cup of cranberry sauce. Reserve the rest of the can.  Add the Knorr chicken stock.  Add the stuffing mixture.  Add the sage, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme and celery salt.  Mix together until well blended (you will probably want to use your hands.)  Once mixed, the mixture will definitely seem too wet. Add some of the remaining dry crumbs from the remainder in the bag of PF cornbread. Apprx 3/4 -1 cup, until consistency feels right.

Knorr chicken stock pods

 
Open the can of diced potatoes. NOTE: I wasn't sure if missing them in would crush the potatoes, so I chose to layer them. I may decide to try mixing them in next time. It's a matter of preference.

Place a small amount of the meat mixture in the bottom of your loaf pan.  Cover with a layer of your diced potatoes. Cover with another layer of mix, be sure to press down to get the meat all around the potatoes. Repeat the 2 layers and cover with remaining meat mixture.

Bake at 400 for about an hour and 10 minutes. Oven times may vary. We have a double oven and the top oven is small and does tend to cook just a little faster than the large one - so you may need to cook a little longer.

Sauce/Glaze: In a small sauce pan, combine remaining cranberry sauce, apple sauce and brown sugar.  Cook, stirring frequently until mixture is smooth. During the last 15 minutes or so of baking, brush the sauce on top of the meatloaf for a tasty glaze.  The remainder can be spread on the meatloaf when it's served or placed on the side of the dish to dip in.

We served ours with herbed corn bread. Easy peasy! 2 boxes of Jiffy cornbread mix made as directed, plus all the same seasonings in the meatloaf recipe, same measurements and everything (minus the salt).  I suggest stirring in the herbs into the cornbread before you add any of your wet ingredients to help ensure they get evenly dispersed. You don't want to over mix your bread.  It's delicious!  And a great base for making actual cornbread stuffing for Thanksgiving!

Since this has our meat, veggies and potatoes already all in it, we decided to have it with just a piece of the cornbread and a side salad. It was a hit. It did fall a part a little bit when trying to take it out, but that didn't effect the flavor at all. And..... it was NOT dry!

NOTES: Now, we are not big on veggies here. But... if your family is, you could leave the shredded carrots whole and have them as a nice crunchy contrast in your meatloaf.  Also, if you have leftover veggies in your fridge, puree them and use them! Great way to use up peas, Brussel sprouts, squash, sweet potatoes, etc. You could add Craisins, use turnip, squash or any combination instead of/or with your potatoes.  I would not recommend keeping things like green beans or peas whole as they would just be mush by the time the meatloaf is cooked and then be unappetizing.  If you prefer, you could layer with mashed potatoes. If you really want to be jazzy, alter layers with sweet potatoes with mini marshmallows, or butternut squash with pecans.  You could also serve with canned/jarred turkey gravy instead of cranberry sauce.  The possibilities are endless, but you can easily get that wonderful Thanksgiving dinner taste without having to deal with a big turkey and piles of side dishes any time you want.  Enjoy!

Oh! I alost forgot - want more stuffing? Want to have a side of stuffing with this?  Have 2 bags of stuffing mix. Increase the amount of celery and onion. When you put it all in the bowl, add more chicken stock, just until moist. Add all of the seasonings listed in the recipe, add some Craisins and chopped walnuts and 3 tbsp. of melted butter. Mix. Put into a backing dish or individual ramekins and serve with your meatloaf.