Me and My Sister Talk

31/12/2020

#2021

29/12/2020

25/12/2020

Wishing you a day full of peace, hope and love!

# merrychristmas

25/12/2020

Twas the Night Before Christmas! 🎄 We hope you are enjoying old holiday memories and creating new ones this season. 🎅🏼 We wish you all the best as we close out this year. From our family to yours—happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night! ✨

23/12/2020

The beauty of the desert
(📸: Dianne Ross)

23/12/2020

Every day a million miracles begin at sunrise. ~ Eric Jerome Dickey
(📸: Dianne Ross)

22/12/2020

22/12/2020

22/12/2020

Winter Solstice and the first Christmas Star in 800 years! 🙌 I’ve learned this meeting of Saturn and Jupiter is also called “The Great Conjunction.” Enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature today. We must have darkness to appreciate the light in life. ✨ Without this long, dark night, we couldn’t see this beautiful star. 🌟Tomorrow, the days grow longer and we continue the cycle towards spring, and new growth. The earth is a wonder and an excellent teacher if we slow down to look and listen to all it’s trying to teach us. 🌎 Happy Winter Solstice! 🌙
Photos from D.C. and Phoenix.

MeAndMySisterTalk

21/12/2020

Baltimore Museum of Art. 🖼 🎨🖌 No matter where you live, you’ll find art museums. From small, private museums to sculpture gardens to publicly funded, large museums. We happen to live near a lot of cities that have some of the best and many happen to be free! So I like to share pics from the collections so that everyone can enjoy them. This set is from the Baltimore Museum of Art. Yet another free museum in the area with a really interesting collection. So much to explore!

20/12/2020

🎥 Sound Of Metal is on my Top Five list for Best Picture of the year. A quiet film that tells the story of a heavy metal/punk drummer who loses his hearing. With perfect pacing, this script is a work of art. It’s not a Hollywood film at all and it doesn’t have the over-the-top, dramatic sentimentality that you’d expect. It’s a beautiful short story about what’s lost and what’s gained physically and emotionally on the main character’s journey from denial through desperation and towards acceptance. Riz Ahmed gives an exquisite performance that’s notable for its restraint and intimate intensity. Understated and wholly human. Just beautiful. ❤️

📖 This week, I’m all about reading Christmas cards.
Despite the fact that we haven’t gotten out holiday cards in a decade, kind friends and family still send them to us and I get so much joy from reading their letters and seeing their families grow. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...we’ll get some out next year! 🎄

🎶Right now (literally), I’m listening to Wynton Marsalis on Amazon Music. With the great jazz musician streaming throughout the house, all is right in the world. From his Standards & Ballads to Big Band Holidays
with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the music just swings. It makes you feel like you are at the most glamorous holiday cocktail party in New York—even if you are still in your sweatpants at home. Perfect for the holidays! 🎶

I hope you’re enjoying whatever it is YOU’RE watching/reading/listening to this weekend! ✨

18/12/2020

Netflix is heavily promoting The Prom so this is definitely on my list this weekend. This is Ryan Murphy’s movie adaptation of the Broadway show about a group of down on their luck Broadway stars who rally behind a teen who wants to take her girlfriend to prom. The movie definitely has an all-star cast with everyone from Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman to Kerry Washington, Keegan-Michael Key and James Corden. I’m not sure the movie is getting rave reviews but I’m a sucker for a musical and a happy ending!

I’ve been in between books for a few weeks and have been searching for a great book that I could get my hands on quickly. Last week on the Today show I saw author Jasmine Guillory giving her book gift picks for the holidays when one of the hosts mentioned how wonderful Jasmine’s own books were. I immediately hopped on my local library website to do a search of her books and requested Party of Two. I’m so glad I did! This book is a truly great rom-com; it’s fun, smart, and has characters who are diverse, nice and supportive of each other. I’ll be finishing this book today and look forward to reading more of her titles in the near future. If you love a great rom-com or even just a fun, quick read I can’t recommend this author enough! 📖

Christmas Carols are pretty much all I’m listening to until next Friday 🎶🎄❤️

18/12/2020

When I don’t feel like doing work on the house projects that need to get done, I watch HGTV. 😂 It has the effect of making me feel like I’m being productive (you know, research) AND I get the satisfaction of seeing the finished product...all within an hour! 🏡 That’s why this is my guilty pleasure.

I am rewatching all the Fixer Uppers—I love everything about this show and their style! 💕 I’ve also been watching Hidden Potential, Hometown, and Bargain Mansions. Another favorite of mine is the Property Brothers! Everything they touch is fabulous!

The amount of this content I consume is a little embarrassing but I’m still open to hearing of other gems out there. A total guilty pleasure! 🙌

17/12/2020

Ahhh guilty pleasures....the movies, tv shows, music we love but would be embarrassed if other people found out about them.
Well, I love my guilty pleasure and don’t care who knows about it! 🤪❤️
My favorite is reality tv, literally any and all reality tv. I enjoy an embarrassing number of reality shows, everything from competitions like The Amazing Race and American Ninja Warrior to dating shows like 90 Day Fiancé and Married at First Sight. Then there is literally everything from .
But it’s my little escape from time to time and the perfect guilty pleasure!

17/12/2020

We love Christmas decor!! 🎄i think my vision of what Christmas should look like came from The Nutcracker—the huge tree laden with ornaments which was center stage on the magical Christmas Eve. ✨Each year, on our travels, we collect new ornaments which is why we NEED a bigger tree each year 😂 and it’s also why decorating is such a heartwarming experience. We walk down memory lane, remembering trips, schools, special occasions, anniversaries...our lives! So I bask in the beauty of the tree and in all that it represents. 🎶 O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum
How lovely are thy branches!! 🎶

16/12/2020

We love decorating for the holidays! There is just something about the twinkling lights and holiday decor that makes you feel cozy and calm.
Dianne has multiple trees in her home, each with a different theme. The main tree features all the specially selected ornaments from previous years and ornaments the kids had made when they were young. There is also a rustic tree, a black and white tree, and even a white tree with a snowman theme complete with a top hat. No matter what room you enter you’re greeted with twinkling lights which is sure to bring a smile to your face.

15/12/2020

Who remembers these? Actual recipe cards! This recipe is for our grandma's famous cookie bars which she called Chippy Chews (very accurately descriptive). The recipe was lovingly handwritten by grandma herself, which makes me think that I should start writing recipes for my kids to pass down. A project for another day! 🤗

In case the recipe is hard to read, I've typed it out below. A delicious treat for the family and a great neighbor gift. If you make extra, you can freeze them and thaw them later. And if you are as impatient as we were, you'll find that they're actually really good when frozen too. YUM! 😋

Chippy Chews

Ingredients:
1 recipe graham cracker crust
12-ounce package of semi-sweet chocolate chips (morsels)
6-ounce package or 1/2 12 ounce package of butterscotch chips (morsels)
7-ounce package angel flake coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 can sweetened condensed milk (Eagle Brand)

Directions:
- Pat crust onto a buttered cookie sheet (that has sides all the way around). Grandma used a rolling pin to firm the crust up.
- Spread chocolate chips over the crust.
- Next, layer the butterscotch chips.
- Then layer the walnuts.
- Then layer the coconut.
- Pour the condensed milk all over the top.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or less, just until the coconut is light brown.
- Cut in 1-inch squares while warm.

TIPS:
- Place crust in freezer for a few minutes before spreading the chocolate chips around.
- After cookies are cut, cover with foil until they cool. This keeps them moist.
- Store them in a Tupperware container and freeze them.

15/12/2020

Speaking of chocolate...😋

Here's a recipe that never fails me and it is special enough (read “complicated enough”) to only make once a year during the holidays. I usually make this decadent Chocolate Orange Cake for New Year's celebrations. I guarantee you and your family/guests will LOVE it! Totally worth the effort!

Chocolate Orange Cake 🍫 🍊 (serves 10)

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/4 cup orange liqueur
1/4 cup water
1 18.25-ounce package of devils food cake mix
8 ounces sour cream
1 4-ounce package of instant chocolate fudge pudding mix
2 tablespoons grated orange peel
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup coffee liqueur
1 12-ounce package of chocolate chips
powdered sugar

Whew! That's a lot of ingredients but stick with me, it's worth it! 🙌

-Combine the first four ingredients in a heavy, small saucepan. Stir over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves, about 8 minutes. Increase heat and boil for 2 minutes. Cool completely.
-Preheat oven to 350, grease & flour 10-cup bundt pan.
-Using an electric mixer, beat cake mix and the next 8 ingredients (up to and including the coffee liqueur) until well blended, about 3 minutes.
-Stir in chocolate chips
-Pour batter into prepared pan.
-Bake until a toothpick inserted near center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached (about an hour).
-Immediately spoon sugar & butter mixture over cake in the pan (from the first step).
-Let cake stand for 30 minutes.
-Turn cake out onto a platter and cool completely.
-Sprinkle top with powdered sugar using a sifter.
-SERVE & ENJOY! ❤️

15/12/2020

Exactly one year ago today I was at Epcot and stumbled upon a frozen hot chocolate martini and instantly fell in love! I drink hot chocolate every day during the winter so I knew I had to find this recipe once I got back home. came through with this deliciousness, give it a try this winter, I think you’ll love it! ~Dianne 🍸
Feel free to add other toppings like whip cream, crushed peppermint, etc.

14/12/2020

14/12/2020

13/12/2020

Sundays are for art! 🖼 As museums around us are shutting down again, I’ve been enjoying looking back through photos of many of my favorite exhibits. Just before we all went into quarantine (the first time), we went to see John Singer Sargent: Portraits in Charcoal at the National Portrait Gallery and it was AMAZING! I was floored by JSS’s ability to capture the essence of people with a few lines in charcoal. It was also a fascinating exhibit because of WHO he sketched—activists, artists, intellectuals, and free-thinkers of all kinds. From the NPG website: “In 1907, John Singer Sargent astonished the transatlantic art world when he stopped painting portraits in oil. Afterwards, he switched to charcoal, producing several hundred portraits of individuals recognized for their accomplishments in fields such as art, music, literature and theater. “John Singer Sargent: Portraits in Charcoal” will be the first exhibition of Sargent’s portrait drawings in over fifty years. This once-in-a-lifetime assemblage of master drawings—many of them from private collections and rarely exhibited—features compelling depictions of an international network of trailblazing men and women who helped define twentieth-century Anglo-American culture.” I thought I’d share a few of these beautiful sketches to brighten your day. Enjoy!! 🤗

12/12/2020

📺 I have no idea how we stumbled on this gem but I’m so glad we found Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on Netflix. A cross between La La Land, New Girl, and Parks and Recreation—it’s light, silly, and completely adorable. Rachel Bloom stars as Rachael Bunch, the Lucille Ball-esque main character who left her job at a big-time NY law firm to move to West Covina, CA in pursuit of happiness...and “Josh”, her high school crush from summer camp. The cast of characters who become her friends are hilarious and there’s a fun “will they, won’t they” romantic tension between Rachel and two of the characters. Truly delightful. Give it a try!

📖 I’m just catching up on last weekend’s New York Times Magazine articles and there’s a set of three that I’m cherishing on “The Divas” (Dolly Parton, Barbara Streisand, and Patti LaBelle). These powerhouse women are amazingly talented, strong, and hardworking and they’re still at it, well into their 70s. The interviews provide interesting new insights and the appropriate amount of fawning over these beautiful, inspirational women. 🥰 Thank you, NYT!

🎻 Right now, I am very into Yo-Yo Ma. I recently read an article (also in the NYT Magazine) titled “Yo-Yo Ma and the Meaning of Life” and was so inspired by his perspectives on the world. He’s an incredible talent who brings a depth of emotion and passion to his art. This particular YouTube video—Bach Six Cello Suites (2015)—is perfect to have on in the background because it’s almost three hours of exquisite music interspersed with a delightful British announcer giving the play-by-play of audience reactions from the theater. Worth A listen!

Enjoy whatever you’re watching/reading/listening to this weekend! 🤗

12/12/2020

We both love movies and it just wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't watch all of our favorite holiday films. So we've made our list, checked it twice and we're sharing our favorites with you.🎄

When we compared our lists we found we both agreed on several traditional (and nostalgic) movies like the sentimental Miracle on 34th Street (that cast!), White Christmas (Sisters 👯‍♀️ sung by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen), Holiday Inn, and the holiday classic to define all holiday classics, It's a Wonderful Life. We remember watching these movies together growing up so it's really no surprise there were so many crossovers. There was one modern movie that made both lists and that was the super sweet Love Actually. (Although this was technically on JoAnne's Honorable Mention list)

Rounding out JoAnne's list of holiday mainstays was Auntie Mame and The Bishop's Wife. Her Honorable Mentions include Christmas in Connecticut and Little Women (1994 version).

The rest of Dianne's list includes: Elf, and all of the traditional holiday TV movies including A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

Now it's time to pop some popcorn and put on another holiday classic! 🍿🎄

11/12/2020

Trial 4 on Netflix is an absolute must watch! It's the true story of Sean K. Ellis who, as a teenager, was charged in the murder of a Boston police officer in 1993. The 8 part documentary focuses on his fight to prove his innocence while exposing police corruption and systematic racism. There is so much to unpack in this documentary. I honestly can’t even count the number of times we paused an episode to discuss the many injustices and corruption, yell at the absolutely clueless police chief and (now former) DA, cheer Sean’s attorney Rosemary Scapicchio (who is an absolute rock star!) and just marvel at Sean’s positive attitude. It's hard to watch the systematic racism and unjust judicial system that so many people in our country deal with every day but it’s incredibly powerful and I think it should be required viewing for everyone. You will run the gamut of feelings but I guarantee you will walk away wanting to help make a change in this country.

Jen Lancaster is one of those authors that I love to read; her books are honest, witty, and completely relatable. Full disclosure – I haven’t even started this book so I’m going to summarize the publishers review. Lancaster uses “Maslow’s Hierarchy” that identifies critical human needs as a framework for considering how people’s needs are being met today. Of course she uses her humor to discuss the role anxiety plays in American lives and provides tips on how to relax. She recommends focusing on what genuinely makes you happy and forget about social media, tv shows, etc. that tend to make you feel inadequate. I’m always entertained by her writing so I’m looking forward to diving into the book this weekend.

I’m in full Christmas mode so I’m planning to crank the Christmas music all weekend long! 🎄🎶

10/12/2020

10/12/2020

One of our most cherished family holiday traditions is chopping down our own Christmas tree. It isn’t always picture perfect and we have had many crazy adventures along the way (hours-long drive to a closed farm, car stuck in the mud, eccentric farm owner who made us look at his Cabbage Patch doll nativity in his barn, infested tree...the list goes on) BUT they’ve given us funny stories that have been woven into our family lore and on our way each year we laugh and recount our funniest memories. And somehow—each and every year—we end up with the “best tree yet.” It’s Christmas magic! 🎄✨🎅🏼

10/12/2020

One of my favorite holiday traditions is selecting an ornament that represents something special that happened during the year. Our tree is full of wonderful memories from our travels, purchasing my first home, the years my kids were born and so many more. Each year I absolutely love pulling the ornaments out of the box and reminiscing about those special times. These are some of my favorite ornaments, swipe to the end to see my 2020 ornament 🎄
#2020

08/12/2020

07/12/2020

06/12/2020

Sundays are for art! 🖼Here’s another post from our recent visit to the Portrait Gallery (right before it but back down). This collection of paintings is by Robert McCurdy. They are extraordinary, hyperrealistic painted portraits of “leaders whose boldness, courage, and perseverance ensured that their legacies would live on a century from now.” If you scroll halfway through this collection you’ll see a closeup of a hand which shows just how much detail is in these pieces. You could see hair follicles, a stray thread on a suit jacket, sunspots dappled on skin, fuzz on a sweater. It’s hard to believe these are not photographs ... even in real life! The collection was commissioned by the Cu***ng Family and “grew over twenty-five years to encompass portraits of scientists who made major discoveries; writers who influenced the world with their words; activists who fought for freedom, civil rights, and climate change; Supreme Court justices; and presidents. Several are Nobel Prize winners.” In a way these paintings, with their unflinching gaze, brought humanity to these luminary figures. It was awe-inspiring to see this exhibit for many reasons. Enjoy! 🤗

06/12/2020

It’s still the weekend🤗 so here are my picks!! 🥳

We just finished binging The Undoing. OMG. It’s very reminiscent of Big Little Lies. A murder in the realm of an elite private school scene. Gorgeous homes, gorgeous clothes...Nicole Kidman...are in both. While not quite as good as Lies or The Queen’s Gambit, it was very good. The script starts and ends at a breakneck speed and keeps you guessing (and binging) from one show to the next. Who did it?? You’ll have to tune in to see. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My book club wanted something fun to read in this busy time so we chose Becoming Duchess Goldblatt. To be honest, I’m starting it today and book club is next week! 🤪 But it sounds like great fun so I’ll share what I know and save you a Google search. It’s listed as One of the New York Times’ 20 Books to Read in 2020. “Becoming Duchess Goldblatt is two stories: that of the reclusive real-life writer who created a fictional character out of loneliness and thin air, and that of the magical Duchess Goldblatt herself, a bright light in the darkness of social media. Fans around the world are drawn to Her Grace’s voice, her wit, her life-affirming love for all humanity, and the fun and friendship of the community that’s sprung up around her.” “A tonic . . . Splendid . . . A respite . . . A summer cocktail of a book.”— Washington Post
Sounds like a good way to spend a Sunday! 📖

Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris is my go to podcast. Dan is a former ABC News anchor who had an on-air panic attack after making some bad life choices and he set out on a quest to recenter his life and mind through meditation. Ten Percent Happier “takes readers on a ride from the outer reaches of neuroscience to the inner sanctum of network news to the bizarre fringes of America’s spiritual scene, and leaves them with a takeaway that could actually change their lives.” You always learn something on this podcast and his skepticism, vulnerability, and curiosity never leave you feeling stupid as you’re listening in on conversations about subjects that are completely foreign to you. Rather, you feel comforted, enlightened, and yes...10% happier. ❤️

04/12/2020

I am a Christmas movie fanatic which means I have a long list of holiday movies to watch every year. Elf is always near the top as it is a family favorite and this year we’re watching it on the big screen. Movie theaters are just one of many industries that have taken a big hit this year due to Covid but a local chain is renting out auditoriums for private showings, which is pure genius! The price was only $99 for up to 20 people and it still allows us to social distance while still spending some quality time together. I cannot wait to kick off my holiday movie season with the entire family!

I’m in between books while I wait for some requests from the library. In the meantime I’m catching up on old issues of Vanity Fair. Feel free to leave book recommendations in the comments 😊


I’ve never been into car racing. I’ve attended a couple Nascar races and the Indy500 once but I’ve never been a fan. Until now. My brother-in-law introduced me to a show on Netflex called Formula 1: Drive to Survive and I am obsessed! I binged 2 seasons over a long weekend and came away with a favorite driver, a couple favorite teams and started following drivers, F1 and races on social media. I just found this podcast and am excited to catch up on all things F1 while I run. Seriously, if you haven’t seen the show, check it out, I promise you will be hooked!