Sometimes we get to monkey around...

For real, I did get these chicken hats for my dogs, which they ate.

I couldn't resist watching 'The Interview' after all the hype that's been in the news lately. I even considered driving an hour away to see it on the Christmas Day opening.

BUT, what Google and Sony did this Christmas Eve may have changed the way I want to see movies forever.  

Earlier in the day, someone in the newsroom asked, "Hey, did you see that 'The Interview' is going to be streamed on Google Play?" (Editor's note: also YouTube and Xbox)

What? Really?

Since my brother-in-law and sister gave me a Google Play gift card for my birthday a couple of months ago, I kind of geeked out. I called my husband and suggested we make Christmas Eve dinner and watch the movie.

If you're unfamiliar with Google Play rentals, you pay for the rental fee and can watch it for the next 48 hours. The cool thing is that you can even download it to your device and watch it later without a wifi connection. I usually grab a movie before I have to travel. Also, if you have a Chromecast, you can fling the movie from your device to your big screen TV. And we love to do that because we also have a decent soundbar and subwoofer.

So, as I was cracking my lobster claws on the couch and hanging with my hubby and two dogs, it dawned on me. This is how people are going to start watching new releases.

And here's why: People are tired of spending $100 to go see a new movie that ends up falling flat. If you are in a relationship, you pay for dinner, drinks and a movie. You get concessions like popcorn, a soda and maybe something sweet. If you're parents, you're likely paying for a babysitter for at least five hours. That means you're out at least $100--more like $200 if you have a great dinner.

That's why I'm thankful for North Korea this Christmas Eve. Without their antics, I wouldn't have had the pleasure of seeing a new movie...in my jammies... with my whole family...in my living room.  No sticky chairs, no annoying teenagers, no one on their cell phone (but me).  I spent $5.99 on the flick and $17 on the lobster claws. At that rate, I could do it four more times this week and still pay less than I would for one trip out of the house. Think of the possibilities -- you could invite all your friends over for a fancy dinner and a watch party! 

Not to be sexist, but I'm pretty sure my secret santa is a girl!  Yay for chocolate chip mint cookies!!

It came!

This is the first time I've had to wait for the plate to come in the mail... but it is kind of a neat surprise!  I love getting the little screw driver and instructions.  Chicago does it a little differently than Nashville and St. Louis (Mid South and Mid America) so this made me feel kind of fancy!

Check out the Flying Hound in this January's Madison Magazine!  Mark your calendars!

This has really become a hotspot in Fitchburg. Since I interviewed the owner Tim Thompson, I've gone back at least twice with friends and family. Great spot!

It is not my best writing but here are some thoughts about my time spent with my biological sister. I wrote this for Holt International's recent magazine.

Click on the image or here to read the story:

Here's what else you're going to find in the magazine:

• Two boys with special needs from India, Holt's work to improve their lives and the permanent loving families that welcomed them home to stay.

• One of the first Holt-sponsored students in Yunnan, China and the spinal surgery that changed her life.

• A Holt adoptive mom who learned that through healing herself, her daughter would too be healed. 

I don't think ugly sweater events ever get old. Do you?!  I give 5 stars to Wil Loper, our resident film critic!  We recently held a company meeting and this is what it looked like:

Don't you love the lights in Studio C?!  We did have real business to tend to, but at least we looked cheery.

Something old and something new -- I broke out my old, ugly sweater and I finally had the chance to talk to former WISCer Andy Choi! He's now working at WXYZ in Detroit but came back for a quick visit. It is really great to see people want to come back here and say hello... quite a little family we have.

Um... Nan and John from our marketing and promotions department were the best duo!

And of course, we had another successful cookie exchange, thanks to Susan Siman. I made some really sad red velvet cookies this year, so whoops!  But I loved the little Green Bay cookies I got in return.  What do you guys do at your work for fun?  

I love volunteering for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates.) I have volunteered for various CASA groups since college.

So when I was asked to judge the Dane County CASA's Casas for CASA event, I nearly jumped out of my seat! I got the chance to judge gingerbread houses at the Madison Children's Museum, made a few new friends and saw a ton of creativity.

Not all of my pictures turned out but I'd like to know - which house would you choose?  

Are you missing out on Toreore (pronounced tory-ory)?!

Korean Fried Chicken is a thing, if you didn't know. In fact, I think KFC is better than that other KFC.

Anyway, I've decided that I want to open a Toreore franchise.  It's the best!  I mean, what other place gives you plastic gloves to eat the chicken!? INGENIOUS.

Toreore is in H Mart, outside of Chicago but you can also get Korean Fried Chicken at Sol's on the Square every Tuesday.  Make sure you tell Eun Sol I sent you!  She's the best!

I just got back from a weekend trip to Chicago, but we ended up spending more time at the Super H Mart.

If you're into Korean/Asiany things, you probably already enjoy visiting H Mart. But I have lots of friends who want to check it out and want to know what they can find there.

The 'H' in H Mart stands for Han Ah Reum, which means "one arm full of groceries"... I thought it meant Hanguk or something.  Nope.  Anyway, the Super H Mart near Chicago is an easy drive from Madison and has every Asian product you could imagine.

My friend Miya likes to go there for the skincare.  Japanese and Korean skincare is ahhmazing.  She really digs Shiseido and SK-II ("S-K-2").

Do these scare you, too?  These are $15 SK-II masks and they are like a facial!  Seriously worth it.

There are lots of great things to buy... we were so happy to see a legit kimchi section and a plethora of Korean and Asian wines, household goods and snacks.  You cannot go hungry here!  Everything is fresh and clean and no offense, but it's leaps and bounds better than some of our local markets, though I still go to them often.

A great experience for newbies is to eat the food at the H Mart. Basically, there are a few side restaurants inside the giant store.  On this day, I ordered the gamjatang (gahm-jah-tong).  It's a spicy broth soup with a potato and some pork.  It is so hearty but also it feels light.

H Mart is a great place to explore. I love my job but one of the downfalls is never getting to choose where I get to live!  But being this close to Chicago is awesome... so much diversity and so many choices are only a short drive away from Madison.  I think this is definitely worth a day trip or a short weekend getaway!