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The Power of Love #Giveaway

December 10, 2018 by Autumn Murray Leave a Comment

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The Power of Love by Bishop Michael Curry

This “The Power of Love” is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Penguin Random House. The opinions expressed are my own.

Always Choose Love!

“Dr. Martin Luther King was right: we must discover love, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world.” Bishop Michael Curry

Last year, I made the pledge to Choose Love. I made the pledge to accept others regardless of our differences, to not exclude anyone because they do not believe in the same things that I believe in, and to go out of my way to focus on love and not hate or division. Will you make that pledge with me?

As a result of my pledge to Choose Love, I want to promote and share positive and inspirational posts. This past year at one of the most watched Royal Weddings in history, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, over two billion people witnessed the uplifting and dynamic sermon by Bishop Michael Curry. I think his sermon was one of the most uplifting and inspiring sermons ever done. He definitely got the royal couple off to the right start!

Bishop Curry is the first African-American presiding bishop of the American Episcopal Church and he is the first to give an impassioned sermon at a British royal wedding. His sermon touched on the topics of social justice, politics, slavery, and quotes from Martin Luther King, Jr. He encouraged all receiving his message to discover the power of love to make of “this old world a new world.”

Autumn Murray #ChooseLove

I am one of the many that were inspired by his sermon and the message of redemptive love and was excited to hear that Bishop Michael Curry has released a new book – “The Power of Love.” The book highlights the sermon he gave at the royal wedding and also has a variety of positive messages aimed at uplifting and inspiring others.

About The Power of Love

“Love is the way. Love is the only way. Those who follow in my way follow in the way of unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial love. And that kind of love can change the world.”
–Bishop Michael Curry

In The Power of Love, Bishop Curry shares the full text of the sermon, plus an introduction and four of his favorite sermons on the themes of love and social justice. The world has met Bishop Curry and has been moved by his riveting, hopeful, and deceptively simple message: love and acceptance are what we need in these strange times.

Bishop Michael Curry | Photo: © Kara Flannery

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Most Reverend Michael B. Curry is the presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church. Elected in 2015, he is the first African-American to lead the denomination. He was previously bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. A noted advocate for human rights and author of several books, Bishop Curry is recognized as one of the most popular preachers in the English language. He and his wife Sharon Curry have two daughters, Rachel and Elizabeth. They live in North Carolina.

Order The Power of Love today!

ENTER TO WIN THE POWER OF LOVE #GIVEAWAY!

Simply Amazing Living is partnering with Penguin Random House on a giveaway for one (1) lucky winner to receive a copy of The Power of Love by Bishop Michael Curry and (1) Choose Love t-shirt from Simply Amazing Living. Total giveaway value is $50 (US). The Power of Love by Bishop Michael Curry is now in stores. Enter to win a copy of your own along with a Choose Love t-shirt! Use the Rafflecopter to enter.

Open to US addresses only. Contest ends on December 24, 2018. No purchase necessary.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Power of Love Moment

I am sharing the positive and inspirational messages from The Power of Love this holiday season and for years to come. The world needs more love and positivity! Do you have a #poweroflove moment that you want to share? Please comment in the comment box below.

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Meeting Michelle Obama | “Becoming” Book Tour

December 7, 2018 by Autumn Murray 6 Comments

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Meeting Michelle Obama - Becoming" Book Tour - Simply Amazing Living

Photo Credit: Miller Mobley and Penguin Random House

I’ve Got Tickets to See My Shero – Michelle Obama!

My husband Rodney gave me the surprise Christmas present of a lifetime – a ticket to see Michelle Obama during her “Becoming” book tour. Before I go into detail about the surprise, let me say that this is not a political post. This post is about the type of person Michelle Obama is and why I look up to her as a role model.

I have adored Michelle Obama ever since she stepped onto the world stage during Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2007 and gave her first speech. In that speech, she talked about her blue-collar background and growing up on the South Side of Chicago. She talked about her father and the love she has for her entire family and how commitment to her family shaped the woman she is today.

Choose Love

And then there are her impressive education credentials. High school salutatorian, followed her brother to Princeton and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and then earned her Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.

Dedication to Helping Others

While yes, all of that is awe-inspiring and admirable, it is her passion to help others that inspires me the most. I have always felt compelled to help others and I admire people that dedicate their lives to this mission. If you follow my website, you know that I come from an abusive childhood. What I endured in my youth drives me to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

In my opinion, we were all put on this earth together and we all should strive to live the best life we can live and that includes helping each other, accepting each other’s differences, and not putting our beliefs above someone else’s. As Thomas Jefferson wrote “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (Declaration of Independence)

Community Service

Her dedication to community service prior to becoming First Lady:

While at Princeton University, she created a reading program for the children of the school’s manual laborers.
She left corporate law to pursue a career in public service.
While she was the executive director for the Chicago branch of Public Allies, she created a leadership-training program for young adults.
She developed the first community service program for the University of Chicago
She served as the executive director of community relations and external affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals and was promoted to vice president within three years.
Served on numerous charitable boards.

Her dedication to community service as First Lady:

Targeted the epidemic of childhood obesity and encouraged healthy eating habits.
Launched the Let’s Move initiative to promote physical activity.
Co-founded the Joining Forces program with Dr. Jill Biden to expand educational and employment options for veterans and to raise awareness about the difficulties impacting military families.
Created the Reach Higher initiative to inspire and encourage young people to explore higher education and career-development opportunities.

Choosing Civility Over Party

I have always respected the position of First Lady regardless of the political party in office. Whether you agree with Michelle Obama’s politics or not, there is no denying that she is an inspiration for women and young girls around the world. She is also a shero to so many men and young boys as well. I am looking forward to meeting her and hopefully getting one of her infamous hugs. Hopefully, I will be able to maintain my composure so I can at least get a decent picture with her!

Michelle Obama Graces the Cover of Essence

Autumn and Charis

The Set Up

My husband Rodney and his friend Dwayne surprised Dwayne’s wife Charis and I with tickets to see Michelle Obama on her book tour. Rodney and Dwayne totally set Charis and I up for a surprise reveal and what a surprise it was.

Our husbands individually made plans for us to go out to dinner at Pappadeax (we all LOVE this Cajun seafood restaurant). They planned for us to “accidentally” run into each other at the restaurant. Not knowing this was a setup, Charis and I were thrilled to see each other as it had been a few months since the last time. So we sit down and talk and laugh and eventually order our food.

They made up an excuse to go outside and left us behind at the table. Their plan was to record an Instagram video of the big reveal and tag us thinking that we would get a notification and we would check our phones. Well, both of us were focusing on catching up and didn’t have our phones on the table so we didn’t see the notification.

The Surprise

Our husbands returned to the table and kept giving us hints to check our phones. We both thought this was weird, but we played along and retrieved our phones from our purses and checked our notifications. There was a notification on Instagram and a video of Rodney and Dwyane. We clicked to view the video and at first, we didn’t quite grasp what they were saying and then it sunk in. They announced in the video that for Christmas, they got us two VIP Meet and Greet tickets for Michelle Obama’s book tour stop in Dallas along with flight and hotel. We will get to meet her, take a picture with her, and sit in the 7th row during her presentation! I really wished they would have recorded our reaction because it was priceless. I teared up and we both were literally stunned. Their gift to us is Simply Amazing!

Bestselling Book of the Year

According to NDP BookScan data, in just two weeks after its release (Nov. 13), Michelle Obama’s memoir “Becoming” became the bestselling book of the year. The former first lady’s book has sold over 2 million copies in North America (selling 725,000 copies on release day alone). It is also topping bestseller lists throughout Europe.

Get your copy of “Becoming” by Michelle Obama today!

AN OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB 2018 SELECTION

Other books featuring Michelle Obama:

“Becoming” Charitable Focus

Penguin Random House strongly supports social responsibility and the mission of The Obama Foundation. Penguin Random House donated one million children’s books published by Penguin Random House to First Book, a longstanding Penguin Random House nonprofit partner and the Washington, DC-based partner for the 2016 White House digital education initiative, Open eBooks. First Book is dedicated to promoting equal access to education by providing new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need in the U.S. and Canada.

Former President Barack Obama’s memoir is expected in 2019. The Obamas will donate a “significant portion” of their author proceeds to charity, including the Obama Foundation.

Rodney, Autumn, Charis, and Dwayne

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Michelle Obama Graces The Cover of Essence

November 17, 2018 by Autumn Murray 25 Comments

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Michelle Obama on cover of ESSENCE Magazine

Michelle Obama on the cover of ESSENCE Magazine Photo credit: Miller Mobley

Former First Lady Michelle Obama on ESSENCE

Michelle Obama rocking her natural curls for the very first time on the new cover of ESSENCE’s December/January issue is everything to me. This past year I started flaunting my natural curls because it really is less hassle than flat ironing my hair in addition to being extremely cost-effective and saves so much of my time. It also helped to find the right product to give my curls the definition that I was looking for. I use Noodle Head Curling Creme by Beyond the Zone. It cost less than $15 to buy! I have been searching for products for years and have paid a lot of money to just now find this creme. Better late than never as they say.

Love is Everything

Whether or not you agree with Michelle Obama’s politics, there is no doubt that she is an inspiration to women and young girls of all backgrounds. She has always been a champion of healthy eating, education, and our veterans to list just a few. I would love to meet her one day and get one of her infamous hugs and to thank her for always being a beacon of positivity regardless of the circumstances.

Michelle Obama has been around the country promoting her book “Becoming.” My favorite television interview that I have seen so far has to be the one that she did with Ellen DeGeneres on the Ellen Show. Check out a clip of it here which highlights Michelle’s eight years as First Lady:

In the Essence December/January issue, Michelle Obama gives us the scoop on her happiest days in the White House, how she balanced both a career and a family and shares advice on how to find a partner that shares your same goals and aspirations.

A quote from the ESSENCE article on her happiest days in the White House: “Any day that I got to spend time with children was a good day. Sometimes if I was in need of a pick-me-up, my staff would schedule an event with young people to give me a boost. Kids give me energy. They get me out of my own head and remind me about the things that are most important…” Michelle Obama

Diversity in Entertainment

Pick up the latest issue of ESSENCE to read more from their interview with Michelle Obama, including Obama’s White House confessions and an exclusive excerpt from her new book, Becoming Michelle Obama.

Choose Love Over Hate

Get your copy of “Becoming” by Michelle Obama today!

Other books featuring Michelle Obama:

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Black Radiance®

For over more than two decades, Black Radiance has pursued its vision to be the #1 trusted expert and resource for black beauty.

Black Radiance recognizes and understands the needs across a diverse range of ethnic skin tones. By combining high style with the latest technology, Black Radiance offers a variety of sheer to vivid lip and eye color, plus, exclusively formulated face cosmetics that meet the distinct needs of her skin type and not just skin color. Black Radiance has a large portfolio of luxurious, affordable formulas with uncompromising benefits to indulge, enhance and refine with stunning definition

About ESSENCE Magazine

ESSENCE is the premiere lifestyle, fashion and beauty magazine for African-American women. With its motivating message, intimate girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone, compelling and engaging editorial lineup, and vibrant and modern design, ESSENCE is the definitive voice of today’s dynamic African-American woman. In 2008, ESSENCE won 12 New York Association of Black Journalists awards in the Investigative, General Feature, International, Business/Technology, Science/Health, Arts & Entertainment, Personal Commentary, Public Affairs, and Online categories. The publication has a monthly circulation of 1,050,000 and a readership of 8.5 million. The first issue of ESSENCE hit the newsstands in May 1970, with a circulation of 50,000.

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European Luxury meets southern hospitality – Château Élan Winery and Resort

August 31, 2018 by Autumn Murray 42 Comments

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Photo credit: Chateau Elan Winery and Resort

Chateau Elan Winery & Resort

We were recently invited to a tour and wine tasting at the most-awarded Winery on the East Coast -Château Élan Winery & Resort in Braselton, Georgia. Yes, you read that correctly – in Georgia. When most people think of wine, Georgia is not typically the first area that comes to mind. However, I believe that Château Élan is changing people’s perception of wine produced in the Southeast.

Oddly enough, even though I have lived in Georgia for over 20 years, I had not been to the winery and resort before. To be honest, I didn’t think I would like the wine as I thought it would be too sweet. Wines produced in Georgia are mostly made from muscadine grapes which have a high sugar content. When I think of muscadines, I think of Muscato Wine which is extremely sweet. I like my wine to be more on the dry side.

I was pleased to find out the type of varietals the winery is known for include Muscadine varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and various blends.

Château Élan Duncan Creek

The wines we tried:

Château Élan Sauvignon Blanc Reserve
Château Élan Chardonnay Reserve
Château Élan Duncan Creek
Château Élan Brut Reserve
Château Élan “Nancy”
Château Élan Pinot Noir Reserve
Château Élan Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Château Élan Les Petits
Château Élan Dolce Rosso
Château Élan Port Reserve

Wine Favorites

I truly enjoyed all of the wines. However, my top three choices in no particular order are:

Château Élan Chardonnay
If you are looking for a smooth, fruity, oaky chardonnay – this one is worth a try.

Château Élan “Nancy”
Nancy is the first addition of super premium white wine to their “Fingerprint” collection. It is the most elegant wine yet created by Simone Bergese and it is named after Château Élan founder Dr. Nancy Panoz. It is dry with a slightly fruity taste.

Château Élan Les Petits
If you love bold red wines – this one is the one for you. A blend of Petit Verdot and Petit Syrah. It is deliciously rich and textured wine.

Photo credit: Château Élan

Château Élan Wine Box Subscription

They just announced the Chateau Elan Wine Box!. It is a pick-up subscription experience for wine lovers who live within 50 miles of the most-awarded Winery on the East Coast and want to try new wines while also enjoying the wines they have come to know and love.

Find out more details HERE.

Simone Bergese

Chateau Elan Winery & Resort

Did someone say wine?

Simone Bergese
Simone Bergese is the Executive Winemaker and Director of Winery Operations for Château Élan Winery & Resort. Simone is originally from Alba, Italy and holds a degree in Oenology and Viticulture from the Turin University in Northern Italy. Simone has worked as Assistant Winemaker and Chief Winemaker for several wineries across Italy, Australia, and the United States before joiningChâteau Élan Winery & Resort in 2013.

Upon Simone’s arrival, he directed a complete overhaul of the Estate Vineyard. The winery had been struggling to keep the grape vines they were growing in peak condition. At Simone’s direction, all of the vinifera vines and other vines that were deemed unworthy were removed from the vineyard and replaced with muscadine vines that are unique to the Georgia climate.

Château Élan produces all of their wines at the winery. In addition to the grapes grown in their vineyard, they source and transport grape varieties from top vineyards in California.

Simone also infused specific winemaking techniques at the winery that he honed over his 20 years of winemaking across the world. Since joining Château Élan in 2013, his wines have won over 150 awards at prestigious wine competitions and he has brought the wine offerings to over 20 styles of wines.

Photo credit: Château Élan

The Ultimate Destination

Château Élan makes for ideal for weddings and meeting destination. It has four ballrooms, 12 conference rooms, and an auditorium. In addition to the winery, the property’s grounds also include a golf course, tennis courts, and a full-service spa. According to guests, the Château Élan packs quite a punch with the amenities it provides. There are seven restaurants that offer a variety of types of food – literally everything from French cuisine to traditional Irish pub fare.

The guest rooms at the resort emulate elements of a French country estate. Very posh indeed.

Photo credit: Château Élan

About Château Élan Winery & Resort

Donald and Nancy Panoz are the visionaries and founders of Château Élan in Braselton, Ga., USA. The luxurious resort is the first winery of its kind in the region since Prohibition. With numerous expansions over the past 14 years, Château Élan is now an award-winning winery and resort with an inn, conference center, four golf courses, eight restaurants, European-style health spa, residential community, wine market, equestrian show center and tennis center.

Come on out and experience for yourself the place where European Luxury meets southern hospitality!

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We were hosted by Château Élan Winery & Resort and not compensated to write this post.
As always, the views expressed in my post are my own.

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Everbody Knows – A Focus Features Film – Coming Soon

November 15, 2018 by Autumn Murray 1 Comment

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Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem in Everybody Knows

Academy Award winners Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz star in Everybody Knows, a film by Asghar Farhadi. The psychological thriller opened the 2018 Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews and it will release in select theatres across the country in February 2019. I can’t wait to see this movie! I don’t think it is possible to go wrong with a movie starring the beautiful and supremely talented Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem! Talk about a match made in acting heaven! You can purchase your tickets on Fandango. Fandango – Know Before You Go! Buy Movie Tickets in Advance.

About Everybody Knows

Everybody Knows film follows Laura (Cruz) on her travels from Argentina to her small hometown in Spain for her sister’s wedding, bringing her two children along for the occasion. Amid the joyful reunion and festivities, the eldest daughter is abducted. In the tense days that follow, various family and community tensions surface and deeply hidden secrets are revealed.

Jada Pinkett-Smith’s Red Table Talk

Writer/Director: Asghar Farhadi (“The Salesman,” “A Separation”)

Producers: Alexandre Mallet-Guy, Álvaro Longoria

Cast: Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Ricardo Darín

Diversity in Entertainment – Black TV Film Crew

Watch the official trailer here:

Everybody Knows with Penélope Cruz stars as Laura and Javier Bardem

Bárbara Lennie stars as Bea and Javier Bardem as Paco in Asghar Farhadi’s EVERYBODY KNOWS, a Focus Features release. Credit: Teresa Isasi/Focus Features

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About Focus Features
Focus Features (www.focusfeatures.com) acquires and produces specialty films for the global market, and holds a library of iconic movies from fearless filmmakers. Our mission: to make a lasting impact on global audiences by creating the home for artists to share diverse, distinctive stories that inspire human connection.

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Jada Pinkett-Smith’s Red Table Talk New Season!

October 22, 2018 by Autumn Murray 30 Comments

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Red Table Talk episode with Jada Pinkett Smith, Willow Smith, Will Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris. Photo Credit: Stan Evans

Red Table Talk Keeps It Real

One of the most fascinating families in the world invites you into their home for a weekly series of groundbreaking, intimate, and candid conversations. Join Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow Smith, and mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris — three generations of women with three very different points of view, as they reveal their personal experiences and thoughts about the most compelling issues facing all of us today.

New episodes release every Monday at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET. Will Smith joins the ladies at the Red Table! For the first time, Will and Jada share intimate stories of how they met, why their wedding was a disaster, and how Will’s obsession with building a picture-perfect family almost tore apart their marriage. Will and Jada are one of the most private couples in Hollywood, and for more than 20 years, they’ve been the subject of rumors and gossip, but they’re finally ready to set the record straight. Make sure to tune in to Red Table Talk to hear what they have to say!

Jada Pinkett Smith, Autumn Murray, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris

Red Table Talk in Atlanta

Jada Pinkett-Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris were in Atlanta to promote the new series and I got the chance to sit down and chat with them. I was so excited to meet them as I have been following Jada and Will’s career since the 80’s.

I thanked them sincerely for doing this show. Most shows talk about “keeping it real” and don’t deliver. That is not the case with Red Table Talk. They talk about real life issues that relate to everyone. In fact, I am surprised at how much they reveal about themselves on the show. By sharing their personal experiences, they will no doubt inspire others and help people that are struggling with the same issues. It truly is a refreshingly honest show.

Jada Pinkett-Smith and her mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris

New Season!

This season, the women at the Red Table will explore social issues and topics such as mental health, forgiveness, divorce, race, and domestic violence. A lot of these topics were requested by followers in the Red Table Talk Facebook group. Click HERE to join the group and voice your opinions.

Throughout this new series, Jada, Willow and Adrienne will be joined by celebrity guests including Leah Remini, Ellen Pompei, J. Cole, Justin Baldoni, Toni Braxton and more.

Check out a preview of Red Table Talk:

Red Table Talk is produced by Jada Pinkett-Smith, Ellen Rakieten, Miguel Melendez and Todd Yasui.

About Facebook Watch

Facebook Watch is where content, community, and conversation come together. It is personalized for each viewer and helps them to discover new shows and catch up on the ones they follow, so they don’t miss an episode. It is available internationally and it is free on mobile apps across Apple and Android, on desktop, laptop and on Facebook’s TV apps. Facebook Watch’s Broadcast Guidelines, can be found HERE.

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Calling All Freddie Mercury and Queen Fans! Bohemian Rhapsody Now Playing!

November 5, 2018 by Autumn Murray 24 Comments

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Bohemian Rhapsody Movie Now Playing Credit: 20th Century Fox

Freddie Mercury and Queen

To say that I am a Freddie Mercury fan is an understatement. I have loved Freddie and all that is Queen since I heard their music on the radio for the first time at the age of six or seven. As I have mentioned before on my site, I had a very difficult childhood and music was the only thing that got me through it. I was able to take my mind off the of the abuse through music. Music transports me to a place where nothing and no one can hurt me. And listening to the works of Queen in addition to several other artists helped to bring me inner peace and happiness that I wasn’t able to find in my family life. You can read more on my childhood here. I am trying to put all of my experiences together to continue to heal and to help others who might have experienced similar situations.

Make the pledge to #ChooseLove

When MTV debuted in 1981 it was the greatest thing that ever happened in my life. Music Videos 24/7 was a dream come true. Of course, I watched American Bandstand, Soul Train, Solid Gold and other shows that showed band performances back in the day – but they only aired once per week. I looked forward to watching Queen videos and witnessing Freddie’s over the top stage performance and confidence in his talent.

I have all of Queen’s music and Freddie Mercury’s two solo albums. In my opinion, Queen and/or Freddie Mercury never produced a bad song. I may like some songs more than others, but I enjoy listening to all of them.

Side note: When I was a teenager, I would listen to “Somebody to Love” on repeat for hours on end to hear Freddie’s exquisite vocal range and to hear him baring his soul and asking for acceptance in more ways than one. I can relate to that song personally more than any other Queen song.

Israel Ministry of Tourism Celebrates Pride

Autumn Murray and Freddie Mercury wax figure at Rock Circus

The first time I flew to London was after Freddie died. I tried to get tickets to the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS awareness, but the tickets were sold out. So, I had to settle for watching it at home on the television. I had always wanted to visit London and Freddie’s unfortunate death is what propelled me there for the first time. I visited the Queen Fan Club (proud member), paid tribute at his home, and got a picture at the Rock Circus Wax Museum in Piccadilly Circus.

I have been waiting on a film honoring Freddie Mercury and the music of Queen it seems like forever. I was ecstatic when I learned that Bohemian Rhapsody was in the making and that Brian May (Queen’s lead guitarist) and Roger Taylor (Queen’s drummer) were involved with the production. Sadly, I wasn’t able to see Queen perform live. But, I was able to see Brian May on one of his solo tours in the 90’s and he was fantastic. I also saw a Queen tribute concert on screen at Lakewood Amphitheatre in Atlanta honoring the music of Queen. Not the same as seeing them live of course, but I’ll take Queen in any way shape or form.

Honoring Freddie Mercury and Queen

I was able to see a pre-screening of the Bohemian Rhapsody movie in Atlanta and had to wear an outfit honoring Freddie Mercury and Queen. Freddie’s favorite drink was Champagne so I had to sneak a bottle into the movie theatre and toast Freddie during the movie. That’s not weird at all, right? LOL!

Autumn Murray

I always loved Freddie’s star-shaped sunglasses that he wore in the videos Fly Away, We Will Rock You, and We are the Champions videos so I ordered a similar pair to wear to the movie. I thought, what would Freddie wear to see his movie – and I thought the more fabulous and over the top the better! Don’t worry, the fur is fake!

Autumn Murray

About Bohemian Rhapsody

Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.

Directed by Bryan Singer

Screenplay by Anthony McCarten

Story By Anthony McCarten and Peter Morgan

Cast:
Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, Allen Leech, and Mike Myers

Now In Cinemas Worldwide!

Bohemian Rhapsody is now available in cinema theatres Worldwide!
Book your tickets now @ www.bohemianrhapsodytickets.com

Watch the official movie trailer here:

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

Rachael Graham and Autumn Murray

My Review

I LOVED it! I laughed and cried so many times during the movie. If you love the music of Queen and the legacy of Freddie Mercury, then you will love this movie. The focus of Bohemian Rhapsody is on Freddie’s talent, the dynamic of the band members together, and how they worked as a group to create the music of Queen.

I thought Rami Malek did an amazing job as Freddie as well as all of the other actors in their roles. It was a pleasant surprise to see Mike Meyers in his role as Ray Foster in the movie. I didn’t recognize him until I heard his voice. His voice reminded me of the one he does as “Fat Bastard” in the Austin Powers movies.

The movie has a lot of concert scenes and a lot of Queen music. It made me feel a little bit of what it must have felt like to see them live in concert.

My only negative comment would be the changing of the timeline of events to fit the narrative of the movie. However, I understand that in the end, it is a movie and not a documentary.

Long live the music of Freddie Mercury and Queen!

Autumn Murray

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A Valuable Resource for Parents | Center for Parent and Teen Communication

October 9, 2018 by Autumn Murray 56 Comments

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This A Valuable Resource for Parents | Center for Parent and Teen Communication is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Center for Parent and Teen Communication. The opinions, memories, and text are all mine.

THEN

Listening to you say your first word – “mom.” Watching you learn to crawl and then start walking on your 1st birthday as if you knew how to do it all along. Taking you to get your ears pierced and watching that terrified look on your face and reminding you that this is what you wanted. Reading you bedtime stories until you could read on your own and then listening to you read them to me.

NOW

Playfully fighting with you over the radio stations or songs that we play in the car. Loving the fact that you care about your grades in school and watching you continue to excel academically. Giving you a little independence and dropping you off at high school football games and the mall so you can hang out with your friends. Seeing you stand up for others who can’t stand up for themselves and listening to the compliments from other parents on your positive actions. Laughing with you on only things that the two of us think are funny and watching everyone else trying to figure out what the joke is.

As much as we may want to freeze time and keep our children young, we have to do our best to prepare them for adulthood. Before they reach adulthood, of course, they have to through their teenage years. Click on the video below to find out about a resource for parents to help their children navigate through the teenage years.

Get Social with the Center for Parent and Teen Communication!<a href="https://www.jamesbeard.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Website</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/beardfoundation" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/beardfoundation" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/beardfoundation" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a> We hope that you loved this Rediscovering America | James Beard Foundation and Walmart Support Local Farms post. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of the Center for Parent and Teen Communication opinions and text are all mine.

Center for Parent and Teen Communication

The Center for Parent and Teen Communication is a new, helpful resource for every parent with teenage children. To get an idea of what type of advice and guidance can be found at the Center for Parent and Teen Communication, click HERE to read an article from the director, Dr. Ginsburg.

The Center for Parent and Teen Communication uses the best of science on youth development and parenting to support healthy family relationships and empower parents to effectively guide teens to be their best selves.

Teen Communication

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Rediscovering America | James Beard Foundation and Walmart Support Local Farms

September 12, 2018 by Autumn Murray 36 Comments

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Support Local Farms | Photo Credit: James Beard Foundation – waste not book cover

This Rediscovering America | James Beard Foundation and Walmart Support Local Farms post is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Farm to Table Movement

Walmart has teamed up with the James Beard Foundation to support local farms. Five Best Chef Award semifinalists selected by the James Beard Foundation, along with five farms in cities that supply produce to Walmart throughout the U.S. are participating in an innovative culinary program called “Rediscovering America.” The program’s purpose is to highlight the importance of fresh, affordable, and locally grown produce and support the farm to table movement.

Walmart is committed to using their global size and scale to make a positive difference in the world. Not only for customers, associates, suppliers, and their families but for all people around the world. They take global responsibility seriously.

Each of the Best Chef Award semifinalists will be part of an upcoming documentary series developed and produced by FactoryMade, co-founders of El Rey Network and executive producers of Lucha Underground.

The “Rediscovering America” program highlights a variety of restaurants across the United States from casual to formal. The chefs are incorporating locally grown produce, available at Walmart, into their expertly crafted signature menu selections.

L to R: Spicy Onion Dry Pot Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Spicy Onion Dry Pot Beef

Chef Rui Liu

Atlanta-based Chef Rui Liu is one of the five James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef Award Southeast semifinalists to participate in the “Rediscovering America” program. Chef Rui Liu is the owner and award-winning Chef at Masterpiece. Masterpiece is a delectable Sichuan restaurant in Duluth, GA.

Chef Rui selected Vidalia onions from his local Walmart to include in his feature dishes. Bland Farms in Glennville, GA supplies the sweet Vidalia onions to the Walmart.

Spicy Onion Dry Pot Chicken at Masterpiece. Can’t you almost smell the flavorful aroma from your screen?

Masterpiece

I stopped in for lunch at Masterpiece and was not disappointed. We ordered the Spicy Onion Dry Pot Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, and the Spicy Onion Dry Pot Beef dishes. Each dish was bursting with flavor. I have been to China a few times and have traveled around the world. But, I have never had Sichuan that tasted like this. Each dish had its own unique flavor vs. the traditional way the Sichuan dishes are typically prepared. I will definitely return to Masterpiece to taste more of their menu items.

I loved the sweet Vidalia onions so much that it made me want to create a dish of my own featuring the delicious vegetables.

I made a delicious Chicken Soup with Kale. It is a healthy soup that I love to make year round – but especially in the fall when the weather is cooler.

INGREDIENTS

1 medium chopped Vidalia onion (find in the produce aisle at your local Walmart).
3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cartons (32 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
4 cups chopped fresh kale
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 tablespoons of Better than Bouillon Chicken Base
1/4 cup of Pine Nuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS

In a Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add Vidalia onion, celery, and carrots; cook and stir 8-10 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer.
Gradually stir in broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 10 minutes.
Return to a boil and stir in kale, chicken, and Better Than Bouillon Chicken base; cook, covered, 6-8 minutes longer or until kale is tender.
Add pine nuts and let sit for 10-15 minutes and then serve.

Support Your Local Farms!

Headquartered in Glennville, Georgia, Bland Farms is the largest grower, packer, and shipper of sweet onions in the United States. Bland Farms represents roughly one-quarter of the entire Vidalia® sweet onion volume and has the largest controlled-environment storage capacity in the industry. Bland Farms was the first company in the industry to market sweet onions year-round. In order to meet the needs of customers, year-round Bland Farms had to expand growing operations beyond the borders of Georgia, across the United States, and internationally. Our strategically located operations result in the highest quality, freshest, and sweetest onions available to consumers and retailers today.

About the James Beard Foundation

The James Beard Foundation’s mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone.

A cookbook author and teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge about food, the late James Beard was a champion of American cuisine. He helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts, instilling in them the value of wholesome, healthful, and delicious food. Today JBF continues in the same spirit by administering a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships for culinary students, publications, chef advocacy training, and thought-leader convening. The Foundation also maintains the historic James Beard House in New York City’s Greenwich Village as a “performance space” for visiting chefs. Get food news, recipes, and more at the James Beard Foundation’s blog, or subscribe to the free digital newsletter, Beard Bites.

The James Beard Foundation is a national not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization based in New York City.

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Phuket Elephant Sanctuary | Loving Home for Elephants

September 10, 2018 by Autumn Murray 26 Comments

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Photo Credit: Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Save the Elephants!

One of the activities that was on my “must do” list when we went to Phuket, Thailand was to see the largest land mammals on earth – – elephants. I adore elephants and was not going to leave the island without seeing at least one. Luckily, on the day that we were leaving, we were able to tour the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. It was important to me that we find an ethical sanctuary and the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the only ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is a home for retired working elephants, set on 30 acres of lush tropical jungle. Visitors get to observe how elephants rehabilitate into forest life after living decades of abuse by their previous owners.

The sanctuary opened in 2016 and currently has eight elephants. This the final home for old and injured elephants who were forced to work in the tourism or logging industry. All of the elephants have endured physical pain and injuries from ordering them to comply with the labor demands.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary Facts:

The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is a joint partnership between Mr. Montri Todtane, a Phuket elephant camp owner and world-renowned elephant rescuer and conservationist Lek Chailert, founder of Save Elephant Foundation.

Following the success of Lek Chailert’s highly acclaimed Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the first of its kind in Phuket and seeks to meet the highest standard in animal welfare: rescuing, retiring and rehabilitating elephants that have suffered from working in the trekking and logging industries.

Over the past 10 years, Lek has been a driving force of change in the industry by inviting elephant riding camp owners to embrace change through the Save Elephant Foundation’s ‘Saddle Off’ program. Although there is still work to be done, her continuous and tireless efforts have resulted in many camp owners approaching the Elephant Nature Park to learn more about elephant welfare and ethical tourism.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

LOVE

Choose Love

As anyone that has read my blog or knows me personally can attest to, my motto is to “Choose Love” above all else. The owners of the Phuket Elephant sanctuary definitely chose love by saving these poor elephants from a lifetime of abuse.

Check out a video of the elephants swimming! (Credit: Phuket Elephant Sanctuary)

Photo Credit: Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

The Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Gawe Ta (Early 50’s) Rescued December 8, 2016

Jan Jao (39 years old) Rescued August 30, 2017

Kannika (35 years old) Rescued September 20, 2016

Madee (68 years old) Rescued September 20, 2016

Richy (70 years old) Rescued January 25, 2018

Sai Tong (55 years old) Rescued April 19, 2018

Sroy Fah (Early 30’s) Rescued February 8, 2018

Tong Kwaw (38 years old) Rescued December 14, 2017

Five Fun Facts I Learned About Elephants:

An elephant’s trunk weighs around 400 pounds and contains around 100,000 different muscles.
Elephants have finger-like appendages at the tip and are nimble enough to pluck a single blade of grass.
Elephants are thought to have the best sense of smell of all animals. Not too surprising as they have the largest nose in the world.
Elephants do not use their trunks to drink through. They use their trunks to draw water and then spray it into their mouths.
The wrinkles in an elephant’s skin hold in moisture which helps to keep their skin healthy.

If you are ever in Phuket, I highly recommend a visit to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary! As I mentioned before, it is the only ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket. That are several elephant sanctuaries, so make sure to select this one. You can find details on the address, tour information, cost, etc. by clicking on one of their social channels below.

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We were hosted by the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary and not compensated to write this post.
As always, the views expressed in my post are my own.

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INGREDIENTS

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Support Your Local Farms!

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Choose Love

The Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Five Fun Facts I Learned About Elephants:

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