mmm mmm mmm stew

Winter is almost here. I wanted to share my hearty homemade beef stew recipe, a Rena original

1 cup mushrooms
1 lbs cubed beef
2 tbs tomato paste
2 tbs olive oil
1 cup pearl onions
¾ cup sliced carrots
¾ cup sliced celery
2 tbs all purpose flour
Organic beef broth


Sauté mushrooms in olive oil
Remove mushrooms from pan
Brown cubed beef in same pan (leave beef a little pink inside)
In crock pot mix
Cooked beef, tomato paste , olive oil, flour, carrots, onions, and celery.
Add broth until desired thickness (the flour will make it thicken up)
Cook for 30 minutes
Add mushrooms
Cook for 30 more minutes

Enjoy J

Movies that have moved me

My Top 5 Favorite Movies Of All Time and Why

5. Lars And The Real Girl


Ryan Gosling plays a man that is socially awkward and becomes delusioned when he buys an anatomically correct doll. What amazed me about this movie was the way the writer created the reactions in his small town. When they learn of his delusion the choose to support him and go along with his fantasy instead of shunning his family. This film reveals what is missing in our society now, love, support, and compassion.
















4. In America



This movie follows a family that illegally immigrated from Ireland to start a new life. It is narrated by the 11 year daughter and she brings a fresh perspective on living in this country. Its amazing what can happen in one year in America. This movie will make you feel grateful for every day even during the hard times.




3. Children Of Men


With the longest innovative single-shot action sequence it is a visual dream. The story is beautiful set in a dirty and violent backdrop of the near future. After all the women in the world went infertile and the youngest human (18) died Theo discovers a pregnant refugee and is given the task to deliver her to safety. Scenes in this movie might break your heart but it leaves you with a sense of hope stronger than you have ever felt.



2. The Fifth Element

Its not often that an action movie makes any ones top movie list, but I just love this action packed quirky love story. Underneath the hover car chases and choreographed fight scenes there is a message about the importance of life and in the end the only thing strong enough to fight off true evil is love.











1. Dancer In The Dark

Bjorks portrayal of a Czech immigrant working in a factory in the US and suffering from a eye disease that is taking her eyesight. She slips in and out of reality with elaborate fantasies with music and dance. This movie digs deep in your emotions and builds slowly. The last 10 minutes of this film will blow your mind and make you cry as you are filled with strong empathy and compassion for the human spirit.




















Other movies that make my favorite list are:

Lost In Translation
Breakfast At Tiffany's
About A Boy
The Big Lebowski
A Bronx Tale
Garden State
Igby Goes Down
The Shawshank Redemption
Pieces Of April
The Namesake


If you haven't seen these movies I recommend watching them and let me know what you thought.

Somethings Last A Lifetime

your picture, is still, on my wall, on my wall
the colors, are bright, bright, as ever
the red is strong, the blue is true,
somethings, last, a long time
somethings, last, a long time
your picture, is still, on my wall, on my wall
i think, about you, often, often,
i cant forget, all the things we did
somethings, last, a long time
somthings, last, a long time
its funny, but its true, and its true, its not funny
time comes and goes, all the while,
i, still, think, of you
somethings, last, a long time
your picture, is still, on my wall, on my wall
the colors, are bright, bright, as ever,
i, cant forget, all the things we did,
somethings, last, a longtime,
somethings, last, a lifetime.

The Fast Life

Your feet hit the ground
You are running again
Running from yourself
Its easy when you don’t know who you are

Your destination unknown
Every place is just the same anyway
All the people believe the same lies
No one will miss you when you leave this space
And your footprints will soon fade

Run faster now
Life seems to be flying by
Keep up now
Or each year is just one step
One step closer to death

Go ahead and lose your faith
You never had it anyway
And when you stop searching for a sense of belonging
Stop feeling like a stray cat
You will find yourself
And then
Only then
Should you stop running

Kiss With A Fist

you hit me once
i hit you back
you gave a kick
i gave a slap
you smashed a plate
over my head
then i set fire to our bed

My black eye casts no shadow
your red eye sees no pain
your slaps don't stick
your kicks don't hit
so we remain the same
blood sticks and
sweat drips
break the lock if it don't fit
a kick in the teeth is good for some
a kiss with a fist is better than none
a-woah a kiss with a fist is better than none

broke your jaw once before spilt your blood upon the floor
you broke my leg in return
sit back and watch the bed burn
well love sticks sweat drips
break the lock if it don't fit
a kick in the teeth is good for some
a kiss with a fist is better than none
a-woah a kiss woth a fist is better than none

My Dog Days Are Over

Every now and then a song comes along that feels straight out of my mind and it perfectly expresses the changes in my life. Florence and the Machine has done this. Maybe its because I have recently started a new path in my life and feel like I am running. Running from your family and friends and running from love. After all if you cant take it with you if want to survive.

Lyrics to Dog Days Are Over :
Happiness hit her like a train on a track
Coming towards her stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with her drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your loving, your loving behind
You cant carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
'Cause here they come

And i never wanted anything from you
Except everything you had and what was left after that too, oh
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the head
Struck from a great height by someone who should know better than that

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
'Cause here they come

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your loving, your loving behind
You cant carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can you hear the horses?
'Cause here they come

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run

Before you put your hands up and cheer...

Last night I went to a Hip Hop concert at the Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City. My awkwardness aside for wearing cowboy boots I was not fumillar with the music by Dead Prez. I have only heard their name but had no clue what there music was like.

I went with an open mind. After all, I can dance to anything with a beat. Being in Utah it came as no surprise that majority of the crowd was caucation. But that shouldn't matter. And it didnt... at first. You see, it has nothing to do with race, but everything to do will paying attention to what people say before you follow them. Dead Prez took the stage. The crowd went wild. After about 3 songs I began to notice a theme. EVERY song made a reference to white people. White people having power, controling the world, and keeping black peole down. Meanwhile all the white people in the crowd are cheering. Putting there fists up when Dead Prez make a reference to Black Panthers. What the fuck?!?! I am sorry white people, but YOU CANT JOIN THE BLACK PANTHERS! I was shocked. Was I the only one hearing the lyrics.


To Prove I am not making this up... here are some sample lines from their lyrics:

Hiding in the corridor until we see the dominos car headlights/White boy in the wrong place at the right time

Who shot biggy smalls if we dont get them they gonna get us all
Im down for runnin on them crackers in they city hall

Everywhere the white man go he bring misery
All throughout history, look it up
Everything them bald heads touch they fuck it up
Every government he set up, it be corrupt

Anyway. You decide. Does this sound right? or should people pay attention to lyrics more when they choose who to be a fan of?

This is just for fun, I thought it was funny.