After more than a year of being on showcase in various film festivals around the world, Where Dreams Don’t Fade has finally been released to the public for sale on DVD.  EntertainingYourself.com is particularly proud to have been a supporter in the making of this film and boasts one of the directors, Martin Mudry, as a founding contributor to our website.

The world knows Kenya as a nation that dominates distance running, but few people know the athletes’ stories.  Martin Mudry and Alex Nichols, US runners and filmmakers,  have captured a unique perspective on the driving force behind the amazing success of the Kenyan runners.  The unflappable belief and determination of Kenyan runners constitutes the core of Where Dreams Don’t Fade. The film specifically documents three Kenyan runners in various stages of chasing their goals: Robert, a talented runner in high school, who aggravated back injuries in the military and started a family and business while waiting to train again; Virginia, a college graduate trying to get a job so she can afford to train full-time in Iten, so she can make money and get a Masters; and Alex, the brother of a Bronze Medalist at the Track and Field World Championships, who is training at the camp in the hopes of attracting a full-time manager.  This beautiful and moving documentary takes you on a journey to discover what happens when people strive for success in a place Where Dreams Don’t Fade.

Where Dreams Don’t Fade

Directed and produced by Martin Mudry and Alex Nichols

Run Time: 76 minutes

Country: USA, KENYA

BERRY POPS!

Looking for a refreshing, frozen treat for your 4th of July party this weekend? Try this delicious recipe for Berry Pops! (as recently seen in the Akron Beacon Journal)

Ingredients:
1/3 cup lime juice
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup water
2 2/3 cups fresh mixed berries (try any combination you desire!)
1/3 cup vodka

Directions: In a small saucepan, combine the lime juice, sugar, and water, and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Fill four 8 oz. plastic cups with 2/3 fruit. Stir the vodka into the semi-cooled lime/sugar mix. Divide the mix across the cups, pouring directly over the fruit. Stick a plastic spoon in the center of each cup and place the cups on an even surface in the freezer for 12 hours. To serve, swirl the utensil handle to release the fruit from the cup.

Enjoy!   Kerry 

There are party goers and party throwers.  There are amazing stars that shine at both… and of course – the duds who’d best just stick to dinner and a movie.

So – what’s the measure of success?  Undoubtedly it’s how much fun was had by all.

When we launched EntertainingYourself.com, we were inspired by Robin – a consummate party thrower.  She loves throwing parties, but even more, Robin loves  planning parties.  Before she has completed one party, she already has 3 or 4 more under construction.  Themes and events stream through her brain at rapid speed and inspiration is found everywhere.  Her success rate is amazing and everyone lines up for an invitation.

Since then, EntertainingYourself.com has attracted a host of other amazing Hosts.  This month, two of our interns Rebecca Ferlotti and Kerry Butler are celebrating the last days of summer by planning a little fete of their own – a Summer Solstice Party – and they’re documenting their plans and preparations along the way, (check out our facebook page).

In essence,  you get to join EY in this celebration of summer that we’re told will include everything from bright colors and festive decorations, to lively music and delicious treats and beverages.  More importantly, you’ll get all the advice you’ll need to throw your own awesome soiree!   Want to join in the fun?  Feel free to share your own ideas and recipes here, on twitter or on our fb page!

Come On – Let’s get this party STARTED!!!

ps – If you think you might be one of the duds – stick with us!  We’ve got all the advice and insights you’ll need to become a Party Legend!

Came across a link on twitter (thank-you Techweev for always finding and posting interesting pics) and it brought to mind our own coffee dreams!  Not a coffee drinker?  Don’t worry – we’ve got a chai alternative.

Jazzed up on caffein, we went digging in our archives to bring back  Cravings in a Foreign Land -penned by Megan Ritchie while she was living in China.

Here’s a small excerpt to tempt your tastebuds:

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I’m in love, and his name is Sea Salt Latte. It’s a fairly simple equation: a sweet, creamy latte sprinkled with salt on top. Think sea salt caramels, but drinkable. Served at the perfect temperature everytime, they are UNREAL!  But hold on a minute, I am getting ahead of myself here…

When I moved to China, I was excited to try all sorts of new foods, but also a bit wary.  Not only am I a craving-driven eater, I’m also a fairly picky eater…and those cravings multiplied as the weeks went by. My initial pull for Mexican food and pizza was paired with an overpowering need for cereal—any cereal!— and cake—any cake!—divided by an incessant desire for brownies, chocolate bars, chocolate malts, chocolate chocolate chocolate…none of it readily available in Changzhou. I was doomed.

I knew I had to find other things to eat, beyond fried rice, steamed vegetables and too many containers of yogurt, or suffer the consequences of a crazed food craver. Enter Café 85°C.

Café 85°C is fondly known as “the Starbucks of Taiwan” but I have never seen baked goods like these at any Starbucks I’ve ever wandered into. The place is so named for their self-proclaimed “perfect temperature to serve coffee” (85° Celsius is 185° Fahrenheit, for those Americans in the group who don’t feel like Googling the conversion). The place is one-third coffee shop, and two-thirds bakery. Oh, the bakery.  Suddenly, bread was back in the equation. And sugar. Real, honest-to-goodness sugary treats. Were. Back. My luck was on the rise!

Now, eating at that café (there’s a tiny branch in Changzhou) is like creating cravings I never knew I had.

Milky

In the past week I’ve overheard two different conversations (in two different states) by people thinking about adopting a kid – or two or three. But these “kids” have four legs and appetites for grass!   Apparently, somewhere in our cultural trending goats are becoming all the rage.

And we here at EntertainingYourself.com are taking credit for their rise in popularity!  In June of 2010 – among our earliest publications, one of EY’s first and highly entertaining contributors, Will Kennedy, posted “Don’t Knock It” – a tale about his goat loving family, spurred by his own kid sister.

Apparently, (based on what was overheard around the dinner table) one reason goats are catching on in popularity is that they are a “green” substitute for mowing the lawn.

But they also produce some delicious milk that can be substituted for cows milk and used for all sorts of recipes.  Fear not – in December 2010, Will provided all the advice you’ll need in  The Zone and the Art of Goat Milking.   The story, which included a short video, was so popular, that we asked him to produce a long version showcasing the hilarious details about How To Milk A Goat!  These kids are truly entertaining!

So now, thanks to a little digging into the EY archives, you can make an informed choice before adopting your new kids.

 The new kid on the block

Photograph of LA, taken by Martin Mudry

If this picture is to be believed – Then “YES” the  pot of gold really is in California!

Last time Martin was in LA, he captured this rainbow over Hollywood while he was looking out his window.  Stunning isn’t it?  And is it any wonder  he can’t resist returning?

Interested in EY’s West Coast Adventures?  Here are a few stories from our archives worth a(nother) read!

Jumping In California Style

Don’t Knock It If You Haven’t Tried It

The Key to Sea Kayaking Part 1

The Key to Sea Kayaking Part 2

Road Trip West – Part 4 

Sunny Spot – Mountain View, CA 

Who’s Guarding the Roost?

SHOUT-OUT to our  Cleveland Friends and Fans!  Just want to say thanks for making the Premier of “Where Dream’s Don’t Fade” a fantastic success at the 36th International Cleveland Film Festival.  The Cleveland Plain Dealer called the movie “poignant” and picked it out of a line up of about 300 movies to showcase.    The cinematography and sound were amazing and the three stars were absolutely inspiring!  We now understand why filmmakers Martin Mudry and Alex Nichols felt compelled to make this movie.  For those of us lucky enough to spend the week in Cleveland attending events, visiting with the filmmakers themselves, meeting Robert Kigen, one of its stars, and of course, watching the film, we now get why Clevelanders’ are so loyal to their hometown.  It is a beautiful city with an unassuming vibrancy that welcomes visitors with open arms.

(l to r) Robert Kigen, Martin Mudry, Alex Nichols at the Cleveland International Film Festival

Filmmakers Martin Mudry and Alex Nichols’ Dream of Festival Screening  was realized this month.  On the heels of the documentary’s World Premier at the LUMS International Film Festival in Lahore, Pakistan held February 10 – 12, the filmmakers received more big news this week: Where Dreams Don’t Fade will be screening at the 36th Cleveland International Film Festival in March.

Martin Mudry in Hollywood

This is big news for EntertainingYourself.com because Martin is also one of our beloved contributors!

We would like to extend our Congratulations to both of these filmmakers, along with its stars, Robert Kigen, Alexander Mneria and Virginia Rono, on this major milestone!

Read on to see the announcement  in the Cleveland International Film Festival Program:

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Where Dreams Don’t Fade

Since 1968 Kenya has won 21 Olympic gold medals in long distance running compared to the U.S.’s three medals. While the rest of the world knows the African region gives birth to some of the best long distance runners on the planet, the true story of how each person gets to the big stage remains hidden. WHERE DREAMS DON’T FADE is an intimate portrait into the trials and tribulations of the men and women who dream of a better life through running. Following three runners, this documentary provides insight into a part of the world where everyone shares the same dream, but the only escape is through hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck. Virginia is relatively new to running and she trains as she searches for a job; Alex was recruited into the army that trained him; and Robert is battling back from injuries hoping to hang on to the last chance he may have. The amount of perseverance, dedication, and discipline is inspiring and one can’t help but root for these runners as they chase their dreams in a place where dreams are all they have. (In English, Swahili, and Kalenjin with subtitles) –T.W.

Tuesday, March 27	8:45 PM
Wednesday, March 28	5:45 PM
Thursday, March 29	12:05 PM

2012 has arrived and we are ready!

THIS IS A NEW YEAR FOR ENTERTAINING YOURSELF.

ARE YOU READY?

LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!!!!!

New Year – New Start. ENTERTAININGYOURSELF.COM has celebrated our first anniversary and we are ready to take this party to the next level.  Here’s what we’re thinking:

More travel – our writers are on the move – and what they see and do is amazing.

More adventure – our writers are out there

More fun – because you deserve it and we want to give it!  Are you ready?  Then LET’S GO!

We’re introducing a new feature this month:  Sunny Spot Travel Tips.    What better way to experience independence than by traveling?  Flying high – breezing down a highway – trekking up a mountain – running in the jungle, swimming in the ocean – or just strolling down a street and discovering the world’s best cup of coffee!  Our writers travel the globe for their own entertainment and adventure and they bring their stories to life on this website under our Sunny Spot page.

Now we’ve decided to take it a step further by providing some unique TIPS on making the most of YOUR travel to these fun and sometimes exotic places.

For example – did you know that in a lovely little back-yard of a private residence, in a small town just outside of Iguazu Falls in Argentina, asking only for a donation, the owners will invite you to enjoy a breathtaking opportunity to watch and feed hummingbirds (as well as parrots, and other colorful Aves).

And this is the truth:  If you can sit very still, the hummingbirds will actually land on your fingers to feed from the globe in your hand!  Talk about a Zen experience.

So How was this out of the way and off the beaten track place discovered?  Rosemary was traveling in the area and coincidentally ran into a friend from college who had just been there because he had heard about it from another friend who had stumbled across it on her travels in the area!  Amazing all the way around!

And here’s a special offer to our readers:  If you’re planning a trip to any of our Sunny Spots (or even a place we haven’t written about) – we invite you to send us a note with your questions and we’ll give you our perspective on the best ways of Entertaining Yourself while you’re on the road or overseas.

Because traveling beyond your everyday life (either for real or through someone else’s account) is an amazing way of experiencing the joy of freedom and growth.

-EY Staff-