Her majesty Victoria...

Hubby and I enjoy cheap dates in a variety of ways, and we often pick up a flick and a pizza and have our Friday date night in the comfort of our own home.

While I am neither a royal historian nor a movie critic, I would like to recommend a movie that we rented from Blockbuster last weekend. If you haven't seen The Young Victoria, you should. The movie was first produced in England and released in the United States this year.

The historical setting for the movie is 1836 - 1840. Though Victoria is remembered as long reigning dour widow who spent most of her years dressed in black, this movie seeks to uncover her early life and recall her romantic courtship and legendary marriage to Prince Albert.

Photo by Liam Daniel

Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend are stunning in both their acting and in their costumes. We got a couple hour's worth of entertainment as well as a great history lesson for about $3. While the movie is rated PG, we found it to be wholesome and redemptive in nature.

The royal wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on February 10, 1840

Picture is in the public domain

My bucket list...

This photo was taken on the 4th of July from my front yard. What a view!

In 2007, a comedy-drama film came out called The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The two characters met in a cancer ward and after finding out they were terminal, they escaped and set off to do all the things they ever wanted to do before they "kicked the bucket". A funny movie with a message.

I decided to make a bucket list of my own with my top ten items, not in any particular order. Here it is.

1. visit the Holy Land

2. do better at living within our means

3. write and publish a book

4. have a totally organized home, including spare rooms, basement & garage

5. downsize to a smaller, older home with lots of character

6. learn how to use my MacBook to the fullest, before it is obsolete

7. learn something about photography and be decent at it

8. do more pleasure reading while my eyes are still good

9. pray more--worry less

10. create and maintain healthy "margin" in my life

Have you ever given thought to a bucket list? Please share!