* I brought five pre-teens to the movies the other night (and survived–the sleepover that followed was a little rougher!) and was really blown away by the escalating price of everything.  First of all, it seems every movie nowadays is in 3D, which only serves to make me dizzy and cost me more.  And then the snacks!  I don’t usually buy any, so it felt like I just crawled out from under a rock to learn that water is 5 bucks a bottle!  So, it’s no surprise to me to hear, yet again, that sales of home theaters are just exploding.  Who wouldn’t prefer a private screening in a room like the one pictured?  I found that in today’s USA TODAY, in an article titled Home Theater Gear Is a Booming Business.

* The trick to at-home movie viewing, in my mind?  Keeping it a little social.  I mean, at least when you go out to the movies, you get dressed, you may run into some folks you know, that kind of thing.  And constantly isolating yourself from society is really not very healthy (this spoken from a woman who works out of her home office).  So if you do do the whole home theater thing, consider inviting some friends over.  Have a day of Lord of the Rings–the Trilogy.  Or a Harry Potter-thon.  Or the complete Planet of the Apes series (the line “It’s a madhouse! A madhouse!” comes from the original movie, and I dare say, is said frequently in my house).  (Wait–I’m gonna’ show you that.  Click here.  Don’t you relate?)

* Get a local caterer or restaurant to provide the food, or, if you’re showing something like Julie and Julia, why not hire a chef to teach a cooking class first?  Here’s a group of friends who had a cooking class (or, rather, it looks like an ice cream-making class) in one of their homes given by Kick Back and Kook, which I found on Kudzu.

* This fresh, clean new year reminds me I have a few things on my list to help my “home movie-watching haven” (which would be a way-smaller screen than the one pictured and a lumpy couch) be fresh and clean as well.  Things like fixing wood rot.  Cleaning air ducts (photo from A-Z Techs Mechanical website).  Washing curtains and windows.  The same things, in all honestly, that were on my list last year and didn’t get done then either.  I don’t know.  Character flaw?  Or busy mom syndrome?

* Just yesterday, someone raved yet again about the Fly Lady.  I’ve been hearing about her (and avoiding her) for years now.  Maybe it’s time?

Check out Kudzu for home theater installation, personal chefs, cleaners, handymen, and personal organizers.  And you know what?  I’m doing it, too!