My Favorite Christmas Movies!

    Hey everyone!  I'm just going to stop apologizing for missing posts because it seems like I do this every week now...  Thursday was a bit hectic for me because I had to run a ton of errands and then work late, so I really just wanted to sleep when I got home.  That being said, this is a fun, (pointless), post about Christmas, so it's not like you were missing out on anything.  Tomorrow is also my birthday, so I'm looking forward to taking advantage of the weekend off.  I plan on watching a lot of Christmas movies, since I haven't watched any yet this season because I've been so busy.  Here are my go-to Christmas films!

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    Rankin Bass Classics: These movies fall under their own category because EVERYONE watches them at Christmastime.  The four core films are The Little Drummer Boy, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Clause is Coming to Town.  I usually don't watch The Little Drummer Boy because I was forced to watch it a lot as a child because I was raised Catholic and I never really liked Frosty, so I usually stick to Rudolph and Santa Clause is Coming to Town.  These classics are a staple in our home and frequent the ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas.  If you haven't watched these yet or never heard of them, there's something wrong with you.

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    The Year Without a Santa Clause:  Obviously there are more Rankin Bass films than just the four listed above, but it would take me forever to name them all.  There's Rudolph's Shiny New Year, Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July, and then this gem: The Year Without a Santa Clause.  This is probably one of my favorite Christmas movies of all time.  The main reason my sister and I love this movie so much is because of Heat Miser and Snow Miser, who control the weather in each hemisphere.  They do not get along and constantly try to outdo each other to impress their mother, Mother Nature.  Their song in this movie is the one that will get stuck in your head FOR DAYS, so tread lightly.  I'm more of a Snow Miser person while my sister is all Heat Miser, so pick your side and enjoy this lovely film!

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    Elf:  Will Ferrell at his best.  Most people either love or hate this movie, but I fall within the former.  There's nothing about this movie that I don't like.  It's hilarious and full of forever quotes.  I may start my Christmas marathon with this one.  I mean come on...

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How could you not love that?  This is my favorite line in the movie, by the way.  Yes, out of all of them.

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    Home Alone 2: Lost in New York:  This is my favorite of all the Home Alone movies.  The setting is perfect for Christmas, the shenanigans are on point and the cast is great.  Tim Curry is amazing, as always.  Who wouldn't want to be stranded in NYC around Christmastime with a wallet full of credit cards?  I loved the toy store in this one too.  It reminded me of an older FAO Schwartz, back in the day.  It's a really well-done film.  Very underrated!

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    The Santa Clause:  This is an oldie, but goodie in my book.  Tim Allen is great in this movie!  If you don't know the premise already, when Santa comes to Tim Allen's home, he accidentally falls off the roof, leaving his coat behind with a small card of instructions.  Scott Calvin, (Tim Allen), dons the suit and becomes the new Santa Clause, unbeknownst to him.  He spend almost the entire movie fighting the change and refusing to believe in himself, at the expense of his young son Charlie.  The movie also deals with the concept of divorce in a heartbreaking way, so get your tissue ready when you sit down to watch this one.  Despite the emotions, this one is a great pick!

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    The Muppet Christmas Carol:  Last but not least, this classic movie with a Muppet twist.  Out of all the remakes and variations of this Christmas story, this one is by far my favorite and, if I may be so bold, the best.  You have the talented Michael Caine as Mr. Scrooge, Gonzo and Rizzo are narrating, (there's actually a lot of adult humor in this, which I didn't realize until I became an adult), and the old guys from the balcony as Marley and Marley.  It's creepy at times, (because puppets), the songs are amazing, (they will also get stuck in your head), and the cast of Muppets stay true to themselves while also staying in character.  IT'S SO GOOD!  If you haven't experienced this adaptation, please do so immediately.

    Those are all my best Christmas movies!  This post got me super excited to watch them all, so I may have to start after dinner tonight.  Let me know in the comments below if you love some, (or all), of these as well or which Christmas movies your family watches every year, (my husband's family watches A Wish for Wings That Work).  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

My Christmas Book List

    Hey everyone!  Sorry about flaking out again last Thursday, but it's been an adjustment working around my new work schedule.  I've also been feeling a tad under the weather, so I've been doing my best to give myself more opportunities to rest and take care of myself so that I don't have a repeat of last Christmas, (when my husband had to physically carry me down the stairs).  Here's to hoping!  I wanted to give you guys a look at the books I'm asking for for Christmas this year.  Obviously the illustrated version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, The Mortal Instruments/The Infernal Devices, the Throne of Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses are all on there, but I wanted to highlight some of the stand-alone novels or ones that have caught my eye but haven't gotten a chance to talk about yet.

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    The Night Circus was one of the best adult novels I read this year.  Plus, LOOK at the gorgeous cover art!  If you'd like to read my review of this book, check out my November wrap-up here.  I loved the story and premise and I adored all the characters.  It was truly an enchanting book and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys the concept of magic and romance.

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    The Mime Order is another adult book I'd like to add to my collection.  I already own The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, which I enjoyed thoroughly.  I read this one all the way back in August, so to check out that review, go here.  The third, (and final?), book in this series doesn't come out until November of next year, so I have to wait almost an entire year to finish it...oh well.  It's a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys a London setting, Dystopian literature or alien-centric fiction.

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    The Red Queen is a newer YA book on my list.  I didn't know how I felt about it at first, even though I gave it 4 out of 5 stars when I read it back in September, (to read my short review, click here).  This book started off slow for me, but I still feel a connection with the characters.  I've been very into court and medieval-style or regressed society books lately, anything with a castle and kingdom, (or queendom), so if you're into that, or supernatural/magical elements, you'd like this book.  I almost never give up on a series after the first book and I'm actually looking forward to The Glass Sword, book two in this series, which comes out in February next year.

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    Tangled Webs by Lee Bross caught my eye at the bookstore actually.  The picture of this cover doesn't do it any justice whatsoever.  It's bright and obnoxious and I LOVE IT.  After I stopped ogling the cover art, I checked the inside flap to see what this book was about and it intrigued me. It's set in 1725 London, which is already right up my alley, and follows a woman named Lady A, who is apparently a professional blackmailer.  It has betrayal, crime lords and romance, so what more could you want?  It's gotten mixed reviews, but I feel like I'd like this book.  Check it out if you haven't already!

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    Another book that caught my eye at the bookstore because of it's GORGEOUS cover is Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman.  Again, the picture doesn't do it justice.  This book appears to be a Western, which is definitely not a genre I go for.  In fact, I hate the south, truthfully.  However, I do enjoy a good historical fiction, even if it's mostly fiction and set in the dust bowl era.  Kate Thompson is looking for revenge for her father's murder and travels across the plains in disguise to get it.  This book just looks fun and adventurous, so I'd read it just based on the cover art.  If you're into Westerns and strong female leads, go check this one out!

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    The Sword of Summer is the first book in a new series by Rick Riordan called Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard.  It is the only middle grade book on my Christmas list and again has a gorgeous cover, (do you see a theme here?).  I'm going to confess that I have never read the Percy Jackson series, (please don't kill me), but this new series got my attention because of the Norse influence.  I'm on a viking kick at the moment and my husband just published his first comic book about a re-imagining of the Odin mythology, so Norse myth sounds really interesting to me.  Also, Magnus is apparently from Boston, which is my home city, so OBVIOUSLY I'm going to want to read it!  This looks to be the beginning of a great new series from Riordan, so I hope I can start it soon!

    There you have it!  Those are the books on my Christmas list.  Let me know in the comments if you've already read some of these or if they're on your list too!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

Harumph.

    I apologize for being MIA for the last week or so, but it's become increasingly difficult for me to meet my Thursday post goal.  I have a lot going on right now with the holidays fast approaching and my education on the line, so unfortunately blogging hasn't been my top priority.  I haven't really been in the best mood and a lot has been getting me down lately.  I'm also very VERY behind in TV, (I've only been keeping up with Once Upon a Time at this point since it's the only one I can watch when it airs on Sundays).  I'll explain...
    As you know, I've been doing a year-long internship through my university at a local high school in the English department.  So far it's been an upward struggle, with my health declining and issues with overall teaching performance.  At this point, I've been given my class back and have been teaching mostly on my own for the last few weeks.  Unfortunately I have not been as successful as I would like to be at this point.  I'm still having noticeable issues with classroom management and the delivery of lessons.  I always think that I'm doing better than I actually am, which has hindered my progress.  Because of my substituting background, I've noticed that I tend to deliver lessons directly and methodically with little to no real explanation or real-world connection.  I need to work harder at humanizing the lessons for my students and making sure that we're using discussion adequately in class instead of just going through the motions.  I also need to start pulling the trigger with discipline.  I have a bunch of kids who talk over me during class and I need to take care of that as soon as possible before I lose them.  I wasn't expecting to have as much difficulty with this as I have been, but the reality is that my future is on the line at this point.  I'm not getting credit for this first semester until I prove myself worthy, so I really have to step it up and make these next few weeks count.  Luckily I still have some time, but I've been feeling really discouraged lately and uninspired.  My lack of progress and apparent noncompliance with the regulations set down by the program have made me doubt my abilities and it's really stressing me out, to be blunt.  Hopefully I can get my shit together soon or I'll be looking at repeating the internship next year and adding another year of school to my already mounting college debt.  I understand what's at stake and that's not making me any less anxious and stressed, but maybe that's what I need.  I don't want to panic, but I might be by the end of Christmas vacation, which is not what I want.  Keep your fingers crossed for me that I make it out of this alive and worth certifying, or I'm going to be looking for a new career path when it's too late...

    Besides the obvious problems I'm having with teaching, I really don't have a lot going on.  We recently moved, (another reason I haven't been on top of the blog lately), and have been unpacking for the last few weeks as we get settled in.  So far it's been really nice and comfortable and I really appreciate where we live now.  I don't come home to an empty, cold apartment and I have access to a great kitchen stocked with food, so I really can't complain.  Having animals again has been nice too!  Money has also been less of an issues, at least on my end, and I've been working on saving as much as I can already and reorganizing my finances so they fit my new needs.  My project for this weekend is finishing reorganizing my filing crate so I can fit all my bills, paperwork and other things in one accessible spot.  It's also been nice to have some extra help and expertise with these types of things because most of the time, when it comes to budgets and other adult things, I have NO idea what I'm doing yet.  Still trying to figure out a new routine for our new space, but so far I think we're settling in nicely and everything will eventually feel more natural.

    I'm looking forward to the holiday break mostly.  Next week is my birthday week, so I have that to look forward to.  I'm turning 25, which for some people is a big deal, but I feel like it'll just be another birthday for me.  I don't really know what age I actually feel like; sometimes I feel like I'm still 18 and other times I feel like I'm 30, so 25 should be interesting.  The following week there's a day and a half of school before break starts Wednesday.  After that, we don't come back until January 5th.  It will be nice to spend more time with my family and hopefully put the worries I have about my teaching future out of my mind for a few weeks.  My little sister is flying home from Texas on Saturday and I can't wait to see her!  Spending the holidays with family is greater than any gift I could receive.  It took me a long time to realize what Christmas should be about and I'm glad that we get to see everyone from both sides and spend a little time with each family.  It's worth it to me and that's all I really need.  That and lots of great food:)

    Once Upon a Time was really emotional last weekend!  I wasn't expecting what happened, and I love when shows do that because it keeps you on your toes.  With the last few episodes being very straightforward and predictable, it was nice to see a change.  I was getting pretty sick of the crazy family-hungry snow queen thing and it was heartbreaking to find out her sister really regretted her actions form the past.  The last time we saw that bottle was the very beginning of the season, so I had been curious to see what she had written in the letter, but I hadn't expected that.  I also wasn't expecting the flashbacks to Emma's past and the fact that Ingrid was very close to adopting her.  I can understand why Ingrid took Emma's memories upon her arrival to Storybrooke.  Now that the curse has been lifted due to Ingrid sacrificing herself, everything seems to be back to normal.  But wait!  Rumple is STILL a conniving bastard!  For next week's mid-season finale, I'm predicting Rumple attempting to take over the world one more time and get that dagger off his back, someone finding out about him lying to everyone, spreading that around and it getting back to Emma, who will have to stop him with the help of everyone else in town.  Elsa and Anna will probably help too before they go back to Arendelle to return those memories.  I'm hoping we at least see the Sorcerer or something because we've kind of taken a back-seat to the whole "author of the book" mystery, so that's the only other curiosity I had.  We'll see what happens, but I anticipate a lot of Rumple hatred next week.
    That's all I have for you this week.  I had to take some time and write this during school so I don't leave you guys hanging again.  I'm not sure if there will be continuous posts from me every week, but I will try to post at least one more time before Christmas break starts.  Hopefully I'll have some good updates for you.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

End of Blogmas and Retail Woes

    With Blogmas officially coming to a close, I'd like to say thank you to all my family and friends who contributed to my awesome Christmas.  I had a great day and made my goal of seeing everyone a reality, so it was worth driving around all day.  I will not soon forget this Christmas, so I hope next year is just as good!  Now with the New Year rolling in, there are some preparations that must be done.

    I did end up getting a lot of the things I wanted, mainly warmer clothing so that I don't freeze to death at work.  I also got a pretty awesome Power Ranger morpher with power coins, the complete Harry Potter DVD collection and Chromecast, so now I can watch my YouTube channels on my TV!  I also got two books that I'm excited to read: the Amy Tan novel I mentioned a while back called The Valley of Amazement and The Book Thief.  After the first of the year, I will be starting to read for leisure again, so on Thursdays I will be posting the books I'm reading, the progress I've made in the book and my initial thoughts so far.  This will culminate into a book review on my Reviews page, but I'm excited to dive back into my literature.  I also can't wait to go back to school because I miss my kiddos!

    Post-Christmas for kids usually involves continual play with toys received the previous morning and so on, (until eventually bored).  But for adults, it's a little different.  We have jobs, priorities and plans that are typically unknown to the younger generation.  Any errands Mom or Dad have to run the day after Christmas are none of my concern; I'll just stay here and play Pokemon all afternoon while you're gone.  The day after Christmas is the most hectic shopping day of the year, save for Black Friday.  Everyone NEEDS to return unwanted gifts as soon as possible, for fear of bursting into flame and being sent straight to Hell.  Or so I believe, because that's the way most people act...

    Just some tips for those shoppers who may feel a bit overwhelmed or anyone who thinks that retail personnel are like peasants: DO NOT freak out at the customer service representatives.  We are just that, representatives.  It is likely that we have zero control over what happens in the store we work in, including the price of certain Christmas items that have had less than 24 hours to rot on our shelves.
    I'm sorry this snow globe wasn't 50% off like you thought, but honestly I think it was just in the wrong section.  Not good enough?  Let me just change the price for you so it's practically free.  Are you happy now?  No?  You'd still like to see a manager so you can complain to him about our Christmas merchandise that is STILL "ridiculously priced" and that we should fix it immediately?  Like you'll be back tomorrow to check...  Ok, I'll get right on that...

    Calm down.  Take a deep breath, check to see where you are going, (no, really, some people come in and forget where they are within a five minute time frame...), and be nice.  Treat the cashiers and the customer service representatives like real people because we are real people.  The only thing separating you from us is a counter and trust me, sometimes I wish the counter wasn't there so I can slug the person in front of me, but I smile and tell them to "Have a nice day," because it's my job and we have little to no control in what goes on around us.  Just keep that in mind if you need to do some Christmas returns or exchanges.  If you are nice to us, we'll be nice to you.  It's that simple.
    Anyway, that's basically all I have for today.  The day after Christmas can be somewhat depressing for some people, so I try to keep the spirit alive for at least another week before giving up and hoping for Valentine's Day.  The truth is nothing really happens again until summer vacation, so you're just waiting for another break in the clouds.  I will be posting again Tuesday about New Years Eve and popular trends and traditions.  Looking forward to spending time with friends again soon!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

BLOGMAS Week 4: Christmas Eve Traditions

   

    It's Christmas Eve!  I hope everyone is off having a great time with family today and tonight:)  I've been baking, wrapping and watching Elf all afternoon so far.  Today I want to talk about traditions and how much they impact our lives and the lives of those around us.

    For as long as I can remember, my family has done a huge fish fry for Christmas Eve dinner.  Apparently in Italian-American tradition, the Festa dei sette pesci, or the Feast of Seven Fishes, is customary Christmas Eve dinner and includes the consumption of at least seven different types of seafood.  This tradition originated with the Roman Catholics, who refrained from eating meat or dairy for Lent and instead fried fish in oil.
    For my family, we usually have calamari, which is raw or fried squid, fried shrimp and haddock, shrimp scampi, something we call "pizza fish," and chicken nuggets with french fries...for the kids, (although I've been known to sneak a plate full...no judgment).  "Pizza fish" is simply a white fish with bread crumbs, tomato sauce and parmesan cheese placed on a baking sheet and cooked in the oven.  It is to die for!  I love everything about this meal and it's something I've looked forward to every year for Christmas since I was little.  Getting together with my Italian family makes my heart soar:)

    Since getting married, I have had to alter my traditions ever so slightly to accommodate my husband, who also has a family, (I know, right?).  This year is his year, so we will be going to his aunt and uncle's house for chop suey and a movie-themed Yankee Swap.  I had never done a Yankee Swap before I met my husband, so the concept is still a little new to me.  I guess usually the hosts of the party pick a theme, (Alphabet, color, etc.), and each guest has a price limit to spend on a gift for the swap.  Once the swap has started, each person draws a number and they pick presents at random in the number order.  Depending on where each person falls on the number line, whenever they pick up a gift they have the opportunity to swap with another person who has already gone.  The person who has picked the number one spot has his or her choice of any of the presents.

    We had a tough enough time last time we went thinking of a gift with a movie theme...so this year was just as difficult.  Luckily we found something perfect!  We have only been to his family's gathering a couple of times since being together, but it's always fun to see everyone and it's so warm and inviting.  I'm still getting used to not being with my family every year, but it's been a lot easier this year and I haven't cried yet!  So I'm keeping my spirits high and looking forward to eating and spending time with the Lapierre clan:)
    Another thing about tonight is that we have to bring a dessert or an appetizer.  I probably should have gone with an appetizer, because the brownies I made look less than satisfactory...  I tried a new recipe, without testing it first, and doubled the ingredients so it would feed everyone at least once.  Unfortunately I think my plan backfired because I definitely used too much of something, (I'm guessing brown sugar, since that's basically all it is at this point).  I'm hoping they still taste good, but I'll have to cut them up and taste test before packaging them up for tonight.

    That's all I have for today!  I have to get back to wrapping, but if you have a cool family tradition for Christmas Eve or for Christmas day, let me know in the comments!  I can't wait for tomorrow, I am so excited!!  All the joy and happiness makes me feel great and it's what Christmas should be about.  The real spirit of Christmas is alive and well inside of me, so I hope my good vibes rub off on you today!  Enjoy your family, enjoy the food and enjoy Christmas!  I'll be back Thursday for the woes of after-Christmas retail returns and tips to survive the after-holiday blues.  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

    MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Partying Like It's My Birthday! (No, Really...)

    That's right, I'm officially DONE with my fall semester!  One more semester to go before my full-year internship next year.  It seems like I still have so much to do, but I also feel like I'm in the home stretch...it's a weird feeling I can't really explain.  It doesn't seem like much, but I know that when I'm really done, it'll be for good.  Until then, I'll be enjoying my winter vacation as best I can and looking forward to another great semester in January.

(Does this look plowed to you?)

    Apparently the weather is against us up here in New Hampshire.  Did I mention it's not supposed to get above 20 degrees today?!  We had a mild blizzard this past weekend where we got at least a foot of snow in some places and we're expected to get more snow this afternoon, so I might be snowed in again today.  I don't mind too much, I just hate clearing off my car...  My husband is one of those guys who feels obligated to shovel everyone out so that the other tenants can get to where they need to go.  Just based on that, I know I bagged myself a good one.  Thanks to the shoddy work the plowing company did on our driveway, (or didn't do).  I'm grateful that my own spot is clear, but as for the other two tenants, they have to shovel themselves out I guess.  You had one job plow guys.

    So far in our decorating endeavors we added a few things to our collection.  A nice door mount complete with white poinsettias and pine cones as well as some twinkly icicle lights to hang somewhere in our living room.  Unfortunately, we're in desperate need of more outlets and extension cords.  Luckily my father hooked us up with an extra power strip, so we might be able to plug our tree and the lights into that, but we'll see when it's all done.  I'll be sure to take more pictures!

    This week is special to me not only because finals are over, but because my birthday is on Thursday!  I will be 24 and I know that's not a huge deal or anything, but I definitely feel it this time.  Because my birthday is in December, I've always been bombarded with storms and winter weather, ruining any real plans.  This year it looks like I'll be free from the torment of Father Winter and finally be able to enjoy my birthday.  So far I have plans with my father for breakfast and his famous pancakes, finishing up my Christmas shopping, a lovely trip down to Boston for a nice dinner date with my husband and spending some quality time with my mother, whom I haven't actually seen on my birthday in about six years.  My birthday memories with her are my fondest; she used to call me out of school and we'd go wherever I wanted all day.  I'm really excited to get to spend time with her again.  It's been far too long.
    So that's my recap for the past few days.  I'm really looking forward to all the fun things I'll get to do this week and knowing Christmas is literally right around the corner makes it even sweeter!  I'm so excited this year and now I feel like I can finally enjoy the holidays!  Christmas cards have been sent, (major wife points right there), and presents have begun to be wrapped, so it's only a matter of time!  Our first Christmas as husband and wife has been so rewarding to me thus far, and it'll only get better:)  Check out Thursday's Blogmas post where I will list my Top 5 Christmas movies!  Until next time, I remain your faithful Christmas correspondent.

BLOGMAS Week 2: Top 5 Christmas Albums

    

    We're celebrating week two of Blogmas with your favorite Christmas songs!  Here are my Top 5 favorite Christmas albums, counting down to number one, all for your listening pleasure:)

    5. Pentatonix Christmas- This album is brand new this year.  For those of you who don't know, (or who didn't read my last post), I am a HUGE fan of The Sing-Off, which Pentatonix won last season.  So, naturally, I had to research their Christmas album.  As I suspected, it's pure gold, with their A-Capella rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy" receiving a lot of publicity as of late.  A definite must-grab if you're in the mood for something different!

    4. Michael Buble Christmas- Obviously I had to put Michael Buble on here, solely because of his Sinatra-esq sound and undeniable charm.  His voice just makes you want to go ice skating, get hot cocoa and curl up on the couch in front of the fire.  It's just that good.  He can serenade me any day.

    3. N*Sync Christmas- Playing to the 90s kid inside of me, this is a no-brainer.  Everyone knows this album and hopes that they hear their favorite track play on the radio when the Christmas music takes over, (personally, mine is "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays," but who's isn't?).  This is the type of album you can jam out to in your car while you're alone...or with a friend...or with your husband staring at you blankly, waiting for an explanation that will never come...

    2. NOW That's What I Call Christmas, Vol. 1- The original is always the best, am I right?  This album is no exception.  They might be on NOW Vol. 87 by now for all I care, but their original Christmas album has ALL the classics you've been waiting to hear on one CD, including classic songs by Nat King Cole, Elvis, Dean Martin, Burl Ives, Brenda Lee, The Boss, Britney Spears and MUCH more.  You would be crazy not to own this album by the end of the week.

    *1. The Beach Boys' Christmas Album- The number one spot, for me, goes to the Beach Boys.  This will always and forever be my all-time favorite Christmas album.  My father owned the vinyl record and we listened to it EVERY year on Christmas day.  Now we have the CD and it's just as great to look back at the good ol' days and remember what it was like to be a kid.  It will always be a symbol of Christmas and family togetherness to me, and that's what makes it so special.  You can't help but smile and sing along when these songs come on, so get to it!

    So there you have it, my Top 5 Christmas albums of all time!  If you'd like to listen to any of the albums featured in this post, I highly suggest YouTube.  If you'd like to purchase any of these albums, however, I recommend Amazon.com.  If your favorite album didn't make my list, let me know in the comments!  Everyone has their own special Christmas albums that they listen to, so whether they're from your past or a part of your present, they will always get you in the spirit of the holidays!  Tune in next week for Blogmas Week 3 and another Top 5!!  Until then, I remain your faithful correspondent.
    *(only 13 more days until Christmas!)

BLOGMAS Week 1: Books, Events and Advent Calendars

    Happy first week of Blogmas!  So these posts I do for Blogmas will feature Christmas themes and ideas to make your holiday season happy and bright.  So to start, I will be talking about a few random Christmas-y things today:

Books:

credit: villains.wikia.com

    Some families have certain books that they read to their kids every night before Christmas.  My family was not one of them, however I do like the idea and will hopefully be implementing it in my own future home.  That being said, here are my top three favorite classic Christmas books.

1. The Polar Express- by Chris Van Allsburg, a crowd favorite, especially combined with the movie of the same name.  Such a great choice for kids of all ages!

2. The Night Before Christmas- by Clement Moore, a traditional classic, short, sweet and to the point.  Everyone knows this story.

3. A Christmas Carol- by Charles Dickens, another great classic, with a bit of cruelty and creepiness to satisfy your inner horror geek, this is a true tale of goodwill towards man.  Another book with good movie options as well.

    If you'd like to check out any of these awesome reads, click on the title and it'll take you to each Barnes and Noble page respectively to learn more.

    This blogger also has a great list of Christmas books to read in her blog, if you want to check her out: 320 Sycamore  There are some awesome picks for every age group and every interest.  Also, if anyone has any suggestions for any adult Christmas-themed books, feel free to leave recommendations in the comments below!  I'll keep my eyes peeled in the mean time.

Events:

credit: dsquaredjava.com

    So each town around the world usually has it's own set of Christmas gatherings, parties and parades.  For instance, my town has a tree lighting ceremony as well as a tree auction, where people come to bid on pre-decorated Christmas trees for good causes.  These events are typically fun and include a heaping amount of Christmas cheer and holiday spirit.  Just grab some hot chocolate, your jacket and mittens and come on down!  The details for what's going on in my town can be found here.

Advent Calendars:

credit: brickultra.com

    As I was raised Catholic, the Advent Calendar meant a lot more than just getting a piece of chocolate every day until Christmas, (or so I led my parents to believe...).  Nowadays I do still love opening my Advent calendar, but I remained blissfully unaware that there are other types of Advent calendars besides your basic chocolate variety.  This has recently come to my attention, so I thought I'd educate the rest of you who are also unaware that there are different prizes to be had.

-Religious: Advent calendars that hold true to history and feature no candy or toy, but a bible verse and pretty picture inside each compartment.  Especially made for all religious folk.

-Toys: Instead of chocolate, each compartment has a small toy inside related to Christmas or any other thing really, including, (but not limited to), pirates, princesses and ponies.  Oh my!

-Makeup: I'm not one of those girls who wear a lot of makeup, (actually I really don't wear any, except on special occasions, but that's besides the point), but if I did, these Advent calendars would be awesome!  To think, every day you open a compartment and a nail polish or lip gloss will be waiting for you!  Check out Benefit Cosmetics for their themed Advent calendar.

-Food: Yes, there are compartments filled with jam, nuts and other holiday treats, (other than chocolate) just waiting to get eaten.  I can't decide if that's a good or bad idea, but I'm going with it.

Also, if you're curious to see what other types of crafty Advent calendars there are out there, check out this blog for 25 different themed calendars.

    So if you've just started working on your Advent calendar or you needed a good Christmas book to curl up with, I hope these suggestions help your holiday spirit!  If you know of any Christmas book, special event or Advent calendar that's special to you or you just feel like sharing some Christmas stuff, comment below or tweet me about it!  I'm already excited for next week's Blogmas post!!  Only 20 more days till Christmas!!!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.

"Winter is Coming": BLOGMAS!

    I hope everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday and long weekend.  I know I thoroughly enjoyed mowing the delicious and glorious home-made lasagna my uncle made, (on top of the usual fixings mind you).  It has remained unmatched in my search for the best pasta dish.
    Speaking of holidays, they are finally upon us!  For me, it seems like Christmas actually started in October, because I work retail, but now since it is officially December, we can trade pumpkin for peppermint, listen to the continuous flow of Christmas music and decorate the crap out of our places of residence.  I, for one, love the holidays, so this is truly the most wonderful time of the year in my opinion.  As you can see, I take my Christmas tree very seriously and I never miss a year to go out with my dad to cut a fresh one down.  This one is Theodore and he is marvelous, don't you think?

    This year, for the month of December, I have decided to participate in "Blogmas," which is when bloggers post every day until Christmas.  Although I want to participate to the fullest extent, I honestly don't believe I'm capable of posting every day just yet, (lack of planning, plus finishing up my fall semester coupled with work and other things will make it virtually impossible).  So I compromised by setting a goal of twice a week.  Tuesdays will remain my random posting days, with a slightly more Christmas-y theme and Thursdays I will post about specific Christmas happenings and traditions, including books, movies, songs and more.  This way I can cover all the Christmas bases while still giving myself enough time to get all my mandatory work done and not overload.  I am really excited to dive head first into the Christmas spirit and can't wait to post more favorites about the holidays:)

    That being said, I would also like to inform everyone that I will hopefully be starting to live tweet certain shows on Sundays starting this weekend.  Live tweeting, for those who don't know, is when someone follows a show or movie whilst tweeting, simultaneously watching and tweeting at the same time.  I've always wanted to and since I don't have cable at my house, I will be participating while I'm at my dad's on Sunday night.  The shows I watch Sundays are The Amazing Race, (season finale this Sunday at 8pm), and Once Upon A Time.  Since they both air at the same time, I usually rely on the football schedule going over for me to catch both in one night.  Sometimes that doesn't happen, but I'll keep you posted via Twitter if I don't think I'll be able to do both.  I definitely want to catch the finale of Amazing Race, so Once may have to wait until Monday, but we shall see.
    Other than that, that's basically it for me.  I got to spend a lot of time with my families and enjoyed every minute of it!  I wish I had more time with them, but the point of the holidays is to bring families together, especially if you don't normally get to spend a lot of time with them.  Definitely looking forward to Christmas and seeing everyone again, giving people their presents, (I got some good ones already, I can't wait to see their faces!!), and eating more great food.  I've also decided to decorate my apartment this year, so I'm looking forward to going shopping this weekend again for more presents and decorations.  I'm certainly in the holiday cheer mode, so I hope you guys are too.  Check back on Thursday for my first Blogmas post!!  Until next time, I remain your faithful correspondent.