My lists of random Christmas related things

Hello blogger world! Yes, yes I know...

I moved to space and connection has been slow, you know how it is!

But seriously, between school, strep throat and Christmas it's been hard to find time for blogging (and I may have also been putting it off and procrastinating doing things I couldn't during a normal school week, mainly nothing.)

But my conscience has been nagging so you can thank my little Jiminy Cricket for this post. I thought I'd start with something fun and easy, so I have some Christmas themed lists about movies, music and all that, you may find it interesting and/or it might give you some ideas on what to watch or check out (I know i'm always down for a new Christmas movie:)

Short Christmas movie reviews:

Home Alone 1

Home alone is a seriously funny Christmas comedy about a boy left home alone when his family accidentally leave for vacation without him. Kevin soon discovers that he can do whatever he wants (so of course he does). But things get serious when a pair of bandits decide to break into his house, Kevin takes it upon himself to defend his house (this is where it gets good) he sets traps, and watching the bandits fall into them is as painful as it is fun. The movie also has its warm moments as Kevin makes an unexpected friend and his Mother tries frantically to return to him.

Home Alone 2

Kevin is lost again, this time in the big Apple! In Kevin-style he makes the best of the situation and uses his Dad's credit card to check into the best Hotel in the City, watching him fool the staff is the most hilarious thing you'll ever watch! Of course the bandits come back into play, they have escaped prison and have set their sights on robbing a toy store. The money from the store is pledged to go towards the Children's Hospital so Kevin knows he has to intervene, with a trap-filled house causing twice the pain it did in the last movie. Kevin makes another unexpected friend and is reunited with his family at the end of the movie. You HAVE to watch Home Alone, go, do it!

How the Grinch stole Christmas (Live action)

I haven't seen the animated (original) Grinch, but this one starring Jim Carrey is a must see! Hilarious, witty and yet dear to one's heart (Well it is starring Jim carrey). I can't say too much with dishin out spoilers but it's a great Christmas movie.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

This movie is one of the few that my family watches year after year. It's about a family enjoying just another Christmas, except things seem to go wrong at every turn. Between driving your neighbors insane, causing a blackout, electrocuting the cat, and having your brothers family pop in with the intention of staying until spring, what else could possibly go wrong? Well your brother kidnapping you boss might pose a slight problem as well... but in the end its a Merry Christmas all around! This is one comedy-filled movie to put on your "To-watch" list this christmas.

A Christmas Carol (Disney)

Starring Jim carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge, this movie sticks true to the book, just as Charles Dickens had written it, (and it's not really something for little kids) watch out for the doorknob scene in this one! (Made me jump two feet into the air). The movie is easier to understand if you have read the original novel, but still a great movie (and movies based on books that are true to the original story are hard to find!) Definitely a must-see!

The Polar Express

The Polar express is based on a book by that same title and as I recall is about a train that picks up children that don't believe in santa and brings them up to the North Pole so that they may believe he exists. It focuses mainly on one boy who has an adventure on his way up the pole. It is really a kids movie, and I haven't seen it in years but it seemed a movie worth watching.

Mickey's Christmas Carol

You're never too old for Disney  (that's one of my mottos so don't argue). This was my first "A Christmas Carol" version, and is of course more kid-friendly than the last. My first sentence basically sums this one up.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

There are several versions of this classic tale, and I've watched most of them, every year since I can remember. So find a version near you! Mostly geared towards kids, but we kids-at-heart-teenagers (or adults) can still watch, I'd say for me it's more of a tradition and nostalgia thing so you might not enjoy it very much, but a shout out to you if you do!

Jingle all the way

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (you know, the guy with the heavy german accent). He plays a father who is going to stop at nothing to find the one and only toy his son wants this Christmas. The problem? Christmas is almost here and everybody's kid wants the hottest toy of the year, finding one will mean, allies, double crossing and exposing an underground community of fake santas. This movie has it's cheesy points but also endearing and comedic moments, up to you I'd say 50-50.

Christmas with the Kranks

I found christmas with the Kranks a mostly nah... maybe kind of movie. It might generate some laughs but I found some parts rather boring, silly or over-the-top. But it also had some endearing and funny moments. It's a couple that decide to  skip out on Christmas for that year, but the neighbors are protesting... (that part I didn't get, it's not really their business, is it?)

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Yet another Christmas Carol version, it is a nice one (even funny) It's a very family-type movie for all ages, you already know the plot so I will just say, it's one to put on your list!

Ok enough about movies, let's move on to... music! I am going to compile a list of christmas songs that I love, and one of songs that I hate (or dislike... a lot) for different reasons that are all my own, so I hope your favorite Christmas song does not end up on my "Hate" list, if so I do apologize. And my "Love" list is longer, because, there is no other way.

My Top Ten Favorite Christmas Songs

1.

It came upon a midnight clear

So beautiful...

2.

O Holy Night

Again, beautiful.

3.

The Christmas song (a.k.a Chestnuts roasting on an open fire)

Sums up all the nostalgia so perfectly.

4.

All I want for Christmas is you

Might seem odd, but I do love this catchy get-up-and-sing song

5.

Little Drummer Boy

I like the German version best, but I think it's a nice song

6.

I want a hippopotamus for christmas

A lot of people find this song annoying, I like it (it's cute) and I want a piano for Christmas this year so...

7.

God rest ye merry gentlemen

Love this song on the piano!

8.

Feliz Navidad

Again a lot of people find it annoying, I love it. I song along to it. And I don't care what anybody says about that.

9.

Mary did you know?

SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

10.

Silver bells

Nostalgia...

11.

Hark! The herald angels sing

Love this song!

12.

Go tell it on the mountain

Catchy and joyous!

13.

I'll be home for christmas

Not quite sad, but very hopeful. I always imagine a WWI  soldier singing this

14.

Blue Christmas

Somewhat sad, but I like it. Besides, Elvis. (what can I say?)

15.

Rockin around the christmas tree

So old fashioned, I just imagine a cozy 50s style Christmas

16.

The Grinch song

What can I say? I'm a kid forever.

17.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Yes it is.

18.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

A little sad, but such a part of my Christmas playlist.

19.

River

Okay so I do like some sad-ish Christmas songs (Christmas Shoes was too much though)

20.

Where are you Christmas?

I love both the "Grinch" version and Carrie Underwood. It's simply a nice song.

 

Top Ten Worst Christmas Songs

1,

Santa Baby

A woman with a high pitched voice trying to seduce santa... sick

2.

Santa Claus is coming to town

Santa is a creepy stalker who has spies everywhere

3.

Baby it's cold outside

Overplayed and annoying

4.

Last Christmas

You gave away your heart you naive-heartbroken-... oh I'm being insensitive?

5.

Grandma got run over by a Reindeer

Who comes up with these songs?

6.

Run, Run, Rudolph!

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer is a classic, this isn't. End of story.

7.

Christmas Shoes

You know those happy Christmas times? Yes? Well listen to the lyrics of this song and a gloomy outlook is guaranteed.

8.

... 

I'm just not good at finding songs I don't like, there may be versions I don't like but overall I don't dislike a lot of Music in General... well heavy metal is definitely a "NO!" but other than that..

Here is a list words and things that I associate with Christmas

Peace

Joy

Butter cookies

Presents

Jesus

Stable

Shepherds

Bethlehem

Star

Wisemen

Mistletoe

Decorations

Red and Green

Scented Candles

Santa

Christmas Tree

Christmas Lights

Candy Cane

Family

Chocolate

Peace on Earth

Christmas songs

Fireplaces

Snow

Nostalgia

Tradition

Weihnachten

Caroling

Holidays

Advent calendar

Advent wreath

Holly

Red berries

Hot cocoa

Friends

Christmas movies

Gift wrapping

Pinecones

______________________________________

Merry Christmas!

I shall try to post again soon, even if only briefly, so

Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! & Frohe Weihnachten till then!

Once Upon a Time...

...there was a girl with two friends who pushed and pushed her to watch a show called Once Upon a time, and when her parents got Netflix (started living in 21st century is what I'm saying) the girl started watching, and watching (and couldn't stop watching) until 3 and a half seasons later, the present day she wrote her first fan post.

Welcome back! Well, I should be writing, I"M back! So sorry for my absence I've been living in Storybrooke, The Enchanted Forrest and Neverland lately, oh and Hogwarts. But that's another story. (I have to say my childhood dream of going to Neverland flew off with a shadow somewhere since the last few episodes). Of course I'm going to be referencing stuff like a Dark one! What did you expect?

Before I continue, spoiler alert for some of you I'm sure!

Can't you just hear the melody as your eyes graze over the image?


So last episode I watched the second curse took place and Hook appeared on Emma's doorstep saying something terrible had happened, Rumpelstiltskin and Peter Pan are dead (or are they? I shall resolve myself to the belief that Rumple isn't because I am a big Rumbelle fan) Peter Pan is somewhat despicable, I don't hate him as much as most Oncers seem to, I find him to be nothing but coward, about 10 times the coward his son is. Let's see, Cora is dead (her death was somewhat tragic but I found her too despicable to feel sorry for her, and as for Mary Margaret's part in her death, I couldn't help but think of how ingenious the tactics were (evil yes, but one of those plans where you think, well that worked out smoothly). And I'ts weird how I know all about this complicated family tree but will never be able to explain it to people.

Now for the characters. When I started watching I despised, hated,loathed etc. Regina, she was just so gets-under-your-skin evil! And when she killed her Dad I just sat there stunned. And when she killed Graham I held my breath with probably the same questions as Emma, "Is he dead? He can't be dead! It was just coming together!" Later I did feel sympathy for her situation (The thing with Daniel) but I still feel that it gave her no right to become so wicked and cause so much pain (go ahead and defend her, she is one of my favorite characters but I stick to my conclusion). The whole thing with Daniel in the "Frankenstein" episode is something I probably shouldn't have watched before bedtime either. When she first told Henry that she would change I was pretty suspicious of her the whole way and when she banded together with Cora all I thought was "Here she goes again!"

Can't you just hear the famous line?

As for Rumplestiltskin (and I didn't even use google correct that time) he is a... well... he is one of my favorite characters, but I don't know if he will ever truly change, I rather doubt it. But I'm with Belle, he does have good in him. And I do feel sorry for him, except for when he let Baelfire go, I felt not an ounce of pity for him then. But I am a Rumbelle fan, and I was so rooting for him to find his son in season two, and when he had kept that "chipped cup", it was just so "awww". But the fact that he killed Milah was awful, and that he had a "thing" with Cora was rather weird. He is a coward, (though the escaping the ogre war thing doesn't count, I was pretty angry with Milah for her reaction, she hurt him by telling him she would have liked him better dead with honour to her as the wife of a soldier). Rumple tries over and over to do things right with his son and Belle, he keeps messing up, and though I want him to change (Rumbelle!) I don't think he ever will.

This will all be random now.

On to snow and charming, I don't like Mary Margaret's hair at all (too short!) I told you this would be random:) And I think it's weird that even after the curse is broken, Charming calls her Mary Margaret and not Snow. I don't like that the writers made it necessary for Mary Margaret and David to get together when still under the curse in such "adulterous/affair-like" circumstances. Why didn't they just have David be in a coma until the spell was broken? Or at least have other circumstances preventing them from being together? Also, not to sound like Regina or anything, but I'm getting tired of learning more about Snow White's history. I know all about her mother's death, rescue by Regina, meeting charming, living with dwarves, meeting Ariel, meeting Ruby, storming a castle, run ins with Regina, sparing Regina, etc. I don't really want hear another story from when Snow White lived in the woods! I want to hear about the other characters pasts, I know enough about Snow by now. It's getting tiring.

As for Ruby, another one of my favorite characters (who seems to have been missing lately). Well, when I found out she was also the wolf I nearly fell off my bed. I am mad at the writers though, not because she is a wolf (I guess it's kind-of-cool?) but the fact that she killed, (and ate) her boyfriend was just too much, sure she didn't control the wolf then, but did they really have to include that in the storyline!!?!! 

I thought it was pretty interesting that Baelfire ended up with the darlings and that's how everything related to neverland. And when those "two guys" showed up in Storybrooke I had no clue who they were, until they said they were trying to save their sister and I took one look at the tall guy's the round glasses and thought "Michael and John! How clever to intertwine them in the story as adults!" It's been fun trying to figure out plot twists before they happen.

One line I liked was when Henry told Pan that he'd better watch out because "My mom is coming, both of them!" I thought that was kinda funny.

As for Captain Hook (Killian Jones), he describes himself as "devilishly handsome" and most oncer fans (girls) seem to agree with him. As for me, well as far as his looks go, he's alright (better than Neal, I was disappointed, young Baelfire was cute, can't say the same about Neal) but wouldn't put him on my "Fictional Fancy" list. But I do like Hook, he has charm, wit and honour. He has some great lines, one I remember is just before the second curse hit, he said something along the lines of "Well are you going to do something about the curse or should we get our souls ready? Because in that case mine is going to take a while"

There is so much to mention! (I might have to do another fan post... sometime before Christmas) I also wanted to say that I felt really sorry for the Mad Hatter (again, Regina's doing) it was so sad how long it took him to get back to his daughter. And now we all know why he's mad.

One thing I really hated was that apparently Mulan is in love with Aurora (Just. No.) Mulan may be a tomboy (more than a little bit) but still. No.  

Also,(I found Aurora kind of annoying, first impressions matter.)

Let's see what else, Well I really wanted Graham to find his heart and be with Emma, and now I know there is this whole "Captain Swan" thing, but I still want Emma to end up with Neal. (It just seems like the right thing, I mean, they're both Henry's parents.)

Oh and the whole room of fire for those under the sleeping spell is... different, and mixing Frankenstein in was interesting but a little too gruesome/creepy. And halfway through season 3 I started noticing something different about Henry, then I realized his voice was changing. And lastly, Dr Hopper and his whole story is really interesting as well.

As for the overall series (the big picture) I liked the first season the best, it was well written and the plot twists were great! The second season kind of sucked, I don't really know why it just wasn't as good. And now the third season, I like it better than the second but not as much as the first. Overall I love the show!

I have to agree with Cora, that is an awful costume. 

THE END

(For today at least)

Pop Art

As promised here are some of the pop art pictures I have made, some are celebrities and others a character from a fandom (or a friends fandom:) I've enlarged the pictures for better viewing.

Emma and Hook "Captain Swann" (Once Upon a Time)

Emma (OUAT)

Oprah Winfrey

Jack Sparrow portrayed by Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean) in secondary colours

Will and Elizabeth (Pirates of the Caribbean) portrayed by Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom

Davy Jones (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Bill Cosby (The Cosby Show years)

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (young)

Princess Diana

WARNING MICHAEL JACKSON OVERLOAD

Shades of Purple

Primary colour scheme

Secondary colour scheme

Negative space

Realistic colours

Album cover from Bad

Sparkly shirt

Sparkly outfit

Anti-gravity lean from Smooth Criminal

Thanks for stopping by!

Music crazed

I just thought I'dd share the following videos here, every once in awhile I will get obsessed with a song and listen to it over and over and over (and over and over and over...) again for a week or a couple of weeks until I get tired of it. I get these obsessions only every few months, but somehow it's become Billie Jean by Michael Jackson the past few days (I'm not exaggerating when I say I listened to Billie Jean for two hours before I went to sleep, I should have been asleep sooner but hey). I'm just 10 times more hung up on music than usual so excuse the ramblings:) Anyways heres a few videos, enjoy!

I know some people might think of Michael Jackson as weird or his music odd (his famous vocal hiccups and dancing perhaps), I used to but I've grown to love his music style (and the Jackson 5 is awesome too:) I don't love every one of his songs but quite a lot, he was one of the most talented musicians of all time. At least give him a try!

And because i'm on a roll, here's a few more!

His music videos were always awesome!

All of the dancing and choreography in his performances and videos is really unmatched by any other musician

These are just a few here's some more I like

-Bad

-Black or White

-Heal the World

-The way you make me feel

(Also one his best performance, in my opinion, was 1983 Billie Jean where he debuted the moonwalk)

Here's a great Jackson 5 video

 

"Who's loving you"

And another, "I'll be there"

He had such a nice voice as a kid! He had a very (overly) soft voice as an adult, it's odd when he talked but he sure could sing!

I'm working on a pop art of Michael Jackson, and I did a pop art of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, which I will show sometime as well!

Run-of-the-Mill Miracles

I'm back! It's already late evening Thanksgiving Monday, but I must fit in a post on what happened yesterday. We were headed for a day at Marineland (we had season passes this year, and it was the last day before the park closes for the winter) but our plans went south when our car started indicating that the battery was dying...

My Mom was the most concerned and told my Dad to get off highway, less than 5 minutes later our car stalled at a crossing (the highway is the worst place to stall but on the list of bad places a busy intersection wasn't a good alternative) and it wasn't like we were out of gas and only needed a refill, everything stopped working, the lights, the tv, the windows couldn't be rolled down and the one automatic door wouldn't open. Something was broken and there wasn't going to be a trip to anywhere but a garage.

Obviously there were more that a few frazzled nerves, and some anger over the timing of this. But there was reason to be upset, we were an hours drive from home, my Dad couldn't find his phone and there was no one  insight (except busy people in cars, their honking didn't help either) but that's when the first of a string of miracles happened, we know God took care of the situation.

A big man appeared out of somewhere, I didn't hear what he said but he quickly found out that we had stalled and took the situation in hand, "Let's push it over there!" he motioned to convenient spot on the other side that we had not previously seen. My Dad pushed at the front of the car in order to steer and the man took the back, slowly we started moving. I looked ahead for the most part, it seemed like the car was speeding up even though we weren't on a hill,I looked back to find three other men helping to push, they seemed to have come out of nowhere. One man shouted for my Dad to "Jump in and steer!" which he did, the car rolled into the open spot and there we stood. I looked around, one man was left, he had parked behind where we now stood, he got in his car, gave a wave and drove off, I have no idea where the other men disappeared to so suddenly.

We didn't have time to think when "Well, what now?" God was way ahead of us with another miracle. As I said we hardly had time to start worrying again because a tow truck pulled up behind us. He "Just happened" to see our car getting pushed and although his garage was closed he was more than willing to help us, he was one of the nicest guys I ever met. He got out of the truck and he and my Dad opened up the hood to see what had gone wrong. The man concluded that it was most likely the alternator ( the thingy that loads the battery, I don't know anything about cars:) he was most helpful, as I said his garage was closed but he phoned around to see what garages were open and which ones had the parts we needed ( a difficult task, on Thanksgiving weekend) but after 10 or so minutes he found as a garage at a Canadian Tire store.

The next problem was soon solved as well. He only had 4 extra seats in his truck, in the end there are 7 of us, in the end there was no choice but to squish (not that we minded) my sister sat between the driver and passenger seat, my Dad in the passenger seat, in the back sat my Mom with 7 month old Ryan on her lap, my brother in the middle and I had my 3 year old sister Sienna, on my lap. We got to the garage and had a test done on the car to find out if the alternator or the battery was at fault (turns out both) apparently the alternator broke so the car used up all of what was left in the battery which resulted in a broken battery. 

The next few hours were hard, spending the day in a waiting room at a Canadian Tire garage wasn't exactly what we had in mind. My parents were stressed and the rest of us bored, and the only thing I got out of those gossipy magazines is appreciation of the fact that I am not and probably (hopefully) never will be, a celebrity. We wandered aimlessly through the store and tried to keep Sienna out of mischief (she's twice as much trouble when she's bored) I got kinda fed up with her spilled drinks, rolling around on the dirty floor and endless hand washing after she got her hands dirty. We all kind of started snapping at each other. At long last our car was ready and we started home, as well as having something to eat on the way.

It wasn't the kind of day I had hoped for. But God took care of us in this situation, who could ever call it a coincidence that all those men appeared out of nowhere to help, and that such a nice tow truck driver "just happened" to be there when we needed a tow truck the most? And we were able to drive home that same day so we had a happy ending after all. (And you know I'm a big fan of happy endings:)