Sorry it's been so long since my last post! Like many of you, I've been distracted by holiday activities. I actually feel lucky I've been unemployed this month, I don't know how I'd have gotten everything done in such a timely manner if I had something like a full time job to get in the way.
Now, since I still don't have a place of my own, I can't do much in the way of decorating but I've never been one to go all out anyways. I really don't see the point in completely turning your home upside down for a month only to have to go back and rearrange everything all over again. I just stick to one little section of my living room, I call it my Christmas Nook:
It's not much, but it's mine and it makes me smile. Cash seems to like it too, she was just waiting for the moment I removed all of the Christmas gifts from that bottom shelf, she does so look forward to sitting on new surfaces.
I don't go out of the way with ornaments, I prefer hanging trinkets that mean something, remind me of trips or certain events, rather then just covering the tree in solid colored balls. This year I added the "Whale Tale" I got on our Carnival cruise and Cash's ornament. We got one for Norman last year and it was only fitting we had one for our other baby.
Please note the R2-D2 lego ornament, I also have a Millennium Falcon I'm quite fond of.
This year I nabbed a sweet mini tree skirt too. I've had this mini tree for about four years and never knew they made tree skirts for small trees. Add some festive holiday garland and voila!
That's pretty much it for my holiday decorating save for the front door. I've developed an obsession with small holiday flags and now wish to own a different one for each month. I used to roll my eyes at little old ladies who would pick these up at Christmas Tree Shops when I worked there and now I understand. I find myself scouring the flag bins looking for just the right one. So far I only have one for Halloween and this new one for Christmas. But mark my words, I'll have one for every month eventually, I'm determined.
I was actually looking for something a little less "Christmasy" and a little more "Wintery" but I love the little penguin hitching a ride in this one so I got it. It's all rather silly really since I have an entrance off to the side of the house and only Joe and I see the flag, but still, I like them.
I don't know about the traditions in your home but I leave everything up including the tree until New Year's. January 1st or 2nd, it all comes down and the magic gets put away until next Christmas. And between you and me, I hope the year goes by soon, I really do love my holiday flag ;)
If I don't blog until then, have a Happy New Year everyone!
Well yes, it is. But regardless, December here we come!
Now, Thanksgiving is my #1 favorite holiday and no manner of holiday advertising will ever change that. I mean, think about it, Thanksgiving is the only holiday that is entirely meant to be about family and friends. There's no expectations, not need to throw money away to try and impress or outdo, it's about sitting around a table and breaking bread, no presents required.
Now I know some of you might be scratching your heads to come up with another holiday that does this but don't bother; I'll prove all of you wrong somehow. I'm good at that I'm told by Joe when we argue.
Easter? Nope, Easter baskets and Easter Egg Hunts-next! Valentine's Day? Are you seriously suggesting Hallmark's favorite holiday (next to Mother's Day) can compare to Thanksgiving?-next! Forth of July? Now, just stop it. I'm sorry, none of the Red, White and Blue holidays are holidays let me just make that clear right here and now. As much as we should reflect upon the significance of each one as a country, the majority of us just appreciate the fact that we get to spend the day at home drinking beers rather then working-it's a bank holiday....
No my dears, Thanksgiving is the best hands down. This year I spent the day, very much like last year, eating, gossiping, teasing my cousins, watching Punkin' Chunkin' (a new tradition with my cousins-my uncle doesn't understand) and then after tea and pie, forcing ourselves to leave before the offer to spend the night gets too tempting. And repeat. It's fabulous and just what a holiday should be- no exchanging of gifts, no pressure to get everyone something they actually enjoy, etc.
Now with that being said-holy crap I'm excited for Christmas! I don't know what has happened to me, I really don't. Over the past few years I've found myself getting more and more excited for the Christmas holiday with every new year. It's not the commercials that start after Labor Day (I actually hate that); it's not the Christmas music stores begin to play the day after Halloween (I hate that too); I just can't put my finger on it.
Sure I used to love sitting in my living room with the lights off, watching the tree sparkle and the ornaments sway back and forth between the strands of tinsel (which people don't use enough of these days if you ask me). But that was it.
I think for a number of years Christmas to me meant snow and cold and ice and slipping and shoveling and wet pant cuffs and red noses. None of these things are fun to me so why would I welcome a holiday featured smack dab in the center of all that snowy crap?
So color me confused or converted.Whatever the case is, I now seem to be on the edge of my seat waiting for the right moment to hang the stockings and set up my fake little tree. I don't go all out and I could care less about the outside of the house, but I'm really looking forward to having a tree to look at for a month or so once again. Something about the calming lights and the cozy glow they cast over the living room. Something about the ornaments that all mean something different and contain a small little memory from trips or Christmases past. I couldn't tell you exactly, but I'm looking forward to it all none the less.
I'm excited for presents too of course but that's never been a big priority for me. Money has always been tight so Christmas was something that I grew up feeling was more of a privilege then a right. No matter what I got I was always surprised and pleased so Christmas never represented some big day in which I could sit around checking off my wishlist.
I love giving presents too but my friends have all but left, scattering themselves across the country (and some, the world) so I don't have to worry about picking out the right little thing for everyone in my life and instead focus on the few gifts that will create the maximum smiles.
So whatever it is, I'm glad for this time of year. And for the so-far mild Christmas season. I'm not going to go crazy though, as you can see I'm posting this after Thanksgiving and I didn't hang my tiny Christmas flag on my door until just yesterday. As Nordstrom's would say, in this house, we celebrate each holiday one at a time.
I am truly American. I say this because I am one of those people that loves fast food, always gets a kick out of entertaining commercials and thinks places like Disney World that are entirely made of plastic-are simply magical!
I was fully prepared to go on a rant about how some commercials these days were not only ridiculous, they were also misleading and flat out stupid and was then going to post commercials I liked as a comparison. I wrote a few paragraphs and uploaded a few videos but then I took a step back and reminded myself this blog isn't about what I don't like, it should only be about things that make me happy enough to want to share with my homies (annnndd I couldn't find footage of all of the commercials I was interested in talking about online so there ya go)
So I've decided just to post the commercials I could find that make me smile on a daily basis. Enjoy.
Now, this guy I love so much, I'm giving you two of his spots:
It was pure coincidence that I picked two commercials that had something to do with wild animals but are they not brilliant? I'm also in love with these Mayhem commercials because the actor in them also plays a reoccurring character on 30 Rock, which Joe and I are currently obsessed with. I could post so many more; this commercial campaign is one of the best I've seen in a really long time. When I was looking for these clips I actually stumbled upon some commercials I hadn't seen before so go YouTube them and see what you've been missing!
Now I know I've posted this one already but I just can't help myself, it is too fun:
Gets me everytime.
Okay so I actually lucked out with this one and found the full version of this classically awesome Orbit commercial. This was also one of the last commercials to feature the original Orbit lady. Sigh, so sad. I swear they changed the actress up just because she was a little younger, not fair Orbit!
I don't know what makes me laugh more, the "What the French, Toast?" line or the "Hoboken" remark, just genius!
Now, this commercial campaign has been going on for awhile too but this is the latest from Dos Equis and I have to say, the very first line is what sets this one apart from the rest:
I know none of these commercials are new to any of you, but since I've got a lot of extra tv watching time on my hands these days, these are the commercials I don't mind sitting through each and everyday.
Now let me take a moment to talk about the shows I can't seem to live without right now. Yes, I had gotten back into Buffy and Angel when things get slow and I've cleaned out the DVR, but these new shows have most recently been added to the broadcast schedule and I find myself counting down the days until the latest episodes air.
Lucky for me, two of them are daily programs so I don't ever have to wait more then a weekend break to watch.
Okay now seriously, The new Rosie Show is fantastic! It's on the OWN network and starts at 7pm EST. Check it out if you haven't-I'm absolutely in love. I try to get Joe to watch sometimes too and he chuckles here and there so I'm telling you people, it ain't bad-go watch!
Now I already did an entire post about this show but it's another one I get to watch everyday and is helping me stay sane while going through this job search:
(Cassie, I posted this clip specifically for you) It's just a delight! And the man really is like the second coming of Oprah in that each show is completely different from the others. One day he has a celebrity to interview and the next day he's talking to victims of abuse or tackling his own personal struggles and phobias. All with this light, intelligent dialog that just makes you want to watch and be a part of the conversation.
Now this one Joe and I watch together and it's one of the first shows MTV has come out with that isn't ridiculously stupid or based on some whiny high-schooler talking about how they have a sudden urge to become prom queen:
Perfect time to jump on the Vampires/Warewolves/Zombies bandwagon MTV (Buffy, I think ya'll should be making with the repeats right about now you know what I'm sayin? Get you a new fan base...make that money-you know what I'm talking about Joss Whedon) It's a really funny show that combines Reno 911 with Shaun of the Dead.
Speaking of Vampires.... This other one features a lovely lady I've mentioned once or twice:
The teaser doesn't even do it justice. It's not an action/comedy like Buffy but this show has it all. Suspense, double cross, kidnapping, murder, FBI investigations, identity theft; I mean good lord the list goes on. Every week I watch and think 'okay, this is it, her secret will be found out and it's all going to come together' then WHAM! Another insane twist comes out of no where and you're left with your mouth a-gape wondering-seriously?! How much more can this character go through?! It's is crazy people, start watching and you'll understand what I'm talking about. SMG is back baby!
Now this one isn't new by any means but it's new to Joe and I and we are completely addicted. I mean we can't go a day without watching or we feel like we've missed out on something big:
Now I'll admit, Joe and I are the kind of people who aren't into jumping on the band wagon. We like to discover things on our own. So when 30 Rock first aired and got all hyped up, we tried to stay away because we didn't want to watch based on the media attention and our friends becoming facebook fans of the show. Then I discovered one of my friends (Randi, sweet gal who got to watch people walk down the red carpet at the Oscars I mentioned some posts back) was an extra on the forth season of the show so I started to watch. (She's also an extra on One Tree Hill but you will not see me watching that show so I went with 30 Rock to show my support and be super envious) The hype was all true people. 30 Rock is insanely funny and now Joe and I go around quoting the show all the time. Check it out if you haven't already, you won't be disappointed.
I've also started watching two shows on BBC America. Law & Order UK and 24 Hours in the ER. L&O is exactly what you think it is; it's just better because it's all done with an accent and British slang terminology. I almost stopped watching after the first season though, because they killed off the stud muffin that was Jamie Bamber's character and I was real mad about that. But Joe did a little Googling and found out it was Jamie's choice to leave the show so I've made up with L&O and instead am just grumbly with the studly Mr. Bamber.
I mean hello-he's handsome, fit and comes with a British accent. You'd be chuffed if suddenly he was taken away from you too. I had no idea he was leaving either so that last episode of the first season was damaging to my calm to say the least.
Now the show is just like the American version and not at all intended to be funny, but this teaser trailer is wonderful. BBC America had one entirely about the lingo but I can't find that anywhere. This one starts off slow but then gets awesome so if you skipped over it, go back and watch.
Now 24 Hours in the ER is a reality show that covers what it's really like in an Emergency Room. No Noah Wiley or George Clooney here, sorry. There are cameras positioned throughout King's Cross College Hospital (one of the busiest hospitals in all of England as it is right next to an extremely busy and well known train station, Kings Crossing-That's actually where Harry Potter went to catch the Hogwarts Train-bet you didn't know that egh?) and you see what happens in a full 24 hours. The show also goes a little further and highlights the individual nurses working in the ER and the patients themselves. Each episode is different as you can imagine, and while it's kind of icky as they have to deal with a lot of traumatic injuries, it's very touching as well. The nurses actually give a damn about what's going on and the patients and their families are relate-able as they are real human beings and not paid actors. The trailer alone got me hooked and crying and now I can't stop watching:
It really is a fantastic show. You will laugh and you will cry and you will appreciate your fellow man and the time you have on this Earth. Check it out, you'll be better for it.
That's it for now. I just thought I would share a little of what has been keeping me going these past few weeks. Sure I've got Joe and Cash and Norman. But when I need some distraction during the day, in between filling out job applications, house cleaning and candle making, these shows help me break free from "reality" and provide a little entertainment to my daily life. I like it, I hope you do too.
Happy Halloween everyone!! Or should I say, Merry Christmas?
Can you believe this weather?! Just BANANAS! I don't know about the rest of you, but in our area, the damage has been worse from this snowstorm then when Hurricane Irene came barreling through. And with Irene we were at least prepared!
I actually had to bite the bullet and accept that I have pathetic feet. I sold my soul and purchased Ugg-like boots for myself! Joe was embarrassed to be seen with me but he understands. Girlfriend's feet have NO circulation what so ever. I double up on socks, make sure I'm wearing shoes that totally cover my feet, all to no avail. My toes are about to fall off over here people!
I got my Godsmack (that's "bad Karma" for any of you not down with metal lingo circa 1999) for it today though. My "FUggs" are lined with a thin layer of fabric on the bottoms (I don't know why they put that on cheap shoes these days but I've purchased other shoes with fabric soles too) so everytime I set foot on a smooth surface I nearly faceplant/slide into a split/pull something important and flail around like an amateur ice skater, all in the center of very public places. It's not a hot look people. But at least my feet are warm...silver lining?
Anyways, moving on. I haven't posted an unemployment update in the past few posts because it was getting harder to keep track and added a slight air of sadness to my posts I wasn't really a fan of. But hopefully it will all be over soon; I've started training with a new company in town and it looks like they might like me enough to pay me on a regular basis! I'll let you know for sure as to whether or not they give me the green light but things are looking good I think.
I hope all of you are staying safe and warm during Mother Nature's sanity break. Thankfully we got power back last night and are having two of Joe's friends crash with us tonight so they don't have to spend another night huddled around a fireplace twiddling their unwashed thumbs. (Plus Joe's been dying to play video games with his homie) So we're having a sleep over night! Goodluck to the rest of you and I hope wherever you are, you're happy and healthy even if you're a little chilly.
I have been waiting for this day for nearly two months! Ghostbusters is in theaters this month!
Every Thursday in October, you can catch the original film on the big screen!! The moment I heard about this I started checking the Ghostbusters fan page on Facebook (yes, I love the film THAT much) for any and all updates so I can find out just when I'd be able to see my boys on the silver screen.
Check your local listings to find it in a theater near you, but I know for a fact that the AMC theater in Danbury will be playing it every Thursday at 7pm in October.
I have been counting down to today for over a week. Joe and I even used the film as an excuse to turn the afternoon into a nice date night and we'll be grabbing dinner before setting off to see one of the greatest films of all time.
Don't think I'm that big of a fan?
Well, when we were younger, my sister and I spent a full year watching it every single night. My sister even started writing down the lines from the movie while we'd watch. One day, I discovered a vendor in our local mall had a copy of the script and I begged my mom to buy it for my sister so she wouldn't have to worry about missing anything writing it herself.
I have even been known to spot the differences between widescreen and normal viewings of the movie. I have to watch it in widescreen because I get mad and always have to explain to people I'm catching the film with, what's going on off to the side of the screen because it's partially cut off. So annoying! There's just too many amazing little gestures and facial expressions you miss out on-don't deprive yourselves people!
I'm not going to leave you with any clips because I can't seem to find anything good to post. Instead I'll leave you with the music video that Huey Lewis and the News should have done, but they declined, so enjoy a little Ray Parker Jr. and go see Ghostbusters! Seriously people-I like it!
I am in LOVE with Anderson Cooper! I've always liked him and thought he had more integrity then any other reporter on television today.
I've been watching his new show, Anderson, since it aired about a month ago and now I am full-on obsessed with him! Everyday watching his show I learn more incredible, amazing things about him that make him more of a "real person" then a "tv personality". He and I have a lot of things in common too.
He loves reality shows to the point where he even Googles the pets featured on shows such as "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" and the like.
There is a myriad of foods he's never tried. The man hates coffee and doesn't understand the concept of a waffle. To Anderson, he doesn't feel there is a need for hot beverages and thinks a pancake is good enough, why put nooks and crannies in it? He's never eaten spinach and, even though he's a New Yorker, has never had roasted nuts from a street vendor.
He actually did an entire episode on his show about strange eating habits because his office staff started teasing him about the foods he eats and doesn't eat. In that episode, he discovered the reason he doesn't care too much for food was because he has fewer taste buds then the average person and therefore experiences food completely differently then most people. He even admitted he doesn't care for food or see the need for it. He said he only eats because he knows he's suppose to. He doesn't cook and even gave his audience a glimpse into his fridge at home. The man only had turkey hot dogs and beverages and condiments. He would rather not eat if he physically didn't have to simply because he finds eating to be more of a chore then a pleasurable experience.
I'm positively fascinated by him!
He's very good friends with Kathy Griffin and she and Anderson's mother actually talk on the phone all of the time.
He doesn't like being touched and he said that when he went on vacation to South America, he bathed in this volcanic mud and said the only time he had a problem with it, was when one of the workers that brought him to the mud pool, kept massaging the mud on his back. At one point he looked at the camera and said "I really wish this guy would stop touching me"
He had made some not-so-nice comments about Snooki and when he realized his quotes came off a little less then kind he called her up and invited her on his show. Well our Jersey girl got Anderson to go tanning! Check out this pale, pale man's tan line!
Paula Abdul was on his show this week and he revealed he loves it when she says things that make absolutely no sense. So at one point she looked at him and said something along the lines of "Anderson, you are a tidal wave crashing over a candy covered mountain...." You would have thought this man just met Santa Claus! He had a look of sheer delight and joy on his face and then when she was done with this strange-ass sound bite, he fell of his chair as if he was overcome with the holy spirit!
I just can't get enough! Anderson Cooper is my Oprah! I really hope I can get tickets to his show, I would love to actually see him in person :)
Check out his show if you can, it's fun and informative. Check out his news reports too-he's just great!
A grown man with social integrity AND an adorable giggle? I LOVE it!
How mean does a person have to be to purchase this? Just evil!
Now I would think anyone in this neck of the woods would know right away that the Tarantula coming at them is a fake as they aren't native in this part of the country but still, you'd pee just a little before figuring it out wouldn't you?
I never used to have a problem with spiders. Used to be I come across one and either leave it alone or introduce it to the bottom of my shoe. Now I see one and I jump and get enraged that the eight legged bugger dared enter my sanctum. Then I introduce it to my boot. Yes, I've been known to take off my shoe in the middle of a room, one foot exposed to the elements, just so I could crush an eight legged invader. I'm that serious about keeping my place spider-free. The problem with spiders though, is you're never free of them. They like to hide and only show their faces (or million eyes/fangs-covered heads) when they think no one is around; they find a corner seemingly undisturbed and set up shop. Well no thank you! You wanna live in peace and harmony? Do it outdoors and please let me be! Blah! I just don't like 'em!
Then I see this sucker on LikeCool.com today and I can just imagine the horror a person could unleash on unsuspecting friends and family with that remote-controlled monstrosity. Yuck yuck yuck!
Granted I've been that jerk in the past too. My aunt and uncle used to have this rubber rat in their apartment in Flushing, NY that I used to love to hold up to my sister and squeak at her. The thing really freaked her out and I of course would always be scolded for terrorizing her but darnit, it was such a rush!
This is what it looked like, red eyes and all. The tail was so long it would wave back and forth as if it really were alive and the rat itself was quite large (or seemed to be when I was 7) so I can see why it freaked my 3 year old sister out. But it's a rite of passage as an older sibling isn't it? We all go through that one moment in which we find sheer delight in making our brothers or sisters run away or hide behind the couch to avoid facing the "creepy" things we'd throw at them.
My brother did it to me too so don't think I'm a bad kid. Actually, my sister loves Halloween and watches any scary movie you put in front of her now so obviously I didn't cause her any permanent danger. I just hope she doesn't get wind of ole spidey and look for some little sister revenge....
