Monday, December 31, 2012

A Year In Review

It's hard to believe that another year has come and gone. It's crazy how time has a way of creeping up on you when your too busy living life. So without further ado my favorite things of 2012....

Favorite Movie

The Hunger Games
Favorite Book

Matched
Favorite Song

Undermine from Nashville by Hayden Panettiere
Favorite Vacation

San Francisco, California (before I moved to Sacramento)

Hope all of you have a wonderful New Years Eve! I'll be recapping my holidays in the next few days! Enjoy! 

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Sunday Social!

Sunday Social

1. What is the best New Years Eve you've ever had?
Honestly, I don't know. Maybe when I was in Florida for the Gator Bowl

2. Are you doing anything for NYE this year and if so what?
No major plans. Just hanging out with the people that matter. 

3. Name a book we should all read come January?
The Matched Series by A. Condie

4. What are your new years resolutions?
To Save Money
To Pay Off Debt
To find a profession that truly fulfills me

Friday, December 28, 2012

On Replay

The fall television season brought me three new shows to get addicted to: Revolution, Arrow and Nashville. However, only one brought music along with it.... 

Nashville. It's such an addictive show and the music blends in so well with each episode. During the fall season before the mini break over the holidays, each episode was filled with new plot lines and usually a new song or two each episode. It's country music but with a little pop twist to it on some tracks. Each week after the episode would air, I would find myself singing or humming the songs so I took to itunes to see if they had posted any of the songs from the show. To my surprise they had and I downloaded Undermine. Needless to say, I played it all the time. 

Then a few weeks ago, I heard that NBC was releasing the Nashville Soundtrack. 
Um... heck yes! So on Tuesday when it released I drove over to Target and got their special edition with the bonus tracks and couldn't wait to get out of the parking lot before I tore it open and popped it into the car stereo. Since then it's been playing over and over. I even turned off my Christmas music for a few days to play the cd. The soundtrack has got every song that's been sang so far in the season. Now before you ask, yes Hayden Panettiere and Connie Britton are actually the ones doing the singing. As are all the people on the show who are featured singing.
(Image via New York Times)

My favorite tracks on the album and from the show have been: Undermine, Wrong Song and Telescope. Did I mention I'm not even a big fan of country music? Yep, I'm really not but there's something about this show and the singing that's so good! If you've never watched the show then you really need to catch up and tune in! The show also makes me really want to visit Nashville since I haven't been there since I was a teenager. 

If you've seen the show and love the music then download the songs or go get the album. I know that Target is the only place to have the bonus track albums so hurry before they sale out during the holiday season.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Theater Thursday

It's Theater Thursday! What's Theater Thursday? Well it's a day (always Thursday) that you can pick out a movie that you love or something that you think others should watch that's out on dvd. Grab the Theater Thursday button, post about your movie choice and then come back here and link up! That way everyone will have some great movie ideas and choices going into the weekend. 

This week's featured movie is, At First Sight.
At First Sight stars Val Kilmer as visually impaired Virgil, who's been blind since the age of three. When he meets a successful Manhattan architect, Amy (Mira Sorvino) they immediately have a connection. She's at a small town retreat at meets Virgil who's her masseuse. She persuades him to undergo a very risky and new surgery that could restore his sight. He wants their relationship to work so he leaves his small town and sister behind for the big city and the possibility of his sight. 

Once in New York City, Virgil undergoes the surgery and as far as the doctors are concerned it is a success. However, by gaining his sight he's lost his ability to determine common items and his other sense of touch. He can see but he can't see. 

Amy who is very driven tries to help Virgil as much as possible but it begins to become harder than she suspected and an old flame of hers begins to try to woo her all over again. Virgil who is just really beginning to see can tell that something is wrong but doesn't know how to put all the pieces together. Then surprising news really takes hold. 

If you've never seen this 90's classic check it out! It's probably one of Val Kilmer's better movies. 

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!!!
I hope all of you are having a very merry and wonderful Christmas with family and friends! 

As many of you may remember, my family does a Christmas breakfast and then we take our infamous family couch photo. Basically, we stuff ourselves silly with breakfast foods and then try to cram all of us on to one tiny touch and take a self timed photo. It's family fun at it's best! Here's a few of our previous years...
2011
Baby Olivia was welcomed into the family

2010
2009
 
2006
The year Jonathan and Megan got engaged

I can't wait to add this years and who knows maybe this year will have an extra announcement to go along with it?!!!? Hope Santa has brought just what was wanted! 

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Sunday Social

Sunday Social
1. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
2. What is your favorite smell?
On Guys
For Me
3. What is your favorite TV commercial? (Past or present)
I always love the Christmas Hershey Kisses one where the kisses are the bells.

4. What is your favorite day of the week?
My Friday which is Saturday

5. What is your favorite way to waste time?
Playing games on my phone, checking out twitter, etc. 

6. What is your favorite article of clothing?
Sweatpants. I lounge around in them the moment I get in the door.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Theater Thursday

It's Theater Thursday! What's Theater Thursday? Well it's a day (always Thursday) that you can pick out a movie that you love or something that you think others should watch that's out on dvd. Grab the Theater Thursday button, post about your movie choice and then come back here and link up! That way everyone will have some great movie ideas and choices going into the weekend. 



Christmas Holiday Edition

This week's featured Christmas movie is, White Christmas
For the past two years, White Christmas has been the last movie that I review before Christmas. Why? Because it's my favorite and my mother's as well. The elaborate dance scenes, the songs, the story... it all just makes for a great Christmas story. They don't make them like this anymore and that's such a shame. What else is a shame? It's a shame if you have never seen this movie. 

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star as Bob Wallace (Crosby) and Phil Davis (Kaye) who meet while stationed together during the war. One day when an air raid strikes their camp, Phil pulls Bob out of harms while resulting in an injury to himself. Feeling much gratitude to Phil, Bob tells him that if he ever needs anything to just find him and ask him once the war is over. Phil doesn't hesitate to tell him that he's written a song that he'd like them to perform together once the war is over. Bob agrees since he feels indebted to him. 
The war ends and they come back to America where they are greeted with much success and their Wallace and Davis act becomes a smashing success. Over time, Phil pulls out the card about saving Bob's life anytime he wants something and Bob continues to do it. Cue the Hanes Sisters... because they end up going to Vermont just to hang out with them. While there they run into their old General and decide to host their show there over Christmas on the hopes of it bringing business into his dying ski village. 
Will Wallace and Davis succeed in bringing business into the Columbia Ski Lodge? Better yet will they find love along the way? You'll have to watch this holiday classic to find out! I know one thing you'll find yourself singing along to each happy tune. 

Monday, December 17, 2012

It's Getting Nutty

It all started with a little trip to World Market to find some candy theme ornaments for my mom's new tree that she's starting. I walked away with two ornaments and these guys...
I had never bought a Christmas nutcracker until this year. I had always thought they were a little creepy and usually hideously ugly. However, there was something about these little guys that I just thought was too cute. I saw Jesse the cowboy sitting on the shelf first. Since I have a major life connection with the movie Romancing the Stone and the main character in Joan's novels is named Jesse, I knew I had to buy it. Then I couldn't let Jesse just sit in my house alone so of course I bought five. Did I mention they were on sale? 

Then I thought, well I've already bought five maybe I should get a few more in the collection. So I returned to World Market and came home with these guys...
At this point I had bought 11 nutcrackers and since there was only 18 in the set, I figured I might as well go for the whole collection. So I returned to World Market a few days later and picked up the remaining ones that I didn't have to add to my collection....
So in total, I've got 16 nutcrackers. There is 18 in the set and I'm missing two! Only two! I've called all three World Market's in my area and NONE of them have the two I need. So I've enlisted the help of some of my friends to see if they can hunt down the two I need at their local World Markets. Normally, I would just go to their website and order them but sadly you have to buy them in sets of three and I already have the other ones in the sets. So I'm patiently waiting to see if they can find them! 

Incase you were wondering, I need the Scottish guy playing bag pipes and the Mexican one wearing a poncho and sombrero. In the meantime, they guard my fabulous candy tree....

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Theater Thursday

It's Theater Thursday! What's Theater Thursday? Well it's a day (always Thursday) that you can pick out a movie that you love or something that you think others should watch that's out on dvd. Grab the Theater Thursday button, post about your movie choice and then come back here and link up! That way everyone will have some great movie ideas and choices going into the weekend. 



Christmas Holiday Edition

This week's featured holiday movie is, Scrooged
Scrooged is one of the most underrated Christmas movies if you ask me. Scrooged stars Bill Murray as television executive Frank Cross. He's in charge of a live Dickens Christmas Story being told on Christmas Eve on his station and he's having a hard time making it through the day. He's become so mean to everyone that he's going to be sent three ghosts to remind of what things were like, how things are now and what they will become. Of course, being the selfish and closed off person that he is, he doesn't believe it. 

That is until they bring in his old girlfriend Clarie Phillips (Karen Allen). Then he decides to really try to figure out if he's going crazy or if it's all really happening. Will he change his ways or remain the scrooge that he already is. Will his production of a Dickens Christmas go off without a hitch or will there be a twist to a Christmas classic?

If you've never seen this version of Scrooged you are missing out! Bill Murray is a comedy genius and this is one of his best movies. 

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

A Not So Wordless Wednesday

Today is a post dedicated completely to my mom. Why? Just because. My mom isn't just my mom, she's my best friend. She's the person that I talk to about everything. She's the person who can calm me down and talk me down from the ledge. She's the person who makes me feel better when I feel sick. She encourages me. She pushes me to do better. She picks me up on days that I'm down. She shares in the good times and looks for the positive during the bad times. She calls me every morning to make sure I haven't overslept for work. She sends me goodies in the mail to brighten my day. She's my number one fan.

The list could go on and on. I don't know what I'd ever do if I didn't have my mom. Being away from her makes me realize how much more I love and care about her. I can't wait to see her for the holidays and spend more time together. I hope we can start spending everyday together again soon! Until then our weekly skype sessions and daily phone calls will have to do. 

I love you mom! 

PS: Send her good thoughts... she has a sore throat and bad head cold. Feel better soon mommy! 

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

The Royal BabyGate

Unless you've been living under a rock, then you've undoubtable  heard the announcement around the world that Princess Kate is with child. Like millions of other people, I have followed Prince William's life for as long as I can remember. We are very close in age and Princess Diana would be the same age as my mother if she had not been killed in that tragic accident. I've always loved reading the royal news and things that go on in their lives.

When William got engaged to Kate I was excited to hear all the details. I even woke up in the middle of the night to watch their wedding live. My mother had always talked about how she got up in the night to watch Princess Diana marry Prince Charles. So of course I had to keep that tradition going strong. I also heard stories of how my mom was pregnant at the same time as Princess Diana. So maybe it's a little natural for me to be a little, well.... tiny bit sad that I can't say the same this time around. 

Now before a lot of people get me wrong. I do not have baby fever... far from it. BUT at the same time I'm sad that I can't share in the similar experience that my mom had. So I got to thinking about why hearing this wonderful, joyous news that it made me feel a little sad. I thought about it long and hard actually and I've decided that it's because I really wanted to share in the similar experience with my own mother. 

When and if the time comes that I do have a child, I can't imagine going through it without my mom. I mean who will give me baby advice and talk me down from the ledge when I'm mid panic about whether I'm doing something right or wrong with a newborn. Not to toot my horn, but I think I turned out pretty good so I would naturally want my mom's advice along the way.  Plus I may or may not have baby names already pre-selected.... just saying. I'll be 30 in a year and a half.... time isn't getting any slower so this whole thing has made me realize I need to decide if I really am going to have a child one day. Soooooo..... ending this ramble....... thanks Princess Kate for making me realize all this. 

Congrats William and Kate! I'll be soaking up all your baby news! 

Monday, December 10, 2012

Weekend Update

This weekend I finished my doorway decorations...
A lot of people have been asking me what I used. For the top piece I used photo hanger wire. It was much more flexible than using a metal coat hanger. I also used shatterproof bulbs because they weigh less. 

I made blondes from scratch...
I watched a cute ABC Family Christmas movie...
12 Dates of Christmas

I caught up on my celebrity news and sat by the Christmas tree...


I found out my friends started getting their Christmas cards...

Hope all of you had a fabulous weekend. Now it's back to work! 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Sunday Social

 Sunday Social

1. Favorite Holiday Movies/TV Specials?
White Christmas
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
Holiday In Handcuffs
All I Want For Christmas

2. Do you do any volunteering during the holidays if so what? If not what would you do?
Kinda. Every year at work we adopt a family for Christmas & buy gifts/food.

3. Favorite toy received as a Child for the Holidays?
The Dixie Diner

4. What was your must have item in high school for the Holidays?

I'm totally showing my age but everyone had a pager and I wanted one sooo bad! I actually ended up getting it my freshman or sophomore year! 

5. Item you begged for the most and never got?
I was always pretty luck and got what I asked for. Thank you Santa! 

6. What do you do on Christmas Eve? If you are Jewish what does your family do for Hanukkah?

Usually we will visit with my grandma, then come back home and open one present each. Then we'll start to prepare the ham for the next day and finish out the evening watching Christmas movies and read the night before Christmas

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Theater Thursday

It's Theater Thursday! What's Theater Thursday? Well it's a day (always Thursday) that you can pick out a movie that you love or something that you think others should watch that's out on dvd. Grab the Theater Thursday button, post about your movie choice and then come back here and link up! That way everyone will have some great movie ideas and choices going into the weekend. 
Christmas Holiday Edition

This week's featured movie is, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
From the moose mugs to the exploding turkey Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his entire family have been providing laughs for over 20 years during the holiday season. This classic Christmas movie is a favorite of mine and if you've never seen it then you are missing out! 
Clark Griswold (Chase) dreams of hosting Christmas at his family home in Chicago, Illinois. In fact he's decided to go all out with decorating the house, having the perfect dinner and getting everyone together from both sides of the family. The only major problem for Clark is the fact that nothing can ever go as planned. Yet he sets his sights on the happiest Christmas and begins decorating the house and planning a surprise gift for his wife and kids. He even gets a few surprises for himself along the way.

The moose mugs, uncle Eddie's dickie and a guest appearance by Julia Louis Dryfuss only adds to this perfect holiday movie. You'll laugh so hard! Watch it! You won't be disappointed! 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Wordless Wednesday

It took me 28 years to give in and buy a Christmas Nutcracker. I think I might have fell off the wagon. I love them... these were too cute to pass up! 

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Oh, Just Sitting On The Roof

This past weekend was a new one for me...

If you've been watching The Weather Channel or even the news then you've probably heard a little something about the torrential rain we've been having in northern California the past week. We got hit with rain storm after rain storm for days. On Sunday is when it got really serious around my house. 

When I had originally walked through the house and made the offer, I had asked my realtor and lender if they thought I was in a flood zone. They laughed of course and said they were about 99% sure that I wasn't. Well... guess what percent won? The one percent. Hello living in a flood zone. I thought, "Ok... no big deal. I'll get the flood insurance and be done with it." Everyone had assured me it hadn't flooded in my neighborhood in years and years. So far back that they couldn't even remember. To top it all of FEMA sent me a letter telling me that there had never been a flood claim filed for this property ever. EVER.

So Sunday comes along and it's been raining for quite awhile now. I decide to go outside and check the canal that runs behind my house, past the backyard fence. The canal is about 12 feet deep and there's a substantial amount of room above the concrete canal before getting up to my backyard. It's so deep I had even been telling people that the entire town would have to be under water for this thing to ever flood over onto my grass.

I get outside and what do I see? Oh the canal has already risen about 9 feet. Yep! I freaked. Sent photos to my mom, called Josh and then stood outside in the pouring rain, getting completely soaked and glass eye stared at the water rushing in the canal. My mom started telling me that I needed to get everything that I wanted of importance up high. That's when I think I really freaked out because my organization mind refused to organize. I told her, "No! I'm not moving everything in my house around today because it's not going to happen. It's NOT going to flood!" At that moment it was pure denial. Clearly, I should never be left alone again in a natural weather disaster.

So that's when I decided to get a trash can and fight the rising water. Nope not kidding. Oh did I mention that the streets were flooding as well and the water was inching up the driveway too? Yep. People were getting their cars out of the streets and up to their houses as close as they possibly could.

I did what any person in denial would do. I stood there in the pouring rain debating if I was tall enough to reach the roof if I stood on my car. I mean isn't that what all those people do when their house has flooded and their stranded waiting on FEMA to come rescue them via that metal drop basket from their roof? 

Many hours passed as I sat and worried about the water. Thankfully the rain began to let up and the canal stopped rising. It was insane how fast the water filled it up! We're suppose to get hit with more rain so let's hope there is not a repeat of Sunday.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Where It All Began

It's no secret that I love Christmas. Clearly. So I figured I'd give you a little insight to how it all began...

 
I was born with the Christmas spirit. I love the holidays and this is my favorite time of the year! It's December!! Santa is coming!!!  

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Sunday Social

Sunday Social
1. What is your favorite holiday season tradition?
Going out with my mom and getting a live tree and decorating it.
Christmas tree 2012!

2. Do you have a certain holiday movie you watch more than others? If so what is it?
We usually watch White Christmas and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation a lot!
3. Show us your favorite decoration or pinterest decoration you wish you could have?
I got this wall sign this year and I am loving it! I think it looks just enough retro/vintage to feel old but is new. I was lucky to find it at hobby lobby!

4. What is your favorite holiday song?
Carol of the Bells

5. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
6. What is on your wish list this year?
Here... take a little look.....