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Christmas 2011 Recap

December 28, 2011 by Renee Claire

PopBetty - Christmas Collage

A Christmas that started off inauspiciously, with stress and empty pockets, ended up being one of the best ones in recent memory. This was the first Christmas in four years where I didn’t have to work Christmas Eve, or the week after; everyone was in a good mood and liked their presents. Here’s how we celebrated (clockwise from top left):

  • Watched holiday movies while working on this Thomas Kinkade Christmas Wreath puzzle (50 cents at the thrift store).
  • Ate gingerbread (made with Betty Crocker mix and Target cookie cutters).
  • Rented Bachelor Mother, which was even better than I remembered {film still via Livin’ Vintage; rent it for $2.99 On Demand}. David Niven and Ginger Rogers are just magic together, and the script’s so clever. In my opinion, it’s aged better than many so-called “classic” screwball comedies.
  • Saw Arthur Christmas, the latest movie by Aardman Studios (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep). My teen brother & I saw it in mid-December, and had the theater to ourselves. We don’t always find the same things funny, but we both laughed ourselves silly, especially at naughty Grandpa.
  • Drank Crispin Honey Crisp Hard Apple Cider, another good & cheap holiday tipple.
  • Also: Bought a bunch of snacks (chips, crackers, cookies, things we normally try to restrict), and made a giant batch of paella on Friday, and nibbled on both through the weekend. Watched the first episode of Rosemary & Thyme, a cozy British mystery series with a gardening theme (Season 1 is available for streaming on Netflix).

How about you guys? What made your holiday break special (or at least bearable)?

Filed Under: Christmas, Festivus

Pinterest Holiday Boards

December 14, 2011 by Renee Claire

I had planned on doing a Winter Holiday special here, similar to Halloween Week, but…eh. I’m feeling stressed and Grinch-y this year. Christmas shopping & prep, the luminary ceremony at my grandmother’s grave, a major home clean out, and one big end-of-the-year freelance project (which I’m still working on) consumed the last few weeks, and I have miles to go before I sleep.

I did save up lots of great holiday post ideas at Pinterest, though, in anticipation of that holiday special, and it would be a waste not to share them with you. Here are a few favorite finds, from my Winter Holidays board:

Source: refinery29.com via Renee on Pinterest

Source: amazon.com via Renee on Pinterest

Source: myrecipes.com via Renee on Pinterest

Source: trissalicious.com via Renee on Pinterest

Source: us.asos.com via Renee on Pinterest

Clockwise from top left (click images for links):

  • a peppermint-inspired manicure from Refinery 29
  • a chewy turrón recipe
  • plaid tights
  • a peppermint martini
  • Bachelor Mother, a classic comedy set during the holiday season

There are a lot more goodies (over 300 pins) on my two Pinterest holiday boards, Winter Holidays and Holiday Gifts & Wrapping Ideas, and I hope you’ll click over. I also hope to do more holiday posting next week, once my big project wraps up.

Filed Under: Christmas, Festivus

Colonial Williamsburg Christmas Decoration Inspiration

December 7, 2011 by Renee Claire

My family and I spent Thanksgiving week in Williamsburg, VA. It was a great trip, and since the Christmas season apparently starts in late November, Colonial Williamsburg was already decked with holiday wreaths and garlands. Below are some of my favorites:

Williamsburg christmas wreath

A stunning apple wreath & garland…

Williamsburg christmas garland

…a simple doorway garland with rope & leather wreaths… 

Williamsburg christmas

…and another eye-catching garland bunch, which includes a pineapple and a hedge apple.

Aren't they lovely? It's amazing to me how festive and Christmas-y they look, all without ornaments, ribbons, or lights. Hope you find them as inspiring as I do!

Filed Under: Christmas, Festivus, Travel Tagged With: TBD

Happy Halloween!

October 31, 2011 by Renee Claire

Scary Totoro by Sachsen
It’s Halloween, the perfect time to share this wonderfully twisted Totoro remix by Sachsen. Read some horror manga, dress up as a Japanese ghost, learn about the Kyoto yokai train (even if it actually runs during summer), and watch something spooky, like Secret Investigation Record (link to automatic video). Then come back here, because I’ve got some fun posts lined up for the week!

Filed Under: Halloween Week, Hayao Miyazaki

Last Minute Halloween Links

October 30, 2011 by Renee Claire

PopBetty - Halloween Pumpkin

A big thanks to all the people who linked or pinned my Halloween posts! My traffic tripled last week, and while it’s a temporary boost, it’s encouraged me to keep blogging (and to do Halloween Week posting next year). Here are some last minute Halloween links I thought you’d enjoy:

  • Present & Correct has a fun Halloween contest.
  • Nightmares Fear Factory’s Flickr photostream features photo upon photo of terrified haunted house goers. I laughed until I hurt.
  • Here are two favorite Halloween songs (YouTube links): Screamin’ Jay Hawkins “I Put A Spell On You” & Gnarls Barkley’s “Boogie Monster.”
  • From Daily Candy, a Best Horror Movies list, and from Time Magazine, the Top 10 Haunted-House Movies.
  • From TresSugar: How to Dress as Your Favorite ’90s Girl for Halloween.

And some nice, non-Halloween blogger news I’ve been waiting to squeeze in:

  • I planned on posting about For Me, For You’s fundraiser (her boyfriend has cancer, and as freelancers, neither have health insurance). But I didn’t need to. Because within one week they met their fundraising goal AND he was approved (after some struggles) for Medi-Cal.
  • Joy had a beautiful, healthy baby girl.

Have a great Halloween!

Filed Under: Festivus, Halloween Week

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