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Monday Memos: RAWSPICEBAR Review…the perfect way to add a little spice to your new year!
Home | Monday Memos | Monday Memos: RAWSPICEBAR Review…the perfect way to add a little spice to your new year!
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we once again have the opportunity to work with the spice subscription company Rawspicebar. So if you didn’t quite find that perfect Christmas present for the chef in your family, or if you want to give yourself a late Christmas present then please read on. Full disclosure, I was given this product to try for free, however as always this will not affect my opinions on the product itself. Ready? Ok?
This service allows you to order customizable spice subscriptions based off of your diet, favorite ingredients to cook with, the number of people you generally cook for, among other factors. This info allows you to get 3 custom picked spices that you can order monthly, quarterly, or every 6 months. So how much does this AMAZING service cost? You can get your 1st of 3 spices for only $9, or buy individual spices for $7 a spice (quantity is 1oz per spice). You can also join Rawspicebar’s ‘Spice of the Month Club’, which gives you 2 spices every month for $36 for 3 months, $72 for 6 months, or $144 for a 1 year subscription. Honestly the Rawspicebar website is so HUGE & full of lots of fun gift ideas for the entire year! They have special sets for birthdays, weddings, graduation gifts, & so much more! On the website you’ll also find recipes & spice guides in order to help you with all your future culinary adventures!
Explore everything Rawspiebar has to offer here & follow them on all their social media accounts for all the latest news & deals:
Website: https://rawspicebar.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RawSpiceBar
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/rawspicebar/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/rawspicebar
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/rawspicebar/
• All photos and information used in this blog belong Raw Spice Bar, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended., and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
celindareyesblog December 27, 2018 No Comments on Monday Memos: RAWSPICEBAR Review…the perfect way to add a little spice to your new year!.	Category: Monday Memos. Tagged: 2018, 2019, Chef, christmas, collab, Cook, Fest, food, fun, holiday, Kit, new, new years, RawSpiceBar, review, season, spice, subscription, thanksgiving.
Monday Memos: RawSpiceBar…the subscription box service that you NEED this year!
Home | Monday Memos | Monday Memos: RawSpiceBar…the subscription box service that you NEED this year!
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s `Monday Memos’ we’re going to discuss an AMAZING subscription box that y`all should all check out this holiday season! If you like trying exotic new dishes (or just want to impress your friends by how fancy you are) then the RawSpiceBar subscription service is for you. As you know, I never promote any band, artist, book, or product that I do not 100% believe in. I tried RawSpiceBar for the 1st time last year & I absolutely loved their service. Because of this experience I`m so happy to say that I have once again partnered with RawSpiceBar to bring you guys all the information you need to spice up your Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other special event you have planned for this holiday season. I did receive this product for free to review, however once again this did not affect my opinion of the product itself. Now let’s get to the review! Ready? Ok, let’s go!!!
I received the October kit which had an Oktoberfest themes inspired by German spices! This kit included the following spices & accompanying recipes: Horseradish & Mustard Seed (which included a recipe for Horseradish & Mustard Cabbage), Caraway, Fennel & Anise Bread (which included a recipe for Caraway Cheese Soft Pretzels), and lastly Schnitzel Spices (which included a recipe for German Chicken Schnitzel). The Horseradish & Mustard Seed spice had a very earthy, fresh taste that really gave the Horseradish & Mustard Seed Cabbage a unique taste that made me want to add it as a usual dinner item. The Caraway, Fennel & Anise Bread was definitely my favorite of the spices because the Caraway Cheese Soft Pretzels were super delicious. If you want mall level pretzels then you have to give this recipe a try. Lastly (but DEFINITELY not least) we have the Schnitzel Spices for the super yummy German Chicken Schnitzel. This dish was a little spicy, but the crunchy exterior and juicy interior really made the dish standout among common chicken dishes.
I bet you’re hungry now right? Well have no fear people of the internet because I have your solution! First I have a question for you. What’s better than awesome food? Give up? Awesome food at a discount! So here’s what you do. Go to www.rawspicebar.com, create your flavor profile (where you can describe your dietary needs RawSpiceBar can pick the right recipes & flavors for you), customize your fav recipes & flavors, then decide if you want a 6 month subscription (only $7 a kit) or a 12 month subscription (only $6 a kit). To make this deal even more awesome the box ship for free & you can $5 off your first month by using the code FLAVOR6! Amazing right? So whether you get your RawSpiceBar subscription for you or as a gift for the special chief in your life, you can’t go wrong with this AMAZING offer!
Subscribe to RawSpiceBar here:
rawspicebar.com
Become a fan of RawSpiceBar here:
Twitter: RawSpiceBar
Facebook: RawSpicebar
Instagram: rawspicebar
Pinterest: rawspicebarLA
celindareyesblog November 15, 2016 No Comments on Monday Memos: RawSpiceBar…the subscription box service that you NEED this year!.	Category: Monday Memos. Tagged: 2016, 2017, amazing, Box, Chef, christmas, collab, Cook, Fest, food, fun, holiday, Kit, new, RawSpiceBar, review, season, spice, subscription, thanksgiving.
YouTube Wednesday: FearlesslyJulia…the beauty/fashion guru that you will be watching all winter break
Home | YouTube Wednesday | YouTube Wednesday: FearlesslyJulia…the beauty/fashion guru that you will be watching all winter break
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ we are going to talk about an amazing YouTube beauty/fashion guru that you just gotta check out. If you love YouTubers that are entertaining, and have cool and interesting videos then you gotta check out FearlesslyJulia’s channel. If you watch enough hours of YouTube then you know that there are many amazing beauty/fashion gurus on YouTube, that it can be hard to decide which channels to watch (I mean we do have to divide our time between Netflix binges and sleeping, so we have to use our time wisely). If you want to discover a new channel that you will replay over and over then please keep reading. Ready? Ok, let’s go!!!
The first video that we’re going to talk about is Julia’s ‘Decorating my Room for Christmas! + DIY Decorative Pillows 🎄’ video, which was uploaded on November 13th, 2014. Now I know that Christmas has already passed but it’s never too late to get ready for next year. Right? Right! If you want to learn how to turn your room into a winter wonderland, and create very cute pillows that you will want to use all year, then you gotta check out this video. Next up we have Julia’s ‘Easter Hair, Makeup, & Outfit Ideas 2015!’ video which was uploaded on March 28th, 2015 (you can check out this video below). If you want to look super cute this Easter then you have to watch this video. Julia gives her audience amazing and detailed tips & tricks that you can use to not only be Insstagram ready for Easter, but all spring long.
Now we’re going discuss Julia’s ‘Fall Clothing Haul 2015! Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Brandy Melville & more!’, which was uploaded on August 29th, 2015 (you can check out the video below). Now y’all know that there had to be a haul in this post because haul’s are amazing. Now that Christmas has come and past, we either have no money left, or we have money and gift cards from Santa. The great thing about hauls is that we can check out what other people buy, and know where all the cute stuff is. Also, it’s never to early to start your Christmas list for next year…just saying. The final video that we’re going to talk about is Julia’s ‘Winter Morning Routine 2015’, which was uploaded on November 14th, 2015. It’s a lot of fun to see our fav YouTubers morning/night routines because it makes us feel more connected to them. It’s cool to see that our fav gurus watch Netflix like us, stalk people on social media (oh you know you do that too…yeah you the one shaking their head, yup, you know you’re a professional social media stalker). If you want to learn a little more about Julia’s life then definitely give this video a try.
Keep up with everything Julia is doing:
YouTube:FearlesslyJulia
Twitter:FearlesslyJulia
Instagram:fearlesslyjulia
All photos and information used in this blog belong to YouTube, FearlesslyJulia, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Brandy Melville, and all companies, individuals, corporations, managers, writers, producers, and/or businesses that should receive credit for anything mentioned in this blog post or the videos mentioned and/or featured in this post, and all original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
celindareyesblog December 27, 2015 No Comments on YouTube Wednesday: FearlesslyJulia…the beauty/fashion guru that you will be watching all winter break.	Category: YouTube Wednesday. Tagged: 2015, 2016, amazing, beauty, Brandy Melville, christmas, clothes, DIY, easter, fall, fashion, FearlesslyJulia, forever 21, fun, gifts, haul, holiday, instagram, internet, makeup, merry, new, presents, spring, summer, twitter, Urban Outfitters, winter, youtube.
YouTube Wednesday: The Top 3 Christmas Covers of 2015
Home | YouTube Wednesday | YouTube Wednesday: The Top 3 Christmas Covers of 2015
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ we’re going to talk about everyone’s favorite part of Christmas…the music! It’s always so much fun to hear our favorite Christmas songs covered by amazing artists, so I thought that it would be fun to countdown ‘The Top 3 Christmas Covers of 2015’. One of these covers isn’t from an actual YouTube artist, but it was so amazing that I just had to include it. So now let’s get to the music! Ready? Ok, let’s go!!!
3) ‘Silent Night – Jason Chen x Marie Digby x Ana Free’:
The first cover that we’re going to talk about is Jason Chen, Marie Digby, and Ana Free’s cover of Silent Night. This is a true Christmas classic that has been covered by numerous artists, but never gets old. I really love his cover because we get to experience 3 amazing vocalists who are able to show us a unique rendition of this song that you will definitely not forget.
2) ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You – MINOR KEY! Kurt Hugo Schneider ft. Chase Holfelder’:
Ok I have to admit that I’m soooo obsessed with this cover, and trust me after listening to it you will be too! If you have heard any of Kurt Hugo Schneider’s covers then you know that he makes beautiful and brilliant musical arrangements, however this has to be one of his best ideas ever. ‘All I Want For Christmas is You’ is already an amazing song that we all love, but performing the entire song in a minor key gives the song a hauntingly beautiful quality that will have you pressing that replay button again and again.
1) ‘Mary Did You Know – Cover by Jordan Smith’:
Now we’ve reached the #1 spot! Although Jordan isn’t a YouTuber, I couldn’t resist putting this INCREDIBLE cover on the list. This rendition not only shows off Jordan’s amazing talent and range as a vocalist, but also shows us that he is a true entertainer that can instantly mesmerize his audience. As soon as you see this incredible cover you will seriously want to hop over to iTunes and buy it because it is so insanely beautiful. The only thing that you will be left wondering after hearing this cover is how is he going to top this amazing performance. I know we all can’t wait to see!
All photos and information used in this blog belong to YouTube, thetimesweekly.com, Jason Chen, Marie Digby, Ana Free, Franz Xaver Gruber, Joseph Mohr, Kurt Hugo Schneider, Chase Holfelder, Mariah Carey, Columbia Records, Walter Afanasieff, Jordan Smith, The Voice, NBC, John de Moi, Mark Burnett, Audrey Morrissey, Stijn Bakkers, Lee Metzger, Ashley Baumann, Amanda Borden, Carson Daly, Keith Dinielli, May Johnson, Bart Kimball, Michael Matsumoto, David Offenheiser, Dan Paschen, Kyley Tucker, Teddy Valenti, Warner Horizon Television, Mark Burnett Productions, One Three Media, United Artists Media Group, Endemol Group, Talpa, Tien, Warner Bros. Television Distribution, Mark Lowry, Buddy Greene, Michael English, Gaither Vocal Band, all of the people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc mentioned and/or shown in any hauls and/or any videos used and/or mentioned in this blog post, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
celindareyesblog December 18, 2015 No Comments on YouTube Wednesday: The Top 3 Christmas Covers of 2015.	Category: YouTube Wednesday. Tagged: 2015, Amanda Borden, amazing, Ana Free, Ashley Baumann, Audrey Morrissey, Bart Kimball, best, Buddy Greene, Carson Daly, Chase Holfelder, christian, christmas, Columbia Records, country, Dan Paschen, David Offenheiser, Endemol Group, Franz Xaver Gruber, Gaither Vocal Band, happy, incredibly, indie, inspirational, Jason Chen, John de Moi, Jordan Smith, Joseph Mohr, Keith Dinielli, kurt hugo schneider, Kyley Tucker, Lee Metzger, mariah carey, Marie Digby, Mark Burnett, Mark Burnett Productions, Mark Lowry, May Johnson, merry, Michael English, Michael Matsumoto, music, nbc, One Three Media, pop, rock, Stijn Bakkers, Talpa, Teddy Valenti, the voice, thetimesweekly.com, Tien, top 10, United Artists Media Group, Walter Afanasieff, Warner Bros. Television Distribution, Warner Horizon Television, youtube, youtuber.
YouTube Wednesday: Keegan Acton…the new beauty/fashion guru that YouTube is obsessing over
Home | YouTube Wednesday | YouTube Wednesday: Keegan Acton…the new beauty/fashion guru that YouTube is obsessing over
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘YouTube Wednesday’ we’re going to talk about an incredible YouTuber who you will soon be addicted to. It can be really hard for a YouTuber to distinguish themselves because of all of the competition from the other great channels on the website. Once you see Keegan’s videos, it’s easy to figure out that she definitely stands out from the crowd. Not only is she knowledgeable about all of the topics that she discusses on her channel, but she’s also very entertaining to watch, has a natural on-camera presence, and she is able to engage her audience from the start of the video to the end. If you’re not already subscribed to her channel then you are definitely missing out. So please read on to discover the YouTuber that all your friends already love. Ready? Ok, let’s go!!!
The first video that we’re going to talk about is Keegan’s ‘Sephora and Charlotte Russe’ haul, which was uploaded on June 6th, 2013 (you can check out this video below). This video is the perfect introduction to Keegan’s channel because it shows us that she’s a natural born entertainer who can not only mesmerize her audience, but also leave them wanting to keep coming back to see more. I also love that this video is a haul because we get a glimpse at what Keegan’s personal style is like, which is a great way for her to connect with her audience. Next up we have her ‘First Impression | Nume Octo Wand’ video, which was uploaded on December 26th, 2013. First impression videos are great because we get to see what our fav YouTubers really think about a product without worrying that they’re just trying to get us to buy the product. In this video Keegan shows that she’s really good at reviewing products because she gives a very detailed review that tells us why the product is great but does so in a way that allows us to figure out if this is the product for us.
Now we’re going to talk about Keegan’s ‘ My Braces Experience | EVERYTHING You Need To Know About Braces’ video, which was uploaded on March 17th, 2014. I think that one of the best things about YouTube is that we really get to know our favorite YouTubers in a way that makes us feel as if they’re our best friends. This video is a perfect example of that, because through this video Keegan is able to connect with all of her viewers who have braces, or will get braces in the near future. Keegan may have given her viewers the confidence to visit a Dentist in Hartford (or their local dental clinic) to speak about potentially getting braces.
Even if watching Keegan’s videos has inspired you to check out this great guide on preparing for braces, this could be a step in the right direction for many people who are looking to get the smile they have always wanted.
This can be a big step for anyone to take, but if you are doing it to improve your smile, then this may be the best step for you to take.
This is a MUST SEE video if you fall into either of these categories because Keegan is very detailed when she explains the process of getting braces put on, taken off, and everything in between. The final video that we’re going to discuss today is Keegan’s ‘ iPhone Case Collection 2015’ video, which was uploaded on June 22nd, 2015 (you can check out this video below). Personally I love watching iPhone case collections because you get to see some really cool cases and learn where to get them (gotta have more stuff to add to that letter to Santa). In this video we not only get to see some really cute phone cases (I seriously want all of them), but we once again get a glimpse into what Keegan’s personal style is, and how it has evolved. I really wish that I could have written about all of her videos because they’re all AMAZING, so I would definitely check out this channel if you want to give yourself an early Christmas present.
Keep up with everything Keegan is doing here:
YouTube: Keegan Acton
Instagram: keeganacton
Twitter: keeganacton
All photos and information used in this blog belong to Keegan Acton, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Sephora, Charlotte Russe, Apple. iPhone, Nume Octo Wand, all of the people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc mentioned and/or shown in any hauls and/or any videos used and/or mentioned in this blog post, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
celindareyesblog December 12, 2015 No Comments on YouTube Wednesday: Keegan Acton…the new beauty/fashion guru that YouTube is obsessing over.	Category: YouTube Wednesday. Tagged: 2015, 2016, amazing, Apple. iPhone, beauty, blog, Charlotte Russe, christmas, clothes, DIY, entertainment, fall, fashion, features, fitness, fun, guru, haul, incredible, instagram, Keegan Acton, morning, new, night, Nume Octo Wand, OOTD, OOTW, routine, sephora, spring, summer, twitter, vlog, winter, workout, youtube, youtuber.
Monday Memos: A Charlie Brown Christmas…celebrating 50 years of T.V. magic!!!
Home | Monday Memos | Monday Memos: A Charlie Brown Christmas…celebrating 50 years of T.V. magic!!!
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we’re going to discuss an event that we all experience every year. This is something that we all grow up with, and no matter how old or young you are, it still has the same affect. What am I talking about you may ask? A little movie that we all love known as ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’! In 1965 ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ first aired on CBS, and thus started a Christmas tradition that would continue to enchant families for decades. The movie was commissioned by ‘The Coca-Cola Company’, which asked ‘Peanuts’ creator Charles M. Schulz and his team to create the special in 6 months, after they viewed an unaired documentary staring Schultz called ‘A Boy Named Charlie Brown’. This year ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ turned 50 so let’s discuss why this amazing movie has become engraved as a part of our Christmas tradition. Ready? Ok, let’s go!!!
Although there are so many things about this movie that we love, I think that the 3 main things that you can pinpoint that makes ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ different than other Christmas specials is: the characters, the music, and the risks that this movie takes. One of the most important aspects of a great story is for it to have amazing, memorable characters that we can relate to. The Peanuts universe has brought us a lot of beloved characters from Lucy (the girl we all love to hate), Linus (the intelligent and practical one), Sally (the little sister we all wish we had), Snoopy (the cool one we all wish we were), and of course the wonderfully hilarious and fun Charlie Brown who we can all relate to on some level. Of course ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas wouldn’t be nearly as memorable without it’s amazing music. Whether you love more traditional sounding Christmas music such as ‘Christmas Time is Here’ and ‘Hark the Harold Angels Sing’, or music that brings a fresh feel to the season such as the unforgettable piano jazz number ‘Linus and Lucy’ (which you can check out in the video below), this movie will have you humming along to its’ diverse soundtrack long after Christmas is over. Finally, we need to discuss the incredible risks this movie takes. One of these risks is not using music in the style of what was popular at the time. A lot of times movies use catchy, modern sounds in order to easily win over an audience. ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ uses the opposite (and often risker approach) of using genres that weren’t necessarily in the forefront of the American public’s mind in the 60s, and thus makes very unique music that instantly mesmerizes you because it’s so different. Another risk that this movie takes is that it used actual child actors to voice the characters, and because of this adds a larger sense of authenticity to the roles. Shows/movies are notorious for using adults to portray teens and children, (because of legal, financial, and other reasons), so to use a cast that was primarily made up of children was very groundbreaking at the time (and is still VERY uncommon today). Using children actors also added a sincerity and innocence to the roles that really brought these characters to life on screen, and has set a bar that all Charlie Brown specials have had to try to live up to ever since. Because of all of these reasons, we can see why we love Charlie Brown so much, and why we’ll continue to sing, dance, and laugh along to ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ for the next 50 + years.
All photos and information used in this blog belong to imdb.com, YouTube, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Peanuts, Charles M. Schulz, CBS, ABC, The Coca-Cola Company, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Christmas Time is Here, Linus and Lucy, Hark the Harold Angels Sing, Bill Melendez, Vince Guaraldi, Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Bill Melendez Productions, United Feature Syndicate, CBS, ABC, Universal Uclick, Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, Felix Mendlessohn, CBS Cooperation, William S. Paley, National Amusements, Louis Blanche, Edward J. Noble, Disney-ABC Television Group, Disney Media Networks, The Walt Disney Company, American Broadcasting Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Asa Griggs Candler, Vince Guaraldi Trio, VicGuaraldiVEVO, all of the people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc mentioned and/or shown in any hauls and/or any videos used and/or mentioned in this blog post, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
celindareyesblog December 10, 2015 1 Comment on Monday Memos: A Charlie Brown Christmas…celebrating 50 years of T.V. magic!!!.	Category: Monday Memos. Tagged: abc, amazing, American Broadcasting Company, Asa Griggs Candler, Bill Melendez, Bill Melendez Productions, cbs, CBS Cooperation, Charles Wesley, childhood, christmas, classic, Disney Media Networks, Disney-ABC Television Group, Edward J. Noble, entertainment, family, Felix Mendlessohn, film, fun, George Whitefield, happy, holdiay, Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Louis Blanche, love, memories, merry, movie, music, National Amusements, new, nostalgia, peace, The Coca-Cola Company, The Walt Disney Company, tradition, United Feature Syndicate, Universal Uclick, VicGuaraldiVEVO, Vince Guaraldi, Vince Guaraldi Trio, William S. Paley.
Monday Memos: 2014 Winter Lookbook
Home | Monday Memos | Monday Memos: 2014 Winter Lookbook
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we are going to discuss our ‘2014 Winter Lookbook’. With Christmas and New Years Eve on the way, I thought that this was the perfect opportunity to start thinking about what cute outfit you want to wear in all of your holiday selfies. Usually in the lookbooks, we show casual, girly, and edgy looks, but this time I thought it would be fun to switch things up and style trendy, grungy, and preppy looks. Remember that you can mix and match the various looks, add accessories, or make various other changes depending on your personal style, and what the weather is like where you are. So let’s jump into it!
Trendy Look:
White faux fur jacket from H&M:
I love this jacket for a trendy look, because it’s warm, comfortable, and instantly adds a touch of class to every outfit. This jacket is perfect for any holiday party, and isn’t real fur, so it’s animal friendly.
Black open back maxi dress from the Kendall and Kylie Collection at Pac Sun:
Crop tops were HUGE this year, so this dress is an easy way to take the trend and transition it into the winter season. The slit in the front adds a flirty touch to the dress (perfect to lure in a midnight kiss from that special someone on New Year’s Eve).
Black and White colored blocked ankle strap pumps from Forever 21:
Adding the color block trend always gives an extra touch of coolness to any outfit, so these shoes are the perfect thing to easily color-coordinate your outfit without simply adding a solid colored shoe.
Rhinestone Bib Necklace from Forever 21:
I love this chunky necklace because it’s an easy way to add a cute accessory to your outfit without having to try to hard (gotta love easy fashion!).
Madison Evening Belles Ambrose clutch from Kate Spade:
No trendy look would be complete without a cute clutch, and with the cool jewels on this one, you will feel like you’re carrying stars with you wherever you go.
Grunge Look:
Fishnet-Paneled Textured Top from Forever 21:
This top is perfect if you want to try out the crop top trend that was really popular all year. The partially concealed cutout in the front of the top really gives it a touch of edge, which makes it perfect for any event you have scheduled this holiday season.
Gypsy Warrior Super High Rise Lace Up Skinniest Jeans from Pac Sun:
I really liked these jeans because the lace up front is an interesting touch, and will definitely add a little more style to this or any other crop top you want to pair it with.
Vintage Wash Denim Jacket from Wet Seal:
Who doesn’t love a jean jacket right? This is the perfect piece to give the outfit a 90s grunge feel, and the best part is you can turn the jacket into a DIY project by drawing on it, adding cool embellishments, or ripping it.
Payyton black suede booties from Steve Madden:
This boot has a smallish heel which is perfect for anyone who is hated by all heels (like me), and the fringe adds a very 1970s vintage edge to the look. This boot is also versatile enough to pair with a lot of other outfits so it’s a good staple piece to have.
Ecote Embellished Small Shoulder Bag from Urban Outfitters:
This cross-body bag has a lot of very cool golden colored jewels all around it, that go along perfectly with the vintage grunge vibe this outfit has. It’s also small enough to carry with you anywhere, but big enough to hold all your essentials (I mean how could we survive without Instagram and Twitter?).
Statement beanie from Wet Seal:
This beanie adds a fun laid-back vibe to the outfit that is perfect if your hair isn’t cooperating.
Preppy Look:
Contrast Collar Plaid Shift Dress from Forever 21:
Flannels were really in during the fall, so this dress is an easy way to transition this style into the winter season.
Black Brocade Tights from the Bethany Mota Collection at Aéropostale:
These tights are the perfect way to keep you warm this winter season, and the light rose pattern they have on them add a really cute touch to the outfit.
White and Black Marled Tweed Bomber Jacket from Forever 21:
This jacket is the perfect way to warm up this look, and not compete with the pattern of the plaid. It’s another item that is versatile, so it can become a stale piece in your wardrobe.
Slipified Flat from Kenneth Cole Reaction:
I love this flat because it has the color locking of an oxford shoe, but the versatility of a flat (you gotta love items that you can use in various style combinations).
All photos and information used in this blog belong to H&M, Pac Sun, Forever 21, Kate Spade, Wet Seal, Steve Madden, Urban Outfitters, Bethany Mota, The Bethany Mota Collection, Aéropostale, Kenneth Cole Reaction, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
celindareyesblog December 23, 2014 1 Comment on Monday Memos: 2014 Winter Lookbook.	Category: Monday Memos. Tagged: 70s, 90s, aeropostale, beanie, bethany mota, blocked, blog, bomber jacket, boot, bootie, christmas, clutch, coat, color, crop, crossbody, dress, fall, fashion, faux, flat, flats, forever 21, fringe, fur, grunge, H&M, happy, holiday, jacket, jeans, jewels, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole Reaction, leggings, metallic, necklace, new years, new years eve, pac sun, plaid, preppy, ripped, skinny, slit, statement, steve madden, The Bethany Mota Collection, tights, top, trend, trends, trendy, Urban Outfitters, varsity, vintage, Wet Seal, whatever, winter.
Monday Memos: The best Christmas music of 2014!!!
Home | Monday Memos | Monday Memos: The best Christmas music of 2014!!!
Hello people of the internet!!! On today’s ‘Monday Memos’ we are going to countdown the 5 top Christmas songs of 2014. Last year when we did this list, it had different versions of classic Christmas songs from many different decades. This year I thought that we’d do something a little different and only talk about Christmas songs from this year. This list is a really fun mix of classic and new Christmas songs that I know you all will love! So get ready to ask Santa for some ITunes cards this year, because these completely addicting songs will be on your playlists well into June.
5) Sabrina Carpenter ‘Silver Nights’:
Once I heard this song I just had to add it to the list, because it has a very chill, romantic vibe that’s perfect for listening to by the fire with that special someone (or while stalking your favorite celebrities’ twitter wishing they were that special someone…don’t worry it’ll be our little secret). I also wanted to add this song; because Sabrina Carpenter is definitely someone I would watch in 2015. With an AMAZING debut on the music scene with her EP ‘Can’t Blame A Girl For Trying’ (which has a song written by the equally AMAZING Meghan Trainor), and a lead role on Disney Channel’s newest breakout hit ‘Girl Meets World’, it’s safe to say that Sabrina is well on her way to a long career…not bad for a 15 year old (doesn’t she make you feel like you haven’t accomplished anything in life…same here).
4) Idina Menzel ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’:
I was so excited to write about the song because I think that we can all agree that Idina Menzel is AMAZING! Whether you became a fan of hers through her work in various Broadway musicals, her role on the show ‘Glee’, or her latest hit leading role in Disney’s ‘Frozen’, you gotta admit that once you hear her voice you just can’t run away. I wish that I could just talk about her entire Christmas album, but then I would have y’all here until next Christmas. So instead I decided to talk to y’all about a song that we all know but I think gets pushed to the background a little. Whether you’ve heard this song on the radio or in a movie (gotta love those old animated Christmas movies), EVERYONE has heard ‘Holly Jolly Christmas’. I honestly love how upbeat and fun this song is, because it puts you in the Christmas spirit and makes everything you do feel fun. This is definitely a classic that you should put on repeat this Christmas season!
3) Meghan Trainor ‘I’ll Be Home’:
Now here is a singer/songwriter who has made her presence known this year. With her hits ‘All About That Bass’ & ‘Lips Are Moving’, Meghan just keeps amazing us. She brings that same talent to her original song ‘I’ll Be Home’, which is soon to become a Christmas Classic. This is another feel good song for all of you romantics out there! Perfect to listen to while you’re drinking hot cocoa or your favorite hot winter drink.
2) Ariana Grande ‘Santa Tell Me’:
We don’t even really need to discuss why Ariana HAS to be on this countdown. I mean she is honestly the biggest breakout star of 2014 (which we predicted and you can see the blog post for here: Monday Memos: Artist Spotlight Ariana Grande | celindareyesblog). After numerous consecutive hits, it only makes sense that the girl with the Midius touch releases a Christmas song that we LOVE! I like that this song is romantic (because honesty who doesn’t love a little Christmas romance, but it’s about asking Santa to not let this Christmas love go to waste (sorta like a prequel to ‘Last Christmas’ by Wham!). I like that the concept is different than your typical Christmas song, and it’s a fun one to sing-along too. You should definitely add it to your winter playlists!
1) Pentatonix ‘Carol of the Bells’:
I feel like I could write 10 pages about this INCREDIBLE group and it wouldn’t be enough, so I’m going to give y’all the short version. Honestly I think all A Capella groups are amazing because how awesome and talented do you have to be in order to make performing without any instrumental backing. It’s honestly mind-blowing so because of this, I felt we had to give them the #1 spot. I am also a huge fan of this song because it’s so beautiful, but it’s also equally difficult to perform, so I feel we have to give them a lot of credit for their flawless rendition.
All photos and information used in this blog belong to Sabrina Carpenter, Hollywood Records, Idina Menzel, Glee, Fox, Ryan Murphy, Decca Records, Johnny Marks, Meghan Trainor, Epic Records, John Alagia, Chris “Flict” Apparri, Sergio Aranda, Claudia Brant, Jon Brion, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Kevin Kadish, Chris Kuffner, L.A.. Reid, Meghan Trainor, Ariana Grande, Republic Records, Savan Kotecha, IIya Salmanzadeh, Pentatonix, Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, holidaystime.org, and all other original owners. I do not own anything in this blog. If any people, corporations, businesses, companies, etc, were not previously given credit for their work, they are given credit now and their previous absence was unintentional. All opinions expressed in this blog are my own. I wrote this blog for entertainment purposes and no copyright infringement is intended.
celindareyesblog December 16, 2014 1 Comment on Monday Memos: The best Christmas music of 2014!!!.	Category: Monday Memos. Tagged: ariana grande, blog, Chris “Flict” Apparri, Chris Kuffner, christmas, Claudia Brant, Decca Records, Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, Epic Records, fox, glee, holidaystime.org, Hollywood Records, idina menzel, IIya Salmanzadeh, John Alagia, Johnny Marks, Jon Brion, Kevin Kadish, L.A.. Reid, Meghan Trainor, music, Mykola Leontovych, pentatonix, Peter J. Wilhousky, republic records, Ryan Murphy, Sabrina Carpenter, Savan Kotecha, Sergio Aranda.
Monday Memos: My Top Ten Favorite Christmas Movies
Home | Monday Memos | Monday Memos: My Top Ten Favorite Christmas Movies
*SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!! Hello people of the internet!!! On this blog, I summarize and comment on 10 popular Christmas movies, if you have not seen these movies, the summarizations could ruin the movie for you, because I give away what the endings are.
10) How the Grinch stole Christmas! (1966 cartoon TV special version)
This film (based on the popular Dr. Seuss book) tells the story of the Grinch, and the people of a fictional town called Whoville. The Grinch lives in a cave upon a mountain, which is located directly above Whoville. The Grinch hates Christmas because he has a heart “two sizes two small”, because of this hatred, the Grinch decides that he must stop Christmas from coming. He decides to impersonate Santa Clause, dress his dog as a reindeer, and steal all of the presents from the people of Whovile. When the Grinch goes to the first house, he is almost caught taking the family’s Christmas tree by a small girl named Cindy Lou Who. He tells Cindy that he is taking the tree to his workshop so he can repair it. He and his dog travel back to his mountain with all of the presents and Christmas related items in Whoville. At this point in the movie, it is Christmas Day, and although the Grinch expects to hear the people of Whoville in despair, he instead hears them singing joyously. The Grinch then understands that the true meaning of Christmas isn’t in material gain, but is being with the one’s you love. All of the presents and other items then begin to fall off of a cliff, and the Grinch and his dog save them, and the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes. He and his dog return everything to Whoville, and they all join in on Christmas Day celebration. I really like how this movie doesn’t change the original story, and leaves you with a happy ending. This movie also has a strong theme of love, family, and the importance of having a strong unified community. This is definitely a classic family film.
9) Grandma got run over by a reindeer (2000 TV special)
This film revolves around the lives of Jake Spankenheimer and his family. Jake’s grandma owns a small general store in the town. The general store is the only piece of land that Austin Bucks (the richest man in town) doesn’t own, however Jake’s grandma is adamant in her refusal to sell the store. Jake and his grandmother are very close, because they are the only ones who love the Christmas holiday season. Jake is often at ends with his parents and sister, because of his strong belief in the existence of Santa Clause. Jake’s cousin Mel really wants their grandmother to sell the store, because she wants to be rich. Due to her obsession with wealth, Mel adds a secret ingredient to the grandma’s fruit cake, in hopes that the cake will not sell, and grandma will be forced to sell the store. On Christmas Eve, Grandma forgets her medication, and decides to leave Jake’s family’s home, taking one of her fruitcakes with her. Jake and his Grandpa sees Santa crash into Grandma, and the next day she is missing (Mel finds a letter that Santa left explaining what happened but she hides it). After Grandma has been missing for a year, Mel tries to trick the grandpa into giving her power of attorney over the store, so she can sell the store to Austin Bucks.
Jake intervenes, and writes an email to Santa, asking what happened. The head elf takes Jake to the North Pole, and he discovers that Santa took Grandma to the North Pole so she could receive medical treatment however; she now has amnesia. Jake convinces the head elf, Santa, and Grandma to come home with him however; Mel steals and hides Grandma, and she and her attorney put Santa on trial for the disappearance of Grandma. Jake follows Mel to a secret cabin where she is hiding Grandma. While at the cabin, Jake finds the note that Mel hid, and figures out that the secret ingredient in the fruitcake is ‘Reindeer Nip’. He restores Grandma’s memory by feeding her the fruitcake, and they present the evidence to the judge. The judge frees Santa and arrests Mel and her attorney. Austin Banks then decides to offer grandma the opportunity to franchise her store throughout the country and she accepts. The movie ends with Grandma accidently picking up the tainted fruitcake, which causes her to get hit by the reindeer again however; this time she is ok. What I love about this film is that it is very funny. The film still gives you a strong message of the importance of family however; it delivers this message in a hilarious way that will defiantly grab the attention of children.
8) Santa Clause is Coming to Town (1970 TV special)
This movie begins with mailman ‘S.D’ Kluger’s mail truck breaks down, so he tells the story of Santa Clause to a group of children. The story begins in the fictional town of ‘Sombertown’, where the mean Burgermeister Meisterburger finds a baby on his door step with a name tag with the name ‘Clause’ on it. He orders his assistant to take the baby to the local orphanage, but a large wind blows the baby to the mountain of the ‘Whispering Winds’. The animals find the baby, and take him to a local family of elves (there surname is Kringle) in order to keep him safe from the powerful and dangerous Winter Warlock. The elves adopted the baby, name him Kris, and teach him the art of toy making. When Kris is old enough, he volunteers to take the toys the family makes to Sombertown; however the Burgermeister has outlawed toys, after he had a toy-related accident. Kris meets a friendly penguin named Topper on his way to town, and once he arrives in town, Kris meets some children and their school teacher Miss Jessica, and gives them all toys. The Burgermeister arrives and attempts to arrest Kris however, he escapes.
As Kris and Topper head back to the Kringles, they are captured by the Winter Warlock, and Kris gives him a toy train, which melts the warlock’s heart, causing him to turn into a human. He asks to be called Winter, and makes Kris a magic snowball, which allows him to see into Sombertown. Kris finds Jessica, and finds out that the Burgermeister has destroyed all of the toys, so Kris decides to bring new ones to the children. The Burgermeister hears about this, and orders that every door in the city be locked. Kris uses the houses chimneys to deliver the toys, and he tells the children to hang their stocking on the fireplace, so he can hide the toys in there. The Burgermeister grows frustrated with Kris, and captures him, Topper, the Kringles, and Winter. When Jessica is unable to get the Burgermeister to release her friends, she visits them, and Winter gives her all of the magic he has left with him (which includes magic corn that makes reindeer fly). They all escape, and Kris grows a beard and changes his last name to Clause in order to hide from the Burgermeister. Kris and Jessica get married, and they move to the North Pole. Eventually Meisterburger and his family die, and their laws are taken away. Kris becomes known as Santa Clause, and he decided to dedicate one day a year to delivering presents, because he cannot keep up with all of the orders he gets all year long. S.D then proceeds to take the letters to Santa, as he Topper, Winter, the Kringles, and several of the children sing ‘Santa Clause is Coming to Town’. Santa closes the scene by waving at the audience. I really like the overall tone of this film. The plot is interesting, and even though this is an animated film, there is suspense, action, romance, and of course Santa! (C’mon you have to like this film, it’s too cute to dislike).
7) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964 TV special version)
This film begins when one of Santa Clause’s reindeer and his wife have an offspring that they name Rudolph. The reindeer and his wife discover that Rudolph has a red nose that glows, and the reindeer begins to hide his son’s nose with dirt, after Santa says that Rudolph will never be able to pull his sleigh if this trait remains. Sometime late, Rudolph’s family takes him to the Reindeer games, where he meets a nice reindeer named Fireball and Rudolph falls in love with a young doe named Clarice. However, Rudolph’s nose covering falls off, and he is made fun of and forbidden from participating in the reindeer games. Clarice tells Rudolph that his nose doesn’t bother her however, her father forbids her from talking to Rudolph and Rudolph runs away. When all of this is happening, an elf named Hermey is ridiculed due to his dream of becoming a dentist, and he eventually meets Rudolph, and they bond over being misfits. The pair decides to leave their homes, and along the way, they meet a prospector named Yukon Cornelius, who dreams of discovering silver and gold. The trio bumps into the Abominable Snowman, but escape to the ‘Island of Misfit Toys’.
The island is a place where unwanted toys stay until they can be placed with an owner. Rudolph and his friends are allowed to stay there, after promising that they would convince Santa to deliver the toys to children who need them. That night Rudolph decided to leave without his friends, eventually decided to go home, where he finds that the Abominable Snowman has captured his family and Clarice. Rudolph fights the snowman, and his friends find him and help. The snowman is driven off of a cliff, and everyone apologizes for how they treated Rudolph. Santa agrees to find homes for the misfit toys, and the head elf allows Hermey to open up a dentistry office. Yukon then arrives with the snowman, who is now tamed and nice. A large blizzard arrives, and threatens to cancel Santa’s trip. Santa asks Rudolph to use his nose to guide the sleigh though the storm and they pick up the misfit toys along the way. I really like this film, because it’s action packed, and heartwarming. It is also an animated film however, I think that it’s the kind of movie that will entertain the whole family, and is perfect to watch on or near Christmas.
6) The Polar Express (2004 film)
On Christmas Eve, a young boy begins to lose his faith in Santa Clause, and while he’s sleeping, a train called ‘The Polar Express’ comes to his house and picks him up. While on the train, the boy meets a nerdy boy and a girl. The train stops again to pick up another boy named Billy, but he’s afraid to get on at first, and when he decides to board, he is unsuccessful until the boy pulls the emergency brake so Billy can board. Later the girl and the conductor take Billy a cup of hot chocolate, and she leaves her ticket on her seat. The boy attempts to give it to her, but the wind blows it away. The conductor takes the girl to the roof, and shortly after, the boy finds her ticket and goes to the roof to find her. On the roof, the boy finds a homeless man, who claims to be the owner of the Polar Express. The homeless man helps the boy find the girl, and then the homeless man disappears. The boy discovers that the girl’s driving the train, while the conductor and a few other people attempt to fix a broken headlight. The conductor, the boy, and the girl get stuck in the front of the engine, and the train begins to accelerate too fast, causing the conductor to try and slow it down. The train soon reaches a lake however the train lost an important piece of equipment earlier, causing the ice beneath it to begin to crack.
The train is repaired, and the conductor orders the train to proceed at full speed in order to get away from the dangerous situation. The train gets off of the lake just as the ice cracks, and when they arrive at the North Pole, the boy and the girl find Billy alone in an observation car. The observation car becomes unhooked, and begins to accelerate in the opposite direction of the train. The three children are able to make their way into the city, and make it to the center of the city, just in time to see Santa. While Santa is getting the sleigh ready, a bell falls off of the harness. The boy remembers that he was the only one who couldn’t previously hear the bell, so when he then begins to believe in the spirit of Christmas again, and hears the bell. Santa gives the bell to the boy The children are then all given back their tickets, which has now been inscribed by the conductor, with words that describe characteristics that make each of the children unique. On Christmas morning, the boy wakes up and discovers that Santa found the bell he gave the boy (which the boy lost on his way home). The movie ends with the boy stating that his friends and family eventually could not hear the bell anymore however, he never lost its sound, because he never lost his belief in the true spirit of Christmas. I really love this film because it is so heart-warming. It is the perfect movie to watch with your family, or even alone. The plot is exciting enough to keep adults interested however, still contains all of the elements that make it perfect for kids as well. I definitely recommend that everyone watch this movie around Christmas time, because it is an amazing movie (and Tom Hanks provides the voice of the conductor, so you know that automatically makes this film great).
5) A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965 film)
This movie (which stars the characters of the ‘Peanuts’ comic strips written by Charles M. Schulz), begins with Charlie Brown confiding in his friend Linus that he feels depressed even though Christmas is approaching. His depression deepens when he notices that no one is sending him Christmas cards. Charlie Brown then decides to visit his friend Lucy at her psychiatric booth, and she suggests that he direct the local Christmas play in order to become more involved with the community. Charlie is also very angry at home commercialized Christmas has become, and his feelings intensify when he notices that his dog Snoopy is participating in a neighborhood lights and display contest. Next, Charlie runs into his sister Sally, who asks him to help her write her letter to Santa. When she requests for money from Santa, Charlie becomes even more upset. Charlie has trouble keeping the other kids in line when he arrives to direct the play. He decides to get a Christmas tree in order to set the right “mood” for the play, and when he returns, he is ridiculed because he brings back a small sapling.
Charlie decided to get this tree, because it was the only real tree on the lot. He begins to wonder if he truly knows what Christmas is about, so Linus recites a passage from the King James Version of the Bible (chapter 2 verses 8-14, which is about the impending birth of Jesus Christ). Charlie then takes the tree home with the intension to decorate it, however when he tries, the tree falls over, and he runs away in dismay. Charlie’s friends (the other kids who were in the play) find the tree, and decorate it. They then begin humming the song ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’, and Charlie eventually joins them. I really like that this film is not like your typical Christmas movie. Although there is a happy ending, Charlie Brown struggles through many trials in order to reach his happy ending. I also like that this movie moved away from the typical Santa-centric plot line, and instead emphasized the religious view of what Christmas is about. Charles Schultz was a Lutheran and later taught Sunday school classes in the Methodist religion, so if he was it is nice to see that he was unafraid to express his religious viewpoints in this cartoon (you typical don’t see authors or cartoonist getting this personal, so it’s nice to see that he was willing to put some of his personal beliefs in this film). This is definitely a classic Christmas film, and one that I would suggest you add to your Christmas film list.
4) The Santa Clause (1994 film)
This film centers around the life of a divorced dad named Scott Calvin (Tim Allen), who is an advertising executive for a toy company. One Christmas Eve, Scott’s son Charlie spends the night with him, and the night doesn’t go very well until Scott reads Charlie the story ‘The Night Before Christmas’ as a bed-time story. Shortly after, Scott hears something on the roof; he goes outside and yells at a shadowy figure. The figure falls off the roof, and Scott and Charlie discover that it was Santa Clause. Scott finds a card that says that if something happens to Santa, the person who finds the card should put the suit on. Charlie convinces Scott to follow these instructions, and Scott follows Santa’s route, but has some struggles trying to complete Santa’s tasks. After the deliveries are done, the reindeer take Scott and Charlie to the North Pole. The head elf Bernard tells Scott that he is now the new Santa, and has a few months to get ready before he must return to the North Pole. Scott is unhappy about this, but eventually the elves there take them to a bedroom, where they fall asleep. In the morning, Scott awakens, and he is in his house. His ex-wife arrives to pick up Charlie, and Charlie tells her about what happened the night before. Scott can’t remember anything and tries to say that it was all a dream.
Over the next year Scott begins to gain weight, grow white facial hair, crave Christmas food, and instinctually knows if children are good or bad. After Scott blows up at one of his company’s board meetings when a fellow employee suggests a Santa toy that doesn’t travel on a sleigh, Scott’s boss suggests that he seek professional help. Scott’s doctor says that there is nothing medically wrong with him, and when Scott’s ex-wife sees how Scott looks, she says that he will no longer be able to see Charlie. Scott’s ex-wife and her new husband get a judge to suspend Scott’s visitation rights, so Scott tries to see Charlie one last time at Thanksgiving. Charlie asks Scott to take him back to the North Pole, so he does, and when Charlie’s mother finds out, they report that Charlie has been kidnapped. In their hometown, the police are search far and wide for Scott, while back at the North Pole, the elves and Charlie are preparing Scott’s Christmas Eve travel. While Scott is delivering presents to Charlie’s home, the police arrest him, but some elves form the North Pole come and rescue Scott. Charlie’s mother and step-father finally accept that Scott is Santa, and he gives them toys that they always wanted when they were children, but never received. Scott then rides away on the sleigh, but returns when Charlie shakes a magic snow globe that Bernard gave him. Scott then offers to take Charlie on his route, and the two wave goodbye. I really love that this film is very family-centric, and also truly embracing the magic of Santa and Christmas. At one point of the movie, one of the elves says, “Seeing isn’t believing, believing is seeing. Kids don’t need to see this place to know that it’s here. They just know.” I feel that this statement really sums up the point of this and many other Christmas movies, which is that the magic of Christmas is believing in the impossible.
3) Miracle on 34th Street (1994 film)
This remake of the 1947 original film had a few noticeable differences, the major difference was the creation of the fictional department store Cole’s (which was created after Macy’s declined to be involved with the remake. This film surrounds the lives of a single hardworking mother named Dorey Walker, and her overly mature young daughter Susan. When the Cole’s Department Store’s Santa gets drunk before he is suppose to appear in their annual Thanksgiving Day parade, Dorey is sent to find a replacement, and she finds an old man berated the intoxicated Santa, and pleads with him to take over the position. The old man claims that his name is Kris Kringle, and he is later asked by Cole’s to be their main Santa throughout the holiday season. Eventually all of the children that Kris encounters believe he is Santa Clause, except for Susan. One night, Kris is babysitting Susan, and she says that she wants a dad, the house that Cole’s uses in its holiday advertisements, and a baby brother for Christmas. Kris says that if she gets these things, then she needs to start believing in Santa Clause, and she agrees to do so. Everything is going really well for Kris, until he is arrested for assault (which is later revealed to be the drunken Santa, who was jealous of Kris, and set him up to be arrested). Dorey’s boyfriend Bryan tries to get Kris freed, but finds out that in order to do so; he must prove that Kris really is Santa Clause.
It seems that things are not going well for Kris, until Susan comes into court with a $1 bill, and shows that the words “in God we trust” are inscribed in the back. The Judge then realizes that if the U.S. Government can believe in God without proof, then he must give Kris the same benefit of the doubt. After the court hearing Kris helps Dorey and Bryan realize that they love each other, and they get married. He next morning, they all find out that Kris has arranged for them to buy the catalog house, and when they ask Susan what her final wish was, she says that it was to have a baby brother, and Dorey and Bryan just smile at each other. I really enjoyed this film, because the cast is great, and the plot line is interesting, and suspenseful. The film also has a lot of heart, and is the perfect family film for the holiday season.
2) Jack Frost (1998)
This film (not be confused with eh 1997 horror-comedy film) is about a musician who dies and is reincarnated as a snowman. The movie begins when musician Jack Frost (Michael Keaton) returns home from performing at a gig, and builds a snowman with his son Charlie. That night, Jack gives Charlie his best harmonica, and jokes that it is magic. Jack has a habit of missing important family events, because he is constantly working very hard to get his band a record deal. One night, Jack promises to take his family on a camping trip, but instead goes to a gig that could be very important for his career. While on his way to the gig, Jack realizes that he should be with his family, so he uses his friend’s car to travel back, however he is involved in a car accident, and dies on impact. The next year, Charlie (who has become extremely depressed and reclusive) builds a snowman and plays Jack’s harmonica before he goes to sleep. The harmonica causes Jack’s spirit to become embodied in the snowman, and he tries to greet Charlie, but instead frightens him.
The next day, Jack helps Charlie escape from a group of bullies, and realizes that the snowman is his dad, when the snowman calls him ‘Charlie boy’, which was Jack’s nickname for him. Jack begins to spend the quality time with Charlie that he couldn’t when he was alive, and teaches Charlie how to be a better hockey player (which is a sport that Charlie is passionate about), and also gets Charlie to begin to do the things he enjoys, instead of just grieving his loss. While this is occurring, Charlie’s mother does not know that Jack has embodied a snowman, and encourages the family’s friend/Jack’s old band mate Mac to become a father figure for Charlie. At this point, winter is coming to an end, and Charlie decides to take Jack up to the mountains, so he can live longer. On his way there, Charlie runs into the a boy who torment him, but the main boy ends up helping Charlie, after he realizes that he and Charlie share the fact that they both do not have fathers. Jack calls his wife and convinces her that he is Jack Frost, and then he says goodbye to both of them, and goes on into the afterlife.
1) It’s a Wonderful Life (1946 film)
This Christmas classic stars James Stewart as an idealist dreamer named George Bailey. The story begins on Christmas Eve, when a troubled man named George Bailey considers killing himself. In heaven, the head angels Franklin and Joseph narrate George’s life story to an angel in training named Clarence, in order for Clarence to be able to go to Earth and stop George from committing suicide. The film starts with a scene from when George was a young boy, and he jumped into a frozen pond to save his brother Harry, who fell through. This act highlights George’s tendency to put the needs of others before his own, which becomes a major theme in the film. George’s ability to selflessly help others causes him to gain many friends throughout his lifetime; such as the owner of a local drugstore and pharmacy (who George works for as a young boy). Another example of this is when George stops the druggist, named Mr. Goser, from accidently putting poison in a young boy’s capsule of medication. George’s father and uncle run a local business called the ‘Building & Loan’, and George’s father has ambitions of George one day running the business. After George graduates from high school, he works at the Building & Loan, and plans to attend college after Harry graduates high school. George attends Harry’s graduation party, and begins becoming interested in a young woman named Mary, who always had a crush on George. After the party, George finds out that his father has had a stroke, and his father later dies. A local wealthy and greedy man named Mr. Potter decides to use George’s father’s death as an opportunity to buy the Building & Loan however, George is able to save the business, only after agreeing to stay on as head of the company. George must once again put aside his ambitions to become an architect and traveling the world, and thus gives his college money to his brother Harry, with the agreement that once Harry completes college, he will run the business in George’s place.
When Harry comes back from college, he has a wife and a great job opportunity. He tells George that he will not take the job out of respect for George, but George tells him to take the offer even though George knows that this will cause George to have to work at the building & Loan forever. Shortly after this, George weds Mary however, when they are going to leave for their honeymoon, the market crashes and they have to give all of their money to the clients of the Building & Loan, in order prevent the company form going out of business. Gorge and Mary later have four children, and George opens up ‘Bailey Park’, which builds affordable houses for low-income families. When WWII begins, George is unable to enlist because of his bad hearing, and Harry becomes a war hero. On Christmas Eve morning of the present day, Uncle Billy takes a large sum of money to the bank, but due to how absent minded he is, he loses the money and Mr. Potter finds it. When George finds out, he freaks out because the bank examiner is suppose to come, and George knows that if he doesn’t have the money, then the business will go bankrupt, and he will go to jail.
Desperate, George goes to Mr. Potter for the money, but Mr. Potter tells him that he’s better dead than alive. George takes his frustrations out on his family, and goes to a bar where his daughter’s teacher’s angry husband busts his lip (George yelled at the teacher earlier in the movie because his daughter came home sick, and he blamed the teacher). While at the bar, George silently prays for help, but leaves the bar drunk, and tries to jump off of a bridge. Before George can jump, he sees a man jump first, and he dives in to save him. He finds out that the man is his guardian angel Clarence, and he tells Clarence that he wishes that he had never been born. Clarence gives George this wish, and he sees that everyone’s life would be disastrous without him. George eventually wishes that he could live again, and his friend finds him, and tells him that his lip is bleeding. Because of this comment, George knows that he is alive once again, and goes home to tell his family that he loves them. Once he arrives home, the bank examiner and the police are waiting for him, but Mary went all over the neighborhood trying to get money for George. George’s friends and family come to his rescue, and he is able to raise the money that uncle Billy lost. The movie ends with a bell on the family’s Christmas tree ringing, and George’s youngest daughter Zuzu stating that “every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings”. George also notices that he now has the ‘Tom Sawyer’ book that Clarence brought from Heaven with him, and Clarence writes in the book that “…no man is a failure who has friends. P.S. Thanks for the wings!…”. This is certainly my all time favorite Christmas movie, because it highlights the importance of family and friends, as well as the fact that every action we make affects everyone else around us. The film leaves you with a happy feeling, but also causes you too think of how important your life really is, even if you aren’t aware of it. In my opinion, this is the perfect family Christmas movie.
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