December 2008
Watchvia thecount
He’s got the crazy eyes but it kind of works.
Style Icon: Dita Von Teese
This New Year’s Eve, why don’t we all forgo the cheap sequin-encrusted dresses in lookatme metallics and dress like vintage-styled seductress — and owner of the #1 wardrobe I would kill for — Dita Von Teese.
Rich, saturated colors are stunning.
Goddamn, the girl’s got style.
This is how you do sequins and metallics.
She does glamorous like...
Martha Wainwright — Ball and Chain
ohmygosh...
My basement is like a crack den for mosquitos and I am the crack.
Playing Dress Up
Me: I saw this really cool flapper-style dress. It wouldn't look good on me though.
Mom: Would it look good on Diana?
Me: Yeah. But she would hate it. Her style is as far from costume as she can get. Mine is as close to costumes as I can get. If I could wear a tutu every day, I would.
Grandma: Oh Caroline. You're a character.
Sean’s coming tomorrow! We’re going to explore downtown Saratoga for New Year’s Eve, although this is my ideal New Year’s Eve Party.
Also, I am dead set on procuring some chocolate covered strawberries.
It’s nice that Frightened Rabbit is getting so much Tumblr love. I always liked that song “Behave.” It’s kind of an ode to awkwardness and embarrassment and desire all in one.
I don’t know quite how to behave.
I wish I knew what the hell I was doing with my life. Who wants to move to Brooklyn with me?
Is it possible that there isn’t a single vietnamese restaurant in Saratoga? There are 4 within 2 blocks of my apartment in Kingston.
“How could I have gotten it so wrong?”
– The Story of a Marriage, Andrew Sean Greer
Book Club
I finished reading The Story of a Marriage the other day. It’s by Andrew Sean Greer, who also wrote one of my favorite books ever — The Confessions of Max Tivoli (which, by the way, helped to inspire the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button because it was an extended version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s story.)
Anyway, The Story of a Marriage was really good. I loved it, and...
Conversation Between My Sister and One of Her...
Student: Where's your sister, Miss J?
Diana: She lives in Canada.
Student: *pause... disgusted expression* Canada - what is it?
God Bless Us, Every One
Hee-haw and Merry Christmas!
“In your Christmas prayers this year, Alfie asked me if I’d ask you, say a...”
– John Denver, Alfie the Christmas Tree
Christmas Countdown
#1 Scrooge
It is tradition in my family to watch this movie on Christmas Eve.
It is, in my opinion, the best version of A Christmas Carol out there. Some scenes are truly painful to watch because they are so sad, but the finale is so joyful that it makes up for it.
The music in Scrooge is magic and it gets me so excited for Christmas morning because I always went to bed on Christmas Eve...
Christmas Countdown
#2 It’s a Wonderful Life
This is actually my favorite Christmas movie, but we usually watch it 2 nights before Christmas. I could talk forever about all the things I love about this movie. It’s brilliant in its intense, but understated romance, in its intricate etchings of friendship, and especially its startlingly accurate depiction of pain.
I associate George Bailey so...
Christmas Eve Catwalk?
I feel smug knowing that if someone from The Sartorialist happened to wander into my church this evening, I would have been the only member of the congregation to have my picture taken.
Oh dear. I may have missed the point of going to church. I promise I tried to be spiritual.
Christmas Countdown
#3 The Muppet Christmas Carol
I have the best memory attached to this movie. I was 6 years old and my parents took my sister and me out to dinner, telling us we were going to see a surprise movie afterward. My dad told the waitress we needed to leave by a certain time to make the movie and she asked what we were seeing and my dad just smiled and said it was going to be a surprise.
When we...
Christmas Countdown
#4 Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Classic.
I’ve always especially loved the bittersweet “There’s Always Tomorrow.”
We all pretend
the rainbow has an end
and you’ll be there, my friend, someday.
Merry Christmas, Poland
People from Poland are really obsessed with my blog. Seriously, over 100 views just today were from different cities in Poland. I honestly have no idea what’s going on, but I’m grateful to be famous in Poland.
Christmas Countdown
#5 A Charlie Brown Christmas
I don’t think there’s anyone who hasn’t related to Charlie Brown when he says,
“I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.”
It’s the most realistic Christmas sentiment I know — the feeling of some sort of...
Christmas Countdown
#6 The Nutcracker
I’m kind of embarrassed to admit it, but I love the Macaulay Culkin version.
If you know me, I have probably bragged to you about how I was in the Nutcracker when I was 9 years old. I played a little boy who came out of Mother Ginger’s skirt.
Something like this:
I was very sad that I didn’t get to be a girl and wear a hoop skirt. BUT I had the most...
Christmas Countdown
#7 The Year Without a Santa Claus
Another claymation Christmas favorite, I’ve always been partial to this one over Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town. Santa thinks that no one really believes in him or cares about him anymore so he decides to take the year off. His elves realize what a tragedy this is so they go to a small town to try to find people who believe in Santa.
Reasons why you...
Cookie Monster
I have eaten my weight in batter/dough today.
Christmas Countdown
#8 The Homecoming: A Christmas Story
If you’re a fan of The Walton’s, you certainly know of this incredibly touching Christmas movie. If, on the other hand, you are part of the other 99% of the population unfamiliar with The Walton family, I suggest you remedy that.
The movie is based on the autobiographical work of Earl Hamner about his family in rural America during the Great...
Christmas Countdown
#9 How the Grinch Stole Christmas
OBVIOUSLY, I’m referring to the cartoon version and not that Jim Carrey monstrosity.
I feel no need to explore the plot of this one with you. This movie is endlessly quotable and awesome, and I’m sure you know that.
“He puzzled and puzzled til his puzzler was sore… then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! Maybe...
“I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all,...”
– Charlie Brown
Actually
I lied about not having a real tree. I have a tiny live one that my dad gave me. I even have ornaments for it. It’s pretty adorable.
Christmas Countdown
#10 Santa Claus The Movie
This movie is a ridiculous tacky 80s Christmas mess and it is magnificent.
It starts out with this really interesting explanation for how Santa became Santa and it’s all kind of old fashioned and cool. And then there’s a competition between two elves for who can make the most efficient toy-making system and (spoiler alert!) the super endearing elf Patch...
All Seem to Say Throw Cares Away
Yesterday I made a Christmas playlist that is 6.9 hours long, 136 songs, and there are almost no repeats of the same song. I’m pretty proud.
Also, I like this. I would make one on my wall, if I had walls. My bedroom is made out of insulation right now.
(via)
Blue Christmas
So here I am in the new house where the temperature is always set to Icicle, and my mom and I have settled on an unspoken don’t ask, don’t tell policy of what she’s thrown away from the old house.
Still, it’s a beautiful house and the yard is covered in snow and I am grateful for all of it, when I remember to be.
Today on Jezebel there was an open thread about favorite...
Christmas Countdown
#11 The House Without a Christmas Tree
This is a very simple, low-key Christmas movie about a little girl who just wants a Christmas tree. Her father thinks they’re a waste and won’t let her get one and he spends the whole movie being a big jerk. Jason Robards plays pretty much the same character as he does in Heidi — the rough exterior and the sad past.
It’s kind of a...
Charlie Brown's Christmas dancing explained →
I need to try out all these dances this holiday season. Eva, this reminds me of us.
“But were I join’d with her,
then we might live together as one life,
and...”
– Idylls of the King, Alfred Lord Tennyson
Studying for my King Arthur exam…
This would make a pretty wedding vow.
Christmas Countdown
#12 The Santa Clause
Finally, a Christmas movie that isn’t totally random and obscure. Most people my age have a special place in their heart for The Santa Clause because it came out when we were just the right age for it to become perfectly embedded in our childhood memories. Also, you were probably watching Home Improvement around that time, so you had a little soft spot for Tim Allen...
Food Amnesia.
Last night I ate a whole pizza for dinner. This morning I made cinnamon sugar crepes and hot cocoa with whipped cream for breakfast.
And then I’m like “I wonder why I seem to have mysteriously gained 6 pounds this weekend? Hmmm…”
If I Had a Daughter...
I’d want one like this.
This 12 year old girl is an incredible, eloquent, genuinely funny fashion blogger.
http://tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com/
Her pictures are stunning, her posts are insightful, and her clothes are fantastic.
Stuff I Bought My Friends For Christmas
For Eva:
Inside, there are pages to take notes on every few chapters. I think this is awesome.
For Margaret:
Plates from Urban Outfitters that each have a letter on them (F, U, C, & K). They look something like this, but with letters, too.
For Laura:
Mini Peacock Jewelry Stand from Urban Outfitters. Kind of like this, but a peacock.
This Photo Album:
AND a Yoga Relaxation Kit...
Christmas Countdown
#13 A Muppet Family Christmas
So most people know and love the Muppet Christmas Carol, but significantly fewer are aware of this OTHER supergreat muppet christmas special, that aired for the first time in 1987. My parents taped it off the TV that year, and we’ve been watching the same copy every year since. I know!
The premise is thus:
Fozzie Bear’s mother is about to leave...
Christmas Countdown (Sort Of)
So, it’s not technically on the countdown (only because I didn’t own it and therefore didn’t watch it every Christmas, and this countdown is solely based on my personal nostalgia), but I know Sarah will resent me forever if I don’t at least mention it, and today is the perfect day because today I saw Home Alone on the big screen for the second time in my life.
I was...
WatchThis just gave me chills and made me miss my pointe shoes. Too bad I never looked half as graceful as that.
I think the fact that the video focuses on the practice studio rather than the stage forces you to realize that these are real people. They are athletes who are working incredibly hard to make something beautiful.
The climax of that song, paired with the dancing, is magic.
Reasons Why I'm a Bad Girlfriend
Sean: Where do you want to go?
Me: *start to draw the letters BK on his chest with my finger*
Sean: Me?... Oh. Burger King.
Me: *nod*
Sean: I thought you were pointing to my heart.
Me: HAHAHAHA
