Happy Birthday Caiti & Ryan!

My little sis is having a b-day today, as well as her youngest, Ryan. I love them both dearly and wanted to give a shout out. I wish I was out celebrating with you guys in NC. As it were, I am here. This is my gift to you (oh, and that awesome dvd that arrived at your house today).
Love you Caiti! Auntie loves you Ry!

feelings; nothing more than feelings.

This season seems to have flown by so fast, and it's leaving me already. I think of the song penned by Bro. McLean that goes something like this: I cry the day when I take the tree down, I want this season to last all year round...
I suppose if this season lasted all year round, it wouldn't feel quite so special when it is here. However, I, like the song, feel like crying when I take the tree down too. Good thing then that I only have a Charlie Brown tree :)
But seriously, I have been in awe this season. One of the reasons for this awe has been the opportunity of being in a play called "Savior of the World". It is the story of Jesus. His birth, death, and resurrection. Being on stage and watching the events that happened made the life of the Savior all the more real for me. Our month long run ended on Saturday, and I felt it. I have felt more purpose in my life, and have enjoyed the company of old friends and new in this production. I am thankful for friendships re-kindled, and new friendships made. My words cannot adequately express my gratitude to the Lord for this amazing opportunity.
I'm thankful for the snow, too. It can be a nuisance when I'm stuck halfway in my driveway, and when my car doesn't start because of the cold. However, I love it. I've always loved it. It has created the ambiance I've sought for this season. It's absolutely beautiful.
I'm thankful for my wonderful family. I love them so much. They make Christmas what it is. Mwah!

Holiday re-cap

What a wonderful Christmas! I always enjoy spending time with my family during the holidays, and this year was no exception. To top off the day, we had a beautiful snowfall. Perfect day. Truly.

Owen & Aidan
Sean & Megan
Conn & Sean posing 'gangsta'-like with the hoodies Santa brought them
Sean & Kai are way too happy to see what Santa brought them. Kalin, not so much.
Conn as 'Buddy the Elf' and the nephews.

20 days of Christmas movies...#20

Well Friends, this is it. This is the last of the 20 days of Christmas movies. I hope you've enjoyed my selections and hope it may have added a wee bit to the season for you.
This is one of my all time favorites. The last scene still makes me emotional every time I watch it. "No man is a failure who has friends"

Please enjoy "It's A Wonderful Life"

Here's wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

20 days of Christmas movies... #19

You all know this holiday classic. I could hardly pick just one clip; there are so many hilarious moments.

"A Christmas Story"

P.S. To my UT folk, how about all of this snow, eh?!

Another favorite Christmas song...

Oh dear, George Michael and WHAM! Sharon, I know you'll especially enjoy this one.
I love the 80's outfits and hair-do's. Oh-me-oh-my!

20 days of Christmas movies... #18

Oh, this one is good. I've been hearing about it, but never actually watched it all until this morning. It is now a favorite. Here is Jimmy Stewart once again, starring in the 1940 movie "Shop Around the Corner". If you've ever seen "You've Got Mail", you'll see that this is where the inspiration from that movie came from. I wasn't able to post the video, but you can go to the segment I love most by clicking here.

20 days of Christmas movies... #17

Just because I love NYC at Christmas time. This one highlights some of my favorite places in that city of cities.

20 days of Christmas movies... #16

Who doesn't love Bill Murray?!

"Scrooged"

20 days of Christmas movies... #15

A classic. I even like the new one. Yep, I do.

"How The Grinch Stole Christmas"
and
"The Grinch"

A favorite song at Christmas

One of my favorite albums of all time is the Carpenters Christmas. Don't laugh! It was one of the many albums my parents raised us on. Every time I hear this song I feel sentimental. This morning as I was driving in a blizzard, driving ever so carefully at 15 mph, this song came on and all of those old sentimental holiday feelings came flooding back. Karen Carpenter has such an incredibly rich voice that I've always loved. Ya gotta love 'er. She died way before her time. Darn that anorexia!

Anyway, it's a cheesy little music "video", but I hope you enjoy the song all the same.

20 days of Christmas movies... #14

A more modern Christmas movie that I enjoy all year round. I'm not really a fan of Cameron Diaz. However, I do love Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black.
Fun, fun with the British folk!

"The Holiday"

20 days of Christmas movies... #13

I can't believe how quickly the days have gone by! Amazing that Christmas is a week from tomorrow.
Most of the movies I am highlighting seem to be sentimental favorites and well, that's how it is. I'm sentimental. This next movie is also one that played every Christmas on t.v. I don't think many people know about it - since I only found one little clip on youtube. Mickey Rooney is a character - even in his old age.

"It Came Upon The Midnight Clear"

20 days of Chrismtas movies... #12

Jimmy Stewart just happens to be in two of my favorite Christmas movies. One of them will come later. Here he is playing a sweet, old Janitor that loves Christmas, loves people, and especially loves Jesus. This is a must watch. Lucky for you, you can watch the whole show right here (all 25 minutes). Enjoy it.

"Mr. Krueger's Christmas"

Cancun re-cap

Friends, I feel a very lucky young lady. My siblings have been very gracious in life and have given me wings to fly the past many years. They've shared their airline benefits and have allowed me to dream and travel beyond what I know here in ol' Utah. I've always dreamed of seeing new places (I think it has always been in my blood). They must have sensed this and have indulged me and allowed my dreaming to be limitless. I also have a job that sends me to semi-exotic places every once in a while, so I am doubly blessed.
Last week, my li'l bro (not so little) Sean and I decided on taking a wee trip - since I had a week off from the play. We had decided on Puerto Rico, but our plans changed 6 hours before our plane took off, and we decided to embrace the better weather in Cancun instead. It was 80 degrees, sunny, and cooled by a tropical Caribbean breeze. In a word, it was perfect. Now, I am one that enjoys thoroughly every season. When one season ends, I am anxious to experience the next and all that it brings. Sean, however, loves the sun, the heat, and all that comes with it. It was definitely his ideal vacation. I was happy, but the warmth seemed so out of place. I mean, it's Christmas for heavens sake! Walking on the beach, I couldn't help but feel a little holiday displacement. Don't get me wrong, I relished in lying on the beach and being warmed by the sun, but being one of my favorite holidays, I felt the need to see snowflakes. I received email while I sat on the beach from my sister saying "It's snowing!". I couldn't help feel just a little tinge of jealousy.
It was soon forgotten, however, when Sean and I went downtown for some Tacos Al Pastor and some Mexican Coke! Oh, and a piece of yummy flan. Delicioso!
All in all, our time was spent by the beach, in the pool, downtown, eating my favorite Mexican food, and chillin'; lots of chillin'. And now I'm back to the holidays and have been able to enjoy the beautiful snow that has fallen, and will hopefully continue to fall this week. Hooray for Cancun warmth, and hooray for the holidays in the cool of Utah!

20 days of Christmas movies... #11

Cary Grant as a Christmas Angel? Magic.

"The Bishop's Wife"

20 days of Chrismas movies...#10

Ok, this is another movie Shannon, Caitilin, and I used to watch growing up.

"All I Want For Christmas"

20 days of Christmas movies...#9

My nephews Gavin & Ryan (Caiti's kids) have loved this movie since they were wee boys. About three December's ago, Caiti and Kurt decided to take their first trip alone to Sweden. I had the chance to watch the boys in San Antonio while they were gone. I had the best time with these sweet boys, and never realized how many times a kid could watch a movie while never tiring of it. I think I watched this one at the very least 10 times. So every time I watch it, or we watch it together, we remember that time and we always have hot chocolate! Auntie loves you, Gav & Ry!

20 day of Christmas movies...#8

This one is just sweet - period. This little girl thinks that Santa's reindeer, Prancer, has somehow gotten lost and ended up at her house. It really is a good one.

20 days of Christmas movies ...#7

I'll be on a plane home tomorrow and won't be able to post anything, so here you go for #7. I bet you thought the first time Bing sang "White Christmas" was in the movie named for the song. Not so. It was Holiday Inn.

20 days of Christmas movies ... #6

When we were little kids in the Curran household, we would wait eagerly for this movie to be shown on t.v. during the x-mas season. Again, enjoy!

20 days of Christmas movies... #5

I've been watching "Scrooge" since I was a wee girl (even though the ghost of x-mas future still freaks me out). I love tiny Tim. So sweet.

20 days of Christmas movies #4

I love both versions of this movie. You take your pick!

CANCUN!

That's where I'll be this week. Wish me luck on all the fun I'm going to have!

20 days of Christmas movies... #3

A sentimental childhood favorite. Also, probably one of my fave Christmas songs.

20 days of Christmas movies... #2

20 days of Christmas movies... #1

We're down to 20 days until Christmas, folks. It has gone by so quickly already, I can hardly believe it. I've decided to gift each of you readers with a little x-mas movie everyday until Christmas. It may be a little snippet, but at least you'll have the reminder that the holiday season is here.

How about a little... snow...

Ambience/Ambiance

Definition: a feeling or mood associated with a particular place, person, or thing.

For those of you that know me, you know that I am easily excited by many things; little things. I am especially excited by the little things that make it a holiday. I love the lights, the smells, and the sounds of the very special holiday that is upon us. One thing that makes it Christmas time for me is the falling of snow. Folks, we've had none! The forecast has told of sunny days ahead (argh!) This does not create the ambiance that I so thoroughly love.
However, today I had just a wee glimpse of my dream season. It may have been all of 10 minutes, but the gracious sky giftedly produced giant white flakes of snow on the beautiful earth today. What could I do but grab Melanee and run to Maverick for some Abuelita hot chocolate whilst it snowed, and listen to holiday music on the way. Friends, it was just magnificent!
The ambience was created, and though it may not still be snowing, at least I know it will... eventually. When it does, I hope you'll enjoy the beauty of those fat flakes (even if you don't love them) and create your own moment of holiday cheer.

The end.

Jane Eyre

I do love that Mr. Rochester. I read 'Jane Eyre' many years ago and loved it, saw the movie and loved it as well. However, I recently saw the newest version on Masterpiece Theater. It's magic. Really.
The characters are so well developed, and I love to watch the relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester grow.
I'm so pleased that so many of you share my love of this book. Now, go and see this movie with Ruth Wilson & Toby Stephens. Lovely, lovely.

Mr. Rochester...

Name what book/movie this character is from.

One, two, three... GO!