The Beginning of 2015

First photo of 2015!

Well, my New Year started with me having a head cold. Just today it crept upon me, something I was not expecting at all. With a tickle in my throat and a nasty cough, I'm greeting this new year with a brand new outlook on life. It's all thanks to my future brother-in-law's advice too (thanks, Aaron).

One night while my fiance, Alec, and I were decorating before Christmas, Aaron told us a some advice through a story. The main idea of it is was the things that happen to us, especially the things that suck, could end up being good or bad. Basically, it's important to see a silver lining in a bad situation.

Some bad situations are absolutely terrible. The silver lining may seem tiny. But, I cannot lie that his advice spoke out to me.

I cannot say that 2014 was a bad year for me. A lot of great things happened, as so did a lot of not-so-great things. While going through these tough times, I found myself wondering why I needed to deal with such unnecessary problems. What drove me nuts was that many of these problems were out of my control. Even when I would try to rein them in, they would be cut loose from my hands. I started the school year out by dealing with a lot on my mind. There were days in a row where I couldn't sleep peacefully, just because I allowed my anxiety to control my thoughts at all moments.

As time went on, I finally realized the silver linings from bad situations. These silver linings made me appreciate and love my life even more. I became thankful for every day, whether good or bad. Aaron's story only confirmed that what I was doing was a good way to be looking towards such problems.

The new year is a time where people create resolutions. The entire month of January (and maybe even into February) I will be posting about how I found appreciation and peace within myself and my surroundings. I plan to post to tell about my experience and to inspire you as well. Some of these things are simplistic and easy to throw into your daily schedule. Some may be food for thought.

As I fight off this cold, I will be thankful that I got it while I am still on break from school. I've been lucky enough to have fought off being sick for a long time. See, there's even a silver lining for something as crappy as a cold (well, at least for me there is.)

Happy New Year!

Who Is The Best Santa Claus?

Hey everyone! I thought that for this post I would make a list of my Top 5 Favorite Santa Clauses of All Time! Read along and see if you agree with me. This may be my top 5, but I am interested in what all of you think, too.

Let the countdown begin!

#5- Santa Claus from Rise of the Guardians

This Dreamworks film came out a couple years ago. It never really became famous, but it was still a good animated movie! The film involves many legendary folks, including the big guy himself. Yes, Santa Claus. Don't let his Russian accent and tattoos fool you. This Santa Claus is just as kind as any other. Why is he number five then? Well since the movie came out only a couple years ago, and it wasn't even super famous at that, not many people know about this Santa Claus. Still, he is undeniably cool compared to other Santas. 

#4- Santa Claus from Miracle on 34th Street 

The first release of the film was in 1947, but the remake that was made in 1994 is the one I'm most familiar with. Kris Kringle is a super helpful guy, taking the place as Cole's Santa Claus for the holidays. What's more cooler than having the real Santa around in person and not even knowing it? I hate the idea of a Santa Claus who wants publicity. Let the magic of Christmas stay a secret! 

#3- Jack Skellington as Santa Claus from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

So, Jack isn't exactly the right person for this job. Holding the title of Pumpkin King just isn't enough for him. But, you've got to admit he put a lot of thought into this new role of Santa Claus. With the help of his fellow Halloween Town friends, he has his own sleigh, suit, and presents to give to all the children of the world. Jack isn't a bad guy, he just celebrates Christmas in a different way. I think he deserves to be on this list because of how dedicated he was to the job! Yet, he is still better off as the Pumpkin King.

#2- Santa Claus (Scott Calvin) from The Santa Clause

Scott Calvin did not want to be Santa Claus. As much as he denied it at the beginning of the film, he really turned himself around by the end. Not only did his looks change, but his heart did as well. This non-believer became the real deal! Who knew that Scott would be such a good Santa? It's all thanks to Charlie of course, who kept pushing him to take on responsibility. Still, this Santa Claus has a good heart and ends up taking his job very seriously.

The number one Santa Claus is...

#1- Santa Claus from Santa Claus is Comin' To Town

Alright, so I have watched all of the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, even the ones that are not as well-known. There are a few different versions of Santa depending on the cartoon. My most favorite one is Kris, later called Santa Claus, from Santa Claus is Comin' To Town. This movie touches on how the legend came to be. From the very beginning, Kris is a positive, caring, and determined guy. He doesn't let the risk of getting arrested because of a silly law scare him. His dedication as Santa Claus shows that he is perfect for the job. 

That is my Top 5 Favorite Santa Clauses of All Time!

So what do you think? Do you have a favorite Santa Claus from TV, film, games, or anywhere else? Let me know! 

Five Not-So-Famous Christmas Specials

We all know the famous Christmas Specials that come on each year. There's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, I could go on and on! All of these classics are wonderful, but there are some Christmas specials out there that are not as well-known. So I wanted to share five of my favorite, not-so-famous, Christmas Specials!

Oh I must add, these specials will bring the inner child out of you. All of them had been made before the year 2000. Yes, they're older specials yet they are still good!

A Garfield Christmas (1987)

Even if you're not a big fan of the Garfield comics, this is still an awesome special to wt. Garfield, Jon, and Odie go spend Christmas at the family farm. Of course, Garfield is not in the mood for all the hustle and bustle. Once the festivities get started, he slowly begins to see how memorable Christmas with the family can be.

A Wish For Wings That Work (1991)

Opus and Bill the Cat from the comic "Bloom County" star in this special. Opus, a flightless penguin, is determined to learn how to fly. After many attempts at flying, he decides to ask Santa Claus for wings he can fly with. When an accident happens though, Opus uses his penguin skills to save the day. Will he get wings that work? Watch and find out!

Annabelle's Wish (1997)

On Christmas Eve, a calf named Annabelle is born. When she meets Santa Claus' reindeer team, she wants to become a flying reindeer herself. She wants to ask Santa for her wish next Christmas. Before that time, she becomes best friends with a young boy on the farm, Billy, who cannot speak anymore. As the two bond, Annabelle learns that friendship is powerful when we give of ourselves. 

Olive, The Other Reindeer (1999)

Olive, a kind hearted dog, learns that Santa has to cancel his flight because one of his injured reindeer. When Olive hears her name being called on the radio, she knows that she must venture to the North Pole to save Christmas as a replacement reindeer. Will Olive be able to help? Or will the Christmas-hating postman foil her plans?

Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas (1999)

Three tales are told in this Christmas special. In Donald Duck: Stuck on Christmas, Huey, Dewey, and Louie never want Christmas to end. Once their wish comes true, they see that Christmas isn't a time for being selfish. The next tale is A Very Goofy Christmas, where young Max questions the existence of Santa Claus after Mr. Pete says he doesn't exist. Goofy wants to restore Max's faith in Santa, and goes all out to prove it! The final tale is Mickey and Minnie's Gift of the Magi, where Mickey and Minnie are both determined to get the perfect presents for each other. When financial troubles cause both to cut their budget, they find that their Christmas can still be perfect.

I would love to give better descriptions, but I don't want to give too many spoilers! Do you have any favorite Christmas specials that weren't on this list?

Saving While Shopping!

Thanksgiving is less than a week away! I will be touching on Thanksgiving, but this week I want to discuss another day that follows it. Black Friday. Now some of you might be jumping for joy, while others might be dreading it. My main focus is not going to be on just Black Friday itself. Instead I want to talk about Christmas (and general) shopping and saving!

As a college student I am on a very tight budget. I'm sure that some of you feel the same struggle as I do. I have a few tips that can help make your shopping experience easier, and even save you more money.

Don't Let Black Friday Fool You
Since I was in 8th grade, Black Friday shopping became something that my mom and I participated in. The deals were pretty sweet! Then in the past couple of years we kinda fell out of it. Did we lose out on all the deals? No way! Yes, Black Friday shopping does have crazy deals that are hard to pass up, but there are definitely other (and sometimes better) deals that will either come before or after Black Friday. That goes to my next tip...

Check Out The Deals Before or After Black Friday
One year, when my mom and I didn't go shopping on Black Friday, we thought we would go Saturday instead. I was shocked at how many deals were still going on up until Monday! Many stores extend their deals for the entire weekend after Thanksgiving. Some even have them before! What made me extremely happy was that the shelves had been restocked too. The lines were shorter, and the crowd actually was not bad at all.

Gift Card Granny Is Worth Looking Into
I heard about giftcardgranny.com the other day and decided to see what it was all about. On this site you can buy discounted gift cards for a higher price than what you pay for. For example, I buy the gift card for $18 and get it for $25. Some of the cards don't have a big discount, but when you're on a tight budget every penny counts! I actually bought a gift card from there the other day and saved $5. It is legit, yet I will throw out a sign of caution for newbies. This site takes you to a different site (like Ebay) where you actually buy the card. Just make sure that the site you buy from is verified!

Do Some Online Shopping
Anymore I find it easier to do shopping online. There's no waiting in line, no crowds to fight, and no waste of gas money. It's much easier to find what you like that is available in your size, too. Your options become endless when you buy online. But what about shipping costs? Well you're in luck, because when it comes to the holidays many websites are going to be offering free shipping. Remember to keep your eyes peeled for it! Also, Cyber Monday is always nice when it comes to great sales online.

Don't Spend Just Because There's A Deal
I know that many of us are guilty of this. We see something that's a great deal, but we don't really need it (or even like it) at all. This isn't just for ourselves, but for the people we buy gifts for, too. If there's something that you see that's a big deal but you aren't really interested in or need it, then it's better to save that money in your pocket. You can spend it on something else you like better instead. Otherwise, you just blew $50 on that faux mink fur coat that was marked down, and you didn't even like it.

I hope some of these tips were helpful to you! No matter what you do, remember that shopping smart can save you a lot of money in the long run!

Finter Is Here!

The Look of Finter

The other day I was watching a Youtuber's Fall Haul video, when I heard her mention the term "finter". Apparently, finter describes the end of October to the end of December. There are so many big holidays that go on during that time like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

So, obviously finter is just forming one word out of fall and winter. Even though I have never heard of this term before, it has become stuck in my vocabulary. I think finter is the perfect definition for the weather we get here in Pennsylvania. It's technically fall until December 21st, but we still get cold weather and snow beforehand.

Not only that, but right after Thanksgiving marks the kickoff for winter and Christmas. Since we can't technically say it's winter, even with signs of winter all around us, we still have to call it fall until December 21st. But now, we have this wonderful term that we can use to describe this time without being wrong.

Will finter become its own season? I highly doubt it, but I think I'll still use it as a descriptive term from now until the first day of winter. How many of you have heard of finter before?

Halloween Black Cats

Image: Tippity Witchet's Halloween

I have talked about my cat, Hope, before in class. But, I never explained what happened when I got her. It was two years ago, around the end of October. My mom and I wanted to get another cat, so when we saw our local animal shelter had six black kittens, we immediately went to see them. All of them were fully black except for a little female "tuxedo" kitten, who was definitely the one we wanted.

I remember seeing a sign on the door that all the black cats, including the kittens, would not be available for adoption until after October 31st. My mom and I thought this was weird. It was only a week before Halloween, but we wanted our kitten as soon as possible. Out of curiosity, we asked why the black cats were not available for adoption until the 31st. One of the workers said to us, "People will adopt them and sacrifice them because of Halloween."

What? Are you serious? I was absolutely in shock that people would do such a thing. Luckily, the kitten we wanted was considered black and white. So we were able to adopt her earlier.

Why are black cats considered to be bad luck, though? Why are they associated with Halloween? 

I decided to look up the origin of black cats, Halloween, and bad luck. In Western history, black cats have become a symbol of an evil omen. Years ago, after the Pilgrims had arrived to this country, black cats were considered to be companions to witches and other evil spirits. Anyone who was caught with a black cat feared facing execution. Yikes! Who knew black cats were considered to be so bad. Yet, is this the same everywhere else? Or is this something that was brought with European beliefs and religion?

Image: Tippity Witchet's Halloween

In Japan, black cats are considered good luck. Scottish folklore believes that a black cat's arrival to a home is a sign of prosperity. Fishermen would prefer to have a black cat on their boat because of the belief that their supernatural powers would help them get home safe and sound. It's obvious that black cats are not all that bad. So when a black cat crosses you path, don't fret. Who knows, you might be brought good luck! Or maybe the cat is just walking by and nothing will happen.

What do you think?

Information from: Black cat- Wikipedia

Five Things To Do: For Halloween

Boo!

Don't worry, that picture isn't of a real ghost! This is one of my Halloween decorations in my room. They're pretty cute I must admit.

Anyway, Halloween is less than two weeks away! That means it's time to get your "spook" on and prepare for the most frightful night of the year. What can you do in order to have a fun and boo-tiful time?

1.) Watch Halloween Movies

There's nothing better than watching a movie that's made for Halloween. It can be scary, silly, or even a fun T.V. special like It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Personally, I'm not a scary movie person, so I choose movies like Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Paranorman as some of my go to scary movies. Plus, even the television channels are getting into the spirit of Halloween. AMC has their Fear Fest, ABC Family just began their 13 Nights of Halloween, and I'm sure other channels are playing movies that relate to the time of year, as well. 

2.) No Tricks, Just Treats
When you were younger, you most likely went trick-or-treating. Sadly, when you reach the age limit you no longer can go out and get a bunch of candy. But, what's stopping you from having Halloween treats? Go ahead and buy yourself a bag of your favorite candy to munch on. Better yet, show your creative side by making your own treats like caramel apples, spooky cupcakes, or popcorn balls.

3.) Carve a Pumpkin

No matter how old I am, every year I want to carve a pumpkin. There's just something fun about picking out the perfect pumpkin, scooping out the seeds, then letting your imagination take over as you carve an image into it. Once it's finished, the feeling that you get when you light the candle inside is priceless. Want to change it up? Find a book of pumpkin carving patterns or find some online. You'll see that there are plenty of patterns to choose from when you look around!

4.) Tell Scary Stories

Halloween and scary stories go hand-in-hand. If you're with a group of friends around Halloween, have a scary story night. The level of scariness is up to you and your group of friends. The genre of scary can be classical Edgar Allen Poe or an urban legend like The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Looking for something more modern day? Creepypasta has some of the scariest stories around. You can find something that will make your skin crawl for sure. But don't get too spooked!

*There is an age requirement of 18 years of age to have access to Creepypasta. There's a reason that it's like that. So make sure your audience is mature.*

5.) Celebrate! 
Halloween is on a Friday this year, so celebrating it your own way is your choice! You could have a party, dress in costume, or sit all night on the couch watching Night of the Living Dead with a big bowl of popcorn. Unless if you have work, you can recover from partying too hard or staying up too late on Saturday. If for some reason you can't celebrate on actual Halloween night, there's no problem celebrating Halloween early or late!

What are you going to do for this year's Halloween?

Five Things To Do: For Fall

I'm going to start a series called Five Things To Do, which will touch on different topics that are still in some way related to the time of the year. These are in no particular order!

1.) Go on a Scenic Drive
Driving is something the average person does on a daily basis, so this might not seem like a special thing to do. Instead of going to and from somewhere, take some time to go on a scenic drive. It can be with others or by yourself. There's something very calming about going on a ride just to enjoy the view.

2.) Visit a Farmers Market
Shopping at the same ol' stores each week can be dull. If you want to change it up a bit, go visit a farmers market in your area. Many of them will carry locally grown products that are in season. A good farmers market will provide only the best of their crops to their buyers. Plus, some enjoy decorating for the fall, too! That will make your shopping experience even more festive.

3.) Have a "One Last" Day
No, I don't mean that kind of day. What I do mean is to have a day where you do "one last" thing before the season ends. It should be something that you won't be able to do for awhile. Go on a hike, take a camping trip, have a bonfire, or even sit on your porch with friends on a nice night. Once winter hits, the things that can be done during spring, summer, and fall will have to come to an end. Don't worry, they'll come back next year. Still, taking advantage of that "one last" thing will be worth it.

4.) Open Your Senses to Autumn
The sound of crunchy leaves beneath your feet. The taste of a ripe apple awakening your taste buds. The smell of a woodstove drifting through the air. These are things that I personally associate with fall. But, there are many more tastes, smells, and feelings that we all connect with autumn. Rouse your senses to these. You will be filled with good nostalgic thoughts.

5.) Enjoy a Hot Drink
On a cold, rainy, fall day, all I want is a hot drink to warm me up. Make yourself a cup of tea, buy yourself a coffee, or if you have more of a sweet tooth, there's nothing wrong with hot chocolate! There is something about sitting in your room, curled up with a blanket, enjoying a hot drink while the rain pours down outside. You feel cozy, comfy, and safe from the weather.