by Schlurcher

Okay, I’ll admit it, if there’s any season that gets me sentimental and traditional, it’s Christmas. Starting around Thanksgiving, I bake. I crochet. I drive around looking at Christmas lights with my son. I wear tweed if at all possible. Basically, the Christmas season brings out my latent British roots (which are very latent.)

And I am, to say the very least, a traditionalist. You will never see a pink Christmas tree at my house. The colors are green, red, and gold. There will be garlands. There will not be a palm tree with lights. (Even though I live in Southern California.) I like my music classical and my films period.

So, here’s my Reading/Watching/Listening: Christmas edition:

Reading: Elf on a Shelf Now, apparently, this crazy little guy has been around for a while, but this is the first year I’ve heard of him. In our house, he’s named Shrinky, and he often skips a night flying up to the North Pole (because I am lazy and forgetful, but I blame it on Shrinky). My son loves him, and the book is really quite cute; we’ve read it many times. If you want some seriously imaginative ideas about doing a photoshoot with your elf, check out lilblueboo.com. (Some people have far better imaginations than I do. At least when it comes to elves.) And for the NotSafeForKids version of elf ideas, you must check this out. Because twisted humor is twisted. And awesome.

Watching: Little Women (1994) I absolutely loved this adaptation of one of my favorite childhood books. I even liked Winona Ryder as Jo (and I haven’t liked her in much since Heathers.) This movie isn’t strictly a Christmas movie, but the soundtrack is part of the Christmas season at my house, and the beginning happens at Christmas. It’s a really lovely family movie with good performances, Christmas themes that actually involve something other than Santa, and great music. Plus, Gabriel Byrne as Professor Bhaer. Win. Continue reading »