Lazy Sunday List

I'm going to start doing a regular post every Sunday (or whenever I come up with something) which I have dubbed "Lazy Sunday List". Since I spend my Sundays doing nothing usually, I will now spend them posting a random list on my blog. I will post the first one tomorrow. Hope you enjoy!

1 Christmas Greeting

Hope you all have a great Christmas!

2 Christmas Books From My Childhood

Reading a Christmas-themed children's book at Christmastime is an annual tradition for many families. Usually it's one of the classics Twas the Night Before Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but as I child I got sick of those quickly and these two books became my new Christmas favourites.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

My third grade teacher, Ms. Arthur, read this to my class in December 1994 and I adored it. It's a very funny book about the Herdmans, a family of six terrible kids who decide to take over the church Christmas pageant one year, despite never being to church before and knowing nothing about Jesus. It's a must-read and if you haven't read it before, do it this Christmas. 

A Little House Christmas

I was obsessed with the Little House Books back in the day, so I naturally loved this book even though it's just all the Christmas scenes from all the other books compiled into one. But if you love the Little House Books this is a good read for Christmas so you don't have to bother skimming through each book to find the Christmas scenes.

3 Christmas Movies to Watch on Netflix Canada

1. Love Actually

Okay, so Netflix Canada doesn't have a lot of movies, but there are a few pretty good Christmas movies available to watch. The best one (in my opinion) is Love Actually. It's one of my favourite chick flicks. I'm not a huge fan of chick flicks because they're usually so predictable and therefore boring, but this one differs from others I've seen and hated. Love Actually features many different characters and shows how their lives are connected at the end. What sets it apart from other chick flicks is that not everyone in the movie has a happy ending.

2. Bad Santa

I know that a lot of people think Bad Santa is too raunchy or stupid, but I disagree - I think it's hilarious. It's definitely worth a watch if you're sick of all the other crappy, corny Christmas movies.

3. Christmas With the Kranks

This isn't the greatest Christmas movie, but it has its moments. If you already have Netflix, then you really have nothing to lose by watching it (except an hour and a half of your time).

4 Best Seasonal Foods

1. Eggnog

I love eggnog. LOVE IT. If they sold it all year long, I would never stop buying it. So when it arrives in stores, I always have at least one carton in my fridge. Festival is my favourite brand - I know everyone swears by Neilson, but Festival is cheaper and I actually think it tastes better.

2. President's Choice Candy Cane Ice Cream

This is the absolute best ice cream in the world. Anyone who loves candy canes or chocolate or the combination of mint and chocolate must try this. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

3. Christmas goodies

Every year my mom would make tons of Christmas goodies and I couldn't wait to "taste test" them all. Since my mom passed away, this year my brother and I are splitting her usual Christmas baking between us. You can bake cookies throughout the year, but Christmas is the only time when it's acceptable to make five different batches in one week and eat as many as you want.

4. Cranberry Ginger Ale

They only sell this delicious kind of ginger ale at Christmastime and I love it - I realize I could just mix cranberry juice with ginger ale and get pretty much the same result, but I'm far too lazy.

5 Great Christmas Gifts I've Received From Santa

1. Fisher Price Kitchen

I received this when I was two years old and was too busy playing with it to open any of my other presents, so I opened the rest gradually over the next week.

2. Barbie cassette player/ tape recorder

I don't know if you can see it, but the cassette player is there in the background. I loved this thing. You could sing along with your favourite songs and record yourself singing. It was like the poor man's karaoke machine - you either had to know the songs by heart or read the liner notes along with the song.

All the other kids thought my Barbie cassette player was cool too. I can remember three kids my mom used to babysit asking me if they could have it. I never really understood why kids would ask such a thing. Why would I give you one of my favourite toys for absolutely no reason?


This was an awesome Christmas by the look of this picture. I can see a craft set, sticker books, a red pencil sharpener, a piggy bank and a Mega Blocks Dream House.

3. Beauty and the Beast Starcastle

This picture actually has nothing to do with the Beauty and the Beast Starcastle, I just couldn't find a picture of me opening it on Christmas morning. Starcastles were basically a larger version of a Polly Pocket. I loved Polly Pockets so I loved this too - especially since Beauty and the Beast was my favourite movie at the time. I still have this on my dresser in my bedroom at my dad's house. It's missing a lot of pieces though. I was pretty hard on my toys as a child and Polly Pocket-sized dolls were so easy to lose.

4. Various books

Once again, this picture has nothing to do with anything. I loved to read (still do) and I was thrilled (still am) to receive books for Christmas. I remember getting a hardcover copy of Little House in the Big Woods, Skylark (the sequel to Sarah, Plain and Tall), Shivers books (a Goosebumps rip off which I ended up liking more than Goosebumps) and a box of assorted Christopher Pike books (I definitely remember getting The Last Vampire and The Lost Mind, but can't remember the others). I probably received others, but I can't remember any right now.

5. Karaoke machine

This present actually didn't work when I got it and I had to exchange it at Wal-Mart for a new one. I remember my mom making the guy open it and plug it in to ensure in worked and being embarrassed. But it was totally worth it. I had so much fun with this - until I discovered SingStar and Rock Band.

6 Christmas Goodie Recipes

1. Toblerone Fudge

Recipe from KraftCanada.com

3/4 cup canned evaporated milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 bar (400 g) Toblerone Swiss Milk Chocolate, broken into pieces

Line 8-inch square pan with parchment paper, with ends of paper extending over sides. Bring milk, butter and sugar to full rolling boil in large saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 5 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; stir until completely melted. Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm. Use paper handles to remove fudge from pan; cut into squares. Keep refrigerated.

2. Crunchy Chocolate Cups

1 pkg. (12 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 pkg. (11 ounces) butterscotch chips
1 pkg. (10 ounces) peanut butter chips
1 cup coarsely crushed Corn Flakes (or Frosted Flakes)
1/2 cup chopped peanuts (optional)

In a large saucepan, melt all packages of chips together over low heat. Stir in Corn Flakes. Add peanuts if desired. Let stand 10 - 15 minutes or until slightly cooled. Drop by teaspoon into petit-four cups placed on cookie sheet. Refrigerate until firm.

3. Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sifted icing sugar
1/2 - 3/4 cup walnuts (optional)
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 - 1 oz squares semi-sweet chocolate

Cream butter and peanut butter together until smooth. Add icing sugar. Form into 1" balls. Dip tops into chocolate and nuts. Store in refrigerator. These also freeze well.

4. Whipped Shortbread

1 cup butter
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Beat all ingredients until it looks like whipped cream (at least 10 minutes). Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350° F for 10 minutes (320° if you have a hot oven). Add chopped red or green cherries on top before baking.

5. Gingersnaps

1 1/2 cups shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup molasses
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. ginger

Cream butter and ginger. Beat in eggs. Add molasses. Sift dry ingredients. Add to first mixture. Roll into balls and dip in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake at 375° for 15 - 18 minutes.

6. Cherry Surprise Cookies

2 cups icing sugar
1 1/2 cups coconut
1 tbsp. milk
1/4 lb. butter (softened)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 (8 oz.) bottle maraschino cherries
8 crushed Nilla wafers (or Graham Crackers)

Drain cherries and place on paper towel. Mix the rest of the ingredients until smooth. Take a small amount of dough and pack around cherries. Roll into a ball and roll in crumbs.

7 Awesome Christmas Songs

1. Christmas Wrapping

This is my favourite Christmas song. It's so catchy and upbeat. This video is pretty cool too - the lights blink in time with the music. I like how different it is from other Christmas songs - instead of being about Santa or Jesus or snow, it's about a woman spending Christmas by herself and the guy she's interested in.

2. Little Ski-doo

They used to show a video for this song between cartoons instead of commercials on TVO Kids. I loved it because I had a little yellow Ski-doo that looked just like that one.

3. Mele Kalikimaka

This is another catchy, upbeat Christmas tune. I also love it because it reminds me of the scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when Clark fantasizes about having a pool.

4. Christmas Don't Be Late

I think this song is funny and cute. I like A Chipmunk Christmas, the Christmas special the song appears in, too - except for the parts with Dave because he's a douchey stage dad. It's also Doug Heffernan's favourite Christmas song. Here's a quote from a Christmas episode of King of Queens where Doug and Arthur argue over the song.

(Doug turns on "The Christmas Song" by The Chipmunks and Arthur turns it off)
Doug: What are you doing? That's my favourite Christmas song!
Arthur: Can't stand the way that Alvin always comes in late.
Doug: That's what's funny about it.
Arthur: Not funny. It's disrespectful to the other Chipmunks!
(Doug turns it back on and Arthur turns it off, slapping each other's hands)
Carrie: Hey! I know I have to die someday, but I would be really pissed off if it was today, because of this.

5. Christmas Vacation Theme

Here's another song featured in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation that I adore. It makes me think of the funny cartoon at the beginning of the movie.

6. That Spirit of Christmas

Well I guess it's obvious that National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is my favourite Christmas movie. This song is featured in the scene where Clark gets trapped in the attic while hiding presents and passes the time watching old home movies. I never heard this song until watching Christmas Vacation, but since then it's been one of my favourites - not because it reminds me of the movie, but because I think the lyrics are touching. Here's part of the lyrics:

Christmas is the time of year
For being with the ones we love
Sharing so much joy and cheer
What a wonderful feelin'
Watching the ones we love
Having so much fun

I was sittin' by the fireside
Taking a walk through the snow
Listening to a children's choir
Singing songs about Jesus
The blessed way that he came to us
Why can't it remain
All through the year
Each day the same
Yeah, that's what I wanna hear
It's truly amazin'
That spirit of Christmas

All the kin folk gather round
The lovely Christmas tree
Hearts are glowing full of joy
Sense the gifts that we're giving
And the love that we're living
Why can't it remain
Ohhh all through the year
Each day the same
Yeah, that's what I wanna hear
I'll tell ya
It's truly amazin'
That spirit of Christmas

7. O Holy Night

 I thought I should include a more religious, traditional Christmas carol and this one is my favourite. It's been covered by many singers - Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Faith Hill, Jewel, Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, Carrie Underwood, Susan Boyle.... But my favourite is Kelly Clarkson's cover. I'm not a huge Kelly Clarkson fan, but I'll admit that she has an amazing voice and that along with the choir in the background of this a capella version make it the best version of "O Holy Night" that I've heard.

8 Christmas Specials to Watch on TV This Week

1. Flintstone Family Christmas

   Tuesday, December 20 

   6:30 pm on CTS

2. SNL: A Very Gilly Christmas

    Tuesday, December 20

    9:00 pm on NBC

3. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

    Wednesday, December 21

     8:00 pm on CHCH

4. A Christmas Story

    Thursday, December 22

     8:00 pm on CBC

   

5. Home Alone

    Friday, December 23

    6:00 pm on YTV

6. Gremlins

    Friday, December 23

    9:00 pm on MovieTime

7. Wakko's Wish

    Saturday, December 24

    5:00 pm on Teletoon

8. It's a Wonderful Life

    Saturday, December 24

    8:00 pm on CTV2

9 Hilarious Quotes From Christmas Movies & TV Episodes

1. "When I grow up and get married, I'm living alone!" - Kevin McAllister in Home Alone

2. "It's just nice to meet another human that shares my affinity for elf culture." - Buddy in Elf

3. "Did you fuck my mom, Santa Claus?" - Charlie Kelly in A Very Sunny Christmas

4. "Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse." - Clark Griswold in Christmas Vacation

5. Put that cookie down. NOW! - Arnold Schwarzenegger in Jingle All the Way

6. Sheldon: Oh good, Penny, you're here to exchange gifts. You'll be pleased to know that I'm prepared for whatever you have to offer.
Penny: [handing Sheldon his present] Ok, here.
Sheldon: Hmmm. [starts to open his present] I should note, I'm having some digestive distress, [Leonard shakes his head no] so if I excuse myself abruptly, don't be alarmed. [completes opening his present] Oh! A napkin.
Penny: Turn it over!
Sheldon: [becomes weak at the knees and has to sit down as he reads] "To Sheldon. Live long and prosper. Leonard Nimoy."
Penny: He came into the restaurant. Sorry the napkin's dirty, he wiped his mouth with it.
Sheldon: [gasps] I possess the DNA of Leonard Nimoy?!
Penny: Well…yeah, I guess. But look, he signed it!
Sheldon: [visibly shaking] Do you realize what this means?!?! All I need is a healthy ovum and I can grow my own Leonard Nimoy!
Penny: Okay, all I'm giving you is the napkin, Sheldon. (From The Big Bang Theory)

7. "No one can resist my Schweddy Balls!" - Pete Schweddy in Saturday Night Live

8. Frank Cross: I want to see her nipples.
Censor Lady: But this is a CHRISTMAS show.
Frank Cross: Well, I'm sure Charles Dickens would have wanted to see her nipples.
Carpenter: You can barely see them nipples.
Frank Cross: See? And these guys are REALLY looking. (From Scrooged)

9. Gangster Johnny on TV: Get down on your knees and tell me you love me!

Mr. Hector, Hotel Concierge: Um, everybody... on your knees...
[after pause]
Mr. Hector, Hotel Concierge: I love you.
Gangster Johnny on TV: You gotta do better than that!
Mr. Hector, Hotel Concierge, Mrs. Stone, Desk Clerk, Cedrick the Bellman, Officer Cliff, Security Guard: [all chorusing] I love you! (From Home Alone 2: Lost in New York)

10 Favourite Christmas Specials From My Childhood

1. The Nutcracker Prince

I didn't just watch this at Christmas, I watched it all year long. This was one of my favourite movies as a child. I named several of my dolls after the main character, Clara. Also, I remember bringing my VHS copy to watch when my Grandma babysat my brother and I. Oh, how I wished I were Clara. Her dolls came to life and she had an adventure with them! And her nutcracker turned into a cute boy! I wanted her life so badly, but instead I settled for living vicariously by watching this video over and over and over and over and over.

2. Have Yourself a Goofy Little Christmas

Goof Troop was one of my favourite cartoons as a child, so naturally I loved this Christmas special as well. The Reindeer Rumba (a song and dance that Max invented when he was younger) is so catchy. I watched this last week on youtube and have had it stuck in my head since.

3. A Flintstone Family Christmas

When I was younger I loved the Flintstones specials that featured Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm as grownups: I Yabba-Dabba Do!, Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby and this Christmas special. In this special, Fred bonds with an orphan named Stoney and makes him a part of the Flintstone family. It was even nominated for an Emmy Award. There are a few other great Flintstones Christmas specials:

4. For Better or Worse: A Christmas Angel

An uplifting Christmas special, based on the comic strip. Elizabeth is feeling overlooked because she's the middle child - "too big to be little and too little to be big." When April breaks their mother's beloved Christmas angel, Elizabeth is blamed for not watching her. So Elizabeth goes sledding to blow off steam but runs into a tree and gets a concussion. When she wakes up, she doesn't know where she is, but comes across a cottage where a nice old lady makes her feel better about being the middle child and helps her home. Meanwhile, the rest of the family has been panicking. When they realize that Elizabeth is home, they're relieved and apologize for the way they acted. At the end, Elizabeth gives her mother an angel that she made herself and she loves it.

5. Mickey's Christmas Carol

This has always been my favourite version of A Christmas Carol. Scrooge McDuck (who went on to star in another of my favourite cartoons: DuckTales) is Scrooge, Mickey is Bob Cratchit, Donald Duck is Scrooge's nephew, Goofy is Jacob Marley, Daisy Duck is his ex-fiance, Jiminy Cricket is the Ghost of Christmas Past, Willie the Giant is the Ghost of Christmas Present and Pete is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

6. The Muppet Christmas Carol

The Muppets also did their own version of A Christmas Carol, but with more singing. Obviously, Kermit plays Bob Cratchit and Miss Piggy plays Mrs. Cratchit. Scrooge is played by Michael Caine.

7. Frosty Returns

I know that Frosty the Snowman is a Christmas classic, but I always liked this sequel better. If you've heard the song, "Frosty the Snowman," then you know the plot of the cartoon. But Frosty Returns has an all-new plot about Summer Wheeze, a spray that melts snow. It also features new songs like "Let There Be Snow."

8. Pluto's Christmas Tree

This short is only 7 minutes long, but despite its length it is still very entertaining. Mickey and Pluto find the perfect Christmas tree but are unaware that it's home to two chipmunks named Chip and Dale. Pluto's Christmas Tree aired on TV in the 80's and 90's as part of a full hour of Disney Christmas cartoons. The others included Mickey's Christmas Carol (see above), The Art of Skiing (Goofy learns to ski) and Donald's Snowfight (Donald has a snowball fight with Huey, Duey and Louie). I can remember watching this on TV as a child and loving it. I wish they still aired all of them together.

9. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas

This was a straight to video release that came out in 1997. I remember getting this VHS for Christmas that year. Beauty and the Beast was my favourite Disney film and while this sequel wasn't quite as good, I still loved it.

10. It's a Wonderful Tiny Toons Christmas Special

Tiny Toon Adventures was yet another of my favourite cartoons as a child, so I was a fan of this Christmas special as well.

11 Greatest Moments From Christmas Movies & TV Episodes

1. The Christmas lights in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

It was so hard to pick a moment from this movie because there are so many great ones: the gigantic Christmas tree, the squirrel, the turkey, "Merry Christmas! Shitter was full!", the sledding incident...I could go on, but I'll stop there. I finally chose the Christmas lights because there are so many funny moments associated with it - Clark stapling himself to the roof and falling off the ladder, the lights not working and the family being unimpressed ("If you need me, give me a holler. I'll be upstairs, asleep."), getting mad and kicking the plastic reindeer. Everything about this movie is hilarious and I think it's the best Christmas movie of all time (I've already watched it twice this year).

2. Flick gets his tongue stuck to a pole in A Christmas Story

The best part of this scene is that after they dare him to stick his tongue there and it gets stuck, they just leave him out there! Poor kid.

3. Mr. Bean gets his head stuck inside a turkey in Merry Christmas Mr. Bean

There have been lots of TV shows and movies where a character has gotten his head stuck in a turkey, but this one is my favourite. Mr. Bean's watch falls off inside the turkey so he sticks his head in and it gets stuck. Then his girlfriend arrives and he doesn't want her to see him with a turkey on his head, so he covers it with a towel and pretends he just got out of the shower. Eventually she sees the turkey on his head and after her initial fright, she pulls it off Mr. Bean's head by tying a heavy object to the turkey and throwing it out the window.


Merry Christmas Mr. Bean has plenty of other funny moments; like when Mr. Bean plays with the nativity scene or when his girlfriend points to a ring she wants in a shop window and her gets her the advertisement instead.

4. Santa visits Gimbel's in Elf

Every part of Buddy being mistaken for a worker at Gimbel's is funny - but especially when he gets insanely excited about Santa coming and then calls the Santa an imposter. Here are some of my favourite quotes from Buddy's stint at Gimbel's:

Buddy: Well, if you're Santa, what song did I sing for you on your birthday this year?  
Gimbel's Santa: Um, Happy Birthday of course.

Buddy: SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!  

Gimbel's Manager: Why are you smiling like that? 
Buddy: I just like smiling; smiling's my favorite. 
Gimbel's Manager: [pause] Make work your favorite, okay? Work is your new favorite.

Buddy: Sounds like somebody needs to sing a Christmas Carol.
Jovie: No way.
Buddy: The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.
Jovie: Thanks, but I don't sing.
Buddy: Oh, well, it's just like talking, except longer and louder, and you move your voice up and down.
Jovie: I *can* sing, I just choose *not* to sing. Especially in front of other people.
Buddy: If you can sing alone, you sing in front of other people. There's no difference.
Jovie: Actually, there's a BIG difference.
Buddy: No there's not. Wait...
[Starts singing loud and off-key]
Buddy: I'm singing/I'm in a store/and I'm siiiiiingiiiiing!/I'm in a store/and I'm siiiiiingiiiiing!
Gimbel's Manager: HEY! There's no singin' in the North Pole!
Buddy: Yes there is!
Gimbel's Manager: No there's not!
Buddy: We sing all the time!
Gimbel's Manager: No you don't!
Buddy: Especially when we build toys!
[Back to Jovie]
Buddy: See? 

5. Charlie attacks Santa in A Very Sunny Christmas

Charlie realizes that his mother was a prostitute and had sex with several men dressed up as Santa Claus on Christmas when he was a child. When he sees Santa at the mall, he goes off the deep end and asks him, "Did you fuck my mom?", then attacks him. It's totally twisted yet hilarious.

6. Sheldon hugs Penny in The Big Bang Theory

I already mentioned this in yesterday's post but it's so funny that it's worth repeating. When Penny gives Sheldon a napkin that Leonard Nimoy signed he gives her the most awkward hug ever. It's funnier if you've seen the show and know what Sheldon is like.

7. Pete's Sheweddy balls in Saturday Night Live

I only wanted to put one moment from each show or movie and I had a hard time choosing a moment from Saturday Night Live. I had it narrowed down to Dick in a Box and this, but decided that this one is funnier. Could you imagine if you actually heard this on the radio? They keep talking about balls and describing them as salty or Sheweddy. They did another of these with Betty White talking about her muffin, which is very funny as well.

8. Kevin puts a spider on Marv's face in Home Alone

I love Marv's girlish scream when Kevin puts the tarantula on his face.

9. Arnold Schwarzenegger punches a reindeer in Jingle All the Way

You have to see this to believe it. Arnold says "You picked the wrong day." Then he punches the reindeer right in the face!

10. Wafflebot saves the day in A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas

When Harold and Kumar are tied up and about to be killed, Waffebot (the hottest toy of the season) comes to the rescue, defeating the bad guys and freeing Harold and Kumar. I wish I had a Wafflebot.

11. Frank's Scrooge promo in Scrooged

If all trailers were like this, I would want to see every movie and every TV show.