BOXING DAY

Happy Boxing day to all my Canadian friends out there. 

*I'm not really sure what the true meaning of that holiday is, but I will be spending it snowed in watching Rocky movies.

THE CHRISTMAS BOOT

Remember that one time last year when I saw the new Footloose movie and fell in love with the red boots the character Ariel was wearing. They are Frye boots. If you know nothing about Frye boots, just know that they are very expensive. I tried several pairs on, but I couldn't convince myself to spend that much money on myself. So I tried alternative red boots. Fail. Fail. Fail.

While I was trying on all those boots, one night I found a wallet in a parking lot at a big NYE party. I opened the wallet to see SEVERAL Benjamin Franklins staring me in the face...probably enough to buy those boots I wanted. Without even thinking twice, I took the wallet inside the building of the party and turned it in...just the way I found it.

For the next year, I worked really hard writing blog posts/articles earning "points"I could turn into Amazon.com gift cards so I could purchase those almost (not really) forgotten Frye boots and not feel guilty. I did it! I earned enough to make a size 8 pair of cognac Melissa Button boots mine.

But then I realized it was almost Christmas. I felt like I was supposed to be home with my family for the holidays. I didn't race to get employment, but instead kept my time free to help friends and others around the community who needed it. Thanks to my dang heart that is too big, I decided to spend that Amazon money I worked so hard to earn to provide awesome gifts for OTHERS instead of myself. From hours spent  in warehouses or boutiques, to smiling for photos with kiddies and Santa, to free baby and even dog sitting....I filled my time with wonderful holiday service.

I tried really hard to give gifts that would make others smile and show I care about them (some anonymously and some not) because I learned from the Bible in Acts 20:35 ...It is more blessed to a give than to receive.

Guess I'll have to wait until next year for the real Christmas boot on my list.

MALL SANTA

Mall santa went on break and I need some spending cash, so come sit on my lap

(before security catches me in the workshop).

HOLIDAY CARD SHOOT

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...and time for a holiday card photo shoot.

MAC & CHEESE BITES

Hello, Del Taco mac & cheese bites.

The fat girl inside of me wishes they sold these in 20 packs.

BETTER THAN...WHATEVER

I think I just ate the censored version of the better than sex...I mean whatever...cake in cupcake form.

God bless the modesty in Utah County.

FIERY NIGHT

'Tis the season for the ugliest ugly Christmas sweater t-shirts parties. 

So I wore this to Thanksgiving Point to help take photos with Santa. I was wondering if Godzilla would be too much for the kiddies...until I saw 5 year old boy with another dinosaur shirt. We bonded over cookies and milk and had a fiery night.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

PARKING SPOT

WHY?!

Why do you have to park in the stall right next to mine when the parking lot is completely empty? Seriously?!

COURTESY

I'm thankful for everyone EXCEPT these extreme coupon ladies who wouldn't let me with my 1 item go in front of them and their 79 bottles of Mountain Dew at the check stand.

Whatever happened to simple courtesy?

NUTCRACKER

It's kinda hard to believe that Christmas is coming since the weather has been so nice outside.

I love Christmas time because it means ugly sweater parties, drinking hot chocolate, decorating with lights, and (my favorite tradition) watching the Nutcracker!

Since it's my favorite, I have the opportunity to give away some tickets to my Utah friends to see this show in a movie theater nearby. Here's the details:

Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker performed by the Mariinsky Ballet Theatre

Monday, December 3rd at 2:00pm and 7:30pm

One Day Only

Various theaters, purchase here.

The Russian Imperial Mariinsky Theatre was the original home to Pyotr Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker in 1892, when it made its worldwide debut. Movie theater audiences will experience the marvelous talents of two of the Mariinsky Theatre's rising stars - Alina Somova as Clara (Masha in the original Russian ballet) and Vladimir Shklyarov as the Nutcracker. Conducted by Valery Gergiev, this timeless production of The Nutcracker opens with a Christmas Eve party and a young girl, Clara, being given a nutcracker doll by her godfather, Drosselmeyer. Later in the evening when Clara sleeps, she finds herself in the midst of the Nutcracker's battle against the Mouse King and his army of mice. Coming to Clara's aid, the Nutcracker is transformed into a Prince and journeys with her to an enchanted island where spectacular celebrations are held in their honor.

Don't miss your chance to share this holiday tradition with your family in movie theaters for one day only on December 3!

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KIND...er

I went to Colorado last weekend with a bus full of the craziest people from Utah I've ever met. Not like crazy cool. I'm ashamed to say I was annoyed by them. I came home from the trip and the next night I watched the film The Perks of Being a Wallflower and bawled through the whole thing. Not like got teary eyed and sniffled once. No, I cried like a baby. I went to the bathroom after the show and looked in the mirror and my eyes were red, my mascara and eye liner were long gone, and I looked like I had taken a beating type crying.

#1 I just wanted to hug the character Charlie and be his friend. #2 I felt so terrible for having a bad attitude and hating those f-ers on the bus. Then on Sunday, the lesson in church was about kindness. Perfect. So I thought maybe I should pray to be more kind. WHOA...hold on. A big "CAUTION! ABORT! CAUTION! ABORT!" alarm went off in my head and I realized I was NOT going to pray for kindness because last time I prayed for patience people started cutting me off, taking forever to do things, etc. I believe God has a sense of humor and when we ask for something, He WILL give it to us...just maybe not the way we want. So I didn't pray for kindness. Instead, I decided to try to be more kind on my own. So you have my permission to punch me in the shoulder if you hear me say something mean.

ELECTION DAY

“No matter how good a government is, unless it is administered by righteous men, an evil government will be made of it." 

-Brigham Young

I spent the weekend in Colorado Springs to help support my local presidential candidate (doing a good deed, knocking on doors, making calls, kissing babies and whatnot).

Today is the day...November 6, 2012...election day. Please make an educated vote, my fellow Americans.

CHRISTMAS ORANGES

I was given the opportunity to watch the film Christmas Oranges. Don't worry, I'm not forgetting about Thanksgiving and the month of November. 

PLOT: Based on a popular children’s book written by Linda Bethers, the movie tells the story of Rose, the most perfect orphan you could ever imagine. She is forced to leave the care of kind Mrs. Hartley (after a deadly battle of influenza hits the residents) to the more strict setting of another orphanage called Irongates. Mr. Crampton, Irongates headmaster, enforces harsh punishments for his strict rules every day of the year except Christmas. Every Christmas, Mr. Crampton's more jovial brother, Joe, brings the gift of oranges to the children. Rose has never smelled an orange previous to this time and cannot wait for the gift, but runs the risk of losing her chances by repeatedly breaking Mr. Crampton's rules. Will she get her chance to touch a real orange? You'll have to watch to find out!

The acting was a bit cheesy in the film, but as Mr. Crampton gets touched by the spirit of Christmas, I must admit I got a little teary. What?! That never happens. Something must have fallen in my eye. 

There is a limited Utah theatrical run of this film in theaters November 2-8 and the DVD will be released November 9, 2012.

https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasOranges

MAN v. FOOD RACE

Just for fun (or maybe just to make my brother Jeff super jealous), I decided to visit a few of the Food Network's Man vs Food restaurants on my trips in the last month. Here's the list:

#1 Modern Apizza, Hartford, CT  - a pie baked in a brick oven at 825 degrees F...which makes it a little black around the edges. Not the best pizza I've ever had.

#2 Louis' Lunch, inventor of the original American hamburger, Hartford, CT

Here the hamburgers are cooked on the original vertical flame grill, and for some reason, the restaurant refuses to serve any ketchup. 

The burger and potato salad were ok...the atmosphere might have been better than the food.

#3 Big Jud's, Boise, ID - the burger featured on the show was called the Double Big Jud, which consists of two 1-pound burger patties stacked on top of one another with blue cheese, Swiss cheese, mushrooms, onions and bacon and stuffed inside a large bun. Altogether, the burger weighs roughly 4 pounds (1.81 kg). 

There is NO WAY I was gonna try to eat that so I ordered a mini (normal human sized) version of the burger. Delish!

#4 Voodoo Donuts, Portland, OR - this little shop on the corner has more than 70 varieties of doughnuts, including a maple bacon bar with real bacon on top, cap'n crunch cereal toppings, and the voodoo guy himself.

Kinda pricy, they don't take cash, and usually a long line outside just for donuts.

#5 Salvador Molly's, Portland, OR - Great Balls of Fire —3 or 5 habanero chile cheese fritters covered in habanero chile sauce.

I would have been perfectly fine with my life if these balls had NEVER touched my mouth! They were disgustingly hot and the taste was not enjoyable at all.

NEW MOVIES

There are a lot of new movies coming out soon that seem exciting!

#1 OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL
When small-time magician Oscar Diggs (James Franco) pulls one flimflam too many, he finds himself hurled into the fantastical Land of Oz where he must somehow transform himself into the great and powerful wizard—and just maybe into a better man as well. Opens in U.S. theaters on March 8, 2013.

How can you NOT love James Franco?! He's like my biggest movie star crush.

Website and Mobile site: www.Disney.com/TheWizard

Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OzTheGreatAndPowerful
Follow on Twitter: Twitter.com/DisneyPictures

#2 LINCOLN 

Lincoln was a wise man and favorite president to many. Add an awesome cast to depict his presidency and I think you just might get a great movie!

Steven Spielberg directs two-time Academy Award® winner Daniel Day-Lewis in “Lincoln,” a revealing drama that focuses on the 16th President’s tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.

 releases in U.S. theaters exclusive on November 9, 2012, with expansion on November 16, 2012.

Like LINCOLN on Facebook: http://facebook.com/lincolnmovie

Follow LINCOLN on Twitter @LincolnMovie

#3 IRON MAN 3

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/marvel/ironman3/

Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

IRON MAN 3 releases in theaters on May 3, 2013

Website and Mobile site: IronManMovie3.com

Like on Facebook: Facebook.com/ironmanmovie

Follow on Twitter: Twitter.com/Iron_Man

PS SEQUEL TO MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS TO HIT THEATERS MAY 1, 2015

The Walt Disney Studios has announced a release date for Marvel Studios’ sequel to the biggest Super Hero blockbuster and third highest grossing film of all time, Marvel’s The Avengers. Joss Whedon returns to write and direct the UNTITLED MARVEL’S AVENGERS SEQUEL set for release May 1, 2015.

#4 WRECK-IT RALPH
Tired of playing the role of a bad guy, Ralph takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a journey across the arcade through multiple generations of video games to prove he’s got what it takes to be a hero.

I've already seen this one and it was awesome! If I was just a wee-kid still and my birthday party was coming up, I'm pretty sure I'd beg my parents for this cake!

Check out the other cakes this baking genius has made as well.

http://sweeterside.tumblr.com/post/34978770910/with-ralph-wrecking-cake-felix-may-need-to-think

Twitter @Ricky_Webster (https://twitter.com/Ricky_Webster)

Wreck-It Ralph crashes onto the big screen on November 2, 2012

Website: Disney.com/wreck-it-ralph

Like on Facebook: facebook.com/WreckItRalph

Follow on Twitter: twitter.com/disneyanimation

GOONIES NEVER SAY DIE!

Destination: Astoria, OR

Did you know that like 1,479 (give or take a few) popular movie were filmed in Astoria? Seriously. Free Willy, Kindergarten Cop, Short Circuit, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, and The Shining just to name a few. But the most popular one in my book is Goonies! So here is my Goonies Astoria tour.

The opening scene where Mama Fratelli and Frances break Jake out of jail.

Full of fun things to do and memorabilia:

[Chunk glued the statue's penis on upside-down] 

Chunk: How's this? 
Mikey: Oh, you idiot! You glued it on upside-down! 
Brandon Walsh: If God made it that way, you'd all be pissing in your faces! 
Chunk: Looks fine to me.

 Data's gear

 Sloth love Chunk!

Ruth! Ruth! Baby! Ruth!

Mikey's dad's museum

Data's house

Mikey's house

I might have done the truffle shuffle by the gate

 And finally haystack rock (which is actually in Cannon Beach not Astoria)

"Bye, Willy. Thanks."

NEWPORT (not sure what happened to oldport)

DESTINATION: Newport, OR

On the way from Seaside to Newport, there are lots of fun stops.

 Like in Tillamook at the cheese factory

 It ain't easy being cheesy.

 Next, we stopped to catch some nature at Otter Rock, but found out the Otters have moved away. Instead we saw this bird working on his CRANE technique

 We were all thirsty, but discovered Devil's Punchbowl isn't a full service rest stop.

 And almost got blown away at Cape Foulweather lookout point 

(obviously appropriately named by according to the photo with hair flying everywhere)

 But the wind and rain stopped for a few minutes and we go this beautiful view

Finally, we reached Newport where we hung out at the Yaquina Lighthouse

and hung out with the seals.

We then headed to the Oregon Coast Aquarium

 This aquarium is super cool because it has indoor and outdoor tanks to check out.

 So it seems more natural for the animals (at least from this human's perspective)

This underwater shark tunnel FREAKS me out (thanks JAWS movies!)

 Our final stop was for some amazing seafood at Local Ocean

 and an enjoyable stroll in town to hear the sea lions on the rocks.