Top 5 Christmas Movies

Okay so this should be interesting. Doing a Top 5 Christmas movies. These are my favorite movies, and I don't necessarily watch them only at Christmas. These are for the most part movies that take place at Christmas or are about Christmas itself. Since I love comedies, they dominate my Top 5. But let's explore some movies that did not make it and may surprise you that they are about Christmas. Did you know that the first Rambo movie took place during Christmas? Die Hard and Lethal Weapon both do as well, in fact both Die Hard and Die Hard 2 take place at Christmas. And did you remember that Gremlins takes place at Christmas? Or that almost every Harry Potter movie features the kids on holiday at Christmas? And you won't find The Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street, or It's a Wonderful Life on my list either.

#5 Scrooged - I love Bill Murray movies, and love love love the modern take on A Christmas Carol. A Dickens classic indeed.

#4 Elf - What can I say, this movie has GROWN on me. First time I saw, I thought it was funny and cute, but not much else. But I dare you to walk around the Christmas season and not quote this movie. "SANTA!...I know him."

#3 Just Friends - A modern classic featuring Ryan Reynolds and a hilarious Anna Faris. The scene when Anna Faris's character storms the house and destroys all the Christmas decorations? Melts my heart.

#2 Home Alone - call me sentimental but I love this movie from 1990. My mom and I waited in line for over an hour to see this classic. I was 12 at the time. And I love me a great John Hughes film. Speaking of which.

#1 National Lampoons Christmas Vacation - I am not the biggest NL fan, and some of the Griswold films are awful. I used to love European Vacation, what happened? Between the classic Chevy Chase comedy and the telling of a Father who wants everything to be perfect, to the poor yuppy neighbors who get picked on the whole film, all the way down to the music and atmosphere of a Chicago Christmas, this is my movie. Forget Christmas Story and little Ralphie. Put this movie on repeat and I may not change the channel for days.

It's not so bad

The blog a day experiment is OVER! So why am I blogging so again so quickly? Because I love it. The last couple of years have been really trying and learning about who I want to be and basically learning how to enjoy life without money. But this year, even with a horrible economy and at least 20 people I know, including me, out of work, I find that the Holiday season is really enjoyable. I have not worked since July. And while that is frustrating, I have a great Severance package and Unemployment taking care of me and I really cannot complain about money. Plus all the side business I have been doing under the table that Uncle Sam will never know about. So Christmas this year I am not worried about how I am going to pay my bills, which really relieves a ton of stress. I don't have money to burn, but at least I know that I can buy gifts for a select few people, reach out by cards to those I can't, and still enjoy this Holiday season seeing friends and family. Plus I know that the SD Fair is FAST approaching again, and while I do not take my work there for granted, it's nice to know that if I don't find a job between now and January, I will still be able to work again and pay my bills. And I only have two more people to find gifts for on my Christmas list! That is awesome!

Christmas Shopping

Day 27 of the blog a day. Wow, it's really almost been a full month straight of a blog every single day. Not only that, it's almost been a full month since Halloween, and a full year since New Years. Yeah Christmas is only 30 something days away. And I know that I was lamenting Black Friday and all the shopping that goes with it, but I actually got some shopping for Christmas done today. It was online, because for half the day I felt like crap, but I still got my mom a gift that I know she will love. Only got about 6 more people I need to get something for, and then everything else is just filler. Not that everything else does not matter to me, but it's like stocking stuffer type stuff that is really easy. I have an idea for my Step-Dad, and I already know what I am getting my roommate Cindy. In fact I am shopping on Amazon after I post this. BTW, shopping on Amazon is free shipping because I purchased an Amazon Prime membership earlier this year. Saves me on all of my shipping costs, items arrive within 2-3 days instead of 4-5, and it completely paid for itself 3 purchases after. It's better then going to the mall. No traffic, no spending money on gas and food, no looking for parking, no waiting in lines. Of course, no atmosphere, Christmas lights, and other festivities either, but you take what you get.