Do's and Don'ts of Christmas

It's Christmas and there are many things that people should do and most definitely not do. Here is a list of Do's and Don'ts

Do - Invest in a Christmas sweater. What if you got invited to a tacky Christmas sweater party, and you don't have one? It will be convenient if you already own one so that you don't have to rush out and get the left overs that are tackier than tacky that no one wants.
Don't- Wear the tacky sweater anywhere other than a tacky sweater party. Yeah it's cute when you where it at a little get together, but not on a normal day basis. It looks more than tacky, it just looks lame (and you don't want to end up looking like this guy).

Do- Get presents for you friends and families. Honestly, I like the giving just a tid bit more than the receiving, only because I love people's reactions when they open my awesome present. Not only will this get you presents in return, but it will also give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.
Don't- Go crazy with buying presents. I understand that when you get presents you want to get something that your friends and families will like, but at the same time it is unnecessary to go all out and spend large amounts of money for one present. It is ok if you don't buy a diamond incrusted watch for your boyfriend, just get a little something. Besides, it's the thought that counts. Whatever you get them, they will be thankful for what you got them...unless you get them a bag of coal, then we got some issues.

Do- Enjoy the meal with the family on Christmas day. Besides the presents, it's also the food that everyone looks forward to sharing with their friends and families.
Don't- Over indulge. It's one thing to enjoy and meal, but it's another to stuff your face with too much pumpkin pie, ham, cheesecake, cookies, candy, and stuffing. This is one of the reasons why the number one New Year's Resolution is to lose weight. Control your portions and save your resolution for something more worth while.

Do- Put up Christmas decorations! What's better than waking up to festive decorations every morning? Putting up decorations not only makes the house look prettier, but it also allows families to bond with each other and reminisce on old memories.
Don't- Keep your decorations up a month after Christmas is over. It's ok to let the holiday decor to stay up a couple days (a week minimum) after Christmas, but once it starts getting into the end of January and Valentine's day rolls in, the decorations are kind of looking tacky and a little red-neckish, no matter how spectacular they maybe. Do yourselves a favor and save yourself from the embarrassment and take them down before New Year's hits. (Also, when you do put up Christmas decorations, lets keep it classy. Just because you have lights and blow up characters, doesn't mean you have to use it all).

With all of these tips, don't forget that the most important thing about the holiday season isn't the presents, food, and decorations, but it is about being with family and friends! Have a Merry Christmas!!

Harry Potter vs. Twilight

By the looks of the title readers have probably already picked a side between Harry Potter or Twilight. Well let's take a look at what makes each franchise better than the other.

1) Story line.
        Harry Potter: We all have grown up with Harry and know the story line inside out. As a baby his parents were killed by He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, aka Voldemort and he spends the majority of the series trying to stop Voldemort from gaining power and also finding himself.
        Twilight: Basically Bella finds a guy, falls in love with him, wants to do anything for him, follows him like a puppy...she's basically whipped. Not very much more than that.

             Winner: Harry Potter

2) Characters.
         Harry Potter: We have the boy with the scar, the fire red engine hair, and the insanely smart girl, and Neville, who out of nowhere decides to get hot until after all the movies are made. Harry, Ron, and Hermione are the prime example of a true friendship. Of course, people don't go through the crazy magic adventures, but everyone envies a friendship as strong and close as theirs. We can't forget Malfoy, who has been movie goers favorite villain as long as the franchise has been alive. And well who could ever hate Neville?

          Twilight: Hot guys, hot guys, and hot guys. Personally, I'm a team Jacob fan. Who could resist that tan chiseled bod? I don't understand how people are so into Edward. He is so pale and gangily looking. I don't care if he is a vampire, someone please educated him about spray tans. The wolf pack is the probably the only reason why I watch the movies. They are oh so fine.

           
          Winner: Twilight

3) Books.
            Harry Potter: Growing up, Harry Potter was probably the first big book that I read. As a kid I always enjoyed reading, but there was something about Harry Potter that made it even better than any other book. It was so good! The best part is that it is for any age. It has a magical essence that younger kids like, but a mature story line that the older ones would love. I have known numerous people who have read the series forwards and backwards, upside down, sideways, and anything you can imagine. When you go back and re-read the books you pick something up that you didn't catch before, making the book even more better than before.
            Twilight: Vampires, sex, and battles. Not exactly the most appropriate for all ages. Although it has been known to be a good book, I don't know anyone that has read it numerous times like Harry Potter. It just doesn't have that magical feel to it.
           
              Winner: Harry Potter

4) Originality.
          Harry Potter: Harry Potter has so many themes to it that one can apply to life. It's about confronting your fears, finding courage, and having friendship, love, and making sacrifices. Harry Potter teaches life lessons and that as long as you have love and friendship you can make anything happen as long as you try your best.
         Twilight: Forbidden love. Ok? That sounds not original. The book just teaches readers that a woman can't live without a man and that she will follow him anywhere and do anything for him. Sad, sad, sad.
              Winner: Harry Potter by far

After analyzing life lessons, hot guys, and epic books, it looks like we have discovered the obvious: Harry Potter is a million times infinite better than Twilight. Even the King of writing books Stephen King (no pun intended) thinks that Harry Potter is better...

What is up? The temperature.

It's December. It's 65 degrees. What? With this warm weather, it is hard to get into the swing of the Christmas season! It's warm enough wear shorts and a t-shirt, and it's pretty much suppose to be almost winter. Around this time last year, I remember it being very cold, like freezing cold. I blame it on global warming. Although I say this now, when it actually does get cold I'm probably going to be wishing that I never wished it to get cold. For example, I will probably be thinking that I will want to to be warm on my 0.70 miles walk to class. But since it hasn't really gotten cold yet, I would like to enjoy that crispy weather that will get me even more into the holiday mood. I want to be able to sip hot chocolate on a cold day, roast marshmallows by the toasty fire and bundle up my warm winter clothes. If I were to do that now, I would probably pass out due to heat.

Dear Mother Nature, I would appreciate, just until Christmas passes, that you make it a little colder out! Sincerely, a person who wants to feel the crispy weather.

Oh have times have changed...

I recently saw a website that showed the different changes within the last 20 years or so, and it just makes me think about how crazy it is that times have changed. Don't get me wrong, I'm all up for changes, but it's just mind blowing to think about how certain changes have impacted the entire globe. Technology is something that has been rapidly growing. Back before texting or cellphones ever existed, people would actually have to walk up to your door to tell them they are there to pick you up. I guess the changes that have came upon us is all because of technology. Some that have been extraordinarily amazing, and others not so good. Each and everyday there are new discoveries of new species, new discoveries taking us a step closer to curing cancer and other diseases, and it also gives us the ability to save more lives. Some people take advantage of the new technology as well. The internet more specifically. I can't even count on my fingers how many negative incidences that have occurred because the internet has allowed people to take on a different persona to attack others. In the end there will alway be pros and cons when it comes to changes, but lets hope that there will always be more pros than less and less cons.

Crazy, but very possible life aspirations

Growing up kids always aspire to be the typical things like a policeman, a firefighter, a doctor, etc. Well, there are other much cooler, crazier, but very possible life aspirations that not until a while ago did I start to realize that I should have aspired to be. Here are the top five coolest jobs to have:

1)   Secret spy: You’ve seen it in the movies, Mission Impossible, Salt, The Tourist, and lots more. It’s nothing but action packed. Of course there are the spies that don’t have the crazy, suspenseful life, but it’s ok to hope that you could be like in the movies. Who doesn’t want to take on a different identity and travel around the world to hunt down a target? It’s like a super game of hide and seek.

2)    A paradise island caretaker: So when one thinks of a caretaker, they probably think of someone mowing the lawn, watering the plants, and cleaning the trash right? Well a caretaker is someone who does quite the opposite. They swim, explore, and just relax, and blog about their experience basically. You get paid bank for living a vacation!

3)    A luxury bed tester: So as I was looking for cool jobs, I can across the job of a luxury bed tester. You get paid to sleep in designer beds. Enough said.

4)   A water slide tester: Sliding down water slides are so exhilarating, and is quite possibly one of the greatest things that you can’t go a summer without. Now imagine if that was your job. I mean sure you have to test the speed, height, and safety aspects of the slide, but you ride on waterslides for a living.

5)   Candy taster: Indulging in sweets can sometimes bring guilt, but not when you do it for a living. Candy tasters get to have samples of the newest types of candy and express their thoughts on it. Such a sweet job.

I hope that one-day people will open their minds even more. Yes it is good to dream about having a conventional job, but it’s even better to think outside of the box and creative with your future. The worst that could happen if you tried to get these jobs is that they say no, so you just move on with the next one. My mom always tells me to dream big, and that is exactly what I plan on doing, and what everyone else in the world should do.

Now it is time...

Now. Finally. It is time to bring out the holiday goodness. In a previous post I mentioned the fact that people have always overlooked Thanksgiving and how it is ridiculous that for people to start getting hyped up about Christmas right after Halloween. Now that it is December, and Thanksgiving has past, I am more than ready for Christmas! Finals are vastly approaching and everyone is ready for the first semester to end. Of course we have to study hard so that we can play later, but the fact that the large break is so close but oh so far away is keeping me going.
The best part of Christmas is everything. The Christmas music, the crispy cold weather (and possibly snow), the decorations, and the delicious heart warming food. Everywhere you go there are snow flake decorations on street lights, you can see Christmas trees glowing in the windows of houses, and the best part is the houses that decorate their house with lights. Christmas lights are my favorite decoration. They make me feel so happy and will always put a smile on my face. There is a place in Winston-Salem that my friends and I go to called The Festival of Lights, where you drive through this giant park that is decked out in Christmas lights. About half way through people can pull over and roast marshmallows and go throughout the job of handmade Christmas crafts. It simply is the best way to kick off the holiday season.
I guess I actually do have a favorite part about Christmas: buying gifts for my friends and family. Sadly though, being a not-so-rich college student sans job, I have to put myself on a very low budget this year. Either way, I still enjoy getting the presents and watching the person face when they open my presents.
Being the Christmas season, it gives me a reason to watch the movie "Elf" with Will Ferrell a million times. It is possibly one of my favorites, along with the first "Santa Claus" movie with Tim Allen.
I love everything about the holiday season and can't wait for my month long break!

Where's Thanksgiving?!

So Halloween is over and the holiday season is now in full swing. The stores have already started putting in Christmas decorations, the radio has started with Christmas music, and Starbucks has already put out their Christmas cups. Wait a minute...isn't there a holiday before Christmas? What was is it called again? OH Thanksgiving!! It's so sad that people don't really acknowledge one of the most important holidays of the holiday season! The day after Halloween I feel like is way to soon for people to start talking about how they can't wait for Christmas. I do admit that I love receiving gifts from people and finding other people presents, but since now I have become a poor college student, I find it hard to spend money on myself, let alone by gifts for a bunch of other people. Anyways besides that, I wish everyone would recognize Thanksgiving after Halloween too! I mean let's get real here. The only reason people are truly excited about Christmas is the fact that they get presents and money from family and friends (I'm guilty of that too). Thanksgiving is a holiday where people are to give thanks for what they have in life. I feel so bad for Thanksgiving being over looked every year. What is there not worthy enough to acknowledge? It's just as great as Christmas!

Here's a link to show how truly awesome Thanksgiving really is:

http://mxp.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/24/thanksgiving-vs-christmasit’s-no-contest/