ho ho ho: the movie edition.

Allo my lovelies! Right now I wish I was home, watching some Hugh Grant infested British holiday movie. Actually, any holiday movie works for me, but I thought it would be fun to share my personal favorites!  Since I am a romantic mush, and could go on for pages, I will keep it to 10.

Side note: Most people will give you the classics like, “It’s a Wonderful Life” or “White Christmas,” but I am nothing, if not honest.  I’d like to love those movies as much as some, but I just don’t.  Don’t judge- I know some of you watch the WHOLE “A Christmas Story” marathon! And that is nothing to brag about! 

1. The Holiday.  I just love this one. I don’t know if it’s the traveling, the cast or the music, but it all just works- kismet.  The writing on this one amazes me, and the characters are so relate-able to every woman who has gone through a break-up and then got the pleasure of a healthy, loving new relationship. I could watch this movie during a snowstorm, every time. If you haven’t seen it, I suggest you add it to the top of your list.

holidays are about falling in love, i certainly agree with my 2 year anniversary coming up on 12/23!
holidays are about falling in love. i certainly agree with my 2 year anniversary coming up on 12/23!

2. Love, Actually. Aside from a woman in my office who doesn’t watch movies, I don’t know a person who has seen this movie who doesn’t love it. It’s wonderful. So many fun story lines, so many truths, so much fun awkwardness. I feel like the truth and awkwardness makes this movie what it is. Love, actually is all around.  (watch) Cue Cards Scene, Andrew Lincoln

3. Bridget Jones Diary. I could watch Bridget every day. She’s wonderful in her imperfections.  A close friend of mine, Laura, and I have a deep relationship with this movie and will often quote lines, short of something else to say.  The usual “Ahh, Perpetua” is a favorite.  I think a common theme in my first three favorites is relate-ability.  Needless to say I love Bridget, just the way she is. Oh! And i just found this post from 2011 that Laura helped me construct about movie lines (some touching movies I mention here). 

4. Elf. Elf is silly and funny and lovely.

5. The Family Man. I love this movie. Nicholas Cage usually creeps me out, but in this one- he rocks it. Ever wonder what your life would have been like if you didn’t get on that plane, go to that school, make that move, etc? This paints a picture of “what if” that makes you think about what’s really important. There are some funny one-liners, but mostly this movie is full of great life lessons that I certainly appreciate. “I choose us.”

6. You’ve Got Mail. I’m a sucker for a good romantic comedy (obviously). This is a light-hearted, funny, sweet, romantic, typical Hollywood movie that I love.  Funny, when this came out, the words “you’ve got mail” was so new! Now it’s archaic. Still, although the plot is predictable, its very enjoyable.

7. Just Friends. In the days before we realized that Ryan Reynolds had one movie personality (that probably mimics his own), this was unique.  I laugh a lot in this movie: from the creepiness of Chris Klein, to Anna Faris knocking it out of the park, per usual. Favorite scene is when Ryan’s character is looking for his ice skates and comes across his snow globe collection.  Next time you watch it, pay attention to that scene; it’s funny and subtle.

8. While You Were Sleeping. It’s hard to imagine Bill Pullman (well, for me anyways) as anything other than Loan Star, but he works the leading man in this flick. Sandra Bullock is great. I love her. It’s a feel good movie about family, which is something I will always appreciate.  They come in all shapes and sizes!

9. Home Alone (1 and 2). Self explanatory. I like that he knew who he was, had wit and the best advice ever. Favorite scene:

Bird Lady: The man I loved fell out of love with me. That broke my heart. When the chance to be loved came along again, I ran away from it. I stopped trusting people.

Kevin McCallister: No offense, but that seems like sort of a dumb thing to do.

Bird Lady: I was afraid of getting my heart broken again. Sometimes you can trust a person, and then, when things are down, they forget about you.

Kevin McCallister: Maybe they’re just too busy. Maybe they don’t forget about you, but they forget to remember you. People don’t mean to forget. My grandfather says if my head wasn’t screwed on, I’d leave it on the school bus.

Bird Lady: I’m just afraid if I do trust someone, I’ll get my heart broken.

Kevin McCallister: I understand. I had a nice pair of rollerblades. I was afraid to wreck them, so I kept them in a box. Do you know what happened? I outgrew them. I never wore them outside. Only in my room a few times.

Bird Lady: A person’s heart and feelings are very different than skates.

Kevin McCallister: They’re kind of the same thing. If you won’t use your heart, who cares if it gets broken? If you just keep it to yourself, maybe it’ll be like my rollerblades. When you do decide to try it, it won’t be any good. You should take a chance. Got nothing to lose.

Bird Lady: Little truth in there somewhere.

Kevin McCallister: I think so. Your heart might still be broken, but it isn’t gone. If it was gone, you wouldn’t be so nice.

10. Babes in Toyland. This movie I watched a a child. My father loved Laurel and Hardy movies, and this is the one I remember most.  Barnaby scared the bejesus out of me, but Dee and Dum won in the end! I haven’t seen it in years, so I might seek it out this holiday season.

I’d love to know your favorites!  Merry Christmas!

resolution 2013: keeping it positive.

I have a new outlook on life. I’m going to learn to let things go, look on the bright side, and most importantly: learn that other people’s problems are not my own! I will not internalize and take personal the actions of other people. I will learn to take a deep breath. I will learn the following phrase: “It’s not about me!” After all, it’s really not. Maybe my new outlook is simply just removing emotion and replacing it with logic? Whatever it is, I’m in for the long haul.

I have had a tendency to let the problems and actions of other people affect my spirit, energy level and mindset. It would encompass me. No more! I will learn to take time for myself, not internalize everything and take space when needed. Even typing this out right now feels fantastic. Here’s to a healthy mindset for 2013! Will I still be a good listener and friend, of course, but once the conversation is done- as is my thinking on the matter.

Already challenging me on this personal achievement? You’re not the first. While in a meeting this morning, I told a colleague my new outlook. His response? “$5 and you are back to your old self by Friday.” Wrong you are, my friend! The funny thing is, I didn’t even think I was that negative of a person. Most people who know me would say I am friendly and happy all the time. People who really know me might say I am sarcastic, self conscious and too damn sensitive.

Curious as to what magical straw broke this camel’s back (me being the camel)? Okay, I’ll explain. Besides the recent actions of positivity by a certain company president, teaching me that there are still GOOD people in the world, there is even more. While in the gym this weekend, a woman who had obviously never seen a gym before approached me by the stationary bikes. She was unsure how to use it and didn’t understand what this machine (obviously created for torture) was at all. After a horribly failed-effort attempt by a very young gym employee to teach her the proper usage, I decided to help her. Why the hell not? I started by giving her a little shit (aka “harm time”) for wearing jeans (lightheartedly, of course), followed by “you have to actually sit on it for it to work.” It was long, and I won’t go into detail of how disappointed I was with the gym staff – and their lack of care whether or not this lady figured it out. All in all, she got on and started pedaling. After about 1 minute I could tell she was frustrated and didn’t understand how pedaling, but going nowhere, could possibly be good for her- because it hurt and was making her sweat. I decided to help some more. “It’s all in your head. I’m not a doctor, but the human body can withstand it. You can do this.” Then she started spouting about how all she could think of was having to walk to the car, her doctors appointment the next day, her errands, etc. I found myself frustrated at HER lack of self confidence. Why on earth should I be frustrated for someone else’s troubles whom I don’t even know? And why doesn’t she believe in herself? I found myself saying out-loud, “It’s all in your head! Your only fighting with yourself! You can do this!” Who did I think was I, Tony Robbins?! Where was this coming from? Regardless of where it came from, I took the advice within myself like I was breathing fresh air for the first time.

Inside thought: Gee Katie, you should probably listen to your own damn advice.

i challenge you to make your life a masterpiece. i challenge you to join the ranks of those people who live what they teach, who walk their talk. -tony robbins.
i challenge you to make your life a masterpiece. i challenge you to join the ranks of those people who live what they teach, who walk their talk. -tony robbins.

And so it begins.