Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

We made it to Christmas Eve! The presents are wrapped,  cookies are baked, dinner is cooked (well appetizers at my house), the Hanson Christmas album is playing…

and there's really nothing left to do, but to thank you for hanging out in my little corner of the Internet and wishing you a merry Christmas and happy holidays!

(And yes, that is my actual Christmas tree.)

Peace, Love, and lots of Lobster
Laura

The Easiest Decoration Ever

What do you do if the tree is trimmed, the stockings are hung, the reindeer pillow's on the couch, your guests are coming over in an hour …but the house still doesn't feel festive enough?

Easy: Turn your picture frames into decorations!

It's cheap, quick, and looks adorable!

All you need is tape, string or bows, and some leftover wrapping paper. Simply take a piece of wrapping paper that covers the front and goes a little over the sides of the frame you want to wrap, secure it with tape (or thumb tacks if you're using a wooden frame, and don't mind damaging the back, make sure you don't cover the hanger with paper, add a little bow, and put it back on the wall! 

The options with this are endless, you can go for a classic look in silver and gold, use a fun print for a kid's room, or ad some straw bows and stars to match your shabby chic decor. But whatever you decide on is guaranteed to make even the most sparsely decorated room feel festive.

Peace, Love, and Lobster

Laura

Holiday Reads

Looking for something other than Dickens' Christmas Carol to put on your holiday reading list? 

I've got you covered:   

     

Let It Snow by John Green, Lauren Myracle & Maureen Johnson:  I'm not gonna lie, especially the first story in this collection of young adult holiday romances that are all connected through a blizzard, reads like something I've seen on Hallmark at least 20 times... but in a good way! I mean, there's a reason the stuck in a snowstorm trope is so popular, and mixed with the authors' quirky characters it's the perfect book to snuggle up with on Christmas Eve.

The Silent Night Trilogy by R.L. Stine: I already  wrote a post about the series last year, but I just had to include it. The books about mean girl Reva Dalby, and her not so pleasant Christmas surprises (psycho stalkers, kidnappers, you name it) are hands down my favorite holiday escape. If you are a fan of Scream Queens, Pretty Little Liars, or "bubble-gum horror" in general, you won't be able to put these books down.

The Fat Man: A Tale of North Pole Noir by  Ken Harmon: There's usually no place for Christmas Cheer in a Noir universe... unless an elf gets framed for murder.  Harmon's hilarious satire is filled with brilliant pop-culture references (the murder weapon is a Red Rider BB gun!), and shows  how gritty the North Pole really is once the Christmas lights go out.

Do you have a go-to holiday read?

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura

Christmas Commercials

Easily my favorite post of the year, it's once again time for my annual Christmas Commercial roundup:  

Macy's:

I love this one so much, I wish it would be a full length movie. You hear that Hallmark?  

Sainsbury's:

This hilarious short film would even make the Grinch smile.

Mulberry:

They did it again, this one had me in stitches just like last year's.

Rewe:

Christmas dinner with a snowman? This ad for a grocery store has to be the sweetest thing ever! 

Toys'R'Us:

Just in case the last one didn't make you cry.  

What's your favorite Christmas commercial this year?

Let me know in the comments or tweet me a link!

Peace, Love, and Lobster 

Laura  

25 years of Home Alone

Can you believe it's been 25 five years since Home Alone came out?  The movie will always hold a special place in my heart, not only is it the perfect Christmas movie but it was also my first  introduction to John Hughes  (he wrote and produced it),  which was the beginning of a lifelong obsession. And something this special has to be celebrated!

Home alone 25th Anniversary Edition

If your old VHS tape is slowly dying, it might be time to upgrade to the anniversary box. It includes all the movies on Blue-ray (yes, also the not so great sequels, but we'll look past that) plus some cute gimmicks (that battle plan poster!), and comes in the coolest paint can packaging.  

Punk Goes Christmas Deluxe

The "Punk Goes" Christmas Album is already home to many of my favorite holiday tunes, but the new Deluxe Edition features a rocking cover of the Home Alone Theme, and I've been playing it on repeat all week.

Boohoo Clothing

And nothing says I'm a fan, like owning a sweater with your favorite quote …I know what I'll be wearing on Christmas Day.

And then there's this hilarious article from TIME that explains what the movie would look like if it was made today  …#HomeAlone

Or this in-depth piece by James Hughes (John Hughes' son), in which some of the key cast and crew members reunite to share their memories and some behind the scenes secrets about the movie (a must read for every fan!)

Happy anniversary, ya filthy animals!

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura  

Gift Guide: Best of Christmas

I decided to cut back on the gift guides this year, I just feel like everyone has it covered (and if not, you can always look up my old ones) but I still had to share a couple of my "christmas essentials":

Team Rudolph Shirt / Robots PJ Bottoms / Griswold Phone Case / Philosophy Shower Gel & Bubble Bath / Coca-Cola Teddy  / "The Truth about Santa" Book / A Charlie Brown Christmas Deluxe 50th Anniversary Edition  / A Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack / Paper Straws

I don't know about you,  but I feel like it's not Christmas without the silly presents. Makeup and tech stuff is nice and all, but there always needs to be a cute teddy or a funny book under the tree. I also love little things that make the holidays even more festive, like fun straws for drinking hot cocoa or a cookie scented shower gel. And we can't forget a pair of awesome PJs (preferably one that's festive but still works after Christmas).

Peace, Love, and Lobsters
Laura

Sweater Time

Is it just me, or is it getting harder and harder to find  "Ugly Christmas Sweaters" that are actually "ugly"? Because these definitely don't fit that particular requirement:

Plaid  / XMAS / Reindeer
Mistletoe / Snow / Minimalist
Ski / Wrapping Paper / Elf

Which one is your favorite?

Peace, Love, and Lobsters

Laura