Hot Tea kind of morning

I have already had two cups so far.

I'm feelin' it.

Once it got cold outside, Brad and I bought a box of Tazo Calm. It has some sentimental value for us, because when we first started dating, he would get off of work at 2am, come over to my house, wake me up, and we would watch TV while drinking this tea. We drink it every winter; it is so delicious and relaxing. The main flavors are chamomile and rose petals, but it is the pop of spearmint that draws me to it.

On my way to the ACE Theatre Holiday cabaret on Saturday, I stopped at Starbucks for something warm and yummy. I asked the guy in the drive-thru what he recommended for a hot tea, and he immediately said, "Zen!" It was like a delicious light bulb went off in my head! I hadn't had that blend in SO LONG, and it was exactly right. I enjoyed every savory drop. Again, the spearmint is the appeal, because it leaves my palette feeling refreshed.

At our Christmas gift exchange, I got a variety box of Tazo teas. I was thrilled, not only because I love Tazo tea, but because the green box is super cute. It contains six different flavors (including Calm and Zen), a few of which I have never tasted. So when I grabbed a few random flavors to try this morning, I went for the pretty green bag that I hadn't tasted. In a moment, I am going to go get a big hot mug of Refresh, which - tada! - features spearmint and peppermint! It also has tarragon, which has me curious and nervous, but each day should have some small measure of boldness, right?

I keep looking at the coffee pot and pondering a cup, but today all I want is the sweet, bold infusion of tea leaves, spearmint and joy.

Disney Motivation

Disney has done it again; they are now offering vacation time in the amazing parks in exchange for volunteer work all over the World!

Disney's new program, "Give a Day, Get a Disney Day," officially begins January 1, 2010. With this program, Disney hopes to inspire families to volunteer in their communities by "rewarding" volunteer service with admission for a day to a Disney theme park. To enable people to sign up for an eligible volunteer project, Disney is working with HandsOn Network, the nation’s largest volunteer network. Starting January 1, you can go to www.DisneyParks.com for the United States and Puerto Rico or www.DisneyParks.ca for Canada to search for volunteer opportunities available in those areas through HandsOn Network and sign up for a day of volunteer service. Many of the opportunities will be for projects that entire families with children age 6 or older can participate in together.

As part of this program, Disney's Honorary VoluntEARS Cavalcade will start January 8. Each afternoon just before the daily parade at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom (and at Disneyland Park in California), Muppets characters and parade dancers will join special floats and vehicles celebrating volunteerism and presenting Honorary VoluntEARS serving as Grand Marshals of the parades. Kermit, Miss Piggy and Sweetums will be part of the merriment, while the dancers will be donning outfits that celebrate the work of volunteers.

For a good time...

...go to Google and type in the very beginning of a question. For example, I typed in how, and the following auto-fill options popped up:
How to tie a tie
How to kiss
How to get pregnant
How stuff works
How did brittany murphy died (oh, grammar)
How to solve a rubix cube

I won't even go into the options that popped up for "Why", but go have yourself some fun.

Advent Conspiracy

I have seen the video, I have heard the sermons and I have even seen the Facebook group. But let me tell you, seeing the Advent Conspiracy on the front page of Yahoo this morning was a real shock to my system.

"Christian Group Launches New Attack on Christmas Commercialism"

I cannot say for sure what point of view the journalist is taking, but if it makes people read up on the mission or convinces some people to soend their shopping money on clean water for others, then I say it is a Christmas miracle indeed.

Be part of the miracle:
http://www.adventconspiracy.org/
http://www.water.cc/

Traditions

I have been thinking a lot about family traditions, specifically holiday traditions. Centsational Girl has a post up this morning that really brought it into the forefront of my mind.

This is mine and Brad's first Christmas in our new house, and only our second as a family, so we do not have a long list of traditions for the holidays. That is something I would like to develop over the years. Often, when people tell me their holiday traditions, they involve their children, so I imagine more will come with time. So far, here is what we have, either individually or as a couple.
**For the past few years (and upon Lauren's suggestion), I have read Lessons For Life, a Christmas-themed Harry Potter fan-fiction.
**I try to watch "The Holiday" and "Love, Actually" every Christmas. Now Brad gets to watch them, too! (Lucky Brad...)
**Morning relaxation. On Thanksgiving, we enjoyed a leisurely morning of coffee and snuggling, interspersed with Macy's Day Parade. We look forward to repeating this for Christmas, and for years to come.

We have been slowly acquiring decorations for the season, as our 600 sq ft apartment didnt require much. It is amazing how big this house feels when I'm trying to fill empty walls! I cannot say that, as of yet, putting up decorations is a tradition, but I do hope to follow in the idea that putting up the tree is a day-after-Thanksgiving classic.

Oh, I almost forgot the best one! Every year we find one ornament that represents that year on our tree. Sure, we often get more than one new one a year, but each year must have a representative. I was worried sick last week, as I could not find our sentimental Christmas stuff (embroidered stockings, yearly ornaments, etc). I was SO relievfed to find and empty that box! So far our yearly ornaments consist of:
2007: a white snowflake that says "Our first Christmas", even though we got married four days later.
2008: a gold "Just Married" ornament we bought in Walt Disney World on our fix-it honeymoon.
2009: a red front door that says "First Home" on it.

We are so thankful for friends with good taste, too, as my friend Susan bought us two of those three! We havent been able to find another "First House" ornament, so I am especially thankful for Susan's gift!

I am really looking forward to forming a lifetime of traditions with my family. What things do you treasure year after year?

Glee SQUEE

I was already feeling that April 13 couldn't come fast enough. Now I have this to look forward to:
Wicked Cool: Idina Menzel Is in Talks to Join Glee

Go read and enjoy!
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/watch_with_kristin/b157250_wicked_cool_idina_menzel_in_talks_join.html?utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories

Second Chance Movies

I have been thinking a lot lately about bad movies. I frequently visit Pajiba, and I find that my taste in movies (and everything) is rarely the same as their average reader. But sometimes I find a list that really speaks to me except for one glaring entry that I cannot comprehend. Recently, they did a list of the Greatest Love Stories of the Aughts.

"Hey," I thought, "I like love stories." So I clicked, and I read, and I shrieked.

Punch-Drunk Love?!? PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE?!?!? Seriously?!?

I don't remember anything about that movie except a) that dreadful song "he needs me, he needs me, he needs me, he needs me, he needs me" over and over and over again, and b) HATING IT! Truly, I remember wanting to stab everyone in my general reaching radius.

And today they put up a list of the Best Movie Villains of the Decade, and they had Mr. Glass form Unbreakable on there. I saw that movie in the theater, and raging boredom led to sleep.

When I come across these instances, I have to ask myself, "Did I miss something?" Sure, if I fell asleep during a movie, I could assume it means the movie bored me. Or, I might have been really freaking tired. People, I feel asleep during Iron Man. From what I have heard, it was not boring. In fact, most people who loved it swear it was packed full of action. I just remember lots of quiet talks and dry quips and zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I have decided that perhaps I should compile a list of movies that I have seen and didn't like, but just might deserve another chance. I don't have much on it yet, but here is the start:

Unbreakable
Stardust
Punch-Drunk Love

I might ahve to add the original Star Trek movies,because I havent seen them since wee childhood, and hopefully would better appreciate them now, as my nerdness blossoms. And I almost want to say the sixth Harry Potter film, because I was so sorely disappointed, but I didn't hate the story, just the representation.

In turn, there are also those movies you love and swear by and gradually idolize as a favorite, and then when you watch them a second time, months later, you wonder, "What on Earth was I thinking?" Boondocks Saints, I'm looking at you! Although, I still love it for it's campy quality and fun accents.

General Ickiness

Please continue to pray for us as Brad looks for a new job.

And maybe don't breathe my air; I think I have a sinus infection. I'm drippy, sneezy, itchy and several other irritable dwarves. And now I am developing a pounding headache. YUCK!

Come on, weekend, be my friend.