The Gratitude List: 2013 you've been so good

I can barely begin to imagine that 2013 is almost over. This year has been so good to me. I've been on so many adventures and I feel so grateful for all of the experiences I've had this year. I have had massive, mind blowing highs and I've spent more time smiling and succeeding that I thought was possible.

I think it's easy to get caught up in the end of year madness but it's great to sit down and think about the things that you are grateful for from this year. Send out a THANK YOU to the universe and make the decision that next year is going to amazing.

2013 was especially good to me so I've decided to put together my final gratitude list for 2013 with the things I've been grateful for throughout the year.

1. The live music I've seen and the amazing artists I've witnessed



It's easy to be grateful when my list of artists I've seen looks like this

Maximo Park / The Hives / The Killers / Childish Gambino / Big Day Out Festival (multiple bands) / Bloc Party / British India / The Kooks / Kristin Chenoweth / Idina Menzel / Jay Z / Justin Timberlake / Beyoncé / Bastille / William Beckett / Foals / The Basics / Franz Ferdinand / Muse / Alicia Keys

2. Travelling the world



This year I've been lucky enough to travel to

London / Dubai / Cancun / New York / Toronto / Anaheim (Disneyland) / Los Angeles / Bali / Gold Coast

A lot of my travel adventures have been through work and I've visited some absolutely stunning places with the best people. I loved every trip I've been on and I know they wouldn't have been as great had it not been the people I travelled with.

3. My family



But seriously, if your nieces and nephews were this cute you'd be grateful too.

4. My Black Milk collection



I've spent this year in lycra as my Black Milk collection has grown to ridiculous proportions. I love that I can wear something crazy and ridiculous and feel so comfortable and happy. I am grateful for the confidence their clothing gives me.

5. A little bit of everything else.



It has been so hard trying to reduce the things I'm grateful for into 5 points. I have had so many great experiences this year. There have been ups and downs but this post is about finding the things that have made me smile this year. I have shared this year with so many great friends and family and I am happy to look back at 2013 and think this was a lucky, fun filled, adventurous year for me.

Have you taken a look at your 2013 yet? Share your links below if you've posted about it - I'd love to see what's been making you smile this year

Bring on 2014 and another outstanding year.

 - Brooke

21 Christmas movies to get you into the Christmas Spirit

In our family we don't put our Christmas tree up until after December 9th because it's my Dad's birthday. It's tragic - for someone who LOVES Christmas I find this to be really hard so to get into the Christmas spirit without having the Christmas Tree up I watch Christmas movies.

I love a really good Christmas movie. My only requirements (to make it a good Christmas movie) is that it's fun, sweet and if there is a bad person they learn the "meaning of Christmas" by the end of the movie. I especially like movies that show Santas is real, or movies that will make me so happy I want to cry by the end (I tear up every time they sing the Christmas carol in the park in Elf - EVERY TIME). 

Here is my list (in no particular order) of 21 Christmas movies I watch in the lead up to Christmas (one almost every day people) to get into the Christmas Spirit

1. Elf: If you haven't watched this then we can't be friends. Seriously. There is something about Will Ferrels childlike wonder that is so perfect in this film. So much JOY and happiness wrapped up in this Christmas movie

2. All I Want For Christmas: The story of 2 kids who just want to get their parents back together for Christmas. It helps that their parents are MFEO (made for each other). The best part of this movie is watching a VERY young Thora Birch and Ethan Embry <3 comment-3--="">

3. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation: Ok so I'm not being very original right now but I promise this is one of the best Christmas comedies you'll ever come across. Chevy Chase is PERFECT trying to have the best Christmas ever with his family.

4. Love Actually: Emma Thompson, Hugh Jackman, Alan Rickman, Colin Firth, Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman, Kiera Knightly - surely that is enough to get you to pop this DVD in the player. This movie just makes you feel all the feels  - multiple story lines, amazing characters and heart warming stories. 

5. Home Alone: Macaulay Culkin + those robbers. This is the best kind of  "boy left behind then house gets robbed and he fights the robbers" Christmas movie. If you're feeling up to it, you can watch the double feature of Home Alone 1 + 2 in one sitting - so much Culkin!!!! 

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas: Tim Burton + Danny Elfman + that iconic skeleton. I don't save this movie for just Christmas time viewing, it's a year round favourite. I LOVE that skeleton and his misguided attempt at Christmas. 

7. The Holiday: Jude Law + Kate Winslet + Cameron Diaz + Jack Black = a sweet romantic holiday movie. 

8. I'll Be Home For Christmas: I'll admit it, I had a massive crush on Jonathan Taylor Thomas (JTT 4eva) back when I was younger. This movie allows me to remember his cute, silliness. It's a classic Christmas tale of one mans attempt to get home for the holiday. 

9. Miracle on 34th Street: I have a double pack of the 1947 version and the 1994 version. If I'm being honest I watch the newer version more. It's a story of one cute but kind of obnoxious girls unwavering belief in Santa Claus

10. It's a Wonderful Life: I watched this movie for the first time about 2 years ago. I had heard the hype and I constantly see it on top of the "best Christmas movies" lists. I'm inclined to agree. While it's a LONG movie, it is also a beautiful, tear inducing feel good film. If you only watch one Christmas movie this year I'd suggest you start with this one. 

11. Fred Claus: Vince Vaughn plays Santas "naughty" brother who has lost his Christmas Spirit. He goes to the North Pole to borrow some money off his older brother and hijinks ensue. It's funny and silly and if you like Vince Vaughn like I do then this movie is perfect.

12. Eight Crazy Nights: Did you know that back in the day Adam Sandler made this Christmas movie and voiced all the characters. It's silly and rude and still somehow sweet.

13. Bad Santa: The best worst Santa ever. Billy Bob Thornton plays the kind of Santa you never want to run into in a department store. He's oh so bad and filthy. Is it weird that I usually watch this on Christmas Eve??

14. To Grandmothers House We Go: I've finally got a copy of this headed my way. The Olsen twins at their finest. It's another "we're trying to get somewhere for the holidays but end up on a crazy adventure" movie but it's made so much cuter by these two girls

15. A Mom For Christmas: Olivia Newton-John stars in this made for TV Christmas special. A young girl wishes for a Mom for Christmas (as per the title of the movie) and Olivia Newton-John appears. Sweet, funny and full of Christmas cheer - if anyone can link me to a version of this movie that doesn't cost $50 I'd be eternally grateful!

16. The Muppet Christmas Carol: The classic Christmas tale of Scrooge, but with Muppets = PERFECT 

17. The Polar Express: Ok, my Mum loves this movie. She watches it every year a few days before Christmas (sometimes Christmas Eve). One of those rare movies that really makes you believe in the Christmas Spirit - plus it's made in that "crazy it's a cartoon but it looks kind of real" way

18. Jingle All The Way: Arnold Schwartzenegger (yeah, you heard me right) plays a dad just trying to get his kid that "must have" Christmas toy. Craziness ensues (of course)

19. How the Grinch Stole Christmas: I refused to watch this movie for so long. There was something about the idea of this movie that just rubbed me the wrong way. I actually sat down and watched it and LOVED it. Jim Carrey is awesome as the Grinch - he's mean, angry but so misunderstood. This movie really shows that even the Grinchy-est (I made up a word shhhh) person can be sweet and nice. 

20. Arthur Christmas: I've just added this one to my collection. One of the better animated Christmas movies of the past few years. This one follows Arthur (Santas son) as he tries to take the reins and deliver all the presents in time.

21. Surviving Christmas: Ben Affleck plays a guy who goes back to his family home in an attempt to get through the holidays. The only problem is that his family doesn't live there anymore so he pays the current residents to pretend to be his family and do all the Christmassy things he did as a child. A silly, funny light hearted Christmas comedy.

The only movie I do not own that is on this list is A Mom For Christmas (just because I can't seem to find it for less than $50 + postage). I make an effort every year to watch as many of these movies as I can so that it gets me into the Christmas mood. 

I've also picked up a few other Christmas movies this week to check out - one starring Paul Rudd (that is supposed to be more in line with Bad Santa) and one with Kristen Chenoweth. If they are good, they'll get added to this list of movies to watch for next year. 

What's your "go to" Christmas movie?

I LOVE finding new Christmas movies to watch so if you have any suggestions or recommendations, please SHARE!

 - Brooke

Wes Anderson is Perfection

Can we talk about how perfect this trailer is for just one second? 

I simply adore anything that Wes Anderson creates and it looks like this movie will be no different. I wasn't even aware of the fact that this movie was being made so seeing this trailer today was a lovely surprise.

I mean the synopsis was enough to draw my attention but that trailer is perfection - the music, the costumes, the style and Edward Norton.

Set on an island off the coast of New England in the 1960s, "Moonrise Kingdom" follows a young boy and girl falling in love. When they are moved to run away together, various factions of the town mobilize to search for them and the town is turned upside down – which might not be such a bad thing. 

It's nice to see some of the usual Wes Anderson gang in this trailer - Bill Murray & Jason Schwartzman.

WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MAY (maybe longer) FOR THIS TO BE RELEASED???

*swoon*

 - Brooke

Christmas 2011

Christmas. Can we believe it's over already? I can hardly believe that Christmas has come and gone and it's almost 2012. 

I had a lovely time at home with family eating far too much food (which seems to be the norm) and enjoying watching nieces FREAK out with every gift they opened. I scored some amazingly thoughtful gifts including a Mocking Jay pin (!!!!!!), Griffindor scarf (!!!!!!!) and a silver globe necklace (that should hopefully arrive tomorrow) plus other awesome things.

This was one of the most relaxing Christmas's that I've had in the past few years. There weren't any dramas and my Grandma was super well and happy and LOVED the massive photo frames that we put together for her. Last Christmas she was really sick so it was extra special to have her happy and healthy this year enjoying Christmas lunch with the family.

I hope everyone else had an amazing Christmas and got some special gifts. I'll leave you all with my Christmas gift to you - THE HOBBIT TRAILER (IDK why I didn't post this as soon as I watched it - I still don't have the words to describe how happy/ecstatic/crazy this trailer makes me). Enjoy

 - Brooke

Lunch Fun

Today I went out for lunch with my older sister, her two kids, my Grandma and my Nana. We went out to the Warragul Club and I had delicious beer battered flathead tails and chips. 

When I was in Bangkok I managed to get some film for my Instax Mini (which I had just about ran out of) really cheap so it was fun to be able to play around with it again and take photos. 

I took my laptop with me so I could show Grandma and Nana my Thailand photos. 

This evening I had the house to myself and I had plans to snuggle up on the couch and watch season 1 of Sons of Anarchy - I've heard so much about this show that I decided it was about time to watch it. Only problem is that Dad bought a new dvd/blu ray player and because our copy of SOA is from the USA it's a different region and wouldn't play. 

THEN I went to watch one of the Harry Potter movies but it wouldn't play them properly so I watched Daydream Nation (which has Kat Dennings in it) off my hard drive. Ended up being a great way to spend the evening - really good movie. 

It also had an actor names Reece Thompson in it. This is him: 

He's a new favourite - he plays the kind of dorky, damaged, lovely boy very very well (I've watched him in two movies now - with a couple more on the list of movies to watch). Plus he's super cute and adorable. Bonus right?!?

Over & Out

 - Brooke

Team Coco + Thor = hilarious

I've always liked finding the occasional funny interview online from Conan O'Briens show but in the past couple of weeks I've become obsessed with teamcoco.com and the amazing tid-bits that I've found there. We don't have Conan on any of our free to air tv channels so I am currently spending hours going through old videos (thank goodness there's no "area" limitations & I can watch them) and laughing at my laptop screen.

As a part of the lead up to the release of Thor in the USA Conan did something that for some reason made me crack up big time and I just had to share.

There are two other trailers here and here AND you'd better believe that I now have a new ringtone thanks to teamcoco.com 

I saw Thor in 2D when it came out here and I seriously loved it. Comic book movies have come a long way and are easily some of my favourite movies. It's funny, witty, action-packed and really entertaining - a real escape. Plus there is the bonus of Chris Hemsworth representing the awesomeness of Australian actors and Kat Dennings. 

I'm so happy to have a new fun fave website to enjoy.

*grins*

 - Brooke

*** EDIT - I've just been informed that apparently Conan airs late at night on one of our tv channels. Apparently it airs at 11.30pm on GEM - HOW DID I NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS?!?!

2 May 1998 - The Battle of Hogwarts

Today marks the anniversary of the (fictional) Battle of Hogwarts (2 May 1998).  While I know this wasn't a real battle I can't let this day pass without comment. 

I can remember when the final book in this saga was released - I was in Athens about to head to the airport to catch a flight to Istanbul. I was with my sister and American BFF Storm and we had decided that no matter what it took, we were finding this book in Athens. I had already looked up possible places that might sell it and we started our journey to find this final chapter in a country where the main language was not English.

Luck was on our side that day - we found it in a small book shop (in ENGLISH) for some ridiculous price (I think it was 30 Euros - about $65 AUD at the time). Stormy was feeling generous and bought it for me for my birthday.

I can remember opening the book and blocking everything else out. I spent the entire next day lying in my hostel in Istanbul pouring over every word. I can remember reading of the deaths of Hedwig & Dobby with tears streaming down my face. I can remember freaking out every time something bad happened thinking J.K Rowlings was going to kill off one character and then a different one. I can remember reading the battle and feeling mad/sad/horrified as key characters fell and didn't get back up. I can remember feeling really proud when other characters fought back and I remember proclaiming "YES!" aloud when Mrs Weasley finally let loose. I remember Snapes' story finally being told.

These stories were such a massive part of my life for such a long time (I think I got into them around the time of book 2's release) that's it hard for me not to feel emotional about the final movie coming out in July. I'm starting to get the Lord of the Rings dread creep up whenever I think about the final movie. I feel like I've felt these emotions before and I didn't like it last time - that finality is overwhelming.

I'm pretty sure I had to stop myself from crying when I watched the trailer that was released last week (mainly because I was at work - if I had have been at home when I watched it, I would have cried... A LOT). I know that anyone who would have wanted to watch this will have already, but I think it's worth another watch (or multiple), at least until we get the full movie.

For anyone wanting a more in-depth look at the trailer (with a breakdown of the scenes) the awesome movie nerds over at Empire Magazine posted one. I managed to spot a lot of the things they mention, but even a try HP nerd misses things (like Draco in the background as Voldemort wanders past all the bodies on the ground - MALFOY MANOR).

All I can say is accio July 15th (or maybe 14th for us Aussies)

Much HP nerd love

 - Brooke

P.S I know massive things happened in our real world today, but sometimes it's ok to to put your focus onto other things.

Movie I MUST watch

Holy cow! Can someone please tell me when this movie is going to get a release in Australia?!?!? Or at the very least when it gets leaked on the interwebz can someone tell me where?!?!

This looks so ridiculously brilliant I can barely watch the trailer without freaking out.

Ok now I'm off to go put blue hair dye in my hair!

Glitter Sparks & Happyness

x x x

Brooke

**EDIT** I've just found the following trailer - so spooky! I think being buried alive would be simply horrible and this trailer alone gives me the creeps - but I want to see it.

 

Looks like we've got some amazing movies coming out soon and I for one cannot wait.