Countdown to Christmas -- 2020 Edition

Besides Halloween, I will admit I still get excited for Christmas time. Things just seem to be more magical in the month of December. Luckily enough last December, while hard, I was smiling and happy and I think it is because of this checklist as well as keeping myself surrounded with love and light as much as possible. Definitely glad I changed the pattern of unhappy holiday seasons. However some sadness has returned due to the pandemic and the death of my father. I will make it through the best way I can. Most of the things will be done either by myself or with my boyfriend Mike, or with friends and family. Also, just because there is a date attached does not mean it will happen on that date -- it is more of a checklist.

November 27th: Get holiday cards Done!
November 28th: Start writing out holiday cards Done!
November 29th: Start reading the book The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand. Finish it by Christmas Eh. Will not be part of my tradition list next year.
November 30th: Watch Die Hard Done!
December 1st: Order 2021 calendars on Amazon Done!
December 2nd: Watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
December 3rd: Mail out holiday cards. Done!
December 4th: Get a holiday inspired manicure. Make sure one nail is sparkly! Done!
December 5th: Watch Scrooged
December 6th: Read one story in the collection My True Love Gave To Me Done! Read the story "It’s a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown” by Stephanie Perkins.
December 7th: Make and decorate gingerbread cookies Done! They were so yummy!
December 8th: Watch He-Man & She-Ra A Christmas Special
December 9th: Get a holiday inspired candle from Bath and Body Works. Done!
December 10th: Wear my funkiest pair of leg warmers (or treat myself to a new pair) Done! Got another pair of Pudus fuzzy slipper socks.
December 11th: Watch Nailed It! Holiday Edition on Netflix Done!
December 12th: Make a holiday playlist on Spotify and share it with all my friends on social media for them to enjoy listening to Done!
December 13th: Watch Holidate on Netflix Done!
December 14th: Watch Home Alone
December 15th: Watch The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix
December 16th: Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas Done!
December 17th: Wear rhinestone reindeer antlers during my Zoom lessons. Done!
December 18th: Leave a card/gift for my mail delivery person and/or garbage person who is working extra hard this time of yearDone!
December 19th: Watch the movie Tangerine Done.
December 20th: Watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Done!
December 21sr: Watch Gremlins.
December 22nd: Watch Anna and the Apocalypse
December 23rd: Watch Mr Bean's Holiday
December 24th: Spend the day with my boyfriend being all beautiful and magical. Catch up on Christmas movies not watched yet on this list
December 25th: CHRISTMAS!!! Watch all of the Gilmore Girls Christmas episodes and spend time with my loved ones.

Countdown to Halloween -- 2020 Edition

My favorite holiday, besides my birthday, is Halloween. I am drawn to all things Halloween/Autumn -- vampires, zombies, werewolves, cheesy 80s horror movies, dressing up, anything pumpkin flavored or scented, sweater weather... Just love it! With that said I thought it would be cool to do a COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN activities list. Most of this stuff will be done by myself or with friends and family. Some of these things will need to be edited for social distancing. Yes I know there are dates attached but I am using it more as a check off list.

October 1st: Watch the movie The Lost Boys Done!
October 2nd: Watch the movie Nightmare on Elm Street (original with Robert Englund)
October 3rd: Watch the movie Hotel Transylvania.
October 4th: Read a short story in Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King Done! Read the story Batman and Robin Have an Altercation
October 5th: Go to a haunted house.
October 6th: Watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
October 7th: Watch the cartoon Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
October 8th: Read 2 tales in Toil and Trouble. (Currenly reading Starsong by Tehlor Kay Mejia and Afterbirth by Andrea Cremer
October 9th: Watch the movie Hellraiser
October 10th: Watch the movie House of 1000 Corpses.
October 11th: Watch the movie Psycho (original Alfred Hitchcock version).
October 12th: Watch the Universal classic horror movies Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein.
October 13th: Go Halloween home decor shopping -- either at Target or At Home. Done!
October 14th: Get candles with a cinnamon or pumpkin smell from Bath and Body Works for my room. Done!
October 15th: Make my own Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte at home
October 16th: Watch the movie Beetlejuice
October 17th: Watch the movie Interview with The Vampire
October 18th: Watch the movie Hocus Pocus.
October 19th: Watch the Netflix series Marianne
October 20th: Watch the movie Carrie (the original version with Sissy Spasek)
October 21st: Watch the movie The Evil Dead
October 22nd: Watch the movie The Craft
October 23rd: Build a haunted gingerbread house
October 24th: Get a pumpkin for my house at Union Square Market
October 25th: Happy Birthday Veronica!
October 26th: Watch Tales of Halloween (Netflix)
October 27th: Watch the movie Coraline (Netflix)
October 28th: Watch the movie Teen Witch
October 29th: Get a fall inspired color manicure.
October 30th:
October 31st: HALLOWEEN!! Watch The Shining and do spell in the Daily Spellbook for The Good Witch book.

Countdown to Christmas -- 2019 Edition

Besides Halloween, I will admit I still get excited for Christmas time. Things just seem to be more magical in the month of December. Unforuately the past 4 years of the holiday season has not been the greatest for me and last Christmas was the hardest one yet. My mother passed away due to complications from lung cancer on December 9, 2018 and while I did have this posted and I did my best to complete this Countdown as I am big on traditions and routines, my heart just was not into it last year. Upon more reflection -- this year is truly the first year without my mother for holiday traditions. I am also big on trying things again and have spent the majority of this year finding my smile again. Most of the things will be done either by myself or with my Russian, or with friends and family. Also, just because there is a date attached does not mean it will happen on that date unless it is specific events with tickets attached -- it is more of a checklist.

November 29th: Get holiday cards (Done!)/Go see Frozen 2 with my Russian and friends (Done! Didn't particularly like the movie but it was a fun time out)
November 30th: Start writing out holiday cards (Done!)
December 1st: Start reading the book The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand. Finish it by Christmas (Started!)
December 2nd: Watch Die Hard (Done!)
December 3rd: Order 2020 calendars on Amazon (Done!)
December 4th: Watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Done1)
December 5th: Mail out holiday cards. (Done!)
December 6th: Get a holiday inspired manicure. Make sure one nail is sparkly! (Done!)/Visit the Cost Plus World Market (620 Sixth Avenue)(Done!)
December 7th: Watch Scrooged
December 8th: Read one story in the collection My True Love Gave To Me (Read Its A Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown by Stephanie Perkins)
December 9th: Build a gingerbread house (Done....well kinda. It was a foam kit from Oriental Trading. Came out so cute!)
December 10th: Watch He-Man & She-Ra A Christmas Special
December 11th: Get a holiday inspired candle from Bath and Body Works. (Done! Got Marshmallow Fireside, Santa's Workshop which smells like a snickerdoodle, Vanilla Bean Noel, and Chocolate Peppermint Cream)
December 12th: Go visit the Rockefeller Center tree
December 13th: Attend holiday work party. (Done!)
December 14th: Go watch some ice skaters in Bryant Park and walk around the Winter Village (Done!)/Watch the movie Anna and the Apocalypse (Done!)
December 15th: Cozy up in some pajamas and watch the Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special.
December 16th: Watch Home Alone (Done!)
December 17th: Watch The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix (Done!)
December 18th: Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas (Done!)
December 19th: Wear rhinestone reindeer antlers to work. (Done! I do need to get another pair as mine broke)
December 20th: Visit the Union Square Holiday Market (Done)
December 21st: Watch Aggretsuko: We Wish You a Metal Christmas (Done!)
December 22nd: Watch The Original Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Little Drummer Boy) on DVD
December 23rd: Watch Gremlins. (Done!)
December 24th: Spend the day with my Russian. (Done! It was beautiful and magical)
December 25th: CHRISTMAS!!! Watch The Muppets Christmas Carol and spend time with my loved ones.

Countdown to Halloween -- 2019 Edition

My favorite holiday, besides my birthday, is Halloween. I am drawn to all things Halloween/Autumn -- vampires, zombies, werewolves, cheesy 80s horror movies, dressing up, anything pumpkin flavored or scented, sweater weather... Just love it! With that said I thought it would be cool to do a COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN activities list. Most of this stuff will be done by myself, with my Russian, or with friends and family. Yes I know there are dates attached but I am using it more as a check off list.

October 1st: Watch the movie The Lost Boys (Done!)
October 2nd: Watch the movie Nightmare on Elm Street (original with Robert Englund)
October 3rd: Watch the movie Hotel Transylvania. (Done!)
October 4th: Read a short story in Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King (Done!)
October 5th: Go to a haunted house.
October 6th: Watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
October 7th: Watch the cartoon Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Done!)
October 8th: Read 2 tales in Toil and Trouble.
October 9th: Watch the movie Hellraiser
October 10th: Watch the movie House of 1000 Corpses. (Done!)
October 11th: Watch the movie Psycho (original Alfred Hitchcock version).
October 12th: Watch the Universal classic horror movies Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein.
October 13th: Visit Last Rites Gallery
October 14th: Get candles with a cinnamon or pumpkin smell from Bath and Body Works for my room. (Done!)
October 15th: Get a pumpkin spice chai latte at Argo Tea
October 16th: Watch the movie Beetlejuice
October 17th: Watch the movie Interview with The Vampire (Done!)
October 18th: Watch the movie Hocus Pocus.
October 19th: Watch the Netflix series Marianne
October 20th: Watch the movie Carrie (the original version with Sissy Spasek)
October 21st: Watch the movie The Evil Dead
October 22nd: Watch the movie The Craft (Done!)
October 23rd: See Zombiedland 2: Double Tap in theaters (Done!)
October 24th: Get a pumpkin for my house at Union Square Market (Done!)
October 25th: Go see In This Moment in concert with Robert (Done!)
October 26th: Watch Tales of Halloween (Netflix)
October 27th: Watch the movie Coraline (Netflix)
October 28th: Watch the movie Teen Witch (Done!)
October 29th: Get a fall inspired color manicure. (Done!)
October 30th: Watch Maleficent: Mistress of Evil in theaters with my Russian
October 31st: HALLOWEEN!! Watch The Shining and do spell in the Daily Spellbook for The Good Witch book

Countdown to Christmas 2018

Besides Halloween, I will admit I still get excited for Christmas time. Things just seem to be more magical in the month of December.Now for the third year in a row life has been hard -- this year from having my own health crisis to having heartbreak yet again but it was a lesson learned the hard way and quite easily which put me back on my path of growth. I am big on traditions and routines so here is an outline. Most of the things will be done either by myself or with my friends and family. Also, just because there is a date attached does not mean it will happen on that date unless it is specific events with tickets attached -- it is more of a checklist.

November 23rd: Visit the Union Square Holiday Market (Done!)
November 24th: Attend Halestorm and In This Moment concert at Hammerstein Ballroom (Done! Had a fantastic time!)
November 25th: Start reading the book The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand. Finish it by Christmas.
November 26th: Make Christmas playlist on Spotify (Done!)
November 27th: Get holiday cards. (Done!)
November 28th: Wear mistletoe headband. (Done!)
November 29th: Watch the movie Die Hard (Done!)
November 30th: Start writing out holiday cards (Done!)
December 1st: Watch the movie Scrooged. (Done!)
December 2nd: Visit Artists and Fleas at 568 Broadway (at Prince Street)
December 3rd: Order 2019 calendars on Amazon (Done!)
December 4th: Watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Done!)
December 5th: Mail out holiday cards. (Done!)
December 6th: Get a holiday inspired manicure. Make sure one nail is sparkly!
December 7th: Watch A Nightmare Before Christmas. (Done!)
December 8th: Read one story in the collection My True Love Gave To Me (Done! Read the story Polaris is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han)
December 9th: Build a gingerbread house (Did not do this year as I did not want to do it by myself)
December 10th: Watch He-Man & She-Ra A Christmas Special (Done!)
December 11th: Get a holiday inspired candle from Bath and Body Works. (Done!)
December 12th: Go visit the Rockefeller Center tree
December 13th: Go watch some ice skaters in Bryant Park and walk around the Winter Village. (Done!)
December 14th: Go see Anna and the Apocalypse in theaters (Could not see it in theaters as it was taken out due to low sales. :( )
December 15th: Cozy up in some pajamas and watch the Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special.
December 16th: Watch Home Alone (Done!)
December 17th: Start reading the book Together at Midnight by Jennifer Castle. Finish it by New Years Eve by midnight.
December 18th: Watch The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix
December 19th: Wear ugly Christmas sweater to work. (Done!)
December 20th: Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas (Done!)
December 21st: Start my Yule candle ritual. (Done!)
December 22nd: Watch The Original Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Little Drummer Boy) on DVD (Done!)
December 23rd: Watch Gremlins.
December 24th: Watch Red Christmas.
December 25th: CHRISTMAS!!! Watch The Muppets Christmas Carol and spend time with my loved ones.

Have a very merry holiday season!

Countdown to Halloween -- 2018 Edition

My favorite holiday, besides my birthday, is Halloween. I am drawn to all things Halloween/Autumn -- vampires, zombies, werewolves, cheesy 80s horror movies, dressing up, anything pumpkin flavored or scented, sweater weather... Just love it! With that said I thought it would be cool to do a COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN activities list. Most of this stuff will be done by myself. Yes I know there are dates attached but I am using it more as a check off list.

October 1st: Watch the movie The Lost Boys (Done!)
October 2nd: Watch the movie Nightmare on Elm Street (original with Robert Englund) (Done!)
October 3rd: Watch the movie Hotel Transylvania.
October 4th: Read a short story a day in Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King (Done! Mile 81)
October 5th: Watch the movie Venom in theaters (Done!)
October 6th: Watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show. (Done!)
October 7th: Watch the season 9 premiere of The Walking Dead (Done!)
Watch the cartoon Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Done!)
October 8th: See the movie Halloween in theaters
October 9th: Watch the movie Hellraiser (Done!)
October 10th: Watch the movie House of 1000 Corpses. (No way to watch it. Maybe next year I will buy the DVD)
October 11th: Watch the movie Psycho (original Alfred Hitchcock version). (Done!)
October 12th: Watch the Universal classic horror movies Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein. (Done!)
October 13th: Visit Last Rites Gallery (Did not get to go. Its okay. Another time)
October 14th: Get candles with a cinnamon or pumpkin smell from Bath and Body Works for my room. (Could not afford candles from Bath and Body Works for instead I got candles from the dollar store with a vanilla apple cinnamon smell. They will do)
October 15th: Get a pumpkin spice chai latte at Argo Tea
October 16th: Watch the movie Beetlejuice (Done!)
October 17th: Watch the movie Interview with The Vampire (Netflix)
October 18th: Watch the movie Hocus Pocus. (Done!)
October 19th: Attend Stephen Lynch concert (Done! Had such a fun time!)
October 20th: Watch the movie Carrie (the original version with Sissy Spasek) (Done!)
October 21st: Watch the movie The Evil Dead
October 22nd: Watch the movie The Craft (Done!)
October 23rd: Howl at the moon....lol....maybe not but instead maybe get a beauty treatment that is pumpkin scented or fall inspired. (Still have my pumpkin sleeping face mask from last year. Score!)
October 24th: Attend She Wants Revenge concert. (Did not physically attend due to reasons but was there in spirit via Spotify playlist made by my best friend)
October 25th: HAPPY BIRTHDAY VERONICA! Watch the movie Veronica in honor. (Netflix) (Done!)
October 26th: Watch Tales of Halloween (Netflix)
October 27th: Watch the movie Coraline (Netflix) (Done!)
October 28th: Watch the movie Teen Witch (Done!)
October 29th: Get a fall inspired color manicure.
October 30th: Watch The Shining (Done!)
October 31st: HALLOWEEN!! Give an acorn to loved ones for good luck and fortune in the new year and get a tarot card reading for guidance for the year to come. (Done!)

What are you doing for October/Halloween?