This is Your Fave - Home Alone

Still my most popular post - regardless of the season. Yes, Home Alone is just that awesome that all year people are hungry for some Kevin and the Wet Bandits. Or maybe it's that incredible house... Did you know that house was sold this week? My millions were in my other purse or I totally would have swiped it.

Here's a look back at what you've loved so much: This Home Alone Happiness. 

Look at what an artiste (say that with a French accent, oui?) I am! I know how to work Instagram...sorta. Here's fur baby avec Christmas lights and one of my absolute faves...the Christmas Starbys cup.

This Festive Favourite Stuff

I'll tell you a little something about me - I dig Christmas. Christmas Eve is my favourite day of the year in fact. Better than my birthday, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and Canada Day. It's the anticipation that Christmas still isn't quite here. That happiness and excitement. Everyone is looking forward to giving gifts to the ones they love, eating incredible holiday feasts, getting all merry and stuff.

Generally I start dispensing my wish list in October. This year all I wanted was my bathroom renovation to be finished before Christmas. I told my dad that Santa Claus doesn't visit messy houses and that we needed to get that bathroom straightened up pronto. Yes Major Gal, there really is a Santa. The proof is in my newly built bathroom - ahead of Christmas.

So, now that my big item has arrived, I wanted to share some of my favourite things and a few items off my mental Christmas list. I call it "mental" because I haven't shared it with anyone - it's just stuff I'm mentally noted in my head that I'd like.

1. Shout out to Pink Lou Lou for this idea. When my hair dresser and I began our love affair almost a decade ago, she asked me how I wanted my hair styled after the cut and highlights to which I replied "tease if big like I live in Texas." So, I like volume and body in my mane. When PLL blogged about wanted a teasing brush, I knew I had to have one. I texted my brother and baby sister and told them to spread the news that I was hoping Santa would bring me a teasing comb. Visions of a sky high coif are running through my head...

2. One of my absolute favourite things about Christmas is my pink tree. I love it. I can't help myself but to gaze at it. I wish I could keep it up all year.



3. My new Charlie Brown Nativity set makes me smile each time I look at it. Woodstock is baby Jesus. Snoopy is a lamb. Linus is sucking his thumb as a shepherd. The whole gang is there and I effing adore it.



4. Christmas parties! Umm, hello? Is anything better than an opportunity to wear glitter, sparkly jewellery, eat cookies sans guilt and gab with all your closest friends? No. No there is not.

5. Christmas movies. I have a long list of favourites, but at the top is Home Alone.

6. Having a billion things to do and getting them all done while you're on the brink of exhaustion, dreading another trip to the mall, but being happy when you get there because it's so effing cheery and busy and you know that this time of year really is the best. Plus, seeing some of the genius/illegal parking jobs at the mall during the holidays is always good for a laugh. I have new found energy throughout December. I can stay up well past midnight baking cookies, wrapping gifts and cleaning and in the morning I'm not at all cranky because this is my favourite time of year.

7. Being crafty. This year Major Gal is on a budget. That means I've had to be creative when it comes to gifts. I saw a Kate Spade bow ring somewhere online and instantly knew I could make a festive version of it for my girlfriends. Cut to me in Michaels for two hours with my aunt hunting for the perfect ribbon (which we didn't find so I switched designs) and then almost gluing my fingers together later that night while my dogs tried to "help" me assemble the rings.



8. Perfume. I love perfume all year round because I think there's such artistry in the bottles. This year I'm coveting Prada Candy. I got a sample at Holts this fall and I'm savouring the last spritzes until I can snag myself a bottle.

9. Festive clothing. On Saturday night on my girls' weekend I had planned to wear a sequined skirt. Alas, it was not nearly as cute as this baby from Joe Fresh. Paired with black tights and a blank tank (all proudly Joe Fresh and CANADIAN) I got festive with a gold piece in my outfit. Oh ya, the skirt was an early pressie from Papa. I asked for a new outfit for my weekend and he gave me cashola to go buy the skirt. Major Gal is spoiled and she knows it.



10. A quick getaway with three of my besties this past weekend. We're getting older and it cracks me up. We all passed out after dinner and didn't get to the venue until midnight. We were tame. No bail money was needed. Nobody lost their purse. We did capture all the best moments on an instant camera and I'm going to turn the pictures into a collage for the girls. We had some gems. On the trip to Niagara Julia and I were allowed to play one Christmas cd. Nicole was navigating and she plays Grinch to our Elf. She said no singing, clapping or snapping in the car. We obeyed...sort of ;)

What's getting you into the spirit this season? Are you all set for Santa?

This is the Christmas Spirit Tree

I've heard a bit of buzzing about a Christmas tree in Union Station, Toronto being powered by Christmas spirit. I didn't really clue in to what that meant until today and lemme tell ya....I've already tweeted at the tree a couple of times and now I'm devoting this post to it. This idea is genius, wonderful, magical and oh so very Christmassey. #CTXmas


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I've got the live feed of the tree up on my monitor to give me that special Christmas feeling while I'm at my desk. It reminds me of the classic quotation from It's a Wonderful Life - "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings" and a favourite of mine, from Elf - "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear." So, we're not ringing any bells and it's best for everyone that I don't sing, but I can tweet, blog and Facebook all about this incredible Christmas Spirit Tree to watch the lights glow and all the while I'll be happy happy :) In this case, every time you tweet, blog or post something to Facebook about Christmas, a social media contraption (that's my technical term) finds the post and somehow it powers the lights on the tree. Since I'm very technical I'm sure you're all fully aware of what I mean with that explanation. If not, read here about how it works. It's truly such a fantastic idea and a great way of uniting people during the holidays.

By the way, on Friday night I was at a little fete with my high school girlfriends and my friends Stef and David gave out Christmas cards. In mine they wrote, "To the most festive person we know." I. Die. I. Have. Always. Wanted. This. Title.

This Christmas Music Thang

Mama loves her Christmas music. My satellite radio is currently set to the holly station so everywhere me and the Jeep go, we're caroling away. Deck them halls and yadda yadda. Seriously though, I really love Christmas music, so I thought I'd share some of my absolute favourites with you in case you need some festivating (it's a new word, taken from the English "festivities" and morphed by me into a new term) inspiration.



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Merry Christmas, Darling by The Carpenters. This entire album is wonderful. Karen died far too young.

Christmas Song by The Raveonettes. Do I garner some cool cred with this one?

Elf's Lament by The Barenaked Ladies. A gem! Listen to the lyrics and the artistry in the rhymes. Canuck boys - <3

Carol of the Bells - any version will do. First time I heard this was on a Christmas episode of ER...many moons ago. Back when Clooney was still on.

Wintersong by Sarah McLachlan. The first time I heard this I bawled. It reminded me so much of my mom that I wept huge tears over missing her most at Christmastime.

Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses. Please add this to your holiday play list and dance whenever it comes on. You won't be sorry.

If you don't own the entire album - go out and get it. Vince Guaraldi Trio's Christmas is Coming, first heard in the tv broadcast of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Pure 80s genius, Last Christmas by Wham! I like this song so much I could listen to it year round. I have it on a regular cd (remember when we burned cds?) and sometimes I do Christmas in July...in my car...by myself.

Merry Christmas Baby by THE BOSS. This is my favourite version. Everyone else should knock it off and stop trying. He's the man and I've had enough of your popstar antics - got it?

River by Robert Downey Jr. This is obviously a cover of Joni Mitchell's song. Holla to the Canadians on my list!! During the bad boy's stint on Ally McBeal I may have fallen deeply in love with him and this song crushes my heart into a billion pieces.

So, here's the thing. This list could go on and on, but you all have lives and want to get back to listening to cool, hipster, indie music or rap or whatever and you're like "Come on Major Gal. Enough with the festivating already." So, that's it that's all folks.

This Home Alone Happiness

Recently my chiropractor (who incidentally I love) asked me what my favourite Christmas movie was. Without hesitation, I spat out "Home Alone!" I love everything about that movie. This year I think I watched it for the first time before Halloween. Don't judge. So, this post is dedicated to my brother, Devin and sister, Chandler. We watch the movie together, order pizza and drink pop as a sibling tradition. Yes, I'm almost 30, but I don't see that tradition stopping, like ever.


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Besides the music and how happy the movie makes me, the McCallister home is something I've adored - okay coveted - for over 20 years. Nestled in the historic Chicago town of Winnetka, this gorgeous Georgian style home was built in the 1920s and is the standard I hold all houses to. To be frank - I want to live here. I'd prefer it were in Toronto, but I'm not too picky. I won't ride my toboggan down the staircase and out the front door, but I know I'd throw a killer soiree in that beauty. As soon as the ink dries on the mortgage papers, you're all invited over. We'll have plain cheese pizza and Pepsi just like Kevin would prefer.

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When my parents rented this movie for me in the summer of 1991, I was 9 years old. I thought everything was hilarious. I thought Kevin's plan to thwart the Wet Bandits was genius. I laughed the entire time. I know every word. Watching this movie reminds me of being a little girl and I think that's why it means so much to me. Last year I waited until December 23rd to watch the movie. My brother had to finish school for the semester and get back home for Christmas and we decided we none of us would watch it until we could watch it together. I fell asleep before it was over. It's okay, I know how it ends.


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Watch one of the original trailers...what a gem.

What is your favourite Christmas movie? What does it mean to you? Why is it your favourite?

This is the Christmas Kick-off

Well, if I'm being honest with you guys, I didn't wait until December 1st to get festive. Nope, not this girl. My little pink tree has been up for a couple of weeks and I'm itching, ITCHING I tell you to decorate the rest of the house.

Two weeks ago a coworker busted me listening to Christmas music. For me, the season starts when you get home from trick or treating. Yes, October 31st. For two glorious months I listen to holiday music. I plan out the treats I will bake. I drool over new decorations and colour schemes for my trees. Plural trees. Every part of the house deserves to be aglow with its very own tree. If my bathroom was big enough I'd toss one in there too and greet it each morning happily. "Well hello there tree. Lovely to see you this morning." That's what I'd say.

Getting back to Sanetown, what have you done so far to get festive? Do you have traditions you'd like to share? For me, it's the spirit of the season that means the most. I'm so new puppy, rainbow and lollipops happy during the holidays and I feel like everyone else is too. It's such a wonderful feeling.

If I could round up enough lights, this is how my house would look. Christmas a la Griswold.
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If you haven't seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation more than 10 times in your life, you're missing out. So many great lines - many of which are exchanged in normal conversation between my girlfriends and I.

That's a bit of what Christmas means to me :)

This Small World

A new website (new to me anyways) came my way last week and I had to share it with you guys - especially my Torontonian readers. As I watched this video I came to the 2 minute mark and had to rewind twice before I realized that my dear friend, her brother, sister and nephew were in the video. I immediately shared it with her as it brought such a sweet smile to my face.

What I love about the video and the concept for the site is that real people are a part of everything. Suze and her family aren't actors - they didn't pretend to be watching the annual Santa Claus parade, they were really watching it and the My City Lives team just happened to capture the moment.

Are we all Christmassey yet? Is that even a word? Can I make it a word since I use it all the time? Let's make it a word, shall we?

This is What Christmas is All About Charlie Brown

Are those not the sweetest words you've ever heard uttered by a cartoon character? I watched A Charlie Brown Christmas tonight for the first time this season. Usually I watch it when it airs on one of the big TV networks, but I was at a work function the night it was on, so tonight it was just me and my DVD.

I really love this movie, for reasons my closest friends and family know. It reminds me of my mama. Thinking of her as a little girl watching it just makes me all warm inside. She loved the movie and, like I've written before, my family and I buy pretty much all the Charlie Brown stuff we can find over the holidays. It's a small way of keeping her with us. The soundtrack is one of my favourites. Those jazzy beats and the super-cool vibe make me wanna dance and I often do whether I'm in my car, in my condo or answering my phone - one of the songs is my ring tone. It just makes me really happy and I imagine my mom dancing around with me. Before I get myself too depressed over all this, I want to share a picture of my favourite Charlie Brown Christmas decoration. I snapped the picture tonight especially for this post. Whatever the holidays bring you, spread happiness and find your inner Snoopy. That little guy was so freggin' happy all the time. We could all use a little Snoopy in our lives. xoxo

This Happy Christmas

Just a short post to exclaim excitedly, "It's almost Christmas!" That means we'll be opening presents, seeing friends and family, savouring delish turkey and watching the best movies ever - Christmas movies of course. Think about all the wonderful things that await you if you need a pick-me-up today.

Are we all ready for the holidays? I've still got a few gifts to grab and cards for the ones I love. I spend more money than I'd like to admit on cards because I take my time and pick out the best ones for the special people in my life. I like glitter and fancy stuff on my cards, so they often come with a heftier price tag. That's okay though :)

This Oops!

Last night I blogged about White Christmas and my blog face lift. I goofed on who's doing the redesign however. It's Fabulous K! I wrote as I was thinking about other things - specifically the Pink Wallpaper blog and then the words appeared. I hate it when that happens. We've gotta spread the love! So thank you to Fabulous K for your stylish blog design :) I can't wait for the reveal.

Tonight the bf and I are heading to Yorkdale. This might be one of my favourite malls ever, but I am NOT looking forward to the mayhem that awaits me. I love the mall. I love Christmas. I am not a fan of crowds though and since I've been suffering with this winter cold, I can't imagine I'm going to have the stamina to push my way through the mobs of shoppers. The things we do for retail therapy.

This afternoon I've got the second work Christmas party. They go all out at my work. Last year we had a fake reindeer and fireplaces with lodge furniture brought in. It was awesome. There were different food stations and the most memorable was the very Canadiana maple syrup station. Nestled on a bed of shaved ice were sticks with fresh maple syrup just beginning to solidify. I might have indulged in a few of those. I wonder what they'll do this year!



Happy Thursday folks. xoxo, Major Gal.

This White Christmas

I'm always dreaming of a white Christmas, although I'm not opposed to one day trying a tropical Christmas. I'm looking out my floor to ceiling windows and I see those big fluffy snowflakes descend on the city. It's honestly beautiful seeing the lights of the city peeking through the December snow. We're lucky people in Toronto. I just watched Mickey's Christmas Carol and I'm one happy girl. I'm also happy because soon I'll be unveiling my new blog. The lovely artist behind Pink Wallpaper is currently working on the new look. I can't wait to see it!

On Sunday night I watched White Christmas for the bazillionth time. That movie really has everything. It's almost 60 years old, but the singing, dancing and costumes are incredible. If you haven't seen this classic holiday film, go out right now and rent it. No, buy it. It should be in everyone's collection. If you're not singing "Sisters. Sisters. There were never such devoted sisters" by the end, come talk to me and I'll change your tune. For the dancers out there, watch the duet with Judy when she's wearing this fantastic little yellow flared skirt and 3/4 sleeve top. Great routine. Great outfit. Great everything.




Enjoy these photos from this holiday classic. I've gotta go watch the snow fall :) Happy Wednesday!

This is Puppy Love

I was just meandering through Twitter and one of my faves tweeted to all dog lovers in Toronto. Of course I had to click on the link and read the blog post at shedoesthecity.com. I died! If you're wondering what to get Major Gal for Christmas, look no further than http://www.alegup.ca/puppyrazzi/home.html. I would like to have Gigi photographed. Yes, I'm crazy. Yes, it might seem pricey. Yes, I'm going to do it regardless of how nuts you think it is. I don't have kids. Gigi is my fur baby and until I'm trekking to Sears to get my bambinos posed in front of a fake fireplace for Christmas, I'm getting my baby Gigi photographed. She's a star so it's perfect. Yes, I'm always biased and think she's the best dog on planet earth.

I chatted with a man in my elevator this week and he told me his beloved dog passed away a couple of years ago and how, in many cases, he prefers dogs to people. I can totally relate. Gigi is full of attitude and I'm under no delusions that she's well-behaved and a perfect angel. Does that stop me from adoring her? Not at all. I think she's perfect just the way she is.



Go check out the site if you have some pet lovers on your list or you just want to take a peek at some really great shots of some furry friends. This gorgeous poodle was photographed by the gang at puppyrazzi. Isn't she a little sweetheart?

This is What I'm Asking Santa For

Hey pals! Pop over to Shannon's blog today to see what I'm asking for this Christmas. Shannon is the brain behind the gorgeous blog, What's Up Whimsy? and she's truly a design goddess. She's featuring her favourite bloggers from around the world for her 12 days of blogger wish lists. It's such a great feature for her blog and very festive. I'm so happy she asked me to be a part of it! http://www.whatsupwhimsy.com/2010/12/12-days-of-holidays-blogger-wish-list_07.html



Last night I whipped up a batch of gingerbread cookies. I used a Silpat liner and my cookies turned out much better. There was no time for decorating as I let my last tray of sweets start to cool just before 11pm, but I promise to post some pictures of these little fellas once I get them all decked out. I forgot how much I love baking and spending time on my own creatively. In the last couple of days I've really tapped into the creative side of my brain and it's been therapeutic.

Tonight is the first of many holiday parties at work. I've got a shiny new top and cute little cardigan on with my usual wide leg jeans. I wear these babies at least once a week to work. They're so comfortable and for what I paid for them at the Bloomies in Soho a few years ago, I'm getting my money's worth.

Well folks, I hope your Tuesday is a delight. See you all soon.

This Was a Festive Weekend

Hello friends! I had a festive, busy and expensive weekend but I wouldn't change any of it. Friday night I stayed in, ordered pizza (Friday night is the best night to order pizza in my opinion), watched Keeping Up With the Kardashians on E! and then fell asleep on my couch with my little fur baby asleep in her dog bed. I got up early Saturday morning - earlier than I get up for work actually - and my cousin Kate picked me up for the MAC employee sale. As we arrived we saw the HUGE lineup and decided to ditch and head for the One Of A Kind Show instead. I'm so glad we did.

We both spent a pretty penny in the massive exhibition. I reloaded at the ATM more times than I'd like to admit, but I crossed a lot of names off my Christmas shopping list AND I found a well-priced birch tree painting for my condo. I've always loved birch trees and lately they've been everywhere. The only problem was every time I saw a painting I liked it was out of my price range. When I saw this gem for less than a hundred dollars, I grabbed it. I can't wait to hang it up!




We saw some really awesome stuff at OOAK and it was great to spend a day with my cousin. Our family is very close, but life gets busy and we don't always see each other as much as we'd all like. On Sunday morning, I got up early (sigh, again) and then drove out to visit my sister, Chels at university. I took her shopping and spent a small fortune on food, fun and crafty stuff. I've missed Chelsea so much since she moved away, but I'm so proud of her. She's not going to be home for Christmas until the 23rd and we've got a deal not to watch Home Alone until she's back in Aurora and we can order a plain cheese pizza just like Kevin McAllister does. For the record, Home Alone is probably my favourite Christmas movie so this pact Chelsea, Chandler and I have made is KILLING me. I won't give in though.



Chels and I spent ages in Micheal's yesterday and I found great cookie decorating supplies. I even bought a teensy paint brush to detail my cookies with a hint of shimmer. On my way home I hit Metro to buy pre-made dough (I was so anxious to decorate that I didn't want to spend time making cookie dough) and spent the last few hours of my weekend decorating cookies. I took lots of pictures last night, so I'll add some later. I prefer original colours for the holidays. I don't believe it's all red and green, so my cookies are violet, pink and teal so far. They're fabulous and match the new tabletop display I made out of jewel toned jingle bells and mini ornaments last night. It's official - I'm in the full wring of holiday mode now and there's no slowing down.

This is Holiday Music Time

I will fully admit, that for me Christmas begins as soon as the trick or treaters have gone home with their loot. That means I've been in holiday mode since October 31st. Yes. I love everything about it. I've been listening to Christmas music online all day at work and now that I've discovered the Sirius holiday channels, I haven't switched the dial in the Jeep for weeks. I could live in Christmas land if there were such a place. I've never grown out of it. I'm a grown woman, but I still want to believe in Santa and I really do believe that the magic of the holidays brings something special to each of us. We're happier, we're merry while we dash about buying presents and attending holiday parties. We make time to see friends and our calendars are full of fun stuff like baking, present wrapping (I actually hate wrapping presents), Home Alone watching, candy cane eating and eggnog drinking. What could be better?

I've been thinking about how much I love Christmas music and why it means so much to me. My mom was all about the holidays and I've inherited that love from her. I've adopted her holiday music collection and my favourite Christmas cd is the original Mariah Carey holiday album from the mid 90s. My mom bought it for me at Eatons and I can still listen to it forever. Maybe my love for the holidays is overkill, but my whole family is just like me so it works. We get excited. We do Kris Kringle gift exchanges, we have gingerbread house competitions and crafternoon events, we sing Christmas carols and always spend Christmas Eve together.



Here are some of my favourite holiday songs in no particular order.
1) Last Christmas by Wham
2) Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby
3) O Holy Night - any decent version. My favourite line is "...fall on your knees..." It's just so powerful
4) Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC
5) Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) both the U2 and Mariah Carey versions
6) anything from the Charlie Brown Christmas album
7) Mary's Boy Child by Boney M
8) Anything from the Nutcracker
9) Carol of the Bells - excellent and great build up
10)I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by John Cougar Mellencamp
Pretty much the entire A Very Special Christmas album (the original) is great. Oh! I also really enjoy the Maybe This Christmas series by various artists. The Death Cab for Cutie version of my number 5 favourite song is great, then again I like everything by Death Cab.

Anyways, this is just a taste of what I'll be listening to this season while I clean my condo and get it ready for Santa. I'm even decorating Gigi. She has a holiday collar and leash set and does NOT like the antler headband I just bought her. If I get one picture of her in it, I'll be thrilled.

This weekend throw on some Christmas tunes. Find a free station online or download some to your iPod. It will make you happy, I promise.

This Holiday Kick-off!

Yes people, the time has arrived. Hallowe'en is over. There was a chill in the air this weekend and we had some flurries. What does this mean to me? CHRISTMAS!!! I'm all about this holiday. It's my favourite. Starbucks changes to their holiday cups and sleeves. Pretty, sparkling lights go up. People are merry. I buy presents. Christmas carols play in my car, house, on my computer, on my phone (hi there Mariah Carey ringtone). I'm just so happy! It may be Monday and maybe you're not as in to Christmas as I am, but think about how lovely it is and find your happy this holiday.