"Happy Christmas, Ron!"

[Yes, a side note already: Does anyone else think this is the funniest line in the first Harry Potter movie?  Or even recognize it?  Zach and I make fun of it every time we watch it...]


Whilst caroling for my ward FHE last week, someone started singing "The Twelve Days of Christmas".  Ok, A) that song was NOT on the approved list, and B) it's reeeeeally long (or so it seemed--it was cold outside).  In rebellion, a friend *cough*Bradley*cough and I made up a Harry Potter version.  We thought it was hilarious--and I still think it is.  So, as a special Christmas treat for you all, I will share it with you.

You all know how the song goes, right?  So, get that going in your head and I'll supply the changes--I'm not writing out the whole song, because that would be ridiculous. 

"On the first day of Christmas Hermione* gave to me: A Phoenix in a holly tree..."
*Or whatever other HP character you want to use.  Bradley really likes Hermione.

Second Day: 2 Wrackspurts / Crumple-Horned Snorkacks (take your pick--we couldn't decide which one we liked better)

Third Day: 3 Deathly Hallows

Fourth Day: 4 Firebolts

Fifth Day: 5 GOLDEN SNITCHES

Sixth Day: 6 Fizzing Whizbees

Seventh Day: 7 Horcruxes (yes, we know this would not be a good gift, but they had to be in there)

Eigth Day: 8 Owls a-flying

Ninth Day: 9 Quidditch Cups

Tenth Day: 10 Hippogriffs

Eleventh Day: 11 Hogwarts letters (get it? 'Cause you're 11 when you get your letter?)

Twelveth Day: 12 Wands a-waving

Maybe some day we'll make a music video...

Vacation

Yes, I know--that title is just the essence of creativity.  But, it is nonetheless descriptive.  I've had this whole week off of work.  (I decided to use some of my vacation time to create my own "October Break".)  It has been fabulous!  I've been getting all sorts of things done.  I will now leave you with a list of random samplings from my week, as well as some pictures.

This week I've:

• Made a hat for Nephew T
• Washed my car (Lucy's first bath!  Except then it sounds like a child instead of a car, but you get the point)
• Made something else that will remain a secret for another, eh, 2 weeks
• Made up my own pattern (if you really want to call it that) for a crocheted flower

Isn't it cute?

•  Got some new music
• Sewed (most of) a skirt
• Watched a few movies (Penelope, anyone?)
• And organized my yarn stash

Guys, I think I'm turning into a yarn hoarder.

Yes, that entire basket is full.

These wouldn't fit in the basket.

This was a gift, and it all fits in the original bag so nicely...

My current project--in yet another bag.

Eep!  Soon it won't all fit in my closet!

Braided

I'm a bit obsessed with braiding my hair right now.  It probably doesn't look as good as I think it does (after all, I usually braid it myself towards the end of the day because I'm sick of my hair being on my neck).  But, I love it.  Not only does it pull my hair back, it doesn't have the obnoxious back-of-the-head-bump like a pony tail does.  Bliss, my friends.  Bliss.  Now I just need to learn how to French braid.

Hey, does anyone out there know how to French braid?  Can you do it on yourself?  Anyone care to teach me?  (Don't worry, Diana--I'll be talking to you soon.)  

That's all for now.  I just thought you'd all like to know.

Oh, and stay tuned for some exciting news this weekend involving wheels, the color blue, and Glendale.  It shall be an adventure!

The Top Ten List is Back!!

Hello everyone!  I know you've all been waiting for this.  I have with me tonight (for the last time for approximately 18 months)---Kailei!!

Hello fabulous Carpenstein readers!!!  Yes... I am back. Get excited!

Well, by now, you all know the drill.  Kailei's here, we're already getting a little slap-happy...must be time for a Top 10 post!  Kailei, why don't you introduce the topic?

My pleasure, Jenny! (Drum roll please...)

(roll...)

THE TOP TEN REASONS WE LOVE THE TINKERBELL MOVIES!!! (don't judge)

Oh yes.


Reason #10: Anjelica Huston is one of the good guys.  

Ok, so this one is more for me, and it requires a little back-story.  The only movie I have ever seen her in is Ever After (fantastic movie, by the way).  In that, she is the evil stepmother.  Hearing her voice as the lovely, kind-hearted queen of the fairies is kind of hilarious to me.

Reason #9: It's pretty.  

You really have to watch it to know this... It's true.

Reason #8: Random British people

Because obviously when you follow the second star to the right straight on til morning you end up in Great Britain. What, you guys didn't know that?   It's like Christopher Robin from Winnie the Pooh.  Movies: British accent.  TV show: American accent.

Reason #7: Tinkerbell actually talks!

But only to other fairies... when she talks to people (British people of course) she still sounds like a bell. 

Reason #6: Jenny knows all the names of the fairies... including the actresses who play them (I, on the other hand, just know their talents).  

Umm...I plead the 5th.

Reason #5:  Clank and Bobble.

This one is really for me... I think they are endearing. Plus I let Jenny put Thomas on our top 10 animated men list and I did NOT understand that... she owed me one. Consider the debt paid in full.

Reason #4: Music.

Yes, it is a little weird, but it's catchy!

Reason #3: Kristin Chenoweth!! 

 

I LOVE her!

Ditto.

Reason #2: Outfits.

If I could pull off a wardrobe of pixie hollow fairy meets Penelope... I totally would! I agree.  And they even change with the seasons!  

Winter is next--get excited people!!

And...........

Reason #1: TERRENCE!

Disregard the fact that Jesse McCartney does his voice.  (Personally, I think that's a little weird.)  True... but you get over that fact pretty quickly after looking at Terrence for 2 seconds or so. Hey, we like men fairies (apparently).  So what?

We know that you are all just DYING to watch these movies now... and yes, you can borrow them!  All 3 of them.  They're fabulous!

Well, Kailei, I'd say this has been a very successful post.  Thanks for stopping by!  

Thank you for having me! It was definitely a success... Next time: Top 10 moments in our letters to ARGENTINA!!  Because you know they will be awesome!  Si. 

Good night everyone!  

Jammin'

Tonight, I have with me one of my favorite people: Kailei Shelley.  Say hi Kailei!

Hello wonderful Jenny-blog readers!!

Just in case some of you missed our awesome joint post, we've decided to do one every month (alternating blogs, of course).  So you all get a monthly taste of Jenny-Kailei night!  Get excited!

20 minutes later we are at this point in the post... perhaps listening to the Tangled soundtrack was a bad idea... nah!  If only we could show you guys video...on second thought, it's probably good that we can't. :)

Tonight we are going to share with you our top 10 favorite songs to sing along to.  Only 10?!?! But I'm pretty sure that we just oh so dramatically sang along with the entire Tangled soundtrack... ok... maybe 10 is to keep us under control...uh, yeah.  Ok, here we go.


10) "Dig a Little Deeper," from The Princess and the Frog
So we don't listen to this one all that often... but who can argue with the fact that it's fun to sing along with a crazy, blind, bayou woman?  A crazy blind bayou witch doctor woman, to be exact.  Just try not to join in with the gospel flamingo choir.  I dare you.

9) "You're Timeless to Me," from Hairspray

We like singing to this one, but really it just brings up one of our favorite discussion points when listening to the Hairspray soundtrack: how the heck does John Travolta sound like a woman when he's singing in a man's range?!?!  Just forget the fact that it's technically two men singing to each other... accept and move on.  We did. 

8) "Just Around the Riverbend," from Pocahontas
If only our hair looked as cool while we are singing as hers does... We have a bit of hair envy. The song is cool too...Sadly, I have nothing to add.  That pretty much covers it.

7) "True Love's Kiss," from Enchanted 

It's Enchanted, so naturally, we love it.  I'm pretty sure we've listened to this soundtrack in the car more than any other CD.  This one is so much fun to sing because of all the quotable lines... "You were made... To finish your duet!"

6) "Run and Tell That", from Hairspray
I have black people envy... That's why we sing this one.  Yeah, somehow I can't seem to channel quite the same level of cool.  Hmm...

5) "Mother Knows Best," from Tangled

This one is relatively new, hence the lower rating.  Still awesome, though.  We like to sing it because we get to do a lot of awesome voices and arm flailings... probably not a good choice for in car listening... We don't want people to think we're completely insane.  I think they already know... but I guess we shouldn't display it...  

4) "I Won't Say I'm in Love," from Hercules
Getting to sing in an overdramatic tone AND add in 5 extra muses... sign me up!  So many parts to choose from!

3) "Without Love," from Hairspray

By now, I'm sure you're seeing a pattern in where these songs are coming from...but who cares.  Another song with lots of different parts to sing and fun lyrics.  "Living in the ghetto" [plus a knife flip]? Oh ya!  And yes, we do the action along with the song every time.  And yet, Jenny still got in my car every morning... 10 and 2 on the wheel? Only when I'm not making knife signs. 


2) Beauty and the Beast, the entire broadway soundtrack
So we couldn't pick just one... and yes, we know this is cheating a bit...Personally, my favorite parts are when The Beast sings up in the high tenor range and suddenly you think, "Oh, that's what he probably normally sounds like.  Huh."  Plus, I think we both have a secret (or not so secret for me) desire to BE Belle... just saying that I may or may not have a Belle dress and I may or may not have received tickets to Disney on Ice with my 3 and 4 year old cousins... ya.

And...drumroll please....

[drumroll]

1) "That's How You Know", from Enchanted

As both of our families know, this is the movie we probably watch together the most often.  But, this song holds a special place in our hearts, mostly due to a certain lyric... We choose not to give it away, because it took an entire semester to figure out what they were saying... you pay the price and you can laugh along with us when the Jamaican man comes in in the middle.  

And now, I leave you all with a challenge: listen to all of these songs.  Seriously.  Or... maybe not.  Whatever. But you won't be sad if you do... PROMISE!

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this at least a little bit.  Thank you for joining me, Kailei!  It was AWESOME!  Oh yes... we will meet up again next month on my blog. Look forward...    

Pretty Hot For an Animated...

So, I just did a guest post-ish thing over on Kailei's blog.  If you'd like a taste of what our Kailei/Jenny nights are like, you should check it out.  Be warned: it is a tad long.  But AWESOME!!  

You know, sometimes I think we have a bit too much fun together.

Nah. 

Just a taste of the goodness to come!

Paperbound Torture

So, I just finished reading this book this evening:

Thanks for the picture Barnes and Noble!

Holy cow.  Ok, before I get into this, I probably should let you know: I LOVE the Percy Jackson books.  In fact, I have them all sitting on my shelf.  I think they're awesome.  Naturally, anything by Rick Riordan is going to be on my list to read.  The aforementioned tome is a new series in the same setting as Percy Jackson and the Olympians.  

So, what did I do when it came out last Tuesday?

Went right to the store and bought it, naturally.  Who cares that I was in the middle of another book or two?

Oh man.  As I got to the end of this book, I literally felt my blood pressure rising as I got closer to the end and realized: yeah, you know that nice tidy ending you wanted?  It's not coming.  This is definitely the beginning of a series.  

Aaargggh!!  

I'm beginning to think I get a bit too attached to these fictional characters.  Guess what I'm going to be dreaming about tonight and thinking about for the next week?

Next fall can't come fast enough.  Stinkin' series...

Obsession #297

Say hello to my latest fetish:

Yeah, the colors aren't exactly right--it's much cuter in person, trust me.

OK, I just have to say it--isn't that the cutest little tiger you've ever seen?!  I think I might die!

My mom and I are now slightly addicted to crocheting the edges on baby blankets.  And the best part is it's totally an excuse to sit and watch movies.  ("Hey, I'm doing a project!  I need something to...listen to, yeah.  And possibly watch...")  Who are these blankets for, you ask?  I have no idea.  Possibly my *future, of course* children, possibly whoever has a baby next.  Meh.  The "who" isn't really that important.   

Look!  More!

Mwahahaha.  Now where's my copy of "Wives and Daughters"?