Halloween Movie Musts

To me, one of the best and most efficient ways to get in the holiday spirit is through classic seasonal movies. I love settling in with a bunch of snacks, a few drinks and a stack of films to get through. Though the likelihood of that happening anytime in the near future is sparse, I can still dream, right? If I had my way, or if Penelope was old enough, I'd dedicate a whole weekend to decorating, making pumpkin cookies and watching this entire list!

This first group is what I like to call 'Halloween Lite'. These movies are more family-friend, not necessarily scary, and just a good time!

Hocus Pocus - a true classic to me. I love this movie so much and if you just don't get why, see this list.

The Addams Family - a stellar cast and a good enough story. Plus they're scary and they're spooky!

Ghostbusters - another classic. I love both I and II but if I only get to pick one, I'd have to go with the original.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show - not really Halloween per se, but it evokes that dark, spooky spirit. It's just a fun movie with pretty fabulous soundtrack which is worth watching for alone.

The next group are some classic scary movies that some deep, dark part of me really loves to watch!

Halloween - there's nothing like the original. I've seen it many times yet it still manages to get under my skin.

Psycho - it's the quintessential scary movie, the film that defined a genre. And it still puts me on edge to shower when I'm home alone.

Scream - the first scary movie that I ever saw (and in a theater!) and the opening scene is still one of my all time favorites! You know, in a really morbidly thrilling kind of way.

The Exorcist - totally over the top and let's face it, it's totally dated. But when Reagan walks backwards down the stairs with those green eyes and scarred face? Ugh I'm shuddering just thinking about it.

Nosferatu - the original Dracula and a silent film to boot, yet still manages to be quite scary in it's old age.

The Shining - just a story of a creeptastic hotel and the inhabitants who slowly go crazy there. oh and some dead people too.

And finally, since I'm always on the look out for some new things, here are a few movies that I'd love to see for the first time this year:

The Birds

In Cold Blood

The Amityville Horror

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

What are your Halloween movie musts?

Movies I Can't Not Watch

Shaun always laughs when he finds me watching the same movies over and over again. Somehow, I never tire of a solid romantic comedy and find myself getting sucked into certain films {way} beyond a normal number of viewings. When Lauren mentioned possibly writing about my favorite movies for What About Me Wednesday, I thought it was a great idea, but decided to give it a twist. These aren't necessarily my favorite movies of all time (though some of them are!), but ones that I simply can't say no to...

You've Got Mail

"Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan...they get mail and stuff..." {Friends}

This is probably my number one go-to romantic comedy and one that I cannot even count how many times I've seen over the years. I love so many things about it. First of all, Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks. Secondly, the fact that it is set and filmed in New York City at all iconic Upper West Side spots. It has some of my favorite quotes ever (including, "Don't you love New York in the Fall? it makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils, if I knew your name and address." --I love school supplies :)) It's funny. It's charming. It's sweet. It's whimsical. It's highly unrealistic, and that's why I love it. Ok, you can call me a dork now.

Father of the Bride

This movie just makes me happy. An all-star cast of Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, and Martin Short make this one a classic. Not to mention the timeless story of Dad seeing his little girl grow up and get married. It gets me every single time. I especially love Steve Martin's freak out in the grocery store, because I think it's something everyone can relate to! Not that my dad did that or anything, but there may have been some freaking out when I tied the knot.

The Proposal

This movie is so over the top ridiculous and I heart it. I've always loved Sandra Bullock and I totes have a thing for Ryan Reynolds (not to mention the fact that he's shirtless in multiple scenes). Oh and did I mention Betty White? I can never get enough of her. She is just so funny and adorable. So yep...anytime I flip on the TV and see this I just.can't.help.myself.

Toy Story 1, 2 or 3

Yup, when I see this on TV, it's happening. I'm getting my Disney watch on! I absolutely love these movies. I can't not watch. They make me laugh (and make me cry...every.single.time). These movies are just simply ingenius in their storylines, creativity and creative innovation. And I'm pretty sure this is the one film series on the list that Shaun will agree with me on :)

Holiday Movies

I can't wait to get into watching holiday movies this season! I have a rule to not watch any holiday movies or listen to holiday music until the night of Thanksgiving (when I force Shaun to listen to Christmas carols on our way home from my aunt's house) since it kicks off the season. I'm planning a full post about my must-see holiday movies that I simply can't go without every year, but just know that I can never say no to them.

So there you have it. Just a small sampling of movies I can't turn down. I wish they were more existential and made me seem smarter, but the reality is that I like watching mindless, happy movies that just make me feel good afterwards! I'm sure this could be a two part series, so if I think of others, I'll be sure to do a Part 2 post :) Have a great day!

Questions of the Day:

What movies can you simply not say no to?

What movie have you seen the most times?

Leaving on a jet plane + scary movies

I'm at it once again.

I'm traveling! This time, I'm heading to Orlando for work. Not to be confused with my recent trip to Las Vegas for work or my trip to Spain and my trip to Switzerland for pleasure. I think 2011 is the year of travel for me. Aside from my trip today, I'm also heading to my favorite place on Earth, Aruba, in August (for vacation!) and Albequerque, New Mexico in October (any readers out there?). It's all good things, but it can certainly be an exhausting one! Of course, my favorite trips are those that revolve around the food.

Last night, I whipped up a dinner for one. In 20 minutes, I had a nutritious and delicious quickie dinner. First, I made up some quinoa. In a separate sauce pan, I boiled some baby carrots and frozen broccoli for like 3-4 minutes. Then I dunked them in some ice water to stop the cooking. I tossed the veggies and the quinoa with my favorite stir fry sauce, House of Tsang Classic Stir Fry Sauce. Yummy!

 

Since Shaun was out, I had the big screen all to myself (score!). I rewatched True Blood from Sunday night (obvi) and then noticed that The Ring was next up on the schedule. I'm not going to lie. Shaun and I saw this in theaters years and years ago and I swear, I was terrified to drive home alone from his house later that night. This movie was so beyond ridiculous and unrealistic, but I found it to be sooooo scary. I mean, honestly, how could you not be scared by this??

Ok, I found an even scarier Ring image than this, but I couldn't even look at it myself, so I spared you.

Luckily, I switched to Date Night instead. Tina gets me every time (oh and I'm reading Bossypants right now, and it rocks the house!).

Sigh.

It got me thinking about all the scary movies that I've seen over the years. I'm typically more of a romantic comedy kind of girl (and ones that I can watch on loop include You've Got Mail and The Proposal, naturally).

My Scariest Movie List:

Child's Play - When I was a kid, I walked into the living room (way past my bedtime!) and my parents were watching this. I guess it was a cool movie in the 80s? I only caught a glimpse, but I was scarred (and scared) for life.

The Sixth Sense - ahhhhhh! Seems so silly now, but I saw it on the night it premiered - the woman in the kitchen? the boy with the bloody head? I thought it was super scary!

The Ring - obviously

Scream - I know it's so cheesy, but I was a virgin scary movie watcher before this one! It was the first scary film I ever willingly watched.

The Shining - Eek! Those creepy twins in the hallway? Red Rum? All work and no play make Jack a dull boy? And don't even get me started on Shelley Duvall's teeth. Creeeeeps!

Dexter, season 4 - I know it's television, but the fourth season of Dexter, which featured John Lithgow as The Trinity Killer, still has me checking over my shoulder when I'm walking alone and checking the bathrooms and under the bed if I arrive home solo. Ack.

I think that covers the ones that stand out to me. And now I'm really wishing that our glass terrace door had a full shade over it. What about you? What are some of the scariest movies you've ever seen?