Joyeux Noel 2015 | Glacier Lagoon Edition | Jökulsárlón, Iceland

Last year, Markus and I sent out our first ever holiday postcard. It was a huge hit and I wanted to continue the tradition this year. Even though Markus and I had some wonderful professional photos taken for our 10 year wedding anniversary, they didn't scream Christmas. Before we went to Iceland, I researched a few areas and found the perfect location: Jökulsárlón, the glacier lagoon in Southern Iceland. 

Jökulsárlón is absolutely incredible and one of my favorite places in Iceland. I've never seen anything like it and it took my breath away. I remember as the glaciers started to pop up on the side of the highway, I gasped so loud that it startled Markus. We were supposed to be able to go on boat tour and see the glaciers up close and personal, but the tour was cancelled. I was disappointed, but it gave us more time to find the perfect spot for our holiday card. I could write paragraphs about how beautiful the place was, but I think the photos would be a much better representation! I definitely recommend listening to "Hoppípolla" by Sigur Rós while you peruse the photos below! 

Also, Happy Holidays dear readers! Thank you for following my adventures this year and I truly appreciate all of you. It still boggles my mind that people are interested in our travels. I can't wait to see what 2016 will bring and to share them with you!

Cruz Family Christmas Card

For the past nine years, all I've wanted to do is send customized Christmas cards. The most important part of this process? The photo. Thankfully Markus booked a couple nights at this awesome bed and breakfast, Goldberry Woods, for my birthday. Goldberry is in Michigan and just an hour and half outside the city. It's definitely an idyllic spot and the perfect place for a festive photo.

On Saturday morning, we woke up early and donned our matching outfits. It snowed the night before and it created a beautiful winter wonderland. We trekked through a nearby forest and found so many great spots. We took so many photos and in the end, had way too many to choose from. The photo above is the one we ultimately chose. We thought it was playful and perfectly showcased our personalities. I'm a bit sad that we can't use any of the other photos, but at least I get to share them with you!

Happy Christmas from Chicago!

With all the craziness that's been going on, we weren't able to send out Christmas cards. I was a bit upset, but I can at least share the photo with you! The photo was taken in the heart of Chicago in front of Buckingham Fountain. I love this city and I'm so thankful that we're able to live in such a great place.

We'll be spending our first Christmas back in the states in Florida. It might be warm, but it's what we're used to. It's been a while, so it'll be nice to be around friends and family. So with that, Markus and I hope that you have a wonderful and lovely Christmas!

Twelve Days of Christmas Cinema | Week 3

We have come to the final week of Twelve Days of Christmas Cinema and it went by so fast. I think that Markus and I saved the best movies for last. This week, we watched some of the greatest Christmas films I've ever seen. It was the perfect way to end Twelve Days of Christmas Cinema as well as begin the festivities. I loved watching these films and they were exactly what my holiday deprived heart needed.

1. Home Alone (1990)
I forgot how much I loved this movie. This film came out when I was seven and watching it brought back so many memories. There are so many great things about Home Alone. It's hilarious, it's well-written and most of all, it's touching.

For some reason, before we re-watched Home Alone, I thought I didn't like it. It was a great movie but I didn't watch it multiple times as a kid. I was too enamored with Princess Bride and Edward Scissorhands. This was for the best though, because when I watched it again this week, all these childhood memories came rushing back. I couldn't help but feel empathy for Kevin McAllister. I spent my whole life wishing that I could travel the world. Now that I've finally achieved my goal, I never stopped to think how much I would miss my family. There was a moment where Kevin realizes that he misses his family and that moment really resonated with me. Even though, I'm living out my dream, I still yearn for my family.  Despite being a kid's movie, Home Alone is a wonderful film. Even 22 years later, it still makes me want to both laugh and cry.

2. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

This is another quintessential Christmas film that I've never seen. I actually didn't know much about the story before watching it. I only knew the famous last words, "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings." I've always thought that this was a bit cheesy and always put me off watching the film. It's just one of those kinds of movies, the sort of movie that everyone knows, but doesn't necessarily like. Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy classic films. Many of my favorite movies are from the Golden Age of Hollywood. 

There were many things I enjoyed about It's a Wonderful Life. I really enjoyed Jimmy Stewart. Earlier, we watched The Shop Around the Corner and he was fantastic in that as well. I loved that Stewart's character was selfless in this film. He was always giving up his dreams for other people. It was hard for him, but he still did it. He almost made the worst decision of his life, but thankfully, he realized that his life was worth living, even if it wasn't where he thought he would be. Life doesn't always end up the way we think it will, but we still have the possibility of having a wonderful life. 

3. Scrooged (1988)
Personally, I feel like this is "the" Christmas movie of all Christmas movies. This is by far the best adaptation of A Christmas Carol, which is hard for me to say, because I loved a Muppet Christmas Carol. Billy Murray as Scrooge is absolute perfection and Scrooged is a perfect mix of humor and that warm fuzzy feeling you get when you watch Christmas movies.

During Creepy Cinema 2012, I said that Bill Murray is one of my favorite actors. I think that he's amazing in almost everything he does and many of the movies he stars in are my favorites. He's such a versatile actor and I believe that a lot of his recent films are his best. Since he has such a large body of work, I mainly watch his recent stuff. I've forgotten what he was like in the 80s.  He's definitley progressed as an actor and has made some great film choices. He no longer has to play the goofy, funny guy. He can pick and choose what he wants, which is usually a bit more stoic. He's still funny, but in a different way. Watching him in Scrooged was like visiting an old friend you forgot about. I enjoyed watching that side of him.

4. Joyeux Noel (2005)
I've never heard about this film until I was doing research for this year's list of films. I'm actually quite surprised it went under the radar, since I'm sure that many people also haven't heard of Joyeux Noel. The premise is based on true events, the World War I Christmas Truce and is told from the point of view of the Scottish, French and German soldiers. I knew just from the premise alone that I would be weeping by the end.

I really truly loved this movie. War stories are always a bit hard to watch, but Joyeux Noel was different. Even though it's set during war, it still tells a beautiful and touching story. It really showcases the beauty of humanity and that deep down we all still want the same thing, peace. War can bring out the dark side in people, but it was nice to see that even in the midst of a bloody war, soldiers from different sides could put aside their differences and celebrate Christmas. It's a great film and one that I would recommend for the holiday season.

So my dear readers, that is the end of Twelve Days of Christmas Cinema! I hope you enjoyed reading my reviews of each film. I enjoyed all of these 12 films, they were a great way to end this year and get into the holiday spirit. I hope that all of you have a  Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

Happy Christmas 2012 from Busan, South Korea

This year we decided to make a Christmas video instead of sending out Christmas cards again. We took silly photos in the hopes of sending out cards, but I ran out of time. I don't know how time got away from me. Although, I think the video is much better than the cards because it shows what our life is like as teachers in Korea.

It's a bit hard being so faraway from home during the holidays, but thankfully Markus and I have each other. It's been a bit easier because we can have a Cruz Family Christmas. Even though we haven't been home for about 15 months, Markus and I have been able to create some amazing memories. So with that dear readers, I wish you and yours a Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year.

Ultimate Christmas Playlist

I love Christmas music. I remember waking up on Christmas morning and hearing the soothing voices of Dean Martin, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. My daddyo was born on Christmas, hence my name Noelle. My two older brothers, also have Christmas names.  Daddyo would wake up early to prepare the house for visitors. I would stumble out of my room and wish him a Happy Birthday and a Merry Christmas. We would sing a few songs together before I got ready for the day. I miss those days. It's been eight years since the last time we did that.

With the memories of those special mornings, I've created my Ultimate Christmas Playlist. These are my absolute favorite Christmas songs. It would've been easy to just post one of the albums that daddyo used to play, but there are so many amazing songs out there. I've compiled a list that spans all genres and eras. Take a gander, listen to a few and let me know what would be on your Ultimate Christmas Playlist!

1. Don't Shoot Me Santa - The Killers
2. The Little Drummer Boy - David Bowie & Bing Crosby
3. Baby, It's Cold Outside - Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone
4. White Christmas - The Drifters
5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - She & Him
6. Sister Winter - Sufjan Stevens
7. Let it Snow! - Dean Martin
8. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - 'N Sync
9. Last Christmas - Wham!
10. All I Want for Christmas is You - Jimmy Fallon, Mariah Carey & The Roots
11. Christmas is All Around - Billy Mack
12. I Wish it was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas
13. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
14. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - Death Cab for Cutie

Twelve Days of Christmas Cinema | Week 2

In the second week of Twelve Days of Christmas Cinema, I watched two of my least favorite movies so far. It was a bit of an off week, but I expected it. Half of the movies, I've seen, and the other half were a hodgepodge of genres and eras. I'm more than happy to broaden my horizons and watch things I wouldn't normally watch. If there was one thing I learned from Creepy Cinema 2012, it was that films I didn't think I would like, I loved. These two films just ended up being ones that I would never watch again. 

1. A Christmas Story (1984)
The first time I watched A Christmas Story was 2010 with one of our best friends, who is from Cleveland, Ohio. He said that this was one of the best Christmas films and one that is very special. We decided to include this film on this year's list because I think people would've been appalled if we didn't.

This was one of the films that I feel deserves the hype. I think A Christmas Story is one of the quintessential Christmas films. I know that TBS plays it non-stop on Christmas day. It's something that has become synonymous with the holiday. I knew quite a bit about the plot before I watched it, but it didn't reduce any of my enjoyment. This is one of the better 80s Christmas movies, it's not my favorite, but it's still quite good. I think I liked it better the second time around. The first time, I wasn't as interested, but during this viewing, I paid more attention to the details and the story. I noticed that it had a similar feeling as National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, but A Christmas Story is much more likeable. Maybe because the main character is a child and you can excuse all of his shenanigans. It's much harder to forgive similar shenanigans in a grown man.

2. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)
After we finished watching this movie, the only thing I said was, "well, that was weird." I don't even really know how to describe it. Markus and I decided to put it on the list because he had heard it was one of those peculiar cult classics, also because of its interesting title and premise. It's the only film of its kind on the list. I haven't seen very many B-movies and this was definitely a B-movie.

Basically, the plot focuses on the Martians and a problem that they face with their children. Martian kids have become distracted and uninterested in Martian life. They only care about watching Earth programs. The solution that the Martians receive from their 800 year old sage is that they need Santa. So naturally, the Martians come to Earth and kidnap Santa. You would assume from the title that Santa Claus comes in and kicks some Martian booty, but the exact opposite happens. He just sort of bumbles about cheerfully. He does no conquering or anything really special. It's such a strange film. I've never seen anything like it and would never watch it again. Although, I'm glad that we did, because how often do you get to see Santa on Mars?

3. Love Actually (2003)
Words cannot describe how much I adore this movie. Love Actually has to be one of the best ensemble films I've ever seen. There are so many amazing actors in this film: Colin Firth, Martin Freeman, Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, I could really go on forever. I remember the first time I watched it in the theater. I was so affected by the stories and they resonated with me deeply. I love that not every story is a happy ending, which added a hint of realism.

Even though I've watched it many times, the stories never get old. I think that's the beauty of having multiple intertwining stories. They give you a little taste of one and then they move to another before you can get bored.  It's not hard to have a favorite storyline. I like almost all of them, but it's easy to have a least favorite. I always feel so bad for the woman with the troubled brother. Just when you think she's going to end up with the love of her life, fate deals her a bad hand and she misses her chance. Despite the not so happy ending in some of the stories, the film ends on a happy note. I love the message of the film, "love actually is all around." It's true. Sometimes we get caught up in our everyday lives and forget to notice what's going on around us. Love is such a beautiful thing and I'm thankful to be reminded of it.

4. Die Hard (1988) 
After watching Die Hard, I've learned something very important about myself. I do not like 80's guy movies. They're not my cup of tea and I don't enjoy them. It's strange because I love a lot of recent guy movies and I used to watch kung-fu flicks a lot when I was a kid. I think that my distaste is strictly specific to the 80s. This year alone, I watched Predator, Commando and Die Hard and I disliked every single one of those films.

Die Hard is definitely a guy movie. It's all guns, action and catchphrases. The premise is quite unbelievable, but are any of them believable? Bruce Willis isn't bad in this movie, I actually like him. I also loved that Alan Rickman was the villain. He's such a phenomenal actor and I like him in almost everything. What I didn't like was the length of the movie and some of the nonsensical plot points. For instance, why does John McClane have to run around barefoot the entire movie? Are you telling me that when he first heard the gun shots, he was physically unable put on some shoes? My golly. I know it's meant to show how B.A. he is, but I just think it's unnecessary. For me, the movie was just a lot of action and not much depth.

Twelve Days of Christmas Cinema | Week One

This first week of Twelve Days of Christmas was exactly what I needed. Around Christmas time, I get really homesick. Christmas in Korea is nothing like back home. It's more of a holiday for couples and no one else celebrates it. There are so many things I miss about Christmas in America. I miss drinking and eating peppermint infused treats. I miss hearing Christmas songs everywhere. Most of all, I miss spending time with my family and friends. Watching these movies really put me in the Christmas mood and reminded me of home. They were the perfect antidote for my homesickness.

1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1983) 
This movie was my first taste of the National Lampoon films. I’ve seen Van Wilder, but I don’t think it really counts. I expected a lot from this movie, and I am sad to report that I was a bit disappointed. I know that everyone loves this movie, but I wasn’t that keen on it. I think that’s the problem with these kinds of movies. People have such fond memories of them from their childhood and they build them up. I've often heard it’s the best movie they’ve ever seen or the perfect representation of Christmas. For me, it was just okay.  

First, the length of the movie is too long. It just kept going and going. Every time they showed the Advent calendar, I kept wishing it Dec. 25. The main character, played by Chevy Chase, is just awful and really annoying. I know that he wants the perfect Christmas, but come on man. Why can’t he just relax? He makes ridiculous choices and most of the time they aren’t even that funny. I think that if I watched this as a child, I would’ve enjoyed it, but as an adult, I just wanted it to end. 

2, The Shop Around the Corner (1946) 
When I was in middle school, I would spend Friday evenings with my mom. We would lay in her bed with a bowl of popcorn and watch classic movies. I’m so thankful for having a mother who exposed me to old movies.  I learned a lot about relationships and love. I also learned how to be a lady and about style and fashion.

On one of those nights, we watched The Shop Around the Corner and I immediately fell in love. It truly is a timeless classic and stars Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. It’s a simple story about two people who argue constantly and end up falling in love on Christmas Eve. The film is executed perfectly. It’s funny and serious when it needs to be. The acting is amazing and it’s a real gem. I wish they still made movies like this; there isn’t a lot of flash or complicated story lines. It gets to the point and focuses on what matters, the relationship between the main characters. It's one of my favorite movies and one that will always leave me feeling warm and happy. 

3. Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) 
As a child, this was my favorite movie. When I think back on my childhood, I have a lot of memories connected with this movie. I watched it constantly. I knew all the words to every song and sang them much to the annoyance of my parents and older brothers. My mother even made me a Jack Skellington outfit to wear for Christmas. I was obsessed.

I think I loved it so much because it perfectly combined two of my favorite holidays, Halloween and Christmas. It’s not entirely a Christmas movie, but also not completely a Halloween movie. It’s a great combination of both holidays and it’s a fun seeing how they interact. The story of this film is quite unique and unlike anything I’ve seen. I remember being in awe of Halloween Town. I wanted to live in that weird and kooky place. It seemed like a kid's dream living in a place where it was Halloween everyday, who wouldn't want that?
 

4. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) 
I have to admit that in my childhood I had a considerable lack of Muppets. I never watched Sesame Street or saw a Charlie Brown film. I think it’s because my siblings were 11 and 12 years older than me and I was left to my own devices. I watched a lot of I Love Lucy, Gilligan's Island and I Dream of Jeannie. What can I say? I was an odd kid. 

When we watched this film, it was like I found  a missing piece of my childhood. I absolutely loved this movie. There was so many amazing things about The Muppet Christmas Carol. To be honest, I was expecting to dislike this movie, but it was fantastic. It’s heartwarming, funny and poignant.  Michael Caine was also a pleasant surprise. He makes a great Scrooge. The acting was quite good and the puppetry was incredible.  While watching, I found myself laughing and crying. Yes, crying. I don’t know if it was the wine I was drinking, but there was one part that really got me. Judge me all you want, but watching a disabled frog singing about being thankful was touching. It’s always good to be reminded to be thankful, even in a kids movie.

 

Imaginary Christmas Wishlist

Around this time of year, everyone is creating their Christmas Wishlists. Sure there are things that I want, but what about the things that I want, but can never have? I started thinking about all the things that I would wish for if I could have anything. I think I've created a pretty awesome Imaginary Christmas Wishlist.  Now, if I could only figure out how to make one of these things come true.

Who wouldn't want to own a time traveling machine? I would love to be able to go anywhere in the universe during any time period. Of all the time machines to choose from, the Tardis is by far the best choice. It's a beautiful slick design, it's bigger on the inside and it comes with the Doctor. How can you go wrong with that?

Of all the animals in the world, be it fact or fiction, the panda is my favorite. One Christmas when I was a kid, my mom gave me a stuffed panda. I dragged that lil guy with me everywhere and slept with him every night. Ever since then, I've always wanted a panda. I imagined all the awesome things we would do together, like go down slides, eat lots of bamboo and sit around looking all cute and junk.  

I'm sure that you've figured out that Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite novels and obviously, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy is the epitome of a dream man. There's so much to love about him, he's a gentleman, he has an amazing home and he's passionate. I know that initially, he seems cold and distant, but when you get to know him he's a fierce protector of those that he loves. I wouldn't want to marry him, I'm already married to someone amazing, but a date with Mr. Darcy would be a dream.

I'm pretty sure that at first this would be a great idea, but later I would regret it. Old Gregg would turn obsessive, maybe try and steal Markus from me, but I feel like it might be worth it. We could hang out in his cave, do our makeup and paint watercolors. Also, he could  serenade me anytime all while I drink Bailey's from a shoe.

Of all the fictional schools, Hogwarts would definitely be the coolest and most interesting. The facilities alone are worth attending. Who wouldn't want to go to a school with moving staircases, haunted bathrooms and talking paintings? I can't forget to mention the awesome teachers and the coolest kids in all the land. The best part would be the relationships you would form and the experiences you would have.

If you've seen Midnight in Paris, then you know that Paris in the 1920s is a writer's dream. I couldn't even imagine how inspiring the city would be during this time. I've never been to Paris, it's on the Wandering Wishlist, and I'm dying to go. I've heard so many wonderful things about the City of Lights. If I could go during the 1920s, I would sit at a cafe and spend hours writing. Then at night, go out and do the Charleston with the Fitzgeralds and Dali.

Even though Steve Zissou is a bit selfish and not the best leader, he still goes on fantastical adventures. I have a fear of the ocean, so I think the best way to overcome that fear, would be to join Team Zissou. Sure, everyone on the team has issues, but who doesn't? Hunting the jaguar shark would be the greatest of adventures. You've got to admire Zissou's thirst for vengeance. Also, I've always wanted to wear their uniforms. I think they're quite cool.

I remember every weekday afternoon, I would run into the house, so I could catch Sailor Moon. This show was the most important show in my life. My friends and I even picked which scouts we would be. I was Sailor Jupiter and even wore my hair like her for a year. I spent evenings dreaming about Tuxedo Mask and how I could punish people on behalf of the moon. Of all the female super heroes, they were also the hottest.

I feel like this needs no explanation. Who wouldn't want to be bff's with Ron Swanson? He'll be able to teach me how to build things all while eating bacon. Sounds awesome.

I think being around this kind of genius would hopefully rub off on me. I would love to roam the streets of England solving cases. I'm pretty sure he would drive me crazy after five minutes, but that's what happens when you around someone so intelligent.

So, dear readers, that is my Imaginary Christmas Wishlist and I hope you enjoyed it. If you had a list, what would be on yours? Make sure to leave a comment and let me know!