I don’t know who you are, but you’re totally my hero.

Thanks for the laugh,
Sarah

As promised, the second installment of Christmas music downloads. This time around, it’s the pop/non-traditional tunes, the ones that we don’t all know, but will soon all love. These were harder to put into sections because they’re all so different, so I’ve organized them by decade.

Disclaimer: The RIAA dictates that all music downloaded should be removed after previewing for 24 hours. I am not responsible for what you do with the music you download. Basically, if you’re keeping it, I don’t want to know about it.

Same deal as last time: I’d appreciate it if you’d comment with what you’ve download, just so I can have an idea of when my links will expire. If any of the links do expire or are otherwise not working, let me know!

To download, just copy and paste the link to your browser bar and replace hxxp with http.

The ’60s

“Riu Chiu” – The Monkees
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=CAWP6LL2

“Father Christmas” – The Kinks
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=5DULIEE9

The ’70s

“Merry Christmas, Darling” – The Carpenters
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=4DHOLRYQ

“Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth” – Bing Crosby & David Bowie
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=KY5GF7MY

“Happy X-mas (War Is Over)” – John & Yoko & the Plastic Ono Band
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=O3UVS3ZZ

The ’80s

“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” – Bruce Springsteen
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=UIBN5ABB

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – The Pretenders
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=5DULIEE9

“Santa Baby” – Madonna
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=1N8UY9CV

“Wonderful Christmastime” – Paul McCartney
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=X2ZFMKVS

“Christmas Wrapping” – The Waitresses
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=DRPEP437

“Christmas in Hollis” – Run DMC
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=APRB1FJF

The ’90s and Beyond

“I Want an Alien for Christmas” – Fountains of Wayne
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=P0NW7DDE

“The Man in the Santa Suit” – Fountains of Wayne
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=CK6VZ24E

“All I Want for Christmas Is You” – Mariah Carey
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=X8GU76RR

“All I Want for Christmas” – Olivia Olsen (aka that super-adorable little girl from Love Actually)
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=939SCBHI

“The Innkeeper’s Lament” – Altar Boyz
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=YEDP08N1

“Joseph’s Dilemma” – Altar Boyz
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=07JKZDH7

Happy Listening!

Making a charitable donation in someone’s name is always a great gift, but with Toms Shoes both the gift recipient and the charity get something. Toms Shoes provides lightweight comfortable canvas shoes in dozens of styles. The great thing about them is that when you buy a pair, Toms Shoes provides a second pair free of charge to a child that really needs them. So your giftee will have a great pair of new shoes, along with the knowledge that there’s a less fortunate kid out there with a pair as well.

This site is fantastic. When you go to FreeRice it gives you vocabulary questions, and for each one you get correct, 20 grains of rice are donated to the hungry through the United Nations World Food Program. So not only are you helping out someone without anything to eat, you’re also improving your own vocabulary. It’s a win-win! Just click on the banner to get started.

And finally, at Poverty Fighters you can donate money to help fight poverty just by clicking a banner on their homepage. Simple, easy, and you can do it everyday.

And remember, there are a ton of ways to help out during the holiday season – drop some spare change in the Salvation Army bucket outside the store when you’re doing your holiday shopping, donate to a local toy drive, drop off some old clothes at the Goodwill.  It doesn’t take a lot of effort to make someone’s Christmas just a little brighter.

Also, if you’re wondering where those pictures of Christmas decorating I keep promising are, I sadly haven’t been able to take them yet. Basically, the entire south side of my house is windows which means crazy intense light from one side of the room and nothing from the other and so I have to wait for an overcast day if I want the pictures to turn out. We’ve had pretty much nothing but sun for a week. What the hell weather, it’s the mid-west, where are the clouds?

Now then, on to the post! Today it’s all about the music, specifically the traditional kind. The Holiday Standards we all know and love: the crooners, Elvis, Brenda Lee, and many more. The good news for you guys is that I’ve uploaded all this fabulous music for you guys to download for free so that you can fill in any holes in your Christmas music collection. And! Next week I’ll be uploading my non-traditional/pop Christmas music for you. Because I love you guys. And because I’m totally willing to bribe you to get you to visit my blog again.

Now for legal reasons, I need to say that all of this music is intended for preview purposes only and should be deleted after 24 hours. Yeah, I know, you’re all sitting at your computers going, “Oh yeah, I’m totally going to do that.” but, I have to say it.

On to the good stuff!

I’d appreciate it if you’d comment with what you’ve download, just so I can have an idea of when my links will expire. If any of the links do expire or are otherwise not working, let me know!

To download, just copy and paste the link to your browser bar and replace hxxp with http.
The Crooners

“White Christmas” – Bing Crosby
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=6M96QDTN

“Sleigh Ride” – Ella Fitzgerald
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=U4IRTH69

“A Holly, Jolly Christmas” – Burl Ives
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=4VYFPROA

“The Christmas Song” – Nat King Cole
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=FYZ4X8TJ

“The Christmas Song” – Sammy Davis Jr.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=GXZVL5S0

“Christmas Time All Over the World” – Sammy Davis Jr.
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=9HXXPBIM

“Mistletoe & Holly” – Frank Sinatra
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=RT3U7ZU5

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Frank Sinatra
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=SQW7STRR

“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” – Dean Martin
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=HQUBSVTL

“Auld Lang Syne (Live)” – Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=AKDI0TTS

Early Rock & Roll

“Blue Christmas” – Elvis Presley
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=W58JCGTG

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=6H0XOZP9

“Jingle Bell Rock” – Bobby Helms
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=VT56L4ZA

“Little St. Nick” – The Beach Boys
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=LWR7NMSW

Other
“Christmas Island” – The Andrews Sisters
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=8NW3WUST

“Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)” – A Charlie Brown Christmas
hxxp://www.megaupload.com/?d=IGQXZTLR

“Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental)” – A Charlie Brown Christmas

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4490ZQHH

Hope you all enjoy the music! Be sure to check back for the other music post next week!

Anyway, this is a post I’ve been planning to do since the beginning, and I realized it should happen sooner rather than later, mostly because it involves ordering things off the internet. Allowing for shipping times and all that.

The topic I’d like to address today is holiday fashion. Now, I suspect most people haven’t really given this a lot of thought beyond the obvious, “Oh dear lord, what am I going to wear to Minnie VonSnoot’s Christmas party tonight? Last year she told Barbara (who told Alicia who told me) that I have the fashion sense of a feral cat!” but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about Christmas Casual-wear.

Look dears. I hate to say it, but there’s something that simply needs to go. And I didn’t want to have to tell you, but everyone’s been talking behind your back about it, and I just couldn’t let you go on unawares any longer. It would be cruel.

It’s about the Christmas sweaters.

I know you want to look “festive” and “fun”, but really, just look at that. It’s awful. It’s so tacky that the anchors of a local news affiliate in Jersey wouldn’t wear it. It needs to be put out of it’s misery. If you won’t listen to me, at least listen to Tim Gunn:

So! In the spirit of holiday giving, I’m providing you with links to a gaggle of (far more tasteful) Christmas t-shirts. Some are funny, some just have lovely designs, but trust me – they’re all better than those damn sweaters. “But,” you protest, “T-shirts? Won’t my delicate arms freeze in the chilled winter air?” Well first of all, why on earth are you going outside without a coat on in this hypothetical scenario? Have you no sense? And second of all – layers darling, layers. Long sleeve T’s and cardigan sweaters should be your wintertime BFFs.

Going Postal’s Christmas T-shirts
This link will take you to a site where you can buy not only this shirt, but several others, all with vintage Christmas postage stamp designs. I particularly enjoy the ones from outside the US.

Merry Xmas Graffiti Shirt
Wear this one while listening to RunDMC’s “Christmas in Hollis” and feel Gangsta.

Wise Men Still Seek Him
I love the crazy colors on this one.

I Did It All for the Cookie
A very funny shirt. And it’ll make all of your hipster friends think you’re cool.

Abominable
I actually own this one. Granted I bought it from the local Kohl’s back when I was in high school, but it’s the exact same shirt. And who doesn’t love the old Rudolph Christmas Classic? Communists that’s who.

So what are your favorite Christmas t-shirts?

BUT! We’re currently putting up decorations at this very moment. Right now! As we speak!

By which I mean that the artificial tree is in it’s spot and there are plastic tubs full of garland and ornaments piled all over our living room.

Pictures! And Real Posts! Soon! I swear!

I hope everyone’s Thanksgiving was fantastic and that you all ate so much you feel like you’re going to explode. We’ll be putting up the Christmas decorations this weekend (yay!), so expect photos of that very, very soon.

Here’s hoping you don’t get injured during your Black Friday shopping.

But on to the matter at hand: YouTube. Granted it may seem like an odd place to find holiday cheer, but in addition to videos of dogs riding skateboards you can also find all kinds of holiday fun – and by holiday fun, I mean silly Christmas videos (including some of questionable taste)! So, if you already feel the holiday stress pressing down upon you, just take a look at these videos and remember that everything – even Christmas – shouldn’t be taken too seriously.

Mom & Her Christmas Tree – A Jersey mom and her obsession with her Christmas tree. I have to insist that you watch all of this guy’s videos because he’s absolutely hilarious and creates some of the greatest characters.

The 12 Days of Christmas with Janice Dickenson – Don’t lie, you know you love Janice Dickenson and her special brand of crazy. I personally spent most of the video trying to figure out if she was drunk or not, but you can watch it however you like.

The Star Wars Holiday Special in Five Minutes – Oh dear lord. I’ve never seen the Star Wars Holiday Special, and after watching this, I think I may keep it that way. Highlights include Han Solo having a special moment with a wookie and Carrie Fisher’s unfortunate singing voice.

A 1776 Christmas – Once, my friend Anna drew a stick-figure recreation of the Battle of Turtle Creek which included George Washington telling a Native American, “Back off bitches!” I still find it hilarious, which probably explains why I love this video so much. Some wonderful, wonderful person on the internet took scenes from the movie 1776, pulled out the audio, and turned it into a Christmas-themed silent movie.

I’ll try to post another entry tomorrow, but we’re having Thanksgiving dinner with the relatives, so it might not happen. I’ll try my best though.

My goal is to make a post every day. Some days, due to extenuating circumstances, this might not happen, but believe me, I’ll be trying my hardest. I’ve been working all weekend gathering things together for posts so I can try to have some entries done ahead of time. Then if I get swamped or if my original post isn’t working out I can throw one of those up here. I’m still in the process of gathering, so expect the first real post either tomorrow or Tuesday.

So what can you expect to see?

• Rockin’ Christmas Tunes
• Holiday Fashions
• Christmas the YouTube Way
• Recipes
• Movies to Put You in the Holiday Spirit
• Crafts
• Charities You Can Donate to During the Holiday Season (because Christmas is all about the giving)
• And Pictures and Recountings of My Own Christmas Preparations and Celebrations (wait ’til you see the decorations we put up!)

Oh, and one last thing: Would anyone like to trade links? I’m haven’t found a lot of other Christmas blogs or websites yet, and my link list looks sad and empty. I’ll link to yours if you link to mine.