Les Miserables... (according to Hilary)

If it's not obvious by the name of my blog, there are few things in life I love more than musicals. I listen to musical soundtracks while working out, frequently re-enact my role as Liesl in Longfellow Middle School's 8th grade production of "The Sound of Music," and often dream about people breaking out into song & performing choreographed dances in public!

For those of you with similar passions, I HOPE you have seen Les Miserables in theaters! If not, shame on you. But here is all you need to know in order to discuss the film with your fellow theater nerds...

1) Hugh Jackman should win an Oscar. BAD-ASS singing, acting, & walking through poop while saving Marius.

2) Anne Hathaway should win an Oscar. Her performance was emotional & inspiring with perfectly pitched singing. Plus she had to lose a bunch of weight and chop off all of her hair.

3) Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter were perfectly casted. I ask you...Who else is more fit to run a corrupt B&B than Borat & Bellatrix Lestrange?

4) Russell Crowe can't sing and should not have been casted as Javert. Apparently he begged for the role. (They should have turned him down).

5) Eddie Redmayne did a GREAT job as Marius. His freckles are kind of weird & his voice is too high, but he's totally hot. I have such a weakness for that European look. Brian- you know what I'm talking about ;)

6) The actor who played Enjolras, (head of the rebels), played Tripp on Gossip Girl during season 3!

Overall synopsis- it is definitely worth seeing! I cried several times. You will leave the theater feeling melancholy yet inspired/impacted by the epic, EPIC nature of the film.

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!

Why Christmas Eve is the BEST day of the year...

 

1) The house is full of enough cookies to give you diabetes.

2) My mom takes me for a manicure every year... and pays.

3) I have to go to church to celebrate Jesus's birthday. But after it's over I don't have to go again for another 365 days.

4) The excitement of Christmas morning presents builds in your heart all day long!

5) You actually have an excuse to watch Christmas movies in your pajamas... for several hours. TBS airs "A Chrismas Story" for 24 straight hours every year. GO THERE!

6) Everyone gathers for a fun-filled family dinner... sure to be followed by an amusing & slightly disastrous family game: (Charades, Apples to Apples, Boggle, Taboo, etc.)

7) To can make last-minute donations to charities & give hope to those who need a little help this Christmas. (St. Judes Children's Hospital, Toys for Tots, ASPCA, So Others May Eat)

8) You can get tipsy on Peppermint Schnapps, rip off your clothes & go "Christmas Light Streaking"... A fun, innovative way to enjoy your neighbors' light displays.

Whatever your traditions may be, have a Merry, Merry Christmas!!

Deck the Halls!

FALALALALA LALALALA!! Tis the Season, my jolly readers! I hope you are sporting your sexiest Christmas gear to all of your festive gatherings! (Just like Brian... he knows how to wear a Christmas tree).

Bake some cookies, hang that mistletoe, trim the Christmas tree and visit Pinterest to get awesome holiday craft ideas like these adorable Rein-beers. (These will be the party favors for my holiday cookie swap next week!)

Happy Holidays from everyone here at Life's A Musical! (And by everyone... I mean me)... HO HO HO!

Etsy: Your one-stop shop for Holiday gifts!

How's that Christmas "to-buy" list looking right about now? It's December 9th, people! Have you tried to go to the mall lately? No? Well... it's a mad house! If you haven't started shopping yet, check-out these easy yet thoughtful gift ideas from Etsy.com. The site literally has something for everyone on your list... and you don't even have to put on pants to buy them!

1) For your caffeine-addicted boyfriend: This classy coffee mug will tickle his funny bone & make him think of you whenever he uses it. Because of his addiction, that will likely be every morning.

2) For your sibling who just got their first smartphone: Who wouldn't love this Harry Potter themed iPhone case? From the back, it looks just like a ticket to the Hogwarts Express. ALL ABOARD!

 

3) For your nerdy dad who likes to "experiment" in the kitchen: Make your dad feel like a real chef, (or chemist), the next time he tries to make your family dinner. This handy-dandy apron will keep all the ingredients off his shirt! (Therefore limiting the amount of cursing involved with the cooking process).

 

4) For your single gal-pal who loves her wine & chocolate: This clever wall-decor can go in the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or wherever your friend likes to binge on Hershey's. Because we all know that chocolate really DOES understand...

5) For your festive, bird-loving mother: Most moms love Christmas and most moms love gardening. ERGO- the perfect gift! This gingerbread man bird-seed cake can be hung right outside your mom's favorite window so she can watch all of the cardinals & finches destroy enjoy it.

6) For your creepy, ultra-Conservative co-worker: For reasons unknown, co-workers think it is necessary to buy you holiday gifts. Actually be prepared this year when Ed from accounting hands you a batch of his wife's homemade peanut brittle. Ed, your gun-loving & homophobic co-worker, will probably throw on this t-shirt every day after work!

 

7) For your preppy aunt or cousin who secretly loves beer: Your aunt or cousin, (who only shops at Lilly Pulitzer), probably feels embarrassed drinking anything but martinis or cosmos. Allow her to give-in to her hoppy needs with these chic, girly monogrammed beer glasses. Drinking beer just got girly!

 

8) For your grandma who still can't get the hang of email: Old Grandma Ethel tried AOL a few years back but refuses to try again. She still insists on writing hand-written notes to all her friends and family. Help her write in style with this beautiful stationary that will impress all her addressees!