Santa Wants Some Loving - A Very Murray Christmas on Netflix

Remember the erstwhile holiday variety special? They were abundant in my youth. I remember the Mandrell sisters, Donny and Marie, Sonny and Cher, the Star Wars gang… every TV show in the 70s and 80s seemed to have a bizarre, celebrity-laden lovefest where it seemed like they'd been hitting the punch pretty heavily and then started singing Christmas carols set to a disco beat. And who could forget the truly odd Little Drummer Boy duet with Bing Crosby and David Bowie? It's just not the holidays without that schlock.

Apparently I'm not the only one who feels that way. Witness the awesome weirdness of A Very Murray Christmas, currently streaming on Netflix. I mean, who better than legendary omnipresent celebrity Bill Murray to emcee the holiday hijinks?!

Here's a little taste of something you never really knew you wanted, Bill Murray laying down a slinky soul Santa song with George Clooney adding in the booming bass. Ah, yeah.



Written by Mitch Glazer, Bill Murray and Sofia Coppola, and directed by Sofia Coppola, A Very Murray Christmas is an homage to the classic variety show featuring Bill Murray playing himself, as he worries no one will show up to his TV show due to a terrible snow storm in New York City.  Through luck and perseverance, guests arrive at the Carlyle hotel to help him; dancing and singing in holiday spirit.

The star-studded cast also includes George Clooney, Paul Shaffer, Amy Poehler, Julie White, Dimitri Dimitrov, Michael Cera, Chris Rock, David Johansen, Maya Rudolph, Jason Schwartzman, Jenny Lewis, the band Phoenix, Rashida Jones, Miley Cyrus, and more!

While you're getting into the holiday spirit(s) with Bill Murray and friends, you might want to leaf through this weighty volume that examines the man and the myth:



The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray: A Critical Appreciation of the World's Finest Actor is jam-packed with Murray-ephemera that celebrates the laconic wit and wisdom of one of the most versatile talents ever to grace the screen. And he's not halfway finished yet.


Follow @Netflix for more information on A Very #MurrayChristmas this holiday season. And then cleanse your holiday palate with a little Jessica Jones for good measure.

Polyphonic Spree: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

I'm normally pretty Scrooge-like when it comes to holiday music (I blame working at Waterloo during the Christmas that Jingle Cats was popular. Shudder.) but it's hard not to get into the spirit when you stuff the cult-like horde of the Polyphonic Spree into the offices of NPR music for some caroling.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Hopefully 2013 will be a safe and peaceful year.

Warner Brothers Happy Holidays Giveaway

Ho Ho Ho, it’s the holiday season and that can only mean one thing... Shopping! But finding presents for your loved ones can be no easy task! That’s why Warner Bros. has come up with their awesome Happy Holidays Blog App featuring some classic and new movies out on Blu-ray sure to please everyone from your teeny nephew to old grandma wrinkles!


Enter to win a copy of Peanuts Deluxe Holiday Collection, Classic Christmas Favorites or Dr. Seuss’s Deluxe Holiday Collection on Blu-ray (Prize will be chosen randomly from the titles mentioned) by checking out the Warner Brothers Happy Holidays App above and then leaving a meaningful comment below. You can share your results from the Holiday Movie Challenge or Decode-A-Scene Game or even just share your holiday shopping tips or favorite holiday movie memories. I'll pick a winner randomly on December 19th.




In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that no compensation was provided for this post. All opinions are, as usual, entirely my own.

Sad Santa - Tad Carpenter in NY This Weekend

Tad Carpenter is one of my favorite illustrators. I was very sorry to realize I missed him speaking in Wichita a few weeks ago at an AIGA event but I was equally happy to receive a copy of his new children's book Sad Santa. It has quickly become Jasper's favorite bedtime story. 

The idea that Santa might feel bereft after bestowing presents upon all of the children of the world had really never occurred to me before but, yeah, what does he do with all that free time? Christmas is only one day a year, after all, and you know what happens to restless spirits and idle hands… don't get your hopes up, this isn't a zombie or horror-themed holiday book. Santa just needs to get his creative spark back and realize how much he's loved and needed throughout the year– not just on December 25th.

New Yorkers have three opportunities to see Tad Carpenter read from Sad Santa and sign copies of the book this weekend. To see when he'll be coming to a bookstore near you, follow @SadSanta1 on Twitter or like Sad Santa on Facebook.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received a copy of Sad Santa to facilitate this review. No additional compensation has been provided. As usual, all opinions are my own. 

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours… 

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Jolly whatever-you-may-celebrate!

Keep Busy Over the Holidays with Pottery Barn Kids

The kids have been out of school since last week and are already underfoot. They take after me and are reluctant to head outside when the temperature dips, unlike their stalwart father. Also, I'm a bit under the weather, a fact which is particularly inconvenient since I am a procrastinator and still have unwrapped gifts, un-sent cards (sorry far-flung relatives, look for 'em around New Year's…) and a messy house to deal with. Blargh.

The holidays are in full swing already, being the third day of Hanukkah. Roo is incredibly interested in all things Jewish this year, so we've been lighting the menorah and I've been reciting the prayers in Hebrew school dropout mode, much to her delight. 

I got a bunch of fabulous and timely craft ideas from the Pottery Barn Kids Design Studio via email, yay! Now if they would only send us new bedroom furniture so I could replace Roo's evil green bunkbed of doom…obviously my fever is making me delusional.

Here are a couple of their great ideas to help your family share the joy of Hanukkah! This crafty Menorah is easy to assemble – and best of all, kids can "light" the candles on their own to celebrate each night of Hanukkah. 

Bring a little sparkle to Hanukkah celebrations with creative Glittery Dreidel Place Cards. They're simple for kids to make and add a fun element of festivity to the table – plus, they make great party favors. Jasper loves to sing "Dreidel, Dreidel" over and over again, even though he only remembers the one line. Heh.

Even non-Jews will agree that holiday treats are extra sweet when shared in homemade containers. Part party favor and part accessory, these Personalized Take-Out Containers, Glass Cookie Jars and Cookie Boxes are fun for kids to customize and then fill with delicious cookies and candies! A craft and a gift, all in one adorable package…

Check out these tips for planning a Christmas Cookie Exchange, including recipes, invitations and “how to” videos.

Last-minute wrapping to do? Give your presents that extra little flourish of hand-crafted care, and try one of our creative approaches to gift wrapping. Make your presents even more magical this season with Starry Wrap, Keepsake Footprint Paper and Rudolph’s Nose Wrap. My cats would go nuts for that yarn "nose" 

For more holiday ideas or for inspiration and advice year-round, visit the Pottery Barn Kids Design Studio. I was not compensated for this post, just thought my readers might like some busywork with attractive results for their kiddos, too.