But there's always a lightbulb moment in the middle of October or November where I just hunker down and wonder how fast the calendar vanished. Just yesterday I was dressing up for Halloween. Just a few months ago I was signing up for fall semester classes. Just this summer I was almost homeless (yes, homeless!). Where did all the time go? Well it came and went surprisingly!
The holiday season is here again. The leaves are changing, Christmas is overstocked in retail stores, and yes it's November. I like to make plans for seasonal activities to do that just feel like a missing piece of the month; movies to watch, books to read, things to try that just make November come a bit more alive. If you aren't too busy this November, here's my Must List. What do you like to do?
Watch
1. Dead Poets Society I currently know of no better dramatic yet uplifting film for fall than the Dead Poets Society. Robin Williams stars as Mr. Keating, an English teacher who inspires his college prep students to live life passionately through poetry.2. When Harry Met SallyA classic romantic comedy penned by the late Great Nora Ephron. Starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal as two longtime friends who fear sex will ruin their relationship.
3. October Sky Led by Homer Hickum, a group of teenagers are inspired by the U.S. vs Russia race into outer space and and begin experimenting with their own homemade rockets in a small coal town. One of my favorite films of all time, starring a then up-and-comer Jake Gyllenhaal.
Read
1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee Set during the Great Depression, a young girl Scout narrates how her father Atticus Finch defends an African American convicted of a heinous crime in a small Southern town. I'm not sure how many have read or passed up on this American classic but it's an essential.2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling. I think any of the Harry Potter books and films are quite fitting for fall, however the fourth installment sticks out to me most because of the dark turn from the first three books. The young Gryffindor student battles dragons, mermaidens, and a deadly maze against three other competitors.
3. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger A novel told in two first-person perspectives; Henry and his wife Claire who are torn apart and reunited continuously because of his ability to time travel unpredictably. A science fiction dramatic romance that I devoured in four days once upon a time.
Try
+ Shutter Bean has an awesome recipe for cocoa popcorn. Maybe a different breakfast snack for Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. + If you're like me and forget to decorate for Thanksgiving, here's a turkey greeting card / stand-up.
+ This craft might be for kids but I'm definitely making this googly-eyed turkey!!
+ 9 creative photo ideas to try in November.
This Week's Favorite Links
+ Elina at Films and Coke shines light on the original Carrie
+ Margaret shares her 10 most disturbing movie endings
+ Alex shares 27 things we really should love about Scream and don't talk about
+ Mette spotlights one of her heroes )and mine too!) Ellen Ripley from Alien
+ Author Neil Gaiman on why libraries & reading are important to our future *a must read!
+ Join Once Upon A Screen for Noirvember on Twitter
+ Mettel announces an amazing Breaking Emotions blogathon