LAST DAY LISTS ~ HoHoHoliday edition

This month the last day conveniently falls on a Friday, so I get to kill 2 birds with one post on YMFT.
Thus, the Friday Favorites list this week will be disguised as the LAST DAY LISTS (Link-Up attempt #3).  And it makes perfectly good sense to me, because lists are always my favorite.

Starting it off as usual, though, is this week's favorite GIF (with thanks to Thing 1 for finding this little gem and sharing it with me.  I adore her sense of humor).

Oookay, play-ahs.
Did you read this post last weekend?  Do you have your lists ready?  And if not, do not despair! The game is open forever....or at least until December 31 when the New Year's edition will be up.

Grab a button, and let's go!

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5 Favorite Christmas Songs (your favorite version of...)
*Very difficult for me as I easily have about 25 songs that would qualify.

1.  All I Want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey 
ADORE this song.
MC? Not so much.

Did you see her last night? Or, like the rest of America, did you just see her boobs?
She has gotten ridiculous.

But back to the fab song.
When I first got this CD in 1995, Thing 1 was a teeny preemie just home from the hospital.  She was the size of a Cabbage Patch Doll and was still a month away from her due date.  But I sat her in her bouncy seat on the kitchen counter (relax, she weighed less than a sack of flour and wasn't going anywhere) as I made cookies and remember dancing around her loudly and happily singing this song into my wooden spoon...over and over and over again.  Seriously, she didn't even have the ability to make an expression yet but she was a fabulous audience.  Still is.

2.  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Ella Fitzgerald
If I'm being honest, this song isn't really on my top 5, but Ella's 'Ella Wishes you a Swingin' Christmas' definitely is.  Her rendition of every song on it is my favorite.  So retro, so cool, so hip - you'll want to put on a full skirted dress and kitten heels and red lipstick and hold a martini and a long cigarette while you decorate your flocked tree.

3.  Sleigh Ride/Santa Claus Party - Les Baxter (from the Elf Soundtrack)
This version of 'Sleigh Ride' is the all-time classic, heard in countless movies, and it is the quintessential  Christmasy song. Coupled with 'Santa Claus Party' it's the perfect combo to get you in the holiday spirit.  Actually, the entire 'Elf' soundtrack is fabulous. Like the movie (see below), I don't ever tire of it.
Here ya go. Enjoy while you read...

Sleigh Ride/Santa Claus Party

4.  Merry Christmas Darling - The Carpenters

Since I was a kid I've loved this whole album, but for some reason this song (that I fully acknowledge will be on many people's 'worst song' list) has been one of my very favorites.
Stop judging.
But seriously, my best friend in middle school and I would play this one over and over and over again (which is dedication when you consider the fact that to do that we had to press 'rewind' on our cassette players and hope we released the button at the right place) and think it was the most romantically and tragically sad song (middle school girls - sheesh).  Haven't seen my Carpenter lovin' friend in many years, but every time I hear this song I think of her.
*Just bought Christina Perri's new Christmas album (lovelovelove) and she also has a version of this song that is lovely.

5.  It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - me

I know...pretty obscure to make the top 5 list, but it has been my favorite since I was a little girl; the lyrics are simply beautiful. However, since this song is never on any Christmas album I have to go around singing it myself. 

5 Worst Christmas Songs

1.  The Christmas Shoes

Call me crazy, but I don't think Christmas songs should be depressing and make you cry.  And besides, it's just a horrible song, no matter the season. 

2.  Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band's version

Believe me, I know I'm in the minority on this one as evidenced by the fact that it is played 14x every hour on every Christmas radio station.  Hate the laughing. Hate how he shouts out to Clarence (RIP). See what I mean? This song makes me a hater.

3.  Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

Ditto about the radio play. And also? Every time I hear it, I think the record is stuck on the phrase 'simply having a wonderful Christmastime' before I realize it is not the year 1980 and the DJ's are not using albums.  And then I almost have a wreck trying to stab at the radio in an effort to change the station.

4. This Christmas - Joe
First of all, who the hell is 'Joe'? Seriously. Do you know? When Husband and I heard this song in a store last weekend we used Shazam (great app, btw) to find out who was singing it and it just said, Joe. I think Christina Aguilera might sing it too, which makes it even more horrible to me.  Anyway, regardless of who is singing it, I despise it.

5. Little Drummer Boy - anyone
Yes, the story behind the lyrics is sweet and no, I do not hate the baby Jesus, but good grief, that song is a s-n-o-r-e.  And does it ever end? 

5 best gifts you've given &/or received

1.  Coach purse/wallet

About 9 years ago I kind of jokingly asked for a Coach purse for Christmas.  I'd never spent over $75 on a purse in my life and pretty much couldn't imagine why anyone would, but c'mon, what girl doesn't kind of secretly hope for at least one good expensive handbag?  On Christmas morning Husband handed me a big box and when I unwrapped it I immediately gasped and started to cry. Because not only was there a Coach purse inside, but a matching Coach wallet.  And it really wasn't the actual purse/wallet combo that made me cry, it was knowing that Husband (who I'm quite certain thought the cost of a Coach purse was even more ridiculous than me) happily picked it out for me and when I kept saying, oh, it's too much...it's too much told me that it wasn't....because I deserved it.

And even though, 9 years later, I have a few more Coach bags, I still carry that original Christmas one every winter.

2.  Tickets to London

When I was a freshman in High School there was a gigantic box in the living room on Christmas morning. When my sister and I opened it, it was empty except for passports and plane tickets to London - leaving in like 2 days.  Needless to say, we were ecstatic...and spent a fabulous week (and New Year's) in London.

3. Diamond earrings
My baby gift from Husband 17 years ago. They call them 'push presents' nowadays, which I find repulsive.

4. Anything the Things have ever given me or made for me
Why yes, they do both read this blog.

5. Out of ideas. And Chardonnay. So I'm moving on...

5 Favorite Holiday movies

1. Elf

Hands down our family favorite movie. Ever.  We even have the movie poster framed in our basement. I can watch it 5x a year and never get sick of it. Some of the most brilliant lines in a movie, ever.

2.  The Santa Clause

Surprises me every time I watch it how much I enjoy it.  The sequels...not so much.

3.  Prancer

I used to show this one to my 4th grade students every year so maybe that's why I love it, but it's such a sweet and innocent movie about believing - about a lot of things - at Christmas.

4.  Miracle on 34th Street

I like the 1994 version because Dylan McDermott is so damn easy on the eyes,

but the little girl is annoying as shit.

So I'm sticking with the Maureen O'Hara/Natalie Wood classic.

I know it's kind of a clichéd movie to have on the list, but I do love it.  And admit it - Edmund Gwenn? Totally the real Santa.

5.  Love, Actually

Hugh Grant. Colin Firth. That'll put the Merry in your Christmas, am I right?

Now it's your turn!
Link up and share your lists, or share a few in the comments box or on facebook!
(Because I'd love to know who else loves admits to liking The Carpenters!)