The Last 4M's for 2012

Hello my friends. Welcome to the last Monday of 2012. It has been quite a ride this year and I for one am glad to move forward in to 2013. 

Since today is Monday that of course means one last Mondays Music Moves Me 2012. This weeks Spotlight Dancer is Father Time! Boogie on outta here!

You know I always have some goodies for you so, let's get to it!

This whole month I paid homage to not only Christmas but other holidays of December.  I have the last two to share with you.

Kwanzaa takes place this year Dec. 26-Jan.1 I found a beautiful song for the holiday that speaks of one of the tenants. I hope you like it as much as I do! First up...



Boxing Day happens on Dec. 26th each year. I was going to post a song for Boxing Day but the only one I could find was kind of depressing so, I am moving on. Ok?

As you already know 2013 is literally around the corner. So my next to offerings are in celebration of that. (By the way, the Pink Song is not the "clean" version so be cautioned if you have young children)





Happy New Year everyone! Thanks for following me and playing along with my ramblings. 

There is some great stuff coming in 2013. Check back often!

Peace...Naila Moon

Mondays Music...Merry Christmas Edition! 12/24/12

Hello my friends. Welcome to Christmas Eve around my place and around the world.
Today is Monday which means of course music but it also means the special edition of Mondays Music. Of course I have some goodies all wrapped up in a nice pretty bow for you.  Let's get to it!

First up a favorite:



Next up from the "Angel Choir":

  

Yet another (grins):

 

Finally this one is played EVERY year by my Mother and is appropriate for me to end with this one:

 

Merry Christmas every one from our home to yours!
~Naila Moon  

Wordless(ish) Wed. 12/12/12...Holiday Perspective

Today for Wordless Wednesday, I thought I might give a different perspective of the holidays for some. 

I took this outside my bedroom window this morning. She gave me the best "gift" ever without even knowing it. 
Remember to be grateful for what you do have.
~Naila Moon

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Day 25...Art vs Craft and my art too! :)

 

 I am getting in a bit late this evening with this post but better late than never right?

Anyway, I have been working very diligently on a piece of art but before I show you the done deal, I want to address something I saw on another bloggers blog today. That is...

Is there really any difference between art and craft. My immediate answer is no there isn't and my research showed that most people see no difference. I mean after all, can't a craft also be seen as art? 

However, upon further research, I found an article that summed it up this way.

1. Art is a form of work that expresses emotions and expressions. Craft is a form of work, which has a physical form just like in moulding and carving.
2. While Craft is quantified, Art seldom is.
3. One can create duplicate craft forms, which is not possible with art.
4. Art forms move people emotionally, whereas crafts attract people.
5. Unlike craft, art is known to come out of the heart and soul. Crafts are a product of the mind.
6. In art, it is the emotions that flow out whereas in craft no emotion is involved.
7. Art comes out from a person’s innate talents whereas craft is the result of experience.

Source

Although, I get the point here it still seems like to me that the difference comes down to the eye of the beholder. There is certainly some things that I would never consider as art but in the art world they are all the rave. 

Anyway, on to my own art project. This took me a few days to gather the materials and to actually do. Materials used: posterboard, acrylics, found tags plastic holly piece, real wood. I give you my advent calendar.

Me beginning my painting

finished with painting the tree and adding tags (each tag has a number on it that will be turned over each day)

added a snowman -yes, I painted him/her too. Tamirisc got the real twigs for me at a local park.

made "presents" to go around the tree-yes, they are painted too

My finished advent calendar for Christmas

So, do you like it? Tell me in comments. I would love to hear from you.

We want you to join us, please?

Us Christmas 2010

Believe it or not, the first weekend in December is only 2 weeks away. Now, in our household we decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving or that same weekend.

This year is going to be very different for Mark and I because it is going to be the first year without anyone in our families here or us there for Christmas. For me, Christmas exudes family and friends. A little tough to handle.

This is where you all come in. Mark and I are asking that you share in our Christmas holiday with us. I am currently making paper rings to decorate our apartment with, you know the ones that look like this (except in red, white and green):



What we are asking you to do is send us a paper link or two or three or 100! However, on each link we want you to do any or all of the following:
Write a Christmas wish on each
Write a prayer request
Have your child draw a picture on each
Have your child list their Christmas list wish
Think of something else appropriate in this category of things

Then mail them to us! We will take each link and add them to our links. On Christmas Day we will lift all of these things up with our celebration and you will be a part of our celebration too.

You can do this as individuals, family or church groups. The more the merrier.  We will post all the links together so you can see.

Please make sure the paper links are no longer than a regular size piece of paper, in width the size of a ruler. Red, green and white is good but if the get colored different colors that is ok too! :) If you can, please send before Thanksgiving.

If you are going to help in our celebration and want our snail mail leave me a message here and I will e-mail you the address.

We look forward to making a Christmas memory with you.
~Naila Moon

You like me, you really like me or I won an award.

Sooooooooo apparently I won an a most coveted award for Bloggers. That's right, I won a Liebster.

What, you have no idea what a Liebster is?

Well, according to the blogger who awarded me such a fine specimen, THANK YOU Disorderly Wanderlust, it is...and I quote:

"Well first, it is German for favorite and other happy words that make me think of rainbows and unicorns and good wine and laughing. Okay, it is an award supposedly from Germany that is part chain letter (without the pyramid scheme gimmick or bad luck for 13 years or a million dollars from Ghana. You don't even get a jelly of the month.) it exists solely to give brownie points of recognition for nifty, snazzy, awesome bloggers with less than 290 followers."

Isn't that just awesome? I mean, it's like getting a Tony without all the rhetoric! So, yeah anyway, in order to accept this award, I have to do the following:

1. Each recipient must post 11 random facts about themselves.

2. Each recipient must answer the 11 questions the awarder has given to you, the awardee.

3. You, now the awarder, create 11 questions for your nominees, who are now the awardees.

4. Choose 11 awardees (or as close as you can) , link to their website, and notify them. Shoot pick 5 up to 11. She changed the rules and I will too. LOL

5. No award-backs.

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Random facts:

1. I am the oldest and only girl in my family. I have twin brothers. My Mom also was the oldest, only and had twin brothers.

2. I met Mark on line in 2007. I married Mark in 2008 after only first meeting him for a weekend. We married 4 months later.

3. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve.

4. I never saw either of my children born.

5. I have been to 48 states and 3 countries.

6. I was once a volunteer youth minister. 

7. I am terrified of mice.

 

8. I went deaf at 36 years old.

9. I have slept on the side of the road more than once.

10. When I was a kid, I made mud pies and fed them to my twin brothers.

11. I stayed the weekend at a convent once and a monastery.

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Her 11 questions for me:

1. What 3-5 famous people would you like to meet, and why?

Jerry Lewis-I have always thought he did such great work and want to pick his brain about his relationship with Dean Martin.

The Dali Lama-oh my gosh, just to sit and commune with him.

Sean Connery-uh, epitome of sexy!

2. What stupid things bug you/are your pet peeves? Things that others think you need to get over?

I cannot stand chomping or smacking food or people who chew gum like cows.

3. If you were forced, in some Frankenstein type thing, to painlessly attach one body part -keeping it functional- somewhere else on your body (or face death and damnation)
What would it be and where would you put It? Why?

An eye on the back of my head. Then I could really say I can see from the back of my head. LOL

4. What is some pop culture reference or activity that completely baffles you?

Gangnam Style

5. What if God exists, but he is different to each religion- same God, but just is in a one man play where he/she plays Buddha, Mohammad, etc? Ever thought if that? It would end religious wars. You know, if the thought isn't blasphemous.

I generally do not discuss religion.  I have my own views but they are my own and may not necessarily jive with yours.

6. Have you ever done something others might find embarrassing- but you did it on purpose? What was it? For example, I once went into a fancy resort hotel in sweat pants and asked where their outhouse was and if they served raccoon. 

I dressed up in pink and lavender with a pink boa and large pink hat and went to a fancy restaurant to eat. I did it for the Red Hat Society group that I belonged to with my Grandma.

7. How do others describe you?

Most people describe me as nice, kind, compassionate, listener.
8. If you have a spouse/significant other, why do you think they chose and have stuck with you? 

I think he was scared,crazy and alone. I think he was surprised he was in love with me so quickly. We where together in a former life. ;)
9. What books are your favorite and why? Choose up to 5.

I generally do not have favorites but if I could choose then it would be, "Daddy Long Legs".
10. What blogs are your favorite? Again, choose up to 5.

11. What's something from your childhood that you wish kids these days had/could experience? 

Read this--->Child Wonderment

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This award goes to:

http://www.treadingwaterinthekiddiepool.com/ I just met her on yeah.write. She seems nice and I like that she loves her kids!

http://www.justbeginfromhere.com/ I met her on yeah.write too. I love that she tends to procrastinate (even with her blog). I can relate to this!

http://www.commonplacecrazy.com/ She is all about using English correctly. My Grandma would be so proud!

http://creativeminds-tamirisc.blogspot.com/ This is my husband. Enough said!

http://daylily777-myenchantedhome.blogspot.com/ Myrna has followed me since the beginning. She is very sweet. Give her some love.

http://lindaloveschocolate.blogspot.com/ I can relate to Linda because she is a Grandma too, scrapbooker and Red Hatter.

http://hawkspeaks.blogspot.com/ This is my buddy. If you want to learn a bit about different lifestyle not your own and see some WOW photography then he is your man.

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My Questions for those nominated:

1. What is your favorite holiday and why?

2. Name your 3-5 favorite movies and why.

3. Name your 3-5 favorite books and why.

4. Did you have a favorite subject in school? What was it?

5. I watch the American Pickers on TV. If you could 'pick' something special, what would it be and why?

6. Are you a hoarder?

7. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?

8. Do you believe in the Apocalypse? Why or why not?

9. Do you speak more than one language? If so, what are they?

10. What is your favorite animal and why?

11. It is said that variety is the spice of life. What spice do you like to use in cooking the most?

OK, I am only going with 7.  I have many people I follow and all of them deserve to be recognized but also many of them have over 250 in followers. so...

Thanks again!

Day 29..."Eerie" Halloween Music and the 4M's

Welcome back to my crypt. Today is day 29 of the Halloween countdown. We are so close aren't we? Today I am posting a double down post so to speak.

Every Monday I post for Mondays Music and today is no different. Today just happens to be the theme of Halloween Music so, just what do you think I am about to offer you? Bwa ha ha ha

First up:



Next:



This one next:



Here is yet another for your screaming pleasure:



Let's go for one more, shall we:



Come back to my crypt tomorrow for more.
Your Crypt Keeper, Naila Moon

Day 15...Costumes and the 4M's

Hello my spook-tacular friends. Welcome back to day 15 at my crypt for the Halloween countdown. WARNING:May not want to view with young kids around although it is not bad, you determine. Ok?

Today, since it is Monday and freebie week, I thought I would mix my Music Moves me music selections with my blog about Halloween. I found out that I am the Spotlight Dancer this week too. I am humbled once again...thank you!  So, make sure you boogie on down to the tunes as well and visit others and leave comments.




 What I thought I would do is share some Halloween costumes for 2012 with the music I think compliments them. (costume first then music) Let's see how that works out, shall we?

First up:
Tamirisc is planning to go in this costume this weekend. I believe he plans to be more gory than this but oh, my heart sputters. lol

Next:
This weekend Tamirisc and I intend to be among the promoted masses here in CO. The music I found to match is priceless! 

photo source

Next:
I am including two costumes in this next set because frankly the song fits for either.  Both are popular right now anyway.
I just found this group song and I think they are awesome!

Finally:
I am sucking up with this next costume and song but I really do like the group and I want to promote them as well. 

Until tomorrow...

Your Crypt Keeper, rockin' on!

~Naila Moon

Day 13...Scary Movies or Oh, the Horror!

Welcome my fiendish friends to my crypt and day 13 of the Halloween countdown.
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Before I get too far ahead of myself, I want to shout out to my son whose birthday is today. He was born originally on Friday, October 13th by C-section. No, I was not superstitious at all. My son has been mostly goth his entire life. Guess what his favorite holiday is?
I am grateful to have such a terrific son!
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photo source

Moving on. Today I want to talk to you about some horror flicks. Now, believe it or not, I am not a slasher fan in the least. I know, it does not compute considering that I like Halloween so much but it is true. However, that will not stop me from sharing a few with you that I think ultimate horror fans should never miss.
First a couple of classics.

When I was a kid my Dad had an 8mm projector. Two of the movies he owned and we watched together was Swamp Thing and the Mummy. Now, I realize that these may not have been all blood and gut-wrenching films but when you are a young child, they make you scream!

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Of course to me the ultimate in horror classics are Frankenstein and Dracula. 

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Moving on to more recent films.

Nothing says Halloween horror films than the classic Friday the 13 films...well, at least the first one. The blood-killer, Jason chops up and shoots arrows through several unsuspecting campers and counselors. The movie made you scream and never want to go to Summer camp ever again!

The Mike Meyers character in the original Halloween movies gave new meaning to spookiness of the season. He slashed his way through corrupt teens of the day. Although not as much gore as other horror films and Halloween's subsequent sequels, the psychological effects of the movie leave the viewer hanging on to the person nearest to them for dear life.

The Shining is an adaptation psychological thriller of Stephen King's book of the same title. This film is noted as one of the top scariest movies of all time and a must see among horror flick viewers.

As I mentioned above I am not a horror film fan and I admit that I have not seen this movie in its entirety. However, by not mentioning it I would do the movie an injustice.  Also, I mention it because I do not live that far from the hotel where Stephen King stayed when he wrote the book or for that matter the TV adaptations was filmed. The hotel is reported to have ghost to this day, one of which Stephen King wrote about in his book. That is enough to scare the living day lights out of me but maybe I will see the film anyway...with all the light on...in the middle of the day!

I have obviously only mentioned a few of the numerous horror genre films out there. If I mentioned them all, I would be here until the next century.  What is a favorite you have? Tell me about it and why it scared you or why you like it so much.

Make sure you come back Monday for a Mondays Music thriller and a beginning of another week of the Halloween countdown.

Your Crypt Keeper,

Naila Moon

PS>If you are truly interested in other horror films, I suggest the following web sites:

IMdb

Block Buster

Movie Reviews

Day 12...Friday Fright Night and other scary days of the week

Hello my dear Spook-tacular friends. It is day 12 here at the crypt and it is also Friday! Oh the joys we scream!!!



As a teen in the 80's, I remember watching this show on TV on channel 5. It came on right after the news. It was hair raising for sure from the start. I say 'watching' but most of the time it was more like hiding behind my eyes. I digress. Anyway, it was one of those things you just did on a Friday night.

photo source

TV viewing has certainly changed over the last few years and that in itself is frightening. However, I would be amiss if I did not mention some shows that are on now that scream Halloween as well as classic TV.

Face Off

Face Off-Although I am sure most people would not see this show as very spooky, it does lend itself to Halloween. Where else, other than our dreams, could we see all sorts of scary monsters and zombies created right before our eyes? This is one reality TV show I love. Face off showcases the best of the best. We have the future of horror right there.

The Addams Family

The Munsters

The Addams Family and The Munsters were two weird families "alive" and well on TV.  I loved to tune in to them. I enjoyed watching Cousin It and Thing from the Addams Family converse in a language only known to them. I though Uncle Fester would have been fun to be my uncle with the light bulb trick. Of course who didn't know the theme song for this great show?



I always felt sorry for Marilyn of the Munsters. Having the face of of a beauty queen must have been too much in a family of ghouls. I loved watching what mischief Grandpa and Herman would get in to. It was delightful.

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark- overly sexed up Elvira brought night time horror to our TV airwaves as she hosted frightening movies of the night. Her humorous interjections during the movies only made her TV time that much more fun and appealing. Most recently our Mistress of the Dark appeared on the TV show, Counting Cars where she got her famous black car a re-"vamp" so to speak.

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone's Rod Sterling wrote and hosted the spookie TV series in the 1960's. I watched many of these shows in re-runs. This show stretched the imagination and highlighted the disturbing. None of the shows related to one another which made its appeal even that more fascinating. Rod Sterling's appearances at the end with his messages sometimes were just as freaky as the show itself.

Tales From the Crypt

I would be in deep trouble if I did not mention my fellow Halloween host The Crypt Keeper from Tales From the Crypt and his horror-fied TV show in the late 80's/early 90's. The Crypt Keeper inserted a bit of humor into what essentially was horror film on TV. Blood, guts and a bit of nudity ran this show for HBO. Later the show would become a prime time hit on Saturdays but much less than gory. The Crypt Keeper would much later even host his own game show throughout his mansion.

There are several other TV shows that I could mention here but these were and are some of my favorites. What are your favorites? Tell me in comments. I would like to hear about them.

Your Crypt Keeper,
Naila Moon

PS> Make sure to come back tomorrow. I will be discussing scary movies.

Day 11...A Halloween Ghost Story

Welcome back to my crypt for day 11 of the Halloween countdown. Gather around my spooky friends and come close.

One of the fun traditions of Halloween is to tell good ghost stories especially around a roaring fire on a cold evening. I have told a tale or two and scared the pants off of people. Today I want to share one I wrote.

The following ghost story is one I first wrote back in 2009 and reposted on my story/poem blog page in 2010. Here it is for those who have not seen it. Remember all rights reserved. Enjoy! :)

~Naila Moon

Photo from Google Images-not my own

Night Cabin 

by MR...aka Naila Moon of the Grey Wolf
Evening fell as mystical clouds appeared.  The howl of coyotes could be heard in the distance and owls hooted to welcome the night.  The fire she had built near by raged in a blaze of glory as she hunkered by it to keep warm.

Her father had built this cabin. He even planted the trees that shaded it from the heat of the early morning sun.  However, in the glow of the moon these same trees gave such an eeriness to the place that she shivered at the sight of them.

Her aloneness at this moment was overshadowed by the sounds of crickets who called out to each other in a melodic dance.

Snap!

Her ears perked and eyes darted back and forth in to the darkness of the night.  She quickly pointed her flash light in the direction of the sound. She saw nothing but the vastness of the forest. Sighing a heavy relief she gazed back at the fire.

Snap!

There it was again! This time she jumped to her feet. She breathed heavily and the puffs of each breath could be seen.  She twirled around in a circle hoping her flashlight would catch where the sound had come from, but still she saw nothing.

Her skin pimpled with goose bumps, she crept closer to the fire. Maybe the glow of it would scare off what was near.  Suddenly, she felt as if she was not alone and then...

"Tag, your it!" yelled her young daughter, as she giggled and ran from her.

"Melissa Jean!" she yelled. "How many times have I told you not to scare me like that in the middle of the night. "

Melissa Jean hung her head in shame and began to sulk off back to the cabin, when all of a sudden she heard...

Snap!

"Tag your it!"

Day 9...My name is Franken...Steen!

Hello my favorite Creatures of the night. Welcome to day 9 of the countdown to Halloween...maybe I should be saying count-up...anyway, you get me.

Today I am taking names...I mean, talking about names, Halloween names to be specific! In this classic movie the main character is very specific on how his name is pronounced.








If you are like me, sometimes you wonder why parents named their kids the way they did. Or sometimes you wonder how in the world they came up with that spelling. I have even wondered why a certain person would continue going by their given name.  The horror!

photo source

When I was pregnant with my daughter, she was due around Halloween. Her Dad wanted to name her Tabitha if she was born on the day. He would not relent on this fact. I thought he was plumb crazy! Fortunately for her, she was born several days later. 
Can you imagine what torture she would have had to endure? 

"Tabitha, wiggle your nose." Tabitha, did you put a spell on me."
"Tabitha, will you make a spell so I can get a million dollars."
 Yeah, right...was not going to do that to her for nothing!

However, as I was thinking about this blog, I thought of other people and their Halloween names or certain characters associated with Halloween. What do they really mean? Are they spooky or something else?

Luna

Luna (Lovegood) from Harry Potter, has become a popular name given to some girls recently. She is a quirky, mysterious character. Her name actually means, as you would expect, moon. To be more specific, she is the Roman Goddess of the moon.

Raven

Raven Symone grew up out of the Cosby Kids era into a woman of her own. Singer and actress she is fantastic. Her name lends itself to be mysterious and somewhat spooky... think the movie, The Raven.

The meaning of her name is anything but spooky. Actually, it means   

like Ebony or deeply black wood and beauty.

Wednesday

Wednesday from The Addams Family is a brilliantly dark character who is annoyed by her brother but loves him and the rest of her family to...death! Her favorite toy is a doll with its head chopped off for gosh sakes.  I suppose that it comes as no surprise that her name is after the day of the week but the meaning for it is Woden's Day or child who is full of woe. Now, that is creepy!

So, how about some of those Halloween boys names?

Bramwell or Bram

Bramwell Fletcher was a 1930's actor who was best known for his appearance in the 1932 horror film, The Mummy. He would later star in the movie, The Scarlet Pimpernel. The name Bram of course is also associated with Bram Stoker of Dracula fame. It would seem the name Bram is synonymous with horror.

In actuality, Bram is a derivative of Abraham and means the father of multitudes. Something seems a bit off there doesn't it?

Griffin

Griffin Dunne in 1981 played a backpacking college student infected by a werewolf who in turn becomes a werewolf at the drop of a moon beam.  Now come on werewolf! That name would certainly bring out the ultimate spooky right?

Well, Griffin does have an attachment to the mythological winged beings of half lion, half eagle. However, the name Griffin means strong lord! For the record, my friend's son is named Griffin and this meaning seems to fit him.

Jason

Jason (Voorhees) is know world wide as the awful horror killer of all the Halloween movies. He is known as scary, ruthless and just a plain scream-tastic murderer.  Do we really want to know this Jason or someone with the same name. Surely, any Jason's name would mean fanatical killer. 

In actuality Jason means to heal or healer.  Whoa...really? Something is seriously wrong here.

However, I suppose I am pretty glad about that, now that I think about it because I have a brother named...Jason. ;-)

I have given you only a select few of the spook-tacular names of Halloween. If you want to damage your child (just kidding)...um, just like Halloween that much, then by all means, go ahead and name them something wild.

After all, what is really in a name?

Your Crypt Keeper,

Naila Moon