#ChristmasClassics: My Favorite Holiday Flicks

There are all kinds of traditions around this time of year ... My family doesn't have many but there are personal traditions and must-haves every Christmas for me.

Like my favorite holiday treats --- I must have egg nog, Starburst candy canes and lots of Hershey's kisses or my holidays are not complete.

We also have a tradition of opening one gift at midnight once Christmas day officially begins.

However one of my favorite personal traditions is watching holiday movies.  Even when I'm frustrated after a day of holiday shopping or I'm not quite in the Christmas spirit yet, the minute one of my faves comes on TV, all is right with the world and I'm a happy, jolly Diva :)

I wanted to share some of my favorite holiday films (in alphabetical order) that I watch each and every year .... [Feel free to share your own!] ... They each contribute something special to my Christmas and I can't wait to watch them again this year! :)

A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983) - Of course everyone has (or should have) this one on their list.  A Christmas Story is set in the 40s but is a timeless tale filled with things anyone of any age can relate to -- Like wanting that special Christmas gift (and learning to be careful what you ask for), dealing with bullies at school and finally standing up for yourself, dealing with embarrassing parents, and more.

Plus there are lots of great things in between all that ... Like the comical carols at the Chinese restaurant ... and who doesn't crack up laughing every time the Dad mispronounced FRAGILE ... LOL!  (Fra-GEE-lay!).

A Christmas Story usually shows on TBS for 24 hours beginning on Christmas Eve night ... I usually watch it about 6 or 7 times during that marathon :) 

HOME ALONE (1990) - Another tale of "Be Careful What You Ask For", Home Alone is from my childhood and was written by one of my favorite directors, John Hughes ... Watching it reminds me of the blessed 90's when life was much simpler -- and movies were funnier :)  It's full of slapstick comedy, thanks to the "Wet Bandits" ... and thanks to AMC, I've already watching it about 10 times already! Lol.  [Check your local listings for future airings]

Home Alone is a Christmas classic filled with great holiday music and a great story for kids and parents alike.  It's one you sit and watch with a hot cup of cocoa and laugh your butt off at Kevin's antics.  What more could you ask for?

HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK (1992) - I know a lot of people shun sequels but I love Home Alone 2 ... (I have yet to see 3 and 4 and probably never will since Macaulay Culkin wasn't in it).

Though it's kind of scary to think about a elementary-schooler being all alone in NYC, you forget the danger of him walking around all times of day and night and focus on another great comedy, the return of the Wet Bandits and all the great ways Kevin causes them pain.

Sprinkle in some great cameos (I love me some Tim Curry) and a couple of good deeds (befriending a pigeon lady and saving the toy store's donations) and you have a great holiday flick for all to enjoy!

SCROOGED (1988) - There are soooo many renditions of Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol" but besides the old black and white version, Scrooged is my favorite.  I have no clue why though (lol). It could because I'm a Bill Murray fan, or because my cousin (at least in my mind) Alfre Woodard is in the cast ... but Scrooged is the one I have to see every Christmas ... The ending scene is my absolute FAVE.




TRADING PLACES (1983) - Okay so this is not a traditional Christmas tale like the rest ... but it IS set around Christmas time and for some reason this movie has become a tradition for me to watch every season.  The movie stars some of my 80s faves -- Eddie Murphy, Dan Akroyd -- plus horror queen Jamie Lee Curtis as a Good Samaritan who happens to be a hooker.  Trading Places is a great story about what happens when rags turn to riches and riches turn to rags (thanks to manipulation by some bored multi-millionaires).  Set around the holidays, it teaches us that money isn't everything (although it's amazing to have! lol).  I have a lot of favorite parts and can recite this movie verbatim, but the opening credits of the movie, with a Mozart soundtrack -- is my ultimate fave ...

[Trading Places comes on Comedy Central on Christmas Eve night.  Check your local listings]

I know there are PLENTY of others but these are MY faves :)  Feel free to comment with your own.  Happy Holidays everyone! 

35: Media Diva Career Notes

Soooo ... It's my birthday.  #35 to be exact.

Of course I'll do some reflective posts today, where I self-reflect and make resolutions for this new year of life. But for this post, I've decided to do things a little different and share some things about me that most don't know.

I'm pretty much an open book when it comes to my personal life, but I rarely talking about my career/accomplishments -- Unless I've sent you a resume, or we're friends on LinkedIn.

So, in honor of my 35th year, here are 35 Media Diva Career Notes: 

1. When I was little I wanted to be two things: A writer and a teacher
2. I wrote my first short story at age 7. My mom still has it.
3. I started writing songs when I was 11, even wrote some for me and the friends I used to sing with in middle and high school.
4. I was told to become a songwriter when one of the groups met with a local producer (which suited me fine because I hated performing).
5. I am registered with BMI (since 1998) but have never published any of my songs … most people close to me never heard them.
6. I became a journalist in 10^th grade (s/o to KBYRD!) … I was promoted to a producer in 11^th grade.
7. I got my start in radio and promotions when I was the sole girl on the KMJJ street team, when I was 17.  I interned for then Music Director, Candy Rain.
8. I also street teamed for Universal Records for 2 years in college.
9. I published a hip-hop newsletter when I was a sophomore in college (at LSU) called Urban Word.  This was before blogs were cool and digital photography was extra accessible. I created it on Publisher, printed in with my own funds, and placed it in dorms.
10. Urban Word got me noticed by KLSU hip hop DJ and I ended up with a co-hosting gig
11. The first host name I came up with was Athena … I was told to change it LOL. That’s when mahogani was born -- And yes it was inspired by the movie. 
12. Back then, mahogani was my creative alter ego.  We are now one in the same.  
13. After appearing on the hip hop show, I was ushered into my own paying show featuring R&B music, which came on right after – The After Party.  I did that show for 2 years, and left it to my then boyfriend … who lost it for not showing up (Grr)
14. I have a Bachelor of Arts in MassCommunication from the Manship School at LSU.
15. I changed my minor 3 times before deciding on Audio-Visual Arts (aka Film). I’m glad I chose it.
16. I directed my first music video for a class in AVA minor, for a group named Tabu. I never got a copy of it though, lol.
17. When I graduated from college, I wanted to go into radio, but when corporations bought out local stations, they did away with the department I wanted to run – Promotions.
18. Instead of radio, I ended up in news, and I’ve worked for 3 of the local TV news affiliates in Shreveport (3, 6 and 12) as a producer. (My show went to #1 each time).
19. I got fired from one of those stations (guess which?! Lol)
20. I worked in radio again for a year (2004-2005) as the producer of the Quenn Echols Morning Show.  (I reminded QE that I came to him after graduating college to get a job and was ignored LOL.)
21. While working at KDKS, I also worked at KTAL (Ch. 6). For six months, I pulled 70-80 hours a week … I eventually had to let that go (lol)
22. I’ve had a lot of non-media jobs since the age of 16 such as: Babysitter, Grandy’s, Montgomery Ward, Work Study in offices at both XU and LSU, Eckerd’s (now CVS), Tinseltown (in BR), a Call Center, and Substitute Teaching.
23. I left news in 2007, and ended up working on film sets for a while.  The best experience was being a P.A. for “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” – it reignited my love for film production.
24. I became a professional photographer in 2007, working part-time at JC Penney. By, 2009, I was doing freelance photography on my own under Mahogani Media.
25. I left JCP in 2010 and entered graduate school. Since film school wouldn’t take me, I’m studying to be a Career Counselor.
26. I have worked in event promotions half my life but my favorites of all time were Juneteeth (when it was at Hamel’s Park), Universal Records listening parties, the events I promoted for Just a Little Café and the 318 Cypher).
27. I co-created the 318 Cypher but was left to run it on my own. I just wanted to create a platform for the artists who weren’t getting a voice or platform in the local music scene. It’s been one of the highlights of my career.
28. I still want to be a writer … I have 2 manuscripts, dozens of short stories, 2 short film, and a feature film (for TV) that I want to publish/produce/direct.
29. I may still teach later in life – but instead of English, I’d do Journalism, Communications or Psychology.
30. My creative idols are Spike Lee, Marc Baptiste and Anthony Mandler. 
31. My favorite author, e. lynnharris, passed away in 2009. I haven’t worked on my manuscript since.  But every time I write, I think of him.
32. My favorite people to photograph are artists – because they always want to tell their story through their photos.  (I will always be a journalist at heart).
33. I have a long list of creative career goals, one of which is to have a feature story in one of my favorite magazines with me as both the writer and photographer.
34. Along with success writing, photography, and promotions/PR … I aspire to be a producer or director in film or TV, but my passion is documentary.  Again, the journalist in me.
35. In 2002, The Creator told me my purpose – Storyteller.  And I plan to fulfill it in every way, whether I’m telling my story, or your yours.

 Though I have accomplished much in my life, I feel like I am just getting started in living my purpose.  I spent much of my life helping other artists (as I do now), and now it's time for me to showcase MY talents on a larger level.  So ... Stay Tuned ;-)   www.mahoganimedia.com