The Third Day of Christmas with Krystal Lake: Favorite Xmas Funny Films

As much as I love horror, I freaking love a good laugh! That is why I am bringing you a list of my top five favorite Xmas comedies! So let's just dive right in starting with number five and counting down!

5. The Ref - In this film, a man takes a family hostage only to realize he has picked the most dysfunctional family possible. The film takes place on Christmas Eve which makes it all sorts of holly jolly. All I know is that any film where a kid tells his mom that he is going to get her a big wooden cross so that every time she feels unappreciated for her sacrifices she "can climb on up and nail herself to it" is alright in my book!

4. Four Christmases - This one features a married couple who has their Xmas plans cancelled last minute and struggles to visit all four of their divorced parents. Best line: "Boys, I don't want to speak ill of your mother on Christmas, but she's nothing but a common street whore."

3. Bad Santa - This one has a conman and his little partner in crime dressing up as a mall Santa and an elf to eventually rob the department stores at the mall. However, this bad Santa ends up befriending a troubled kid and meeting a foxy lady. Throw in mall security and you have one crazy film. As much as this movie makes me laugh, it also kills me when I see the scenes with John Ritter and Bernie Mac, may they rest in peace.

2. Home Alone - My husband always says that every generation has that one Christmas movie that they can see themselves in just because they were a kid when it came out. For his Dad, it is A Christmas Story, for my husband it is Christmas Vacation. My film is Home Alone. I was five when this came out and I remember trying to set up traps whenever I left home for vacation. You know... juuuuussssst in case. For those of you who live under a rock, this movie is about a young boy who is accidentally left home alone on Christmas by his entire family. While his family is away and trying to get back home, this young boy must protect his home for a team of burglars.

1. Scrooged - This is just the funniest Christmas film ever! It makes me go through a whirlwind of
 emotions. Here we have a different take on the Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol. A cynical tv executive is haunted by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. I watch this one every Xmas, several times with my husband and you always know when we are watching it because my husband will update his Facebook status to say, "The bitch hit me with a toaster!"

I hope you enjoyed my list of Xmas comedies! What films do you love watching this time of year? Leave a comment below and tell me your favs!

Stay Sweet and Twisted,

Krystal Lake

The Second Day of Christmas with Krystal Lake: Favorite Xmas Horror Films

Let's be real... it wouldn't be a perfect Christmas without movies to go with it. However, I also wouldn't be Krystal Lake if I didn't want my holly jolly films to come with a dash of madness and mayhem. #ClassicKrystal I have complied a quick list of my five favorite Xmas horror films that I watch every December. I've listed them Letterman style with my most favorite last.

5. Santa's Slay - This is the most ridiculous holiday movie I have ever seen. Okay... maybe not the most ridiculous, but it is definitely up there. Basically, Christmas was originally a "Day of Slaying" until a demon lost a curling match (yes, a curling match) to an angel and was sentenced to deliver presents to children every "Christmas" for 1000 years. When Santa's 1000 years are up, he goes on a killing spree in a town called Hell. Yeah... not lying.

4. Gremlins - If you haven't seen this, you might be dead to me. It's an effing classic and so is the second film as well. Basically, a guy gets a little critter and doesn't follow the guidelines when it comes to caring for his new pet. No bright lights. No getting the little guy wet. No feeding him after midnight. worst pet owner ever! As a result, a bunch of evil monsters terrorize this small town. Merry Christmas, sukkas!

3. Krampus - Yes, this film is new. Yes, I already saw it. Yes, it is an instant fav. Yes, you should effing see it! Your basic boy having a bad Christmas accidentally summons a Christmas Demon aka Gruss Vom Krampus. I know, oldest story in the book! This movie goes from funny to creepy, back to funny, and then back to creepy again. And PS, for anyone who thinks this film is strictly horror with a cast that includes Adam Scott, Toni Collette, and Conchata Ferrell is probably the same type of person who shocked when 5pm hits on a Tuesday and finds themselves mysteriously stuck in traffic. I mean seriously? Get it together!

2. P2 - A favorite of mine and my husband. Pretty lady goes to leave work on Christmas Eve and is locked in a parking garage while being pursued by a psycho security guard. Sounds stupid, but I love it! And it won't cease to amaze you at the crazy crap this guard pulls. Mmmm, Wes Bentley makes crazy so damn sexy!

1. Black Xmas - That's right!!!! I like the remake better than the original! This film is the reason I line my hallways and living room with Christmas lights. It is the reason cookie cutters seem kind of badass. it is the reason I suck the end of a candy cane into a sharp point. I love the cast. I love the music. I love the house. I love the storyline. I love that Andrea Martin has a role in this remake since she was also in the original film as well.  I love everything about this film!

This is the story of a group of sorority girls who live in a house with quite a colorful past. A boy named Billy grew up in this home with a rare liver disease that turned his skin yellow. His mother hated him. Billy gets a bit crazy after witnessing Mommy and her lover kill Daddy and then is locked away in the attic. Throw in a little incest with mommy, attacking his sister, and killing mommy followed by making xmas cookies out of the skin on her back and you have yourself one effed up guy! Ohhh, did I mention this all went down on Christmas? Well, guess who escapes a mental institution and returns home this Christmas and starts knocking off sorority girls? Ohhh yes! Ohhhh and did I mention there is a snow storm, most college kids are gone for the holidays, and campus security and the police can't get to the house? Ohhh yes!!!!! Just talking about it makes me want to watch it now!!!!!

I hope you enjoyed my top five favorite Xmas horror films! have a favorite I didn't mention? Leave me a message in the comments below and tell me what your favorites are!

Stay Sweet and Twisted,

Krystal Lake

The First Day of Xmas with Krystal Lake: My Favorite Things of Xmas

I’m a spooky gal and as such, Halloween will always be the holiday that is #1 in my heart. However, Christmas will always be a close second… followed by Independence day. What can I say, I love a holiday that ends with a bang! Today is my first day of twelve where I will be talking about my favorite things about Christmas from horror films to cocktails. I will also share look back on the previous year as well as past Christmases and share a few stories. While I do cover a lot in the upcoming eleven days, there is still a lot I don’t. So here are five of my favorite things of Christmas that won’t be covered!

1. NUTS!!!!!!!!

Yeah. My Grandma on my moms side has a recipe for bourbon spiced pecans and they are basically the most addictive nut you will ever taste. My Grandma’s nuts have shamed fellow nutters for years. I don’t know what I enjoy more… watching my friends enjoy their ration of nuts I disperse over the holidays or the looks from my neighbors when we open our doors and all you can smell is bourbon. In any case, both reactions are epic! At this very moment, there are about twenty pounds of pecans in my kitchen waiting for the magic to be worked! #soon I will not give out this recipe. There are plenty of them online, but ours is sacred. 

2. Candles!!!!!!

I have a candle problem. I’m talking I have an overstock on tea lights (scented and unscented), small ones, large ones, three wick, special ones that a decoration only, and a wide variety of scents. I keep 3-5 lit at a time most days. I wish I was lying. I have one in my long hallway, one on the tv stand, one on each book shelf, and sometimes I have one lit in the bathroom. This time of year is my favorite. I love marshmallow scents and balsam fir. I call them my calming scents this time of year. In fall it is anything apple and pumpkin. When spring and summer hit, I like floral scents and “ocean” scents. I say “ocean” because they never smell like the beach unless they remind me of sunblock. Just saying. #getontheboatthebananboat

3. Candy Canes!!!!!!!!!

I love candy canes. I love peppermint. I have two boxes of them on my coffee table. They also remind me of myself because we are both sweet and twisted. #shamelessplug

4. Christmas Cookies!!!!!!!

I love a good Christmas cookie and I have a feeling that this year I will sit and cry while I eat them. I know… sounds like a bad episode of The Biggest Loser: Xmas Edition. When I was a kid, someone always made those butter, drop cookies with a Maraschino Cherries. I hated them. I ripped out the cherries and ate the cookie. My grandfather on the other hand, loved them! As I got older, they kind of grew on me. This will be my first Christmas since my Grandfather passed away and I have a feeling those cookies are going to do me in this year. But none the less, I will always enjoy baking, sharing, and eating Christmas cookies. I always find baking cookies to be a great stress reliever. 

5. Christmas Lights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, I’m obsessed with Christmas lights. They are my favorite of all the Christmas decorations, ever! I love putting them up, I love creeping around neighborhoods to see what everyone else has put in their yards, and I love a good professionally decorated display. I even line my hallways and living room with lights where a boarder would be near the ceiling. I have to!!!!! It makes me warm and fuzzy. I also have special battery operated lights that I keep on my tv stand year round. Ohhh, and I have a spider web candelabra that has lights on it year round as well as some other weird web lights and led spiders. What can I say? I stock up every Halloween! If you can’t tell, I really like spiders. 

Alrighty! I was trying to keep this first post short and simple and filled with exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!! and I think I have succeeded. What are some of your favorite things about Christmas? Let me know in the comments below! 

Don’t forget to check back tomorrow when I list my favorite Xmas Horror films! Did Krampus make the list? You’ll have to wait to find out! 

Stay Sweet and Twisted, 

Krystal Lake

Krystal Lake Spills the Tea on Ipsy's Glam Bag

I like make up. I like it a lot. Also in my ever-growing list of likes are discounts, packages in the mail, things that smell pretty, and glitter. Yes, I sound like most teenage girls in America, I am well aware! Based on these likes, it shouldn't come as a shock when I say I have a subscription to a make up bag that comes in the mail once a month. Yeah, I did it. I had been itching to sign up for a box full of fun crap to show up at my door, shrouded in mystery until I would receive said box and open it. I looked all over the internet and read reviews before I finally settled on a little make up bag from Ipsy.com. From there I started my love/hate relationship with the Ipsy Glam Bag.

Now, before I get rolling on the who, what, where, when, and what hells... I just want it to be made clear that I am not going to be reviewing the specific products I was given. No, no, no! There is enough of that crap out there on every make up site ever. What I am doing here is talking about Ipsy and share my experience with the notorious Glam Bag!

I started my journey with Ipsy back in March. There are a few reasons I settled on Ipsy to pop my monthly subscription box cherry. First off, I wanted make up. I can never have enough. Second, I liked the way the site was set up as far as screening for your preferences (I'll come back to this one). Third, it had YouTuber Michelle Phan backing it and that made me want to trust the service. Lastly, it is only $10 a month. That's it. No shipping added (unless you live in Canada), just a flat rate of $10 per month. So let's see... we have a box with a mystery assortment of make up from a mixture of brands as well as an excellent price point, yeah... I signed up that night.

When you decided to sign up with Ipsy you go through a "3 minute quiz" to get a feel for you and help personalize your Glam Bag. There are 13 questions total. They start out with skin type and tone, eye color, and hair type and hair color. PS There is no option apart from "other" if you have more than one color in your hair or something like pink. Next, they start asking about your style and what kinds you are interested in. That's right! You can pick more than one style!!! Like the club look for Saturday nights and a more natural look for the day? Guess what? You can pick both! You can pick every possible style they have if you like, which I thought was awesome! They even ask a second style related question where they show you images of Ipsy Stylists, including Michelle Phan, and ask which ones you could relate to the most based on their make up style. And yes, you can pick more than one! They also ask how comfortable you are with make up and how adventurous you are with it, which I also thought were great questions. Let's be real, if you aren't comfortable with make up just yet, maybe liquid eyeliner isn't a good fit for you just yet. After this, they start asking about what brands you love and would like to try as well as where you normally buy your make up. They also ask what products you normally use or would like to. They get very specific with this and ask, not just about make up, but about skin care, hair care, hair and make up tools, and even fragrance. Like I said, the process is super thorough. Once you go through all of this, you can finally give your info and sign up for real.

One thing about signing up that I did not expect was the wait. When I first signed up in March I got wait listed. They had already shipped the Glam Bag for March and April's subscription had sold out. Damn. However, you do not get charged until you get off the wait list, so I was okay with it. When May rolled around, I got the e-mail saying I was off the wait list and would get my first bag in two weeks. I was excited! Finally!!!! I was getting my first Glam Bag, but it never came. I checked the tracking and it got held up at some warehouse I had never heard of. I contacted customer service and never got a response. I was pissed, but at the same time, it was only $10. This could have been a lot worse. June came about and I got the same e-mail saying my Glam Bag was on the way, and this time it showed up! Since signing up I have received a total of three bags and have another that should arrive within the next week. Like I said, I am not going to review the specific products, but I do have pictures to share as well as my opinion on what I received.

June's Glam Bag contained the following: a small bottle of Formula X Nail Color in Power Source, treStique Mini Shadow Crayon in Kona Coffee, OFRA Eyeliner in Turquoise, Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer .25 fl oz, and Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Body Butter in Pure Vanilla. I used all of the products and only kept using three of the five. If you've ever met me, that nail color was not my style. At all. Ever.

June's Glam Bag

July's Glam Bag contained the following: Eyetini Swizzle Stick Eyeliner in Blue Hawaiian, Jersey Shore Sun's Mongongo Anti-aging Lip Conditioner in Vanilla Coconut Cream, Bella Pierre Cosmetics Lipstick in P.I.N.K., Jor'el Parker Classico Perfume .30 fl oz, and Tarte's Amazonian Clay Waterproof Bronzer in Park Ave Princess. I tried all the products and still use three of the five.

July's Glam Bag

August's Glam Bag contained the following: Lather's Ultra Mild Face Wash, Doucce Cosmetics Ultra Precision Eye Liner in Black, Hikari Cosmetics Lip Gloss in Salsa, Briogeo Ginseng and Biotin Volumizer Blow Dry Spray in Blossom & Blossom, and City Color Cosmetics HD Powder. I used all of the products and still use four of the five.

August's Glam Bag

Overall, I have liked the majority of the products that have been sent to me. I have found some brands I hadn't tried in the past that I now love and some I wouldn't ever use again. I also had some familiar brands and products that I already liked swing my way as well. Plus, the bags they come in are freaking adorable! On top of the Glam Bags, Ipsy also has special offers for subscribers.

When you log onto the site, there are special offers, giveaways, sneak peeks for your next bag, and ways to earn free stuff. The special offers are all products that you can purchase at a discounted price. I've seen skin care kits go for $25 off and lip stick for $15 off and I'm talking some high end stuff with big names attached. However, you have to hurry to save because these deals sell out fast and or have a time limit. The giveaways kind of piss me off. You enter giveaways by sharing pictures on Instagram and or Facebook while using three specific hashtags that are usually #ipsy #sweepstakes and something specific to the brand of the giveaway. I don't do this because I don't share that kind of crap on-line. I share horror movies and John Waters news because I'm classy. Okay, that's a lie. I did enter a sweepstakes for free stuff from Horror Decor. But I don't want to promote something I've never tried before just to get the product that may or may not be good. Sneak Peeks for your next Glam Bag work in a similar fashion... you have to share that you are getting a Glam Bag on a bunch of social media sources via links on the Ipsy site and then you get to see what is coming your way. Yeah, I don't play that. I'm half embarrassed that I am subscriber to this thing in the first place and the last thing I want to do is brag about it. Plus, I like the mystery factor, so I will never share that I am getting a Glam Bag. Last, but not least, the free stuffz! You earn points on Ipsy for every Glam Bag you get as well as reviews, following them on Instagram, following them on Facebook, subscribing to them on YouTube, and sharing the arrival of your Glam Bag. Once you hit 500 points you can use them to get free stuff like make up and make up brushes. Since I don't like sharing this kind of stuff I have just over 100 points, but I also don't see anything I would want when I check the stuff up for grabs. However, the second they put up something like a make up brush with a spiderweb print, I'm going to be all over that mess! But I'll keep dreaming.

God, I feel long winded! Overall, I am happy with my subscription with Ipsy despite the rocky start with wait listing and missing out on a Glam Bag. The majority of what comes in the mail is a variety of items from deluxe samples to full size products. No little packets of foundation that barely cover half your face. I like the options the site gives you for free stuff if you are willing to go the extra step and give them a shameless plug on social media. Not my bag, but a lot of people do it and don't seem to mind at the chance of winning free stuff. If you are a make up person and are looking for an inexpensive, monthly subscription; Ipsy is not a bad start.

I plan on continuing my subscription at least through the holidays. If you are interested in what I get in the next few Glam Bags, leave me a message in the comments below. Do you have a monthly subscription you would or wouldn't recommend? Share that with us as well! My next monthly subscription post will be after the holidays and will be on Horror Block! I am expecting my first Block in October and I can't wait to share my experience with all of you!

Stay Sweet and Twisted,

Krystal Lake

It's #takemebacktuesday: Buffy and Angel edition!

Buffy and Angel are almost vintage shows, but they are totally awesome and really led the way for mainstream supernatural tv. Buffy was originally a movie (a classic awesome one) about a cheerleader who becomes a vampire slayer.

Whedon's formula for the show: Create a show about teenagers having normal problems while battling the forces of evil. Include gorgeous guys playing ancient vampires. Add drama, up and coming actors and actresses, and an awesome soundtrack, and you have a cult classic.

Buffy is still no longer a cheerleader, but she is the new girl at Sunndale High. Giles, the librarian, is her mentor. Xander and Willow are her friends, known as the Scooby Gang. Angel is a vampire, and he is cursed to never have true love. Spike is a bad boy turned good. These are the main characters. There are so many other good people on the show, but you need to watch it to find out!

Angel is a spin-off of Buffy. Angel moves to Los Angeles and becomes the head of a Wolfram and Hart Law office, which is run by mythical Senior partners. (This is a long story that's explained in the show). Gunn, Wesley, and a variety of other characters make this a memorable and equally interesting  series. The episodes run in tandem with Buffy, and in my opinion, was cancelled too soon.

Buffy and Angel live on in a comic book form. I suggest watching the show before picking up the comic! It's excellent!

#TakeMeHomeTuesday - Itty Bitty Kitty available pet update!

Hey Everyone,

I have some news about Itty Bitty Kitty! They are no longer using the Petco on Tighlman Street in Allentown, but you can still visit Quakertown or inquire online.  If everything works out, (keep your fingers crossed) there will be a true shelter by the end of the month! If you would like to donate, please click on the link below:

https://www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/help-itty-bitty-kitty-get-a-shelter-/300732

The following cats are still available for adoption:

Roland is a friendly and beautiful orange tabby! Handsome, laid back, friendly, he's the kitty man of your dreams. Ginger cats are super lovable! I mean that face and those markings! He'll be the love of your life!

Braxton is a cutie! He's a sweet little kitten that needs your love and affection! Those ears and that face! He's friendly, outgoing, and super sweet. He'll be good for any family or multiple kitty household!

Geisha (who is actually a male) is another young cutie! He was recently brought in, and needs lots of attention! If you're adopting young kittens, it's best to get two at a time! 

Just click on one of their names above if you want to adopt them!

Itty Bitty Kitty Update, just in time for #TakeMeHomeTuesday

Hey everyone! I have great news! The shelter was approved! Itty Bitty Kitty will be able to have 35 cats, and the plan is to open up its doors in January. Now you'll be able to come and visit kitties like this in person!!

By the way, he's available for adoption. Check him out here!

Itty Bitty Kitty needs your help! We need the following items for the shelter:

Covered Litter boxes - Large or XL
Stainless steel dishes for food
Large ceramic dog dishes for water
litter scoops
toys
beds
twin sized comforters in good condition
canned food - no store brands please
gift cards to petsmart, target, home depot, and petco

National Penn Bank - 5700 Hamilton Blvd. Wescosville will be a doing a benefit drive for Itty Bitty Kitty. You can drop off any needed items at this location until December 4th

There is also a wishlist available here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/2JPNAJK7821Q4

If you are interested in volunteering, please email ittybittykitty@bdog.org or call us at 610-973-7400, option 4.

Feel free to contact me with any specific questions! Feel free to leave a comment below. Anything you can do will help give these kitties a better life!