scary movies

I know that Halloween is over but the spirit of spooks just never dies.
I think that I must have a pretty gloomy soul because I have been craving all things scary lately.
And soothing the desire by watching Criminal Minds and reading Goosebumps hasn't been cutting it.
So I come to you with my list of my favorite scary movies!

1. The first on the list is The Visit. Believe it or not, I watched this movie the night before my wedding with two of my new cousins. And let me tell ya, it is everything that I have ever wanted in a scary movie. It's funny and sad and terrifying, but not demonic. I give this movie all of the stars in the world.

2. The Orphanage. This movie is in all Spanish with subtitles. But it is also one of my absolute favorites. It's rated R but I have no idea why... It is creepy and has SUCH a good story line to it. Highly recommended.

3. The Conjuring. I wrote ALL about this one right over here.

4. Insidious Chapter 2. Not the first one. Not the third one. Just the third one. It of course had it's lame parts, as all movies that try to bring demonic creatures into it do. But the way the story tied into the previous movie was creepily brilliant and the spooks were a lot more spooky in this one.

5. Sinister. This movie, I admit, was pretty messed up and very much cray. But it was like an episode of Criminal Minds on crack and it was glorious! It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and I can't wait to see what the second one brings!

6. The Uninvited. Classic thriller from the high school days. You will have to watch this one a couple of times to pick up the pieces of your mind from being blown the first time around. Great story, not the best acting, and Elizabeth Banks.

7. Paranormal Activity 3. ONLY the third one. The rest tried to hard in my eyes. This one had the element of an oscillating fan that made the creepy "what's just beyond the edges of the screen??" feeling so much more intense. 2 thumbs up. Don't bother with the rest of them.

Movies I'm anxiously awaiting this year:
1. Poltergeist
2. Sinister 2
3. The Boy
4. The Forest
5. The Other Side of The Door

uncut sunday

PC: Don't Know.

The New Year is fast approaching.
And people are thinking of what resolutions they want to make for the year and how they want to be a better person.
Being LDS, there is somewhat of a New Year's every Sunday.
We all go to church and hopefully think about how we can be a better person the coming week.
I was challenged by my home teachers once to take some time on Sundays to think about 3 things I did good that week and 3 things I could improve on.
It really helped me to focus on what I really did need to be improving on.
But of course some weeks there would be things that continually made it on the "must improve" list.
And it was so frustrating to not be getting any better at it.
But when I was working at a bracelet shop, beading bracelets, I had a thought.
Each day my boss would calculate the number of bracelets I made that day and then calculate the average each week and that would determine how many bracelets I could make per hour.
And it made me think about all the things I try to improve on and just never seem to get better at.
I realized that it's OK if we have bad days and do terrible on our goals.
Cause I think Heavenly Father is just going to take our average....
So we might be better some days and worse some days.
But it's OK because as long as at the end of everything we ended up better than we were at the beginning, that's all that matters. 
It's not the day to day that will determine our outcome.
(Even though it's the day to day that ultimately builds our outcome, but I digress.)

3 things I want to improve this week:
-Be more present in my relationships.
-Don't give energy to the thoughts that bring me down.
-Dedicate time each morning and night to the Lord.

christmas 2015

It was a pretty swell Christmas.
We spent Christmas Eve at my parent's house playing games and opening presents.
The next morning we woke up to SO much snow.
After the boys shoveled all the snow, we opened more presents, and ate breakfast; we headed out the door.
We went down to Spanish Fork to spend the rest of the holiday with Derek's family.
After opening even more presents there and having more delicious breakfast we went sledding for the rest of the day.
It was such a fun couple of days spent with family, talking and laughing.
This is the video of our fun Christmas festivities.
Complete with a Justin Bieber song.
:)

Christmas 2015 from McKenzie Sant on Vimeo.

winkel house rules and a merry christmas

Along with our awkward family Christmas photo (Mind you, this is our final take home shot. There were a lot more awkward ones) I present you with:
"Winkel House Rules"!!!!
(Some of which I am instating right now)
1. No tickling after 10 PM.
2. No eating everything in the secret chocolate stash by yourself.
3. No playing ukulele for more than 15 minutes.
4. If you don't put the cardboard in the recycle it will get thrown at you.
5. Fights are only solved with sharing of a Mountain Dew.
6. If the other person is sad, you must poke them on the nose and say "Beep. Boop." until they either laugh or slug you in the arm.
7. In an uncomfortable situation the code word is: Dingo.
8. On Mondays one shall only talk in limericks.
9. If you spend more than $100 in one trip then you have to buy the other person a gift to make up for it.
10. No TV on Tuesdays because that is the day that Derek has to listen to all my gossip.

uncut sunday

Image Source
I had a dream that I was asked to go and give one of the graduation speeches at my old high school.
But then I got trapped in an elevator and accused of murder and then my hoodrat friend helped me to escape the detective but then he got arrested.
So I had to spend all of my efforts getting him out of jail and never got to give my speech I had prepared:
So here it is:
"Finally, 8 years later I am her graduating."
(This was a joke. They had asked me to wear my old graduation cap and gown)
"Just kidding. I graduated 5 years ago."
(!!!!)
"And since then I have attended 3 different colleges, got an associates, traveled to Africa, traveled to Europe, got promoted to manager at a job I love, quit that job, and got married to a handsome man."
"I was in a class once where a girl said she had graduated 6 years ago and felt that she hadn't done anything with her life. Despite what she believed, she had accomplished a lot. She had graduated from a respected university, went on a mission, had a job she was passionate about...."
(I'm sure there were more things but....I didn't know her personally...it was a dream.)
"We are all going to do different things with our lives. Some will go to college, some won't. Some will get married, some won't. Some will travel, some won't. But none of these things is better than the other. There is no top of the ladder, no point we have to reach to be considered to 'have it all'."
"I am STILL in school with a couple of years left, currently jobless, and haven't done a lot of the thing that I consider to be 'top of the ladder'. But I also don't look back on my life and think that I haven't accomplished anything. I make an effort to do things that I love and believe to be challenging so that my life is worth it."
"So live your life after this graduation day in a way that you won't look back thinking that you haven't accomplished anything, even though you may not have done the same things others have. Make an effort to do things that mean something to you and give your life meaning."
(APPLAUSE)
(APPLAUSE)
(APPLAUSE)

taking stock

The following is adapted from other blogs.


Making: Christmas presents and trying to finish them before it becomes procrastination.
Cooking: Steak fajitas....mmmm :)
Drinking: Mountain Dew. Free at work? Yeah I'll take some.
Reading: The Work and The Glory. #1.
Wanting: A puppy!!!
Looking: At the messy apartment, but waiting until tomorrow to clean.
Playing: Nothing. I'm boring.
Wasting: A lot of money on chiropractors and a suspended license (!!?)
Sewing: Blankets.
Wishing: For a white Christmas.
Enjoying: Chocolate bars that Derek keeps buying me.
Waiting: For Derek to get home.
Liking: The feeling of working out.
Wondering: Where Derek and I will go on vacation in a couple of weeks.
Loving: The time Derek I have to snuggle and giggle before sleep.
Hoping: That things get figured out.
Marveling: At people's generosity.
Needing: Gas in my car.
Smelling: A candle from the dollar store that has no real scent.
Wearing: My workout clothes. From this morning.
Following: A lot of new people on Youtube.
Noticing: The dust on the TV.
Knowing: This weekend will be a good one.
Thinking: About writing this because it's actually kinda hard.
Feeling: Energized.
Bookmarking: Valentine DIYs. Can't start too early.
Opening: A new container of milk for Hot Cocoa.
Giggling: When I spend time with Derek.
Feeling: I already did this one.

the reason for the season

On the radio show I listen to they do a "Secret Santa" everyday for a family in need.
And you bet your bottom dollar, it makes me turn into a blubbering buffoon right there at work.
They had a lady email in talking about how her kids were just so ungrateful for all of the presents they had gotten.
And they started talking about ways to turn our focus during Christmastime back to what it should be.
Because without Christ then what is even the reason?
So here is a list of ways to bring the reason back into the season.
And to make Christ the purpose.

1. Along with all of the fun Christmas music about elves and reindeer, also throw in some more feel-good-heart-warming stuff too. There is good music all over out there. This one by Lennon and Maisy is one I just found:

2. Volunteer your time to people in need. Homeless shelters, soup kitchens, the food bank, a neighbor, visit an old folks home.... there is always help needed. (97.1 ZHT is the radio station I listen to and you can donate to their Secret Santa as well. Link here.)

3. Have a 12 days of Christmas (I think it's too late for all twelve at this point but....for next year right?) I found this adorable Nativity Countdown. Or you can do a countdown of service like this one here. Lots of cute ideas!

4. Take a night or two or three and discuss the birth of Jesus and read scriptures about it.

5. Attend Christmas performances that put you in the spirit of Christmas. Plays, music concerts.....

6. Opt for Non-Toy gift ideas like the ones here.

7. Make the time to be with your family and PRESENT. Play games (board games, card games, minute to win it) or do puzzles, make a treat together.....

What are your guys' ideas to keep Christ the reason this holiday season?

uncut sunday

Image Source
It's so easy to just not say something.
To hide in the background and blend in with the wall.
Whether it's for or against something, silence is easy.
You don't have to worry about rebuttals or repercussions.
You can go on your merry way and maybe feel as if nothing is different.
But something is different.
You didn't say anything.
And now that thought is lost or that compliment is meaningless.
It begged to be let out and you locked it in.
You didn't give it the voice it deserved.
Because your thoughts deserve a voice.
There's a reason you have your thoughts, and they should be shared.

There are occasions when it's best to keep your thoughts inside, safe from the world.
Where they can build roots and grow into an even better thought.
But usually, if it's pounding at the door over and over again,
It REALLY needs to be given to the world.
There's a reason you have your thoughts, and they should be shared.

throwback thursday: the flip phone days

We all know that the weirdos and hipsters thrive in college.
And me, trying to thrive, tried my absolute hardest to be hipster enough.
And what is less hipster than a fancy touch screen smartphone??
Nothing.
I just knew that I had to downgrade to uphold my reputation as the cool girl on campus.
(Also.....I was poor. And what is more hipster than that??)
So I went to the nearest mall kiosk for phones and asked them for their free-est one.
The young man said that he had one he could give me for a penny.
I felt in my pockets and I had just that!!
One penny, saved from my pan handling earlier that morning.
(Wait wait wait. I'm being hipster....not homeless.)
One penny, saved for my next coffee.
(Hypothetically of course. I just like to hold the mug and look cool. Really, it's hot cocoa.)
Anyways, he brought the phone out and it was PERFECT!
Buttons the size of my face, 911 button front and center, charging night stand, exercise programs for the elderly embedded right into the menu, man I was lucky.
"SOLD"
As we then proceeded to the cash register he said,
"Now are you sure you want this phone? My grandma has the exact same one and she hangs it on a piece of dental floss that she keeps around her neck."
I just smiled at the naive fella, gave a light chuckle,  and then discreetly pulled out a notebook to write down this fabulous dental floss idea.
You better believe it was the best phone I've (n)ever purchased.

christmas gifts

Haven't bought those oh so important gifts for your loved ones yet??
No prob bob, I've got your solution right here.
I now present to you Christmas 2015 top gifts:

>Handerpants. Keep their hands warm in those cold winter nights.

>Booger Bins. For the cold nights when EVERYTHING freezes. And by everything I mean boogers.

>Unicorn Horn For Cats. Enough said. (And doesn't he look so happy wearing it?)

>Frozen Smiles Ice. Just don't mistake them for your grandma's dentures.

>Squirrel Mask. So you don't scare off those sweet little woodland creatures outside your window.

>Yoga Joes. To inspire peace, not war.

For these and more head over to www.offthewagonshop.com to buy a gift for that special weirdo in your life.

uncut sunday

Image Source
There is a story that is coming out of Oklahoma about one of their University’s presidents.
A student had come up to him and told him that he felt victimized by a sermon on love that had been given on campus.
The student said that the sermon had “made him feel bad” and that it wasn’t fair to make him and his peers feel uncomfortable.
The president came out with, what I thought, was an excellent statement.
Among other things he said,
“Oklahoma Wesleyan is not a “safe place”, but rather, a place to learn: to learn that life isn’t about you, but about others; that the bad feeling you have while listening to a sermon is called guilt; that the way to address it is to repent of everything that’s wrong with you rather than blame others for everything that’s wrong with them. This is a place where you will quickly learn that you need to grow up.”
We are a society of justice that hungers for justice and offense.
I have been wanting to write a post on justice for a while and I feel that now is the time.
For the past couple of years I have demanded justice when things just “aren’t fair”.
And I’m honestly embarrassed of myself.
But we live in a society that demands fairness and equality in everything.
We take offense to too many things everything.
And I don’t mean all of us, but society as a whole does.
We want our mistakes looked over and when they aren’t we seek justice and vengeance.
(For what?….I don’t know. Just justice…for something!)
Nothing is our fault and everything is the government’s fault, the school system’s fault, our neighbor’s fault, the church’s fault.
We expect people to accommodate us and believe like we do.
Well, guess what?
People can believe what they want and act how they want and live how they want.
We shouldn’t have to tiptoe around others because we shouldn’t be trying to make everybody around us comfortable.
And when we make mistakes, we take care of it.
Not somebody else.
And when we don’t like what somebody says or what they believe then we have the power to walk away.
We have the ability to put the protest signs and angry voices away.
We have the ability to not take offense.
Most things are off limits now, and that’s not how it should be.
But this is also not a perfect society.
This is sadly a society of “narcissism”.


Read his article here. 

positive

Here's some more positivity for your lives.

>This story just because it's HA-larious.

>

>This is the proper way to show respect.

>Turtles are people too!!!!! 

>What an amazing alternative.

Spread the love people.

old people

Old people are my calling.
I really wish that I could have put a picture or video of one of the old people from work but....HIPPA ruins everything.
Well, I have chosen to change careers and I have left to find a job that was less....24/7?
And so here I am reminiscing on the good times with my best friends:

>There was a bed bound resident whose sheets I was trying to change. He was putting up quite the fight and I was getting pretty frustrated. So I put my hands on my hips and firmly said, "John." He replied back in an equally firm voice, "Marsha."

>One old man was very concerned about his belt being broken. He was wearing a new belt so I wasn't too concerned about finding a solution to his belt problems. Since I wasn't being much help he left and came back later carrying his oxygen tubing. He asks me, "This stuff looks pretty expensive but can I use it as a belt?"

>I put on the movie Daddy Day Care for them to watch. One man was particularly getting a kick out of it. In the movie there is a scene where one man dressed as broccoli is wrestling another man dressed as a carrot. The old man sitting next to me starts laughing hysterically and says, "Oh Ho! Been there done that!!"

>I was getting dinner ready one night when one man comes into the kitchen with his pants all peed in. I told him to go back to his room and put new pants on, not knowing that he did not understand what pants were. He leaves for a bit then comes back with no pants on but with one leg through a sweater sleeve... I take him back to his room and try to get the sweater off, but it won't budge. I ask him how in the world he got it on in the first place and he says, "Well, it wasn't easy!"

>One gentleman came to the table I was working at, sat down and said, "I would like to start working full time. I'm just not making enough money with this part time stuff." We then went on for 30 minutes discussing the details of his new job.

>One lady (who is well into her eighties) was grabbing a brief out of her closet. I asked her if she needed to go to the bathroom and she says, "No. I just started my period."

And I could go on.
If you need more laughter in your life just call me up and I'll give you a boat load more.

harry potter

One thing that you must learn when you become a Winkel is that they are a bit nerdy.
I remember so many conversations or inside jokes about Lord of the Rings and Star Wars and Harry Potter where I was just so lost.
Then once I decided that I was in it for the long haul I figured that I should maybe see what they were talking about all of the time.
So I started reading the Harry Potter books and loved them!
(I can't believe that I had never read them before now......I guess it makes sense though. Growing up, my goal was to read every book in the library so I began at A. I ended up reading a lot of Cabot and Dahl but not a lot of Rowling....)
Anyways, I pretty much loved these books.
There was almost more drama and excitement than Grey's Anatomy.
(Almost)
And that really speaks to me.
So my lil gem of a Winkel made friends with the used book store people and slowly bought me the whole series.

For a steal of a deal nonetheless, which is almost better than owning the series.
(Shameless love dedication to ma boo)
So to all of you bookworms starting at A....just skip right to R and read these bad boys.
Now, as for Lord of the Rings and Star Wars...that might take me a little longer to dive into.
Baby steps people.