2012

For as long as I can remember, 2012 was the year all my dreams would come true. Growing up 2012 was the year I'd finally graduate from school, move to the city and lead a glamorous life as a writer in the city. In the beginning of this year I had three major goals: 1.) Graduate from college 2.) Move to New York City 3.) Land a kick ass job. I am proud to say that I achieved all of them. However it did not turn out quite as I expected, as such if with life.

Usually I write up a long blog post detailing my year in full, but this year I don't need to. Those who matter know the details and those who don't matter never needed to know to begin with. However, here are some highlights for you all:

Life Highlights of 2012

• Spring semester at Rutgers I took 7 classes (22 credits) and even when a professor told me I wasn’t competent enough to pass that many classes, I did
• Handled the Comic Book Men gossip and lies with my head held high (more details on that)
• I graduated from college
• Landed awesome NYC job and then quit four months later when I knew I deserved better
•  Traveled to SDCC again and befriended many good people
• Braved the New York real estate and moved to my own studio on the Upper West Side
• Met Karen Allen, twice
• Learned to stand up for myself when it comes to untrustworthy people
• Interned at the New York Public Library
• Met and interviewed Peter Jackson

Quotes That Defined 2012

• “Be easy on yourself. Have fun. Only hang around people that are positive and make you feel good. Anybody who doesn’t make you feel good, kick them to the curb. And the earlier you start in your life the better. The minute anybody makes you feel weird and non-included or not supported, you know, either beat it or tell them to beat it.” — Amy Poehler
  
• "We set out to be wrecked." - J.M. Barrie
• "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." - Charles Caleb Colton
• “To even have one year when you’re presented with choices that can alter your circumstances, your character, your course- that’s by God alone. And it shouldn’t come without a price.” -Amor Towles

And with that, happy New Year's Eve and I wish you all the very best<3

2012 in Movies

Here is a list of all the movies I saw in 2012 for the first time, including ones that have come out in previous years. The asterik means I saw this movie in theaters. If you would like to check out my 2011 list click here.

So here is my list!

read more

A Blog Hiatus

Hello all,

After much debate and procrastination, I've decided to put my blog on hold after the New Year. There are a lot of things going on in my life emotionally and physically and I'd just like to focus on other writing more personal to me. I will still post my best of list of movies but after that the site will be under construction for a while.

Have no fear, you can find all my personal postings on my Tumblr and all my random and ridiculous musings on Twitter nearly 24/7 if you care about that sort of thing.

So be well, and happy holidays to you all<3

Day 10 of Christmas: Robert Downey Jr High, Singing, And Dancing. With Muppets. You're Welcome.

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree is a 1995 Christmas TV Special featuring the Muppets, Robert Downey Jr. Leslie Nielsen, and Stockard Channing. Feast your eyes on the jackpot of all cheesy holiday traditions! This is Downey in his troubled years where he is clearly high on some sort of drug. Unless he is really that ecstatic to be with Kermit, I won't judge. 

I have no other words. Watch and see for yourself:

Day 9 of Christmas: The Gift of Happiness

Last night I finished reading Gretchen Rubin's "The Happiness Project", in which she talks about her year spent trying out methods and ideas on how to improve her already happy life. I found this "self help" book engaging and unlike most books in this genre. She was not preachy nor offered any guaranteed solutions to making yourself happy. Instead, she took the research she had conducted in the previous months and applied them to her own life. We as readers are able to follow her journey to find out what worked for her and what didn't work. 

I related to  aspects of Rubin's project: I too live in Manhattan and am a relatively happy person, though I know I can be short tempered and impatient with people.  Rubin came up with her own 12 Commandments in order to help her achieve her goals:

Gretchen Rubin's Twelve Personal Commandments

1. Be Gretchen
2. Let it go.
3. Act the way I want to feel.
4. Do it now.
5. Be polite and fair.
6. Enjoy the process.
7. Spend out. (This is probably the most enigmatic of my commandments.)
8. Identify the problem.
9. Lighten up.
10. Do what ought to be done.
11. No calculation.
12. There is only love.

Inspired by her aspirations, I came up with a few of my own based on aspects of my life I wish to change: 

Zoë 'sThings to Live By:

-Write often and without judgment.

-Worry about what I am capable of fixing.

-Think before I speak.

-I am not always right.

-Everyone does not hate me.

- Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.

-Take time to enjoy a story.

- You can do this alone, but you don’t have to.

- Limit buying happiness.

-Food will not bring you long-term happiness.

-Don't be afraid of people.

My own "Things to Live By" are not as thought out or general as Rubin's but as these are the elements that are most important to me at this point in my life,  I feel like by bettering myself with these "rules" I will greatly benefit the rest of my life.

And so, for this holiday season I would highly recommend giving someone you love a copy of "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. There are other products available to buy on her Shop that would make a great little gift set including "The Happiness Project One Sentence Journal" as well free personalized bookplates, cards and audio books!

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” 

― Dalai Lama XIV

Day 8 of Christmas: A Hobbit Dream Comes True

Yesterday I had the chance to interview my idol, director Peter Jackson. Mr. Jackson is know for directing the Academy Award Winning series "The Lord of the Rings" and, personally to me for saving my life. Earlier this year I had written a blog post on how out of all the celebrities I could chose to meet, I'd chose Peter Jackson. I'm still in shock over all this but expect a full length and detailed post soon. But I could not think of a better Christmas present than meeting a man I have long admired and respected.

Day 7 of Christmas: Make It A Tarantino Holiday

Last night I attended a press screening of "Django Unchained", the new Quentin Tarantino film starring Jamie Foxx, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christopher Waltz and Samuel L. Jackson. Due to the embargo I am not allowed to speak much about it except that I loved the movie tremendously and that I highly recommend seeing it. The film comes out Christmas Day, so if you're like my family and go to the movies every Christmas morning, treat your family to a Tarantino Holiday.

Day 6 of Christmas: The Rockettes

Christmas in New York City has become as iconic as Santa himself: one cannot help but think of the sky high tree in Rockefeller Center and 5^th avenue’s window displays when it comes to the holiday season. However, the most iconic of all city traditions is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes. Currently celebrating its 80^th anniversary, the show now balances the classic musical numbers with updated newer ones to accommodate the next generation.

Last night Pietro and I had the luxury of attending the show with fantastic 15th row seats provided by the house in order to review this spectacular. It was as magical as I thought it would be and I hope that everyone has a chance to see it when they visit the city during Christmas.

Day 5 of Christmas: Tiffany's, The New York Public Library, & Lee Pace

Apparently last year, Tiffany & Co put together their annual holiday campaign and titled it, "Some Holidays Are Unforgettable". It is described as: "French model Laetitia Casta and actor Lee Pace, are lovers romancing their way through a snow-covered New York City, visiting the Empire State Building, Central Park and the New York City Library, with Nat King Cole crooning “The Very Thought of You".

When I first saw the pictures for this campaign mere moments ago, my heart nearly melted out of my pores and I could have died in a blissful state of being. This campaign combines a select few of my true loves together in one perfect, robin's egg blue package. First off, Christmas in New York City is the time of year that I live for. New York in the summer is brutal and rather disgusting. However, walking down 5th avenue in December is a most magical and serene moment worth living through endless 101 degree August days.

Now you combine this with Tiffany's, you've got pure magic. The only expensive jewelry I own is from Tiffany's and I cherish every piece I have from there. The history of my love for this company will have to be told another time.

However, back to the story. The marketing department at Tiffany's knows what they're doing. Veyr few things are more magical than these elements together along with Lee Pace and Nat King Cole singing "The Very Thought Of You". Congratulations  you've made me the happiest girl in the world. Throw in a photo shoot taken on the very steps of the library where I work, and currently sitting at? 

My life is made.
Without further adieu, here is the video for the stunning campaign:

Tiffany & Co.: Some Holidays Are Unforgettable from Bagaholicboy on Vimeo.

Day 4 of Christmas: A Ghostbuster's Holiday

Submitted by Luke Crisalli

Every year since 2004, I've been shooting my own Christmas cards, and these are absurdly off the wall hilarious, because I myself am absurdly hilarious. These cards are well regarded by my friends and family, and some actually keep them up year round. The cards have involved everything from Elf Crime Scenes to Santa having to be rescued from my chimney by the FDNY.

Since I'm also a huuuuge Ghostbusters fan I wanted to do a Ghostbusters themed card. In 2010, I had just started getting back into my geek life after some time off. I had finally started getting my Ghostbusters cosplay underway as well so the stars began to align. I had the uniform, with custom patches but I didn't have the Proton Pack, due both to lack of time and money. (mainly money)

Cue my friend Ronnie, from the Long Island Ghostbusters. Like the Star Wars costuming guild, "The 501st", Ghostbusters fans have set up divisions world-wide as well. After meeting Ronnie and the rest of the L.I.G.B.'s, they offered to be of assistance with my crazy photo shoot ideas. What I wanted to do was do a shoot which involved us "busting the ghost of Christmas past" in front of the Ghostbusters firehouse, FDNY's Ladder Co.8, in TriBeCa. Ronnie would provide his pack and also act as the second buster.

So, in late Novemeber, we put the whole idea together while my friend and fellow photographer Don would be the photographer. After a short trip on the 1 train, we got to the firehouse, and I began to gear up. To say it was cold would have been and understatement. It was Hoth-like as we waited for Ronnie to make the trip in on the LIRR. 

He finally made it in after sunset and we began to set up. As he put that pack on me, it was the epitome of a geek-dream coming true. I finally felt like I belonged back in my geek world, and finally got to wear something I'd wanted to wear since I was a kid. The shoot? It went amazing. Not only did we get the shots we wanted, but everyone walking nearby got a total kick out of us, and posed for photos with us. It was for sure one of those rare New York City moments.

After we finished the shoot, the three of us went to a nearby restaurant to chow down where we caused quite the commotion. I suppose its not everyday two Ghostbusters walk into a restaurant. Ronnies pack was so big that it needed it's own chair. So there we sat, full uniform with Santa hats on, sipping hot chocolate and eating sandwiches. Don summed it up best, "I'm sitting in a restaurant having dinner with two Ghostbusters, life is surreal and good."

A few days later, we did the edits needed on the card, adding in an early 1900's dancer as the "ghost of Christmas past." The cards were mailed out a day later to over 85 of my friends and family, and received more praise then I had ever gotten for a card. To this day it remains one of my favorites. 

Thanks for the submission Luke! You can find more of his work at LC Photowrex or on his Tumblr.

If you'd like to submit your own Christmas story, please feel free to email me at zgulliksen@gmail.com Happy Holidays!

3rd Day of Christmas: River by Robert Downey Jr.

My favorite Christmas song, as well as one of the most played songs on my iTunes, is "River" by Robert Downey Jr. Not many people know that Tony Stark is an incredible singer and piano player. He  played the character Larry Paul on season four of "Ally McBeal'. 

Larry Paul often sings and plays the piano for Ally, including this heart breaking tune. His rendition of the Joni Mitchell classic has so much emotion behind it, that one cannot but feel that he felt the regret sung about in the song.

Take a listen, yet I warn ye gentle reader. This may break all hearts.

2nd Day of Christmas: Starbucks 12 Days of Christmas

Starbucks, despite the over priced drinks and designer label, is a company that I gladly support and will continue giving my money to because of their dedication to their customers. Walking into a Starbucks (one every four blocks in New York City) during the holiday season is the equivalent to being hugged by a Norse God: warm, abundantly in your face, and always welcome. Decorations everywhere, stacks of red coffee mugs and themed teddy bears. Obnoxious Christmas music from every genre is played over head and the baristas have on Santa hats or reindeer horns. This excessiveness makes me incredibly happy.

One of the best parts about Starbucks during the holidays is the 12 Days of Christmas deals. For example, on Dec 1st, 2012 Day 1:Purchase any mug and get a free Grande Espresso Drink. and Today's (Dec 2nd) Day 2: Free Starbucks VIA 12-Pack with purchase of one Starbucks VIA 12-Pack or Free tin of Tazo tea with purchase of one tin of Tazo tea.

Everyday until December 12th there will be similar deals that you can look up each morning of either in your local store, on their Facebook or on Twitter. I find this to be an excellent marketing strategy and I appreciate that the deals are worthy. I needed more instant coffee packs so I bought today's deal. That's 24 cups of Starbucks coffee for $12, much cheaper than if I were to go to the store every single day.

So keep an eye out for the upcoming deals and try out their Christmas Blend flavor coffee, it's my favorite. Also- thank your baristas for being so wonderful! It's a hectic time of year and they do so much work. I'd like to thank Alyssa @Instalyssa, the most cheerful Starbucks worker on Twitter and one of my favorite tweeters. Also to @PatrickJCurley for running the best Starbucks in my hometown. He does a perfect Wolverine cosplay when he isn't making excellent chai tea lattes. 

To contribute a guest blog  to my 25 Days of Christmas please email me at zgulliksen@gmail.com Happy Holidays!

1st Day of Christmas: Candy Cane Cat Collar

For the past two years I have done special holiday blog posts celebrating my favorite time of year. I write about the little things that make of the month of December in order to help spread my good cheer. I also have invited my friends (near and far, online and down the street) to share their stories about the holidays as well. 

This year I am attempting to write a short post for every 25 days leading up to Christmas. A massive FEAT I am undertaking, but if anyone can do it, this girl can. So hold onto your white trimmed red hats and elf ears and let's begin.

1st Day of Christmas: Candy Can Cat Collar.

I recently adopted a little black kitten named Pan (After Pan Am the airline and Pan from ‘His Dark Materials’). I have wanted a cat for a LONG time but my tiny New York apartment building doesn't allow any pets…

However one of my bosses found three kittens in a garbage can last week and they desperately needed homes so I adopted one on the spot. However she is staying at Pietro’s apartment because he works from home and has a dog named Robin that Pan get along with marvelously so she’s never lonely. I love her to pieces and is the most adorable creature on the planet.

She got out of the apartment the other day and we couldn’t find her for 20 minutes, I practically died from worry. However a neighbor had her, I bought a Christmas collar with a HUGE bell for her and glued it to her face.

Now ninja cat cannot get lost ever again and she is forced to partake in the holiday season every second of every day.

I invite all of you to submit your little stories about this time of year and I will post them here on my blog! Here are some highlights from previous year's:

Jessy' Christmas Story

Cassie's A Very Merry Chrismukkah  

Sarah's Peppernuts