Sounds of the season courtesy of the iPhone and iPad

Maybe it's not just smartphone and digital camera manufacturers who should be worried about the iPhone/iPad dominating their markets: look out musical instrument companies, you could be next. Enjoy these sounds of the season from the "iBand" at the North Point Community Church. See how many apps you recognize:

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: Holiday Picks: 12 1/2 Days of Christmas Movies!

This week my pick is anything but non-denominational.  I am sharing my list of the best Christmas movies out there.  These are the movies that actually help to bring the family together and avoid much of the awkward silence we otherwise must endure at the countless holiday parties with your family, neighbors and very distant cousins(well who invited him anyway??!).

 1.  Elf -ZOOoeeeey!!  Her sweet singing is enough to make this a classic Christmas movie.  Add in the genius of Will Ferrell, and you have movie gold!  It's made of GOLD!

2.  A Christmas Story  Well the term Red Rider BB Gun is now synonymous with Christmas, as are the many versions of the "leg lamp" to be found for sale around the holidays.  This movie is one of my all-time favorites, one I discovered by accident one afternoon watching cable TV in my parent's rec room.  The voiceover is just the right amount of nostagia and tongue-in-cheek.  Just try to watch it the whole way through without a giggle.  Betcha can't do it.

 3.  Scrooged- Bill Murray!!  He gets two exclamation points for this one.  This is my favorite version of the Christmas Carol story, even landing a place above the Muppets Christmas Carol on the list.  There is something so great about Bill Murray in this movie- he is evil and likeable, and that's hard to do...

 4. The Nightmare Before Christmas  Classic Burton- perfect.

5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (I still love the slapstick routines in this movie. Chevy Chase is a genius here!)

6.  White Christmas (This movie earned its own blog post, last week.  I LOVE it)  Bing Crosby will always have a place in my heart.  All of the acting in this film is above top notch.  If only they still made them like this...

7.  Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

8. The Santa Clause  I just like it, alright??! Plus, Elizabeth Mitchell plays Mrs. Clause in the movies.  Not always a big fan of Tim Allen, I really enjoy him in this movie.  He is perfect for the part of the bumbling, reluctant Santa-elect.  And the elves are great in this one.  Who doesn't like elves?

 9.  Miracle on 34th Street (1947 version)

10.  Prancer  I saw this one in the theater, that is, a much younger version of me that was easily taken with stuffed animal looking creatures...and I really enjoyed it.  It's the perfect time of year for a sappy story line filled with parents who don't understand you and learning to help those in need- even reindeer.

11.  It's a Wonderful Life

12.  The Muppet Christmas Carol  I love the Muppets.  And this is one of my favorite Muppet movies.  It honors the storyline and seriousness of the Christmas Carol while adding in that destinctive Muppets humor and charm. 

12 1/2.  A Colbert Christmas  (Ok, not a movie, but still an instant classic)

Most of the above are available on iTunes this year (is there any media now that isn't on iTunes?) so if you decide to make a purchase and are feeling generous, click on a link above to buy your copy through the Digital Lifestyle...it's like giving a Holiday gift to us- for free!  The rest link to the listings on Amazon.  Happy Holidays Everyone!  :D

Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week: Holiday Picks: Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby is my favorite Christmas-time crooner.  My father and I would spin his Christmas record each year as we pulled out the decorations and checked the tree lights. 

Then, on Christmas eve or so, we would find White Christmas on TV and watch one of my favorite holiday movies.