12 Days of Christmas: Day 8

It's Day 8 of the 12 Days of Christmas Challenge and today's topic is...
Least Favorite Thing About the Holidays

Hmmm...this one required some serious thinking on my part. I guess what I don't like is the let down after the holidays. You know, that weird feeling when the excitement is over and the family has left town. It's time to put away the decorations and plow through three or four more months of bland and blah winter. I consider myself lucky because I extend the holiday season to include my birthday (January 5th! :)). If I wanted to, I could even include Dave's on January 26th. That helps with the post Hallow-Thanks-Christmas Madness of Oct/Nov/Dec. (And next year, we'll have a birthday thrown in there too for Trace!)

Yep, that's my answer. I don't like the let down when the holidays are over. In fact, I'm feeling that way a little bit now. But there's always something to look forward to, it's just a matter of picking it out! :)

12 Days of Christmas: Day 7

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY

Ho ho ho...I suck at crafts! Well that's not entirely true. If you know me, you know I can't scrapbook to save my life. Seriously, it's a disaster. I am okay at some other stuff, but really...not so hot. I am not artistic in that arena. I could choreograph you a great Christmas dance though! :)

I do have a DIY decorating tip, because I love to decorate my tiny baby sized house. I am far from an expert, so this is my little tree cheat. (ha!)

Ribbon on the tree. I love this look but I never knew quite how to get the ribbon to fall nicely from the top of the tree. I figured it out last year! I attached the ends to the inside of the angel. Super easy and it holds the ends in place so I can arrange the long parts down the tree how I would like.

(Imagine a picture here of my really cute purple and gold tree...can't put it up until Dave digs my 4 totes of Christmas decs out of the abyss in the basement. UGH.)

Hmmm...I'm sure I have more I just can't see my decorations so it's hard to remember. A lot has happened since we last put them up!

12 Days of Christmas: Days 4 and 5

I missed Day 4, because well...I have an 18 month old and a 1 month old, family in town on both sides and a husband who was gone last night and all day today at the Penn State game. I'm also a little crabby and a whole lot of stressed. So. Yep. Missed Day 4 on actual Day 4. I'm not going to go in to a big late Day 4 post, just make a budget and do your best to stick to it! That's what I do! I'll put money in an envelope for each person and stick to that amount. Easy.

Day 5: Favorite Christmas Movie
I have a tie...

The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear!!

ELF

Oh how I love this movie! Will Ferrel is so fantastic in this one. He's adorable and endearing, humorous and generally awesome. I've been known to watch this movie in the spring and summer too...:) I may or may not have just watched it last night. (Thanks USA, for playing it all weekend!)

And who doesn't want their house decorated to look like Buddy does his dad's? :)


My tie-for-first favorite...
WHITE CHRISTMAS

This movie was a staple of my childhood. I know all the songs, all the dances...it' just plain awesome. Nothing like a vintage Bing Crosby movie to get you in the holiday spirit!

I Wanna Be a Rockette

I have wanted to be a Rockette my ENTIRE life. It's a big tradition in my family to watch the Macy's Parade every Thanksgiving. When I was little, I'd try to follow along with the Rockettes performances. I've seen them live 4 times, one year I saw them twice in 3 weeks. I danced the Rockette Experience on my 17th birthday. I'm a little bit obsessed to say the least.

Yet. Not much can be done when you are only 5'5. You have to be 5'7, barefoot and without question, to qualify to audition. That's a sad fact that I have had to come to terms with. ;) I'm not tall, I'll never be tall. I've satisfied myself with turning my dancers into mini-Rockettes and live happily knowing at least 2 of my students plan to audition for the big show when they are old enough! I live vicariously through them.


Those were the days!

Day 3!

Best/Most Meaningful Gift

Today's theme in the 12 Days of Christmas Bloghop is best/most meaningful gift. This is a super fun one, I think! I read through Kelly's over at Kelly and Co this morning and it brought back so many memories. (Thanks, Kelly, for posting it first thing. I don't think my memory would have woken up without reading yours! :))

Confession, before I begin. I am sure some of these presents were Chelsea's, I just can't remember. I am POSITIVE if she ever reads this, she'll chime in with what was hers. :)

The first awesome present I remember getting was this one...

A Talking Mother Goose! She had a little gosling with her named Bertrum. She was a lot like Teddy Ruxpin, except clearly she was Mother Goose and told nursery rhymes and fairy tales. I was beyond obsessed with my Mother Goose! I used her for years. I wish I still had her, Rory would love it!


Along those same lines, one year Chels or I got these videos in our stockings...

These were the GREATEST Mother Goose videos. They were real people and animatronics. We watched them every day for years. Bertrum always wanted stuffed peppers and rutabagas in every episode. Oh they were awesome.


Every year, Santa brought Chels and I Holiday Barbie. They started the series in 1988. I got my first one in 1990, according to the timeline I found online. I have every one from 1990 to 2003. You better believe Santa brought Rory one last year and it's on her list for him this year. :)



One year, one of us got a playhouse a LOT like this, only ours was pink, purple and yellow. It was set up in the living room when we woke up on Christmas morning. It was *fantastic* and got years of use.



Didn't every girl my age want an American Girl Doll?? My friend Katie was so lucky, she had THREE! :) I had Felicity and Chels had Molly. Felicity was beautiful and also had the best books, I thought. I'm excited for the day I can get Rory her own American Girl doll. (Sad news, Felicity has been retired! Well I guess that makes sense, she's probably 20 years old. Yikes.)



More recently, my parents have gone above and beyond when giving me gifts. The last two years have been amaaaazing.
First this baby...

My beloved Nikon d40. I use it every day and it is amazing. :)

And this little beauty!

Oh how I love my KitchenAide and long for the day I will be able to have a big kitchen so I can cook more.

Christmas was always so wonderful in my house growing up. It was never the quantity of presents that mattered to Chels and I, but the fact that my parents took such care to pick out perfect things that THRILLED us. I use that same philosophy picking out gifts for my family. Memories over monetary value, people. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!! Link up in the Blog Challenge!

12 Days of Christmas: Day 2

Black Friday/Shopping Tips

I am scared of Black Friday. Seriously the whole idea intimidates me! (haha) I don't do Black Friday. I do take advantage of the online sales though, from the comfort of my couch with a nice cup of coffee and a Christmas movie. :)

Dave *LOVES* Black Friday, though. Odd, isn't it?? He likes to go with his friend, Jason. They are all about it, scooping out the best deals and getting there majorly early. Personally, I think they are nuts. :)

Marcel the Shell

This is the cutest thing I've ever seen. Watch it, it will make you smile! :)

One time, I looked at a diamond and I got a sunburn.