Merry Christmas Meme

While I was visiting Anne the Swap Goddess, I saw this Christmas meme. Since I had no idea what I was going to blog about tonight, I tagged myself. And if you think this looks like fun, by all means tag yourself, too. And leave me a comment if you do so I can read yours.

Wrapping paper or gift bags?

I love to wrap gifts in beautiful paper and adorn with handmade bows. One of my traditions is to sit on the floor watching something Christmasy on TV while I wrap. This is when it starts to really feel like Christmas to me.

Real tree or artificial?

Used to only put up real trees but 3 years in a row the tree fell over for no apparent reason and smashed some of our favorite ornaments. We couldn't find a stand that would hold up under the weight of the decorations! Now we have a life-like artificial tree with a wide, cast iron base. I miss the smell but not the mess.

When do you put up your tree?

When we have the time. Some years it may be 2 weeks before Christmas, other years we gotten it up over Thanksgiving weekend.

When do you take down your tree?

I try to leave it up until Twelfth Night (the Epiphany), which was the way my mother and grandmothers did it. Twelfth Night is officially the first night of the Mardi Gras season, and we used to eat King Cake that night.

Do you like eggnog?

YES! I love eggnog almost as much as I love all things pumpkin. Especially spiked.

Favorite gift received as a child?

My grandmother, who was a seamstress, made me a set of couture-quality Barbie clothes. They were much more beautiful than the store-bought ones.

Do you have a Nativity scene?

We actually have about 12 different Nativity sets. I usually only set up 2 or 3 though.

Hardest person to buy for?

Mr. C - he's one of those annoying people who buy stuff for themselves right before Christmas and then tell you they can't think of anything they want.

Easiest person to buy for?

My sister. She likes lots of different things and is fun to shop for.

Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

One of my SIL's puts about zero effort into choosing gifts. She buys the gifts for my family members at 80% off sales. (The gifts she buys for her family are a different story). I shop sales all the time, so that's not the point. But it's like she buys really random things that show absolutely no thought. The worst was the year she bought the identical horrible green gingham shirts for all of the teen and adult females and not a single one was the right size. When I tried to return it, the store was only going to give me a $2 credit. I gave it to charity. Of course, this takes a lot of pressure off of me to find the right gift for her!

Mail or email Christmas cards?

Neither...I always have good intentions, but cards are the lowest priority on my list. I hadn't thought about ecards...good idea, think I'll try it this year.

Favorite Christmas movie?



I have 3 lately: I HAVE to watch Rudolph (and sing along) every year or else it's just not Christmas. I love How the Grinch Stole Christmas (either the original or the movie) and I also love Elf. All of these make me cry. (I am pathetic. Even commercials make me cry during the holidays.)


When do you start shopping for Christmas?

I pick up things here and there all year, but get really serious 2-3 weeks before Christmas.

Have you ever recycled a Christmas gift?

Of course, but only the nice, non-personal ones that I can't use. If they're tacky or something I would HATE to receive, I donate them. Or give them to my SIL. You know the one I'm talking about.

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Hmmmm, this is a hard one. I'd have to say baked goods and peppermint bark. Washed down with lots of eggnog!

Clear lights or colored?

Colored! All white lights are so boring, although they aren't so bad when there are colored lights as well.

BO-RING!

Now THIS is what I'm talking about!
(I am obviously of the "More is More" school of thought when it comes to Christmas)

Favorite Christmas song?

Religious: It Came Upon the Midnight Clear
Secular: 2000 miles
Funny: I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas


Travel or stay home at Christmas?

We usually go to New Orleans to visit my family every other year.

Can you name all Santa's reindeer?

Of course I can - Rudolph's one of my favorite movies, remember? But I can only name them all if I sing the song.

Angel or star on top of tree?

Because I believe the truest and purest meaning of Christmas is Peace on Earth, I have always topped my tree with a white dove.

Open Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
Christmas morning. Although we could usually talk my mom into letting us open 1 present on Christmas Eve. Amazingly, the packages she always chose for us to open contained pajamas!

Most annoying thing about this time of year?

Grumpy people. They need to be Cindy Loo-Who'ed.



Corniest family tradition you do or miss doing?

Christmas carolling around the neighborhood, then going home for hot cocoa and homemade beignets.



What's the worst thing you've seen related to Christmas?

(1) The "Christmas as a competition" trend. Some of the stores started selling Christmas decorations pretty soon after Labor Day. There are 2 local radio stations who compete to be the first to start 24-hour Christmas music - this year it started the weekend before Halloween. And this year, some of the Type AAA personalities in my neighborhood decided to get the jump on everyone by putting up their Christmas trees and outside decorations the first week of November. Why not just start in July and celebrate with the Australians?

(2) These same perfectionistic nazis wanted our Homes Association to restrict outside lights to white only. Yeah, I live in Stepford hell.


Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees?



It depends on the setting. We love to have homey trees, with a mishmash of ornaments that we love, including many from our childhoods. But I have been to homes that have had stunning themed trees, too. We have a little themed tree in our breakfast area. It's a woodland tree, decorated with birds, pinecones, and the like. We also have ornaments to represent every animal we've seen in our yard or the woods behind our home. Although we haven't found bobcat or skunk ornaments yet.

Gingerbread or sugar cookies?

Hmmmm, another tough question. Mr. C makes his great grandmother's Swedish sugar cookie recipe and these are the best sugar cookies I've ever had. But I have to say that I love pumpkin bread the best.

Do you like fruitcake?

NONONONONONONONONONONO!!!!!!