Hey there! I'm poking my head back in the blogoshpere for this fun holiday tag that I saw over on Running with Words and Wine & hosted by The Blended Blog.
I've been taking some time off from reading and blogging and it's been nice. We went on an awesome trip to Asheville, NC and I've been gardening a bit. I'll post about it all soon and hopefully have a few 8 year blogoversary posts to share. But for now I'm just taking it easy.
Feel free to tag yourself with this!
- Real or Fake Tree? Fake and no tree at all for several years because I had 4 cats. This year I have two very small (2ft & 3ft) table top trees that I'll be decorating this weekend.
- Favorite Christmas Cookie? Kevin's grandmother used to make us molasses cookies for Christmas. She passed the recipe down to me and I think I'll be whipping up a batch. I did just have a Triple Chocolate Andes mint cookie from Gideon's Bakehouse in Orlando and ZOMG YUM!
- Home on Christmas Morning or Travel? – Home. Kevin usually works on the holidays - he's off this year - but we just stay home and chill.
- Clear or Colored Lights? I own clear but I love them all.
- Send Christmas Cards? Yes. Not as many as I used to be I do like buying and sending them.
- Favorite Christmas Present Received? Two things - a classic Winnie-the-Pooh musical snow globe from my sister-in-laws and a handmade, needlepoint bookmark that says - Fuck off I'm reading. lol Polar opposites but I love them both!
- Favorite Christmas Present Given? I can't think of anything specific but I love when I can find something small and inexpensive but personal to that person.
- Stockings or No Stockings? *sobs* No stockings. But I grew up with the stocking being almost as important as the main gift. My mom really went out of her way to stuff mine with fun goodies and my husband just isn't into it. He had a Christmas boot growing up. His parents put cereal and and orange in there. O_o That sounds tragic to me lol
- Christmas PJ’s? Yes! I have Grinch Christmas pj's. A few different ones.
- Favorite Christmas Carol? feliz navidad - it's so cheery. It makes me happy.
- Favorite Holiday Tradition? We always get up early, make hot cocoa and open our gifts with A Christmas Story playing on TV.
- Early Shopper or Last Minute? I'm usually done early but I don't buy tons of gifts anymore. Kevin & I do small, fun things and most of our family is into gift cards now.
- Favorite Christmas Movie or Show? I have a few. Santa Claus is Coming to Down is my all time favorite. I also love Olive, the Other Reindeer, A Christmas Story.
- Favorite Holiday Beverage? Peppermint mocha from Starbucks.
- Cookies and Milk for Santa? I don't have kids so no ut maybe I should?? I mean - you never know right?
What are your holiday favorites and traditions?
Real tree, real tree
ReplyDeleteNo tree no tree lol
DeleteI loved reading your responses. I've had a fake tree for 10 years. I bought a white one and love it.
ReplyDeleteWe have a white with blue lights fake outdoor tree. It's really pretty and SO old that I probably need to throw it out soon. But they don't make them that nice anymore.
DeleteI hope you're enjoying your mini hiatus, NC looked like fun!
ReplyDeleteI tried having a real tree but it just messed with my astham. Also I made hot chocolate from scratch a few years ago. I didn't go to well, so I want to redeem myself.
And most of those Christmas movies are new to me!
I had a great time!
DeleteI didn't even think of the asthma. I didn't have problems when I was a kid but I do now so that would probably be an issue for me.
We use packaged hot cocoa but I think I've made it from scratch before.
I love mint flavored desserts, so those cookies sound heavenly!
ReplyDeleteMe too! And they were!
DeleteOh loved your answers.
ReplyDeleteA few: No tree this year... monster pup wants to eat or destroy everything so why set her up for failure? LOL
Pizelles! Yum!
I have grinch fuzzy bottoms which I wear during the holidays and anytime it gets cold! *high five* for great taste! LOL
Movie: Scrooged! Love that version! LOL
That's a good movie too!
DeleteI had 8 animals for years so a tree just hasn't been int he cards. I doubt any of my guys would bother it now but I've gone so long without I don't care.
Hahaha cereal and oranges in a boot does sound tragic. Santa Claus is Coming to Town---the Rankin Bass claymation one? I adore all those movies <3
ReplyDeleteYes!!! I love all of them but Santa Claus is Coming to Town is my favorite.
DeleteQuote:
ReplyDelete"He had a Christmas boot growing up. His parents put cereal and and orange in there. O_o That sounds tragic to me lol"
Oh my! I agree 😨.
I want a Grinch pajamas now! LOL. It wiould suit me a lot. Most of Christmas stuff rubs me the wrong way...except when I watch Doctor Who themed episodes (FOR REAL?!? LOL).
I'm not a huge fan of Christmas. Or at least the frenzy/commercialism aspect of it. I just try to ride it out until it goes away and take advantage of peppermint flavored things lol
DeleteFun! Fake tree here too because cats. And that Andes mint cookie sounds delish. It's nice to be home on Christmas morning! We have to travel this year but I really like it on the years we don't, it's so relaxing just to stay and chill.
ReplyDeleteHappy 8 years BTW!!!
Fun tag! I actually love real trees, but only had one once b/c first my mother and then my hubby were allergic. Oh well...
ReplyDeleteWe keep it low key for Christmas around here, too. You remind me... I need to get cracking on my Christmas cards.
I always grew up with fake trees and then when I met my husband he made me get a real one but then pets...lol
DeleteI love these Q&A's! too fun. I think we used to have a fake tree when I was younger, but it's been a real one for years now. Ours this year is kind of small though, but it works! I like the smaller ones. :) Stockings are so fun! That Christmas boot sounds awful. haha
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I'm glad everyone agrees about the Christmas boot! Not cool lol
DeleteLove this!! Your favorite gifts are awesome. :) That mint cookie sounds amazing...I need one. We watch A Christmas Story all day on Christmas - love it! My mom always made our stockings as important as the 'big' gifts, too. She still makes us stockings as adults. I love those traditions that can carry on.
ReplyDeleteThat cookie was amazing. They infuse the chocolate for 17+ hours in Andes mint.
DeleteWe leave the movie on too. We catch bits and pieces of it throughout the day.
We haven't bothered with our tree for the last few years either Karen, out little Cavalier liked to take off with the baubles. I'll be cooking Christmas lunch for the entire family this year again so figure we can give it a miss. Our Christmas celebrations in Australia aren't really all that elaborate, being in summer it's usually far too hot to roast your chestnuts, the heat will do it for you.
ReplyDeleteWe have the same situation here in FL. It's usually hot and not so Christmasy
DeleteIf I had a Christmas Boot that was stuffed with cereal and an orange, I think I might be opposed to stockings, too! However, I think you should surprise him! Stuff a stocking full of awesomeness like your mom used to do, and then hang it up the night before. Make him WANT a stocking next year!
ReplyDeleteI've done that - he doesn't care lol
DeleteWe have our own traditions though so it's ok.
This is our first year in a house so we got a tree. We also got a cat this year so now the tree is living in my bedroom (where the cat doesn't go) lol learned that the hard way
ReplyDeleteHa! Yeah - cats like trees!
DeleteDefinitely fake tree. Plants never survive with my two fur babies around. Oh this is a fun tag, Karen. Taking a break is good. I hope you have a wonderful week. ❤️😁
ReplyDeleteMine are all older now so it might be ok but I don't want to have to worry about it either way.
DeleteLol. Another person that doesn't have a tree because of space and pets. It's just easier to decorate without a tree than put up with the hassle.
ReplyDeleteA boot? Is that some tradition I'm unaware of or...
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn't know about cats and trees - do they climb the tree or go after the ornaments? I was worried my dog might think ours was an outdoor tree he could water but he is a VERY good boy.
Kevin is the only person I know who ever got a boot lol
DeleteYes, cats munch on the tree and attack anything dangly. Sometimes dogs too but mostly cats.
What a fun tag, Karen! My husband does the boot for St. Nicholas, and now, of course, our kids do it to. They put their list for Santa in the boot in the evening, and the next morning, they have oranges, peanuts and some chocolate there instead...
ReplyDeleteWe just put up our real tree this week, it smells like Christmas now :)
Have a great week!
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
Love seeing these answers!! That book mark sounds fantastic. Also those cookies sound amazing and are making me hungry!!!
ReplyDeleteHere in our country we don't really use real tree ;) And for Christmas tradition, we do simbang gabi where we go to church for 9 dawns and if you completed it, your wish will come true.
ReplyDeleteThat's nice! We have midnight mass on Christmas Eve but no wishes involved unfortunately lol
Deletemy fave present was ice cream and a hat. My dad did hunt for me around the house. we have a real tree this year and I haven't even started shopping yet with a birthday done and just finished up school.
ReplyDeleteI did my shopping but I'm caught in gift wrapping hell lol
DeleteI do love seeing Christmas traditions from others. We do a fake tree as well, because it will last way longer. And there are so many great Christmas movies out there right?
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy the last week before Christmas!! :)
Me too. Everyone has their own thing.
DeleteI'd love to have the "Fuck off I'm reading" needlepoint bookmark! That's awesome! Cereal and oranges does seem kind of tragic for stocking stuffers. Love this list! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. My husband insists that he loved the boot lol
DeleteI love this, I am going to pay along on the weekend. Happy Holidays - Mint lattes are my favourite.
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm loving these tags!
DeleteI'm all about those fake trees, too! Otherwise my guy and I'd be sniffling the whole season -- major allergies. Christmas PJs are so much fun! Peppermint mochas are really yummy, but I gotta say the candy cane hot chocolate from Tim Hortons is my real holiday fave. #CanadianLife hahaha
ReplyDeleteA few people mentioned allergies. I didn't start having problems until recently so I have no idea if that would be a new problem for me!
DeleteThat hot chocolate sounds amazing!
Chilling at home sounds pretty good :D I always laugh at trees. I've always had cats and they pretty much ignore the tree as long as I don't put a skirt on it. A tree skirt...they'll pee on in a hot second. lol
ReplyDeleteI doubt any of my current guys would bother it at all but it's habit now. It was more my dogs than by cats that bothered it though.
Delete