We Need a Little Christmas

Ok, I'm usually not this girl.  I'm usually against Christmas until Thanksgiving.  However, on November 1 when the entire world started celebrating Christmas, I got a little in the spirit of things.  So much so it seems, that I even started my December Daily.  Yes, I do realize that this sort of goes against everything that December Daily is.  However, I've now decided that all the lead up to Christmas - as in Snow Head Day! - deserves to be documented as well.  

At least, that's what I'm telling myself.  I've realized that the little things like Black Friday Shopping, or Snow Head Shopping, or just the Christmas concerts that happen throughout the season are deserving of storytelling as well.  You may say I've spent a little too much time on Pinterest in the last few months.  Or you may say that I've finally gone way to Christmas.  Both of which are completely true.  

But honestly, once I start, it's hard to stop getting in the spirit. And since I'm way ahead of the game this year - something I'll only be for a few more days, then I'll be just as far along as everyone else is - I'm feeling even happier to be singing Christmas carols, and scrapping away with santa stickers.  And even finishing my first Christmas book of the season.

Yay Christmas!

Hello Holidays!

For the last few weeks a cute comic has been going around Facebook.  It shows Cinderella's fairy godmother with the caption, "At midnight on Halloween, poof goes all the pumpkins, and then hello Christmas!"  I thought it was funny at first.  Until this morning when I read that the Starbucks Christmas cups arrived in stores this morning (they're super cute, by the way!)  Then this afternoon, I saw a Kia commercial using Transiberian Orchestra music, and a Petsmart ad that included puppies with Santa hats on them.

Honestly?  It's November 1!  How is that even possible?  It was literally Halloween yesterday.  How can a switch from Pumpkins to Mistletoe happen so quickly?  I'm a huge fan of Christmas, don't get me wrong.  And I'm actually starting all sorts of wonderful things early so I'm on the ball.  But I'm just not ready.  

Though, I'm seriously thinking about grabbing that Christmas book on my shelf that I just bought...So I suppose, Bring on the Holiday fun!  Because this world could actually really use some of Santa's magic right now!

December Daily: Complete!

Until about an hour ago, this madness was my kitchen table.  You see, I decided that December Daily was going to be completed this evening.  And apparently, when I put my mind to it, things get done.  Because it's done, and it's adorable - in my opinion that is, in case you were asking.

I had every intention of completing it on the go like most scrappers do.  I have huge respect for those ladies - especially the ones that finish it, then photograph it, then blog about it.  It's a massive undertaking; one that I failed miserably at.  I managed to get to Day 10 before abandoning it in favor of actually buying, wrapping, and distributing gifts.  

However, I kept track of the photos I was taking, and the stories I wanted to tell, knowing that I would definitely get back to it eventually.  I just didn't think eventually would come so soon.  I mean, I hate to say this, but last year's still isn't complete.  So I kinda figured this year would be more of the same.  But it seems organization is the key.  I had everything Christmas all set and and ready to go.  So it was only the matter of printing the photos on my handy dandy Selphy, and writing the stories on my journal cards.  Add simplicity to the list as well.  My new motto is Simple is Better - apparently it's working well for me!  

So without further ado, here are just a few of my favorite pages. (Please ignore the weird shadows and carpet background.  I finished at night, and when you finish at night, you need to photograph at night, and there's NO good light at night - at least not in my house...)

Manhattan at Christmas

New York at Christmas is pretty special.  There are the millions of extra people that need to be maneuvered around, but if you can put up with that, seeing the city all twinkly and sparkly is just a little more special than normal.  Unfortunately, this trip was to be a quick, jam-packed one so there wasn't to be much Christmas exploring, however we did manage to tick one of my Christmas items off the bucket list.

First up was lunch at Carmines on 91st Street.  We'd been to Carmines on 44th but it seems that everyone in Midtown wanted to go there so hoofing it up town to 91st, was what we did instead. If you haven't been there already, it's about the best Italian food in the city - all served family style.  This means you get about the amount of food that it would take to feed a small army.  However, that food is so darn delicious that you pretend you are a small army and shovel it all in. 

On the menu this time was a garden of fried zucchini (so light and so good!), a barnyard of Chicken parmigiana (a personal favorite!) and a mound of pasta with marinara (yum!) And all of this was eaten while surrounded by beautiful Christmas lights and trees.  I could have killed any vampires in a 3 mile radius - so much garlic! But I was quite stuffed and quite happy by the end of the meal! 

Next up, since we had a little time before the show, we stopped off at Columbus Circle to finally see the beautiful Stars that hang in the atrium of Time Warner Center - the bucket list item I talked about earlier.  They are most definitely very Instagrammy but they're also beautiful and I've been dying to see them since I first saw them on Instagram : )  They're all glass and change colors you watch them.  They were as gorgeous as I thought they might be!

Then it was down to 52nd street to see our show.  The last show of 2016 was to be "The Fiddler on the Roof."  Now, I've been avoiding this show all year, because I saw it in high school and wasn't all that thrilled by it.  I remember it being a bit of a downer.  However, my dad really wanted to see it and it's closing on New Year's Eve, so it was now or never.  If nothing else, I'd get to see Danny Berstein play Tevye, whom everyone has been saying is fabulous.  

Of course, this means that the Understudy would most definitely be going on in Berstein's place.  But, I have to say, he was fabulous!  I read in the Playbill that this was his Broadway debut, and I definitely believe he has an amazing career in front of him, because he ruled that stage.  And the show itself, was so much better than I assumed it would be.  It's a lot funnier than I remember.  Of course, it's still a bit of a downer, but Tevye keeps it light and it really moves along.  I'm very happy I got to see it!

Just as an extra, I have to add what I hated about the show.  Something I need to vent about because it's just so astounding to me.  The family that sat in front of us.  Not only did they decide to move their seats (by standing up for an extended period of time) just when the curtain went up, play with their phones to check the time, take photos of the show while it was in process, but the mother received a call during the show that she answered.  She answered the phone during the show!!!!!  Who does that?!  It's bad enough when a phone rings, but answering it is a new low.  It was by far the rudest thing I've ever seen in a theatre! Ok, I feel better now : )

After the show, we were still pretty stuffed from lunch so we just grabbed a snack and headed back to the bus.  But not before I finally got a picture with my favorite Deli (not that I've eaten there...) in the city.  It's the most clever name for a deli ever!  

The day was the perfect, last day in the city for 2016.  But then again, any day in NYC is perfect!

It's Christmas Time in the City

My very last trip to NYC of 2016 was fabulous as usual - full of yummy food, millions of people going all sorts of directions, beautiful Christmas decorations, and of course, Broadway.  But more on that tomorrow, as I'm off to sleep to dream of the many trips I already have planned to NYC in 2017 : )

Another Christmas Flew By

After all the craziness and preparation of the last month, It's so darn hard to believe that Christmas is all over.  I love Christmas!  I hate the prep and I get super stressed, but I just love it!  I hate that it goes so fast.  I'm currently sitting here by the light of the Christmas tree, with lots of fun new presents - all warm and toasty.  Which is super nice, and it's also lovely to know that I'll be off for the next week.  But I just wish the whole Chrstmas Even and Christmas Day went just a little more slowly...

However, I have to say, even though it flew by in the blink of an eye, Christmas was absolutely wonderful as always.  

Merry Christmas!

Hope your holiday was full of fun, family and friends as mine was.  Everything was just as special as I wanted it to be and I had a blast.  If every day of the coming year could be half was wonderful as this Christmas has been, things will be more than ok.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! 

Christmas on TV

I love Christmas time.  I've said this a lot this season.  I may get hectic and crazy and feel like I'm going to lose my mind for the entire month of December, but I get like that because I just love the holiday so much and want everyone else to have as special holiday as they deserve.  I've always had fabulous Christmases so wanting to make everyone else's fabulous is my own personal hurdle each year.

I love Christmas for what it stands for - hope, family, love, friends, and caring. Christmas is meant to be spent and shared with those you love and care about most in the world.  And while it shouldn't be about presents, the very act of finding something for someone special - no matter how small - is a way to show that someone you care.  I love that idea!  When else do you have an entire season devoted to showing others you love them and care about them? 

I get a little over-enthusiastic about it, I admit. But I'd rather be over-enthusiastic than completely tone-deaf.  Here's where my rant begins...

Because this is a season of giving and sharing, most ads and marketing campaigns focus on the wonder and the love that goes along with Christmas.  For instance, that gorgeous new Amazon ad I shared a few weeks back. 

But then you have Xfinity with the absolute worst Christmas ad I've ever seen, which never fails to anger me every time it pops up on screen.  Let me set the stage.  You have a adorable older couple reading presumably their grandkid's social media account which says - "Heading into the gates of hell - grandma and gramdpa's house where there's no internet or wifi.  Cut to a few days later when the jerk grandkids arrive for Christmas and Grandma and Grandpa have completely re-wired their house to make the kids happy.

How is this anything but the very definition of #FirstWorldProblems.  It's bad enough that the kids are writing these horrible things about their grandparents, but having the solution be wifi and internet instead of a good kick in the butt is a horrible message.  I'm sure there are millions of people that would like to be spending their holidays with grandparents or loved ones that may not be around anymore - me being one of them.  And would gladly do without electronics to have the chance to laugh and reminisce. I just don't understand why a company like Xfinity would choose to run such a heartless ad.

Ok, now that that's off my chest - it's been sitting comfortably there for the last month or so, ask anyone whose had the pleasure of watching tv with me - I'm free to enjoy the holiday!

Merry (almost!) Christmas!

Trivia Tuesday

~ It's, for some reason, endlessly amusing for the drunk girl (i.e. NOT me) to continually turn on the seat warmer of the driver (i.e. me) that drew the short straw and is now in charge of driving her butt home - laughing like a maniac each time she did it.

~ Turns out my particular niche in trivia - the one I've been trying to find for a while now - is Christmas.  I really should have known that.  Let me tell you, there are definitely worse niches to have.

~ Snowflakes traveling at 100 mph would decrease the magic of a snow storm for kids by quite a bit.  Black eyes, carnage, the works.  That's why it's good that snowflakes only travel at 2.7 mph as opposed to the 100 mph that a certain team member wanted to go with.

~ That I've never seen Charlie Brown's Christmas is apparently scandalous.  That I had no idea what Jen was talking about when she started Mr. Heat Miser was also scandalous but not nearly as much as the missing Charlie Brown.

~ Even when the drunk girl is completely drunk, I'm not the boss of anyone. (Apparently, everyone's the boss of someone else - except me who's never the boss of anyone.) Because of this, I was forced to listen to a Driving in a Truck playlist on the way home while I was going out of my way to drive her drunk butt home...

~ 25% of people use gift cards they've been given as gifts to purchase Christmas gifts for other people.  Why have I never thought of this scheme before?  It's genius!

~ Hanukkah does not mean to light or to endure.  It means to consecrate.  I'd very much like to know why it's the festival of lights then, instead of the festival of consecration...

~ Columbus's ship, the Santa Maria sank on Christmas Day 1492, which is just too ironic for us to not have known.

~ The fact that Santa in "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus" is actually the kid's father, is not something that is widely known.  Wouldn't this song just be a little too adult if Dad wasn't Santa?  I mean, really?  Did people think the Jacksons were singing about an affair?  That's not the happy Christmas I think they were going for...

All Christmas, All the Time

This is a photographic representation of what this weekend was - All Christmas, All the time. I don't know how I do it to myself every year, but I do.  So much so that there may or may not have been a slight breakdown last night complete with tears, that may have had something to do with me wasting 4 of my 6 pounds of pecans, OR listening to the Falsettos soundtrack.  I'm not really sure which.

However, aside from the breakdown, things got done.  I finished everything on my list including a few extras that weren't actually on the list but were added because I'm literally a crazy person. Yay!  Unfortunately, there are still a few other things on the list that need to get done, but I'm feeling much better about the list than I did on Friday afternoon. Thank goodness!  

And honestly, I still LOVE Christmas! And when I see everyone on Christmas, it's pretty much worth it!

A Rocking Christmas

For about 10 years, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has been the epitome of Christmas music for me.  Every single song they sing is amazing!  And of course, seeing them in person is just a thousand times better.  There are lazers, and lights and hair-flipping, shirts with ripped sleeves, super cool screens and awesome music.  It's basically an 80s hair band concert with a Christmas twist.  

And as odd as that sounds, it all works together!  This year was no different.  It was just so much fun.  Concerts are not really my thing - I'm more of show girl.  But in this instance, you sort of get a concert mixed with a show, which makes my ADD very happy! 

Once again, TSO has gotten me completely in the Christmas mood! And now I'm ready for all the fun that comes with it!

Christmas Prep

I'm feeling really good about this weekend!  I'm exhausted, but I'm feeling good.  Scrapping, Tree Trimming, Cookie Making, and wrapping! There's still so much to do, of course, but I'm choosing not to focus on that : ) 2 weeks to go - oh dear...

Christmas in St. Michaels

On Thursday I wrote about how lovely Midnight Madness is in Annapolis.  So when we traveled to St. Michaels today for their Christmas event, I was sort of expecting more of that loveliness - stores open late, Christmas lights everywhere, maybe snacks in the stores.  Not so much... Don't get me wrong, I love St. Michaels and the shops on Main Street looked beautiful all lit up.  But that was about it.  The stores all closed by 6 pm.  The restaurants that looked delicious were all booked with reservations.  And to top it all off, there wasn't a single hot chocolate or cookie being given out anywhere.

It was definitely a let down after the fun of Thursday night.  However, any Christmas activity is a fun activity, so it definitely wasn't all bad.

Naptown Midnight Madness

A few years ago, the city of Annapolis started Midnight Madness on the Thursdays leading up to Christmas.  As a fan of all things Annapolis, let me just tell you this may be my favorite thing the city has ever done.  All of the shops are open late, serving hot chocolate and cookies.  There are bands playing Christmas music and carolers making the rounds.  And there are Christmas lights EVERYwhere - over the streets and in the windows.  There's even a Snowflake Alley covered in snowflake lights (obviously.)

Everything is just so festive and fun.  And it's a great opportunity to get some last minute Christmas shopping in.  However, most shops are chock full of people and that's just too much pressure, so there's not much shopping done for me.  But it pretty much is the best place to get in the Christmas spirit!

Not so Behind Afterall

Each year, I try very very hard to be organized.  I start shopping early.  I make lists.  I craft things ahead of time And what does it get me?  A whole lotta stress and trips to the mall 2 days before Christmas.  This year was pretty much the same.  I started in the beginning of November and thought for sure I had things under control.  Until earlier this week, when I sat down and made a list and had a minor panic attack at all that still needed to happen.

However, it turns out my list making capabilities have improved.  Well, my ability to stick to the list has improved, I suppose.  Because thanks to my trusty list and a whole day of errands, I'm not as behind as my freak out led me to believe.  I'm actually pretty ahead of where I usually am.  I'm sticking to a new philosophy - buy stuff when you see it instead of thinking about it.  Chances are if you think about it, you'll still decide to buy it but then you'll need to go back to the store at a later date to purchase whatever it is.  Then they might not have it and you're back to square one.  Just buy it when you see it.  It's a great philosophy - one I highly recommend.

Yay for super productive Saturdays because, thanks to them, I can enjoy the best part of the Christmas season - everything else, outside of shopping!

Festival of Trees

One of my most favorite Christmasy events in Maryland is the Kennedy Krieger Festival of Trees that's held at Timonium Fairgrounds each year on the weekend after Thanksgiving.  Loads of businesses, companies, individuals, families and schools get together, design a tree and then the trees are shown off at the big event.  Attendees can buy the trees or just wander around and ogle at the creativity.  I'm much more an ogler than a spender, but thank goodness lots of other people are spenders because the event makes thousands each year for Kennedy Krieger's schools and treatment centers.  

 I don't remember what tree this guy hung on, but he's the cutest Rainbow Fish ever!

 We were standing in front of an emoji tree.  I was being an emoji.  No one else was joining in...

My favorite was this cactus tree that was decorated with calaveras and other fun things with the theme of Feliz Navidad.

 This one of the Grinch and Max stealing the toys rounded out my top 3 favorites.  The Grinch was popular this year since it's the 50th anniversary in 2016, but this one was by far the cutest of all the various Grinches.

 The ornaments on this tree were all made of book pages.  It was pretty and creative but I was slightly distressed by the destruction of books...

 This was my other favorite.  It was entitled Who's Stealing Christmas? and it was covered in case reports of bad guys from Christmas movies, like the Grinch, or Jack Skellington.  What was even cuter was the "evidence bags" full of evidence of their crimes, like green fur left over at the crime scene.  So creative and just the cutest!