Saturday, December 08, 2007

Christmas meme

i've seen this meme all over (most recently on jill's blog), and now i will shamelessly use it to fill up some space on my own blog! (i swear, i have ideas to blog about, but i simply cannot find the time, energy, spark, etc. needed to write. (this is a *huge* difference from last year, when i managed to post every. single. day. of december.)

so here goes, Christmas, lelly style:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
wrapping paper, must be coordinated with ribbons and fun stuff, too! one year, this actually developed into a friendly contest between my sisters and i - who could be the most creative? i love to lock myself away and wrap and wrap and wrap.

2. Real tree or artificial?
i've always had a real tree, but i'm definitely hearing the case for artificial this year. especially since the trees here on the coast were all shipped here from somewhere else. and with the drought this year, the north carolina trees aren't looking so great. and they never smell like the trees i remember from my childhood. also, kelly a. had me on the *pre-lit* incentive...




3. When do you put up the tree?
usually within the first two weeks of december - i'll be lucky to make that deadline this year. maybe next saturday?!?

4. When do you take the tree down?
before New Year's Day. i used to keep it up through Epiphany, but it's become more important to me to get everything put up before we get back into the swing of "real life."

5. Hot chocolate or apple cider?
cider - i love to smell it simmering on the stovetop. my dad is a big fan of wassail, and i love the spices that he uses.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
my first *brand new* bike - it was bright blue, and i vividly remember sitting on it in the living room by the Christmas tree. undoubtedly it was too cold and/or too wet to try it out on Christmas Day, so i sat on it and watched T.V.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
i have about 13 of them. i try to add a new one to my collection each year.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
me, believe it or not. i'm just not that into *stuff* anymore. i much, much prefer gifts given with meaning and purpose, and i think that might intimidate some people who tend to buy gifts for me.

9. Easiest person to buy for?
jack, for sure. as long as it has something to do with an action figure!




10. Worst Christmas gift ever received?
a telephone in the shape of a Jeff Gordon car!@#$! yeah, that was DEFINITELY the worst.

11. Mail or email Christmas card?
mail!

12. Favorite Christmas movie?
Christmas Vacation or Holiday Inn (i know - totally different genres.)

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
december 23rd! sad, i know, but i am an up-to-the-deadline girl.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
i don't think so, but i won't swear to it

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
cheese fondue, a Christmas Eve tradition. and crunchy cheetos with red wine after midnight services. and that is a very special tradition.

16. Clear lights or colored?
i've been using colored the past few years, but having a yearning for white this year. i am very particular about using larger bulbs outside and *fairy* light bulbs inside. size DOES matter!




17. Favorite Christmas song?
toss up between Silent Night and O Holy Night, also O Nata Lux and The Nativity Carol (the chorister in me is coming out!)

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
we definitely stay home, and i am lucky that almost all of my family is close by.




19. Can you name Santa's reindeer?
but, of course!

20. Angel or star on top of the tree?
I just bought a very cool mirrored snowflake that we are going to be using.

how about you? have you answered this meme yet?? go for it - it's a fun way to spend a few moments!

8 comments:

Kelly said...

Still loving the pre lit!

Is there a story behind the Cheetos and wine? Not a wine drinker but I have watched enough Food Network to think Red Wine could be pared with so many other choices! But what do I know about good flavors I like to eat homemade playdough!

Natasha said...

I love the "crunchy cheetos with red wine." Except I'd prefer a snack of super salty Tostitos with white wine;)

It would make me a nervous wreck to wait until the last minute to shop!

I answered these on my blog a few days ago.

Lindsay said...

Do you really wait until the last minute to shop? Can't imagine having to go out in all the hustle and bustle. By then, I want to sit in front of my lit Christmas tree and have hot chocolate.

I just answered these on my blog today.

jenny said...

I just did mine too! I love all the photos you put with yours, especially sweet jack :)

Kelly said...

That is such a cute picture of Jack!

Cheetos and red wine? That's a very interesting combination -- is there a story behind that? That made me laugh!

Lucy said...

I'm glad you did this too! I love reading about other people's traditions and likes and dislikes. And, finally, someone else who loves wassail. Thank you!

michelle said...

I have to say, this is out first year with a pre-lit tree, and it was a delight! I passed someone's home the other night that had a tree in the window with about a million lights on it and all I could think was, "chumps!". Seriously, I don't think I can go back.

michelle said...

p.s. I like wassail too!