Day 25: Oh Christmas tree...

I love my tree. I thought about adding a color this year. But it feels too perfect with the black, white and silver. We get annual ornaments, for the mush and the ying/yang twins. I have not picked them out yet. But for now, here is my tree. I picked some of my favorite ornaments to spotlight. Isn't it funny how a personal a tree is? Some like it bare, some over board. Some people like color lights, some color. Home made ornaments vs. store bought. My assistant told me a story today about her christmas tree growing up. They used to string it with home made popcorn and cranberries. Every Year her dog at the popcorn, but left the cranberries. Too funny! What do you think about Christmas trees? Is there a "wrong/right" way to do a tree?

Day 26. A homemade Christmas Craft.

I have been looking for cute gift ideas and found this crafty Christmas Starfish, on one of my favorite home blogs. "Young House Love" http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/12/frosty-the-starfish/


That is one frosty starfish! have not made one yet, but am looking forward to my day off, where I plan on making a variety. Snowman, Santa.... peacock? I imagine the possibilities are endless. (well, maybe not the peacock) I will let you know how it goes! In the mean time, what is your favorite Christmas Craft? Do you have one that you do traditionally every year? Or do you remember one year in particular? I was just at a rehabilitation center that my grandma is staying in, and going over memories with her. We reminisced about the year, she was helping me make my mom a Pot Holder for Christmas. Being too young to use a sewing machine, I sewed the majority by hand. It was not until I was completely done sewing that I realized I had sewed the pot holder to my pant leg! Needless to say, I had to start over, and sewed AWAY from the body from that day forth!

Day 27

Mariah Carey All I Want For Christmas Is You (Version 60's)
Uploaded by laurentbiss. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Its time to pull out the Christmas music! Now that is is almost December, I am not ashamed to say that I enjoy the blaring Christmas music every where I turn. Work, the mall, target...... the list goes on. (on a side note, is it weird that Target is a destination to me, and not just a "store") I posted my favorite Christmas song above. Then tracked down the TOP 25 most popular Christmas songs. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Did it make the top 25 ?

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat "King" Cole

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders

Winter Wonderland
Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
Performed by: Eurythmics

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Bruce Springsteen

White Christmas
Written by: Irving Berlin
Performed by: Bing Crosby

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Andy Williams

Jingle Bell Rock
Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
Performed by: Bobby Helms

Little Drummer Boy
Written by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra

Sleigh Ride
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Gene Autry

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Written by: Edward Pola, George Wyle
Performed by: Andy Williams

I'll Be Home For Christmas
Written by: Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
Performed by: Vanessa Williams

Silver Bells
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Performed by: Kenny G

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Brenda Lee

Feliz Navidad
Written by: José Feliciano
Performed by: José Feliciano

Blue Christmas
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley

Frosty The Snowman
Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Performed by: The Ronettes

A Holly Jolly Christmas
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Burl Ives

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Written by: Meredith Willson
Performed by: Johnny Mathis

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Written by: Tommie Connor (PRS)
Performed by: John Mellencamp

Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
Performed by: Elvis Presley

Carol Of The Bells
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: John Tesh and the Christmas Symphony Orchestra

Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)
Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
Performed by: Band Aid

(There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: The Carpenters

Santa Baby
Written by: Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer
Performed by: Madonna

Day 28.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

One thing that every one must do at least 1 during the holidays is to "Elf Yourself". Every time I put one of these together, I find my self giggling for hours! My challenge to you..... ELF YOURSELF! You wont regret it!

We only have 28 days until Christmas! Have you started putting up your ornaments yet?

Day 29

Today is a very special day! It is day 29. Which kicks off the countdown to Christmas. I have been brainstorming and gathering ideas for getting into the Christmas spirit, and decided that I wanted to share these ideas day by day with you. To start off, there is nothing like one BIG family dinner to get you into the spirit of cheer. Which brings us back to day 29. Thanksgiving.

Mushy deep fried a turkey. Yes, you read that correctly. Deep Fried. He tied it up, hooked it dunked it, and an hour later it was delish. He was so proud, he even posed for this photo. . The Mush HATES pictures, so happily posing is very out of character. Every one loved the turkey, so the deep fry was very successful.
I posted a few of my Thanksgiving decorations. I don't go overboard with Thanksgiving but I do like to highlight the day with some special pieces. That usually includes pumpkins, which were white and orange this year. As well as lots natural materials like the dried branches and sea grass table runner.
I also started a new tradition this year. Its a Thankful jar. All of our guest wrote out what they were thankful on the extra pieces of paper, and stuck it in the jar. When we host next year we will pull out every ones cards and read them at dinner. After reading through a few of them, and getting those fuzzy feelings of gratitude I decided to keep the jar out all year round. Its a large jar, and I am hoping that we can fill it completely by next year.

Now. Tell me about your day. Did you start any traditions? Carry on any old? I want to hear all about it.

Don't forget to check in tomorrow for our 1st tip on creating Christmas cheer!

Sometimes I get it right.

We all know that Mushy is the chef of the house. He always make scrumptious dinners, and snacks. Every once in a while I will try my hand at something, and make him dinner. Mostly soups. I love to make soup. My "famous" soup is Zucchini. Green and delish. But tonight I tried out a recipe that I want to make for thanksgiving. Butternut squash. I have never eaten the squash, let alone have the soup, so I didn't know what I was getting my self into. I'll give you the run down.

#1: I bought the squash.

#2: Then you have to peel it. Which is where it gets tricky. They are so hard to peel, it took FOREVER!

#3: I stewed it, and made it super delish.

#4: Scooped it into bowls.

#5: Served it to Mushy. Now if you have eaten my food before, you already know that its a gamble. I'm a little reckless, and you never know when I will add Salt instead of sugar, or boil instead of saute. Some times its good, others...... well you get the point. So I was a little nervous to see what the Mush thought. Which brings us to .....

#6:

He loved it! I love that he loved it, it feels good to be the TOP CHEF tonight.

Where's my peeps?

Mushy checked out the blog the other day, and had a few questions for me. #1: What happened to my regular blog? #2: What happened to my regular contributors? So here's the deal- I'll write, you guys kick some feedback my way... and the blog is back on!

Lets start off with an old tradition. The favorite of the week.

I rented from red box for the first time. It was awesome! $1.00 for each movie! You can't beat that! Even better, I rented on my day off- and got to rent all the chick flicks that Mushy has not wanted to rent! I had a fun day, watching sappy movies. Crying when I wanted to, and laughing out loud when it got too cheesy.

On to the Subject matter #2:

Painting. Here is the latest creation. I am starting to LOVE my bedroom. Finally. The walls got a darker shade of grey/blue to create some drama. I also painted a couple canvases to pop against the dark walls. I am really happy with the result. I have the next 2 days off from work, and will be working on a new painting for my sisters new house. Wish me luck. I don't mind hanging my art in my own house. But having it in someone Else's house brings a lot of pressure.

I will let you know how it turns out!

Subject #3:

2 more weeks until I can decorate for Christmas. I am counting down the days. I bought a new Christmas decoration. He is so cute, I could not stow him away until the "official" decor season. He had become a permanent fixture through Jan. I'm afraid. More Christmas photos to come!