7th Day of Christmas

# 7 Wrapping Presents {with great BIG bows} 

As many of you probably know by now... I love to craft... and wrapping presents with great big bows is right up there on the top of my list!  I do love finding the perfect gifts for all my friends and family ... one that will make them smile and maybe something that's a little out of the ordinary... or straight from my crafting room. :)  However, wrapping gifts and finding beautiful ribbon for the bow is also one of my favorite holiday traditions.

Even after I left for college... and possibly up until this year, my mom would always wrap all her gifts and leave them stacked under the tree until I got home so I could put big bows on each of them. I may need to send some elves down to help this year... however, I'm sure my sister in law will be able to do the trick!

Here are some fun ways to wrap your packages that I love:

I found these on Etsy - super cute - but you could totally make them yourself!

I thought these were fun for kids - I love to put a small toy on the outside for the kids! 

...and of course, Pottery Barn always makes a great package! 

What types/colors of paper and bows do you like to use?  Any fun new ideas this year? 

6th Day of Christmas

#6 Holiday K-cups

The Keurig Coffee Machine might be one of my most favorite gifts I've ever received... and three years later, it's still going strong - every morning!  I am very much a coffee girl... but not the Starbucks, Dunkin' Doughnut kind - more of a simple Folgers' girl here.  However, when the holiday season rolls around - nothing delights me more than a fresh brewed cup of French Toast, Gingerbread or Egg Nog coffee from Green Mountain!   They are just delicious... and a fabulous way to start your day!

Thanks to Mom & Pops, we have a great big supply... an early birthday and Christmas gift... that I can enjoy all season long!  Cheers to the coffee drinkers out there and if you haven't had any of the Holiday Coffee Collection, please - get your but to the store and get you some, it will change your morning!

5th Day of Christmas

Call me old school, but who else loves getting MAIL?!?! You know, the kind that is delivered by hand from the sweet lil postman each day at your house... not a buzz, text, tweet or ding... just a piece of old school mail.  Well, call me nostalgic, but one of my favorite parts of our wedding year was coming home to letters, cards and boxes from our friends and family all over the country! It's just nice to know someone is thinking about you. :)  Which brings me to number 5 on my Christmas traditions list...

#5 Christmas Cards

Shout out to two of besties who were the first cards to arrive...

Love my yellow labs, Harley & Gipper in each... and Sophie girl too!

I was trying to be on the ball this year and ordered our cards early last week in hopes to have them in the mail by now.... well, thanks Snapfish for your terrible customer service. Good thing I love my cards, but you stink at service.  I couldn't decide on which card to get... so I went with two and got 60 of each. Well, on Monday 60 showed up at my office... I thought the others would be close behind - no such luck. So on Tuesday afternoon I decided to check on my order, only to find out they have been CANCELED.  Do what?  Yep, no email... no notification... nada.  So, I follow the steps and to to contact them... we chat online... they can't help...so we email... they can't help... so I call... they can't help either. Then, I get an email today saying the picture quality was "too high of resolution." Now come on, give me a break... I work in communications - that is NOT possible. The best part is that they said if I tried to re-order it wouldn't work. Geeze... so I'm wondering, do I re-order and pay more, since now my coupon won't work or just go to another site all together? The problem is ... they are super cute!  Here's a sneak peak at card #1, that is in the mail to 60 peeps.. and card #2 that may never come. :(  

I hope the other 60 of you actually get cards this year... at this rate, this may be all you see! :) 

4th Day of Christmas

#4 Egg Nog

This special toast goes out to my good friends, The Hollomon's. I do miss having them down the street more than anything ...but maybe it's a good thing during this season, because I'm pretty sure anytime we are all together during the holiday season, we consume more egg nog than is possibly healthy for one person. Especially including the amount of bourbon in our glass. :)  Before we met Matt and Megan, I never really thought much of the milky white drink... and then, Matt made me a glass with delicious spices and just the right amount of Bourbon, and Yummy!! I can barely wait for December before we stock up the fridge!! So, Sunday night after mass we swung by the local Kroger for some low-fat Krogar brand egg nog to have in hand while trimming the tree {or just sitting on the sofa}. It was mighty delicious... and I think I may just need to head to the gym after work today today, so I can enjoy another glass tonight!

...if only I had a nice cozy fire to curl up to with my drink in hand. I guess the hubs will have to do for tonight.  Cheers to the Holidays... and yummy egg nog!  Thanks Hollomons for encouraging this fabulous tradition. I can't wait to have a glass with you in the big apple this weekend!!!

3rd Day of Christmas

#3 Ornaments

My husband and I travel {a lot} and even-though the travels have slowed down quite a bit since we first met, we still enjoy hoping on a place to head to a conference for work or to visit so many of our fabulous friends all over the US. Since he loves Christmas almost as much as I do we started a fun tradition about 5 years ago. We try and pick up an ornament from every trip we take, so at Christmas each year we can look back and remember all the fun times we shared.  Here are just a few we picked up this year:

Pensacola, FL  ~ Fairhope, AL

Jamaica  ~ Annapolis, MD

Virginia Beach, VA  ~  Memphis, TN 

 (And one from Christnmas 2011, but  this was the first time on the tree)

Those we missed:
Nashville, TN
Key West, FL
Charleston, SC
Palm Springs, CA

... and one from NY is yet to come!

We also have started a new tradition, where we buy an ornament for each other each year and unwrap it when we decorate the tree.  This year I decided to make Jesse's instead.

I used our wedding program and covered an ornament using paper mache'.  It was super fun to make and will be a great memory to have on our tree!

What kind of ornaments do you have on your tree? Any fun traditions you share with your loved ones?

2nd Day of Christmas

Today marks the first Sunday in Advent, so I thought today's post would be fitting.

#2 The Nativity Scene

For as long as I can remember, one of my favorite Christmas decorations has always been the nativity scene that my mother made in 1978 when she was pregnant with my oldest brother. She spent the entire summer with my great-grandmother, painting, sculpting and hand-crafting the scene one piece at a time. the manger was always placed on top of our TV in the den, and it's amazing to say that every piece has survived 34 years without being knocked over, broken or shattered.  I think my brothers and I all loved it so much that we didn't dare touch any of it.

So, last week we were shopping... rummaging through the Ross shelves and my husband picked up this box and said, "Look how beautiful this is!"  After having flashbacks to my childhood, I just knew it had to come home with us.  Last night we unpacked the box and cleared off a shelf just for the scene - it's just beautiful and reminds me so much of my childhood!

1st Day of Christmas

The holidays have arrived!!  December is one of my FAVORITE months of the year... of course, it is Christmas and MY birthday month. But my favorite reason that I love this season is just how happy everyone is!  I mean... it's hard not to be happy during this season. With Holiday parties in full swing and everyone decking their halls with bells of holly, it truly is the happiest time of the year!

This year I have decided to dedicate to dedicate each day in December to one of my favorite holiday traditions!  {Sorta like an blog advent calendar}  Today marks the first favorite of the season...

#1  Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes

Truth be told, these tasty lil treats are the only Little Debbie snack cakes {with cream filling} that I love. The easter basket cakes and original ones are just not as good.  I picked up a box this week and on December 1st enjoyed my first one for the season!!  TIS THE SEASON! {for eating all the things we love}