Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles

Day 10-

My favorite holiday song is "White Christmas" I also love "Silver and Gold" from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and LOVE "Away in a Manger". I really love LOTS of Christmas songs. So how about we just discuss the song/carole I DO NOT like. I am not a fan of 'Silent Night' and unfortunately this is a difficult song to escape during the holidays. However, because my Grandpa passed away Dec 1st and his funeral was the beginning of December, one of the songs they played at his funeral was "Silent Night." It forever reminds me of losing someone I was very close to and loved very much... it also has such negative connotations now in the title alone. "Silent"... like how my Grandpa was silenced forever by death. Not really a good song to play at a funeral... so if you lose a loved one and you're put in charge of picking hymns for the funeral, do NOT pick a Christmas song.

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want?)

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles

Day 11: New Year Resolutions

Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outdoor)

Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe

Day 14: Oprah's Favorite

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

I didn't forget... I just wanted to be able to do this closer to when Christmas rolls around... :) So, here's DAY 9-Favorite Holiday Recipe

I love baking cookies and I have a couple holiday favorites. One of them is my peppermint swirl cookies. I used the Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie mix, however, the recipe isn't as followed on the package, it has cream cheese in it instead of some of the wet ingredients. Then you half out the dough and color half red, then the half that stays "white" gets a good splash of peppermint extract. :) YUM YUM YUM! You can either form them into candy canes, or you can blend the two colors together w/ropes of dough and cut them so they look like peppermint swirls.

My other holiday cookie favorite is actually not exclusive to the holidays, but I usually only make them for the holidays. It calls for chocolate cake mix, you don't mix it like a cake mix, and then you can either add chocolate chips (for double chocolate) or my fav, HEATH BAR TOFFEE CRUNCH pieces. YUM! They're sooo good! Look for Day 10 next!

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want?)

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles

Day 11: New Year Resolutions

Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outdoor)

Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe

Day 14: Oprah's Favorite

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Can I have a "The stores are way overcrowded all the time, even the grocery store" for $100??? Yeah... I hate that everyone and their mom is out shopping during the holidays. I mean, I understand it has to be done... but jeez. Also, that I only get 2 weeks off. Even though I know 2 days in I'll probably start getting bored because I'll only be hanging around the house... it'd be nice to have some more recuperation time!!! lol I guess you can't understand if you're not a teacher. And I know a lot of people think that teaching is such an easy job and we get the whole summer off and people think we should stop whining. But let me tell you this... there aren't many jobs that are 24 hours a day... and ours just about is. I get up at 4:45am, and I'm usually at the school til about 4:45pm. Then I get to come home and work on MORE stuff like grading papers... and it follows me home on the weekends, too! SO... we deserve the summer off otherwise we'd have to drink a LOT more than we already do haha AND, also please factor in that we rarely are provided with all the supplies for our students (thereby having to purchase those for them because not all parents do) as well as not always have the materials we need for "engaging lessons" meaning we have to again dip into our pockets for these expenses. After it's all said and done, we only get $200 on a tax return for being a teacher; this means that we get screwed, btw... because I can honestly say I spent $400 before school started and I've dropped even more cash since... I love chocolate and technology if anyone wants to reimburse me in the form of a Christmas present this year... ;-) I will now step down from my soap box...

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want?)

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles

Day 11: New Year Resolutions

Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outdoor)

Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe

Day 14: Oprah's Favorite

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)

Well, there is one thing I wish I could make! My Great Aunt Mary used to make these baskets out of old Christmas Cards. We use them yearly for holiday candy treats and also just to put out and remember her. Maybe I'll actually try making one this year...! It will bring wonderful memories of Christmas with her back. I always used to love to go to her house when she had it decorated for Christmas! She'd hang ornaments from the ceiling all over her house :) I miss her.

Here's a link to the craft!

http://www.allfreecrafts.com/christmas/card-basket.shtml

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want?)

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles

Day 11: New Year Resolutions

Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outdoor)

Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe

Day 14: Oprah's Favorite

Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want?)

What do I want for Christmas? Ideally, the only thing I can think of is to save a BUNCH of money and then look (starting Feb) to buy a home. It's a goal I've been wanting to attain awhile... and I think I'll finally be in a place to do so. Otherwise, I just want my health to get better. I've been dealing with some visits to the cardiologist and I think I'm finally getting things under control... so, getting back to a healthy place is high on my list! I can't really think of anything else. I'm very bad about thinking of things for me... if there's something I want bad enough, I get it for myself. I'd rather give gifts than receive them!!!

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want?)

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles

Day 11: New Year Resolutions

Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outdoor)

Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe

Day 14: Oprah's Favorite

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

I have a handful of favorites!!!

First, White Christmas with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney. Seriously, I admittedly will watch this movie during all other months of the year. I LOVE it. I love all the songs, I love all the dancing, I love the story, and I just love that time period in history! This is something that I got from my Grandma because when I'd go visit my Grandma and Grandpa's it was not uncommon that we'd pick a movie to watch. Because my Grandma loved all those movies from the 40's and 50's, and musicals especially, it became something I really loved. For the longest time as a child, I wanted to be Judy Garland. haha

Now, in line with that, I also love A Christmas Story. There are some that completely HATE this movie... I am not one of them! It's in that same time frame... I love that they play songs by Bing Crosby in the movie here and there, and I LOVE quoting that movie! Every year our neighborhood picks a theme for the Christmas Light Up... and a few years ago it was "Hollywood Christmas"... I REEEEEALLY wanted to do a Christmas Story! I wanted to put leg lamps in the front yard, and a slide with a little kid falling down as Santa's boot was to his head! My parents didn't go for it... unfortunately. It would have been a HIT!

The last movie I love is the claymation Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Yes I have it on DVD. Yes I watch it, for me! Yes I also have the soundtrack and listen to it often!!! lol Seriously, what would the holidays be w/o Burl Ives singing "Silver and Gold" and "We Are Santa's Elves"?!?

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

I don't know that I really have many tips/tricks up my sleeve short of doing your research before purchasing things, and making sure you get the best deals possible. As far as gifts go, I do simple things that mean a lot for co-workers. There are, of course, the co-workers I'm closest to that I will purchase an actual gift for; but for the others, just to show a little touch of "I was thinking of you this holiday season" I usually make mass amounts of homemade cookies and bundle them up to hand out. It's inexpensive, but because I've got a baker's touch, it's always very appreciated by those that receive the gift.

As far as others, I believe I put tips for shopping/saving money on my Day 2 post. :) Food-wise, our family actually prepares a lot of things ahead of time. Cost is also kept down because we potluck-it for Christmas get togethers and all pitch in to bring stuff. For example, this past Thanksgiving, from my end, money was saved on buying rolls from somewhere or buying yeast rolls at the grocery store because I made the yeast rolls myself. :) YUM YUM YUM!

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

Well, I have more than one (so sue me!). A few years ago as a belated Christmas gift, my Grandma gave me my Grandpa's old recliner. Is it attractive and gorgeous...? Not really; at least it's not in my taste for decorating. But it was the place he was most happy to be in his last years of life as he was suffering with cancer. He hasn't been in my life since Dec 1. 1992, but I dearly miss him and treasure this particular item. Since I am currently at my parents' saving money so I can possibly buy a home, it's here with me. Oddly my cat, Mozart, loves it and it's not uncommon to find her snoozing in it. I will be taking it with me and putting it in a spare bedroom next to my collection of books/library when I move.

This will seem so incredibly corny, and make me seem like a mini Martha Stewart; and I'm okay with that! But the best gift I've gotten recently is actually a Christmas/birthday present from my best friend for this year and she gave it to me before Thanksgiving knowing I'd want to use it. :) She got me a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. This will seem stupid, but I swear it mixed a better cake! lol I love it! I've been wanting one for about 7 years, and would not justify buying one for an apartment or w/o a place to store it. But since it looks like I'll be getting out on my own by the summer, she felt she would do what I wouldn't do for myself. :)

That's it for this one...! On to the next day!

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Well, I don't do the Black Friday shopping. I have braved the San Marcos Outlet Mall ONE time on Black Friday with my brother and sister in law... and vowed to never again go out on Black Friday! My tip for shopping would be to do as much shopping online as you can. Cyber Monday deals tend to be pretty good. Actually there are a lot of online stores that will have Black Friday deals starting at Midnight on occasion (just have to watch out for them). For example, last year I treated myself to a new iPod Nano from online shopping, however, I ended up getting it from Amazon, because if I used my Discover card I saved an extra $30.

My other tip is to do some shopping the week of Thanksgiving before Black Friday. More and more stores are starting to offer really good deals on things Sun-Weds because it's easier to staff their stores. :) This year my great deal was on a 40" Sharp Aquos for myself; it was on sale at Sears and I got Best Buy to price match; it was $450. Best deal so far this year. I've done a LOT of shopping at Target for toys, they have the best prices on toy items. I usually get children's clothing at Old Navy because they have awesome deals. And for everyone else, I tend to (as previously mentioned) get most things online. Also, Ross has great deals on home items such as sheets, cookware, bakeware, etc. If you don't mind putting in the time to look, you find fantastic deals there.

****yes, I know I'm late, but I wanted my 12 days of Christmas to be closer to when Christmas is!****

12 Days of Christmas

Since I've been TERRIBLE about blogging as of late, I thought I'd try something kind of fun and hope I can actually keep up with it!

This is the 12 Days of Christmas blogging challenge!

DAY 1: Christmas/Holiday Traditions

Every holiday season we have a few traditions as a family. 1) We go to Christmas Eve service. Growing up in church and having close friends at church, it was always a time to exchange Christmas gifts with very good friends of mine :) Though we don't always hold true to this now that we are adults, my good church friends and I still exchange gifts to this day. :) 2) We always meet up with my Dad's side of the family and exchange gifts with everyone... and we all eat lots of tamales! 3) We search for the pickle ornament in the tree. This is something we've added recently. 4) We have Christmas dinner and hang out with my mom's side of the family ON CHRISTMAS DAY! :) Usually we open gifts and then eat breakfast, although it always differs from year to year now depending on if my brother, sis-in-law, and nephew are with us for Christmas. Because her family lives in Kansas, they alternate Thanksgiving and Christmas every other year. I can't wait for Christmas this year because I can spoil my sweet 3 year old nephew even more!

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

Day 3: Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

Day 5: Favorite Holiday Movie/TV Show Special

Day 6: Gift ideas (what do YOU want? We all have family/friends reading our blogs...so let them know!)

Day 7: Holiday Craft/DIY (If you don't make anything, what do you WISH you could make?)

Day 8: Least favorite thing about the Holidays

Day 9: Favorite Holiday recipe

Day 10: Favorite Christmas Songs/Caroles

Day 11: New Year Resolutions

Day 12: Show us your decorations (indoor/outdoor)

Day 13: Favorite Cookie Recipe

Day 14: Oprah's Favorite