A Peek into my Christmas

Yesterday was the "big" day for us. We had some friends over for a prime rib dinner. DH made use of the fun/tacky apron I made for him.

I didn't realize the chef hat by his name (it's with white paint) would have such a phallic look to it-hee! He was relieved to open a plain black apron this morning for his future cooking adventures but will wear this one for fun.

Today was a very laid back day. After the family phone calls we hung out, watched tv, ate left overs from yesterday and I knit.

This is the beginning of a scarf with Barbara Walker's Scroll stitch pattern.
Yarn: Hand Maiden Camelspin-Paris
Needles: size 4

I did receive a new camera but since we didn't have the right card reader I had to take these pics with my old one-boo!

Tomorrow we are off to the beach for the weekend. The weather looks decent so I may actually get on the beach this visit.

Time to finish my near-perfect Christmas day by spending some time with my current read, The Lost Ravioli Recipes of Hoboken: A Search for Food and Family.

This was one of the quietest/non-stressful Christmas days I've had in years and I sure did enjoy it. How was yours?

Happy Holidays!

I'm borrowing a quiz from Susan and a meme from Courtney for today's entry. Enjoy!

Your Christmas Sprit Level: 30%

You definitely have some Christmas spirit, and you enjoy the holidays as much as the average person. You don't go over the top celebrating, and by December 26th, you're ready to pack away your decorations. You have your own special Christmas traditions, and you tend to pick and choose what you like about Christmas. The holidays are important to you, but you don't let them take over your life.

Do You Have the Christmas Spirit?

Actually this is pretty much spot on. I really do pick and choose what holiday "stuff" to do and it just depends on my mood and what's going on in my life at the time and how much time I feel like devoting to it. I also try to keep it different every year for more enjoyment.

*************************************************************************************

Holiday Meme

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. I love the smell of (and grew up with) real trees but have switched to artificial down here.

3. When do you put up the tree? If I do, it's usually sometime during the week after Thanksgiving. If it's not up by then, I won't bother but will have a festive wreath and put lights on the ficus trees. I think about time investment. Do I want to spend a few hours putting up/taking down a tree or use that time to knit, read or do something else and put out less time intensive things instead.

4. When do you take the tree down? On/before January 1st.

5. Do you like eggnog? Just one small cup will be enough for the year.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Barbie townhouse with the elevator. I loved that thing!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband unless he gives me ideas-he's pretty low maintenance. Plus, we both buy things we like for ourselves and each other throughout the year so it's sometimes hard to come up with "The Perfect Gift" for Christmas.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Me! This year is was some luxurious yarn! I don't think I'm finished with "me" yet.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I don't think so, but it may be in the box of childhood Christmas decorations from Mom/Dad that I haven't gone through yet. I always loved the nativity scene my Mom would set up.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I prefer "Happy New Year" cards (snail mail) since the Christmas ones never seem to make it out on time.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Some exercise thing you hooked up to a door knob. It was from my Grandpa who thought he was being helpful with my fluffiness. It was something like this, but a 1979 version.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The week of Thanksgiving.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I probably have, but can't remember a specific instance and wouldn't do it now unless the receiver knew up front. I've received gifts that way and have loved them, but the giver said something like, "I got this and I don't drink coffee, but know you do," type-thing. That kind of thing might make for a fun after Christmas gift swap!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies and goodies only made this time of year.

16. Lights on the tree? Yes....lots of them.

17. Favorite Christmas song? gosh...hard to choose just one...

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel. We usually spend Christmas with Mom/Dad at South Padre Island. This year we're actually waiting until the 26th to go down and then spend the weekend.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner/Donder, Blitzen, Rudolph. I think that's it.

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? When growing up, we could open one gift Christmas eve, and the rest Christmas morning. Now it's pretty much Christmas morning.

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People everywhere! It takes twice as long to do things because of the amount of people shopping or on the roads.

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? Blue/white/silver

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? A new digital camera, some books and some yarn. DH is getting the camera (I helped pick it out although its been wrapped for weeks and I can't remember what it looked like) and I'm buying myself the rest-its just easier that way and I am assured to get something I like! Of course I always like gift cards or anything coffee related.

24. Angel on the tree top or a star? I like the stars.

25. Favorite Christmas dinner? Ham, potatoes, etc-hmmm...guess that sounds more like an Easter dinner. This year we're trying a prime rib roast for something different.

Just checking in...

Day 3 of my vacation and I am totally loving it! Just thought I'd check in with what's been going on.

Has anyone seen these Pepsi bottles? I love new fangled things!

Also, since I love anything peppermint this time of year, I had to try these out! Yum!


I finally visited Lush at Macy's and came home with A Ring of Roses Buttercream. It was so hard deciding what to buy. I know I'll be back! Any suggestions as to what else to try?

Last but not least, I visited to new location for Yarn Barn and couldn't resist buying some Hand Maiden Camelspin-Paris. I love the new store (in an older house) but not thrilled with the location but it won't stop me from going back-just maybe not at night.

Exterior:

View when you first walk in. Needlepoint room on the left.

Back knitting room with a great table to sit at.

Am I the Only One...

Who thinks there's something wrong with this?

This was a holiday "card" I received from one of the schools in my district-actually the email that came with the said card (I never did all the clicking required because I was so annoyed):

Subject Line: Happy Holidays

Email: Please click on the icon. It will open another window with the same icon. Then click on the icon in the second window to see our holiday wishes for you.

XXX YYY, Principal ZZZZZZZ Elementary School

This is about the 10th card I've received in a mass email. I used to LOVE going into the front office this time of year to see the student handmade cards sent from the various schools. Now we get an impersonal email with directions. That's just wrong...I want to see all the cute, funny, sparkly, traditional or sappy cards!

Like this:

Or this:

But would love to get a card like this. I'd never throw it away!

What are your thoughts? Am I being too sensitive in my old age?

Feeling Crafty

A month or so ago I saw a picture in a magazine/catalog that I knew I wanted to replicate for the holidays.

Materials:

• Glasses of various heights (I scored some at the local Goodwill/Thrift store at the 50% off everything sale. Some I got as cheap as 38 cents).
  

• Candles (I used "dinner candles" from Target) and beaded garland
  

Procedure:
1. Cut various lengths of the beaded garland.
2. Place in the glass and position the candle

That's it!

I decorated around the glassware with pieces of evergreen trees I got for free when I bought my wreath and some leftover garland.

I love how it looks! So festive and fancy!
This would also make for a nice table decoration.