Holiday Weekend Wrap-Up: Christmas 2011

It always surprises me how fast the holidays fly by. . .all the planning, baking and shopping and now it's all done (except for New Years that is).  As usual Phil and I were lucky enough to spend Christmas with both sides of our families which included gift exchanges and delicious dinners and maybe way more desserts than anyone should actually eat at one time.  Buuuut that's the way the cookie crumbles (groan)!  My dear friend K and I were able to spend a bit of time together also before the family festivities began and I am so grateful to have her as a friend.  Although by now I just think of her as another sister. . . without sounding to gushy or mushy, the holidays really are the perfect time to appreciate and enjoy the ones you love most. 
I hope everyone's holiday was just as blessed as ours was.

Christmas Countdown: Four Days 'Til Christmas

 Four Days 'Til Christmas - Phil and I have a date to watch 'Frosty the Snowman'.  It's always nicer to watch the classics with someone so I have to wait 'til the hockey game is over. . .although this doesn't matter so much 'cause this box set came with a CD of Christmas tunes to listen to while I wait.  Hurray!

I forgot to blog my Christmas countdown items for the last few days so to catch up:

Five Days 'Til Christmas - I was busy busy busy (frosty the snowman reference) working on a secret Christmas project.  My final project for the holidays (I hope) and I think it turned out beautifully.  Phewf!

 Six Days 'Til Christmas - Not super revolutionary (and the image is horribly blurry, I know) but I added Egg Nog to my morning coffee (I so needed it, had a very rough night) and it was FANTASTIC!!!  I can't believe I haven't done that before. . . I do realize it's just like an Egg Nog Latte but not really.  'Cause it was more coffee than milk and didn't cost me $6 :P

Weekend Wrap-Up & Christmas Countdown

This weekend was pretty busy, as I'm sure it was for most being the last weekend before Christmas and all.
Friday night I wrapped presents (Nine Days 'Til Christmas) while watching 'Once Upon A Time'.
Saturday afternoon Phil and I ran errands in the morning then went to my parents Open-House Party for the afternoon and then drove off to my staff party to finish off the night (Eight Days 'Til Christmas).
Sunday I spent the entire day in my pj's baking, creating, wrapping and watched 'The Family Stone'.  Now I just have one Christmas gift project to finish and wrap and I'll officially be ready! (Seven Day's 'Til Christmas)

Wrapped Presents - Round One

My Lovely Co-Workers + Me (poking my head out from the back, so silly. . . )

My Sexy Date & I

Ten Days 'Til Christmas

Tonight I had intended on doing something else Christmas-y but really wanted to get the house cleaned up before the weekend which sadly took up the entire evening.  So I listened to 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' CD for the second or third time this season.  It just doesn't get old. . .

Eleven Days 'Til Christmas

Christmas Countdown!
  Eleven days until Christmas, Phil and I watched 'Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol'.  It was our first time seeing it, and I can't say it'll be part of my annual traditions. . .Sort of weird but fun all the same.

Twelve Days 'Til Christmas

Christmas Countdown!
Twelve days until Christmas, Phil and I had some eggnog for the first time this year.

Yum!

Holiday Recovery-Weekend Wrap Up

Egg Nog French Toast

Well I think it's obvious but I wasn't completely successful with my Christmas Challenge.   It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be to complete a holiday task each day, but maybe next year I'll be able to conquer it fully.  The week before Christmas was pretty rough, thanks to the lovely energy-sucking-cold I caught.  We had a great Christmas weekend with tons of delicious food, plenty of treats and lots of visiting with family members.

A mural I made for my niece to colour

Masquerade Mask (Graphite-White Paper) for my sister

Day 22-Slippin' Behind...

20 Days!!!
Okay, I realize it's been a week since my last post and in that time I have must admit that I did not complete a holiday activity each day.  I do believe that I have a great excuse-the last week of classes which equals a whole pile of projects due.  I did however think about my Christmas challenge each day and felt guilty that I couldn't do anything for it.  I was able to watch 'Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer' while completing one assignment.  It's a family tradition (I suppose you could call it that...) to watch it each year, although it usually makes mom cry...
With only one more assignment to complete I did a bit of relaxing this weekend (and by relaxing I mean housework and organizing for the party), and hosted a CLOTHING SWAP PARTY.  It was quite successful, and a lot of fun.  There were seven of us in total swapping clothes so we didn't have any rules, just dove into the selection of goodies that were brought.  The leftovers will be donated sometime this week to the Salvation Army.  I hope to continue on with the challenge starting tomorrow!

The wreath I completed last week.

Update: I forgot to mention we went to the local parade this weekend.  It started off kind of lackluster but near the middle the floats (actually decorated vehicles) were festive and quite nice. 

Day 15-Busy busy busy (in the magician's voice from frosty the snowman)

27 Days!!
Getting closer...
Friday-Sunday was pretty much entirely spent doing homework like a madwoman.
I did manage to accomplish a holiday activity each day during short breaks from homework.
I finished the wreath I was working on (pic later...too tired...) and finished attaching ribbon to my citrus ornaments (still needing a tree..)  I also half watched 'Christmas with the Kranks' while doing some drawing for one of my classes.

Day 11-Think, think, think...

31 Days!

Another busy day with school projects, so all the holiday activities I was able to accomplish was listening to some more Christmas music, searching a few sites for holiday recipes I'd like to make this season and thinking up some gift ideas.
As I write this we have our fireplace going so it's feeling a lot like winter that's for sure...brrrr
 

Day 10-Recycled Bows

I love the idea of reusing things to make something new and beautiful, so after seeing these bows in this month's magazine I thought it would be perfect for today's holiday activity.  I had a bit of trouble with the whole double-sided tape thing and before trying to make bows for all the presents I purchase this year I'll have to find a better alternative but I figure this one looks pretty good for my first try.  

Day 9-Gingerbread Muffins

 It may be a tad early to start baking Christmas cookies but definitely not for gingerbread muffins!  This recipe was from  a Company's Coming Cookbook, to which I did some ingredient changes in hopes to make them a wee bit healthier (soy milk instead of milk, honey instead of sugar...).  They taste pretty good, a bit on the dry side but nothing a bit of butter won't fix.  The smell of gingerbread filling the house was a nice bonus. 
33 Days!

Day 8-Citrus Ornaments

34 Days!
During a few homework breaks I was able to accomplish a few holiday activities this weekend.

• On Saturday morning my alarm woke me with Christmas music, which I left on for awhile and must admit that I love the upbeat tunes but could do without the sappy stuff...
• Beard-O and I have been doing some searching for the perfect artificial tree (no luck yet)
• I started making citrus ornaments for the tree we have yet to purchase

I think these activities are definitely helping with my holiday spirit although I still can't stand to be in a store for very long...I couldn't believe how busy a couple dollar stores were today.

Dried Orange Slices

Sample ornament hanging in the ficus

Day 7-Wishes

36 Days!

It was snowing today! I can't believe it's snowing so early this year...and we're supposed to get a little more tonight.  Today's holiday activity was preparing my wish list for people Beard-O and I are exchanging with this year.  I have some ideas but usually have such a hard time finding the perfect gift.  I always feel the need to add more and more and more!! (although my wallet disagrees...)  I would love to add that I'm going to get my shopping all finished before December but we all know that won't happen at all so why put the added pressure on myself?  The holidays should be fun right!?

Last year's present wrapped by Beard-O (so cute)

 

Day 4 & 5-Memories and Movies

 

Yesterday was fairly irritating for me.  I was having a lot of computer difficulties which set me behind in homework and I didn't get the chance to post my holiday item of the day.  I always enjoy flipping through photos of past Christmases so that's what I did yesterday and thought I'd put one of Buddie from a couple years ago. 

Tonight I will be watching a holiday film to help prepare the holiday spirit here at my place.
I heard snow may be coming this weekend??
Have a great day! 

38 days!

Day 3-Craft Day

My Muppet inspired Christmas tree

Well the Christmas countdown continues (40 days)! I was too tired to post last night but the whole afternoon was dedicated to holiday cheer. Jen and I had a girls day and made these awesome yarn trees from this site's instructions and started on making our own wreaths (picture to come when completed).  We also made some yummy chocolate candy cane bark for dessert.  Since today was a work day and I still have a few things to finish before bed, today my holiday activities are kind of lame but I changed my screen saver to a holiday theme and continued working on my wreath while eating the chocolate leftovers.  That counts right??  I think so...

Day 2-Christmas Craft Fair

Lex's 'Ugly Decoration' From Me

For today's holiday activity I called up mom and headed over to the Christmas Craft Fair put on by the arts council here in town.  It could partly have been because it was our first time attending this one that we both walked away with presents for people on our lists.  Although I can't say what we bought today, here's a picture of the ornament I bought my sister two years ago.  So ugly it's cute eh?

Christmas Countdown? Day 1-Holiday Coffee

Is it too early to start the Christmas countdown?  I don't think so...43 days!  Beard-O and I stopped in a coffee shop because I was hoping to catch one more Pumpkin Spice Latte before the switch over from fall to winter but apparently I'm behind and Christmas is already in the air.  I'm not (and maybe never was) a person that enjoys picking out gifts for someone else or having to cram a million visits into a few days and find this time of year way too stressful.  This also could be the fact that I hate shopping with crowds and wish we could just forgo the gift buying...However, putting aside my 'bah humbug' attitude I really want to try and make this year a lot more festive which means totally submerging myself into the holiday spirit (he doesn't know it yet but I'm taking Beard-O with me!).  So even though I spotted Pumpkin Spice on the menu board between other holiday flavours I opted for a Gingerbread one and vow to do one holiday inspired activity a day until the 25th of next month.  I may even be able to make my own gifts and avoid shopping all together...Well maybe not...

(As a side note I do realize there's more to Christmas than coffee flavouring and gift buying but I do plan to explore all sides of the holidays and that includes minor things)