12 Days
I know the song is really about the twelve days after Christmas, but I couldn't get "Twelve Days of Christmas" out of my head today.
I went to the post office before work this morning and sent off five packages, four to California and one to Georgia. That was the last of my pre-holiday shipping. I am done! As if that weren't cool enough, I got to use one of the Automated Postage Centers (ARC for short). I weighed all my packages and printed out the shipping labels myself. So fun! Plus, it saved me from waiting 20+ minutes in line.
I still need to do some wrapping and a teeny amount of shopping for the trip to Maine. Scott's family does a Yankee swap each year, so I need to get those gifts. And Scott and I are shopping for each other this coming weekend. But, for once, I actually feel like I'm on top of everything. I'm hoping the feeling lasts all the way through December 25.
Oh! And I haven't even started baking, yet. That doesn't feel like a stressor, though. Armed with the new Kitchenaid I will be a baking machine :)
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate. Although, I usually do have one or two cups of egg nog each year, diluted with milk and warmed in the microwave (with some nutmeg whipped cream if I'm lucky)
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
He wraps them.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Both. Colored lights on the tree, white around the house.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nope. Although, as a kid, I used to make my dad take me to buy it.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Right around my birthday. We put up the tree on the 10th this year and have been slowly adding ornaments to it.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
I don't have one favorite dish. Although, I look forward to cinnamon muffins and coffee cake on Christmas morning. And pumpkin bread plays a prominent role (my grandmother's recipe).
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
For some reason our house was always the last one that Santa visited (at least in CA). So, he was often in a hurry and just ran out the door instead of going up the chimney. We knew he had come and gone when we heard the front door slam and sleighbells ring. We could then go check out the gifts in the living room.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
What truth? Are you trying to tell me something?
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Not usually.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Lots of lights and as many ornaments as possible.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I like watching it, and I enjoy playing in it. But I hate driving in or shoveling it.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes. I love to skate! I don't go very often here, though.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I have a few memorable gifts, but the one that stands out right now was a tv/vcr in eighth grade. I hadn't had a tv in my room up to that point, so it was a big deal (and I had earned it by being extra helpful all year)
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Family, reconnecting with friends, acts of kindness.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Cookies - all kinds.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I always loved going to church on Christmas Eve with my family and then staying up late afterward. When I was younger I'd get into bed and my mom would tell me to "sleep fast" because that would make the morning come faster. As a teen I'd often meet up with friends after church and we'd get coffee or go to a movie. That night always seemed magical.
17. What tops your tree?
Nothing right now. The pretty star we had was too heavy for the tree. It made our tree look like the Charlie Brown tree.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Giving.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Oh Holy Night
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
I don't really like candy canes. However, they become edible if you break them up and make peppermint bark or peppermint ice cream.
Oh, and I want to say thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes. You all made my day :)
I went to the post office before work this morning and sent off five packages, four to California and one to Georgia. That was the last of my pre-holiday shipping. I am done! As if that weren't cool enough, I got to use one of the Automated Postage Centers (ARC for short). I weighed all my packages and printed out the shipping labels myself. So fun! Plus, it saved me from waiting 20+ minutes in line.
I still need to do some wrapping and a teeny amount of shopping for the trip to Maine. Scott's family does a Yankee swap each year, so I need to get those gifts. And Scott and I are shopping for each other this coming weekend. But, for once, I actually feel like I'm on top of everything. I'm hoping the feeling lasts all the way through December 25.
Oh! And I haven't even started baking, yet. That doesn't feel like a stressor, though. Armed with the new Kitchenaid I will be a baking machine :)
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate. Although, I usually do have one or two cups of egg nog each year, diluted with milk and warmed in the microwave (with some nutmeg whipped cream if I'm lucky)
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
He wraps them.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Both. Colored lights on the tree, white around the house.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
Nope. Although, as a kid, I used to make my dad take me to buy it.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Right around my birthday. We put up the tree on the 10th this year and have been slowly adding ornaments to it.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
I don't have one favorite dish. Although, I look forward to cinnamon muffins and coffee cake on Christmas morning. And pumpkin bread plays a prominent role (my grandmother's recipe).
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
For some reason our house was always the last one that Santa visited (at least in CA). So, he was often in a hurry and just ran out the door instead of going up the chimney. We knew he had come and gone when we heard the front door slam and sleighbells ring. We could then go check out the gifts in the living room.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
What truth? Are you trying to tell me something?
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Not usually.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Lots of lights and as many ornaments as possible.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
I like watching it, and I enjoy playing in it. But I hate driving in or shoveling it.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes. I love to skate! I don't go very often here, though.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
I have a few memorable gifts, but the one that stands out right now was a tv/vcr in eighth grade. I hadn't had a tv in my room up to that point, so it was a big deal (and I had earned it by being extra helpful all year)
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Family, reconnecting with friends, acts of kindness.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Cookies - all kinds.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I always loved going to church on Christmas Eve with my family and then staying up late afterward. When I was younger I'd get into bed and my mom would tell me to "sleep fast" because that would make the morning come faster. As a teen I'd often meet up with friends after church and we'd get coffee or go to a movie. That night always seemed magical.
17. What tops your tree?
Nothing right now. The pretty star we had was too heavy for the tree. It made our tree look like the Charlie Brown tree.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Giving.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Oh Holy Night
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
I don't really like candy canes. However, they become edible if you break them up and make peppermint bark or peppermint ice cream.
Oh, and I want to say thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes. You all made my day :)