We had a fun time shooting our Christmas card pics. Thanks to my sister, Faith, for taking them, and to Ben & Grace for creepily cheering us on in our bedroom. ;)
Shutterfly had a ton of fun cards to choose from and some sweet deals running this season. I created a bunch of projects and bought them ALL on Black Friday. Just wait, family! You're gonna love it. Here's a link to the card.
Merry Christmas! and happy birthday to me tomorrow ; )
I have a pretty serious record collection. It all started when we used to go to "sales" (the York County word for auctions), and no one would bid on the box lots of vinyl. The men were there for tools, the women were there for dishes, and no one wanted the records. I would get whole boxes for only a quarter! Most of them were full of Pat Boone and Herb Alpert (cheesy and cheesier), but there were some real gems in those dusty old boxes. In college, I worked in the music library where my love for vinyl deepened further. Since then, I've added to my collection and now have many of Dad's records "on loan" (wink, wink).
I just realized I only have a few more days to fit in all of my Christmas record listening. Here are a few of my faves:
White Christmas with Bing Crosby
This is a classic among classics. Invariably, this is the first one I listen to each year. He had a voice made for Christmas. It's what hot chocolate would sound like.
Top tracks:
White Christmas - Duh, it's his song. He debuted it in Holiday Inn. The song was such a smash they made White Christmas a few years later. Incidentally, White Christmas is one of my top five favorite movies.
Christmas in Killarney - Cause it's a Scottish Christmas song
Jingle Bells - Featuring the lovely Andrews Sisters. This is amazing. Listen to it right now.
John Denver & the Muppets: A Christmas Together
This is one of Dad's, and we grew up listening to it every time we were back in the States. The Muppets make everything better.
Top Tracks:
The Twelve Days of Christmas - Miss Piggy with her golden rings
We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Animal: "won't go. Won't go. Won't go! WON'T GO!"
Christmas is Coming - This is a round with Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and Scooter. Super cute.
Amy Grant: A Christmas Album
Say what you will about Amy Grant, this is a fantastic Christmas album (hence the name. duh, i just realize that. what a boring title). This record is starting to skip and get "warpy", so I'm savoring it while I can.
Top Tracks:
A Mighty Fortress/Angels We Have Heard On High -I love having A Mighty Fortress on a Christmas album. It's orchestral and very grand. And I've always loved that piano riff leading into the next song.
Emmanuel/Little Town/Christmas Hymn Medley - Amy Grant is the Queen of the medley. I can never get over what she does with Little Town. So good.
I couldn't find a clip with all three songs, but just listen to the beginning of Little Town.
A Charlie Brown Christmas with the Vince Guaraldi Trio
It's not Christmas until Charlie Brown is playing. This album is important to our family cause it's what was playing when my dad asked my mom to marry him. She said no (that time), but hey, it's still special. ; )
There are no bad tracks in this album. Every one is better than the last. I'll leave you with O Tannenbaum. Merry Christmas, and happy listening!
I am so loving matryoshka dolls right now. They're just so cute and happy. I found the cutest matryoshka print for my nursing cover, and I get compliments on it all the time.
If I did a matryoshka tree it wouldn't be a Russian themed tree necessarily. It would just have that fun vibe that matryoskas give me with their bright colors and folksiness. I debated between a pink or a white tree on this one. I LOVE pink trees. They can be so happy when done right.
However, I really think a white tree would set off all of the bright colors better.
So much fun! I would want a fluffier one, though. Image via houzz
Alright, my matryoshka tree would be all about the garland. I'd do a bunch of ribbon in pink, yellow, and green, but also some lace ribbon and some of that Eastern European embroidered ribbon. I'd also use that really fat ric-rac and strings of wooden beads wrapped all over. Ooh, and those pom-pom strings, and maybe even yarn. I mean, let's just take it all the way. I could yarn-bomb the trunk! Ok, this is getting out of hand. (If you don't know what yarn-bombing is, check it out.)
Then, of course some bright wooden matryoshka ornaments and maybe some regular sized dolls just stuck in the tree. Then some of those Russian painted eggs. I'd fill in with a bunch of bright vintage ornaments to get some bling in there.
See, isn't that happy? It would fit so nicely in my girly's room.
I love our Christmas tree. It's a mish-mosh of ornaments from both of our childhoods mixed in with the ornaments we've bought as a couple surrounded by ALL of the pretties I bought while working at a certain global themed retailer, aka "Dock Numero Uno". ;) Each piece tells a story, and even if it doesn't all "go", it's certainly very cheery.
Yes, that's tulle wrapped around lights at the bottom of the tree to give that lovely glow.
Definitely the last time (at least for a while) I can decorate the tree how I want.
Next year she'll be getting around on her own.
But as much as I love our family tree I would LOVE to style my own tree with purposefully collected ornaments. So here's my first idea for a Christmas tree that is "so me."
Moroccan Christmas
And, no, not the kind from "The Office."
First off, tree skirt. Some fun sari fabric, of course! Or a nice kantha quilt. OR, if money was no object, a layering of kilims! Ooh, how haremy.
For garland I would use strings and strings of those gold coins from
belly dancers' outfits. I could even mix silver and gold.
Moroccan tile would be a must. It would be cool to use broken tile pieces and make ornaments out of them. I could also take brass wire and make that classic Moroccan tile shape. You know, this one:
I'd add some fun camel ornaments and some mini lanterns then top it all off with a pretty glass star lantern. Now, how about a mood board?
Clockwise from star:
Glass star lantern from Pier 1 Imports. Unfortunately not available anymore, but I have a couple.
Belly dancer chain sold by Time Raveler on Etsy.
Tile - unknown source.
Elephant ornaments from World Market.
Kilim rugs from Mister Pillow and Kilim Warehouse on Etsy.
Mini lanterns and Middle-Eastern-looking-Matryoshkas from Pier 1.
Felt camel ornament from Beady Eyed Fancies on Etsy.
So that's my idea of a Moroccan Christmas tree. Stay tuned for some more "designer" tree ideas.
