Hi lovelies! I hope that all had a wonderful weekend! I can’t believe that Christmas is this week! Somehow, December has gone by in a flash and I feel like I’m not prepared! But despite the fact that my Christmas presents aren’t picked out yet and I’m a little behind, I think that it’s really important to remember that the holidays aren’t really about all of that stuff- they are about spending time with friends and family… and I plan on doing plenty of that!

I’ve been seeing the the holiday questions survey floating around the blog world and I just couldn’t resist joining in on the fun.

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?

Definitely hot chocolate! Due to my egg aversion, I’ve always been a little weary of eggnog, so I’ve never actually tried it! But hot chocolate and I have a long standing relationship. As a kid, I would drink it all the time and somehow found a way to spill every cup all over my clothes. My poor mom used to have to always have  change of clothes with her just so I could drink my hot chocolate! I still enjoy the stuff and don’t spill… most of the time.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

To be honest, I don’t really remember! I think that Santa wrapped them but my favorite Santa present was the bedroom set for my American Girl Doll Samantha.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

Growing up we always had two trees- one flocked one with white lights and fancy ornaments and a second tree with colored lights and family ornaments. Now days, we do one with white lights!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

No- I think we’ve hung it in the past, but it’s not a big tradition.

5. When do you hang your decorations up?

Usually sometime within December, usually on a weekend that we have free!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Ohh I’m really bad at picking favorites, but mashed potatoes are always high up on my list!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?

I’m lucky to say that I have so many fond Christmas memories and my parents always made everything really special.

8. What’s on your Christmas wish list?

I actually didn’t make a wish list this year so everything will be a surprise! But I’m so blessed already that there is nothing that I really need! I did just receive an early Christmas present of a pair of boots that I’ve been coveting so that was pretty exciting!

9. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve?

Yes! It’s always been our tradition to open gifts on Christmas Eve after we’ve been to Church and had dinner. When we open our gifts we do them one at a time too usually starting with the youngest giving a gift to someone else and then that person gives a gift to another person. I love that tradition and look forward to it every year.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

Decorating the tree is always a production and one of my favorite traditions. First we put the lights up and then spend hours going through all the ornaments, talking about the special memories behind them. I love learning different stories each year about the various ornaments and spending time with the family.

11. Snow? Love it or dread it?

Living in the bay area, I don’t have much snow interaction besides the fake snow that was dropped at that party I attended last night. In terms of real snow though, I think it looks very pretty but would rather enjoy it once in a while from inside a warm house.

12. Real tree or fake tree?

Real tree all the way– I love everything about it. I’m also very particular about the shape of the tree, I like it to have the perfect Christmas tree shape and each year, declare that year’s tree more beautiful than the last.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

I’ve had some great gifts over the years, but I remember being especially excited to receive a Furby. It was the last gift under the tree and I remember being so excited and surprised. Unfortunately, those things were creepy and I grew tired of it soon when it would wake me up in the middle of the night.

14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?

Spending time with my family. I think that as I get older this becomes even more important to me, as I think that is really the most special time about the holidays and I love creating memories that we will never forget.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

Well, it’s a toss up. My Grandma makes an incredible variety of Christmas cookies every year that are absolutely delicious! Every year, we also order a Yule Log from Baskin Robbins. Chocolate cake swirled with peppermint and mint chip ice creams, topped with chocolate fudge frosting… what’s not to like?!

16. Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?

Yes, we all get up and have some sort of delicious breakfast together. In the past, my brothers and I would wake up bright and early, then in our teens, we all slept in and now we meet somewhere in the middle.

17. What tops your tree?

In years past, it was an angel but now we have a minature version of the above that is so beautiful! It’s always the perfect finishing touch on the tree.

18. Do you prefer giving or receiving?

Giving! There really is nothing better than knowing that you brought a smile to someone’s face.

19. What is your favorite Christmas song?

Ohh, there are so many that I love, but my all time favorite is the Love Actually version of “All I Want for Christmas.” (Kristine’s fave too!) I also love Glee’s version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside”

20. Candy canes, yuck or yum?

I’m not really into candy canes- I’m more of a chocolate girl but add crushed peppermints to chocolate and you have a winning combo!

21. Favorite Christmas movie?

Love Actually and The Holiday top my list, but I’m also slightly (or not so slightly) addicted to Lifetime and Hallmark Channel movies. In fact, I’m currently watching one while writing this… Lifetime’s Christmas Angel and I have to admit, it’s pretty cute.

22. What do you leave for Santa?

Some of my Grandma’s famous cookies and some non-fat milk… Santa is a lucky man! Oh, and a note and sometimes some carrots for his reindeer.

23. What is your favorite tradition?

Ohh we have so many that I love, but one of my favorites is making a Gingerbread house with my Daddy Jeff. We always have such a fun time constructing it and I love the opportunity to spend time just the two of us.

24. Do you prefer to shop online or at the mall?

I actually prefer to shop in the mall and in the stores- there’s something so festive about it and I do love any excuse to shop. But this year, things have been so busy that shopping online has been a little more my style.

25. Christmas letter or Christmas card?

Christmas card, though I can’t say I’ve ever sent one! I’m not the best at sending letters to people, but I do love receiving them!

Questions:

Answer any of the above!