Holiday happiness....


I don’t know about you, but there are so many things I look forward to every Christmas.  Things that make me happy…shall we say a bit giddy?  Things that gives me that feeling inside my chest like the scene from How the Grinch Stole Christmas where my heart grows a little bit too big for “the frame”.  Some of the things that I look forward to each year and that make me happy... well the list is pretty long... and in no special order.

Christmas music.  And yes, I start playing it on November 1st.  I’m actually amazed that I am able to hold off that long.  This year my favorite is Michael Buble’s new Christmas CD.  I have listened to it over and over since November 1st.  Should I really be admitting to that?  AND in full disclosure, I do sing along!

Shopping.  I don’t even mind the crowds… I do the majority of my shopping for “must haves” online so the shopping I do in person is mostly for fun.  It’s amazing how much fun it can be when there isn’t pressure to find that one specific item on someone’s list.

Sales.  I love the Thanksgiving newspaper sale flyers... and every Sunday after that.  In fact, come January it is always such a surprise when the paper gets so thin!  I'm not usually looking for anything in the flyers but I love sitting with my latte every Sunday, in my pj's, looking through all the ads.

December magazines.  I look forward to the December issue of my magazine subscriptions in early November and keep them in a stack throughout the holidays to look at over and over.

Presents.  Yep, I love getting presents…. I thing we all do… we just don’t actually want to fess up to it!  When my husband and I got married, I open end each and every present and loved every minute of it.

Holiday catalogs.  I’m probably the only person that loves to get all of those holiday catalogs each year… and I’m pretty sure I’m the only one that looks through the ones no one has ever heard of!

Christmas in the grocery store.  You know… all the holiday foods and specialty items.  When I start seeing those displays in the grocery store, well I know that the holidays are coming.

Decorating.  I’ve said it before… I have 19 bins of Christmas decorations and I LOVE spending a couple of days over the Thanksgiving holiday decorating my house… I don’t care if some think I go overboard… it makes me happy.

Christmas lights.  I love seeing the first house with Christmas lights each year.  When I was young a family tradition was to drive around our town looking at Christmas lights… my favorites were always the simple.  Just lights around the roof edges… perhaps in red and white… and blue and green was another favorite combo.

Snow.  But with a disclaimer… JUST at Christmas… and only if it doesn’t mess up anybody’s travel plans!

Santa Claus.  Need I say more?

The Nutcracker.  My daughter and I have been many times, including an amazing one a couple of years ago in Seattle.

Gift giving.  As much as I love presents, I also love finding the perfect “something” for someone.  Each year there is at least one gift that I find for someone that I’m so excited to give.  It doesn’t have to be an expensive gift, it may be handmade, but it’s that one gift that is sooo perfect for that someone.

Anything on the Hallmark or Lifetime channel with a Christmas theme.  I’m a sucker for any and every Christmas movie ever made.

Blogging.  And visiting all of you... seeing your holiday crafts, decorations and ideas.

Christmas cards and newsletters.  Am I the only one who actually LIKES people to send me their annual newsletter?  I love hearing what junior has accomplished this year!

Sugar cookies.  Martha Stewart’s recipe for the cookie… my recipe for frosting.  Enough said.

Rankin and Bass Christmas specials.  I’m dating myself here, but I grew up in the era of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus is Coming to Town so I have an attachment to these stop animation Christmas specials.

And my all time favorite?  Spending time with my family.

What makes you happy at the holidays?




Comments

  1. I love all of your vintage-y decorations. You didn't mention fruitcake!!! That would be on MY list! Merry Christmas.

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  2. Great collection and displayed so well!!! Come do my house!

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  3. How cheery! I love all the fun Christmas songs too and the lights! Your house looks so cute. Love it!!

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  4. That pantry has stolen my heart!Everything looks great!

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  5. I just adore everything! Love all the vintage. Thank you for sharing your adorable Christmas decor with us :)
    Have a lovely!
    xo, misha

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  6. you have the same tapers my mommy has ... those little santas were my fav. i remember looking up at them standing beside the dinning room table... gosh i loved those. they are gone. but the memories are still there. awesome!! your decorations are great. you are so wonderful. your like a kid ... a kid who loves christmas. that is great!! hallmark movies are wonderful ... they always end well. curious ... when you get your christmas cards in the mail ...do you pick out a favorite?? i do. that is such fun... i wait until i've gotten all of my cards and get totally excited. jiggly. fun!! thanks, for sharing all your goodies. (:

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  7. Wow, you really do love Christmas. I'm glad. I've lost the excitement of it after Rich died. Now it's not the same for me except for the grandkids. I love their excitement. Nice post.

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  8. What makes me the happiest? Jesus! His birth is the reason we celebrate Christmas at all!!

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  9. Thanks for sharing your love for Christmas!!! Just want you to know that I loved all your photos!!!! Such a cute kitchen!!!
    Chris :o)

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  10. Chris,
    What a great post! I think I enjoy every one of the things on your list, too! Great vintage items, and I love the last picture of your kitchen/shelves!

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  11. I am with you on all of this! You have the cutest vintage Christmas things and your house looks so fun!!!! I LOVE old farmhouses, you are a lucky girl! Merry Christmas from 521 Lake Street! Sandy

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  12. You have one of the sweetest blogs . . . love my visit here. Blessings, Sandy:O)

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  13. I love those little reindeer candles. I remember them from my own childhood!

    SOMETHING RED

    Something cherry, something blue,
    Something scarlet just for you;
    Something blazing as the sun,
    Something red when day is done.


    © 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher

    Desert reds here and here

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  14. I'm coveting your pantry. Just so you know. :)
    I love your list of loves! They're all good. Mostly, what I love is having my family home.

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  15. Hi Chris... I just found your blog a bit ago and was so .. how to say this.. attuned to your post.. that I immediately added your blog to my "List" on mine and hope you do come visit and let me know if you think I was right that we are a lot alike! :-) I live on a 100 year old farmplace in Oregon. Nice to meet you!!
    :¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:
    *M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
    :¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:-·-:¦:
    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  16. What an amazing list, Chris!
    I saw the Seattle nutcracker once many years ago, and I still remember the dreamy feeling I had during the show. So fun.
    My absolute favorite part of Christmas is the family, of course. This year, it's just my hubby and I and our youngest, and I'm trying not to let myself get mopey about it. He's joining the army this summer, so who knows when we'll have him home again at Christmas. I'm determined to focus on who is here and not dwell on who is not! (Wish me luck on that one :)
    I am also a Christmas catalog freak. I love them all and the bottom shelf of my coffee table has at least forty of them waiting for one more glance.
    p.s. I am breaking into your house and stealing the tree in your first picture.
    Consider yourself warned.
    Oh, and the cute little bead garland creation hanging on the door knob in your header pic. I think I need that too.

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  17. Seriously, sisters separated at birth. I agree with everything, except I must admit, my music sometimes starts in July, esp. if a road trip is involved. Just can't help it! I have no idea what's going on in the world, because I'm listening to Christmas music all.day.long.
    And the old Christmas movies? Be still my heart. It's just not the same to put on a dvd. It has to actually come on tv...anticipation at it's best!

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  18. We all find something that lights that spark during the holidays, and with me its not the presents but the simple things that do it for me. Richard

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  19. Giving presents like the Christmas on the Farm book to you! You won my give away!
    Merry Christmas!
    Deb

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  20. Congratulations on your win from Deborah Jeans place....I'll have to stroll on over to a tractor supply store...if I can find one...I enjoyed my visit to your place, and all the vintage Christmas items...Have a wonderful Christmas

    Faith Crochet by the Sea

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  21. Congrats on your win over at Deborah Jean's, what a lovely book, enjoy!!!Merry Christmas to you and yours. Your vintage Christmas has inspired me!

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  22. So much catching up! I have just two words for you......KINDRED SPIRITS! We listen to our music on our computer in the kitchen (I play it loud enough to hear in the living room) and I can't wait to start that HOLIDAY play list up. (Drives hubby nuts, but he lives.) Merry, Merry (late) Christmas!

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