Christmas Survey

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper.  I try to be the "pretty wrapper" and get fancy with it.  This year I plan (no, I haven't wrapped anything yet, mostly since I haven't BOUGHT anything yet!) to wrap most of the gifts in brown  or red paper and add a bow.  No cutesy patterns this year.  Very simple and chic-plus the paper can be used year round and may be cheaper.


2. Real tree or artificial?
Artificial.  When I was very young we picked out real trees but as the artificial trees became more popular, pre lit and easrier to use my mom switched to those.  My In Laws gave us their old tree a couple years ago and I haven't looked back.  It's so easy and not too messy.  When we have kids we may have to go pick out a small tree though for the experience!

3. When do you put up the tree?
As soon as I can muster the energy.  I aim for Thanksgiving weekend and this year did all of the decorating that Sunday!

4. Do you like eggnog?
Never really tried it. Lee made homemade egg nog one year, don't know why I didn't try it. It's not super appetizing though.


5. Favorite gift received as a child?
One of my most memorable Christmas gifts was my Barbie Rock Star Tour Bus.  I'm pretty sure it had 3,953,875,555 pieces and took my dad 6 hours to put together but it was so cool.  I'm also pretty sure I only played with it for about a week before I was over it.


6. Do you have a nativity scene?
I asked for a nativity scene last year and got one!  We also have a small menorah that we put up every year.  No particular reason, just don't want anyone left out! :)


7. Hardest person to buy for?
Who isn't hard to shop for?!?!  Pretty much everyone I have on my list is tough (hence the no gifts purchased yet).


8. Easiest person to buy for?
Hands down-my sister.  She and I have very similar taste.  Our niece and nephew are also easy, because they are still in toy age.


9. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I definitly mail them!  I don't remember always sending them when I was growing up and that is one tradition I plan on keeping as we grow our family.  The last 4 Christmases since we've been married I've sent a card.  We try to make ours a little tounge and cheek too.  This year we've gotten a TON of compliments on our cards! 


10. Favorite Christmas movie?
I'm not a huge Christmas movie person.  I don't dislike them there just isn't really one that stands out.  I always like the funny ones though! :)


11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Ha ha. Ideally I would be shopping year round.  In real life this weekend is looking like a good time to get started! :)


12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
I enjoy anything involving cheese, potatoes or corn.  I also enjoy a small sweet treat here and there.


13. Clear lights or colored lights on the tree?
Clear.  I also like our tree's lights that have a few that "twinkle" on and off.  Nothing crazy but it gives it a little character.

14. Favorite Christmas song?
How do you pick just one?!?!  I have been listening to Christmas music non-stop since Thanksgiving.  I do like the old classics, Faith Hill's Where Are You Christmas?, and some of the instrumental songs make me nostalgic too.  I heard a new one this morning on the radio to the tune of Love Shack called Toy Sack.  It was pretty cute!


15. Travel or stay home at Christmas?
Stay home.  We have so many traditions based around home.  It will be interesting to see how they change with kids though.  We don't spend much time at our actual house-but we aren't ever far.


16. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph  (9-right?!?)


17. Angel on tree top or star?
Neither.  Mostly because those things are too top heavy and always fall off.  We have sticks of sequiny type things sticking out the top.


18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Morning?
We go to Lee's uncle's house on Christmas Eve and open that sides' extended family gifts.  The majority of the gifts are opened Christmas morning though.  Again, things may change a little with kids.  I like the pajama gift on Chrtistmas Eve idea....


19. The most annoying thing about this time of year?
I dislike the shopping aspect and the stress of getting thoughtful gifts for people I don't see very often.  I have ideas for gifts for friends that it would be akward to give gifts to ALL the time, yet the people I need ideas for I never have.  I also dilike the crowds involved in that shopping game.


20. What I love most about Christmas?
The spirit of the holidays.  People are more friendly and thoughtful this time of year.  Everything is so welcoming when it is decorated for Christmas.  I love the excuse to see the people I love more and the time to relax.  There's not a lot of "bad" I can think of with Christmas.  I also love the charity that surrounds the holidays.  Giving to others and giving to those less fortunate really reminds you of what you have and keeps your priorities in check!

Writers Block....

After spending most of the day working cough*changingmybloglayout*cough, I thought it would be appropriate to post something.  So I started an entry.  And it was boring.  Then I uploaded the pictures off of my camera from the past few months (I really need to A. do that more often and B. take more pictures) and thought I would do a picture post.  And that also was boring.  So now I am stuck.  I don't know what to write........

Christmas is coming up. Maybe I'll just post my wish list. Here goes:

• A new headboard. This one from Target is the one I've been eyeing and at only $299 I may just be saving up for it.
• A new white, long and low dresser. Our old Ikea dresser is tall, ugly and cannot be painted. It's so hard to find what I'm looking for at an affordable price though. :(
• New jeans.  This is a toughie because good jeans are so hard to find.  I seem to stick to one or two pairs that I like until I wear them out.  I need a few more pairs in my rotation.
• A Cleaning Lady.  This would be a dream come true!
• New perfume.  I like the Juicy scents but would also be open to something new.
• A new laptop.  My current work/personal laptop is so small and slow.  Makes work tedious!
• These cute boots in either gray or black!

My list is pretty short this year as most of those items are things that would be easier to just buy for myself.  I'm sure I'll be able to come up with a few more things in the next 24 days though! :) 

What's on your list?