Some Christmas Q & A

I don't get excited about Christmas until December hits, BUT given that I am participating in #AMonthOfFaves again (hosted by Kim and Tanya at GirlXOXO (link here) and T of Traveling With T (link here)), I thought I would post this today. You know, since it's one month until Christmas and all of that...

My blog friend, Bekah, posted this little Q&A last year and since I am a complete and total sucker for stuff like this, I thought I'd play along. If you decide to play along too, let me know.

1. Candy canes. Yes or no?

I used to be all about candy canes, and I don't mind getting one or two mini ones during this season, but overall, I'm not as excited about them as I used to be.

2. Christmas morning early riser or sleep in? 
As a kid I was all about the early rising. I clearly remember sitting downstairs with my siblings, watching the clock s-l-o-w-l-y making its way to the "We can wake Mom and Dad up now!!!!!" time. I don't remember what that time was (maybe 7am) but we were definitely up well before that time.

Christmas morning, 2018 around 8:30am

No present opening had happened yet.

As an adult, I'd rather sleep in. Our kids used to sleep in until 9:30 or later, and while they wake up earlier than that now, we're still usually sitting down to present opening well after everyone else has posted their Christmas photos on social media! Maybe we're getting up around 8:00 these days...

3. Do you shop on Black Friday? Yes or no?
No, I don't. I'm irritated because Black Friday wasn't a thing in Canada until about three or four years ago. Now retailers are like, "We're missing out on this major shopping day" and they've really been pushing it. I find it all annoying.

4. Christmas trees up in November? Yes or no?
Absolutely not. I grew up on a tree nursery so we would always go out and chop down one of the trees which couldn't be sold. I had an uncle who was born on December 9th, so "Uncle Randy's birthday" was always tree day. We didn't specifically celebrate that uncle, but I think it was just a convenient day for my parents to pick. Ha!

For the past couple of years, we have ordered a tree through our neighbourhood association, which I love. We have a neighbourhood Christmas party at a local park and everyone picks up their trees. Last year, Sam and I brought our tree home in our Chariot and I think the same thing will happen this year. Yay!

5. Do you get holiday ideas from Pinterest? Yes or no?
Yes, I absolutely do. Well, now that Pinterest exists that is. Our favourite seasonal cookies (blue and yellow for Channukah, red and green for Christmas) are a Pinterest find.

You can find the recipe here.

I'm not sure why the post date is May 2019 

because I've been making these cookies since 2017 at least.

6. Christmas glam or ugly sweater?
I try for Christmas glam but I'm not really a glamourous person. I hate the whole ugly sweater craze. Like Black Friday in Canada, how did this become a thing???

7. Stocking stuffers: wrapped or unwrapped?
I don't know. We give the kids an ornament each year, representing something that was important from the year. I think we wrap that but mostly in a lot of tissue paper to keep it safe.

8. Traditional or modern Christmas songs?
I go for mostly traditional with a few modern ones (and by "modern" I mean 80s classics) thrown in. Also, it just isn't Christmas if we haven't listened to Nana Mouskouri's Christmas album called "Christmas with Nana Mouskouri." This album came out in 1972, the year I was born and was the Christmas soundtrack to my childhood, especially "Old Toy Trains." Listen to that song here, if you've never heard it. Also, now I'm crying. I just LOVE this song :)

A "current" favourite Christmas album is also The Pentatonix "PTXmas." Their version of "Carol of the Bells" is everything. We also often find ourselves on YouTube watching all of  Straight No Chaser's videos. We especially love this one and this one.

9. Fruitcake? Yes or no?
Yes, my guilty secret is that I love fruitcake. The fake cherries get me every time.

10. Is your Christmas shopping finished? Yes or no?
Mostly. I'm excited because we tried to buy a lot of local stuff and we got a few things at our local art market. I love buying presents from small businesses down the street.

11. Is there snow in December where you live?
Usually. But we've had some green Christmases the past few years (thanks for nothing climate change) so who knows what will happen this year...

skating on Christmas Day 2019 * hanging laundry on Christmas Day 2015

12. Classic show: A Charlie Brown Christmas or Rudolph?
I LOVE A Charlie Brown Christmas. Rudolph is way too whiny. We got a copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas on DVD when Sam was about two and we watch it every year.