Christmas Meme

Can I tell you how long it’s been since I’ve done a Meme?

AGES.

But I love doing them, so here we go…
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? omgosh… wrapping paper all the way.  I don’t even want to think how much it would cost me to purchase gift bags for all the gifts I have.  Not to mention, it’s NO fun to open presents in gift bags.  I also think that picking out wrapping paper is very important and not taken lightly.  While I do purchase all of my gift wrap at the dollar store, it takes me quite a bit of time to decide who gets what wrapping paper and yes, everyone has their own.  It’s neat and orderly and helps me keep track.  And I don’t have to worry about gift tags.

2. Real tree or Artificial? It HAS to be real.  HAS to.  I can’t do a fake tree.  I never had one as a child and I enjoy going to pick out a tree every year.  Besides, it’s one less thing that has to be packed away at the end of the season.  I just throw it out with the trash.

3. When do you put up the tree? Typically, two weeks before Christmas.  I can’t remember to water the darn thing so that’s about all I can get out of it, however, this year, we’ve got it up (ok, so it’s up but not decorated) three weeks before Christmas because there was no other time that we could go and get it.

4. When do you take the tree down? January 1st.  That day.  I wake up New Year’s morning and EVERYTHING gets put away.  By that time, I’m sick of picking up everything and getting needles stuck to my socks.

5. Do you like eggnog? On the whole, no, but every once in awhile I’ll have some.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmmm.. I would have to say the year I got NKOTB tickets.  Or maybe it was the chalkboard.

7 . Hardest person to buy for? My dad.  So he normally gets gag gifts.  My baby bro is hard to buy for as well.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Samara.  I don’t think she cares what she gets as long as she’s got lots to open.  At least, that’s how it is now.  I’m sure that will change.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Of course!  Jesus is the reason!  Although, the one that I have is one piece and I would really like to invest in a new one in the future.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? In years past, I would always hand address cards and include a letter with pictures of the kids.  Over time, it just became cards with no letters, and then no notes inside.  I would also send to everyone and their brother.  This year?  I used SendOutCards.com and only sent them to the people that mean the most to me.  You didn’t get one?  I bet it’s because I didn’t have your address.  I’m kinda over the whole Christmas card thing, especially sending to those that a Christmas card is our only form of communication throughout the year.  To me, it’s a waste of money.  I’m getting old.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Where should I begin?  I think I’m hard to shop for.  I’m picky.  But if you truly get to know me, then it’s pretty easy especially when I tell people that I love gag gifts.  But there was the year that I got a bowling ball from a guy that I was dating.  Would’ve been fine if I wanted one.  I still have it and it’s been two years and there are still no holes drilled in it.

There was also the coat that I got when we lived in upstate New York so I was Samara’s age.  It was hideous (sorry, Mom, but it was.)  Oh and who can forget the pink organizational bins that I got when I was 18 and ready to head off to college.  I don’t think I’ll ever forget that one.  I just knew there was a TV or stereo in that box.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I have three.  White Christmas, A Christmas Story, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I used to shop all year long, but now that my kids are older they are a little more particular about what they want.  It used to be that I was done by the time Thanksgiving rolled around.  This year I started Thanksgiving Day and I finished yesterday…but only because I ran out of money.  I love to shop for people.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes.  I think it’s doing something good for the economy.  If I receive something that I don’t particularly enjoy and it’s something that I cannot forget to return, I will put it in the gift box which is really a box that I have in the closet that contains things I pick up throughout the year that I can use for last minute gifts.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas ? Christmas morning breakfast casserole and Mom’s stuffing.  Oh!  And Grandma’s gravy.

16. Lights on the tree? multi-colored little lights.  I don’t do big lights since I moved out of my parent’s house.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.  They don’t play that one enough.  I also like The Simple Things and the Gift.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? This is the first year that we aren’t traveling.  Typically, we go to my mom’s the weekend before or the weekend after Christmas, but they’re heading to Florida to see my brother and his wife and hopefully be there for the arrival of my nephew!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen… Comet, Cupid, Doner, Blitzen… and Rudolph, of course.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We have a star.  I think we’ve always had a star.  Growing up there was an angel.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? I allow my children to open one present before they go to bed from the gifts that were sent by mail.  I don’t open anything until Christmas morning so that I have more to open then with the kids.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Traffic and people that don’t get the reason that we celebrate the season.  I used to buy for everyone.  This year, I cut my list way back.  If I’m not your best friend, dating you, dating your father, gave birth to you, or immediate family, I didn’t buy you a gift.  Sorry.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My favorite ornaments are the glass Winnie the Pooh set that I got for Christmas years ago from a guy that I was dating.  I also love the ones the kids made for me at school.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I’m a turkey kinda gal.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I don’t care what’s under the tree for me.  What I would like is a stress free holiday.  So far, short of getting the tree, it’s looking to be that way.

Let me know if you play along so I can come and check out your answers!

Until next time…