Power Monday #25 Holiday Edition

Guess what? I thought I should let you know tomorrow is Christmas Eve if you haven't heard yet! Christmas Eve is my favorite day 🙂 I am so excited. I also had such a good weekend. Presents are done, I got tons of yummy foods at the grocery, I have a plethora of blog post ideas to work on, I didn't have to do any studying or homework, I had a killer yoga session on Saturday night! I found a power class on YouTube because I needed some variation from my normal rotations of videos. I added in 20 minutes of my own practice, stopping and starting the video like I normally do, to work on certain poses and what-not. I woke-up Sunday sore! It was lovely. But a wonderful Sunday did not stop there. I had some great eats calling me down for breakfast! I finally got over my silly fear of using the waffle iron and I am so glad I did! Look, look:

But I am going to tease you and make you wait until tomorrow to share the recipe :P. Its will make your Christmas Eve that much better if you wait 🙂 Well anyway, haha, I also had a delicious mango and some organic un-salted raw almonds later in the morning. That is another revolation! I said "to hell with it" and started buying nuts from the bulk dispensers at the grocery. Last week I had gotten raw unsalted cashews and fell in love with the bins. Then this weekend I need almonds since I go through them like no other. It is so much cheaper this way in the long run! Beucase seriously who has the money for a tiny 8oz bag of organic cashews that costs $11...not me. And so far so good and I haven't died form cross contamination of some illness. But the limits will always be tested I guess. So besides food, I did some cleaning aroudn the house Sunday which totally relaxed me. I love organizing the kitchen the most. but then I vacummed my room and changed my sheets (not fun!). And I finished my novel, yay! Another book finally done 🙂 So all in all, I had a pretty productive weekend. But now it is time for Power Monday "Holiday Edition"! Wooohooo!

Amanda posted this fun survey last week on her blog and I just knew I had to fill it out for myself. There are a bunch of these types of surverys going around on the blogs and I love reading every one of them. It is so fun to see how everyone does things a little differently and the unique quirks their families have. So get ready to read about my holiday season!

Before Christmas:

Do you send out Christmas cards?

Well I don't per-se, but my mom does for the family, haha. But truthfully I think cards are kind of a waste. You never talk to half the people you send them too and they just act as a yearly update for people to brag about their life successes. Haha...I am so negative 😛

How soon do you start shopping?

As soon as I can. Last year I got it done early because the DIYs I was going to do took some time. This year was so late as you know, but they are all done now 🙂

Do you have a lot of gifts to buy?

I craft and DIY for my mom, dad, and brother 🙂

Do you bake cookies?

Well I was thinking about it. You know the whole gingerbread thing, but really I just don't like that kind of food. I am not a sweets person and it is stressing me out more than bringing me enjoyment. I might just skip the baking...

Decorations:

Do you put up a Christmas tree? Real or Fake?

Yes! What is Christmas without some sort of tree...it is not Christmas that's what it is. We always used to have a big real wonderful tree. My dad used to work at a tree farm during the season on the weekends, but he does not anymore. But I loved when he did and my whole family would go out and find the perfect cutest tree. Until a few years ago we got our final real tree. I say final because my mom ended up with major headaches and trouble breathing. We realized it was the tree (but it might have been mold that was on the bark due to the tons of rain we had that year). Anyway, we had to nix the tree (we put it outside and left some decorations up because it was just so sad.) Now we have a fake tree. I try to like it, but I just don't. It is not the same...it is too small... and too not a real tree!

Do you like tinsel?

No I think it looks so gaudy!

Do you use homemade or storebought ornaments?

A great mix of both of course! Little kid hand-made ornaments are the best 🙂

Do you put Christmas lights outside your house?

Nah, my dad never gets around to doing that haha! But I don't really like them anyway. And have you seen those flashing outside lights. Some houses make it look like it is Halloween. So not classy!

Do you put lights on the tree?

Well since it is fake, the light come pre-attached. They are white. I always had a things for rainbow lights on the tree (when we had a real one), but the white lights have grown on me and I kind of like them 🙂

How about popcorn and cranberries?

I made those once for a charity event. But I have never used them about my own house, but it is a cute idea for the critters outside 😉

Is there a wreath hanging on your door?

I think so? At least some sort of festive decoration, I will have to go check, haha!

Christmas Eve:

Do you celebrate it?

Aka the best day of the holidays! I love Christmas Eve! We go to my grandparents house (on my mom's side) and all the family comes over. We have a big dinner (buffet style since there are so many of us in a small space). I of course am making my own food for my mom and myself. Two new recipes I will be doing today so you will find out what they are later when I post them on the blog ;). Then we usually chill out, the kids (my two little cousins, my brother, and I) open stockings and then presents. It is always a fun night and I always enjoy Christmas Eve the most. Then we get home late and I force myself to go to sleep like a little kid ,haha!

Do you hang up your stocking?

Of course! I still use my dog stocking I have had for as long as I remember. Totally tradition and would never switch it for something else!

Have you ever left cookies out for Santa?

Yes! Santa gets very hungry with all of his stops! We used to leave out leftovers form Christmas Eve dinner (like cold pizza my Uncle used to make). But now that we are older...Santa starves I guess. Plus he is gluten-free. But we also left reindeer "food" outside one year I remember. I think it was just glitter and oatmeal, haha! And I think my mom still puts this old big wooden key on the door that is for Santa's use. Since we don't have a chimney it is the only way...right?

Favorite…

Christmas Movie?

I actually have a few. First is The Christmas Box, then Once Upon a Christmas (and it's subsequent squeals), A Carol Christmas, The Year Without a Santa Claus, and the original Rudolph which they never play...ever on TV. But I have been obsessed with Hallmark this year! I usually don't watch all the cheesy lovey Christmas movies they play, but I love them now and have it on 24/7.

Character from any Christmas Movie?

Rudolph and Frosty!

Christmas Song?

"O Holy Night" and "A Winter's Song" There are probably more but I can't think off the top of my head, haha!

Christmas Memory?

That is way to hard. Every year has its own special moments and memories!

Christmas Cookie?

Well I'll just keep telling myself it is gingerbred men. But...wait I just had a revelation! I think I am going to try my hand at some Pumpkin Cinnamon Gingerbread cookies! I have to get in the kitchen now, ASAP!

This or That:

Give or Receive?

I absolutely love giving my gifts to my mom, dad, and brother on Christmas morning! They never have any idea what to expect. I get really excited about it days in advance...like right now. On Saturday when I was making the gifts and writing their cards, my mom walked in and found me crying over the cards. Haha, it is going to be an intense morning. I think I am going to have to leave the room when they open them 😛

Ham or Turkey?

Neither! (But isn't Turkey for Thanksgiving anyway?)

Star or Angel?

Star all the way. Never an Angel. We used to have this wonderful star that we would put on our real tree, but now that we a "fakers" we had to settle for this.

White Lights or Colored Lights?

O I already answered this, but it doesn't really matter to me. As long as there is no blinking going on!

Blinking Lights or Still Lights?

O wow...I am way ahead of this survey, haha! STILL!

Were you Naughty or Nice this year?

Mmm, I guess that depends on who you ask 😉

Presents:

What do you want for Christmas this year?

O man. I listed a ton of options and always think of this later on to add. I know what I want through the year and then when it comes time I just can't think or don;t remeber (even when I write things down!) But my number one item in the Ninja Ultima Blender! And to be honest...I don't even remember what else I wrote down, haha!

When do you open your gifts?

From my family on Christmas Eve and from Santa on Christmas morning, duh!

What’s the best gift you’ve ever gotten?

O I have no idea. I can't remember every year and each year I am older and have different interests/expectations.

What’s the worst gift you’ve ever gotten?

Well that is mean.

Do you like wrapping gifts?

Yes I do! I hate when people just throw things in a gift bag. But sadly I had to do that this year with my gifts because they are not exactly wrap-able.

Random:

Can you name all the reindeer?

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen....and Rudolph!

Have you ever gotten a kiss under the mistletoe?

No.

Do you go caroling?

Haha, that would be really funny!

Do you drive around and look at the Christmas lights?

Nope. We don't live in one of those very festive areas.

Have you ever had a white Christmas?

I believe so.

Who do you celebrate Christmas with?

Usually on Christmas Day we would go to my grandparents (on my dad's side) house. But last year we didn't and I don't think we are again this year. So it will just be my mom, dad, and brother.

Have you ever had your picture taken with Santa?

Of course! And yes there is a picture of me crying and freaking out. But that was only one time 😉

What part of Christmas do you look most forward to?

Waking up reallly early (which is my normal wake-up now like 4:30ish) and going downstairs before anyone else is awake. Looking at the tree in the stillness and silence that is Christmas morning and sitting down with a hot cup of tea, soaking up the peace 🙂

The end! So to conclude this Power Monday, I want you to make this Christmas (Holiday Season) the best yet! Go out there are make new memories, start new traditions, and love, love, love! Be strong, be kind, be thankful, and enjoy every moment of it 🙂

So tell me:

Pick a few questions form the survey and give me your answers!

Are you thinking of starting any new traditions this year? Do you have any long lasting family traditions you do already?

See you all tomorrow with that recipe 😉