Christmas Quiz

idea from thewiegands.com

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate with Marshmallows!
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Hmm.  When I was little, he sat them by our fireplace next to our stockings.  Santa hasn't been to my house in awhile.  Where have you gone, Santa?  Mainly all gifts are wrapped now.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White but next year I think I want to add colored!
4. Do you hang mistletoe? nope.
5. When do you put your decorations up? The Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Texas Trash & Apple Pie & Stuffing
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Listening to Johnny Mathis and decorating our Christmas tree the Sunday after Thanksgiving and ordering Mazzio's pizza.  Every. Year.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? My mom and older sister told me in the parking lot of a grocery store by my grandmothers house.  I think I was a little old and they started laughing when I said he was real.  They couldn't believe I still believed.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes :) 
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? silver and gold bulbs with a bunch of collected ornaments.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? LOVE it and wish for it!
12. Can you ice skate? I think I have once or twice.  I'm sure I would be a little rusty now.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Hmmm... yes.
14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being with the ones I love.  Celebrating the birth of Jesus.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Apple Pie and 4 Layer Delight
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Driving around looking at lights!
17. What tops your tree? a bow
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving? Giving!  I LOVE buying for people.
19. Candy canes: yuck or yummy? Yummy.  
20. Favorite Christmas show? Miracle on 34th Street, Charlie Brown Christmas, my list could go on and on and on...
21. Saddest Christmas song? Song and Movie - The Christmas Shoes.  OMGoodness!
22. What is your favorite Christmas song? Anything Johnny Mathis.  I also adore Dolly Parton's Hard Candy Christmas.  

...

Great Christmas Bargain.  Ralph Lauren Blanket $49.99 Regular $100.00.  Find it here!  Add a monogram for a personal touch!  

My crafty friend Carly made this adorable headband to match the monogrammed jacket!  DIY my friends :)










Adorable Moddelmog Models

Handmade Holidays

Here are some homemade gift ideas I found on Pinterest via talkcraftytome.com:

1. Cocoa Candy Cane Marshmallows – There’s nothing like a hot mug of cocoa on a cold winter’s night, and what better way to make it special that with these Cocoa Candy Cane Marshmallows.

2. Cranberry Infused Vodka – For those of you who usually give a bottle of wine this time of year, why not try some infused vodka instead. This one is cranberry but you can use all sorts of things, fruit, peppers, spices, even bacon!

3. Gingerbread Caramels – These cute cones filled with caramels make great stocking stuffers or party favors.

4. Cowgirl Cookies – This is a super easy gift that doesn’t require any cooking! Just layer the ingredients into a jar and let the recipient do all the work.

5. DIY: S’mores Kits – Another great gift that doesn’t require cooking! Just assemble the ingredients and decorate.

6. Gingersnap Palmiers – I love the decoration on this jar as much as the contents.

7. Homemade Vanilla – This idea is just beautiful, and you can download the labels to make yours looks just as pretty.

8. Mocha Cocoa – Another idea that just involves layering ingredients

Hilarious - Jimmy Kimmel

These people gave their kids terrible gifts as a joke.  You have to watch this!

Tis' the Season

Our Christmas cards went out this past week.  I absolutely LOVE receiving everyone's cards in the mail.  What beautiful friends and family we have!  This really is just the best time of the year.  Coming home from work and checking the mail and having tons of cards is so nice :)  Here is a pic of our Christmas card.  I love the plaid and I especially love our handsome son!  What a perfect poser he is:

Merry Christmas Blog Readers!  Love, VelcroDog

I wrapped my LAST Christmas gift last night!  They are stacked up around our tree and look beautiful.  It's nice getting home from work and seeing a lit up Christmas Tree with pretty presents underneath!  Now if only it would snow :)

Our friends the Mabry's brought us by such a cute little gift a couple of weeks ago.  Monster Cookies in a jar!  I whipped these up last night after dinner and they were fabulous!  And what a neat idea - Britni and John are always so thoughtful (and helpful.  John once changed a flat tire for me when I couldn't get a hold of Jack).

Here is a fun steal I was told about at Target yesterday.  I didn't believe it, so I had to go check it out myself.  What a great stocking stuffer or gift this would be!  Target has the Timex Weekender on sale right now for $30.00 (Regular $34.99).  Well, I bought almost the exact same watch at JCrew this summer for $150.00 - rip off.  I just really had been wanting it because two of my favorite bloggers whom I have never met wear them, and I think they are cool.  And I wanted to be cool.  So moral of the story, if you like the JCrew watch, go run and get yourself one at Target right now.  The watch is awesome.  Here is a pic of the one from Target, they have all different colors of bands.  Even the Army Green color of band I got at JCrew:

One last note:

With all of the crazy shopping, tree decorating, Christmas music listening that this season brings on, I have been trying to take time to remember what this holiday is all about.  It is a celebration of Jesus' birthday.  Let us not forget that as we are running to the mall for that last minute gift or waiting in line at the Apple store for the latest iPhone.   

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2: 4-21 (NIV)

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

 ²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

More, More, More!

I have gotten quite a few more orders this week for Christmas gifts!  If you would like to order anything, or have me monogram anything for you, please notify me soon!  I probably won't be able to take new orders after December 12th to ensure shipping/delivery by Christmas!

Learning how to sew.  Burp cloth + Fabric = Super Cute

Thankgiving!!!

Sorry I have been absent from the blog world lately!  The holidays are such a busy time of the year and my monogramming is keeping me busy - along with shopping, spending time with family, friends, you name it.  It's times like this where I need to take a step back and say "slow down".  I never want to miss a minute of what this day has to offer me.

I never posted pictures from Thanksgiving.  Luckily, my fabulous sister took a lot of pictures, because I barely took any!  I hope you enjoy them.  Jack, Tank and I spent a wonderful Thanksgiving at our house with my sisters, Dad, one of his sisters and his Mom.  It was a great time!  Afterwards, we went up to Utica Square for Lights On!

Me and my BEAUTIFUL Sisters!

Dad and Jack working on the tenderloin

Tank looking confused in the kitchen.  Wondering when the turkey and tenderloin will be ready.

Jack's Mom Joan and Sister Jessica

I colored this Indian for my Grandmother 20 years ago.  She use to always hang it on her front door every year.  Now I guess I will carry on the tradition.

Brr!  Lights On at Utica!

Headed home!  What a great Thanksgiving!