Colourful Palate

Hey guys! Can you believe it? Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! I meant to post earlier this week, but some crazy things came up and I simply had absolutely no time. I only started my Christmas shopping yesterday (thank goodness I got it all done in one day…the crowds were crazy!).

…I saw this fun Christmas survey on Peanut Butter Finger’s blog and I couldn’t resist joining in on the fun! Feel free to answer some of the questions in the comment section…I’d love to get to know you better too!

25 Questions: Holiday Style

• Eggnog or hot chocolate?

You all know I’m crazy about anything chocolate. So hot chocolate it is…but then, I do have a weakness for eggnog!

(my favourite holiday protein shake – eggnog flavoured!)

• Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Everything must, must be wrapped! The unwrapping is what’s so fun!

(Last year, one of my nephews enjoying unwrapping his gift! He steals my heart!)

• Colored lights on the tree or white?

Coloured lights…

• Do you hang mistletoe?

No, we don’t. What’s the point? Too many single people in our family still, haha.

• When do you hang your decorations up?

The beginning of December…we’ve always been so late in putting up the décor in the past, that now we’re trying to make it a tradition to start December 1^st.

• What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

I have a weakness for stuffing! It’s a good thing that we have stuffing once or twice a year or I’d be fat.

• Favorite holiday memory as a child?

I have such special memories of decorating cookies (when we were young, we’d do it every year!) and we’d have debates of which cookie was the best. Some of the cookies I decorated just had chocolate all over them…because really, most of us just ate the candy off the cookie anyway. Meanwhile, my Dad always spent the evening decorating one special cookie with some crazy design he thought up. He always “won” the best cookie award.

• What is on your Christmas wish list?

Well…I wouldn’t mind some active/athletic wear! I hate working out in anything cotton, so I need some new shirts/pants for that. And I discovered this beautiful gym/duffel bag today when perusing on LuLuLemon…in love. Love is not always cheap. I think this will go on my “When I Have Extra Money” list…which doesn’t really exist.

• Do you open a gifts on Christmas Eve?

Never! Every single gift is opened Christmas morning!

• How do you decorate your Christmas tree?

With memories…it’s got ornaments that we made as kids, decorations from friends in different countries, and special ornaments my nieces makes for us…it’s not one of those “perfect” looking trees in the magazines but it’s oh-so very special to us.

• Snow? Love it or dread it?

Love it! Where we live, there’s usually plenty of it. Christmas is SO cozy with snow! This year, there isn’t much (sniff), but here’s a photo of last year’s glorious snow!

• Real tree or fake tree?

We always HAD to have a real tree…we loved the smell of fresh pine, but now…we’ve decided to use a fake tree. It’s SO much easier to set up, we don’t have to water it and risk getting the presents wet (been there and done that!), and we love that it’s always the right height for our living room!

• Do you remember your favorite gift?

The year I got my American Girl doll! I had dreamed and dreamed of owning my very own doll…so that was a magical Christmas!

• What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?

Family time is very special…but the realization that God sent His son Jesus Christ to come to the earth, as a baby, to grow up to be my Savior…is everything to me! He is the reason Christmas has meaning!

• What is your favorite holiday dessert?

I’m not into the holiday pies. I like mousse like desserts and there’s one special dessert that my Mom makes…and it’s amazing! It’s like a lime mousse with a graham cracker crust…and it’s like heaven in a pan. And of course, it just doesn’t matter what kind of dessert it is…if it’s chocolate.

(Chocolate coconut pudding)

• What is your favorite tradition?

Oh my…we have so many! Caroling to the neighbors and bringing them Christmas bread. Our annual get-together with the girls. Decorating the tree all together while playing Christmas music and eating homemade turtles.

(Our kitchen at Christmas…my Mom was in the middle of making her famous Christmas chocolates when I took this picture. I love the garlands hanging over our cupboards.)

• What tops your tree?

An angel.

• Do you prefer giving or receiving?

I love both! Giving is so fun, but hey…not gonna lie…getting is a blast too!

• What is your favorite Christmas song?

Silent Night! Taylor Swift’s rendition of it is the most beautiful version I’ve ever heard.

• Candy canes, yuck or yum?

Not a huge fan…but I do like the essence of peppermint…especially in hot chocolate!

• Favorite Christmas movie?

The Nativity… Oh, and if you like old movies you should check out “The Shop Around the Corner”…such a cute, love story (it’s like an old version of “You’ve Got Mail”)

• What do you leave for Santa?

Nothing. Santa has never been big at our house. Haha, but I guess he’s always big…and we don’t really need to make him fatter by leaving him cookies.

• Do you have a Christmas morning tradition?

Eggnog, mandarins, and Christmas bread for breakfast…then we read the Christmas story…then it’s Christmas gift time and we open them very slowly, one at a time, so we can all enjoy what is given. By then, it’s late afternoon!

• Do you prefer to shop on-line or at the mall?

At the mall!

• Christmas letter or Christmas card?

We usually stick the letter (and a family photo) in with a card! So both! Here’s last year’s pic of some of the fam…

I hope you all have a very special Christmas time with your family and friends!

Merry Christmas to you all!