bliss list ~ december

I missed last month's Bliss List.  I had a bit of trouble posting at the end of November.  Not sure what my deal was.  Tired, I guess.  So I think I'll incorporate some things I have loved in both November and December for this month's bliss list.

Holiday Movies ~ Oh how I love it when the first holiday movie hits the TV screen.  What's better than hours of enjoyment with Frosty, Rudolph, The Griswolds, Jimmy Stewart, and the Bradys (that one's for you, Kylie).  There's nothing that puts me in the spirit quite like a Christmas movie.

Snow Days ~ I had one in December, a couple weeks before Christmas and it was the best.  What a gift.

Holiday Décor ~ I love how the city transforms in November and December.  Downtowns are bright with light.  Shopping centers are decorated for the holidays.  Homes show a festive flare.  Driving home from work in the dark doesn't seem so bad when the Christmas lights from homes shine on my route.

Mashed Sweet Potatoes ~ I think I make them almost weekly.  They are so good.  You must make them. 

Apple Cider ~ I haven't made apple cider in the past but this year, it sounded so good I wanted to make some while Hubby and I decorated for the holidays.  I bought some generic apple cider from the grocery store and added some random spices - cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ground cinnamon, ground pumpkin pie spice.  So good!  Great company under a warm blanket on those cold nights.

So that sums up things I enjoyed in November and December.  If you fancy, look back at October, September, and August.

a new {calendar} year

It's once again that time of year - time to take down the 2009 calendars and put the 2010 calendar in its place.  When I was growing up I always had a calendar hanging in my bedroom.  Typically I got these at book stores or at some little kiosk in the mall.  They weren't very original...I'm sure I had one with nature scenes and probably one with images of The Beatles.  Now when I look for calendars there are so many different, fun and create options to the traditional. 

Like these from Paper Source:

And a few from Etsy:

up or down

I always struggle during this time of the year. I love holiday decorations as much as the next gal but I also love a fresh start. Right now I'm torn. Do I keep the holiday décor theme going in my home for a few more days or do I begin the traditional pack and store? With all this snow on the ground and the frigid temps outside, it definitely still feels Christmas-ish. However, I'm also ready to put everything into storage and return the home back to normal. I think my need to return to status quo may have something to do with the surprise situation we returned home to find. I'm thinking I want to have things cleared out before contractors begin their work to repair. So maybe for one more night I'll enjoy these scenes of the holidays.

What's your style?  Do you leave your home as is a la Christmas for a few days or do you start the un-decorating process ASAP?

Post script - And it's all coming down.  Needs to be out of the way so we can begin the drying process.  See?  That decision was easy.

surprise return

Hubby and I had a great weekend at home with my family. Over the 4 days we were there, I left the house a total of 2 times - one time to go to Christmas Eve services and the other time to accompany my mom to work for a few hours. The weather was very wintry and kept us indoors for the duration of our stay. It was truly a white Christmas.

As we sped home on the cleared interstates I was anxious to return back home and enjoy a quiet evening with Hubby. Not only did we come home to find a driveway full of snow and ice but we had a very unpleasant surprise inside our home. Our master toilet decided to spring a Christmas leak and caused damage to our ceiling and walls in the downstairs half bathroom (directly below the master). I wasn't feeling so ho ho ho any longer. So, with the valve shut off, fans running, and a call to the insurance company today we'll start the repairing process. I refuse to post pictures of the mess because it makes me crabby so instead, I decided to find some pictures of pretty bathrooms at House Beautiful...a state to which I hope our bathroom makes a quick recovery.

christmas eve {eve}

We are hoping the weather cooperates somewhat so we can make it home for the holidays. Things aren't looking too promising but we are hopeful we'll arrive safely back home sometime tomorrow. I am amazing the holidays are already here. There is so much build up and anticipation for Christmas and then in a blink it is over. Soon the wrapping paper will be thrown, the decorations will be down, and the carols will go in a file until next year. But, I'm a fan of cherishing the holidays and think we should not cease celebrations on Christmas Day but should continue to enjoy family, friends, and festivities for some time after.

If you are traveling during the holidays, do so safely and may you all have a blessed holiday with family and friends!

deck the door

Yet again I have failed to hang a wreath on my door.  I didn't even attempt to make a wreath this year although some friends and I were very inspired by Eddie Ross' wreaths. 

One of my friends even sent hers into Eddie (and they were fabulous!).

Even though I don't have a holiday wreath adorning my front door, I am still enjoying some, namely these from Better Homes and Gardens.

I guess there is always next year.

song & {holiday}design

I love, love, love this post from Apartment Therapy.  Click on the picture below to check out their pairings of holiday home decor with favorite Christmas tunes.  So fun.

Hubby, can you tell which room I like according to its song?

winter week{end} ~ part 1

Last week(end) was a busy and fun one for Hubby and I. The wonderment began on Wednesday when I had my first snow day of the year. What a great day! I got quite a bit done - did some work (really, not that bad when working in your pajamas with the Today Show as company), read some magazines, and wrapped some presents. I don't necessarily like the materialistic spin Christmas takes with the gift frenzy, but I do like the way the tree looks with presents tucked underneath!

We had a busy weekend with friends and had a great night at my work holiday party. As always, I am reminded of what wonderful people I work with! Hubby and I managed to remember our camera for this event and snapped a shot together.

On a totally unrelated note, I completed my advent "wreath" a couple of weeks ago. In this past post I shared my dilemma of not having anything in my home marking the advent season. Using things I already had around the house (white dish is part of our serving ware, the red stones were in my craft box, the votives were in a drawer), all I needed to purchase was the votive holders. I think it turned out pretty well.

dress up

It's quickly approaching - New Year's Eve.  Hubby and I have never really done anything extremely exciting on New Year's Eve.  Last year, we were both asleep before the ball even dropped.  I'm not a huge fan of the holiday.  Sure it's fun to get together with friends to celebrate the arrival of a new year but I also feel like it's a slightly over-hyped, over-priced holiday.  Nearly every place you may want to go has a cover fee and people drive like animals.  The comfort of home doesn't sound that bad.

If I did, however, have a fantastic New Year's Eve planned, it might be fun to don a new, fun party dress.   Here are a few I found on Mod Cloth. 

How do you spend your New Year's?  Do you go out?  Do you stay in?

play time

What a great little hideout for young ones.

{via home sweet home via black eiffel}

a touch of homemade

As I was driving home after a busy afternoon of errands, I pulled up to a stoplight at stared at all of the cars rushing around. So many people out and about. It's inevitable this time of the year; streets are busy, stores are crowded, and people are frantic. That's right, it's holiday shopping time. As hard as I try, it is difficult not to get swept up in the madness. Family, friends, loved ones, you want to surprise them with that perfect Christmas gift. Yet, in this quest to find that one and only gift, the meaning of giving can sometimes be lost. It is not always necessary to spend an obscene amount of money to show that family member, friend, or loved one that you care about them. All it may take is a little thought, time and effort.

Some simple do-it yourself gift ideas from Real Simple:

family recipe book

hot cocoa mix

monogrammed journal

muffin mix

bath salts

chocolate nut bark

What homemade gifts have you made or received?

snow day!

I awoke to the best gift a teacher can ask for - a snow day! And what is it about realizing one has a snow day that causes one to be awake at 5:15 am not return to sleep? I think I'm as bad as a kid. So here I am at 7:30 am, exercised, showered, dressed, fed, and ready to enjoy the day ahead of me. I know my celebration of snow is other people's pain as they venture out on the roads to work. I do worry about Hubby but I also enjoy sitting on my sofa, cozy under a blanket, sipping tea, and looking at our Christmas tree!

I do consider these days an unexpected gift and have a few things planned for the day.

Begin wrapping my Christmas gifts. It something I need to do and always seem to save until the end. Today would be a good day to get started.

Decide on what holiday goodies I want to bake. I don't necessarily have all of the ingredients to get started and I don't plan on venturing out today but I want to narrow down what I want to make this year and get a shopping list ready.

Watch Home Alone. What can I say? I'm a sucker for this cult classic.

Catch up on my issues of Real Simple. I'm way behind and today leaves me no excuse!

Good thing I woke up early so I can accomplish all my tasks!

last night's view from our front door

neatly pressed

I really love note cards, paper, and stationary.  When I find a pretty set, it's hard to resist purchasing - for a friend of course (and maybe an extra for me).  Now that we're nearing Christmas, I have been looking for some fresh Christmas notes.  I love the look of letter pressed and found some beautiful items for the holidays via Etsy.

Do you send holiday cards?  If so, have you prepared and mailed them?  If so, you're WAY ahead of me!