Christmas Tag

Greetings Everyone and welcome to the Holiday season. Today I'm doing a Christmas tag issued by Kathryn over at Hidden Orchards

1.  What's your favorite part about Christmas?

The decorations. I don't know why, but seeing all the pretty lights, the majestic trees, the little details just makes it smell like Christmas. Shish-ka-bobs. I'm the person who has Christmas ornaments taped to my ceiling all year round.

Also: Nutcrackers. I have this weird obsession with the Nutcracker (have I mentioned this before?) and it's actually acceptable at Christmas time.

2.  Does your family have any special Christmas traditions?  If so, which is your favorite?

We try to ... my favorite of the mostly consistent ones is oo-ing and ah-ing. We pick a night and pile in a car and drive down roads looking at lights. It's gorgeous. Unfortunately, Christmas season is also basketball season, and my dad refs, so ... it doesn't always happen.

3.  Everyone knows that music is best part of Christmas.  What's your favorite Christmas carol?

Favorite carol ... Oh, wow. I have a list. Right now, first place goes to Mary Did You Know, if only because of this gorgeous version of it.

4.  What's your favorite Christmas song (i.e. non-sacred carol).

I'm drawing a blank, because most of the Christmas Music I sing is about the Reason for the Season. (I.e. Jesus). In fact, if it isn't, I have been known to rewrite it so that it does. Case in point:

Down In a Manger
Jesus Christ is Coming again.

I need to get these two songs (especially the first one) up on YouTube ... because I'd like them to spread.

5.  What's your favorite Christmas story or novel?

The Nutcracker.
(I'm a trifle obsessed, have I mentioned.)

6.  What's your favorite Christmas cookie?

Do gingerbread houses count? Because I do enjoy making them ... and eating them.

If they don't count, Spritz cookies, because they're fun to make and work really well with our press.

Now I want to go make cookies.

7.  Do you shop at Christmastime?  Where's your favorite place to do Christmas shopping?

Not really, and this year I'm broke. If I wasn't broke, it'd be Amazon, because I have prime, and it's awesome.

8.  What's your favorite Christmas treat?

By treat I'm assuming not cookies ... hum ... oh! I love the candy cane Hershey kisses. I'm not a chocolate person, but these are white chocolate, and peppermint and awesome. I had some last year ... but I'm out. I'm going to have to resupply.

9.  Do you watch Christmas movies?  What's your favorite one?

I watch the Nutcracker. My favorite version is The Story of Clara, which is actually about a ballerina who used to dance Clara. It makes me cry.
Second place goes to this version, because in my opinion it's the most accurate to the book.

10.  We all know how much fun setting up the Christmas tree can be.  Of course, there are always those ornaments that you made in first grade that you would rather forget but they go on the tree anyway.  Do you have a favorite ornament?  What's the story behind it?
My favorite ornament is a blown-glass baby ballerina giraffe. She's gorgeous, is mine, and doesn't get put away at the end of Christmas. When she isn't hanging from the tree, she's tucked safely inside my giraffe collection.