It's the MOST WONDERFUL Time of the year!!! Busy and it's the week before moving but oh so WONDERFUL!!! We've saved the BEST TBB Q&A of the year for last...the HOLIDAY EDITION!!
1. Real
or Fake Tree? For years it was real, but once the boys went to college we changed the tide and bought a pre-lit from Balsam Hill. Now, with the new house, wish it was taller but as expensive as these things are, it'll do for a few years.
2nd to the last season we got a real tree and coldest year cutting down the tree and it was snowing , which I loved!.
2.
Favorite Christmas Cookie? This is a tough one, so many, but I'd have to say my mom's Thumbelina cookies. I did a take on them that won sweepstakes at the Fair and have become another favorite:
The Almond Thumbprint with Butterscotch Frosting
The Almond Thumbprint with Butterscotch Frosting
3. Home
on Christmas Morning or Travel? Home, Home, always home. No place I'd rather be. It was always like that for me growing up and I want the kids to have the same cozy Christmas morning memories. This photo is a keeper because it was the first Christmas the boys came home from college life and our last in this house.
Throwback to the mid 70's, my favorite chair and red tights
4. Clear
or Colored Lights? Clear..no explanation...has to be clear.
5. Send
Christmas Cards? Yep, always say I'm not going to anymore, then I do. I'm a snail mail kind of gal even if we don't get as many back...in this technology and busy world, it's a dying act.
Last year's card
6.
Favorite Christmas Present Received? No way to answer that, I LOVE everything given to me because it is from someone I adore and just the thought of someone caring enough to select a gift for you, is favorite enough...I am blessed with people who are soooo good at giving great gifts beginning with my parents.
7.
Favorite Christmas Present Given? Here's another where I cannot answer with one thing. Almost every gift I give, is selected with lots of love and sentiment for that person.
8.
Stockings or no stockings? ALWAYS Stockings but probably won't have them hanging them this year. I'll fill em' as it is my favorite Christmas thing to do but the colors no longer match so next year I'll order new ones...maybe a tad bigger as the ones we have now overflow into gift bags.
9.
Christmas PJ's? We never really have ones that match and the boys usually have had something plaid but this pic cracks me up when my mom and I both got "silky" pajamas. I believe this was about 1990.
10.
Favorite Christmas carol? "Let it Snow" and my favorite hymn is "Silent Night." I am more old school when it comes to Christmas songs..tradition over pop.
11.
Favorite Holiday Tradition? In this post, I talked about my 9 Family Christmas Traditions, and of those I'd have to say mistletoe, lol, but really they are all my favorites. But one I forgot to add that started for me as a child is the angel ornament. Here I am admiring her. My mom still puts this ornament on her tree today.
Mr. Nine and I got a new mistletoe here with a crystal...
12. Early
Shopper or Last Minute? Early Bird gets the worm. Well, at least I feel better getting it done early. But I still love to take one day during the hustle and bustle because people are just more friendly to be around and I love toting my Santa Purse. This year, is different and I am not near done because of the move but I'm breathing and knowing it WILL get done, lol.
13.
Favorite Christmas Movie or Show? Hands down "Sound of Music"..I know it's not really Christmassy, but they always play it at Christmas. I love that movie so much, that I even had a Favorite Things Party and we played a Sound of Music Trivia game and the winner got a copy of the movie..the anniversary edition. I plan to have another one of these parties at the new house.
14.
Favorite Holiday Beverage? You know it: Baileys and Coffee!! WITH Whipped Cream!
Extra whip please.
15.
Cookies and Milk for Santa? Yep, always and we would leave a cookie with a bite out of it and say "Santa must have been so busy, he could only take a bite." Then we'd throw a partially eaten carrot in the yard, usually on snow and say "Rudolph must have dropped it off the roof." Our youngest believed like Forever, so we had fun with it.
I have added the picture below because TODAY is our oldest Baby's Birthday! He is NO longer a teen but a 20 year old man who we are so proud of and LOVE so very much. Breaks this mama's heart, he is celebrating at IU without me but so goes the college schedule..it's dead week which means lots of finals studying. This picture was his last year "Believing" but truth be told, none of us ever really stop believing in the magic!
I have added the picture below because TODAY is our oldest Baby's Birthday! He is NO longer a teen but a 20 year old man who we are so proud of and LOVE so very much. Breaks this mama's heart, he is celebrating at IU without me but so goes the college schedule..it's dead week which means lots of finals studying. This picture was his last year "Believing" but truth be told, none of us ever really stop believing in the magic!
Happy Birthday Today Sweet son!
HAPPY WEEK AHEAD, HAVE FUN IMMERSED IN THE MAGIC OF THE SEASON!!
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xoxo
Oh, I forgot about Sound of Music during the holidays. It's definitely a favorite, and I was so thrilled to go on a Sound of Music tour when we visited Austria. I love all your answers, and can relate to so many - home for Christmas, stockings and cookies, and traditional Christmas songs. And I agree - we are receiving fewer Christmas cards each year! Have a wonderful week!
ReplyDeleteSo many fun questions! I totally lost track and forgot to do it this month! I will need to set a reminder for next month I guess. I'm with you on the clear lights, it is a serious pet peeve of mine! And I love your Christmasy look with your cute vest and green Hunters! Happy Monday, Andrea!
ReplyDeletexo, Rachel
A Blonde's Moment
The next tree we get will be the Balsam ones because they are so real looking! I've actually never seen the sound of music - which I really should watch at some point! I'm with you on getting all the gifts done early to enjoy the season!! xo, Biana-BlovedBoston
ReplyDeleteI'm obsessed with the Balsam Hill ones because they look so real! Jealous you have one!!! Yes to stockings always and to being home on Christmas. We do travel quite a bit on Christmas day but we always have a few hours at home to ourselves before we hit our first family gathering. Merry Christmas and Happy Monday!!!
ReplyDeleteSarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts
Happy birthday to your baby! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteOh sweet friend, I love reading all of your thoughtful answers. My life has been so stressful lately I didn't really elaborate much like I had planned. It's nice to see all your pictures and I am chuckling remembering those satin pjs! My mom bought us all a pair from Victoria's Secret and we felt so glamorous! Happy Birthday to your 20 year old man! Can you believe it? They're growing so fast.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week my love!
xo,
Kellyann
I want to come to your house for Christmas! :) I had forgotten that I do love Bailey's in coffee. Got to pick some up!
ReplyDeleteI'm a snail mail kind of gal too! So sending out holiday cards and receiving them is a treat! We have a mixture of real and fake trees in our home. The main tree is real and the rest are fake. This post gets me so excited for the holidays!
ReplyDeletewww.rdsobsessions.com
So sweet! Happy birthday to the oldest and I am sure there will be a celebration when he gets home. I love the holiday season and all of the prep and excitement. I do feel like I am behind this year, but I'm sure it will all come together somehow! Have a lovely week. xoxox
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness you were the cutest little girl!! And that picture of you and your mom is priceless. And of course you could pull of a santa clutch like no one else! I do the same about Christmas cards and swear I'm going to skip it but I just can't when it comes right down to it. I love sending and receiving!
ReplyDeleteI love all the throwback photos! Happy 20th birthday to your son!! I was just thinking about my 20th birthday the other day lol. It was spent at an Applebees because that's what we did for birthdays in college.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why I've never added whipped cream to the top of my coffee & baileys. THIS YEAR! We used to alternate hosting Christmas day for my mom's side but now it's gotten so big we have it elsewhere. But one of my favorite things about having it at our house was when after all of our family Christmas stuff was done & we would start getting ready for everyone to show up my brother would hand me a cup of coffee with baileys and say "let's get ready for family" haha. Happy Monday!!
Can I ask how old your youngest believed until? I need to know how many years I have left haha! I never want them to stop believing but I know that's part of growing up :( Yes to being home on Christmas morning, same here! I love the picture of you looking at the angel ornament!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting that you're SO close to moving and right before the holidays! I LOVE Sound of Music all year round as well!!
ReplyDeleteRosy Outlook
Loving the photos! we dont really do real trees here so its fake all the way (we do decorate our garden trees etc though). Sound of music is a SOLID fave of mine so its not cheesy at all to say that even if its not typical Christmas movie!
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun post! You and your mom are such beautiful in 1990 and now. :)
ReplyDeleteI can not wait to see and hear about your house!
I love how you said you love all the gifts you give because they are selected with care!
ReplyDeleteI could not LOVE this more!!! So many things to comment on so here goes: the Christmas PJ picture is my absolute favorite pic of the week - and it's only Monday, I'm with you on sending Christmas cards..it's a dying act but I still love to send them!, and there is no place better than home with everyone on Christmas morning. It truly is my most favorite day of the year with my family. You can just feel all the extra love on that day! Have a great week, gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteShauna
www.lipglossandlace.net
I love being home on Christmas too, and just love all of the holiday traditions. I need to steal your carrot in the yard trick for my boys! I hope your last week of packing up goes well and the move next week, so exciting!
ReplyDeleteBrooke
pumps and push-ups
Such fun questions! I'm excited to participate for the first time! I love all the throwback photos!
ReplyDeleteI love your throwback photos. I never thought of Sound of Music - that is one of my mom's favorites.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Daily Style Finds
Also totally forgot about Sound of Music..that's a Boxing Day thing for me...we're actually going to the musical on Jan 2nd and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!
ReplyDeleteYES to always being home on Christmas morning! We traveled up to CT the first few years we lived here in FL and it just wasn't the same. Way too rushed, and there's just no place like home <3
ReplyDeleteGreen Fashionista
Those silk pajamas though! Haha too fun! We debated rushing back up to VA before Christmas for a couple days, but honestly I'm with you on being home for Christmas. Excited to spend our first Christmas in our new home! Hope you have a wonderful week ahead! :)
ReplyDeleteThere is so much sweetness in this post. I just love, love, love all of it! And cookies that won at the fair?? Honestly, I'm not at all surprised. Someday when I visit, I will need to try those you know. ;) I can't wait to read your post on your 9 family Christmas traditions!! Lot's of blogger love my beautiful friend.
ReplyDeleteThe Sound of Music is my favorite movie of all time - another reason why we're friends :)! Happy birthday to your sweet son - it's so hard when they're away at school for their birthday. But everyone will be home soon!
ReplyDeleteI think this one is my favorite TBB. Seeing cute little Andrea in her favorite chair with her red tights and then admiring her angel was too precious. And the matching "Silk Sisters" with their 90's hair. Perfect! The more I read about you, the more I want to be your friend IRL and see so many commonalities❤️. I tried (for way too long) to find a pic of a plate of our Santa cookies with a bite missing. I think those were all taken before we went digital. (oh why oh why did I fight that???) I could comment on every little thing, but I will sign off for now and say Happy Monday my Christmas Spirit filled friend! XOXO
ReplyDeleteOh such a fun post. Thanks for sending it to me. Could you be anymore perfect??? I haven't watched the Sound of Music in years but now I really want to. Such a great movie!! Love the through back photos. I didn't even think to do that. You are my idol!!
ReplyDeleteFun! I love the pictures of you and your family. Love the pic with mom, i had hair that big too! hehehe. love the 80s. We have a fake tree too and it seems to be overflowing with ornaments, as a tradition we give each other each year. Mmm. love the sound of music, and I may go with hot cocoa or cranberry/vodka cocktail we made las year. Best wishes for the Holiday sweetie!
ReplyDeletejess xx
www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
I just LOVE the Sound of Music; it's one of my all time favorite movies!!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you always make it a wonderful and traditional Christmas for your family. And I'm so excited to start getting all of the TBB Christmas cards this year!
ReplyDeleteaww, you are so cute! I love all of these. Can't wait to see your new house! :) Yes to being home on Christmas, before kids we would be at my parents house, but now with kids, we just want to be home!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, you have such a beautiful family! I also love the fact that you get a real tree each year. We haven't done so this year but definitely next year! Sending love!
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday, babe!
xoxo, Vanessa
www.WhatWouldVWear.com
The sound of music is one of my favorite movies ever. I guess I never really thought to watch it as Christmas movie!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun link up! I love sending out cards too and was wondering if it comes to a point that we'll stop sending a photo card but I love that you still do! Clear lights all the way! Being home on Christmas morning is a big one for us. I remember as a child spending most of the day in the car (or at least it felt like it) traveling back and forth to our grandparents houses and all we wanted to do was be at home and play. It's something we make sure the boys can experience at home. Sierra~Beautifully Candid
ReplyDeleteLove this! Always love your throwback pics. The Sound of Music truly is the best! And don't you just love Christmas cards?!
ReplyDeleteAmy Ann
Straight A Style
I love all of these photos, they are so sweet! I also love Bailey's during the holiday season. It is also really good in hot chocolate. :-) I hope that you are having a great day today too!!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and I love hearing about your traditions. My fave pic is the one of you and your Mom in your jammies. Enjoy your week, Andrea!
ReplyDeleteI love "Silent Night", and your Favorite Things Party sounds like so much fun :)
ReplyDeleteIt isn't a December evening with out some Baileys and coffee in my hand. Seriously. I drink one almost every single night and love it. So many fun memories friend. Maybe you could come up with some sort of pedestal to put the new tree on? I have seen people do that before. Even if it is just a foot or so it can make a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteYou are just the cutest with your Santa purse! I wish I was an early shopper, but I'm always hopelessly late haha teach me your ways?! I love the picture of you on your boys' laps - that's just too sweet.
ReplyDeleteALSO! Happy birthday to your eldest! You have a 20 year old!!! You don't look young enough for that to be possible ;)
That pic of you and your sweet momma is awesome, look at that hair! So many sweet traditions you have with your boys! Wow that last photo shows how much he looks like you, happy birthday to him!
ReplyDeleteThat Santa purse is EVERYTHING!
ReplyDeletePatty
GoodBetterBestFood.blogspot.com
Happiest of birthdays to one of the special men in your life. Gosh, I'm still amazed at how much we have in common! Big hair, rocking chairs, and silky pajamas!! #forever80sgirls
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of you with your sons, so sweet!!! And, that 80's hair, I had it too, just an older version. :o)) Thinking of you as you move, work, shop and do all the many things on your list. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas Cards! We have sent them every year we have been married!
ReplyDeletexo,
Jacqueline
Stylin In St. Louis
Love love love this!!! I've always been a "real tree" person, BUT, last year, my real tree died...twice! I had to take all of the decorations down and redo it and the 2nd one I took down literally right after Christmas. SO, this year, I bought an artificial. I have mixed emotions, lol.
ReplyDeleteOh girls, that amazing hair!!! My all-time fave Christmas film has to be Funny Farm. Hugs, x.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this holiday Q&A!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the move!!!
I always say I am not sending out cards as well, but I always do. I love getting snail mail as well. Loving all the holiday traditions you have!!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that sending mail is a dying act which is one of the reasons I love sending out Christmas cards every year! And I think that one of our trees is from Balsalm Hill! They’re the best trees! And your first Christmas in a new house is always awesome because you get to make new memories!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness your Mom's Thumbelina cookies look amazing and adore that photo of you laying across your boys! Hottest mom in town! I agree the gift giving and getting question was pretty tough as it varies from year to year. Love all the holiday spirit this post was filled with!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Andrea - you guys did save the best til last. What a wonderful post!! I just love Christmas too.... but without children and us travelling every year, it's not really as Christmassy as I would like it to be. I think things would have been very different if we'd have had kids but we still LOVE this season, the joy and the way people are happier. We stopped sending Christmas cards though... instead we started donating the money we would've spent on them to a favourite charity.
ReplyDeleteI just adore that photo of you and your mum in the silk PJs - it's wonderful!!
Happy Holidays my lovely American friend <3 <3
Suzy xxx
www.suzyturner.com
Happy Birthday to that handsome son of yours! I always said that once the kids hit nursery school, the times just flies. Cute picture of you and your mom! Love the one from last year with your boys. Good luck with the move...hope the weather cooperates. Sending lots of positive thoughts for a smooth process. xoxo
ReplyDeleteAmazing post, Andrea! It is really good that you keep and follow all the Christmas traditions!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post, friend!! I love all of the pictures...especially the one of you and your mama, so cute!!
ReplyDeleteHaha I love that picture of you and your mom with the silky jammies. So cute! I want to start a tradition with Christmas jammies or something every year. Those cookies look so good, you know me and butterscotch!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your sweet boy!!! I love that he and Zoe share a birthday :) Best day ever!
LOVE the throwback pictures!!!
ReplyDeleteI loved this link up and had so much fun joining! I love getting and sending snail mail. It’s my favorite :)
ReplyDeleteI grew up always being home for Christmas, and it was the best! Those cookies look soooo good :)
ReplyDeleteMeg, Borrowed Heaven
Can you believe I have never watched the Sound of Music. I know!!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am so looking forward to our first Christmas in our new house but unfortunately we are travelling this year..... I wish we would have had the chance to enjoy our last Christmas in our first home. Sadly, we didn't know it would be our last.
This is such a fun post that you wrote! I love it! Your mom's cookies sound delicious! I love the name Thumbelina cookies! I have never tried butterscotch frosting before! Have a great rest of your week!
ReplyDelete- Natalie A.
Happy belated birthday to your son. I'm sorry, I had to crack up at the silk robe pic. I'd say it was taken in the 90s too, based on the hair! Love your Santa purse. I like to send out Christmas cards too. I think it's great to get a card in the mail once in a while, especially during the holidays.
ReplyDeleteOh I want to see the Santa purse! That picture with your mom is awesome too by the way :-) I like what you said about gifts and that each one is thoughtful!
ReplyDeletexo
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams