Christmas Lights & Traditions

I am big on traditions, especially around the holidays.
For one my husband and I drive around every year for a couple hours looking at all the lights (see video below).  We grab some coffee and take our time.  Just a fun way to get into the Christmas spirit.  Something that my parents did when we were kids, that now Tom and I do.  The street we used to go to as kids is still somewhat decorated, but not nearly as fantastic as when we were kids and the line of cars would wrap around the streets waiting to go down this one specific cul-de-sac.  


Another tradition was to walk two doors over to my Aunt's house on Christmas morning for breakfast and to see what toys her kids got.  As we grow older though, traditions can change.  So last year my parents, husband and I went to my brother's house instead for breakfast and to see my niece open her presents.  Not the same, but just as good in a new way!


I also have to watch certain movies at Christmas time:  Home Alone, The Holiday and an old black and white one, A Holiday Affair.  


My family also does a "round robin".  We basically start at one house, spend about 45 minutes there admiring the tree and eating an appetizer and having one drink.  Then we go on to the next house, about 5-6 houses that night.  We are doing that next Saturday and I will be sure to do a post on the food served and everyone's tree!


What traditions do you try to keep during this time of year?

Christmas Decorating

I love Christmas, and I love decorations.  What's your decorating style?  Over the top like my Mom's, or sparce, or somewhere in between?  I think I'm in between.


We have a fake tree, which really made me sad when my family first got one as a teen, BUT we get to put it up before Thanksgiving and keep it up through Jan 8th, which is something you can't do with a real tree.  There's also something really sad about using a real tree for a month and then it gets tossed out. :(  Our tree is pre-lit which is awesome, and it has a remote which can change the tree to all multi colored lights, or all white/clear lights, or both.  We usually keep it on both.

With all lights on.

With only the white/clear lights on, totally changes it.

I would love to have a table full of nutcrackers one day.
So far I have two.  Santa with the bagpipes is also hanging out
on the mantle.

Russian Nesting Dolls and a Bagpipe Playing Snowman

I have an album of just Christmas photos from over the
years that I put out at this time of year.

My red dining room is perfect at this time of year!

I've wanted snowflake curtain lights for a long time.
Only Ikea seems to have them, and I am 2 hours from an Ikea.
Found them on ebay for $10.  LOVE.