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Holiday List Love

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♫ “He’s making a list. And checking it twice. Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice…”♫

Oh crap.

Well hopefully the big man will forgive me, given our similar fondness for listing. It’s a lovely thing to have in common, even though I’m pretty sure my checklists make his look like chump change, says the non-competitive side of me. He does have a pimp ride though. I will give him that.

It’s been a long time since I’ve shared a legit list. Too long in fact, especially considering my love of them runs deeper than most still waters, or really any aquifer for that matter. Lists are my one true love, aside from the Hubby that is. I’m not a total monster.

Lists make me giddy, they tickle my toes, and give me goose bumps, although it could be the chill in the air, coupled with my fragile mental state, but whatever. They are the bomb.com and the cats pajamas all rolled into one, which is why today I’ve got a special treat for you. 

Christmas List December 6, 2014

A List, my Saturday morning list to be exact, although we’re going to deviate just a smidge and focus on one of my favorite traditions: putting up the Christmas tree. It’s an annual affair and we get all kinds of festive ♫“Up in here. Up in here.“♫ Sometimes, we even invite DMX to the party, provided he puts on a Santa hat and rattles some jingle bells. Obviously. 

1) First things first: head to your local garden center and show them some love.

Lakewood Garden Center

2) Pick up a tree while you’re there and practice safety first carting it back to your home.

Giving new meaning to the phrase "Junk in the Trunk."

Giving new meaning to the phrase “Junk in the Trunk.”

As an aside, I cannot be held accountable for any mishandled trees should you utilize our one of a kind method.

3) Bear in mind, they always looks smaller on the lot.

Bare Naked Tree

 4) Put on some holiday music, preferably tuneage you can sing to and get a fire roaring. 

Christmas 2014 Fire

5) With the mood now set, bring the garlands and accoutrements down from the attic or if you’re lucky, have the Hubby bring them down because there are cobwebs and bugs up there. Plus, hello stairs.

6) Pat your Type A self on the back for putting away the last year’s decorations in the most organized fashion. Point out the same to the Hubby and bask in the accolades.

7) Bring forth the holiday mugs, and fill them with Bailey’s. Toss in a little hot cocoa for kicks.

Holiday Mug and Tree

8) Put our game faces on, crack knuckles (our own, of course) and start decorating that tree. 

9) Yell at the Hubby for deviating from our ornament hanging order. Accustomed to my neurosis, he opts to ignore my moment.  

Christmas Tree 2014 Lit and Decorated B

10) Secretly sneak his sports themed balls, gizmos and gadgets to the back of the tree. Pretend he doesn’t catch me doing the same.

11) Admire my most prized possession: the head, even though the Hubby finds him creepy and begs me every year to throw him out. I am vigilant and the head finds his way onto the tree.  

Christmas5

12) Switch to drinking white wine.

13) Add some festive hip shaking to our caterwauling, also known as caroling, proving you can in fact do two things at once.  

14) Step back and admire our handiwork.

Christmas Tree 2014 Decorated and Lit

15) Congratulate ourselves on another successful year decorating the Christmas tree.

What are some of your holiday traditions?

Comments

    • Being as vertically challenged as your wife, I can relate as my husband puts ornaments way up high where I can’t reach without assistance, and he knows I’m too lazy to get a chair to climb on and fix it. You crafty, crafty men!
      Meghan recently posted…Holiday List LoveMy Profile

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  2. Ah, I love your tree! And I especially love your tradition of imbibing hot cocoa-spiked Baileys whilst decorating. If not for an unfortunate liqeur-related incident in high school, I would certainly do the same.

    We go to my grandfather’s every year for Christmas Eve to exchange presents with my mom’s side of the family and eat a million appetizers. It’s easily one of my favorite days of the year.

    Reply

    • Oh those unfortunate liquer related incidents can really haunt us, can’t they?!

      We do appetizers on Christmas Eve too, and it’s one of my favorite meals because I get to sample so many different things I love.
      Meghan recently posted…Holiday List LoveMy Profile

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  4. You know what’s heartbreaking? My mom used to always put all the ornaments I made as a little kid on the back of the tree. It faced the window so she’d tell me it’s so everyone could see my craftiness, but we all know what was going on there 😆 I still give her a hard time about it. Also… I’d kill to have a real Christmas tree, but my building doesn’t allow them. So my version of “picking up a tree” involves carting it out of storage and lugging it to the elevator. Le boo.
    Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. chocolate banana granola muffins {& giveaway!!} .My Profile

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    • Oh man, your own mother hid your homemade ornaments. I don’t know if I could survive that. 😉

      You’ll just have to come to Cleveland for next year’s holiday decorating bonanza. We’ll find you a peanut free hot cocoa.
      Meghan recently posted…Holiday List LoveMy Profile

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  5. Oooooh, can I come over next year? This sounds like the perfect christmas-y day!! I love the Bailey’s with Hot Chocolate Drink. My kind. Followed by white wine and christmas song? SO count me in.
    We don’t really have xmas traditions anymore, since Dad passed. It’s a little sad. I do my own with hanging around the christmas market and having hot spiced wine.
    Lucie@FitSwissChick recently posted…Strongmanzombies, Wine and FriendsMy Profile

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    • Since I just invited Spoons for next year, you can certainly come as well. The more the merrier. Bring me some of the Swiss cheese you’re always bragging about. In fact, I demand you come because it sounds as if you need to rekindle some Christmas spirits, and I’m happy to be the one to do it.
      Meghan recently posted…Holiday List LoveMy Profile

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  7. That is so cool. I love your tree and the head…. well, we’ve all got to have one creepy ornament. It’s a conversation piece!

    So this year, dayne and I are celebrating Judaism for Christmas (no, neither of us are Jewish). So no tree, no gifts, no cards although ironically, I do have a manora. It’s sounds odd, but it was a decision I made at the end of last year when we were taking down the tree. Truth be told, I find it all to be a gigantic pain in the ass, and since we don’t have kids, it seems pointless to go through all this effort for just us (when we really don’t care).

    So this year, we’ve striped it back and we’ll see how that goes. If I hate it, it’s just one year. If I love it, it’s our new tradition!
    caren recently posted…Protein Pumpkin Pie Recipe – Gluten Free & Low CarbMy Profile

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    • Did you ever read the Grisham book called Skipping Christmas? If not, go buy it and read it. You’d love it since it’s basically what you’re doing now.

      I love decorating the tree so I don’t see that changing anytime soon, although some of the other stressful things could go.
      Meghan recently posted…Holiday List LoveMy Profile

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  9. I think you picked the most fun ‘to-do’ off of your list! We’ve had a lot of adventures over the years with our Xmas tree, both kitties and small children add another element to the mix (some years we wired the tree to the ceiling to prevent knockovers!). Bailey’s is my fave Christmas drink, too, though I like my own version best!
    Mary @ Fit and Fed recently posted…Homemade Vegan Irish CreamMy Profile

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    • I can only imagine how small children react to the tree. I already know how crazy the cats can sometimes get. I can’t believe you had to wire your tree to the ceiling. That’s funny and fabulous.
      Meghan recently posted…Holiday List LoveMy Profile

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  10. Your tree is gorgeous. It’s just missing a cute little Starbucks ornament…I think it’s about time I got your address. Yea, that mean’s we need to take our relationship to the next level.
    Brittany recently posted…Three UpdatesMy Profile

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    • Hey now, that language. Not on this blog…snort.

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR! I should have had you on my list, although to be fair I probably penned it around the same time I was typing your FB message, so it was already done. See – you were my first priority that day, even over listing. 🙂
      Meghan recently posted…Holiday List LoveMy Profile

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  12. Next Christmas, may I partake in your traditions 😉

    Sadly, mine stopped when I turned 18 or so, but I remember between the ages of 7-14, always sneaking to find my presents, unwrapping them and then wrapping them up again.

    I saw granola on your list! Is it a certain special one I face planted before returning home 😉
    Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Abusing Link Up PartiesMy Profile

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    • You are always welcome in Cleveland my friend, although you will have to contribute one ornament of substance or perhaps just bring Tim Tams. 🙂

      Yes, I do believe it’s that same granola, and I never did make or photograph it over the weekend. I did however make it last night so hopefully I can shoot it this morning before work. Cross those fingers for me.
      Meghan recently posted…Holiday List LoveMy Profile

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  13. Haha this is amazing! Reminds me of our Christmas weekend except we sent my housemate’s sister up into the attic in our flat (it’s a hole in the ceiling type job), pulled the Christmas tree out from under my bed (real trees are expensive in London!) and put our ready made mulled wine onto the stoves to heat 😉 ideal.
    My dad’s been left to decorate our family tree at home, I’m worried.
    Pip {Cherries & Chisme} recently posted…{Recipe} Classic Green Creamy Protein SmoothieMy Profile

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    • I need to start drinking more of this mulled wine everyone keeps talking about.

      Also always send another man (or woman) to do the tough jobs (crawling in holes in the ceiling). Well played.
      Meghan recently posted…Holiday List LoveMy Profile

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  14. i love your tree. we only have a fake one because i’m scared to get a real one even though i love the smell (scared because of fire hazard etc). one of our traditions are to look at the ornaments that have been made in previous years. we always take our daughter to the local ceramic store so she can paint one each holiday 🙂
    kathy@vodka and soda recently posted…November Goals Recap / Other Goings OnMy Profile

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  15. I knew we forgot something when we decorated the tree this year…. I’ll just have to have twice as much Bailey’s next year 😉

    I have been moving my brothers ornaments to the back/bottom of the tree for as long as I can remember. I tell him it’s his punishment for not helping until the very end.

    I love your finished tree (head and all) though I’m surprised to see the felines didn’t join in the decorating shenanigans.
    Sarah Pie recently posted…Natural winter skincareMy Profile

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  16. “Y’all gon’ make me lose my mind, up in here up in here”—> thanks for getting DMX & his rugged voice stuck in my head, woman!! I wanna come do Xmas with you, especially after reading number 7 ;)! Have you tried the peppermint flavoured Baileys? If not, you need to get your hands on a bottle asap!! Although we don’t really celebrate Christmas, I try to do ‘get my festive on’ by watching a handful of Christmas movie favourites. Home Alone 1 & 2 and Santa Claus are top on that list!
    Khushboo recently posted…Currently (December 2014)My Profile

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  18. All this ornament hiding going on – haha!! Your tree looks so beautiful! I have no husband and no traditions as of yet…but I do recall always setting the tree up with my mom when I was younger. When she was sleeping I’d go down and look for presents from “Santa” and compare the writing on the gift tag to her handwriting. The S’s were EXACTLY the same. Can you believe that?! 😉
    Christina @ The Athletarian recently posted…Thinking Out Loud #38 [aka the worst week ever]My Profile

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  19. Gah!
    Every year, my mom hangs this paper cup/tin foil bell that my brother made when he was, like, 5, or something and this ridiculous paper plate angel that was left over from my brief foray into Sunday school FRONT and CENTER on her tree. She is so stinking proud of those crumbling and silly ornaments. I always gently chide her about those stupid, frail little ornaments on her perfect tree.
    And now I finally get it.
    My tot has made me noodle ornaments both last year and this year in her (non-religious, thank the stars) preschool and I put them front and center and display them proudly. I am so tickled that she made these with me and dad in mind that it takes all of my willpower not to sleep with them every night on my bedside table.
    And I know now that every year I will treasure and haul out those gold and glittery noodle creations and remember when she was 4 and fabulous.
    How much do I love the fact that you added an aside about donuts on your list? B/C I thought the same thing as soon as I saw donuts…mmmmm….donuts…..
    Lindsey @HalfDimeHomestead recently posted…The Micro-Greens SetupMy Profile

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    • My lists are my happy place so of course Homer Simpson needs to make an appearance alongside donuts. It’s only fitting.

      I am not a pack rat for so many reasons, except those Christmas ornaments. Each one comes with a memory and a story, and I love reliving them year after year. 🙂
      Meghan recently posted…Banana Bread Granola RecipeMy Profile

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