The animated video for Winter Song by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson from the album The Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs is one of the most precious and adorable things I have watched. The song is so sweet and sad and moving and beautiful, I immediately made fun of it upon first listen so I wouldn't just start crying.
Needless to say, I've been playing it in a loop for the last 20 minutes (which means more like 45 minutes). I LOVE IT.
And actually, if anyone is reading this, I'd love to send an iTunes gift of this song to the first 5 people to post a comment (include email address).
Sirius XM's Christmas channels have been a delight in my life lately. Not so much the Amy Grant, or the creepy heavily-rotated "Celebrate Me Home" by Kenny Loggins (Sheesh. Blecch), but I really have renewed adoration for the Ray Conniff Singers. Now THAT'S some holiday music.
I'll admit to being behind on (or downright oblivious to) the trend of Ugly Christmas Sweater parties and such. But I support the idea. Kind of. I'm at least willing to admire the sheer overdone insanity of some of these masterpieces.
There will never be anything like Pee Wee's Playhouse.
Everso brings to you, courtesy of YouTube and broken into 6 parts, Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special:
The part with Little Richard especially cracks me up as my grandma recently declared if she could have dinner with anyone, it would be Little Richard (and Woody Allen).
Metalcakes, one of my local baking crushes, features the Danzig: Twist of Candy Cane Cakes today. SWOON. Follow all the Merciless Instructions and whip them up for your own minions!
Our actual Christmas tree! I've had countless fake trees, but this is the first real tree of my adult life. Pret-ty exciting and like most things, makes me want to cry. I was resigned to not having a tree this year when my darling boyfriend said, "we should get a tree, right? It smells good." 20 fussy reasons to not get a real tree and my Sweetie breaks it down to a simple truth: It smells good. Our gorgeous little tree from outside the grocery store smells GREAT. And I can't stop staring at it. I may make some other decorations, but I'm perfectly content with big lights, popcorn garland, candy canes and Alfred E. for our topper. Aww.
Christmas 1977, Santa brought 4-year-old me a Fonz pinball machine. Few presents have compared since.
Even as a pre-schooler, I thought of myself as a Pinky/Leather Tuscadero hybrid. I pretty much still do.
I looked around YouTube for other stuff from Christmas 1977 & found this clip from The Carpenter's Christmas Special. It's influence on me is immeasurable!
I finally visited my first Paper Source shop in Oak Park a couple months ago. That's how I know I'm a hopeless aging nerd, the paper store gets me hot. The Gingerpaper House Kit above is too awesome.
The gifts at the Paper Source are cute out of control. I really love the Pigtail Kit: AND the Jailbird Penguin: For those of you who like to donate toys and gifts during the holiday season, my friend, Jessie, wrote a great article on where to donate in Chicago.
I'm trying to play Christmas blog catch-up! I missed a few days because I was pretty exhausted after volunteering all week at a grade school holiday market. It was a total blast. I helped little kids pick out gifts for their families and friends. The kiddos took it so seriously and the whole thing was really sweet and put the holidays in a nice perspective for me.
We watched a chunk of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer tonight. I get a ridiculous childhood throwback with this little number. I remember being scared at first of the Bumble and being freaked out that they just moved on so easily after thinking Yukon Cornelius fell to his presumed death.
I love some Yukon Cornelius. I adore when that crazy doormat Rudolph says "By Doze!" I dearly love and over-identify with the Misfit Toys.
We're on the Island of Misfit Toys Here we don't want to stay We want to travel with Santa Claus In his magic sleigh!
A pack full of toys Means a sack full of joys For millions of girls And for millions of boys When Christmas Day is here The most wonderful day of the year.
A jack-in-the-box waits for children to shout "Wake up! Don't you know that it's time to come out!" When Christmas Day is here The most wonderful day of the year.
Toys galore, scattered on the floor There's no room for more And it's all because of Santa Claus.
A skooter for Jimmy A dolly for Sue The kind that will even say, "How do you do?" When Christmas Day is here The most wonderful day of the year.
How would you like to be a Spotted Elephant? Or a Choo-Choo with square wheels on your caboose? Or a water pistol that shoots -- jelly? We're all misfits! How would you like to be a bird that doesn't fly? I swim! Or a cowboy who rides an ostrich? Or a boat that can't stay afloat? We're all misfits.
If we're on the Island of Unwanted Toys We'll miss all the fun with the girls and the boys When Christmas Day is here The most wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful day of the year!
I super love peppermint and I super love Etsy, especially at Christmas.
I searched around today on Etsy and found some amazing peppermint-y/candy cane-ish items, perfect for the holidays. Like the Elf Gift Tags above, by paperheartpress.
I'm still gagging down Thanksgiving leftovers, but ready to go all nutso for my favorite holiday. Going to try to post all Christmas-y stuff for the next 25 days! Recipes, cartoons, craft projects, gift ideas, music..we'll just see what happens.
Let's start it all off with a little wonderful insanity from Germany in the 70's, Christmas with Heino. It's long, but pretty great from any point in the video.
I'll continue the Frohliche Weihnachten theme with a recipe for Springerle cookies, and a super fancy Springerle rolling pin from Sur La Table: Or a classic one available at everyone's favorite, Target:
My work here for today is done. See you tomorrow for Day 2 of my I Love Christmas Extravaganza!! xo, Rach
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