25 Days of Christmas~ Day 20

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).

Watch the video here.

25 Days of Christmas~ Day 17 (I give up on the catch-up)

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.

25 Days of Christmas~ Day 13 (yes, I may not catch up)!!

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.

I even think these three are classy. So there.

25 Days of Christmas~ Day 7!!

Goodness gracious.

25 Days of Christmas~ Day 5!!

(I know it's actually day 7, still catching up!)

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.

25 Days of Christmas~ Day 3!!

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!


And there's always tomorrow..

25 Days of Christmas~ Day 2!!

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.


And this peppermint stick and mistletoe soap set, courtesy of sunbasilgarden.


These peppermint christmas cards by thecraftypantry.


Delicious homemade peppermint bark from DoubleDippedSweets.



Lonely Peppermint Tree print


Peppermint Striped Twine, by littlepinkstudio


oh deer stickers by PaperPumpkin (with peppermint tree, it's a stretch, but I LOVE)


Candy Cane hand-embroidered onesie by Beetastic

25 Days of Christmas~ Day 1!!

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

Stockins Stockins Stockins!

I made stacks of these today. Not sure exactly how I will finish them off. Contrasting fabric cuff and loop? Rick rack? Bells? Fur? All of the above? None of the above?

Last year's versions were cut from a vintage baby quilt and had gold wings attached.


This year's models are recycled from vintage tablecloths. Some may make it to the shop, but most are gonna hold the cookies and goodies I'll be handing out for Christmas.
I'm considering putting together some stocking and bib sets.


We'll see. I'm running out of time!