Beautifully set tables with a bit of bokeh ready for loved ones to gather ’round.
Hubby preparing Christmas dinner while wearing his presents.
Grandma Mestanza proudly posing with her almost-as-tall-as-her grandchildren
Little Lion Man giggling on his granny’s knee.
One tired little boy tucking into Grandpa to sleep.
Cousins cuddling.
Sisters striking a pose.
Happy children loving most of their presents…
and exclaiming, “This was the best Christmas ever!”
On Christmas Eve, a calm feeling came over me. Although I still had the entire house to clean for company while Allan prepared a huge Italian feat for my family, I felt like it was no big deal.
Since Halloween, life has been pretty chaotic from birthday celebrations, school projects, races and then the holidays came. For months, I’ve felt like I was drowning. But for the first time in months, I felt like I could finally catch my breath and I enjoyed the moment with a few more cleansing breaths while I cleaned.
I suppose I felt calm because this was it. The last big thing I had been stressing over was now coming to a close. The presents had been bought and wrapped. Most of my Christmas cards had been mailed. All that was left was to enjoy Christmas and I was truly enjoying it, ironically while I scrubbed toilets.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were perfect. The kids were so excited about all of their presents. The food was fantastic and we shared lots of laughs and good cheer with our families. And it felt so good not to worry about anything (school projects, races, blogging) for a little while.
With today being Boxing Day, we’ll spend a quiet day at home cleaning out closets and cupboards to find space for all our lovely new things we received from Christmas and then we’ll donate all our old gently used toys and clothes to charity in the spirit of Boxing Day. Today could be another calming, therapeutic cleansing day for me in many ways. At least that’s what I’m hoping it to be.
Although I’m enjoying my Christmas calming and cleansing moments, it leaves room for some new goals and plans for the New Year. But that’s another post.
What are your plans and goals for the New Year?
Next week for Music Monday, I would love for you to share a song that captures your plans for the New Year. Will 2012 be more of the same or are you taking on new endeavors? Tell us your thoughts with a tune.
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Does any else feel like Christmas threw up on them? That’s the ugly metaphor I’m choosing to describe the Christmas chaos I’m feeling. You should see the state of my house. I think the tree is finally decorated, but I still have a gazillion cards to post and a pile of last minute gifts still yet to buy and of course, tons of wrapping to do.
However, all of that will be put on hold, because today I am chaperoning a field trip to Legoland with Allana’s class. I plan to write some cards on the bus on the way, but with how car sick I get, I could literally puke Christmas. I may need to rethink that plan.
Anyhow, this Music Monday post will be a little light today because I’ve got so much to do, like blog about our anniversary date in the midst of the Christmas madness. Yesterday, Allan and I had a fabulously fun Serendipity-style date, but I’ll explain all that in great lengths in another blog post.
While you wait for all the details, I’ll tease you with a movie clip from Serendipity set to Nick Drake’s Northern Sky.
If you didn’t know already, I have this thing for movie soundtracks and I absolutely LOVE the Serendipity soundtrack, so I have to include the song even though it’s not a Christmas song. It’s a very fitting song for our anniversary because my Allan comes from a northern town in England and of course, like I said, a perfect way to tie in a tease about our Serendipity-style date.
But Christmas music has been the Music Monday (and Xmas Dolly’s Monday’s Music Moves Me) theme for the past month, so I’ll share a Christmas song from Serendipity.
And since tomorrow night is the first night of Hanukkah, I’ll leave you with some Matisyahu. Besides, it will take nothing short of miracle to help me with all this Christmas chaos.
Visit Xmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.
I took my best girl to the cinema yesterday. Just me and my gal catching a show and we had a swell time, see. A real swank time, I tell you.
It’s hard to shake the circa 1940s slang after being immersed in it for a couple hours. As an early Christmas present, I bought tickets for Holiday Inn for my sister since it’s her favorite Christmas movie. She was surprised to learn that I had never seen it so she asked me to join her rather than her hubby.
With its old world charm, the Tampa Theatre is the perfect cinema for a showing of a classic film and I loved watching the movie for the first time on the big screen as it was intended. The larger than life dance numbers and set designs help your appreciate the art of film-making in a time before CGI and green screens.
Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby’s characters were delightful and endearing, like the way you want to remember these classic Hollywood film stars. Although as beloved as they are, it’s the songs and the dancing that truly steal the show, of course.
The song, White Christmas, makes its debut in Holiday Inn, however, most people know it as the theme song for White Christmas, which will also be showing this holiday season at the Tampa Theatre on December 23.
Much like my sister, Holiday Inn captured my heart with singing and dancing. I enjoyed watching this classic Christmas movie on the big screen so much that I plan to make this a new holiday tradition for us.
That’d be swell, I tell ya. A real hot dog!
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Our Christmas tree is up. Well, it’s standing. The lights have been hung and the garland has been festooned. That’s it.
Our Christmas tree enthusiasm and skills seem to be lacking this year. Typically, our tree is up before Thanksgiving, but not this year which just goes to show you how crazy busy we’ve been. There is some serious Christmas procrastination going on in this house.
But a busy schedule and a missing tree didn’t stop me from ornament shopping because I bought this ornament just before Thanksgiving. Originally I bought it for my online Xmas Ornament Xchange, but I found a better one so I decided to keep it. Besides, flip-flops are so me since I wear them all the time outside of my running shoes. It’s a Florida thing.
I suppose I should hang it on the tree instead of snapping bokeh photos and blogging about it.
I’ll do it later. First, I have run.
Don’t miss out on this ornament exchange! The linky party closes Sunday!
“Have you decorated your Christmas tree? Share a favorite Christmas ornament.”
Wishing you a blessed day with all the fixings.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Next Wednesday, we have our annual family Christmas portrait session with my fabulous photographer friend, Kelly. With much anticipation, I’ve added the final touches on everyone’s outfits. For this year’s portrait, we’re all wearing variations of red and black.
Also in preparation, I’m keeping a list of the poses I’d like to capture this year. I love close-up shots of my kids’ smiling faces. They’re perfect for Christmas photo cards sending Christmas cheer to wish everyone a merry and bright holiday.
When choosing our family’s Christmas card, I prefer a large card (5×7) that includes at least 1 family shot and 3 individual photos of each child. I also prefer the colors of the card to match the colors we’re wearing in the photos; however, finding a card that displays that many photos in one card while color coordinating with our outfits makes the search for the perfect Christmas anything but merry.
Thankfully, Shutterfly makes the search for the right Christmas card or holiday card simple. With its sophisticated system, Shutterfly helps refine my search by the number of photos and color.
On the Christmas card product page, I can view an assortment of cards with the appropriate number of photos and color by selecting that option in the sidebar.
I’ve already found a large variety of cards that fit my criteria, however, some the cards were folded.
Still not a problem! With a simple click, Shutterfly shows the flat 5×7 photo card option.
But this year, I’m also considering purchasing photo books and other personalized gifts for our family’s Christmas presents. Our Christmas portraits are such a treasure and I’m sure both sets of parents would love mounted wall art of our family as a Christmas present.
Even a pewter ornament would make a great gift but not solely as a Christmas tree ornament. After Christmas, our extended families can hang it on the wall to enjoy it all year long.
Shutterfly offers so much from a variety of Christmas cards that fit my color by number criteria to wonderful gifts our family will enjoy throughout the year. And that makes Christmas shopping very merry!
*Shutterfly is offering FREE standard shipping on orders over $30. Enter code SHIP30. Hurry! Offer ends November 30, 2011.
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China Anne McClain of Disney’s A.N.T. Farm released a treat just in time for Halloween and my girls love it. The choreography reminds me of Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
Halloween is only two weeks away! I CAN’T WAIT!
I have to admit, I will look so cute running in the Frakenfooter half marathon as a Cheerio cheerleader. I think I’ll also wear it trick-or-treating with the kids this year. Fun!
My friend, Chrissy is hosting the adult Halloween party this weekend, which should be a devilishly good time as always. I am so ready to get my drink freak on!
I haven’t officially unveiled our couple costume for the adult party on the blog yet, but I am dying to spill the beans. It’s a good one. All will be revealed for next week’s Music Monday when I post pictures from the adult party.
For the next two Music Mondays, I will be sharing my favorite Halloween jamz. I would love to hear what Halloween songs move your spirit. Link up and play along…if you dare. Muhahahahahahaha!
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Although I tried my hardest to snap some high-tech firework photos with my fancy SLR camera, I just couldn’t get the settings right to capture the fireworks on the Fourth of July. The show was over by the time I figured it out. Oh well. At least I captured some awesome sparkler shots.
Last night, my neighbors were having a dress rehearsal with their fireworks to prepare for tonight, which gave me an opportunity to test out the settings on my SLR camera. As you can see, I didn’t quite figure it out.
So, if you have any tips, I would love to hear them. Nighttime setting with flash? Sport setting? Flash off? Lower the shutter speed? Which F-Stop? *sigh* Lots to learn! Hopefully I’ll snap some better photos tonight.
Speaking of duds, this morning I was a slacker. I overslept and I missed the Lutz Independence Run. This little firecracker totally fizzed. So, I missed the race but there’s always next year to let my red, white and blue colors burst.
There have been some really longs days around here with and I guess my body needed the sleep. Or maybe these little runner legs needed some better training for the marathon shopping my sisters-in-law made me endure. No need to worry about me, though. I’m well-rested now and ready to party!
I hope your day is bursting with fun and your camera is set at the right F-stop!
Happy Fourth of July!
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