Hey, everybody, welcome to #iPPP! My post today is all about the holidays and I’m joining Elaine and Kir for Old School Blogging as well. I hope you’ll join us this week, because we’re going to be taking a short holiday break after this week, and we’ll see you back here on January 6!

Old School Blogging is all about those old blogging memes we used to pass around and answer/tag people with. Remember those? Here’s the holiday edition:

First things first: 1 Holy Night or 8 Crazy Ones? (Do you Celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, both?)

Christmas! All. Month. Long.

Peppermint or Chocolate?

How about both? My favorite Starbucks holiday drink IS a skinny peppermint mocha. I also love peppermint bark and candy canes, and I will never, ever turn down chocolate.

Sing us into the Holiday Season, what is your favorite Carol this time of year?

I love all of the hymns we sing in church on Christmas Eve, like O, Holy Night, Joy To The World, Away in a Manger, and What Child Is This. They pretty much all make me cry, especially when we have the lit candles and the lights go down in the sanctuary. But my all time favorite, which I never hear and always wish I would, is Infant Holy, Infant Lowly. That one gets me right in the gut.

I do also love a good Christmas album, though, and my favorites this year are by Cee-lo and Bad Religion (seriously).

Tell us about a Favorite Family or Personal Holiday Tradition?

Because we travel so much during the holidays, we make sure to make it home for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. On Christmas Eve, we head to one of the services at church, drive home through the town’s street full of lit-up trees, listen to Christmas music, and check on Santa’s location periodically using Santa Tracker.

C’mon you remember your favorite  (Christmas, Hanukkah) gift, tell us all about it:

When I was young (somewhere between 11-14, probably), I got The Rocky Horror Picture Show on VHS. We were at my grandma’s house Christmas morning, and I vividly remember opening it, being so excited, and wondering what in the world my grandma thought of my receiving it (but I didn’t really care). I was totally smitten with Dr. Frankenfurter.

That magical moment? (Your favorite scene in a Holiday movie..it’s okay if you have 2)

We always watched A Claymation Christmas on tv, and it was my favorite. My favorite scene was the singing camels in sneakers.

Source

Kissing under the mistletoe? Who do you hope is standing underneath (We know it’s normally your spouse, if it didn’t have to be, who would you choose?)

I’ve already kissed my man under the mistletoe this year. I don’t need anybody else. (Photo by Julie M)

Swans a swimming, lords a leaping, golden rings; which gift of the 12 days of Christmas would you like most?

Oh, golden rings, of course. Or maybe the maids…I could use some help around the house.

Play Secret Santa, what inappropriate gift would you love to give this year?

I’m so not an inappropriate gift kind of person, so I had to do a search for Dirty Santa gift ideas. I think I’d go for adult footy pajamas? Not exactly naughty, but….

Martha Stewart or the Grinch? What is your decorating style? 

Somewhere in the middle…we like cozy and homey around here. Lots of lights, colors, and handmade decorations. And then the cats and the kids take over, and we end up with a tree that looks like this (note the charger cord, ornaments on the floor, toddler on the floor, plastic ball, race medal…)

What is ONE WORD that defines the holiday season for you? (Examples: Believe/Wonder/Bah Humbug?)

Logistical nightmare (I know that’s two. Whatever. We have a lot of family to visit, so it’s busy, it’s stressful, and it flies by.) But, it’s also fun. (When we’re not driving.)

If Santa could assure its delivery, what’s the first thing on your CHRISTMAS LIST?

I would LOVE an addition on the house and a kitchen remodel. But on my real wish list, the one I share with my husband, the top is a tablet.

I hope everyone that celebrates Christmas has a fantastic one!

Robin at Farewell, Stranger and I want to see your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite phone photos of the week. All you need is a blog post containing at least one photo from any phone camera. Link up below!