Christmas Traditions

I love traditions. There is something about being able to spend some time looking back fondly and recalling a particular event that means something more than simply the act of doing it. Christmas traditions are just like that. Place markers in your past that signify a powerful emotion instead of merely doing something with your family.

In today's ever increasing technology gadgets I am finding some of the traditions, I've grown to love are slowly becoming extinct. I cringe when I think that one day, Christmas Cards will simply be a thing of the past. Looking back at my Christmas Memories book that holds the last 18 years of celebrations, I can definitely see where it has fallen by the way side. Now I struggle to find just one Christmas card to post in my book. Sadly it seems most people are either too busy to find time to send them out when a Ecard works just as well. I don't think this should ever be replaced. Now you find commercially produced family Christmas postcards, e-Cards or Printed Family Newsletters are becoming the new norm. I was thrilled when my favorite Aunt sent me one unexpectedly and she is in her late 70's. She is a firm believer in not succumbing to the loss of those family honored traditions. I agree with her on that point. In fact I just mailed out a handful of cards today.

Here are some of my families favorite traditions and I look forward to having you share some of yours with me in the comment box below:

1. See the light display in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. We park the car and stroll the streets looking at the beautifully decorated houses, stop and listen to Christmas carols being sung by people, and purchasing some hot cocoa or soft pretzel. We take the entire family and then head out for dinner afterwards before driving back home. ( This was one of the homes from last year 2013.)

2. Painting Christmas village houses. My husband actually incorporated this tradition in our home and we add more houses and buildings every year. What an incredible way to look back at our lives through this unique one of a kind creations. (Steve's hard at work!)

3. Christmas Eve presents. My family gets to open one gift the night of Christmas Eve. It is always a new set of warm cozy pajamas and socks. When they were younger, I used to include a new Christmas book. (From 2012).

4. Christmas Ornaments. Each year my family decides which ornament best represents them or something they hope will happen in the year ahead and we initial and date them and add them to the Christmas tree each year. (The one above is Caitlyn's, our oldest daughter who loves owls.)

5. Christmas Cookies. I bake tons of cookies a few days before Christmas and include must haves of Chocolate Chip, Sugar Cookies, Magic Bars, Snickerdoodles, Pecan Balls, Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls, Candy Canes, Candy Coated Pecans, Fudge, and Chocolate Covered Caramel Kisses. (Pictured above Snickerdoodles. These never make it to the end of the day before there is only an empty plate!)

6. Egg nog. Enough said. It goes in everything. Pancake batter, French Toast, morning coffee and just drinking it cold with some cookies.

7. Sugar Cookie Contest. This actually got started last year. My daughter's boyfriend suggested we have a contest and each person picks one sugar cookie they decorated to enter the annual Facebook Cookie Contest. Where we ask Family and Friends to pick their favorite without disclosing which cookie goes to which person. The ones above are last year's entries! The star won!

8. Christmas Cards. Yes, I do still send these out. No Christmas Letters, Mass Printed Family Postcards with the Christmas Photos attached or e-Card. Nope, prefer snail mail with handwritten sentiments inside. If you're interested in being part of the Christmas Card bunch. Send me an email at Stevenkat27@verizon.net.

9. Christmas Lights! The more the merrier. I love adding to our outside Christmas decorations and this year I found garage sales were the perfect place to score some one of a kind outdoor decorations. They simply don't make them like they used to. I'll post some pictures later for you on what it looks like. We're waiting for the remainder of the leaves to fall from our Willow tree so you can see it all at once. (The photo above was from 2012 where we had a window painting company come around and paint your window for about $20).

10. Christmas Eve. We always order food to be delivered for dinner and then we simply sit around all day and watch our families favorite Christmas Movies. They change every year. Not sure what will be on the movie play list this year, but I know The Muppet Christmas Carol is always playing.

So in a nutshell is some of our families Christmas traditions. What are some of yours? Remember if you want to do a Christmas Card Exchange with me, email me at Stevenkat27@verizon.net

Top 10 Favorite Chick Flicks!

I love what most men would call "chick flicks", primarily because we can relate to the characters or situations in the movies so well, it makes us feel, laugh and most of the times cry. All the movies I have recommended here do have a moment in the film where you will say "Ahhhhh!" Whether it strikes you romantic heart, or bring back memories of a happier time, or take you on a mental vacation, the point is the movies are amazing. I hope you enjoy them and check a few out if you haven't seen them. Trust me, they are a 10+. Here's my take in no real particular order

1. The Holiday - Definitely my all time favorite feel great movie!!! I love this one because it empowers women in the most amazing way and the soundtrack is incredible! It stars Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black. The premise for the movie involves two women going through relationship issues and needing a place to escape to avoid men, so they arrange a home exchange between a quaint little English cottage and a sprawling Beverly Hills home. I won't spoil the rest but enjoy it! We have all been there.

2. My Best Friends Wedding! Most movies with Julia Roberts in them are hard to pass up but I have to admit I did see this one with my now current hubby Steve when we were best friends, so it does have some sentimental ties to my life. The movie stars Julia Robert, Cameron Diaz, Dermot Mulroney and Rupert Everett. Her best friend, a man decides he is going to get married and it's when she realizes she has loved him her whole life and decides to try and win him back. Definitely funny as well as romantic.

3. Sweet Home Alabama - This one is starring Reese Witherspoon, Patrick Dempsey and Josh Lucas. Reese plays a up and coming fashion designer who is proposed to by a senators son (Patrick), but can't accept the proposal until she divorces her backwoods husband (Lucas). Will true love eventually win out? Check it out and see.

4. You've Got Mail - Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks make an incredible couple in any movie they star in together. They play two people who met in a chat room and have never met while living in the same city. Hanks plays a big book company builder out to take over Ryans cute and old fashioned Children's Book Store she inherited from her mom, but neither of them realize their chat room buddy is that other person. Gotta love where this one goes! I would also recommend the original movie this was remade from Shop Around the Corner!

5. The Wedding Date!! Oh how I had thought of this in so many desperate situations in my life! This movie stars Debra Messinger and Dermot Mulroney. Kat (Messinger) is invite to attend her sister's wedding and needs a date that she has been telling everyone back home she is involved with, so she hires Mulroney! I'll leave it at that point for you to enjoy all the twists and turns this one goes with.

6. The Notebook! For any and all possible die hard romantics that believe love truly lasts a lifetime! This movie stars Rachel Adams and Ryan Gosling as a younger couple being talked about by James Garner who is reading a story to his wife in a nursing home. Bring a big box of tissues for this one. Trust me, if you don't cry, you will at this one.

7. Shall We Dance? Gotta love Richard Gere! The man grows so much more attractive and likable as he ages! He stars as a lawyer looking for more out of life than watching people he represents getting a divorce settlement, so he settles for Ballroom Dancing. His wife Susan Saradon, thinks he is cheating since he won't confess where he is spending his evenings. Makes anyone want to take up ballroom dancing...ready Steve?

8. The Lake House - Glad to see Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves starring in a love story together. The storyline behind it is about a lonely doctor who once occupied an unusual lakeside home and begins exchanging love letters with its former resident, a frustrated architect. They must try to unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary romance before it's too late. Bring a box of tissues to this one as well and try to breathe!

9. Sleepless in Seattle - This is another Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan remake of an old movie, " An Affair to Remember" that is referred to throughout the movie. Hanks is a widower who is trying to get over his wife, when he sons calls into a radio show to discuss his father's loss. Ryan listening on the radio is drawn to the hope that she may fit that mold. New York will never be the same!

10. City of Angels - Thinking love is something created in heaven? Nicolas Cage and Meg Ryan star in this movie about a doctor questioning the ability of life after death and Cage is the angel keeping watch over her! Another heart tugging tear jerker and for me as a mom, I still have to fast forward over the first scene in the movie so be warned! No spoilers here.

I hope you love this classics as much as I have and find a special place in your heart for each of them. Let me know what your classic chick flicks are....love to read about them.