Gearing Up For the Holidays

Can you believe it's almost the end of October?  Many of you have already begun your Christmas planning and preparation, and are chugging ahead toward a fun and enjoyable holiday season.  But I'll be honest, I have not.  For one thing, we just took our first family trip to Walt Disney World at the end of September, and it absorbed my every waking thought for months.  And then I experienced the post-trip let down, which is to be expected.  But I've been so caught up in Disney magic that I haven't even thought about Christmas.  Which is weird, my friends.  I'm always thinking about Christmas!

This weekend I got bit by the Christmas bug, so I've started thinking more about Christmas planning.  As it happens, the FlyLady's Cruise Through the Holidays starts today, so she's been posting several of her essays about holiday planning on her Facebook page.  If you've never read any of FlyLady's essays, I encourage you to go do it.  Especially if you're skeptical about planning ahead.  She just might make you change your mind!

This morning I read her essay "A Stress Free Gift For You" and it made me start thinking-- what would make my holiday season more stress-free?  I'm talking about both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  And the first thing that popped into my head was "clear the clutter."  Now, if your house is perfect all the time, or if you were born organized, this will probably not apply to you.  But I have two daughters who bring home school papers, have toys, art supplies, and what-have-you that get strewn all over the house.  And then there's the clutter that my husband and I add to it, albeit unintentionally.  Add that up and you've got a clutter monster that I am constantly fighting.  FlyLady calls it "Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome," or "CHAOS."

In a short month, it will be time for Thanksgiving, and my family has Thanksgiving at our house.  My house can't be in CHAOS for that.  So I am committing today to tackle a little bit of clutter at a time for the next few weeks, so that my house will be clutter free by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, and stay that way for the Christmas season.  It's hard to decorate around clutter!

I'll try to post updates on my Facebook page if anyone is interested in following along. Please feel free to join me.  And let me know what would make your holidays more stress-free.  Let's de-stress together!

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New Address, Same Blog!

First of all, I have a new web address-- www.christmasrapping.com.  I've had my eye on it for a couple years, but someone else already owned it (with a placeholder website on it) so I had to wait for it to expire and then hope that it would become available for purchase.  And it did, so yay!  

Summer has started to wind down, which means it's time to start thinking about Christmas!  I've updated my guide to the most popular Christmas planning sites.  Many of the plans have changed in the last couple years, so you might want to take a look at them again and see which one might be right for you.

Also, make sure you're following me on Facebook and Pinterest!  I've got some fun pictures from this summer that I hope to put up on Facebook soon (hint: there are several from my latest trip to St. Nick Nack's!)  Also, I'd love suggestions on what you'd like to see on my blog.  Do you need a tutorial?  Ideas for decorating?  Directions to Target?  Just let me know, and I'll do my best to help you out!

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Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a Joyous Christmas!  Enjoy this special day!

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Capturing December: Photo-A-Day Challenge

Happy December 1st!  If you're like me, this is the point where the snowball effect starts to happen-- it's December 1st, and then all of a sudden it's Christmas Eve and you have NO idea where the last three weeks just went.

Well, here's a great idea to help you stop and celebrate every day this month.  It's the Capturing December: Photo-A-Day Challenge, hosted by A Content Housewife.

I'm accepting the challenge, and I'll be posting my photos either here or on my Facebook page.  (Which you should go like, by the way.)

Today's theme is "Your View Today."  I would like to subtitle it "Honesty," because my house is a big mess and I'm about to give you photographic proof.  And also, in the next couple weeks when I post pictures of everything finished and beautiful and clean, you will know that it is an illusion and that my house only looked like that for the .5 seconds it took to take that picture, and then my children probably came along and dumped building blocks all over the floor or I got several boxes from UPS or something else happened to make it not perfect.  And that's okay, because this is our house, not a museum.  We live in it.  You know what I mean?

Exhibit A: The Dining Room

For those of you who don't know, I am a consultant for Biltmore Inspirations and the company is going out of business on December 15th.  These boxes represent business supplies that I have to figure out what to do with.  And just so you know, everything is 40%-75% off right now, and if you'd like to check out the sale you can do so on my website.

Exhibit B: The Front Room aka Parlor aka Living Room

This room is all turned around.  The love seat that usually goes in here has been relocated to the den in order to make room for the Dickens Village table and the Christmas Tree.

Exhibit C: The Foyer

The boxes with the red tops are my ornament storage.  They need to go back in the attic.  The blue box has the garland that needs to go around my front doors.  And the other boxes are Christmas gifts.  

Exhibit D: The Den

This is the room that we use the most, therefore it is the room that has the most stuff in it.  I had to move some stuff in order to make room for the tree, and I have not yet figured out where to put the displaced stuff.  Also I need to vacuum.  And hang the stockings.  And finish the mantel.  I'm tired, y'all.

Tomorrow is an easy one-- my favorite Christmas movie!

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Winner! Cinnamon Scentsations Ornaments

Congratulations to Mandy B, the winner of these adorable gingerbread ornaments!  Thanks to everyone who entered!

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Giveaway: Cinnamon Scentsations!

There are so many fragrances that embody the Christmas season-- fresh pine, the smell of a crackling fire, gingerbread baking in the oven, peppermint, orange and clove-- but for me, the one that tops the list is cinnamon.  I love the smell of cinnamon, especially at Christmastime.  It reminds me of my parent's house-- my Mom always had special cinnamon-scented potpourri that she bought every year around the holidays.  It reminds me of apple pies baking in my own oven.  It's so warm and comforting.

That's why I was so excited when I discovered Cinnamon Scentsations by Pam.  Pam hand makes ornaments and gifts using a special cinnamon and applesauce recipe, and the smell is heavenly!  Here are a few of her creations.

 

I love this Cinnamon Scented Gingerbread Man.  His little heart buttons and candy cane are adorable!  I think he would look fun hanging on a wreath or in a kitchen window.  My girls would love him!

Look at this Gingerbread Couple-- aren't they sweet?  They would make a cute gift for newlyweds (or not-so-newlyweds).  I love their matching hearts.

Take a look around Pam's website and you will see a great variety of cinnamon scented decorative items, like this Cinnamon Scented Garland with Gingerbread and Rolling Pins.  Wouldn't this be cute hanging over a kitchen doorframe?

 

I'm so happy to be able to give away a Gingerbread Boy and Girl like the ones above to one lucky blog reader!  You will love this whimsical pair!  They smell wonderful and their cinnamon scent will last indefinitely!

To enter, head over to Cinnamon Scentsations' website and take a look around.  Then, leave a comment right here telling me which of her creations is your favorite!

The last day to enter will be Monday, November 12th, and the winner will be announced Tuesday the 13th.  Good luck everyone!

Rules: Contest is only open to individuals in the US.

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Christmas with Southern Living-- Winner!

The winner of the copy of Christmas with Southern Living 2012 is Susan Rousey!  Congratulations Susan! 

Stay tuned for a new giveaway tomorrow!

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Friday Top Five: Reasons Why You Should Shop Early

I spent some time at Toys R Us this week; I needed to buy a birthday gift for my nephews and also do some Christmas shopping reconnaissance.  As I perused the aisles, I started thinking about all the reasons why it's so much better to start your Christmas shopping early.  So I made a list!  I love lists.  Please enjoy!

Reason #5:
It's kinder to your budget

Christmas is expensive.  And if you wait until December to do all your shopping, you will either end up with a whopping credit card bill or a depleted bank account.  Or both.  Don't do this to yourself.  Set a budget, make your shopping lists, and tackle them a little bit at a time.  Buy one or two things a week.  You'll thank yourself later.

Reason #4:
You can take advantage of early sales

A lot of people wait to start their Christmas shopping on Black Friday, because that's when they think they can get the best deals.  And while it's true that there are always some great sales on that day, items are usually in limited quantity and you have to fight major crowds to get to them. 

The truth is, if you keep your eye on the sales now, you could end up saving yourself more money and lose the stress of Black Friday shopping.  A couple of weeks ago, Toys R Us had all their Barbie dolls and accessories on sale for 50% off, but the sale only ran for two days.  I would have missed it, if it were not for Southern Savers. She posted about the sale on their Facebook page and I was able to take advantage of it.  I recommend following money saving blogs like Southern Savers so that you won't miss these sales when they pop up for a day or two!

Reason #3:
You can get it before it sells out (and gets more expensive)

Have you noticed how prices fluctuate on Amazon.com?  They can change not only from day to day, but from hour to hour!  Last year there was a particular toy that I wanted to buy for my youngest.  It was around $40.  I waited too long to order it, and one day I pulled it up and it was $200!  The reason was that it was in demand and it was close to Christmas.  And when it's close to Christmas, people will get desperate and pay ridiculous prices.  (And no, I didn't buy it.)  Don't be like me.  Get them now before they sell out.

But what if you can't afford it just yet?  Toys R Us offers a Hot Toy Reservation which allows you to put a deposit on certain toys so that you are guaranteed to get it later.  I just reserved a couple toys yesterday.  But you have to act quickly, because this ends on Halloween.  Toys R Us is also offering free layaway through Halloween.  Lots of other stores offer layaway as well-- just be careful about what fees they charge.

Reason #2:
If you buy it early, you can wrap it early

A few Christmases ago, I was pregnant with my youngest child.  I was tired and scatterbrained.  For some reason, I waited until Christmas Eve to wrap all the presents.  It was the worst Christmas Eve ever.

Do not wait until the week before Christmas to do all your wrapping.  You don't have to wrap them as soon as you buy them, either.  But make a point to do some wrapping here and there.  (Just make sure you label who it's for!)  You won't regret it.  Especially when you realize how much stress you have saved yourself by doing it ahead of time.  Which brings me to my final point...

Reason #1:
LESS STRESS for the holidays

Whenever I hear someone say, "I dread the holidays" or worse yet, "I hate the holidays," it makes me sad.  Christmas should be a joyful time for you and your family.  When you plan ahead, you are giving yourself the gift of a less stressful holiday season.  Remember that. 

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Review and Giveaway! Christmas with Southern Living 2012

 

Every summer, I anticipate getting a package in my mailbox.  The package that contains the new Christmas with Southern Living book.  When it comes, I carve out time that I can sit and go through it, page by page, enjoying the photographs of food and Christmas decorations, the recipes, and the ideas.  And I'll be honest, some issues are better than others.  There was one a few years ago where they decorated a mantel with what looked like chicken wire.  I just can't love that.  But I gotta tell you, this year's issue?  Seriously, one of my favorite issues in recent years.

The book begins with menus for different kinds of holiday gatherings-- a breakfast, a luncheon, Thanksgiving dinner, a Christmas tea, and Lowcountry Gullah feast.  The pictures are beautiful and the recipes all look very good.  One of the things I like about these menus is that they can also serve as a springboard for you to plan your own gathering-- their ideas are very customizable.

Next comes the decorating section, which is chock full of ideas for both inside and outside your home.  There are trees, wreaths, stairways, mantels, and table settings.  Some are easy to duplicate, others not as easy-- but they are all sure to inspire you in your own decorating.

One of my favorite sections in any Christmas with Southern Living annual is the recipe section.  I have gotten some great recipes out of these over the years, and I go back to them over and over again whenever I need new recipe ideas.  This year's issue starts out with a section on breakfast casseroles, which are one of my favorite things in the whole world.  One of the recipes is a Ham and Cheese Croissant Strata, which is going to be dinner at my house some day soon.  (Breakfast casseroles are good all day long, you know!)  There's also a Bacon and Cheddar Frittata that you cook in a cast iron skillet that looks so easy and delicious.  And if you're looking for ways to use up leftover turkey, there's a Turkey Club Breakfast Casserole that looks divine.

There's also a section on pies and tarts, pizzas, and appetizers.  The Barbequed Pork Tartlets with Slaw look especially good to me, probably because I always crave barbeque in the Fall.  After the appetizer section comes Main Dishes and Sides.  The Main Dishes are a little on the fancy side, which you would expect for a holiday.  The Sides range from simple and comforting, like Sour Cream and Chive Potato Bake, to more exotic, such as Fruited Basmati Rice Pilaf.  Then come the desserts!  Make room for Baklava Cheesecake and Turtle Brownie Torte (featured on the cover).

Finally, the book ends with lots of great ideas for homemade decorations and gifts.  There are recipes for salt dough and spicy scented dough that you can use to create your own ornaments.  There are also recipes for preserves, which are a lovely thing to make and give as gifts.

Overall, I think this issue delivered exactly what I love best about Christmas with Southern Living: a twist on the traditional, brimming with ideas that I can really use for my own home.  Well done, Southern Living!

The Giveaway:

I am so excited to be able to give away a copy of this book to one of you!  To enter, please leave a comment below and tell me about what you are most looking forward to this Holiday season!  Enter from now until next Monday, October 29th.  One entry per person, please.  I will announce the winner on Tuesday the 30th.

Good Luck!

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Pinterest Favorites: Joy Edition

Source: farm8.staticflickr.com via Christmas on Pinterest

One of my newest Pinterest boards is one I've called "Christmas Joy."  I use it to pin beautiful, peaceful images that remind me of the joy and anticipation of Christmas.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Source: Uploaded by user via Christmas on Pinterest

so much depends
upon

a wooden wheel
barrow

filled with holly
branches

beside the white
snow.

(With apologies to William Carlos Williams.  English was my minor, thankyouverymuch.)

Source: conspicuousstyle.com via Christmas on Pinterest

Isn't this a magical image?  So beautiful.

Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest!

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Winner! Forever Filigree

Congratulations Adonna!  You are the winner of this beautiful ornament from Forever Filigree!

I have more giveaways coming up soon, so stay tuned!

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Guest Post: Celebrating Santa's Birthday

When I started thinking about Christmas in July, I remembered that my friend Eileen from Countdown to Christmas had celebrated in a unique way last year, so I invited her to tell you about what she did.  It's such a fun idea!  I hope you love it as much as I do! 

By Eileen at Countdown to Christmas

Yes.  Santa has a birthday.  At least in our house he does.  He didn’t until last summer, but now I fear he will be a regular on our family birthday rotation until the end of time.  This is entirely my fault and I’m not afraid to admit it!

I love Christmas!   But, this is no ordinary love.  Christmas knows no bounds in my world.  It is something that I will gladly think about and plan for year round.  I love anything remotely related to Christmas, which is why a holiday cookbook I picked up in a discount store last April launched a new, favored celebration in our house. 

Several years ago, when my first child was just an infant, I was introduced to the fact that QVC hosts Christmas In July around July 25^th.  My mother, a Christmas enthusiast in her own right, and I decided to make the most of it.  We made our favorite Christmas appetizer, lit a scrumptious holiday scented candle, and watched all day long.  The following Christmas, we set aside several cookies and froze them for our special Christmas in July extravaganza.  This became our routine and a highly anticipated event! 

  

Unfortunately, however, as more kids came along and they started to grow (and by grow, I mean become increasingly aware of how much fun we were having without them) it became more and more difficult to celebrate Christmas in July without including them.  And, since my kids are not big QVC shoppers, I knew some changes would have to be made.

One day, last spring, as my mother and I were out shopping, I stumbled across a Pillsbury holiday cookbook on a random shelf in a Tuesday Morning store.  As I thumbed through it, a few things caught my eye.  One of which was a cake shaped and decorated to look like Santa.  I knew right away that my kids would love it, but realized I had a very big problem.   With the vast array of holiday goodies tradition demands we make each year, how could I possibly justify baking another entire cake during the holiday season?   Neither my schedule nor my waistline would stand for it!

I decided over the course of the next few days that, if I wanted this cake to be a part of our holiday celebration, I would have to create a holiday celebration around this cake.  With July 25^th earmarked as Christmas in July already, I decided to declare it Santa’s birthday (complete with cake and all!).  I’m eternally grateful that QVC got on board and changed their Christmas in July programming to the weekend prior.  It’s like it was written in the stars!

We started the day with snowman pancakes set to Christmas music.  Then we proceeded to make some fun ornaments for our tree, watch our favorite Christmas movie, eat sandwiches shaped like Christmas trees, play some Christmas card games I had fortunately forgotten to pack up with our holiday things, and the kids even got a new present (a Rudolph game for our Wii that I never knew existed) which came with a sweet note from Ralphie, our Elf on the Shelf.  My oldest also took time to pen his Christmas list and a letter to Santa, which helps his over-achieving mother who actually starts her Christmas shopping in August.  It was a blast and such a great way to break up the monotony of our oven dry, triple digit, Arizona summer.  It also gave me, the ever- Christmas- planning mom, a chance to go a little nuts and plan some things we just don’t have time for during the busy holiday season.

Even now, my kids are reminding me that as soon as all of their summer birthdays pass, Santa’s will be right behind!

What will this year’s celebration include?  We are attempting some slightly more labor intensive ornaments out of cinnamon dough, the results of which could be comical. A game of pin the nose on Rudolph is on the schedule and a new Wii game, entitled “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”, is on its way from Amazon.com as we speak.  We’ve even gone outside the home and invited my son’s best buddy to join in our holiday madness.  One thing I can guarantee, there will be Santa cake!  Although, he may be a bit smaller and accompanied by several reindeer cupcakes.

***QVC's Christmas in July is this Saturday, July 21st, starting at Midnight EST!  Mark your calendars!!

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Giveaway: Forever Filigree!

I am so excited to share the work of another talented artist with you!  I discovered Forever Filigree on Etsy and I was both amazed and intrigued by her designs!  Shannon uses a technique called quilling, which is the art of taking 1/8” strips of paper and rolling them around the end of a pin or quilling tool to form filigree inspired shapes. She then arranges and glues these shapes together to form unique, one-of-a-kind snowflakes. As she has an eye for detail and perfection, each snowflake can take 2-3 hours for her to complete. It is finished off with an attached hanger and silver thread positioned just right so the snowflake always hangs perfectly.

Take a look at some of her beautiful designs:

Aren't they amazing?  As with real snowflakes, each one is unique and no two are exactly alike!

Shannon has graciously provided me with a snowflake to give away, and it is perfect for Christmas in July!  Here are the details:

Ocean’s Majesty Sand Dollar Ornament

A 5” elegant, white quilled snowflake ornament with an authentic Maine sand dollar in the middle for decorating your beach cottage, beach-themed home, or giving to any ocean lover....have a wonderful Beach Christmas. My sand dollars were found by me on the beaches of Maine (Popham Beach and Old Orchard Beach). This snowflake comes beautifully gift packaged in a two-piece metal tin lined with cardstock and finished off with a matching gift label on the lid of the tin. The tin is perfect for protecting and storing the snowflake for many years of enjoyment.

How to Enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me where you would display this beautiful ornament.

2. Go like the Christmas Rapping Facebook page and then leave a separate comment here letting me know that you have done so.  (If you already "like" my page just leave me a comment to let me know).

3. Follow the Christmas Rapping Pinterest page and then leave a separate comment here letting me know that you have done so.  (If you already follow me on Pinterest, leave me a comment to let me know).

4. Mention this giveaway in a blog post and then leave me a separate comment with the link!

***Make sure you leave a SEPARATE comment HERE ON THIS BLOG in order to be entered.  I must keep track of all the entries here to make sure the giveaway is fair.  Thanks so much for your cooperation!

Last day to enter is Friday, July 20th at midnight EST.  Winner will be announced on Monday, July 23rd.  Good luck!

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Hallmark's Ornament Premiere Weekend!

It's that time of year again!  Hallmark is rolling out their 2012 Keepsake Ornaments this weekend, July 14-15th!

Last year I blogged about our LEM Christmas ornament that we bought from Hallmark when we first got married.  Well, I got a super nice e-mail from a gentleman who said he inherited the same ornament from his mom and never could figure out exactly what the ornament said.  He Googled what bit of the phrase he could discern and found my entry about it, and was glad to have the mystery solved!  So there you go-- it's a public service I provide here, folks.

Here are some of my favorites from this year's collection:

I seriously love this one!  It's called Onstage Antics, and features the Peanuts gang at the Christmas Pageant.  Schroeder and Snoopy are bopping along to "Linus and Lucy" while Charlie Brown looks on in resignation.  The price is a little steep at $34.95, but I can tell you right now I won't be able to resist buying it.

The Year Without a Santa Claus is one of Rankin and Bass' most beloved stop-motion animation specials, but it's always been woefully underrepresented when it comes to merchandising.  But now, fans of the Heat Miser and Cold Miser can rejoice!  Now if they'd just issue some ornaments from Santa Claus is Comin' to Town...

This one is so cute and is a great way to start a new tradition-- or "tree-dition."  It's called Letters to Santa, and kids can leave little notes in there for the Big Guy, and get little treats in return!  So cute!

You can see the 2012 Hallmark Ornament Collection on their website and in stores this weekend!  Hooray!

And don't forget to enter my giveaway for a pair of earrings by RoseGirl Creations!  Entries must be received by Friday, July 13th at midnight EST.  

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Giveaway: RoseGirl Creations Jewelry!

To kick off our Christmas in July, how about a giveaway?  I am so excited to share the work of this very talented jewelry designer with you!

I just love RoseGirl Creations' jewelry!  Amy takes obvious care with every design, putting in painstaking detail.  She has pieces for any occasion and taste.  I recently bought a couple pairs of earrings from her myself and they are stunning!  I immediately put one pair on and wore it out on a date night with my husband.  They have quickly become one of my favorites!

Here are just a few of her lovely pieces!

These beautiful Antique Copper Medallion earrings are perfect for everyday wear.  The Swarovski crystals add a great sparkle!

 

This fun and funky bracelet strikes a great balance between the large glass beads and the smaller crystals and silver beads.  This piece would complement any outfit, whether you're heading to work, to hang with friends, or for an evening out!

These pink firepolished crystal and pearl chandelier earrings are dramatic but so feminine!  They would certainly make any outfit feel special!

RoseGirl Creations has graciously provided me with this beautiful pair of earrings to give away! 

Here is the description:

Burgundy and Pink Crystal Pearl and Antique Brass Victorian Dangle Earrings

These vintage-inspired earrings are measure approx 1 3/4" from top of earwire.
Each handmade earring includes:
Antiqued-brass Lever-back Earring Wires and antiqued-brass findings that are all nickel-free and hypo allergenic, 12mm Glass Pearls in Burgundy, 8mm Swarovski Crystal Pearls in Powder Rose and 4mm Swarovski Crystal Bi-cones in Silk.

How to Enter:

You can earn up to four entries to this giveaway.

1. Go to RoseGirl Creations Etsy page and take a look around.  Then, leave a comment here letting me know which of her designs is your favorite!

2. Go like the Christmas Rapping Facebook page and then leave a separate comment here letting me know that you have done so.  (If you already "like" my page just leave me a comment to let me know).

3. Follow the Christmas Rapping Pinterest page and then leave a separate comment here letting me know that you have done so.  (If you already follow me on Pinterest, leave me a comment to let me know).

4. Mention this giveaway in a blog post and then leave me a separate comment with the link!

Last day to enter is Friday, July 13th at midnight EST.  Winner will be announced on Monday, July 16th.

Good luck!

Rules: Contest is open only to individuals in the US. 

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Christmas in July-- The Playlist

What is Christmas without a little music?  I've put together a playlist of some Christmas songs that I think work for a warmer time of year.  Look up at the top of the page and you should see a gray bar with a play button on the left.  Just click play and you're in business!  Let me know if you have any more suggestions-- I might add them to the mix!

Here's what I have so far:

1. Mele Kalikimaka - Bing Crosby
2. Christmas Island - Leon Redbone
3. Feliz Navidad - Bank Soundtech Steel Orchestra
4. Mary's Boy Child - Boney M
5. Christmas in De Tropics - Calypso Christmas
6. Joy To The World - Vince Charles
7. Big Rock Candy Mountain - Burl Ives
8. Christmas in the Caribbean - Jimmy Buffett
9. African Noel - St. Olaf Choir
10. Jamaican Noel (unknown choral group)

If you know of any more songs I'm missing, please leave them in the comments!  If you can post a link to YouTube, even better!

P.S. I do have some other fun stuff planned for this month (hint hint, giveaways!) but they're not quite ready yet.  Stay tuned!

ETA: I added a couple more songs to the list.  They're choral pieces, and I do love me some choral music.

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Christmas In July!

Welcome to Christmas Rapping's First Ever Christmas in July!  The sun is blazing, the grass is withering, there are flies buzzing all around, but we're going to keep cool by spreading a little Holiday cheer!

I've got some fun things coming for you this month, starting tomorrow! Stay tuned!

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Summertime Christmas Savings!

This is a great time of year to get some Christmas decorating bargains! Lenox has some great bargains on their website, like this Christmas teapot with a flower arrangement for $39.95.  The original price was $84.

They also have some beautiful ornaments at discounts ranging from 25%-85% off the original price.  This Santa ornament was originally $43, but is on sale now for $9.95.

These Christmas dessert plates come in a set of 4.  The original price was $60, but you can buy the set on sale for $17.95.  That's a GREAT bargain.

I love these little budvases.  You can buy the set for only $19.95-- that's 60% off the regular price of $50.

There are lots more bargains to be found on the Lenox website.  You can find home decor, figurines, and all sorts of things scattered throughout the overstock page.  I love Lenox's products, and not only are these great deals, but you know they will be great quality and part of your Christmas traditions for years to come.

Happy shopping!

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Southern Living's Big White Cake Contest

Happy Summer everyone!  I just wanted to give you a heads up that Southern Living is once again having a "White Cake Bake Off!"  The grand prize winner will have their cake featured on the December cover of the magazine, along with $1000 and a trip to the Southern Living test kitchens in Birmingham, Alabama!  (Which is the city of my birth, by the way.)  The contest details are all on Southern Living's website. I think it sounds like a terrific excuse to do Christmas baking in June!

You can see some of their Cover Cakes from Christmas Past if you'd like some inspiration.  And you can even vote for your favorite Big White Cake cover.  Personally, I'm torn between 1996 and 1999.

The contest ends June 30th.  Happy baking!

(Once again, I have no affiliation with Southern Living whatsoever.  I do have a great affinity for Southern Living, however.)

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Weekly Pinterest Favorites: Reds

Source: bhg.com via Christmas on Pinterest

You know how sometimes you'll see a picture in a magazine, and you'll try to duplicate it, and it just doesn't look the same?  The reason for that is that not all decorating ideas work for all spaces.  I like to look at pictures like this one above and try to pinpoint why it works.  This one's actually pretty easy.  The reason this works so well is that the white contrasts beautifully with the bright red door.  That's not to say that it won't look nice on, say, a black door, or a brown one-- but it definitely won't look at dramatic.  But if you have a red door or even another bright color like green or blue, this would be a great accent for you.

Source: flickr.com via Christmas on Pinterest

Here's another example where red is used dramatically and to great effect.  The thing about red (especially a bright red) is that it works best when it doesn't have to compete with the background.  A red bow on a green wreath is nice, but look how amazing this red looks against the white.  I think this wreath would look great on a neutral colored door (like brown or black).  A brightly colored door would compete too much with it.  See how it works?

Source: Uploaded by user via Christmas on Pinterest

This is a relatively inexpensive way to add some real punch to your table-- hot glue cranberries to a foam ball.  You can display them on candlesticks, as pictured, or you could glue a ribbon to them and hang them from a chandelier.  You could group them in a hurricane.  There are lots of great possibilities!  (One word of caution, though-- apply the hot glue to the cranberry and stick the cranberry to the foam ball, but don't try to apply hot glue straight from the gun onto styrofoam.  It will melt.) 

Don't forget to follow me on Pinterest!

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