Christmas Tag

I don't know if I've been tagged for this one or not, but I wanted to play along, so here's my answers to the Christmas tag!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually wrapping paper - it comes cheaper. But I do keep gift bags when I receive gifts in them, and will use them if it fits the gift and the person receiving it doesn't mind getting a used bag!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Our tree is an artificial tree that we bought for our first Christmas together. And when I was growing up we had an artificial tree that was so fun to put together!

3. When do you put up the tree? Growing up, we would always wait until after my sister's birthday on December 8. Now, it's just kind of put up whenever - sometime after Thanksgiving but before Christmas! This year, it will be when the boxes are unpacked enough for the corner to be empty.

4. When do you take the tree down? A few days after Christmas.

5. Do you like eggnog? Oh, so very much! Jeff and I just love the stuff! I enjoy using it in recipes as well as drinking it. I found a recipe for eggnog truffles that I want to try sometime this holiday season...

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I don't remember.

7. Hardest person to buy for? It varies. I just don't think I'm all that great at coming up with good gifts, no matter who they're for.

8. Easiest person to buy for? This year it was my mom. I knew right away when I saw it that I was going to get it for her. But I won't say it, because she's reading my blog more now that I've moved away, and I'm not going to give it away! ;-)

9. Do you have a nativity scene? I think I have three - a simple, small white one we bought our first year; a little candle holder one that I got at DI last year; and a larger, though still small, really cute one that Mom got for us. My mom collects small nativities, and spreads them all over the house for the holiday season, and I think I want to start collecting them too, it's a great way to keep in mind the real reason we celebrate Christmas.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Ummm, I don't do Christmas cards. I'm too lazy.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't think of any.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? As a kid I loved those puppet-like specials, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming To Town, stuff like that. Now I think I prefer the more adult ones like It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street (black and white version).

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I pick stuff up throughout the year, but sometimes procrastinate until mid- to late-December.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably as a child. We were always passing toys back and forth for Christmas or birthdays.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everything!!! I have a favorite Christmas cake that I'll have to make and post on my blog at some point, and I love all the cookies and the breads and other treats that pop up this time of year.

16. Lights on the tree? Yes. Growing up it was always the colorful lights, sometimes blinking. Now we have a pre-lit tree with white lights. It looks much more elegant.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We traveled last year, and I don't want to do it again! There were too many gifts to haul back and forth and it was just too difficult. I'd rather travel for Thanksgiving, and spend Christmas at home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? For the first couple years of our marriage, it was a bow. Now we have a little star ornament that we rig up on top of the tree. Maybe some day we'll actually fork out a little money and buy and actual tree topper.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning. When I was growing up we opened our Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve, but I haven't really carried that tradition over to our little family yet. I want to some day though.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I like classy elegance in Christmas decorating - white lights, red bows, gold accents.

24. Favorite sense of the season (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste)? That's a toss-up between smell and taste. I like the foods of the season!