[] I love that :P There is a girl in my illustration class this semester who was so sweet, she gifted everyone candy, but made sure that mine didn't contain dairy or nuts.

It's very nice to be thought of :) It's especially nice when the gifts are unexpected! I am sure your coworkers adore your gifts.

( sending you an ornament)

As I grow older, I seem to want a more simpler Christmas. We put lights on the house. We get a fresh tree. Eventually it gets decorated. If I have the energy I will put up my snowman collection on the mantle. I use to have only Harmark ornaments but for a few years I’ve been adding other types of ornaments. I would like to try making felt ornaments. Puts that on my to do list. We go for drives to see the lights. See family during this time. I have lunch with a set of friends where we white elephant $1.00 gifts and have a nice lunch. We also include a yearly update letter in our Christmas cards. Been doing that for 21 years since my son was born.

the thing that makes the holidays feel most like the holidays to me is the christmas album by john denver and the muppets.

let me explain.

epilogue: these days, the album's on spotify. so even if we play it slightly less nowadays when i come home for christmas, no matter what happens in the future, we'll always have a way to listen to the muppets & john denver. no. matter. what.

anyway, now i will begin throwing some ornaments around to you awesome people & reading your stories to make my heart all warm and fuzzy. happy lumi, everyone :) <3

For Christmas past, it´s the scents which defined Christmas for me. It was tradition that the whole family met in the small flat of my grandparents on Christmas Eve which is the biggest feast here in Germany and the day of handing out the presents. Children weren´t allowed in the tiny living room until this time and so we helped making the food, baking, licking out the bowls. :-) Later, my grandparents had a Santa Claus coming in and we children had to file into the very room and sing some carols which we always hated, LOL. One time, he had a Rupert with him with chains which scarred me totally! However, afterwards, we all stayed in the living room which was about 15 square meters only and crowded with 17 humans. There was a floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree and everybody had a plate of Christmas goodies in front of them and gifts stashed everywhere, that was a sight! So lush and cheerful and normally, we were more on the poor side. We didn´t get any expensive or even many gifts yet seeing them all together added to the experience. Best was the scent. My grannies got always a fresh genuine fir which smelled so much nicer than the trees nowadays which are bred to not shed the needles quickly and we had oranges and cloves and chocolate and marzipan and cinnamon cookies everywhere which together gave of the most wonderful Christmas scent. When I remember these years, the scent is the first which springs to my mind!

For Christmas present, wrapping the gifts which were carfeully choosen for everybody is the best, including the kitties helping which gives every present a, say, special appearance, LOL. I miss the rest of my family during these days who already passed away yet the kitties always cheer me up. We don´t have such a huge tree now yet decorate with many holiday lights and non-crashable figurines like a big angel and Santa out of fabric yet I am also looking forward to see my parents and their bigger tree and such!

For Christmas future, I wish for living in a wooden house. It would have stairs with a carved handrail and I would wind lights and fir around it. We would have a huge artificial tree (because the resin is dangerous for cats) which only has ornaments out of fabric, straw and dried fruits, and bows and such, so they prove no danger if the cats steal them. I imagine us coming down the stairs on Christmas morning, all silent outside and perhaps some snow has already covered the garden, and we´re looking forward to seeing the family and having two weeks of free time. We would make tea and cookies and serve on our Christmas china and then we would play around which our new gifts we got Christmas Eve, the cats also. Reading a book, listening to Enya and some Irish Christmas songs, making plans. I simply love this time of the year in every my versions.

These are the things that make it feel like cristmas for me..

Decorating the tree (sadly I have not had a real tree in years and this year I do not have a tree at all :c )

A warm mug of hot chocolate on the first snow day.

Making cookies.

Wrapping gifts.

what makes it feel like holiday season for me: -wrapping gifts -wearing dorky reindeer horns or a Santa hat while wrapping gifts -wearing dorky reindeer horns or a Santa hat at any other random times -the instant bickering when family arrives -the immense satisfaction when family leaves -baking yummy things. i made a mini gingerbread village a few years ago, and am still intending to make a medieval village at some stage. or just a castle. or both. -being crazy busy at work -the constant mind-numbing droning of carols playing at work during the crazy busy hours -eating yummy ham and trifle on Christmas day, then trifle for breakfast and dessert until it's all gone on the following days -Christmas lights twinkling around the living room -umm probably other things too but that's a start

This is my favorite prompt so far. What puts me in the Christmas spirit you ask? Everything about Christmas. This is probably my favorite day of the year. Where to start. How bout the day after Christmas? I go out and buy Christmas presents for the next year the day after, why not get started early and get a gift for cheaper than it normally would be. Then we move on to July. Doesn’t everyone have an indoor snowball fight in July? Typically, I will pull out my big bag of indoor snowballs and start throwing them at friends. This sometimes gets a little wild but they are soft and always a little fun.

Now moving closer to the actual holiday I love Christmas songs. They make me feel so golly! I started listening to them as soon as they came on the radio, right before Thanksgiving, to my husband’s annoyance. XD My favorite song is All I want for Christmas is you, which luckily I have my husband so its all about him :P I listen to it constantly after Thanksgiving because it is officially Christmas song time after that holiday has pasts.

Gift giving, this is one of my favorite parts that puts me in the holiday spirit. All year long I watch as my friends say that they like something but don’t really have the money to buy it at the time. I will go back when I am not with them and buy it and stuff it in my Christmas closet till it gets closer. This happens all through the year which ends up making for not spending as much right around Christmas and going broke! I always get everyone something special. Who doesn’t like a present that really means something? I usually go overboard but I want them to feel the love and holiday spirit as much as I do. After gift giving spending time with the family and friends after the gifts is always a joy. It is rare you really get to get all your friends and family together, and after a little eggnog it really becomes a joy! Lol!! I even get our pets involved! Each of them also get a Christmas tree, a big bone and a big can of tuna!!

Family and Friends :D

Snow, did I mention snow. This is one of my favorite things, well maybe everything is my favorite, did I mention I love Christmas? I loooove snow! I don’t care how cold it is or how wet you end up. It is pure magic when you walk outside and snow is everywhere! We don’t get a lot of snow here in Texas, in fact haven’t gotten snow in my area in three years. Really hoping for it this year! The last time we had snow I drug my husband out in it while it was still a flurry. Those make for the best pictures right?

Snow!!!

cont in next post

Congrats to all of the winners!
Thank you for holding these events! I had a blast and met some lovely people! <3 I hope you have a wonderful trip! Happy Luminaire! <3

Aren't they the best?! I want to own all of them, but I only have the Siamese, Tuxedo, and as of right now. Each to represent one of my loves. I had a beautiful calico kitty that died in May 2009. My tuxedo girl is named in honor of her. <3

Scaramouch the encumbent?! That is the best name ever! XD Male cats are always a little more playful than females. At least in my experience! It seems that males are more cuddly than females though! I totally understand what you mean about not knowing how to cat. When I adopted my tuxedo girl, she was the same. She was supposedly a 1 1/2 yr old stray from the town I live in, but she did not act like a stray. My son was 1 1/2 at the time as well and she couldn't figure out how to climb up the baby gates. She was terrified of cat toys too. The only thing she liked to play with were plastic socket covers (still her favorite to this day!) Are you planning on keeping him, or are you just fostering?

Christmas Spirit Cont... LOL! Christmas cards, not only do I like giving gifts I send out Christmas cards every year. How often do you dread going to the mail? Every day! Its always bills or trash. I hate going to the mail. However, at Christmas time it is always such a joy to see your name hand written and a wonderful card inside. I sent out about 30 Christmas cards this year. A different message in each to make my friends feel special and loved, even if I can’t see them around this time.

Christmas Cards

Next up decorating!! I may go a little over board with decorating. My husband a few years back realizing I was so into Christmas bought me a 12 foot Christmas tree. I don’t stop there however, a 12 foot tree, the mantel, the bathroom, did you know you can get a little snowman with a plunger that asks what you are doing in the bathroom! I also have a tree at the top of my stairs! I love how the Christmas tree shines and the ornaments look so lovely on it!!

Decorations

Outdoor Christmas lights also put me in the holiday spirit. So many cool looking displays! You never know what you might see. We do it simple at my home but it always looks nice. This year we went to the zoo and they had a light show and it was so neat!! All these lit up animals :O Its really cool how every house is different, all unique and spectacular! Christmas lights indeed put me in the holiday spirit!

LIGHTS!

Ugly Christmas sweaters? You have my number! Dressing up for Christmas also puts me in the holiday spirit! I think some of them are pretty cute even if others say they are ugly. So many lights that blink on your sweater its blinding, could caught a seizure, you will probably see me wearing it. This year I even got a Christmas Sweater Dress which I loooooove to no end. That put me in the Christmas mood almost instantly!!! I had to have it, even though I didn’t need it DX

Christmas Sweaters

Last but not least the food, what doesn’t put you in the Christmas mood like, fudge, chocolate balls, Vanilla Salted Caramel Walnut Tart or Cajun crawfish stuffed turkey? I love baking and trying to make new foods. That really puts me in the Christmas Spirit! Every year I try something new, as well as making an old classic my grandma’s pecan pie!

Can’t forget the food

All in all everything puts me in the Christmas spirit. If it could be Christmas all year long I would gladly take it!! Thank you for this prompt I love it!!

Ignore everything else the food pics are at the bottom XDDD

So cute! I only have one off my old cat ^^

Too late I already looked at ALL the pictures ;P We had those same penguin cards this year. Come I come over to your house for Christmas it looks so festive and friendly?

The more the merrier ^^ I looooove Christmas :O

I don’t know about snowshoes in general but mine is definitely not sweet. :D

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE HOLIDAYS. I love the cooking, I love being together with my family, I love shopping (not even going to lie), I love the decor and the music and the lights and the special Starbucks drinks and the cozy clothes and EVERYTHING. Everyone is happy and excited and there's just this amazing, warm, fuzzy feeling that starts around Halloween and stays through the whole season. Holidays are just so fun. This is absolutely the best time of the year.

Man I wish I actually lived close enough to come over wah wah I have literally no Christmas plans beyond watching the Doctor Who Christmas special - which honestly, this year I'm NOT looking forward too.

Oh no! Is she a biter?

What lovely stories and traditions I've read so far! I've sent a few ornaments to people <3

We are all alone for Christmas every year (me, my husband, my daughter, and our cat). All of our other family members live in other states over a day's drive away, so seeing them in person at this time of year doesn't happen. It's too stressful for us to try to make that work. So, we've developed the tradition of opening gifts on Christmas Eve and Facetiming my in-laws. Then on Christmas morning, we open more gifts and Facetime my parents and sister. It's nice, quiet, and low-key (aka not stressful), which I appreciate.

I think the best part is that every year my mom makes probably 40 different kinds of Christmas cookies. Even though we live far away, she still takes the time to package them up and send them to us!

Aw :( Where do you live?

Honestly, I'm not much of a holiday person, so there isn't really something that strikes me as "Ahh yes, now it is the holiday season" so much

I suppose the stress? lol I start worrying about getting everyone the right, perfect gift. And sometimes it's so EASY (My brother in law's girlfriend got THE BEST present this year. It's going to win Christmas) but sometimes I really struggle so much. I literally had to google "gifts for pretentious people" to find (an amazing) gift idea for my sister in law. Then last minute, we were informed that her partner would be joining us, so I felt pressured to get something for them, even though I don't really know them. So, bleh.

I can’t say sorry enough for the late response. Things have been hectic around! Aaah! Sorry sorry sorry!

How is your little kitty in the mean time? I’ve been crossing my fingers for the best!

And I’m just sitting here, wishing for more docile chickens around me now, like that Fancy Pants xD The peacocks were beautiful and lovely, but made a lot of noise. Some of the neighbours might have been angry at one point… it ended in having to give our colourful birdfriends away. Ooh, Indian Ringnecks are beautiful! Although the other options seem lovely as well. I don’t have experience with those kind of birds, but they seem fun to have around. I hope you’ll find what you’re looking for! And thank you, I love my work and hope my dog will love it too. He doesn’t mind tagging along to school for now, so that’s good so far! ^_^ (Ps: Again thank you! I love the gift I won! <3)

• getting back to the board soon, have to run to the store -

- We went back last Saturday. The vet was able to determine that there are two bladder stones in there and she was still limping for whatever reason. So, so was put on an antibiotic in case of a bacterial urinary infection and a pain management medication. We had a urine culture done, and sure enough, two types of bacteria... ugh. So, now we're on a third antibiotic to take care of that. And we're switching to yet another diet because of her underlying immune and allergy problems. Poor thing :( At least she seems to be acting herself!

Did yall mention cats in santa outfits! lol

cats