Thursday, December 29, 2011

Holiday Survey


I saw this fun little Christmas survey over at Sloanbook awhile ago, planned to do it & then forgot it was in my drafts. Now that I see it, Christmas has come & gone but it's ok...it's still the holiday season if New Year's hasn't passed yet!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
I'll take both! Just not together. That would be gross. BUT my egg nog needs lots of cinnamon & my hot chocolate needs a mound of mini marshmallows.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Is my name Santa? Because I am the only gift wrapper in our house (unless they are gifts for me). The Hubs isn't the best wrapper ;)

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Our house had white icicles & nets. You can see them here!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
I think I did for our first Christmas & it never stuck because it hasn't been around since!
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Right after Thanksgiving if we can! I like them set up as soon as possible because we can only enjoy them for a month's time. So the first weekend available, it's on!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Hmmm this may be hard because there is so much to choose from. First off, my aunt makes the most amazing, juiciest turkey for Thanksgiving. For Christmas, a few staples include roast pork, my grandmother's rice pudding & my mom's Christmas morning brunch (you can see a few shots of it here!). Serious food coma.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
I think I had some great Christmas memories as a child but two stand out the most. I remember one Christmas Eve not being able to sleep (what kid can sleep the night before Christmas?!) & peeking around the corner of the hallway to continually stare at the presents underneath the tree - I must have done it every few minutes or so. But at one point, I peeked out & saw my parents putting together my first real bike. I almost shrieked from excitement but couldn't because then they knew I would be awake. I was so excited that I DEFINITELY couldn't sleep at that point! My other favorite memory is that my dad would read the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible every year.

 
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I never believed in Santa. My parents just never started that whole story with us. Being that my dad is a pastor, we just always knew about Jesus' birth & that gifts came from them!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes! My husband & I open up our stockings on Christmas Eve. Just a little treat!

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Our tree is color themed - red, green & white. I also like to play up on typical Christmas icons such as snowmen, reindeer, snowflakes, candy canes. I wanted it to look fun :) You can see our tree decor here!

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Neither! Living in South Florida means no snow & barely any cold weather (this Christmas was in the high 80's & we spent it in t-shirts & shorts!). But I do dream of living somewhere that has seasons because I don't think Christmas feels right with humidity!

12. Can you ice skate?
Our city used to have an ice skating rink (foreign in South Florida) & I went a few times when I was younger. I was ok if I was holding onto someone or the wall. ;)

 
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Oh there have been some good ones....my first bike, jewelry, clothing, etc. This year was pretty good too - the big gift was an iPad2! You can see what was on my wish list here & then see which items I got here.

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Well I definitely believe that the most important thing to remember about Christmas is the story of Jesus' birth. It is why we celebrate it. After that, it is definitely all about the family time. I especially LOVE when my entire family gets together.
 
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Can I pick more than one? My grandmother's rice pudding, red velvet cake & my mom had made this amazing brownie/whipped cream trifle thingy that is soooo delish!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Hands down, it is my family's annual roadtrip to Disney World. We go a week or so before Christmas & take in the decorations, dining & overall ambiance that Disney puts together during the holidays. I look forward to it every year! You can see pics of this year's trip here!
 
17. What tops your tree?
I do have a white snowflake tree topper that is adorned with small red & green ornaments & it matches our tree perfectly. This year we got a real tree for the first time & the snowflake topper didn't fit so a red bow went in it's place.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Definitely giving. I LOVE shopping for others & I love seeing their faces when they open their gifts! Don't get me wrong, I do love receiving them too. ;)

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum?
YUM! Especially the multi-colored ones that are fruity flavored!
 
20. Favorite Christmas show? Show or movie?
Shows - The Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in NYC & The Nutcracker Ballet.
Movies - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, ELF, Four Christmases, Home Alone

21. Saddest Christmas Song?
"Christmas Shoes" by NewSong. It's sweet but just depressing!

 
22. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You", NSYNC's Christmas album (it rocks) & Silent Night is my favorite traditional song.


I'd love to hear your answers especially if they are different from mine!


And don't forget to take advantage of the 50% discount for your first JewelMint purchase, courtesy of the MBA Seattle team! Details can be found HERE.

9 comments:

Heather said...

I love this!!!! I'm so with you on your favorite Christmas song (I attempted it during karaoke once and I would advise against it - ha!). And girl I could eat red velvet cake for breakfast, lunch, and dinner ;)

XO
www.pearlsandpaws.blogspot.com

Ambyr said...

Haha I'm pretty sure our holiday music style is the same. I love the Christmas Shoes song, but I think I tear up EVERY time. I'm also in L.O.V.E. with Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas song. And Egg Nog, YES PLEASE! Cute survey and answers.

xoxo
http://www.thewrittenrunway.com

Haus of Style said...

What a great Q&A - I too love both eggnog and hot chocolate, red velvet cake AND rice pudding ;)

We don't follow the regular tradition of Christmas - like this year I was too lazy to wrap presents and the kids opened there presents way in advance. I think they do believe that the gifts came from Santa though cause Charlotte told me to email Santa first before she would play with her toys ;)

Ashley from Sloanbook said...

Oh yay you did it!!! How funny you lost it in your drafts! Your house looks really nice! I saw it when I clicked about the lights you hang up! We need to get some for the outside of our home...need to hit up Lowes. I also LOVE red velvet cake! Have a good day Erica!

Elle Sees said...

i loved learning more about you! i'm glad you shared this.
ave maria always makes me tear up.

Bravoe Runway said...

How could candy canes be yuck?? I love the peppermint ones as well as the fruit flavored ones too!

Hollie Ann said...

Nsync--HOLLA!!!!!!! I want to see a picture of your snowflake Christmas tree topper!! That sounds so pretty!!

PS-I don't mind the Steelers. I actually rooted from them to win the SB last year...even if Big Ben rapes people. He's a beast. He's just not as handsome as MY quarterback, Rivers ;)

Kendra said...

I ditto the flavored candy canes! yumm! I've never tried rice pudding. I'll have to put that on my list for 2012.

Jenny "Jonesy" Thompson said...

This is fun! Found things in common: I am also a preacher's kid! And I prefer all the traditional Christmas decor over other themes.

Something you might enjoy...topping brownies with crushed peppermint. They turned out even yummier than they sound.

Blessings! Jonesy
www.misssavvychic.blogspot.com