Christmas San Diego Style!

Merry Christmas
Or Happy Holidays if you celebrate something other than Christmas.

As many of you know, I grew up in Bonita, California which is a suburb of San Diego. Even though I no longer live in Bonita, I spend Christmas there with my parents each year. For the past 2 years, I've driven by the Christmas decoration in the photo above.

I've wanted a photo since the first time I saw it, but I either never had my camera or didn't have time to go back home to get it. I finally remembered my camera and found a break in the rain to get the shot this year. To me it's the perfect way to represent a San Diego Christmas :-)

As I was taking photos, the woman who lives in the house came out and told me it was made by a local artist who lived just down the street. When he and his family moved a few years back, it was too big/heavy to get in the truck and so they left it with the neighbors!

See my posts below to see some favorite holiday songs and photos of decorations at my house :-)

Special Non-Monday Music Mania: Holiday Music Favorites

In the spirit of the holidays, I thought I'd do a Holiday Favorites edition of Monday Music Mania. Of course since it's Tuesday as I'm writing this (and Wednesday by the time I post it), it's sort of a special Non-Monday edition.

Anyway, here is a playlist of some of my favorite holiday songs (some of them may be just 30 second clips due to copyright issues):

Christmas Favorites

Christmas Decorations & House Pictures

Since I sent out my holiday letters, I realized I pointed people here to my blog to see photos of my new house. Those I have posted, I posted a while back, so the posts are a bit buried. I wanted to post some photos of my Christmas decorations (not much but I'll add to it every year!) so I figured it would be a good idea to post some additional house photos to my blog

It was hard to get good shots with the lights on, but I gave it a try. And I apologize in advance for the glare in the flash photos and the messiness inside (in the kitchen especially).

Front of the house with Christmas decorations out

Santa close up

Close up of the "Santa Boots"

The outside front entry way with Christmas decorations up

Here are some photos of inside the house I took back in August. I've made a few changes, but most of it is pretty much the same.

The living/dining room area which you can see I use just as a sitting area

A 5 1/2 foot tall nook along the entry way--finally filled thanks to Hobby Lobby!

A metal jazz band sculpture on my living room wall

The Great Room
(the TV & stand that are randomly in the room at the right side are now gone)

The messy kitchen

Here are a few photos from when the landscaping was first completed:




Here are some photos I took of the house when I first bought it (before I moved in):

Holiday Round-Up

I hope all of you that celebrate it had a very Merry Christmas:) I'm still recovering from the flu, but today I'm finally feeling quite a bit better, though still not back to 100%.

Like many people, I'm sad that Christmas has come and gone already. One thing that I look forward to every year that I miss already is the 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family. I get so excited for December 1st just to see all the Holiday specials and movies.

Since I wasn't feeling at all well this year, I spent my Christmas Eve planted in front of the TV with my box of Kleenex watching the Christmas Eve marathon and various other holiday movies. It was great:) I miss the shows already!

One of my favorites is one I discovered only a few years ago thanks to ABC Family: The Year Without a Santa Claus. I didn't watch the NBC live-action remake this year, but I did see the original twice! As with many people, my favorite part has to be the Snow Miser and Heat Miser songs. They're just great. So great, I thought I would share them with you all here (even though it's after Christmas:P )

I hope you enjoy!

Interesting Holiday Questions

This was making the rounds earlier and I thought it was interesting and festive for the season. It's taken me a while, but I'm finally answering it:)


1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Definitely Hot Chocolate. I'm addicted and drink it even when it's hot outside:P

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Um, well in my experience just sits them under the tree, though I've never personally been Santa myself.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

Both, though I think colored are a lot more fun:)

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Er, nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up?

I'm lucky if they get up at all when I'm on my own LOL.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Not sure, stuffing or mashed potatoes I guess.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:

Oh man, I don't know. I guess I'd pick when Santa came by the house to deliver one present personally on Christmas Eve. That was so cool!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

Can't remember how old I was, but after a while, I realized that Santa's handwriting always looked a lot like either my mom's or dad's...

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

I used to as a child, but not most years now that I'm an adult.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?

Well, my sister got us going more in the "designer" tree direction, but I like the good old fashioned colored lights and sentimental ornaments...

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?

Love it! But that's probably because I don't live in it, just visit from time to time.

12. Can you ice skate?

Yep! It's one of my favorite things to do:) I haven't gone in a while, but I took lessons a while back and even have my own skates.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?

That I gave or received? Gave would have to be the year my sister and I chipped in and bought my parents a weekend getaway at a Bed and Breakfast place in the Mountains in Big Bear.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?

Being with my family!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?

Frosted sugar cookies!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Christmas Caroling, though I haven't done it in years. The block I grew up on (and where my parents still live) used to have a Christmas caroling party every year. We'd go around the neighborhood caroling and then go to someone's house to enjoy yummy treats, fun with friends and even a visit from Santa!

17. What tops your tree?

It depends year to year...

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?

Definitely giving. I tend to go totally overboard, but I love it!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?

Um, I dunno. The Chipmunk Christmas song? LOL!

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?

Nice to look at, but not yummy to eat.