Christmas Recap

I never discussed my stash. I did well this year. Yeah, that sounds mercenary, but I did.

My pressies
Donovan - Sunshine Superman
Keri Noble - Let Go
Alison Moyet - The Turn
(These three pressies came from my wonderful online friends; Callie, Linda and Polly)

$25 Gift Card for Bath & Body Works
$25 Gift Card for Walmart

A Music Pirate long sleeved t-shirt
A thermal Jack Skellington long sleeved t-shirt

A Jack Skellington and Sally vinyl plush.

Oh and money that almost amounted to one week's pay, which granted isn't much, but whoo hoo! Bills will be paid and my AAA membership will be renewed!

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Finale

Merry Christmas all my blogging friends!

It's Christmastime In The City



Cast In Bronze - Carol Of The Bells
Joan Osborne - Christmas Must Be Tonight
Fountains Of Wayne - I Want An Alien For Christmas
Emmylou Harris - The First Noel
Cliff Richard - 21st Century Christmas
Tommy James - I Love Christmas
Shawn Colvin - Love Came Down At Christmas
Sarah McLachlan - I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day
Dean Martin - Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Donna Summer - Christmas Spirit
Rick Springfield - Christmas With You
Peter Cetera - You Just Gotta Love Christmas
Gavin DeGraw - Silver Bells
Colbie Calliat - Mistletoe
Margo Guryan - I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You
Gary Puckett - The Christmas Song
Over The Rhine - Here It Is
Ringo Starr - Dear Santa
Davy Jones - When I Look Back At Christmas
Celtic Woman - Ding Dong Merrily On High
America - A Christmas To Remember
Peter Paul & Mary - The Cherry Tree Carol

change xx to tt when you Download

My Christmas Present To Myself

I know that it wasn't the most intelligent thing to do. I know that some people will yell at me for doing it, but a few minutes ago, I picked up my cell phone and hit that number I have on speed dial and said Merry Christmas to Fishy.

I told myself for the last week that I wasn't going to do that. That I was really going to put it all behind me, but sadly I caved. I had to say Merry Christmas to Fishy.

So around 7:30 I had a smile on my face from ear to ear, because I am the biggest Fishy fangirl out there. OK, it's possible that his actual girlfriend is a bigger fangirl, but I'll just ignore that right now, right?

Yup....33 going on 13 again...but oh well...







I wouldn't mind finding him under my tree this year.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 23

Hope you all have a very Cool Yule, Bette Midler style. Tomorrow's the last day of the calender, but I may have some special music for you on Christmas Day.

Bette Midler - Cool Yule

I Wonder

If Santa will bring me what I want for Christmas this year.







Not the most flattering picture of me, but hey this was pre-weight loss, so what can you expect.

Now Santa Baby about that Christmas list....you don't have to slip a sable under the tree for me. But Santa Baby...fill my stocking with a duplex and checks (not the mix) sign your x on the line.

Come to think of it...that 54' Convertible, light blue might be a better ride than the 91 Rusty Chevrolet that I currently drive.

C'mon Santa Baby....one more little thing, a ring, and I don't mean on the phone.

OK, I'll stop killing that song. I just hope Santa is good to me.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 22

It's not Christmas until I've played this song at least 100 times!

Greg Lake - I Believe In Father Christmas


I really can't say anything more than this is another one of my favorite Christmas songs ever.

This is What I've Accomplished

In the last 48 hours I've done quite a bit.

~ I've made some great mint chip cookies that taste fantastic.

~ I bought myself a CD. Yay for music!

~ I've learned how to make crepes! I don't call them crepes though. I call them by their Slovak name which I can't spell. So for the purpose of making myself seem halfway intelligent they are crepes.

~ I made the puppy chow.

~ I also made some fudge

Sadly there's more to be done. I need to grocery shop for tomorrow's dinner. More baking so that the family and I can grow fat over the next 8-9 days. There's the cleaning that I never enjoy doing. And I can't forget getting presents in order.

Now why is it that I'm not supposed to panic?

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 21

There are so many lovely Christmas tunes out there and I feel bad I've neglected some of them. I wish I could share all my Christmas music with you. I have at least 5 GB of music on my computer alone.

Today I'm going to feature a song by James Taylor that I've loved since his holiday album came out a few years back.



James Taylor - Home By Another Way

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 20

OMG Christmas is almost here!!

I think that calls for some humorous Christmas music. It can't all be carols and songs of love, right?

Here's one of the funniest songs I've heard in ages.

Bob River's Comedy Corp - 12 Pains Of Christmas

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 19

I found a new song this year thanks to one of the groups I'm in on Livejournal. The song is by Tristan Prettyman and features vocals by Jason Mraz.

I was hesitant to listen at first because the title was All I Want For Christmas. I made the mistake of assuming it was another tired version of that other song. Thankfully it's a very different song and a very pretty one at that.

Tristan Prettyman - All I Want For Chrismtas

(The song is labeled christmas song if you download but it is tagged properly)

Wednesday Already?

I'm about to go into full panic mode! Christmas is officially under a week away, and baking and cleaning still need done. I'm dying here. I don't think anything will get done.

I have a great fudge recipe I want to try, plus the winter Chex mix with powdered sugar. I don't know what it's called but I didn't make it last year and it depressed me greatly. It's my favorite snack food. And about 3 other cookies that we make yearly!!

So much to do. So little time to do it!

Mom's still not at 100% either.

Then I have to check in on grandma each night. (Which isn't an issue except when making cookies etc)

I still don't know how I'm working on Christmas Eve either. That could help things along quite a bit if I have the day off. I'm thinking that it will be a half day though, even though that's almost useless. That's another rant altogether though.

Less than 1 week to Christmas!!!

Sweet Mary, mother of Pete, how am I going to get everything done!

And why am I worried about it when there is no one but the usual family visiting this year. (My brother and his brood are driving over for a few hours on Sunday, because work schedules screwed up his holiday)

I now return you to your regularly scheduled panic!

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 17

Today's song is chosen for Russ who said in his answers to Tuesday Tunes, that Little Drummer Boy was one of his favorite traditional Christmas tunes.

Well today I bring you Little Drummer Boy by my favorite "little drummer boy," Ringo Starr, from this album



Ringo Starr - Little Drummer Boy

One More Day Of Running

I'm going to the gym tonight and after that I have grocery shopping to do for the last minute stuff that we need for the holiday meals.

I've already bought out Rite Aid's candy department. I have Whitmen's Samplers and Russell Stover boxes, as well as Hershey's Pot Of Gold Truffles, chocolate covered cherries, candy canes. You name it, I've got it! Or at least it feels that way.

Last night I went to a wonderful little grocery/produce place in Perryopolis called the Big Barn. They have all sorts of Amish goodies; jellies, veggies, dips, sauces. I was in my heaven! I didn't even get to look at the deli. Maybe next time!

I bought some peach jam for grandma and cinnamon apple butter for us, as well as red pepper jelly, which is incredible on crackers or bagels with plain cream cheese. Mmmm. Tasty!

But my find of the night, wasn't a jelly. It was a jar of spiced apple rings. I was beginning to think I was the only person that loved these things. We used to get them all the time, and then they disappeared. I almost let out a whoop when I found them last night.

It's going to be a good Christmas.

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 17

It isn't often that I feature the same carol twice, but in the case of Carol Of The Bells, it needs to be done. The first version I posted was the gorgeous instrumental by Cast In Bronze. Tonight I give you Emmy Rossum's version, which is fantastic.



Emmy Rossum - Carol Of The Bells

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 16

A few weeks back I watch The Celtic Woman Christmas special on PBS with my mum. It was gorgeous. I had bought the disc previously, but hadn't had a chance to listen to it yet. The show gave me a chance to experience the music in a wonderful way.

The women who are a part of this group have fantastic voices, no matter what they are singing, but the Christmas songs sound especially lovely.

Here's one that can be found on this CD


Ding Dong Merrily On High

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 15

Something new. Something different. Something country?

While country is not my favorite genre, I admit to finding some pretty songs from certain artists every now and then. One of the artists I found that's a little bit country, is Mindy Smith.

I'm taking the title track from her Christmas CD My Holiday



I hope you enjoy it.

Mindy Smith - My Holiday

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 14

Christmas music is keeping me happy right now, because I'm really down. I mean really down. So here's another old favorite of mine


David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Little Drummer Boy


This song brings me so much joy, I hope it brings some into yours as well

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 13

There are several songs that I always share at Christmas. Tonight you are going to be treated to one of them.

The song is by Elvis Costello & The Chieftains and is taken from The Chieftains' disc The Bells Of Dublin.



Elvis Costello w/The Cheiftains - St Stephan's Day Murders

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 12

It's time for another Christmas Classic. I remember the first time I heard Elton John's Step Into Christmas. I nearly doubled over in glee. It's so cheesy. It's so typically Elton.

It's one of those songs that makes you feel merry and bright. Really it does. You only have to listen to it once to become addicted to it's goodness.

So go on. What are you waiting for.

Elton John - Step Into Christmas

Christmas Advent Song Calender: Day 11

Christmas has some horrid novelty songs and some really cute ones. Because 8 hours of my day are spent listening to Oldies Radio aka 99.3 The Pickle, I get to hear my fair share of odd novelty songs, and this doesn't change at Christmas.

One of my favorite novelty Christmas tunes is by The Royal Guardsmen



Snoopy's Christmas