A Christmas Tag

I wasn't tagged, but thought I'd do it anyway - give me something to do while I take a break from making Christmas presents.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? If' I'm wrapping; gift bags - it's easier & I'm lazy. If I'm looking under the tree; wrapped boxes - they are so pretty!
2. Real tree or Artificial? I own an artificial one - again, I'm lazy like that. Actually, ours is probably more hard work getting it up than a real one. Hmmm, next year I'll rethink this. I love the smell of real trees, though.
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving. Brought that tradition from my family when we got married.
4. When do you take the tree down? "I cry the day that I take the tree down. I want the season to last all year 'round." Oops! Forgotten Carol coming in... When we get around to it, really. Probably the last week of December...
5. Do you like Egg Nog? There's only one recipe I've ever liked...
6. Favorite gift received as a child? That's a really hard one. Really hard. Nothing stands out.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Mr. Fantastic. He's not "in" to anything really and his attention isn't held by much. I should just get him "ear parts"...
8. Easiest person to buy for? Princess Monkey Eyes. Anything princess oriented and she'll be happy. Same with Optimus Prime - he's good with so many things.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No. :( Every year I ask for the Willow Tree one for Christmas and every year I don't get it. I am STILL so sad about that. I've been asking for it for over 5 years now...
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Last year it was in email form (those goofy elves from Officemax). But this year I have the cards finished (yesterday) and will be in the mail (Monday).
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Another tough one. I think it would have to be a book from my sister-in-law that was a "This is how I felt during my pregnancy and after you were born" type book. Um, I'm a scrapbooker, my scrapbooks tell those things...
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Miracle on 34th Street (not the classic version - the most recent one), White Christmas and of COURSE: A Christmas Story.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The day after Christmas, really - and continue year round, if I can!
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so - but it's likely.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My mom's toffee. Mmmmmm.
16. Lights on the tree? DUH! YES!!! I love white lights - but I threw some blue ones on the tree this year because Popeye loves them.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night sung by Josh Groban but I love the Forgotten Carols, too!!!
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We do both. We live close enough to family that we can "travel" without it being a huge deal.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes. And don't forget Chet!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star - I fashioned it myself out of two of those rusted-type 3-D stars, put together so that it's perfect for the top of my tree!
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open PJ's on the 24th, everything else is Christmas day (unless we're at inlaws - sometimes they let the kids open some early...)
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The "importance" of Santa and buying things.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love "country" style ornaments - or rusted metal ones.
24. Favorite Christmas dinner? Traditional ham, potatoes au gratin, Mom's creamed beans, rolls, cranberry jello, pies, etc... I love the ham with the cheese from the potatoes on it. YUM!
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Commercially, my knives sharpened and some knock-off pashminas that are at VoldeMart - preferably black. Non-commercially, to have enough money to buy some food for Christmas dinner and provide a little commercialization for the kiddos and Popeye.

I'm tagging all who want to play along or are coming up empty with things to write about.