Christmas survey

Here's a cute little Christmas survey a friend sent me. I've answered each question so you can get to know a little more about my Christmas preferences, and included a few photos (from the internet). As always, your comments are welcomed! Feel free to do this on your blog, too!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Usually wrapping paper. I really enjoy wrapping gifts, but I occasionally use gift bags for bulky items and gifts with no box.
2. Natural tree or artificial?
We used to get natural trees because Spouse likes their smell and irregular shape so your tree doesn't look the same every year. But they seemed to get more expensive every year so we bought an artificial tree, which I find SO much easier to decorate.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Either the weekend after Thanksgiving or the 1st weekend in Dec.

4. When do you take the tree down?
The 1st or 2nd weekend in Jan.

5. Do you like eggnog?
I love it, but Spouse does not, so I get to drink the entire carton myself.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
I was raised in the Jehovah's Witnesses religion so we did not celebrate Christmas. My 1st Christmas was the year I turned 30.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Spouse's brother and sister-in-law because they have EVERYTHING!

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Spouse's mom. She loves and wears a lot of different jewelry so its always easy to find something she'll like.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Spouse had one when we met, but we don't put it up. Its pretty cheesy looking and we have plenty of gorgeous decorations, so the nativity scene doesn't usually get unpacked.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I use a combination of methods. For neighbors I hand deliver. For people for whom I have a physical address, I mail them. For people for whom I do not have a physical address I email.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A pad of post-it notes.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
I don't really have one, although we always seem to watch 'The Poseidon Adventure' sometime during the Christmas season. It takes place on New Years Eve, but they still have the Christmas decorations up on the ship.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I try to pick up things all through the year, as I see things that remind me of each person. But our real, earnest shopping usually begins around Thanksgiving.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes. It was a shirt I didn't like. I gave it to a nephew 3-4 years later. He got other things from us that year, too. The re-gifted shirt was more of a 'bonus'.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cookies, pies, cakes, rum balls, dark chocolate covered cherries, anything sweet.

16. White or colored lights on the tree?
Although Spouse prefers the multi-color lights, I prefer the white lights.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
'The Christmas Song' (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) and 'Merry Christmas, Darling, as sung by the Carpenters.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Travel, but just 2 1/2 hours back to VA where our family lives.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Yes, thanks to the Christmas carol 'Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer': Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Neither, we have a shiny red topper with glitter on it.

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas afternoon

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Right-wing religious nutcases who get mad at businesses for not using the word 'Christmas', but using the word 'Holidays' instead.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
I like them all, but the brighter, more sparkly, more glittery the better!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Home made pasta. Spouse and his sister and her kids usually make home made pasta on Christmas eve, which we eat for Christmas dinner the next day.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Peace, and for Big Ella's new exhaust to finally be delivered to the garage.

26. Will you bake any cookies?
Yes, we're having a holiday open house this coming Sat so I will be baking cookies and other scrumptious goodies (recipes from fellow bloggers) on Fri.

Crush du Jour: Bernardo Velasco