TBB Asks: Holiday Edition

Sugar plums,

It’s the first Monday of the month, which means it’s time for TBB Asks: Holiday Edition. Have really enjoyed doing these quick little posts and then hopping around to read everyone else’s answers. Fun way to get to know my blogging buddies a little bit better.

It has been hard for me to get excited about the holidays. By now I would normally have decked the halls, the bedrooms, the kitchen and den. But this year, we aren’t even putting up a tree. I usually get very enthusiastic about decorating my wheelbarrow out front. Sadly, there are still pumpkins out there in the front yard laying beside it.

Hope you will enjoy reading my answers and then hop over to The Blended Blog to check out the answers of some of the others linked up there.

1. Candy canes? Yes or no. Only if I am starved and there is nothing else to eat. Think deserted island hungry.

2. Christmas morning – early riser or sleep in? Now that there are no little feet pitter-pattering around to see what Santa brought, I tend to sleep in. When Cady and/or Lucia are here, holiday or not, we are all early(ier) risers.

3. Did you shop on Black Friday? Yes or no. Yes. Not hard-core but we did hit Target, Walmart and Academy. The biggies.

4. Christmas tree up in November? Yes or no. In another lifetime, yes. Over Thanksgiving weekend. But my Scrooge really dislikes the holidays and would just as soon we sleep through til February. Including skipping all decorating and gift-giving. This year with everything that is going on with my mom, I am not even up to fighting the fight to put up a tree. Doing just a little decorating but my heart isn’t in it. And like PC says, ‘who’s going to see it anyway?’

5. Do you get holiday ideas from Pinterest? Yes or no. I get ideas for everything from Pinterest. For holidays and all the days in between. Last year, I made this garland from a idea on Pinterest.

6. Christmas glam or ugly sweater? Probably neither one. But I am posting a number of ugly Christmas and Hanukkah sweaters at work which has tempted me to buy one for myself. These are some of my favorites. A two-headed sweater that a couple of love birds – wonder who? – can wear together. And some genuinely cute ugly sweaters.

7. Stocking stuffers: Wrapped or unwrapped? (And I (Leslie) would love to know – presents from Santa: wrapped or unwrapped) At our house, stocking stuffers are gifts from Santa which means they are never wrapped. Same as Santa presents under the tree…unwrapped. The jolly ole fella doesn’t have time to mess with paper and Scotch tape. And at our house, the Santa gifts are not necessarily left under the tree but are usually set out on the couch with each person’s stocking filled and set beside their other Santa gifts.

8. Traditional or modern Christmas songs? Not a whole lot of either but traditional trumps modern.

9. Fruitcake? Yes or no. No thanks, you can have mine.

10. Is your Christmas shopping finished? Yes or no. Nope. But I have started!

11. Is there snow in December where you live? Rarely, except for the year we were hoping to fly to Reno for the holidays. That day we had a mini-blizzard and our flight was canceled and we weren’t able to get another until we had to already be back to work in El Paso.

12. Classic show: A Charlie Brown Christmas or Rudolph? Hmm, I originally responded that I would pick Rudolph over Chuck but when I proofread this post, I changed my answer to Chuck over Rudy. Clearly, I can’t make up my mind. Can I pick the Walton Christmas instead?

The gals at TBB are going to be changing things up with the TBB Asks series in the coming new year. Be sure to keep your eye open over on their blog for details.

SIA: Style Imitating Art

Tacking on my interpretation of this week’s Style Imitating Art piece curated by Salazar at 14 Shades of Grey. Hope you will take a minute to visit Salazar, Jen and Daenel to see the looks they created to reflect this painting “Watermelons and Field Mice” by Sim Saimdang.

I just saw “green” and ran with that! Thought the nubby texture and colors of my sweater mimicked the watermelon rind. In the photo with the hangers, the bedspread I laid the clothes out on probably reflects the painting even better than my outfit. Maybe I should have just wrapped myself in the quilt!

Your Turn

So, my sweet friends, how would you answer the questions for this month’s TBB Asks: Holiday Edition? Help me get to know YOU a little better by answering them in a comment below.

Can I just give you a hug, too, while I’m at it? I have been comforted by your kind words and messages of support over the past weeks. Thank you.

Hugs and kisses,

Comments

Catherine Pritchard says
December 4, 2018 at 1:05 am

I read your post with so much sadness and clicked through to your account of your mothers mental health problems. No wonder you haven’t the heart or energy for decorating this Christmas. I totally understand how you are feeling as we lost my father in June and then struggled with my mother staying her with us as she is in poor health. Circumstances eventually changed and ŵe found a suitable place for her to live where she feels secure and can live her life knowing help is available if she needs it. I hope that things resolve and you find a way through this stressful period.
Wishing you a peaceful Christmastime.

- Leslie Roberts Clingan says
  December 4, 2018 at 6:54 am
  
  Oh, my! I was about to turn off my laptop to jump in the shower for work when I saw an email notice of your comment. I cannot thank you enough for taking time to leave this uplifting message. I think only those of us who have experienced or are in the midst of this time in our lives and the lives of our parents can fully understand how very difficult it is. I am so sorry for the loss of your father. Missing his presence over these first holidays since his passing will be hard on your family. So thankful your mom was able to move in with you for a bit until you could find a place best suited to her needs. My mother is in such amazingly good physical health, and for that we are blessed. But it is sometimes harder when one looks healthy and ‘fine’ on the outside – incredibly so for 91 years – and struggles so much on the inside.
  
  I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to reach out to me. Not sure how you found my blog and my silly post but I am thankful you did. I was thinking about serendipity and coincidence yesterday. I believe that things happen for a reason. Your stumbling on my blog post was serendipitous. Thank you!
  
Dara says
December 4, 2018 at 6:59 am

I wonder if decorating for Christmas might improve how you’re feeling in general? You and your husband will see it, that’s who!

Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom says
December 4, 2018 at 3:34 pm

Aww, Leslie! I hope you do a little Christmas decorating! I know the tree is a lot of work, but just think how warm and cozy it makes the house feel once it is up. You should put it up, but not fuss a lot with it and find a good book and make a large mug of hot cocoa and have some relaxing time to chill! It is so hard when a parent if having a hard time during the holidays! But, take time for yourself and do things that make you happy!! HUGS!! I love that photo of you and PC in the snow, you both look so happy and in love! 🙂

Carrie
curlycraftymom.com

Jill says
December 6, 2018 at 7:39 pm

The garland you made is so pretty! My sister had an ugly Christmas sweater contest a few years ago and it was fun to pick one out! I’m so sorry your mom is not doing well. I agree with Carrie – do a little decorating to cheer up your home and take some time for yourself to relax! Thinking of you and sending hugs!

Jill – Doused in Pink

- Leslie Roberts Clingan says
  December 31, 2018 at 4:51 pm
  
  I am so glad to have you back in the blogging world and thankful that you are continuing to stop by my ‘house’. Thank you, doll. Next year, Lord willing, I want to host an ugly Christmas sweater contest among my family and friends. Seems like great fun. One year, for a gag gift, PC and I bought an ugly Christmas sweater kit filled with things you add to a regular sweater to doll it up or uglify it.
  
  I did wind up putting out a little bit of holiday decor but no tree. I have been home from mom’s for a week but have to go back in three weeks so it is a relief that I don’t have to deal with taking down the tree. Next year, I hope we are all in a happier place and can completely enjoy the holiday.