Moments of a Blonde: happy holidays

I found this over at More, More, More. And since I'm ALL about all things Christmas...here goes!

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?
Depends...I would take hot cocoa over regular egg nog, but I would take and egg nog latte over hot cocoa!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa never wrapped our presents, nor were his gifts ever under the tree. On Christmas morning our stockings are down (from the mantle) on the floor (or on the couch) filled with goodies...and sometimes there are presents surrounding the stocking...but always in separate piles for each person. Our stockings have always been the only presents we could open until our parents get up...even to this day!!!

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
White on trees. Houses can be colored...but only if there are different colors for different bushes, windows, etc. I hate the multicolored light strands. I also HATE it when people combine strands that blink and or pulsate. First of all...DON'T DECORATE YOUR HOUSE WITH FLASHING LIGHTS! Second...if you MUST do so, make sure that ALL of your lights are flashing in synchronization! Having half of a window flash and the other half steady looks RIDICULOUS!

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No

5. When do you put your decorations up?
I used to always put them up the weekend of Thanksgiving...but this year I've been busy (& lazy) and still haven't gotten around to it.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Hmmm...probably our family Holiday Bread. It's an Italian recipe that my grandma used to make and now my mom makes it. It's basically just white bread filled with meat (Italian Sausage, bacon, ham, salami) and cheese (provolone, mozzarella, parmesan). It is to die for!

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Whenever my mom would get our ornaments out, my sister and I would set them all up and play school with them...well the ones that were animals & people...not the balls!

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I think I just asked my mom one day. I don't remember how old I was...maybe 8? I wish so badly though that I still believed. Christmas is so much more magical if you believe...

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Nope.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
White lights and sentimental ornaments. Every year we get an ornament from our mom. It's usually something that has to do with a hobby we have, or our personality, etc. For example, I have a TON of unicorns from when I was like 6-11, and I have one that has 2 squirrels talking on the phone (from when I was in high school). Now I get a lot of snowflakes because I LOVE the snow. Jason and I started this tradition between the two of us a few years ago. The year before last he gave me a pink purse ornament!

11. Snow: love it or hate it?
LOVE IT! Especially if it's enough to stay home from work!

12. Can you ice skate?
Nope!

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Hmmm...that's a hard one. Last year Jason gave me a North Face fleece, which I LOVE. When I was a kid I think my favorite was probably a phone jack in my room and an old fashioned phone!

14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you?
Spending time with friends & family.

15.What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Anything chocolate!

16. What tops your tree?
An angel.

17. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Well...who doesn't love getting presents. I have to say though that as I'm getting older, I absolutley LOVE it when I find something that someone will really love. I can never wait to give it to them so that I can see the look on their face!

18. What is your favorite Christmas song?
Let it Snow! and Sleigh Ride. I also love the Charlie Brown Christmas album.

19. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Home Alone...my sister and I watch it EVERY Thanksgiving night!

20. What would be the best gift you could receive this year?
Happiness...and less stress!

This past Saturday night was my company holiday party. Last year it was held a the W Hotel in Seattle and this year it was at the Sorrento Hotel. It was SO beautiful. I was, once again, the party planner and the theme was cranberries. We had this huge glass bowls in the middle of the tables filled with water, cranberries and floating candles. At each place setting we had a stemless martini glass filled with cranberries in which we propped the name cards. We also had a signature cocktail called the "[company name]tini". It was basically a white cosmopolitan garnished with cranberries. SO yummy!

My sister Alicia was my date this year! We had a blast...but drank WAY too many "-tinis". After the part was over, around midnight, a group of us went out with the big boss where we continued to drink Grey Goose and tonics the rest of the night.

The party wasn't the only exciting part of th weekend. It started to snow Saturday afternoon and continued to snow until around 10pm. It was so pretty...and a perfect way to start the Holiday Season.