It's a Game...

I am not normally into this type of thing, but I feel like it may be a good way to tell more about me. Juniper over at The Soccer Mom's Guide to Wicca tagged me for this holiday game.
Want to play along?


•Copy and paste the questions into your blog,
•Then tag 5 or more of your favorite blogs, and leave them a comment telling them they’ve been tagged.
•When you post on your blog, please spread some Holiday Cheer, and leave a link back to Heather’s blog post, as well as one to the blog of the person who tagged you.
Heather would like all bloggers to participate in this game, even if you have not been tagged. She will go back and add your blog link to the list if you wanna play along.
So, here we go…

1. Have you started your holiday shopping?
No I haven't and will not this year. Since we are poorer than dirt, I will be making all of my gifts for my family and friends again this year. I am starting to enjoy this, but still think that I would buy a few more things for people who need it.

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.
Since our family is still young, we haven't too many traditions in place yet. We always open one gift on Christmas Eve.

3. When do you put up your tree?
I hate fake trees. We have no money for a real one either. If we want a tree, we are forced to get one on Thanksgiving when we are up in Maine at my in-laws' house. We cut one down on their property, they have 17 or so acres. So for the past 2 years we have put it up on Thanksgiving. I am starting to like that, it really puts me in a holiday mood.

4. Are you a Black Friday shopper?
You couldn't get me there at 4 am if you tried. I really hate crowds. They can make me a little nervous, not to mention I am very impatient and would not wait 3 hours in line to buy a toy.

5. Do you travel for the holidays or stay home?
Unfortunately we travel to my in-laws house on the 24th. We visit each family while we are there. I like seeing them all but would rather my children celebrate Christmas morning in their own home, their own bed. We will be changing this tradition soon I think.


6. What is your funniest holiday memory?
Our first Christmas as a couple, my husband and I got a real Charlie Brown tree. We cut this little thing down from his parents' land and brought it home. It was not the right type of tree and lost all of its needles, which were very sharp on our feet. It was my first Christmas away from my family so when I bought and wrapped all of his gifts early on, I insisted we each open one a night, instead of waiting until Christmas. We also got two kittens that December, and they loved destroying our little tree!

7. What is your favorite holiday movie of all time?
My husband and I really enjoy Love Actually. I think it is so funny and really gets the right message out there about the power of love. If you haven't seen it yet, I highly reccomend getting it this holiday season.

8. Do you do your own holiday baking? What’s your favorite treat?
I love to bake! I would do it so much more often if I had more people to do it for. I swear we go through  a large bag of flour a week! Don't even get me started on how much butter we go through. My favorite treat? Either simple frosted sugar cookies or a more rich banana cake with coconut frosting (if you are interested in this recipe, just email me!).

9. Fake or Real Tree?
Real all the way. Although I would like to have a living one growing inside our house...when we have the house of our dreams. One in the yard would suffice.

10. What day does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
The day before I need the gifts. I am panicing in the back of my head right now, telling myself it is not too late yet. I am a master procrastinator. With homemade gifts, you really need to plan ahead too!

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice Eve?
Yes!

12. What is your favorite family fun time at the holidays?
On Christmas Eve we go to my husband's Grandmother's house for the annual party. It used to be a big deal but over the years, the company has dwindled. I still look forward to it every year. They make mountains of goodies, not to mention like 16 homemade pizzas!

13. What holiday craft do you like the best?
I guess making presents and ornaments. I don't usually do too much other crafting this time of the year.

14. Holiday music? Yes or No, and if yes, what is your favorite song?
Yes! Although I hate the Christmas songs that speak of the Christian event of Christmas, I really like the tune and style of "God rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan. I also like the classics about the weather in general, "Let It Snow" and "Winter Wonderland" are among my faves.

15. When do you plan to finish all your shopping?
I plan to have all of my gift ready in time. That is all I can say. I plan on going out this weekend and scraping together the money to buy the ingredients for the rest of the gifts I am making.

Okay now it is my turn to tag five people I would like to hear from. This is difficult.

Broom Closet Confessions
perfectly pagan
Pumpkins and Toadstools
Pagan Culture
Oberon's Wood