A Christmassy feast for the eyes, ears and heart
(By the way, that old stop-animation version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer is on TV as I write this and chug my {rum-free… boo!} eggnogg and can I just say how blissfully AWESOME that movie is?! Bumbles bounce!)
I finally got myself organized for Christmas last weekend. And of course, step one is always…
set the scene with some Christmas tunes!
Oh don’t get me wrong – I’ve been in the Christmas spirit for a couple weeks now (much to the chagrin of my coworkers who are subjected to the Accuradio Holiday channel day in and day out). But I finally gathered the courage to put all my Christmas CDs into my iTunes, once and for all.
There were 34 to download which, together with a few more I already had in there, brings my total Christmas album count to about 40 or so. Now you believe me when I say I don’t just love Christmas music, I live Christmas music?
My collection keeps growing because can’t resist buying a couple more each year (yes, Mr Fink thinks I’m nuts). At least this year I found my newest additions at Costco so really, it was two for the price of one:
The Lady Gaga song on that Now Christmas 4 album is definitely one of the weirder songs in my collection, but the rest of the album is pretty good. And the Andrea Bocelli… well, that one has catapulted to the top of my favorites list. Did you see the man singing on Oprah the other day? Wow. I bought his album the next day. (Score yet another one for the Oprah empire. Gah.)
If you’re looking to add to your own collection, here is my list of top ten Christmas albums*:
2. Ultra Lounge Christmas Cocktails, Pt 1, Pt 2 and Pt 3
3. Indigo Holiday Classics Remixed
4. The Reindeer Room: A Christmas Chillout
7. Bing Crosby White Christmas
* In no particular order, except number one – that’s my all-time fave.
Once the music was playing and my boo-tay was bouncing, it was time to trim the tree! This year I finally counted the number of ornaments I put on. This is something I’ve tried to do for the past two years but each time I got distracted and lost count… argh!
Can you guess how many ornaments there are? Hint: it took me three hours, including the putting together the tree part.
The year we got engaged I started a new Christmas tradition for our little family of two (for now): each year I try to buy one new ornament to commemorate an important memory from that year.
Two years ago it was this as an ode to our trip to Prince Edward Island – our first real trip together ever (and ok fine, especially momentous for me because I’d been dying to go to Green Gables since I was twelve).
Last year we got a beautiful silver Pottery Barn locket with the year 2009 inscribed on it, into which I will put a photo from our wedding.
And this year? I’ve been racking my brain for what to buy and I think I’ve got the idea but now can’t find an ornament anywhere – a little cruise ship to remember our trip by. Apparently they sell them onboard Royal Caribbean cruises but of course, I didn’t think of it when we were on it. D’oh. (Anyone going or know anyone going on an RC cruise anytime soon?)
I thought I had a tree skirt but I don’t… Then I remembered what I put under the tree instead last year – these guys! I wasn’t kidding when I said I love that Rudolph movie.
I had them at the office a couple years ago but I think they like it under my tree better.
And just when I thought my Christmas decorating was complete, today I stumbled across one more tiny little thing that I knew would be the perfect final touch:
And now… Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!
My name is Kasia Fink and nothing makes me happier than finding goodness. This is a collection of my findings... I mean, finkings.
Check out here for cruise ship ornaments: http://www.christmasspiritshop.com/familyindex.taf?subcatid=601&subsubid=504
Thanks so much! I’m still hoping to find one that looks like a little cruise ship replica but these are a fabulous backup. Thanks!
oh this post has so much awesomeness in it, I doubt it can be contained. Thanks for the Christmas Music recommendations! :)
Oooh!! I love Christmas! I’m so excited to put up my tree this weekend :)
Awww the mini stocking is so sweet!
I love your Christmassy spirit! I need to make a list of your CDs and go shopping.
This post put a huge smile on my face! Christmas is such a big deal to me and I LOVE to see others equally as excited! The little stocking is also a really adorable touch. And I was so watching Rudolph last night too!
i LOVE boney m’s christmas album. my mom played that thing repeatedly when i was a kid. great memories. sshhhh, don’t tell anyone!! ;)
Thanks for the Christmas-fest! My new husband is starting to discover the extent of my Christmas craziness, but I just can’t help it. Never heard of Boney M, but the Bing Crosby album defines the holidays for me.
This makes me laugh (in a good way) so much. Kasia, you should hang with my Dad. The man blasts the Chistmas music from Thanksgiving to mid-Jan. He loves it and isn’t picky at all. Sounds like a holiday tune? He’ll play it. I think he wishes he lived in Canada so he could have an earlier Thanksgiving and a few more weeks of music.
p.s. I love Anne of Green Gables and have been dreaming of taking a trip to Price Edward Island for 20 years. :)
i love how much you love christmas! I love the Christmas music too and decorations. I think I started listening to the music the week of Thanksgiving! :) Is that a playboy Christmas cd! Whats on that!
Heh, I wondered if anyone would pick up on that. Yes, it’s a Playboy’s Latin Jazz Christmas: A Not So Silent Night.
http://www.amazon.com/Playboys-Latin-Jazz-Christmas-Silent/dp/B00005NOZJ
What a title, huh? I don’t remember where or how I got that one but it’s a conversation starter every time. ;)