Let me tell you a little story. Yesterday, a peer of mine who is of a different race and doesn`t celebrate any holiday at this time of year, was whining about and questioning why some white people make such a big deal out of Christmas. I was standing there wondering why this person had never gotten the idea of holiday spirit from every Christmas special ever (I went to Elementary school with this person, I know they've seen A Charlie Brown Christmas) and half knowing that I was one of those white people that make a (sort of) big deal about Christmas. Then I started thinking, if your family doesn't traditionally celebrate Christmas or any sort of holiday around this time or isn't of a practicing faith, what would holiday spirit be to you? And then I started thinking about A Charlie Brown Christmas and all of those Christmas specials and holiday spirit and why Christmas is one of my favourite holidays. And then I started questioning the meaning of life. Just kidding.

I realized that one of the reasons Christmas is definitely my favourite holiday is the idea of giving and being generous. I realized that we all need a little Christmas once in awhile, even if we don't celebrate Christmas. I love giving back and I love making people feel good about themselves. I think its important we show and tell the people in our lives how much we appreciate them. We live in a very self absorbed world and Christmas is a time to free ourselves from our own little worlds, be more generous and kind than usual.

In other words, if you're not a celebrator of holidays at this time, it does not mean you can't be filled with the holiday spirit. I know it's cliche, but holiday spirit does not mean you've decorated your house with every type of light imaginable and have four Christmas trees. It means that you have made an effort to show people around you that you care about them.

Dear Zelly,

I hear that you had a jolly good time at the elfies' annual bash to kick off the holiday season. All you elfies know that I am always weary year after year about this party but I continue to allow you to throw the party as you all always have fun and little trouble is ever caused. I know that this time of year is extremely stressful at the toy shop and that once in awhile we all need a break. But this year's party seemed to be a little different.

I know that you may not be fully responsible for all of these incidents but to the best of my knowledge you caused the biggest ruckus. (I also saw the videos on facebook and youtube. By the way, 200000 hits already, that's rather impressive Zelly.) Besides, I have the job of putting every kid in the world on the naughty and nice list. I have security cameras and spies everywhere in the world so don't think I didn't see what you were doing the other night.

What I'm getting to Zelly, is that you are fired. You will now have to go work for Black Peter, making and delivering coal for all of eternity. I'm firing you because of her outrageous, irresponsible and disrespectful behavior at the annual elfie party. Not only did you get very drunk off of eggnog but you also drove your sleigh home and hit one of my reindeer on the way to your cottage. I hope you are aware that though Dasher has since recovered he had a broken ankle and all of his hoofs were cracked. You were one of my favourite toy makers but now I'm very disappointed in you. I had high hopes for you, Zelly. I was hoping to promote you if you continued to show your passion and articulate craftsmanship for making toys over the holiday season. But, alas, that will not be happening.

I hope Black Peter will treat you half decently.

Sincerely,
Santa Claus
Superior Director and International Gift Distributor
Claus Christmas Toy Shop and Distributors International Ltd. 


Hey ya'll,
I hope you enjoyed this wonderful writing prompt. I like writing prompts normally but I absolutely love Christmas ones. This one is actually one I remember one of my grade school teachers doing with my class and I thought it would be nice to re-visit it. I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season that's not to stressful.
Cheers!

I'm so excited! It's Christmas and there's snow and decorations and amazing vlogmas and DIYDecember YouTube videos. 

But also I'm really excited for 2014 because I'm part of the 2014 Blogger Challenge. 

 I will be trying my best to do 2 of these challenge posts a month. The idea of this challenge is to write about stuff I wouldn't normally write about (I'm forewarning you now) within a community of bloggers. I'm really excited about getting my blog involved in something bigger than my own little world. But the best part is that you too can expand your mind (and your blog) to something bigger than your own little world. All you have to do is go to this page and either comment or email Gaby with your email, blog URL and name. You will be emailed in return with all the info and the first topic will be sent out on December 9th, which also happens to be the deadline to sign up for this challenge.

 

I feel like this next year is going to big year. (Don't we all say that every year?) But, especially for my blog and my writing. This past year I really figured out where I want to be and where I'm going  and am starting to find my voice in every story and article and post that I write. I guess you can say that this amateur has really been set aglow (haha puns).

Also, I would like to warn you that all my posts for the next month will be super festive. And I'm not really sorry about it either.

Cheers!

I love Pinterest. Especially this time of year when it's filled with picturesque winter scenes, glowing, festive lights and overly-indulgent recipes and crafts galore and everything else Christmas-y. I've been scouring Pinterest for the best ideas of the season for the last month. And now I think it's ought to be time to start decorating, baking and having the nicest Christmas season. That said, I have only tried one of these things out of the entire list. You can see all of my Christmas pinboard here and follow me on Pinterest here.


By the way, though the lists are numbered they are not in any particular order. 


Kiddy Cookies &Crafts:


1. Bottle cap snowman. Cheap, easy, cute.
 










2. This would be so simple.

3.I made these last year with my brother. They were okay. But it's a really cute idea and kids like making mini Rudolphs. 

4. Buttons + Twigs or Popsicle Sticks + Glue + String = Cuteness.

5. The lights in this picture are actually kid's thumbprints. I can't even wait to dip my fingers in the paint and do this!

6. Burnt out Christmas light + liquid glue + glitter + ribbon = A really easy way to re-use old light bulbs.

Prettiest Winter Scenes and Cutest Pictures:

1.

2.

 3.

 4.

 

Adult Crafts, Homemade Gifts and Decor:

1. Decoupaged newspapers + decorative ball + glitter + gift tags.

 2.This is just excess pieces of wrapping paper rolled up in a festive Christmas tree arrangement and glued onto a canvas or framed material of some sort. I truly think the neatest ideas, and truthfully my favourite Pinterest ideas are ones that re-use materials that would otherwise be thrown out. Plus, you don't have to spend a ton of money and attempt a craft you can't even do.

 3.This has to be the funky-est decoration I've ever seen. The great part is it's so funky that you don't ever have to hide it away in a box the other eleven months of the year. Plus you're re-using Christmas lights.

4.

 I love the idea of festive centerpieces on the dining table over the holiday season. I've see various ones all over Pinterest but the most common ones (and simplest to make) seem to be mason jars with ribbons at the top and filled with candles or tea lights, water, red berries, green leaves and tree trimmings or  filled or covered with Epsom salt to provide the look of a frosty, snow covered world.

 

 

 5.

6.

 I've always found homemade soup or hot chocolate in jar gifts kind of lame for some reason. But I thought these little light bulbs filled with either candies or herbs to be mixed with sour cream for dip were really cute.

Things I Don't Have the Patience/Tools/Money/Talent/Time To Try (Food-Wise): 
1.

I love making cupcakes and I always make chocolate mint ones at Christmas time for gifts. But who in the world has the time to make fondant or really wants snowflakes that badly to buy it from the store, roll it out and cut intricate snowflakes? OCD, Pinterest-crazed housewives, I guess.








 

 Or to pipe these magical designs?
















2.

 I know that you're probably thinking how crazy I am to be putting this in this category. I mean, they're just brownies you could buy from the store, strawberries and icing. Yes, I realize that, thank you very much. But I don't want to make brownies nor do I want to waste money on crappy, imported strawberries. I'll just make these in the summer. Whatever.









 I hope you are able to try some of these ideas or some other great ideas that I might not have come across on Pinterest. If you have any ideas from Pinterest that didn't make this list leave a comment. I love to hear from ya'll.


*Disclaimer: All ideas and photos do not belong to me. They are owned by their respectful owners. I just found these ideas via Pinterest.