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December 5, 2015

12 Things That Make Me Disproportionately Happy About Christmas


Must resist urge to recap 2015 now that we're into the last month of the year...must...not...do...so.

Okay, phew, the urge passed and I'm fine now. :D Silliness aside, the moment we hit the twelfth month of the year, I do usually want to sum it up and quickly move on to the next brand spanking new one. I'll do that as we get closer to the ball dropping on December 31st, but for now, let's just stay put and enjoy the remaining few weeks of 2015.

After all, who knows, something might still happen during that time that could put an entirely (or at least partially) different perspective on the year for me and I would be shortchanging both myself and all of you if I overviewed 2015 before it really was as good as finished.

Instead, following on a suggestion that my dear friend Sanne put forth last year in her comment on this Halloween post, I thought it would be oodles of festive fun fun to share twelve things - one each to represent the famous twelve days of Christmas - that make me disproportionately happy about the holiday season - and by extension, winter in general.



Singing Christmas Carols



I don't profess for one red second to have much in the way of a talented singing voice and as such, especially since I've very shy, am usually not one to bust into song in the prescience of others, but come December, all bets are off and I will gleefully belt out carols anywhere, anytime! :)



Baking a near ludicrous amount of seasonal cookies and other goodies



Cookies, mincemeat tarts, fudge, popcorn balls, plum pudding, fruitcakes, rocky road bars, spritz, trifle, gingerbread houses (and men), candies, peanut brittle - yes to all those and plenty more! Cooking and baking for the holiday season is an epic favourite of mine and I go into full on Santa's elves production mode with the slew of treats I whip up from the start of December to the earliest days of the New Year (you can find someone of my seasonal favourites on my vintage recipes page).



Playing in the snow



No matter how old I get, I still absolutely adore playing in the snow - be it helping to build a snowman or laying on my back in some fresh powder and creating snow angels - and look forward to doing so every year (ditto for catching snowflakes on my tongue).




The smell of freshly cut Christmas trees (and anything pine or spruce!)



Seriously, hands down, one of my favourite scents ever and one that I try to bring into my home not only with real pine trees, boughs and wreaths, but through pine scented candles, incense, and room fresheners. I find that pine has the perfect ability to sooth and energize at the same time, plus it is unquestionably one of the most evocative smells of the season.



Big (marshmallow topped!) mugs of steaming hot chocolate



If I make it myself from scratch using melted milk, dark, or white chocolate bars, I can usually safely (from a medical diet standpoint, I mean) enjoy the occasional mug of hot chocolate. Marshmallows, whipped cream, candy cans, cinnamon sticks, and or other fun toppings always in toe! I'm also a huge fan of (non-alcoholic) mulled apple cider and adore serving batches of it along with homemade baked goods at impromptu family holiday season get-togethers.



Rereading and/or rewatching Dickens’ beloved classic, A Christmas Carol



Not only is my favourite Christmas story ever, but it's one of my favourite works of fiction point blank and the holiday season simply wouldn't be the same to me without it. I really enjoy all the movie and TV versions that have been made over the years, too, very much including those featuring Disney and Muppets characters.




Wearing seasonal colours and festively themed attire



Kitschy novelty brooches? Check! Festive sweaters? Check! Copious amounts of red and green? Check and check!!! I adore dressing up for any holiday and Christmas is certainly no exception to that rule. From about November 25th, a full month before the big day onward, you'll find me decked out in styles that celebrate the season far more days than not.



Mailing out - and some years hand making my own - Christmas cards



I know, I know, it's the seasonal task that sneaks up on us perhaps more than any other and I've been guilty of mailing my cards were just a few days to go before the 25th a time or two myself, but I've always been wild about snail mail and love that this tradition allows me to send oodles of it out in one fell swoop.




Taking brisk walks in the cool evening air while the down is festooned in Christmas lights



The magic of Christmas comes out in full force when one does so and it is a highly beloved element of the season for me - as is driving around down to see everyone's beautiful holiday light displays.




Pouring over the Sears Wish Book catalogue



So deep is my lifelong love of this act that I made sure to pen a post devoted just to it way back in my blog's first year of life. Though the Sears Wish Book Christmas catalogue has changed a lot over the decades, it still provides many hours of fun and, as its name implies, possible Christmas wish list entries.




Anything that combines the Victorian or Edwardian era with Christmas



The seeds of this love were likely planted by my paternal grandma, who adores such things as well, but no matter where it got its start, I am very much amongst those who utterly and completely adore Victorian and Edwardian themed holiday decor, cards, art, original antiques, you name it!



Trimming the Christmas tree and decorating the whole house from top to bottom



...Or at least those spots where our very curious and playful pets won't have a hand, err, paw, in our seasonal decor choices! Smile Be it trimming the tree, stringing the lights, or putting a wreath on the front door, few things catapult the start of the holidays for me than decorating for them.




{To learn more about an image used in this post, please click on it to be taken to its respective online source.}






Though the cold does leave something to be desired at times - especially when you're out trying to a photo shoot it in and quite literally keep frostbite and/or hypothermia at bay (this is Canada after all), I have always adored winter and know that I forever will.

There is a deeply introspective quality to the stillness and darkness of this season. I find that my creativity fires on all cylinders during the icy months and that in general, my spirits are high, my heart is happy, and I tend to come up with some of my best and most original ideas during these long, cozy months.

Certainly Christmastime itself and the merriment of New Year's helps to put one in glad spirits all the more and just thinking about the twelve entries in today's post, some of which I've already started doing for the 2015 holiday season, makes me as giddy as Santa would be if an Chips Ahoy! factory opened at the North Pole! Smile

It might be a touch too soon to recap this year yet, but I can certainly say that I hope it wraps on a positive note. Certainly imbuing my days with the handful of things discussed here, all of which really do make me over-the-winter-moon happy, will go a long way on that front and ideally help to kick 2016 off the right foot as well.

So, my dears, now that you know my list, tell me, what are some of the things that make you disproportionately happy about Christmas, any of the other awesome winter holidays, or simply the coldest season of the year in general?

41 comments:

  1. Good morning Jessica,

    Oh, you are stirring up so many happy thought and so much excitement - I must make time to enjoy it all before it passes!

    Winter is beautiful. Although we now, VISIT the snow only occasionally, I remember when I was young, those quiet long walks with my family in the snow at night. And there is nothing like coming inside from romps in the snow to a hot cup of coco with marshmallows! You bring back so many happy childhood memories for me.

    Wow, what fun it would be to wear that adorable RED dress and white fur hat! I do so love red. I am getting old; I am trying to picture that outfit on an older woman. I am not sure that I could get away with it, but I would certainly still try if that were in my closet.

    I hope this weekend provides an opportunity for you to relax and enjoy some of these festive activities.

    Love and warm hugs,
    ♥Hope


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    1. Thank you very much for your beautiful comment, sweet Hope. It would be an absolute blast to wear that red dress and white fur hat. Tres chic, elegant and cozy all at the same time.

      Wishing you and your family the very merriest of holiday seasons!
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. Great list. I particularly adore festive attire, I have a post on it today
    Retro rover

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    1. Festive attire for the win always! Your post is oodles of fun and reminds me that I really need to add some Christmas sweaters to my own closet.

      Have a fantastic holiday season!
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. That red 1950's dress with the white fur collar!!! I want one, and the collar could be removable so the red dress could be worn year round...this one photo is giving me some serious sewing ideas! I love Christmas time too, even if I celebrate it as more of a secular holiday being as I am not religious. The yummy foods, the sparkling decorations everywhere, time with family, and several excuses to get dressed up, what could be better!

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    1. Me too, me too!!! More repro/vintage style brands need to release thoroughly Christmas appropriate garments. Could you imagine how well a line of affordable red and white (fur trimmed) garments would do in our circle!

      Big hugs & happy holiday season wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. Oh I love Christmas, all these things I love too! Especially putting up the decorations and baking gingerbread x

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    1. Isn't the scent of baking gingerbread fabulous? It's one of those aromas that instantly makes any day happier.

      Many hugs & joyful Christmas wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  5. We are in Summer of over here!
    I love taking a walk to see neighbour's lights with my kids, decorating the house, seeing family, having holidays, long lazy days in the heat.
    Christmas traditions are different in the heat. We spent two winters in Canada and now understand all the typical traditions! It's a lovely light in the dark.
    Wishing you a magical Winter! Xo Jazzy Jack

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    1. Thank you very much for your lovely comment, Jazzy Jack. I've always really wanted to experience Christmas in a warm climate. It would be such a stark contrast to what I've always known and, I'd imagine, a delightful change of (icy cold!) pace. Perhaps one day we can take a holiday south of the equator come December.

      Have a marvelous, fun filled holiday season!
      ♥ Jessica

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  6. Decorating the whole house (and at work for that matter!) and Christmas crafting are definitely at the top of my list, along with quite a few others you've listed!
    P.s. An e-mail will be headed your way later this weekend, my dear friend. :)

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    1. Decorating is such a blast! I'm a bit behind on it this year, in part from traveling last week, but hope to get to it either this coming week or the next.

      How lovely! I always adore hearing from you and look forward to your next email, sweet Inky.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. Mickeys Christmas Carol is one of my fave holiday movies too! I love it!!

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    1. It's such a sweet, heartwarming spin on Dickens' classic tale. I try to watch it, along with A Charlie Brown Christmas, each year, no matter how old I get.

      Wishing you guys a stellar holiday season!
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. Yes yes yes to all of the above!!!! I love how around Christmas time living just becomes sort of celebrationally exaggerated. Get-togethers, festive clothes, so much food, gift-giving, everything's an occasion and (for the most part, at least in my lucky circles I guess) quite cheery and fun!!! Also I have a new tradition thanks to your blog -- got my secret santa's gifts to send out on Monday!!! :D

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    1. Very well said, Kira. That it definitely does and I sincerely enjoy that about this brief time of the year, too.

      Big hugs & the happiest of holiday season wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. I wish we still had snow at Christmas in Wales! It's a rare thing now. I may take to nailing fake snow to the roof like the dad in 'Edward Scissorhands'. Like you, I especially love walking or driving at night to see all the Christmas lights. I also love the excuse to wear kitsch and sparkly clothes and accessories (Like I need an excuse...). Can't wait to see your Christmas outfit posts, and how you decorate your house. Samantha x

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  10. PS, love your choice of pictures, especially the ice-skating greetings card, and the black and white street scene with the Christmas lights.

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    1. Thank you very much for both of your lovely comments, dear Samantha. Definitely! Christmas kitsch is the best!!! I'm really excited for the fun Christmas and New Year's posts (and outfits) that I have coming down the pipeline in the next month and definitely look forward to seeing yours as well.

      Big hugs & joyful holiday season wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. snow - if we get some - would make me very happy! but usually around winter solstice it gets warm and mild - to cool down again after a few days. so snow is much more possible for new years eve.....but the best of winter holidays is that hubby has 3 weeks off! his office is closed until the first january week so not even mails or phonecalls - yepeeee!
    i wish you the most wonderful time!!!! xxxxxx

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    1. That's awesome!!! Tony's company doesn't allow employees to roll over unused holiday/vacation days, so if he has some left at the end of the year (and he almost always does), he takes them at the end of the year and thus he'll be off for a couple of weeks this December. I can hardly wait!

      Fingers crossed you get some snow before (and/or on) Christmas. We had our first fall here in Penticton on the 23rd of November, though, interestingly, it occurred while we were in Vancouver and thus we missed seeing it in person. We've had more since though and the landscape looks splendidly Christmas card-y at this point. :)

      Big hugs & the very merriest of holiday season wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. you lucky guys!!!
      for the end of the year free time for tony and for having snow already :-)
      we had snow too but it refused to stay longer than a day....
      xxxxx

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  12. Oh Jessica, what a lovely post this is! After Halloween, I'm already in the Christmas spirit, but this post has managed to increase it ten fold!

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    1. That's awesome to hear! I usually find, no matter how much I'm wishing it was still Halloween season, that I get in a Christmassy mood quickly, too, and must say, this year it's out in especially full force for me, so there will be plenty more festive posts coming down the pipeline in the next few weeks! :)

      Big hugs & many thanks for your lovely comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  13. Winter isn't my favorite season (probably why I've chosen to live in a tropical locale). But I love all the sparkle and bright colors of Christmas and New Years. I love listening to Christmas music everywhere, and shopping for gifts for family members...it's so fun to think of picking out something that will add a little extra fun to their lives!

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    1. Same here! I've been playing Christmas classics since early November and won't stop until the first week of January. They're such a cozy, nostalgic backdrop for this most wonderful time of the year!

      Many hugs & joyful holiday season wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. I honestly can't think of anything much to add - your list is so comprehensive! I do love chocolate advent calendars though (a big thing here)... But dressing for the season is, probably unsurprisingly, one of my favourite things about it :) and I am certainly not afraid of a tacky Christmas jumper! Other than that, I love Christmas songs of all varieties and will listen to them over and over :) x

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    1. Same here on all points! I have had Christmas music on heavy rotation since the start of November and find that it lifts my mood better than almost anything else during these jam packed, hectic, sometimes stressful winter holiday season days.

      Oodles of hugs & merry Christmas wishes to you, my dear friend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  15. You (and I) are not alone in our love of the holidays. I enjoy how it changes people's mood. We are happier and focus more on positive things. For someone who carries work-caused stress 11 months of the year, I look forward to this. Happy holidays, my friend!

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  16. Dear Jessica, I have been MIA, like bloggers say, because 1) I do have some pain on my eyes, so I am avoiding the computer 2) December is so hectic and like you said, instrospective somehow. It was a bit hard on a certain anniversary yesterday... and by the way, I loved the reasons why you love this time of the year! I myself can say that I remember Christmas just a little bit, particularly once, when I was 6. My mother used to prepare the house for the kids, but with a heavy heart, since my grandfather does on a Christmas day - so I understand her, for sure. When I moved to Europe things changed so much for me. I love now to have an attire especially prepared for Christmas and I love the snow and so many other things. That was in the beginning, when I rediscovered Christmas. Now I still like it, but the excitement faded a bit... getting to be bigger if I go to some places again :) By the way, till the last day of the year many things can happen that change our lives a lot... I say this, because a surprising and good thing happened to me, so... you see!
    DenisesPlanet.com

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  17. You have hit on a heap of my absolute favourites here! Apart from the snow and cold temperature, this could almost be my list! The Christmas music has been playing for some time now, and I am singing the tunes even if they aren't on :) Decorating, baking, Christmas movies, cards and wrapping presents are all things I love to do, although my efforts are on a smaller scale these past years. Oh and counting down the days with the felt wreath advent calendar my mum made from a kit when I was two. I think I've barely missed a year with it since then!

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  18. You get snow! We almost never have snow at Christmas.

    My tree, the annual Lord of the Rings marathon and Muppets' Christmas Carol all make me happy at Christmas.

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    1. What a fun tradition! I think it's great to weave at least a few things into the festive fold that aren't per se inherently Christmassy, but which become so for you/your family because of the very season in which they take part in.

      Happy holiday season viewing, my friend!
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. I'm actually really glad my husband and I have some traditions of our own, because we usually spent Christmas with my mother-in-law. She passed away unexpectedly in February and we're going to see a lot of gaps in our celebrations this year, but at least we can still enjoy the things that were just ours. She never liked the Muppets, so we watched it when we were on our own, and that won't carry any sadness that she's not there.

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    3. Hi sweet Mim, I am truly sorry about your MIL's recent passing. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to celebrate this time of the year for the time after losing someone you hold so dear. My heart and complete understanding are with you and your family.

      Gentle hugs & peaceful holiday season wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  19. This year things are not that good, so I am managing it the best way possible: one day at a time.
    On the bright side: my tree is up.

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    1. Oh no, my lovely friend. It saddens me to know that you've been having a challenging year and that the holidays aren't necessarily going to be the best ones ever for you. I'm deeply sorry that you're going through a difficult time and want you to know that I am always here if you need someone to talk to about anything at all.

      Many, many hugs & wishes for a serene holiday season,
      ♥ Jessica

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  20. YES YES YES. Yes to all of these. There's something about that perfect recipe, the even mixture of all these little wonderful joys that combine and explode into one awesome holiday season. Merry Christmas, Jessica! It made me happy just reading through these!

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  21. Lovely list of winter fun. When reading your yummy sounding list of baked goodies I came across spritz - what is that? I am enjoying hot chocolate with marshmallows very much at the moment, in fact I might need to make one in a bit! This year is the first year ever that I have wished for some festive attire, I just bought an alpine skirt from Lindy Bop which I love!

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  22. Oh dear, you mention me, and I'm the last to read it! Shame on me! Blame it on December, it is kind of suitable, isn't it. This list is mine too, completely, we are secret sisters as so often before. Can I adopt you? You are welcome to bring dear husband, pets and all with to Denmark! ;) What I love about Christmas is especially the colours, the glitter, the food, candy, cookies, candles, and being together with friends and family. The best part is the Chritsmas tree, I simply adore Christmas trees and have been collecting glass ornaments since I moved together with DH 33 years ago, sigh. I have a huge collection of ornaments in all shapes, figures and colours. It is fabulous (and very expensive). Have you seen the MoCap animated version of a Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey as Mr. Scrooge? It is really good. It is made for 3D but can also be seen as normal 2D. Tonight I'm home alone and will make myself a mug of chocolate (no marshmallows for me, thank you) and watch my absolute favourite movie Miracle on Manhattan. I LOVE it and watch it every year. Perfect Christmas movie. Now on to wrap the Christmas presents. Have a lovely day, my dear. :) XOXO

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    1. Hi sweet Sanne, please don't worry in the absolute slightest. I'm delighted that you saw this post and really want to thank you again for being the catalyst that lead me to pen it. I always sincerely appreciate your feedback and post suggestions and hope that you'll keep them going in 2016 and beyond! :)

      We definitely are secret sisters, it's so true, and I love that we continue to discover more points that we share in common as time goes on. That's very sweet of you to say! We can certainly "adopt" one another and I want you to know that you and your family (and pets) are always welcome at our humble little abode here in Canada, too.

      Your ornament collection sounds marvelous! I love that you've been collecting them together since before I was born (by two years). Are is there one or more of them that really stands out as a firm favourite for you?

      I have indeed seen that version of Scrooge starring my fellow Canadian, Mr. Jim Carrey. Tony and I saw it in the theater back in 2009, I believe it was. Certainly a fun - and very action packed - take on this beautiful classic.

      Your evening at home sounds so peaceful and lovely, and I hope that it was just that for you. We all need quiet moments like that amidst the hustle and bustle of this very busy time of the year.

      Thank you so much for your splendid comment and again for suggesting I write this post. Doing so was definitely one of the blogging standouts of this holiday season for me.

      Endless hugs & the very merriest of Christmas wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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