Entirely Emily: Christmas

Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

My Top Ten Favorite Christmas Songs

I want to start off by saying that there really isn't a Christmas song I don't like. Nope. Not really. I love to listen and sing along with them starting in November every year.

My love affair with Christmas music started with my girl scout leader. Mrs. Casey. She made our troop known for our singing. And every year we would go and perform Christmas carols somewhere or just walk around and carol door to door to raise money. When I got my first job at a grocery store, I would stand there all holiday season long and listen to the non-stop no commercial music for 8 hours at a time. It made cleaning a lot more fun. On to my mall jobs where we got to bring in our own cds to listen to. So I started to amass quite a collection of Christmas cds. This was back before one of the stations here in town would play non-stop Christmas Music and people had Mp3s of course. I can't wait for thanksgiving day every year because that is when it starts. Now even my girls can't wait for the music to begin. It just makes my heart happy thinking about it.

These are the songs that mean the most to me....

1. Oh holy Night by Lea Michelle from Glee and Josh Groban

This is my most favorite of the favorites. And no, these two artist did not do a duet. This song has such power and such feeling. Sung by the right people, this song gives me goosebumps every time. Lea Michelle has such a powerful and clear tone to her voice and the same goes for Josh but in the most manly way. Make sure to listen to these two separatley to appreciate the sound and perfect ton of these two artists.

2. Most wonderful time of the year by Andy Williams

Every time i hear this song it just reminds me why I am so happy this time of year. It really just says everything I am already thinking. It makes me want to grab someone's elbow, link up and dance around in a circle.

3. Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland

Meet me in Saint Louis is one of my all time favorite musicals and not just because it based on my hometown. It's a great old fashioned story line, a great set of songs and a great message of family. It gets me every time {sniff sniff} Here's a little clip via YouTube.

4. Happy Holidays by Andy williams

This is an inside joke with my dad's family. Basically, by the time we would get to Grandma's house around lunch time on Christmas day, most of the kids would already be fighting and arguing with each other or the parents. Get it ?"Happy" holidays.

5. Baby, It's cold outside by Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey

Yes, I know they got divorced but I like this version of the song. They are super cute together and you know when they recorded it they were still really in love.

6. Rockin' around the Christmas tree by Brenda Lee

I started liking this song because of the scene in Home Alone when Kevin has the whole house rigged to look like there is a party when there isn't. It 's such a fun happy Christmas song that I can't help but dance along to. I love making cookies while listening to this song. K has even started to sing along.

7. The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole

Who doesn't hear this song and think of Christmas? Such a classic. I'm sure it's been used in millions of movies, tv shows and commercials over the years.

8. Christmas time is here from Charlie Brown

This is just a song from my childhood when there weren't fifty million holiday shows. There were just a few and Charlie Brown Christmas was one of them. Whenever I hear the song, I can see Charlie Brown and his friends walking around in the snow.

9. Mele Kalikiamaka byBing Crosby

Ok, this one is just because of National Lampoon Christmas Vacation which happens to be mine and my husbands favorite Christmas movie to watch together (without the kids around) It's a fun upbeat Christmas song that just makes me want to hula while wrapping gifts and drinking cocoa. Hey, don't laugh.

10. Feliz Navidad by JoseFeliciano

Again, another fun un-traditional song that everyone knows the words to and makes you happy when you sing it. Way to many years in retail working the customer service while listening to this song.

What are your favorite songs/artists this time of year? I think I may have to write a part two to this post.

Monday
What is the Gunny Sack -Making the world Cuter -DIY Show Off
-I should be mopping the Floor

Tuesday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia -The Kurtz Corner
Sugar Bee - Romance On A Dime -The Winthrop Chronicles

Wednesday
Someday Crafts - Sew Much Ado
-SNAP

Thursday
Beyond the Picket Fence - Somewhat Simple - Live Laugh Rowe
- The Shabby Cottage The Taylor House- House of Hepworths Bloom Designs

Friday
Naptime Crafters - Young and Crafty - My Turn(ForUs)
Delicate Construction
Serenity Now

Saturday

Six Sister's Stuff

Cheerios and Lattes

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Fuzzy Owl Ornaments

I was so excited when Erin from over at My Very Educated Mother contacted me to be involved with her " No Ugly ornament " Series over on here blog. That started me thinking on what I wanted to make. Maybe my idea of not ugly is someone else's idea of very ugly! Hmm.... what to do?

I was surfing around the net one day when I came across this image from Lilian Vernon.

It was so cute and so simple I knew I could redo it it myself and make it more cuddly and warm for the holidays. I have a new interest in felt over the past year so I went off in search of a felt ball or something round I could cover with felt. But then I went to Target and found these sweater ball ornaments for $3 a piece. Perfect! Done and done. It wasn't felt but it was sweater material so that worked for me.

I started to sketch out what colors should go where since I knew I anted to be all Christmas colors. I bought my felt ans was ready to go.

I tried to freehand some circles but that ended in disaster. If you can do that, more power to ya. I found a pill bottle ( for the eye circles), a nickel ( for the smaller eye circle), and a princess cup ( for the wings) which I then switched out for a Ziploc container when I realized it would be too small:) I set them up on the felt and cut my circles.

Cut out your circles and make sure they look ok when they are all laying on top of each other. I did freehand the little beaks and feet. The feet on the other version were just too hard for me to pull off.

Slowly start hot gluing them ( or whatever way sounds good to you) onto your circle. I did this very slowly so I was sure where everything was going.

When I got to the wings, I wasn't sure how to approach them. I decided to take my large circle , cut it in half, and then overlap them together like a wing or feathers might look. It gave me the smooth look I was going for.

I decided to make two owls, one for each girl. They are so cute and fuzzy. I love them.

The tree here at our house is nothing but homemade or store bought but with a purpose. I try to buy/make things that the girls are into every year around this time. It's like a time capsule to look back on. My mom did the same thing for me and I love passing on the tradition. The girls get at least one new ornament a year that I will pass on to them when they get their own place someday.

What's on your tree? ( reminds me of the "what's in your wallet? " commercials )

Monday
What is the Gunny Sack -Making the world Cuter -Debbie Doo -DIY Show Off
-I should be mopping the Floor

Tuesday
Tip Junkie - My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia -The Kurtz Corner
Sugar Bee - Romance On A Dime -The Winthrop Chronicles

Wednesday
Someday Crafts - Sew Much Ado
-SNAP

Thursday
Beyond the Picket Fence - Somewhat Simple - Live Laugh Rowe
- The Shabby Cottage The Taylor House- House of Hepworths
Two In Diapers-Mommy Brain Mixer

Friday
Naptime Crafters - Stay At Home Nation
Young and Crafty - My Turn(ForUs)
Delicate Construction
Serenity Now

Saturday

Six Sister's Stuff

Cheerios and Lattes

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Initial Ornament Wreath

I've seen all of the cool ornament wreaths on Pinterest but I wanted to be different . I wanted to make mine of our family's last name which starts with an H.

I went, measured the front door where I want to hang it, and sketched it out for my hubby who so nicely cut it out of a piece of very thin plywood(1/4").

I took it outside, back in July ( I know, it 's been a while in the making. That whole " Christmas in July" thing just never happened) and sprayed it shiny silver so that if any of it shown through , it wouldn't look as bad. I used Valspar silver metallic spray paint.

I had been hanging on to some old glass Christmas ornaments for years that I bough to go outside on a tree but that didn't happen either.

When I started to glue them on , I quickly realized that I didn't have enough since I was only using the red, green, and silver ones. I went back to Garden Ridge where I originally got them and bought another container of red, green, and silver ornaments which was the theme I wanted. Obviously you can do that with any color scheme. Now what should I do with all of those Blue and gold ones?

I just started gluing on different sizes and colors, stacking them until it started looking full and the way I wanted it to. I did take off the little hanger "crowns" that were on the top of all of the ornaments. When you need to glue them top down, it makes it a whole lot easier.