ha ha!... no.

I thought I might make a yule log this year for Christmas... until I read this recipe.  You have got to be kidding me.  Yule logs are no joke!

it's a wrap

I am in the full holiday spirit.  The tree is up, most of the presents are bought.  Now I get to revel in the joy of creating pretty packages!

cookie time!

Tomorrow we're going to Whole Foods to decorate gingerbread cookies.  Technically it's a competition, but since we'll probably have the youngest contestant, we'll have to do our best to restrain our competitive spirits and let the kids have their fun... and then eat all the cookies.

Drunk Uncle's Guide to Giving

I've been feeling the Christmas spirit so early this year!  I was tickled to see Time Out New York's holiday gift guide cover.

Vintage Christmas

'Tis the season for some of the best Christmas shopping.  I'm in the mood for Christmas all year round!

Nutcracker #28

Last night I enjoyed my 28th performance of New York City Ballet's The Nutcracker.  Here are some sweet behind the scenes photos from a local news station's profile.

Classics

Even thought we just moved into our new house 5 minutes ago, it was mandatory that we watch some classic Christmas cinema.  Last night's viewing: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

xmas sweater mani

A new contestant in the ugly Christmas sweater competition... the Christmas sweater manicure.  This one's actually so bad it's good.

decorating dilemma

We just moved int our new house (yaaaay!) and we'll be ripping a bunch of ugly wood paneling off the walls in the living room next week (yaaaay!) but that kinda means putting up a tree is impractical (boooo!) but this is a great image where someone has just taken a string of lights and made a snuggly visual feast out of their bedroom.  I'll have to give my options some thought.

A Very Brooklyn Christmas

We actually won't be in Brooklyn for Christmas this year, but I can't resist this gingerbread brownstone.

Retro Christmas Pillow

Since I can't get enough of all things Christmas, I've spied this woody Christmas pillow that I must own.  It would make a nice housewarming gift from myself.

Four Calling Birds

Three french hens, two turtle doves... can you tell how jazzed I am about the holiday season?  I can't have a tree of my very own just yet since we're waiting to move into our new home, but I've already purchased our holiday cards care of my employee perks, and plan to have them ready to go this week.

27th Nutcracker

Last night I went to the New York City Ballet's Nutcracker with my mom for the 27th year in a row.  It's one of my favorite holiday traditions.  That and cookies.

NYC Festivities

This year I had a Country Christmas in Nashville, but not before I got my annual NYC Christmas date to see the shop windows, the Rockefeller Center tree and dinner at Brasserie Ruhlmann.

Pantone Tannenbaum

For very precisely colored Christmas decorations, these are your man.

You know Dasher and Dancer, and Prancer and Vixen...

...and now these guys!  Reindeer finger puppets!  What better way to get into the holiday spirit?!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

My favorite holiday season has kicked off in full force, and now that I'm living and working in NYC again, I get to experience the joy of walking through makeshift Christmas tree shops on the sidewalks.  The sights and smells of the season are surrounding me and I can't get enough!!!

Bergdorf, you've done it again

The best holiday window displays are always at Bergdorf Goodman.  This year was "Wish You Were Here" featuring all different modes of transportation.  Even the wind couldn't keep me from stopping to marvel.

This year they published a coffee table book on all their window displays.  It was $500.  I'll just have to stick to admiring these photos for now.

Inspiration by the Times

I was reading this article in the Times just before Christmas about neat freaks getting through the holidays (which I can't entirely relate to) and I loved this spread of tartan, greens and candy Mary McDonald laid out for her gingerbread decorating party.  Too bad I'm too old to be invited.  Maybe I'll swipe her aesthetic for a future Christmas decorating frenzy.

I can hardly contain myself...

... but I don't have to!  I've just stumbled upon a vintage Christmas blog that will shower me with visual yuletide ecstasy all year round!  The author makes wreaths out of vintage ornaments.  See delicious specimen below: