Top Ten Tuesday: Holiday Freebie

10 Holiday Essentials at My House

Movies

The Bishop’s Wife    Christmas With the Kranks (Or the book Skipping Christmas) A Charlie Brown Christmas and A Garfield Christmas –among many others.

Books

 

This book was my paternal grandmothers and is signed by her father. The story, Christmas in the Mousehole is my personal reading tradition. My Dad read it to me each year. I still love it. I love the simple Christmas it presents and love the memory of my Dad in the re-reading.

 

Music

 

Handle’s Messiah is a must–but, ironically, I’ve never gone to hear it live!  I have Christmas music on in my office all day. My office does special live Christmas music where a very talented staff member sings and plays and students join him or replace him when he is needed elsewhere. It’s wonderful.

 

 

One contemporary Christmas collection I’ve been loving already this year is the complete GLEE Christmas treasury. I especially love the haunting Island of Misfit Toys. We loved the show at my house (though we had to binge watch it on dvd from the library).

 

 

I must play this relentlessly. It reminds me of my maternal grandparents who loved his show and drank Old Fashions, letting the 3 grandkids have the booze-soaked fruit! This was made cooler by my grandfather’s habit of pocketing the swizzle sticks from his airline drinks. We loved those things.

 

 

Goodies

This desert IS Christmas to my family. Since 1978 we’ve not varied the choice, though my Mom has changed the booze in it. Today it is made with Bailey’s Irish Cream. Here’s the recipe.

 

Decor

Source note: Possibly Williams Sonoma, but Pinterset link here.

 

Plaid is my signature color. Plaid, or tartan if you  wish, though there is a difference, is my Christmas color scheme–if I had one, that is. My Christmas decorations are pretty sad any more. I’d hoped to replace a lot this year, but life got in the way. Meanwhile, feast on this GORGEOUS Christmas tablescape by blogger Everyday Living. So much to love here! The plaid on the table, the red walls, the cute plates and adorable place card holders–everything! Sadly, my little eat-in kitchen can’t hold all that. But, soon, I’ll post my tablescape. It is a debut this year.

Source: Everyday Living

 I love all the amazing details here. Click the source link above to see all the amazing views of this fabulous holiday table.

 

 

 What’s on your holiday freebie list? Do you enjoy lists like this? Join the fun at Top 10 Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.