Day after Christmas Shopping!!

I love the day after Christmas shopping!  I have been going out ever since I was a little girl with my mom.  Back than we went to some small stores and Hallmark.

For the last 5 Years, Mr. P and I have started a new tradition of Target, Neiman Marcus, and than the Lilly Store!

We also had to add Best buy to the list.  Mr. P had to get his new Xbox!!!

At target this year, I got decorations for next year!  They had these great fuscia plastic christmas tree balls, I can't wait to use them next year on my front porch! 

We also got some gift boxes for next year, funfetti mix, and some foam art crafts.  I love making gift tags out of these for my friends!

Neiman Marcus was very small this year, and did not have the normal selection.  This is my brother's first Christmas married, and I wanted to get them some nice ornaments for there tree!
I love Neiman Marcus Ornaments!

What are your traditions for the day after Christmas???

Merry Christmas

I hope you and your families Christmas is spectacular.

That you eat tons of delicious food and goodies,
Remembered to do a good deed this Holiday Season,
Spent quality time with friends and Family,

And Enjoyed the Christmas Season!

Merry Christmas enjoy your time with family and friends!!!

Gingerbread Houses

A family tradition while growing up was my Mom would always have our friends over to make Gingerbread houses.  I have done it once at a Christmas Party with my High School friends, they still talk aobut it today.  I am excited for when our friends children are old enough to make them!

There was a very distinct smell that would hit you as soon as you walked into the Christmas Markets.  I am not sure if it was the Gluwein or the Gingerbread or the Marzipan, or all of the Deserts, it was probably a mixture of all!

Someone is very paitent to make these!!

The Gingerbread House at the Brenner's Park Hotel..they had little package of cookies nearby to take!

Gingerbread for sale!!

Now I read a lot of blogs...and am in love with this idea!! 

I want to have a Christmas tea, and make a lot of these!!

http://www.notmartha.org/archives/2009/12/18/a-gingerbread-house-that-perches-on-the-rim-of-your-mug/

Merry Christmas!!

Does size matter????

Well according to Americans it does...

I have been doing some research, and have read the bigger the tree, the more affluent you are. 

Now how many of us feel that the the Christmas tree is the center of our Christmas?

To be honest, I have not put up a Christmas tree this year, Mr. P and I are debating real or fake?  I am pro real, and he is pro fake.  Now our reasoning for each differ, and I am not sure what team will win!

I can only speak to mine, but I want that real tree, I want the smell--and not the bath and body works Christmas Tree scent that I usually spray, I want a low key Christmas, I do not want to un-package all of my Neiman Marcus Christmas ornaments, I want a tree that speaks to how I am feeling this year:  real and chubby!

My fake Christmas tree ornaments have a pink and green motif, which I love.  I love the tree, from the ornaments, to the satin ribbon, to the glass ornaments, to my Neiman Marcus day after Christmas ornament finds!  However, I am just not feeling it this year:

I am feeling that the homemade/real tree is more my speed this year, compared to some transitions I tried to make this year for our home:

fresh made bread vs. the typical store brought,
homemade organic heirloom tomatoes vs. canned crushed tomatoes
Growing flowers for your home and others vs. the Grocery store flower Arrangement.

Well I will post who wins, and it is really not a matter of winning per say.  It is more like who has the time and energy to pick out the real tree vs. let's get the tree out of the garage  and decorate.
Also, the entire house needs to be cleaned to get the tree in the location.

Below are some beautiful Christmas trees that I snapped during our trip to Germany:

BMW Welt Store Tree

Brenner's hotel Lobby in Baden-Baden, Germany

Outside trees in Baden-Baden, Germany

 

Icicle tree in Stroudsburg, France

Chriskindlemarket Tree, Munich, Germany--The biggest tree we saw at the biggest Christmas Market!

Now what type of tree is in your home this year??