Twenty-Six Lists~ Holiday Ornaments and Memories

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Good morning, y'all! Happy Wednesday. December is here! We're in the second week of Advent and Christmas will be here before we know it. It truly doesn't seem possible!

Welcome to another edition of Twenty-Six Lists hosted by "A Fresh Cup of Coffe." 

Today's topic is Holiday Ornaments and Memories. 

Holiday Ornaments and Memories~

I love this topic. Christmas and all the other holidays are so special. Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year. It's my favorite holiday and season. We decorate our homes with beautiful items from our childhood and children's childhood. For years now, I have been blessed to have my daughter help me decorate the tree and the house. When both kids were little, they both would help, but as my son got older he didn't find it as fun as it once was. He did decorate his "apartment" last year. He has a family room and a bedroom in our basement. It was nice to see him decorate it, but he doesn't help decorate much upstairs. 

My daughter on the other hand helps with everything! The trees, the decorations that go in all the rooms, and even the bathrooms get decorated. She helps with the outdoor lights and the decorations that get put out there. We even decorate the chicken coop. You can say we go all out for Christmas. We start around Thanksgiving and all the Christmas love stays up until February 2nd, which is the Presentation of the Lord. 

Over the years, we changed and added a few items to our Christmas collection. No matter what I do, I'm definitely a traditional Christmas girl. No sad beige, no weird colors, no Grinch Christmas. 

Quite a few years ago, my dad passed down the Nativty that was his mother's. I love placing it out every year. It reminds me of my grandmother and all the special memories of visiting her house at Christmas. She was a small, feisty Italian lady. She always had some delicious cookies to share and a warm cozy hug. We added a new piece to it this year, a vintage angel my husband found on eBay. I'd like to continue that tradition going forward. I know my kids already cherish it. 

My grandfather on my mom's side was a huge train collector. When we were little, he had a whole train village set up in the attic at his home. He would use the ceramic Christmas houses to create the village. When passed, my son inherited a few trains and we got all the ceramic houses, stores, churches, etc. I now use them to decorate the top of my china hutch, Yes, I do have China. Rarely use it, but it looks pretty in my hutch.

I also use the houses to decorate the top of our built-in coat rack and my 3 tiered tray that sits on our breakfast nook. It makes me feel like he's still here. When I was little and after my parent's divorce, we lived with my mother's parents for a few years. Having pieces of their stuff up reminds me of them and all the love they gave us. 

I even added a Victorian-inspired house warmer to the counter a few years ago. I can fun holiday scents and really bring the Christmas feeling to life. 

Our tree is a combination of Hallmark Ornaments, gifts, and handmade ornaments from the years. I even have a few glass ornaments from a classmate from middle school. For a while, I had vintage glass balls my mom gave me when I first started out on my own. Sadly, I have 3 left. They had some help getting broken when a certain kitty climbed the tree and toppled it. 

I have one Hallmark ornament that I collect that I absolutely love. It's the Nostalgic Houses and Shops. My mom got me the very first one back in 1983. I've added the collection most years and a few years ago, I started searching eBay for the few I didn't have. I now have only 2 from years past that I need, a Gazebo and a library. I will admit when they tried to do a few houses and shops in the 50s style, I was not happy. I don't think a lot of people were because they changed the style back. I love the Victorian, classic Christmas style. 

I also collect Mary's Angels and the Puppy collection. Those 2 series, I buy if I think they are cute. 

My wooden angel from Germany

Do you have a special ornament or decoration? I'd love to hear about it!

Merry Christmas!

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Till Next Time,

Monique

Twenty-Six Lists~ I'd Like to Learn

Please Note~ This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart, and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you. 

Good morning, y'all! Happy Wednesday. I still can't believe that August is almost over. Where did summer go? Schools are back in session here, so I guess for many the summer has ended. 

Welcome to another edition of Twenty-Six Lists hosted by "A Fresh Cup of Coffe." Today's topic is what I'd like to learn. 

What I'd Like to Learn~

At first glance, I thought this was an easy one, but the more I thought about it the more challenging it was. When I was younger, I could have rattled off a list of 50 things now I find it hard to come up with just a few, It's funny how time changes things. How it changes your perspective on what you value. 

I did have one thing pop in my head and that was crocheting. I have always wanted to learn how to, but I just have never sat down and attempted it. Years ago, while on bedrest with Michael, I started knitting a baby blanket. I never finished it because he still decided to come a month early. Then when the kids were little, a lady from church was teaching people to knit and I attended that. I learned the basic stitches. I made a few scarves for Therese but never developed the skill anymore. Therese can crochet. She taught herself by watching YouTube videos. I just need to do that. 

I remember my grandmother doing granny squares when I was little. I remember her having blankets on the couch she made. I have a few other blankets my other grandmother made here. It definitely was a skill ladies from that generation learned. I know my mom knows how, but she never passed on that skill to me. 

I've been wanting to learn for years and keep telling myself I will. I just need to actually do it. I've looked online. I've bought books online and the used books our library hosts a few times a year. 

A to Z Crochet is one that I picked up and is easy to follow. 

I have plenty of yarn already. I'd buy it when I saw colors I liked. I just have never sat down and actually taught myself. I need to make it a priority this fall. 

Do you have any hobbies, you'd like to learn?

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Till Next Time,

Monique

 

Twenty-Six Lists~ Summer Playlist

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Good morning, friends! Today, I'm joining Kym over at A Fresh Cup of Coffee for her Twenty-Six Lists link-up. I've been following Kym for a while now, a fellow homeschool reviewer. I would read her posts and mean to jump on in but just never did. So here I am. 

Today's list is all about our summer playlists. When I first read her post, I chuckled because I had just seen the meme she was talking about. It basically said we Gen Xers were a little grouchy because we had to keep replacing our music collection. The meme wasn't wrong! We experienced a huge change in how we listen to music. 

I remember my parents listening to music on 8 Tracks. I never had any myself, but I do remember them. My first music collection was my kiddie collection of records. I had a Muppet soundtrack, Disco Mickey Mouse, Strawberry Shortcake, and Annie the Movie. Boy, did I listen to that one and I'm sure the neighbors could hear me belting out ALL THE SONGS. Of course, we had tons of books on records! Around middle school, I got my first cassette tape. I think it was the Go Gos. My first CD was New Kids on the Block. I got tons of CDs in high school and college through companies like BMG Music and Columbia House. Remember those ads where we could get 10 CDs for $1.00. I'm pretty sure most of my CDs were purchased that way. I skipped a few ways. I never had an MP3 player. I went straight from CDs to listening to music online. I currently have Amazon Prime Music and that's how I listen to most of my music now. I still have my CD collection though!

So what's on my playlist this summer? Mostly country, 90s music, and classics. Funny thing... the other day I clicked on a classic rock playlist from Amazon and my 90s music was there. I was a little offended. How did I get that old already?!?

Country Playlist~ Zach Bryan, Sam Barber, Luke Combs, Kenney Chesney, Koe Wetzel, Cody Johnson, Bailey Zimmerman

90s Playlist~ Honestly that list is all over the place. It depends on what I feel like.

Classic Rock~ The Eagles, U2, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, Don McLean, 

I have a wide range of music tastes. It really depends on my mood and what I feel like listening to.

I have to admit that I've never listened to a Podcast! After reading Kym's post, I may have to check out a few!

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 Till Next Time, 

Monique