CHRISTMAS QUESTIONNAIRE

Dear me . . . I have been meaning to link up to this fun party for the past week, but time did indeed slip by me.  Well, I finally managed to shake the "reindeer in the headlights" look and I'm sneaking this post in just before the linky closes! Score one for Team Dolling!!!  So . . . without wasting a moment more, here's a little glimpse of how The Factory does Christmas :)

Hot Chocolate or Eggnog?
Both are not on my list of approved goodies that my tummy can handle, but I will cheat this season and have an eggnog.  The name always freaks me out and I can only have a smidgen before the texture makes me break out in a cold sweat, but I will be sportin' a little creamy mustache on Christmas Eve.  A tiny glass is just perfect once a year :)  

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa always did both when I was growing up.  Some were . . . some weren't. Santa's "helpers" always hid a couple of rolls of different colored wrapping paper so I wouldn't think Santa's elves shopped at the local Thrifty :)  Funny thing about this is that I was {am} a pretty gullible kid.  I'm almost certain that I wouldn't have caught on - EVER. 

Colored lights or white?
Outside on the house . . . they MUST be colored.  I'm talking the traditional "old school" bulb ones.  Inside on the tree . . . they MUST be small and white.  Don't mind me.  Old habits die hard with Ms. Dolling.   

When do you decorate?

Uh . . . we are all over the place on this one.  It isn't very festive of us, but time just seems to get away from us every year and we are lucky to get lights or a tree up before school lets out for Winter Break.  We had a party the day after Thanksgiving this year, so we put the lights up on the house.  I loved that we got them up so early.  **whisper** The tree finally went up yesterday afternoon.  It's a hot mess :)  


Real or fake?
Real, baby.  REAL!!!!

Favorite memories or traditions?

My pop and I always catch the Christmas Story marathon on Christmas Eve.  It just plays in the background all evening until my mom can't stand it anymore. We mouth the words and crack up at the dad {he's our favorite} as we sip on wine and munch on our traditional clam dip {also not on the approved goodie list, but I use gluten free crackers to even things out . . . hehehehe}.  

Our family opens presents on Christmas Eve.  This tradition started on my dad's side of the family and became our Christmas way when my mom and pop married.  The hubby and I go over to my folks house {the sweet little puppy comes too} and we have a nice dinner.  It's followed by a fun gift giving session filled with treats from each other.  We go back in the AM for breakfast and gifts from Santa (yes, he still visits both of us)!  Christmas Day evening is usually spent at his parent's house.  

He'd kill me if he knew I posted this.
Too bad he doesn't read my blog . . . sucker :)

Finally, I will never forget Santa visiting my house every year.  He actually rang my doorbell and left me a little santa candy.  My dad used to say he was getting wood for the fire.  Well, he'd sneak around and ring the doorbell.  My mom would suggest that I get it and low and behold, a candy would be waiting for me. {I never noticed that my dad was out of breath and walked in right as I stepped onto the porch . . . told you I was a gullible kid!}  I would run outside and scream to the sky, "Thank You, Santa!  I love you!"  Oh, and one year very early on into this tradition, it just so happened that a small plane with a blinking red light was flying over the house at the exact time I looked up.  My quick thinking mama yelled, "Look . . . there's Rudolph."  Hook.  Line.  Sinker.  

Favorite gift as a child?

My parents made Christmas truly magical each and every year.  They always managed to make things just perfect.  I was {and still am} such a lucky kid. However, if I were to pick just one favorite gift, it would have to be the huge Strawberry Shortcake Dollhouse I got in the 80s.  It even smelled like strawberries.  My dad LOVES to tell the story . . . we hear it EVERY year.  He was up all hours of the night putting that thing together.  When he finished, he had one part left on the floor.  He swears the directions said, "Whatever you do, DO NOT to forget this piece!"  Needless to say, he tossed this all-mighty piece in the trash and rolled on :)

You can still snag these on EBay . . . who knew??!

Favorite Christmas song?

I don't think I can choose just one.  I love so many.  Since I never seem to follow the directions, I'll give you my TOP 5 . . .

1. Perfect Gift - Natalie Hemby
2. Celebrate Me Home - Kenny Loggins
3. The Christmas Song - Andy Williams
4. Hard Candy Christmas - Dolly Parton
5. Last Christmas - Wham

Candy Canes.  Yuck or yum?
Eh . . . they are what they are.  I not a huge candy girl . . . I'd rather eat an entire cheese log with a box salty crackers.  

Favorite Christmas movie?

This is an easy one. It's a Wonderful Life is the BEST.  I watch it every year and I can mouth the words with Mr. Stewart.  I always rewind the part where they fall in the pool.  I always sob multiple times throughout the show - when he finds out his father had a stroke, when he gives up leaving home for his brother, at the very end when he finds the book {I'm tearing up just writing this).  What can I say??  I'm just a little sensitive.  

Do you shop Online or in stores?
I have become such a hermit in the past 4 years or so.  Most of my shopping is done Online.  It's so much easier.

Christmas cards . . . letter or store bought?
What's a Christmas card??  I haven't sent these in like 6 years.  I think if we had children it would be different :)

That was such fun!  Thanks Michelle.  Be sure to pop on over and check out all of the other wonderful questionnaires.