Christmas Wrap-up

I like to write a "wrap-up" post at the end of each holiday season (Halloween and Christmas) highlighting events and what-not.  This year was ... I don't even know.  It started off great but took a nose dive real quick.  The good stuff was that the Christmas decor was really uplifting for me along with that Mr. Husband and I decided to do something a bit different this year for our gifts.  Because we already have a house full of "treasures" we don't have room for more knick knacks unless they are ones we put on our Santa's Wish Gotta Have It List.  I thought it would be a good idea for us each to pick something big/expensive.  We never do this and it would really help out my mental stability, not to have something expensive but to have just a 'one and done' when it comes to gifts.  You guys...it's gifts that make me hate Christmas  (well, and some family).  I am just going to be bluntly honest.  I hate shopping.  I don't know what to get anyone.  And most importantly everyone we know has waaay too much shit.  I don't want to contribute to that and frankly I don't want them to do that to us either.  No lie, 90% of physical gifts (cash always accepted!) we get go right to the thrift store.   Usually every year I make baked goods for everyone because they only add to the waistline not the flat surfaces in their home.  So everything was going along well.   Gifts for everyone were handled for the most part.  The 3 days before Christmas are always a back breaking crunch time no matter how much I plan.  But then on Dec. 23 it went south.  It started with Mr. Husband bringing in a shit ton of gifts for PB and me.  That wasn't the agreement.  I had only gotten him one gift (which wound up not fitting properly) because remember?! we had agreed to the big gift idea. It made me feel shitty.  Then the same night as I was working on the baked goods for the family (burned an entire batch of one of the treats) the stove went out.  I just sat in a chair and cried.  Obviously no repairman was available.  Mr. Husband tried to help by texting everyone and saying their gifts weren't going to be done until after Christmas.  But I can't be giving people Santa's Chimney of Sweets after Christmas.  Santa clocks out after Dec 25 and it seemed weird to be giving a Christmas themed gift after it's all over.  I happened to have bought a little  bit of some extra ingredients for a few filler treats to go along with the baked goods (rice krispy treats with white chocolate and crushed peppermint and peanut butter fudge)  and that's all I had for the "sweets".  It was the best I could do.  On Christmas Day Mr. Husband and I decided that for once we wanted to spend the day at home and told family we would be by on the 26.  Now, the other main reason we didn't want to go over on Christmas Day was because of covid.  We are very careful and are pretty much the only ones we know that are still taking it seriously. We knew that if we went over on the 25 family would try to put us in situations we didn't want to be in.  They don't wear masks and ask us inside...no way.  We also don't want to ask them to spend their holiday sitting in a lawn chair in the yard as we want to do for all of our safety.  If we go on the 26 it makes it more relaxed and we don't feel we are asking too much for a yard visit.  We let everyone know...We'll see you on the 26.  My grandmother and stepdad were totally fine with that and visiting in the yard.  But my mother in law apparently wasn't listening because on Christmas Day she went flipping nuts.  She kept calling and forcing the issue along with her saying, and feel free to laugh about this... She said she may not be there on the 26 (meaning she may be dead)...and then she added in her annual announcement that it could be her last Christmas.  Every year...it's her last Christmas.  And then she hung up on Mr. Husband.  She hung up on her son on Christmas day because we wouldn't rush over to do what she wanted.  This is a reoccurring thing with her no matter what day of the year it is.  When we went over on the 26, surprise, she was still alive.  She made us wait for awhile to answer the door though and during the visit kept snapping at us over anything...but never brought up the previous day.

 She is a nasty character and just keeps pushing and pushing which usually means she wins.  It seems to be the easy answer in the moment to back down and let her have her way but never confronting the problem means it continues to happen.  An intervention is long over due.

So I'm glad to say that Christmas is in the rear view mirror.  

Oh, in case you were curious about our "big" gifts.

PB got a record player for Christmas, which we all were excited about since ours went out the past year.  Mr. Husband is getting a new fancy phone. And mine is still being pulled together and I hope will be a future post!

 

Santa's Chimney of Sweets

 

For friends this Christmas I made these "Santa's Chimney of Sweets" as gifts. 

 I got the idea from something I saw in the background of a video I happened to come across on youtube of vintage holiday decor:

I made mine from recycled cardboard boxes along with the top being a lid.  The brink pattern is something I printed from the internet.  I made the little Santa head toppers from styrofoam balls, pom poms, felt, and fiberfill.

For the sweets I had planned on making several baked goods but my oven broke on the 23 and I had to do a plan B.  I made some basic peanut butter fudge and rice crispy treats coated in white chocolate and topped with crushed peppermint.  

I just realized that I forgot something I was going to do to the chimneys which was add a "TV antennae" made from a pipe cleaner kinda like what is shown on the box...but hell...I was running on fumes as all you wives and mothers out there know what I'm talking about.

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Food Pill Christmas Dinner

For our Christmas dinner I came up with us having a meal inspired from a holiday movie, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.  In Mars though they eat "Food Pills" that they get from the "Food Pill Center".

  At one point in the film, Dropo (the laziest man on Mars), is telling Santa and the earth children what pills are for dinner:  

Soup, beef stew, and chocolate ice cream.

That could work, just in real Earth food form!

To me beef stew is soup so I just decanted some of the soup from there.  I mean who would have soup and beef stew in a single meal?  That would be like having fried chicken and chicken nuggets or a chef's salad with a side salad.  Kinda redundant.  

But with keeping with the theme I set it up as soup and stew for the sake of a photo.

And for dessert, the chocolate ice cream.  If you don't want yours Dropo will take it!  That weirdo just loves chocolate ice cream.

Back in 2016 we did a whole SCCTM theme:

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Christmas Tree

Merry Christmas from Mars fam photo

 And also in 2016 we did another movie themed dinner:

A Christmas Story menu

Tinsel Town 2021

This year is the ultimate hall decking that I have ever done.  I indeed "went wild with allspice" or maybe I should say peppermint.  Like I do every year I study my past holiday decor photos and look at what was working and bump that area up.  I also try to avoid repeating layouts that looked lame.

Every year I always have a wall or two that don't quite do it for me.  This is usually the "leftovers" wall with the items that I couldn't get to work other places and they just get tossed up together.

This year there are no "leftovers walls"!  Every wall and decorated area is just about near perfection in my Griswoldian style.  

First up is the Dining room:

 

I did the wall and top of the sideboard similar last year but bumped it up this go.

The top of the china cabinet is always home to the Santa Singing Choir o' blow molds.  And since it is always the same I decided to use an old photo from 2016 because I could not get a good photo of this area this year.

So hard to get noncrappy photos in this area due to the bright ass back lighting.

I liked the silver tinsely flair I added to my Mom's Holt Howard Santa pitcher and mug set.

Now heading into the Living room.  This is the top of the record cabinet and it always seemed kinda wonkily decorated every season to me.  This year I finally perfected it!  I folded the tablecloth to where it showed just the print rather than showing a big plain middle section of bland white.  I also bought these little silver tinsel trees new this year (one buck each from Dirt Cheap) and added some little gold ball ornaments (vase filler from Dollar Quarter Tree) to use as a background for the reindeer but they also look pretty from the Dining room side too.

The Green Shelf and wall.  This is the centerpiece of my living room so it has got to look good and sister, it does!  I can't get the whole wall and shelf in a photo so this is the mostly wall shot.

And this is the all shelf photo.  I absolutely LOVE the flanking floor areas.  Those spots always give me an issue every year.  I think the wrapped "presents" are gonna be my regular Saturday night thing from here on out.

A shelfie close-up.

This area is a repeat for several years now.  The Santa Shrine.

In the display area right below the Santa Shrine I put up the village with the robots attacking...only I forgot to put in the flame lights so it's more like the robots are just taking a stroll.

This is a new display this year and I love it!  It's the wall above our computer and it tends to be one of those 'leftovers' walls but this year it's prime.

The couch corner table area is the same as the last few years.

So this wall was on it's way to being the 'leftovers'.  It only had the wreath, the large candy cane, the 2 stockings and the Seasons Greetings tray.  Not bad...but not enough oomph.  I then added the pixies and it was getting better.  On a whim I wedged the Santa cardboard die cut into the candy cane to fill the void...yep, that's it.  Then evened it out with a few smaller candy canes on the other side.  But it still needed something wide on the bottom to balance it all.  I also didn't have many items left in my Christmas what-not arsenal.  I thought about it for longer than I care to admit but it came to me.  I hung a tree skirt on a wooden dowel along with a mini plastic wreath to hid the middle opening.  I think it's fairly brilliant!  This set is going to also be a regular Saturday night thing each year.

Pixies in a candy cane punch bowl hot tub on the coffee table.

He knows when you are sleeping...

Wonky angle of the last wall.

Now for the big area of decor, the centerpiece of the holiday....

The tree...or I should say trees!  I decided this year since I didn't have a tree theme to go big in another way by using 3 trees.  I made an aluminum tree forest with "snow" for the precious deer to frolic in!

The blanket of snow is a couple of white sheets with white Christmas lights underneath.  I used some cotton batting (snow) under the deer to hide their yard stakes.  Lastly I tossed in a bunch of "snowballs" (ginormous white pom poms).

I know it's not becoming for one to toot their own trumpet but I am super proud of how this year's decor turned out.  It's been a really good morale boost for me.  I will sit up sometimes til 2 in the morning just enjoying it, listening/watching a "crackling fire" on the computer screen....just love it.

 I really try every year to improve my Holiday decor so it's kinda fun to see the progression.  Visit these posts of Christmas past to see for yourself:

Decked Out Christmas 2020

Xmas Decor 2019

 Kitschmas Decor 2018

Hall Decking 2017

Hall Decking 2016

Hall Decking 2015

Now the jingle bell hop has begun...2014

Hall Decking 2013

Hall Decking 2012

Christmas Decor 2011

Robots Attack Christmas 2010 (not too much decor though)

Tis the season for extension cords 2005

Gift Box Decor Repurpose

Here is a close-up of the green shelf floor flanking decor:

 

This area is always a challenge each year to decorate.  It has to be something with height and fairly symmetrical.  The idea of large wrapped presents came to me and seemed like a good solution but I didn't have any spare boxes or so I thought....

Wait a minute!  I sure do!

I wrapped all the boxes that the original vintage Christmas decor comes in!  I even did it in a way that the boxes can be accessed to put away their original contents without ripping off the paper. As long as the wrapping paper doesn't get scuffed up in storage I can reuse them again next year!

Holiday Front Door Decor

I went "wild with allspice" on our front stoop this year for the holidays.

 Usually it's just the lights, a wreath, the styrofoam Santa head wedged into the round rack, and a holiday ribbon scarf on the porch spider.

This year I made the spider (who really needs a name...) a Santa hat, a nailed up a tray on the wall, put up some garland, put big blow mold Santa outside, and added several new pieces.  The little silver trees were from Dirt Cheap, only one buck each so I bought 6.  With the new addition of the melted popcorn snowmen I added my Santa one I already had to the set.  Next year I think I may add some decorations to the mini trees, a pair of somethings to the round rack next to Santa, and something to the bottom section of the door.  Just thinking out loud...planning and scheming...Griswold with a little Cousin Eddie styling is always the goal.

Christmas Tree Cake

I made this here cute Christmas tree sheet pan cake for us this week ( template here).

 I didn't use the recipe given by Country Living.  I didn't even realize they had a recipe until I was setting up the link back for this post.  I just came across the image as inspiration on pinterest and did my own thing.  The weird thing about this cake is it's baked on a cookie sheet, kinda like a jelly roll.  I looked through my Betty Crocker 1956 Picture Cook book and decided to use the following recipe for Dinette Cake since it sounded like it would be a small and it turned out to be the exact amount needed for the 13x9 inch pan:

And of course it was good...it's cake!

4 PC. Holiday Bath Ensemble Ad

I bought this neat 4 pc holiday bath ensemble at an estate sale back in 2017.

I just found the ad listing for it!

It was from a catalog called Greenland Studios 1969.

{image source}

For the long neglected "Johnny room"?  I have never heard it called that.  Maybe that's like The John but the kid's bathroom? "Listen for the hilarious reaction."  I used to have another vintage toilet seat cover that had Santa on the lid saying "Ho Ho Ho!" but when the lid was lifted and the user saw the under side it had Santa holding his nose saying "No No No!".  Now, that always got a reaction!  I unfortunately got rid of that cover years ago because it was too small for the lid in the next house I lived in...I mean what a doofus thing to do!  I could have hung it up on the wall in the bathroom as decor....

The website I found this ad on has more scans of items for sale and they are some kooky doodads.  Perfect for the person who has everything, because there's no way they have a Schnozzle warmer or a live sea monkey in an aquarium necklace.

Check it all out at Flashbak.

 

2021 Holly Boy Sightings

Last year I told you all about The Holly Boy . (Seen above is my DIYed version.)  He is a wreath turned boy turned holiday emotional support elf for a little overthinking kid named Linda in a story from 1955.  The marketers really tried to get him into the legends group (Santa, Frosty, Rudolph) but he just didn't have what it took I guess.  There was apparently a song, a story book, a figurine, and other paraphernalia on the shelves to get him out in the public.  "Merch" as the kids call it.  It's this merch that I like to try to uncover out in internet land.  I didn't seek out holly boy too much this year but still had a few sightings on ebay.

I found this set of drinking glasses for 25 bucks:

(Right now on ebay is another set of glasses with paper coasters going for 87.50...down from 250.00)

I found this set of "Snack mats":

I can't remember the price that was being asked, 12 bucks feels about right though.

 

{Here is the back of the box with cute mid mod graphics!}

I also came across one of the original story books (15 bucks) but didn't save a pic.

 I see alot of these items being tagged "Made in England".  I'm thinking that after Holly Boy didn't make a splash in the states they shipped him overseas for a go.  For all I know maybe he has a following over there...

Mystik Christmas Home Decorations

{New Xmas stuffs 2021}

Mr. Husband got this little vintage craft idea booklet for me for Christmas last year.  I freaking LOVE it!

It show a multitude of different designs one could do using Mystik brand tape.  The ideas can still be done using other tapes, construction paper or party streamers in modern times

I scanned all of the pages as a Christmas gift to you all!

Enjoy!