Ooh! This one looks like fun! I got it from Natalie…

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both
2. Real tree or artificial? Fakey fake fake!!!
3. When do you put up the tree? The week after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? New Year’s Day
5. Do you like eggnog?I LOVE really good Eggnog…like really really good…
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Baby Alive Doll, who promptly got mold up her um, intestinal tract.
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? A huge Ceramic one my Grandmother made, but I haven’t been brave enough to put it to the Doods test.
8. Hardest person to buy for? My Father-In-Law
9. Easiest person to buy for? My boys. The funniest things make them sublimely happy…like flashlights…who knew?!?
10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Footie Jammies when I was 13. I would probably love them now, but at the time I was SO over “baby Jammies”
11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail, definitely. And if I ever get the time, handmade too!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story of course!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Um, January??
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Did I mention they were FOOTIE jammies??
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? HoneyBaked Ham and Cheesy Potatoes.
16 Clear lights or colored on the tree? Both…Lots of both.
17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night. Never fails to give me chills and bring me to the edge of tears.
18 Travel at Christmas or stay home? Definitely Stay at Home – Although a day at Disneyland wouldn’t suck!
19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Yep!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Definitely a Star. I remember fondly a crazy tinsel and lights confection on my grandparents Christmas tree…
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One traditional present on Christmas Eve {new PJ’s} and the rest on Christmas.(Natalie - me too!)
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? All the crazy grumpy people.
23. Favorite Christmas tradition? Fireplace, Lit up tree, Sparkling wine on Christmas eve…followed by us usually falling asleep before the boys do.
24. Up early or sleeping in? Early, early, early…I have yet to teach the boys my tradition of putting on the coffee and Christmas music before waking mom & dad.
25. Who hands out the gifts? Anyone but me. I am usually taking the pictures
26. Does Santa wrap your gifts? No…DUH! The ELVES do it!
27. Do you tell the Christmas story? Haven’t yet, but we will be this year.
28. Do you leave cookies for Santa? Yes, of course! But I think I really like Natalie’s tradition -( Of course! Cookies and milk! And a note. And Santa writes back. And we keep all the letters {along with our Christmas photo/letter from that year} in our “Nativity Box” so we can look back from year to year.)

Alrighty, then. Let’s hear all about Christmas at YOUR house. Tag. You’re it!

Thanks Natalie, this was fun!!

 I find it so hard to get in the mood out here sometimes. Seriously, it’s supposed to get up near 80* today…WTH?? I go thru the motions, and do what I need to do, but I find it so hard sometimes to fa-la-la-la my way around this time of year. Even my beloved Harry (Connick) isn’t helping (I know, right??).

I am excited to show you a few goodies I have made, but they have to get to their destination first, as I don’t want to spoil the surprise. I have a couple to go into my etsy shop too…Which brings me to my next question. When you see goodies on someone’s site, are you more likely to buy if they are right there, or are you ok with having to go to a site like etsy to purchase something?? Curious minds want to know!

PS-make sure to keep checking on my google reader over there <<< – there are some really cool ideas and things other creative people are making for the holidays…lots of tutorials too!!

Many of you know Pat Sloan as the Queen of Quilting, but maybe you didn’ty know that Pat also makes amazing aprons too…and she has made 2 aprons just for us to do a giveaway for you!

Pat sent us a wonderful story to share with all of you…enjoy!

I’m pretty much an apron collector… over the years I’ve picked up aprons at flea markets and antique stores. Aprons have found their way to me via friends and family and I often covet an apron that someone else has!

The first ‘antique’ apron I bought was this Rock-and-Roll piece which is MUCH loved! I am sure the lady must have been tiny because she put a HUGE hem in it. This apron put me on the hunt for more (and who doesn’t love the HUNT!).

Others that are too fun for words are the frilly ‘cocktail’ aprons. Now did someone really wear these? I’ll bet they did…. Martini anyone?

During the last few years I’ve made a few aprons to be used, given them as gifts, and kept them for myself. Recently I’m into a trim apron and adore the half/cafe aprons for hauling my stuff around when I work. Here I am wearing my current work apron.

I’m ever so pleased to share my apron obsession with you. If you want to hang out, I blog every day at http://patsloan.typepad.com where I chat about all things fun; from fabric, decorating, and food to traveling, books, and how to fit getting stuff done into our busy lives.

In my ‘real life’ I’m an author, fabric designer, traveling lecturer/instructor and quilt pattern maker. You can see my work at my website http://www.QuiltersHome.com where I have a neat little store with lots of my stuff and other ‘finds’ that I know you’ll love … at 15% off the entire month of November… yeah you!

So… I’ll see you soon!

So we are lucky enough to have Pat give away one of two Aprons she made just for this giveaway…all you need to do is go to her page HERE, and choose which Apron you would like – the Blue Moon, or the Chocolate Covered Cherries, and comment back here with your choice. YOU can also enter again by posting about the giveaway on your own site and linking back to us – GOOD LUCK!!