'Tis the season....

...for a Christmas survey!

I got this from Whitney over at The Glamorous Life of a Housewife. If you've never checked out her blog, do so now! You'll love her and, of course, her adorable son, Levi!

Here goes! (By the way, has anybody been having trouble copying and pasting into blogger? I had to retype this whole thing.)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Most definitely wrapping paper unless it's something that won't fit in a box (i.e. wine) or for a white elephant exchange at work (because, really, I don't care that much.)

2. Real tree or artificial? REAL! My parents have to have an artificial one and it ALWAYS causes so much stress trying to put it together and get the lights working. And I love the look of a real tree (even the imperfections).

3. When do you put up the tree? Either the day after Thanksgiving or the Sunday after, depending on our Thanksgiving/Clemson-Carolina football game plans.

4. When do you take the tree down? The week after Christmas, and always before New Year's Day. In my family, it's a superstition that if the tree is up past New Year's, it's bad luck.

5. Do you like eggnog? I have never had it, but I don't think I would like it for some reason.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Oh gosh, probably one of my million Cabbage Patch dolls.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My dad

8. Easiest person to buy for? WEG because there is usually something he wants that makes it easy!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I got it for Christmas last year and it has a custom-built manger. I LOVE it!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, definitely. It's much more personal. Just cough up the 44 cents per stamp.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmm, can't think of a truly terrible one, but my mom gave me this necklace last year that she and I both agreed was not my style once I tried it on. Back to the store it went.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? The Family Stone, but you can't find it on DVD which is annoying!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I started this year in September. I usually like to be 75% done by December. Currently, I'm about 95% done!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No, but we have recycled a few of my mom's teacher gifts...shhh, don't tell.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? mini Ritz bits crackers with peanut butter dipped in white chocolate, Peppermint hot chocolate on Christmas morning while opening presents, Snow mints from Hickory Farm, Mom's breakfast on Christmas morning

16. Lights on the tree- colored or clear? White lights now, but I think colored lights for children are fun.

17. Favorite Christmas song? I'm not a huge fan of Christmas music except at church. I like Silent Night on Christmas Eve at the church where my mom grew up because the whole church lights candles and they turn out the lights. And I also like the song, "Mary, Did You Know?"

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Well, travel, but it's to my parents, so not technically "traveling" in my opinion

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I think. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph...is that all of them? I tried to sing the song.

20. Angle, star, or ribbon on the top of the tree? We mostly had an angel growing up, but then switched to a ribbon. I used a ribbon a couple of years, but then WEG said he wanted an angel, so that's what we have. My parents now have a star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Christmas morning traditionally, but you never know when new traditions will have to be made and I am not opposed to Christmas Eve.

22. Favorite children's Christmas song? "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"

23. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic around the shopping areas and how people are trying to replace Merry Christmas with Happy Holidays to be politically correct. I celebrate Christmas, so that's what I'm going to say.

24. Favorite ornament theme or color? No theme, so I guess eclectic. And I am partial to the traditional red and green colors (or variations) and gold and silver.

25. Turkey or ham on Christmas day? Neither! We do a big breakfast mid-morning and then a dinner of something non-traditional like fried chicken :-) Turkey and ham so close after Thanksgiving is not my family's favorite.

26. What do you want for Christmas this year? There are a few things on my list!

27. Does anyone in your family dress up as Santa? No

28. Age you discovered who Santa was? I don't remember the particular age, but my parents hid a "boom box" in my grandmother's walk-in closet and I went in there and discovered it, but didn't tell. Lo and behold, "Santa" delivered the present on Christmas morning. I'm pretty sure I had an inkling before that, but that sealed the deal.

29. Eggnog, hot chocolate or apple cider? I'm not a huge fan of hot drinks, except around Christmas, and then it's usually a peppermint white mocha from Starbucks or peppermint hot chocolate from Williams-Sonoma on Christmas morning. Definitely don't care for apple cider.

30. Traditional colors or other colors? I think I answered this in the ornament question, but reds and greens, with gold and silver accents.

31. Do you have an Christmas decorations on your roof? No, although WEG did consider putting something up there to outdo our neighbors.

32. How does Santa getn into your house? Chimney or magic key? Well, since there are no children residing in our house, we haven't crossed this bridge. I think it would be chimney, though.

33. Do you prefer gifts or gift cards? I love gifts, but gift cards are always useful... Especially when I get a Target one from my mama in my stocking :-)

34. Favorite children's Christmas cartoon? Hmm....I guess it's the Grinch, although I don't watch any of them these days. I don't recall ever being really into Charlie Brown, and I guess I liked Rudolph okay.

Now it's your turn! Enjoy!