Dean Martin Christmas Music
For as long as I can remember, this has been my favorite Christmas album to play on repeat the second Thanksgiving is over. I love every single song on it, especially “A Marshmallow World.” There’s something beautiful about his old-school crooning, and it’s just full of pure, upbeat, happy Christmas tunes. Michael Buble’s Christmas CD comes in close second, but Dean Martin will always be my number one.
White Christmas
On that note, let’s talk Christmas movies. Of course I love the new ones like Elf and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but nothing will beat White Christmas. It is without a doubt my favorite Christmas movie, and definitely one of my favorite movies of all time. I love popping it into the DVD player and delving into the four characters’ stories. I get sucked in year after year – the music is classic and the dancing is fantastic. It’s a real treasure of a film and I love curling up with hot chocolate to watch it. I’m excited too because I just found out there’s an old music/movie theater a few blocks from my apartment that’s playing White Christmas on the big screen in the weeks leading up to Christmas! How fun! Now to recruit an accomplice…
One of the best scenes from the movie…
Picking Out a Real Tree
My family has always held a firm position that there is no fake tree on the planet that can outshine a real one. My dad *claims* when we were two or three that the family chopped down our own, but sine there’s no photo evidence I have to classify that as legend. Nonetheless every year my dad, brother and I hop in the Highlander and pick out a real, live, pine-smelling, needle-dropping tree. It’s a tradition I hold near and dear and am so happy that I got to do it this year the day before I moved.
Decorating With My Family
Speaking of traditions, the four of us always find a few hours to gather around the tree, pull out all our old ornaments, sip eggnog and play the aforementioned Dean Martin. The best part is during “A Marshmallow World” when Dean Sing’s about a “Pumpkin Head” and my dad just bursts out laughing at my unfortunate nickname. We always talk about each ornament, where it came from, and why it’s important. We have ornaments from both my parents’ houses growing up as well as family ornaments we’ve accumulated over the years AND ones specifically for life milestones for Steve and me. It’s fun to remember all those times in little globes of glass.
Candy Dishes
Enough said. I’ve already gone through a bag of Hershey kisses and I’m WELL on my way to finishing the other two bags of Dove Chocolates. No regrets.
Holiday Parties
I was lucky enough to make the Holiday Party for the Windy City Blogger Collective (WCBC). I just joined now that I’m a resident of 60657 (woo!) and already I know I made a great decision! The holiday party took place at a swanky Gold Coast restaurant called Del Frisco’s. There was coat check (wait I don’t have to find a booth in the corner to hide my coat under?) and even a girl with a guest list – like, a physical, on-a-clipboard, guest list. It took her a few extra seconds to find my name and I thought I for sure wasn’t cool enough to get in. But pretty soon I was clunking around in my heels with a glass of Prosecco in my hand, hob-knobbing with the finest bloggers in the city. (I’ve always wanted a reason to use the verb hob-knob — score!) This night marked an even bigger occasion, though — I FINALLY MET SUSIE! I definitely felt like I was sitting with the cool kids at the lunch table — this girl knows everyone! Not to mention she’s just as goofy and kind as you’d expect. I’ll admit it was a treat to see her many off-the-wall faces in real life and not just in photos. They are legit.
Another surprise was meeting Cara from Fit Busy Female (who has already stolen my future life by marrying a perfect Chicago man and naming their firstborn Addison. Blast.) and Erin from Loop Looks. Both incredible women who I look up to as well. I love meeting people who started in a job they didn’t love but who took initiative to create a unique path for themselves. It was wonderful chatting with everyone!
Ironically enough I’ve never taken worse photos than I did at this event.
Snagged myself a pair of the striped socks
Shitty photo, great prosecco
Unbelievable chandelier
Mulitple-level wine cellar (*swoon*)
Beautiful drinks, complete with berry and flower garnishes. Too bad I don’t like whiskey because these looked fabulous!
You know it’s a snazzy affair if casual fire is involved
Aside from those god-awful photos, it was such a warm, welcoming and spirited event. My favorite part was knowing I was surrounded by passionate people. Everyone there has their “thing” — there were fashion bloggers, lifestyle writers, fitness lovers and foodies galore. But everyone there has dedicated time and love to their passion and it’s an energy you can physically feel in a room. Definitely a wonderful first holiday party of the season.
Questions:
- What’s your favorite Christmas movie?
- Favorite holiday music/song?
- Any big plans to host a holiday party this year? Or have you ever been to any crazy-classy parties in the past? Do tell!
i had a big lunch 
Argh what a fun event! I need to move to Chicago…cerealsly.
We actually don’t have many Christmas traditions EXCEPT the candy bowl..which ironically, always melts because Australia – Summer.
Get it together, Australia!! C’mon! Cerealsly.
That blogger meet up sounds like so much fun!!! Combine that with some Christmas glow and cheer and you have a perfect evening!
I only watched White Christmas for the first time a couple of weeks ago!! I know, I know, I can’t believe it took me so long to watch it! but I loved it!! I told my mum that I had never seen it until then and she said that she felt like a bad parent for not watching it with me when I was younger! Haha!
Well in her defense there are thousands of “classics that you have to see.” haha but isn’t it wonderful? It always gets me in the Christmas spirit!
First off–I am GREEN with envy that you got to meet my BlogGirl Crush Suze!!!! What a snazz event! Casual fire and all! What a great way to network. Wishing we had something like that around these parts. Favorite Christmas Movie? I’m currently tethered to the Hallmark Channel and that goddamn Lifetime watching any cheesy Christmas movie I can get my paws on. Seriously. I’m addicted to Christmas Crap. 🙂
Hahaha I’ve always heard about those movies but I’ve never seen one! I bet they’re deliciously cheesy 🙂 and she has always been my bloggirl crush too so I was a total fangirl!
Oh god. You will get sucked into a Polar Christmas Vortex of CHEESE. It’s fantastic. 🙂
I’m the weirdo who doesn’t like White Christmas…. I know, I know.. I don’t know why, but it just doesn’t entertain me. Buuuuut I do miss decorating with my family. Decorating my apartment is definitely not as exciting as decorating at my mom’s house. Also, that blog event sounds so fun! The Pittsburgh Blogger’s group is pretty lame..actually, really lame. ….don’t tell them I said that though 😉
Get out of these parts! haha just kidding 🙂 decorating in your family home is a feeling that’s hard to replicate. Move to Chicago! Get on it!
That party was so much fun, and not necessarily because of the event itself–I was totally involved with some pretty freaking awesome people who need to set up a Dylan’s and Blue Door date with me very very very soon! SO GLAD that we finally get to meet. It will not be the last time!
Agree agree agree! I’m really pumped to try Blue Door so that will have to happen asap
Uggghhh I am so sad I missed this party. But great to hear it was a blast. Can’t wait for us to all meet up – so I can join in on the fun!
Hey you were off being the busy superwoman you are 😉 we’ll just have to make up for it by eating at Blue Door! I’ve talked about it pretty much every day since you brought it up haha it looks delicious!
That party sounds so fun! I’ve only met one of my blogger friends in real life. My favorite Christmas album growing up was Bing Crosby’s White Christmas. It’s the best.
Bing Crosby IS Christmas 🙂
I just watched White Christmas with my friends – the oldies really are the best! And I’m obsessed with Roger Whittaker’s Christmas album, which I’m pretty sure makes me an old man, ha.
The oldies really are the best. I need to watch more of them! I’ve never heard of Roger Whittaker haha but I’ll have to check him out 🙂
I want that chandelier in my house. Is that too much to ask?
Hahaha yeah you’d need some wicked tall ceilings! But isn’t it beautiful? So shiny!
Love the pics.. Unfortunately we have a fake tree this year because our apartment is so tiny haha, I’ve been stocking up on pine scented candles though!
Favorite xmas moves.. Love actually
Favorite song.. O Holy Night by Celine Dion, it’s so dramatic but I just love it lol.
Party plans… We are doing a progressive dinner with my family. I am hosting appetizers and cocktails.
🙂
My apartment has two fake trees and while I love them (and respect their cleanliness haha) I really can’t wait to go to my childhood home and see the beautiful big REAL tree. I think I’m the only person in the world who doesn’t care for Love Actually! People are obsessed!
actually never seen White Christmas (i’m a major fail with movies), but i dig real trees and decorating w/ the fam, too. and holiday parties and that multi-level wine cellar?! whattttt. i need that in my life.
Can you imagine exploring that wine cellar? How fun! Get on seeing that movie asap!
my fav. Christmas album/singer is Michael Buble. He makes my heart melt, and is basically the only person able to get me into the Christmas Spirit!
Michael Buble’s album really is amazing too. That voice! It’s like butter
Aww, you met Erin! How great! Erin’s wonderful. It looks like that party was super cool. I don’t care about blogging nearly enough to want to join WCBC, but from things I’ve seen on blogs/instagram they seem to put on some really, really sweet events throughout the year. All of my holiday parties are really low key affairs, but that’s quite all right by me. I’m all about occasions where I can wear jeans and not look out of place 😛
I loved the event! Im easily shy in social situations so im trying to get out there more.
Im going to have to say that Frank Sinatra beats Dean Martin. I’m sorry, but he will always be my one true love.
I also love White Christmas and made my husband watch it with me last year. I thought he would make fun of me, but he totally got down with it. Maybe we will have to go see it in this mystery theater…
It’s at Music Box just past Southport and Addison! You guys should totally go!
I love Christmas music. Plus decorating the tree and driving around to look at lights were also favorite holiday things of mine to do.
Driving around to look at lights! Thats something we used to do too – so fun!
Love all of the Christmas love in this post! I’m really enjoying my (real) tree thus far this month and I also love decorating! I may or may not keep buying more holiday decor to put up around my house….
I don’t blame you! You can never get enough 🙂
Looks like you and your family have lots of fun around the holidays. My husband loves all the Sinatra songs and makes me listen to them around this time of year.
Sinatra is where it’s at! I love those classic voices!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeee all the pics!!! Love Christmas! Love you! ❤