TMI Tuesday - Happy Holidays

This time of year there are so many holidays and celebrations that overlap, which is why it is called Holiday Season.

1. What will you be celebrating? If it isn’t a commonly known holiday or celebration (i.e., Christmas, winter solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa) briefly tell us about it.
I'm an atheist, yet I celebrate Christmas. I'm very pagan about it though and really just put up a Christmas tree, decorations, buy presents, and celebrate Santa. I use this time of year to buy gifts for people and let everyone in my life know how thankful I am for them. - Jules 
I'm celebrating Christmas though I don't get into the religious aspects of it.  The older I get the more I question stuff like that.  I believe in God but not organized religion if that makes any sense.  For me Christmas is about honoring people in your life who you love and care about. This Christmas is going to be really weird for me because it will be the first one I won't have the kids for and the first one I'll wake up alone on Christmas morning. Not looking forward to that at all.  - Miranda

I'm celebrating Christmas in Hawaii!!! Christmas has never had much of a religious meaning to me it's always been about spending time with my family and friends, eating lots of good food and giving and getting presents!  My mom had lots of little Christmas traditions when I was growing up and I can't wait to start my own now that I'll be celebrating in 80 degree weather on a tropical island! -Gwyn

2. What’s your favorite Christmas or holiday tune?
I just answered this on Osbasso's blog last night. I love, love, love the David Bowie and Bing Crosby Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy...omg awesome song. I also really love Silver Bells. - Jules 
I love Oh Holy Night. It gives me chills.  I also love I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. - Miranda

I love "Baby It's Cold Outside". -Gwyn 

3. If you are giving or receiving gifts this holiday season:
- What’s the gift you most want?
- What do you think is the best gift you are giving? 
I want a stand up paddle board, but since I didn't ask for one and I don't know anyone that can presently afford to buy me one, I'm hoping for a Kindle. My grandparents sent me money today, so if my Mom doesn't buy me one that's what I'm getting. The best gift I'm giving is Chloe's sunrise shell necklace. I picked out the shell at our local Farmer's Market from these guys that dive and find them around here. I'm giving her a chain to go with it that Russell gave me years ago that I don't wear anymore. She will think that is pretty cool. - Jules
I don't know that I have anything that I want.  Maybe I'm hoping that I'll magically get a big wad of cash to help pay for my townhouse or that I'll finally find someone who's not a gimp.  I got the kids some cool/fun stuff  but the funniest gift I'm giving is 5 lbs of jolly ranchers to my brother in law. Each year the adults in my family draw names and a "theme" for the gift.  This year we did the 5 senses and I got his name and taste.  - Miranda

I didn't ask for anything big this year because my mom and grandmother have helped me so much with my move to Hawaii. But par for the course, my grandmother sent me a check last week so that McDreamy and I can "do everything and anything you want in Maui." I used some of the money she sent to book tickets to go whale watching on New Year's Eve so I'd say that's the best gift I've gotten so far!!! The surprise trip to Maui from McDreamy was a pretty awesome present too! As far as what I'm giving, the funniest thing is a hula girl duster that I bought for my mom. I always give her a hard time about cleaning (we are complete opposites in that regard) and her least favorite cleaning chore is dusting...I know that hula girl is going to make her crack up. I sent everyone else goodies from Hawaii like coffee, mac nuts, etc. I'm also working on a surprise gift for Miranda!!!! -Gwyn 

4. If you could spend this December holiday season anywhere, where would that be? 
Um, I live in Hawaii...I'm perfectly happy spending it right where I am. Otherwise, I think NYC would be super fun but super cold....brrrr. - Jules
Duh Hawaii with my girls Gwyn and Jules! - Miranda

Agreed! I don't think you can ask for a better place to spend the holidays than in Hawaii. And no I do not miss seeing snow on Christmas. Not one bit. -Gwyn 

5. Your family has announced that the holiday celebration/get-together will be at your home. You think to yourself: 
a. Yes! Finally…the more the merrier.
b. I don’t have enough room for all of you, but let’s rent a hall and you all get hotel rooms.
c. Over my dead body, I don’t want you freaks in my house.
d. Hmm…I wonder if it’s too late to book a flight to anywhere, leaving on Christmas eve? 
I don't even know how to answer this...lol. I would welcome them all and find a way for us all to fit, so I guess a. Fortunately, we are a small family. It would never, ever happen though. My family does NOT travel during the holidays. - Jules
Well my family did actually announce this to me and I'm just hoping they all fit in my apartment.  Though they all live close enough that no one has to stay the night thank goodness. - Miranda

I would be happy for my family to come to my house for the holidays. However, they may have to ask the couple currently living in my house if they are ok with company. Meanwhile, I'll be 5,000 miles away at the beach! -Gwyn 

6. Have you ever given a fruit cake as a Christmas gift or a gift at all? Do you even like fruit cake? 
When I was a little girl, I used to sit with my grandmother and my great-grandmother in the kitchen while they made fruitcakes every year. I loved those days, but I hate fruit cake. I have never given one b/c I hate them...all those gross, uber preserved "fruit"...ick. - Jules
No and no and no.  One year someone gave me one and I tried to make Duckie eat it but he refused. - Miranda

God no! But the tradition is alive and well because both my mom and grandmother get them from people each year. If I'm going to give food it's going to be something that people will actually eat. -Gwyn 

Bonus:  Share with us one of your holiday traditions. 
We actually have a lot. I'm big on traditions and since I have a child, I try really hard to instill those in our home so that she remembers special things growing up. That being said, my favorite tradition is the fact that Russell and I start drinking Christmas Eve and we don't stop (except for a morning cup of regular coffee on Christmas morning) until Christmas night. We don't get shitty drunk or anything, but rather maintain a fun, constant buzz. It's pure awesomeness. The only problem that we've encountered is that we have to have our big meal on Christmas Eve or otherwise we're too tired and unmotivated to make it on Christmas night. - Jules
I'm actually not big on traditions.  What few my family had have kind of died out since my dad passed away.  We're still trying to figure out how to do the holidays without him.  About the only one I have kept up is putting the tree up the day after Thanksgiving and writing a letter from Santa for the kids which Duckie will have to do this year.  - Miranda

I had a lot of Christmas traditions growing up. My mom was really good about doing that for me even though it was just the two of us. Let's see.....we bought a new Santa figurine each year and displayed them in the living room...I always get a snoopy related item in my stocking, usually an ornament (and yes my mom shipped me a stocking to Hawaii this year!)....there are several gifts that my mom gives me each year no matter what (a book, panties, etc.)....my mom always had an advent calendar for me, the little cardboard ones with chocolate goodies....we made cookies for Santa and left him a note...every year on Christmas morning we watch Peewee Herman's Christmas Special....my mom always drove me to see the Christmas lights the week before Christmas....there are plenty more but those are the ones that come to mind. -Gwyn