~ My Favorite Things ~

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright cooper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with string

These are a few of my favorite things.

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Mary Engelbreit Cross Stich Santa
Completed by M.Joy, 2006

Christmas really is my favorite time of year. Yes it can be stressful with the shopping, decorating, wrapping, baking, and endless family functions and parties...but it is also a magical time. The twinkling lights, the mysterious elf on the shelf (the elves for my niece and nephew are Buddy and Snowflake), the jolly Santas, singing Silent Night by candlelight, the absolute pure belief of children, the peppermint bark..the list goes on and on. I love pulling out my decorations each year and decorating my house. Yeah it takes time and energy and my house usually is a complete disaster area during the decorating, but it's all worth it in the end. I also love the shopping and getting to pick out just the right present for everyone on my lit. This year, I got to enjoy Christmas a little longer because my house was completely decorated by Thanksgiving and most of my shopping was done soon after that since I was having surgery. It was very nice to be able sit back and enjoy the magicalness (yes, I think I just made up a word) of the season.

In the spirit of Christmas (and the song), 

I thought I would share some of my Christmas favorite things with you.

Willow Tree Nativity
It sits on my mantle during the year and gets moves to the entertainment center for Christmas!

Really Woolly Nativity
One of my favorite decorations!

The Mantle
Notice George's Stocking!

The Piano
(one of my favorite things in my house)
The garland is lit...but half the lights have gone out.
I painted the "Believe" platter this summer and the plate is the 2012 plate from my Christmas china.
And...the red cylinder lamp on the right has "joy" carved all around the sides!

And now for the trees!

The Fireman /Firetruck/Dalmatian Tree in the guest room

The Georgia Tech Tree in the office

The "Joy' Tree in the piano room

The main tree in the great room...it looked much better with all the present under the tree!

And a few of my favorite presents...

Two new "Life Is Good' shirts from Amanda
I absolutely love them...and they are totally perfect for me!
M. Joy + Piano Playing + PBJ = Sheer Happiness

My sister and her family spoil me at Christmas!
Vera Bradley purse and messenger bag
Lilly Pulitzer insulated cooler tote

Coach Poppy Perfume from "Santa"

New luggage from Santa...and Mom and Dad!!
There is a medium bag inside the giant one.

The last time I got real luggage was 16.5 years ago at my high school graduation...

so glad to finally have real, grown-up luggage. 
Now I don't have to borrow my parents' every time I travel. 
I see a Connecticut, New York, Michigan trip over Spring Break to see some of my favorite people!

And last but certainly not least....


An awesome print from my parents!

There is a story behind this one. If you know me at all, you know I love dalmatians. My mom's father, better known as Chief or GP, was a captain in the Atlanta Fire Department and when I was growing up, my grandparents always had a Dalmatain as a pet...first Chief and then Fritz. After GP passed away, I decided to carry on the tradition. I first had Buzz and now George (and maybe I might have my sights on getting George a little brother or sister...just maybe). My mom was out to eat with some friends at the Applebee's in Monroe and they were about to start redecorating the restaurant. The waitress told them that if they saw anything they liked to let her know and she would send the manager over. The manager came over a few minutes later to tell them about the redecorating and to give them $5 coupons to use after the redecorating was over. My mom had seen a street sign that said "Dalmatian Street" and asked the manager about buying it. He said that a man at the bar had just left to go get cash to pay for the sign, but it the man didn't come back, then it was hers. Well, as luck would have it, the man did come back and pay for the sign. But...as my mom was walking out to leave, she saw this print hanging above the door. She asked how much it was and the manager told her to make an offer...she did and the deal was done! I love it!! Just have to figure out where I am going to hang it!

I know this post has been long, but I want to leave you with 2 short videos. Both of the videos really do help us remember that among the presents, twinkling lights, Santas, and cookies, there really is a true meaning of Christmas...the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.