7 Things to Do this Holiday Season

In today's fast paced, instant gratification world where anything you want is just a click away why not take a step back and enjoy some "old fashion" holiday cheer. Below are few things that are synonyms with the holiday season ...

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Attend a performance of the Nutcracker Ballet
To me the Nutcracker ballet captures the magic of the season... dreaming, believing, imagination. A great opportunity to introduce little ones to ballet. If you can't make it to a live performance, you can watch it via DVD.

Watch the original 1947 version 
- with Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara and John Payne

Cold evenings and afternoons offer the perfect opportunity to gather the family and watch a movie.

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Host a Christmas Hot Chocolate party

Hot chocolate is perfect for taking the cold winter chill off. For adults you can add a little liqueur and for the children (young and old) marshmallows and sprinkles are always a huge hit!

Volunteer - at your local shelter 
there are many families who without the help of volunteers will not have a holiday meal. Make a difference, it's a gift that is priceless.

Have your picture taken with Santa

You are NEVER too old to believe in Santa ...

Bake cookies 

Ginger bread, shortbread cookies, Christmas cake are perfect for eating and giving as gifts, especially when baked with love from scratch.

What do you try and do every year during the holiday season?

Hugs,


Stay in Step with High Heeled Life ...

A Nutcracker Christmas ~ and ~ Christmas GIVE AWAY

We have been working hard at the HHL country home, getting ready for Christmas and the celebrations of the season. This year is the first Christmas in 5 years that I am looking forward to. With my love of ballet and memories of going to see the Nutcracker Ballet on my birthday... The Nutcracker theme was perfect for our home.

Trying to bring some tradition back into the celebration of Christmas, we choose to not add the Angel to the top of tree during Advent. Instead on Christmas eve we will set the Angel in place at the top of the tree and light it's candles.

A pretty ballerina dances about....

ballet slippers ...

Clara and her Nutcracker gift ...

Christmas horse....

The Mouse King

Our guests are greeted by a nature scene inspired from our property..

Little Dolce, checking out the gifts under the tree... woofing that some be for him...

This is a special Nativity that is dear to Mr. G's heart and we place out each year.

Notice the crèche is empty ... it will remain empty until midnight Christmas eve...

The reason for Christmas celebration!!!

Since the Christmas season is for giving ... What better time

 to host a GIVE AWAY!!

When I hosted a Girls Christmas Tea last month, this was one of the prizes a lucky guest won! 

When purchasing it, I decided that my Blog Friends should also have an opportunity to win a teacup and saucer set.. so of course an extra was purchased and set aside for this give away!

This is a ROYAL ALBERT teacup and saucer...

I love the details ... the gold rim edges, the flower bouquet that greets you as you bring the teacup to to your lips.

The detail on the saucer is magnificent!

The pattern is LADY CARLYLE....

The Give Away is open to ALL followers, 

Yes, no matter where you live!

All you need to qualify is be an existing Follower or new follower of this blog Falling Off A High Heeled Life (via Google friend connect) and leave a comment.

EXTRA Chances to win

~ If you are a BlogLand Pen Pal participant, leave a  separate comment saying you participate in BlogLand Pen Pal

~ Post about this giveaway or add it to your right side bar with a link back to this post , leave a  separate comment 

~ Become a subscriber to Falling Off A High Heeled Life posts via email (you'll find the email subscription box on the right side bar ... enter your email address and hit submit, leave a separate comment indicating  that you receive Falling Off A High Heeled Life posts via email.

Good Luck to Everyone! Give Away ends December 24th, 2011

  

Tea Time Tuesday ~ with Sandi 

Tea Party Tuesday ~ with Trish

Tea Time Tuesday ~ with Lady Katherine

Martha's & Terri's Tea Time Tuesday

Tuesday Tea for Two ...3

Table Top Tuesday 

Teacup Thursdays

Tablescape Thursday

Also joining Flip Flops and Pearls for Semi-wordless Wednesday

                   Keeping the Spirit of Christmas Alive, 365 for I'll Be Home For Christmas linky party

Festive Floral Arrangements

I have been wanting to participate in the Home Tour Tuesday linking parties our friend D. over at Flip Flops and Pearls has been hosting. Unfortunately decorating this year has been defeated by the delay in renovations to our kitchen and family room. Thankfully we are now at the point where we will be contractor free for the next 3 plus months and though things are not quite complete (like no-kitchen counters) it is manageable (we now have a functioning stove with a real oven ~ many posts to come in 2011, on this alone).

So, I'm finally able to participate in the Christmas cheer via her Semi Wordless Wednesday! Thanks D. for creating and hosting fabulous blog parties.

I picked up 2- half dozen each of  these beautiful white and just a hint of green roses (my father was a master rose grower, his garden was always in bloom with fragrant delights) some greenery and red berries, from a local floral shop. Once home I snipped and went about grouping my lovelies into 3 arrangements.

                                                   

I made a little one to go on my desk , it looked great next to my inspiration Snowman, I won in a giveaway at Silver Strands earlier in the year. To me he reminds me to not give up~ if you believe all things are possible. after all the children believed and that's how Frosty came to life. You can find a similiar (as it's original art work) magical Snowman and a wonderful selection of other equally magical art work, over at the wonderful creator Barb's Heartstrokes , blog.

In the Master Bedroom ensuite a fuller arrangement was added

between our sinks. Adding a hint of the season, I love seeing fresh

cut flowers first thing in the morning.

In our guest bathroom, I added a similiar size arrangement ,

perched above our musical Angel.

Participating in ...

The Meaning of Christmas ~ Part One

This time of the year has always been thrilling time for me; the parties to attend and host; the beautiful window displays at Holt's; Santa Claus parade; skating at Nathan Phillips Square; hot chocolate;my birthday celebrationS ... yes with being born 6 days before Christmas ... one took advantage of the WHOLE month and celebrated! Christmas for me also meant lots of wonderful packages to wrap and open.  

The past Christmas post accident have been much more low key and this year as I look back its amazing, though I knew the meaning  of Christmas, how easily the commercialization had taken hold. Things that should have held special meaning were really everyday occurrence and had lost much of the lustre they should have held. Celebration was the main event, but really what were we celebrating???

This year more than ever I'm feeling something is missing. Don't get me wrong a little blue box in my stocking would certainly be welcomed... but I want more!!!

Have you found over the years, that the simple meaning of Christmas has been tucked away at the back of a closet collecting dust?

BlogFriends Bringing Virtual Friends to the Real World...

Hi there I just love it when friends across Blogland host fabulous parties, that enable us to connect outside the Virtual World that has made it possible for us cross paths!!!

Recently Flip Flops and Pearls hosted a great Christmas Gift Swap!!! I loved shopping for my Christmas Swap partner , she's a mom of 2 who has developed a passion for running to stay fit... so I went with that bit of information.Can't wait to hear what she thinks of my choices for her and hope that it brings a smile to her day.

Well, the Christmas Gift Swap at Flip Flops & Pearls has closed for this year. But I'm certain if you keep visiting our Hostess D. will have a new creative party soon.

In the meantime, if you want to share a little friendship outside the Virtual World , click on over to Life of Meg, who is hosting a fab-u-lous idea .. A Mitten Mixer, to find out more click here.

Also Meg's friend Laura at The Luckiest in Love held an Ornament Swap (which I some how just missed :( it closed Nov. 21), she has a great blog too!!

Thank you ladies for making BlogFriendships a little more personal!! Your creative ideas, time and effort to coordinate these fun off-line make it a great day for all!! Pop on over an give them a BIG BLOGLAND HELLO!!

Also a reminder that if you are planning to participate in the BlogLand Pen Pal for December, please email me your snail mail address by November 30th ~  at Fallingoffahighheeledlife@gmail.com  to find out more click here.

  

If you participated in November and would like to participate again, just let me know via email and I will be happy to partner you up again with someone in for December.

How wonderful would it me to receive an actual handwritten letter!!!

Especially during this wonderful time of the year ...