It's Almost Here...

BEST members share some of their favorite holiday traditions:

My favorite holiday tradition is the way our family spends Christmas Eve...My mom makes the most yummy sugar cookies that we paint with icing after our dinner of lasagna...then we light a fire, and all sit down and watch It's a Wonderful Life together. - Lauren of jerseygirldesign

Cutting down our Christmas tree with my husband and how the scent lingers in my car for days after. I also love sipping eggnog as we decorate the house and listen to holiday carols. - Monica of sugarpaperie

Since it's just my husband and I we are in the process of making our own holiday traditions, but for the past couple of years now we have been having friends over on Xmas Eve Morning for a huge brunch- we are all in a food coma for the rest of the day! - Sherry of dandelionblu

Every Christmas Eve I make Pierogies and Kielbasa just like my grandmother used to, then I settle in for the 24 hour "A Christmas Story" marathon (much to may family's dismay). I just love that movie, a couple of years ago my husband actually got me a Red Ryder BB Gun and re-enacted the scene from the movie. You'll shoot your eye out, you'll shoot your eye out. I still have my heart set on a leg lamp. - Jill of jillpopowichdesigns

My favorite holiday tradition is putting the Christmas tree up every year on the day after Thanksgiving with my daughters. They have become quite the little helpers!!! - Erica of cekcustomdesigns

I really, really love decorating the tree. When we first moved into our apartment, and didn't have a tree, I just strung garland and lights on our mantel and push pinned ornaments into place. There's just something about this warm, glowing thing in your living room, covered in trinkets. our tree is all handmade stuff, and mostly birds and stars. it just makes me happy. - dana of greenstarstudio

My favorite Christmas tradition is watching holiday comedies in front of the fire with my family. We so look forward to this day, to not having any expectations except to relax and enjoy each other. - Shannon of sweetpepita

Every year my husband and I (and now our family) go to Valley View Farms and pick out one ornament for our tree that has a significance for us for the year. The Christmas displays there are overwhelmingly full of holiday cheer, and we can always find just the thing we want. - Jen of littlestbean


And some members share favorite holiday songs:

Joy to the World is my favorite Christmas song. I don't think you can hear it and not feel compelled to sing along. And when I say sing, I of course mean belt that sucker out with feeling, man. - Shannon of sweetpepita

My favorite song is "Carol of The Bells" I love to hear it performed live, it so dramatic! - Sherry of dandelionblu

"The Chanukah Song" by Adam Sandler. It is just funny, what more can I say. - Jill of jillpopowichdesigns

Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives is my favorite Christmas song because it's one of those songs that immediately gets you in a nostalgic, happy, remember when... kinda mood! - Jen of yummyandcompany

The twelve days of christmas... but only the version the muppets sing. Why? Well, my decades long crush on Kermit is a big part of it, but the other reason is hearing Beaker sing "meemee meemee mee mee" when it's his turn. It's not Christmastime until I hear that on the radio, then it's official. - dana of greenstarstudio

Carol of the Bells - it's the most beautiful Christmas song ever. - Monica of sugarpaperie

My favorite Christmas song is The Christians and the Pagans by Dar Williams. While it's certainly not a traditional song, it's what Christmas(I think) is really all about. And I absolutely love the way it sounds. - Vicki of threewheelsdesign

My favorite Christmas song is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – remix by BNL w/Sarah McLachlan. I love hearing Sarah McLachlan’s voice sing anything and this song puts me in the holiday mood! - Erica of cekcustomdesigns

My fave song is I'll be Home for Christmas. It makes me tear up every time i hear it. ( i know, totally sappy!) Here's why...When I was 5yrs old and we moved to Louisiana -far far away from my parents' home town in Erie, PA, it meant that we would not go back to vist for another 5 years. So long to wait, and each Christmas that went by, I saw my mom really yearn for her her distant loved ones that she cared so deeply for. It made me realize just how far out of reach a visit really was, and just how badly she missed her family. Now, as an adult, I think of the history of this song. I remember the WWII vets that were away from home during the hoidays listening on a scratchy radio, the people who for one reason or another are far away from the comfort of a loved one for the holidays. I think about the war in the Middle East and all of the troops there. It makes me veryt emotional and I feel what the Holiday season is really all about. Togetherness, Love, Family - the most important things in life.- Allison of tigerlillyshop