apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Getting to spoil my nieces--they don't have a lot and they enjoy life so much. With them around, creating magical Christmas moments makes sense.

Friends and food. While technically two things, they merge together especially well over the holidays.

Making cookies. The holidays make them taste extra good.

Giving gifts. I love thinking of creative things to give, finding bargains, and all that gift giving entails. It's so much fun!

when i was in school the holidays used to signal that finals were over and an enormous feeling of accomplishment as you no longer had to worry about school while heading home to see the family. now i just like the family time and being away from work.

I still believe in Santa Claus!

Christmas cookies!

Just one thing? Tough call. I'd have to agree with one of the posters above and say the gift giving. It's a fun treasure hunt and rather thrilling to find that "perfect" gift for someone you care about. I could never consider the gift-giving part of the holidays a stressful obligation the way some people do.

I live far away from my family, so my favorite thing about the holidays is being able to see and hang out with them. Especially my 5 nephews and 1 niece!

I love the decorating. Picking themes and colors and putting it all together with the tree, stockings, pillows, and gift wrapping. Its like temporary redecorating once a year, and if I like what I've done, I may keep some of it around longer!

For me, it's a simple event: putting up Christmas decorations. My dad brings all the decorations up to the living room and my mom and I turn on the Christmas music and spend all night putting decorations. After we're done, we go outside, most of the time in our pajamas and coats, and go look at our work.

Now that I'm in school, Christmas time is a special time for us because we can spend our time together as a family. It's just a simple fun time with me and my parents and I love it. :)

baked goods!

The christmas tree.

In years past, I had the holiday blahs. But last year my daughter was born on Christmas Day, and now I am excited about making the holiday special for her and coming up with creative ways to not let her birthday get lost in the shuffle. I think it will only get better (and more challenging to my creativity) the older she gets.

Watching my daughter open her presents is by far the best thing about Christmas.

This might seem a little strange, but it only applies during the holidays; My annual routine of flying home to Texas from LA (5 years in a row now) and being greeted at the baggage claim with screaming, hugs, and kisses from all 8 immediate family members, all at once, who I haven't seen in months. Not to mention the 2 family dogs waiting in the car.

the food

I get a kick out of "being the grownup", staying up late on Christmas eve assembling gifts and reminiscing with my siblings, and catching the little ones trying to sneak out of their beds.

My favorite part about the holidays is all the chinese food, and the xtra free time to get projects done while everyone else is busy with holiday events!

Call me a curmudgeon, but it really is my favorite thing about the holidays.

sweet treats!

I love the magical feeling that the lights, music and decorations bring to the season.

Wrapping presents, my favorite!

it will be perfect for my niece's room.

I love watching my cat's eyes grow wide as we bring our tree in the house. I, however, do not love having to take out the "no no" water spray bottle, though!

More seriously, I love buying gifts for my family and friends. It gives me great joy to spend my days at work surfin' the webz for the best gifts I can find :)

Christmas cookies, Christmas music and Christmas decorations!

taking time off work to fly home and be with my family!

I love seeing all of my out-of-state relatives who come "home" for the holidays. It is so much more important than worrying about the perfect gift.

The smell of Christmas trees.

hands down, the time not spent in the office with loved ones for days on end..

I like to turn all the lights off except for the christmas lights and lay with my head underneath the christmas tree looking up into the starry limbs.

Being home on cold, snowy nights by the fireplace with my family.

Eating a big plate of my grandma's cooking while listening to 'A Jackson 5 Christmas' :)

Definitely the food! Mmm, good eatin'!

Those christmas tree peppermint nougats! yum!

Baking. Cookies, cakes, breads--anything. Love it.

Spending time with my family just relaxing around the tree would be my favorite. My second favorite is gift giving. I loving figuring out the best gift, wrapping it up nice and giving it to people.

Nothing beats having the family together under one roof. I'm dying to see my 16 month old niece right now. Happy Holidays!!!!

all my favorite family recipes and presents! and, you know, family too :P

the food!

everything! the food, friends, parties, lights, shiny and sparkly everything!

food

Hands down...the food!

I love entertaining at home, and winter [and specifically the holidays] is the perfect excuse!

mom's lobster bisque, hands down!

My favorite thing about the holidays is waking up in the house I grew up in, snuggling deep under the covers and listening to the voices of my family while half asleep.

i love spending time with my family (and away from schoolwork!)

Every little thing from the Christmas carol thats played in every store, Candy cane to eggnog.

Stringing popcorn together!

the decorations!

I love sharing big meals with friends and family.

I love the excuse to bake cookies...and eat them!

getting to see my beautiful and amazing family...and laughing nonstop.

definitely cookies!

I love seeing my family, and I'm especially looking forward to doing so this year. Both my brother and I moved across the continent (in opposite directions) away from our childhood home this past summer and it's been a strange thing to get used to.

I love the way Christmas presents look under the tree before they're unwrapped. It's the anticipation I always savor, because an unopened present is Possibility wrapped up with a pretty bow.

what do i like about the holidays? its a special time for people to think about the people/things they are thankful for

I love having an excuse to bake cookies and make candy!

I love having a ready-made excuse to decorate, dress up, bake cookies, give presents, sing christmas carols, and take walks to look at the lights and decorations around town.

family!

I love seeing the whole family together for the holidays - it is so wonderful!

The one thing I love most about the holidays is getting my family back together and enjoying the day sharing stories, food, and presents!

I love decorating the tree most of all.

The one thing I love about the holidays are the lights and decorations. I could drive around for hours checking out everyone else's houses!

Spending time with my beautiful family.... and seeing all the beautiful Christmas lights!

Maria - mmalavec@med.umich.edu

Trimming the tree with my sweetie.

What I love is having the children help me decorate , bake and you know it snows in my kitchen-LOL with all the flour messes from our children and I love decorating with them.

My favorite part of the holidays is decorating for Christmas. I love all the Christmas lights, wreaths and ornaments.

My favorite part of the holidays is decorating, wrapping presants, hot cocoa and fresh baked cookies. I love everything about this time of year!

This is a time of year when we try to forget our troubles and think of the joy in our lives. We need this occasionally.

I love the joy.

I love decorating for the holidays, and inviting friends over for cookie swapping parties. But the best part? The best part truly is spoiling my nieces and nephews. To see their little faces light up with excitement is the best.

Although it is sometimes a hassel driving on the Midwest roads to get to my sister-in-law's house, the aromas greeting us when we finally get there make it all worthwhile. Food Fun Family!

I love being with my family, baking cookies & eating all the great food!

I love seeing family that I haven't seen in awhile.

My favorite part of Christmas is the religious part of it! The story of Jesus read on Christmas morning from the Bible by my husband and the prayer in our bedroom with all the kids gathered round on the bed with us! Nobody goes into the living room with the tree until we do this! Then the fun of watching their faces as they open their gifts!

I love going home for Christmas and cooking with my mom. The 23rd we dedicate to baking- cookies and cakes of all varieties. On Christmas Eve we get up early to stuff and cook a ham (it's a regional thing- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuffed_ham). While everything's in the oven we sit by the fire, drink hot chocolate or eat clementines and talk about previous Christmases from when I was a child.

I love getting together with my family.

My favorite part of the Holiday season is people. Strangers smile at each other and we all dream of Peace On Earth.

My favorite parts of the holiday season are gathering with friends and family and the warmth of the holiday lights and decorating.

jeanilynne@yahoo.com

My daughter and I spend a weekend baking cookies and breads and making candies. This year, her young (step)daughter will join in. While my daughter and I have been doing this for years, including a new generation will really make it feel like a holiday tradition. I like to think that this will go down to the next generation as well.

Always the food! New and old things to taste and enjoy.

i love shopping for everyone!

time to go hiking

It's a relief at the holidays to finally see my mom after a long day of airports.

I love the seasonal foods and getting together with families.

The great food.

Mom's boozy eggnog

My favorite thing about the holidays is baking for everyone. I also love to decorate my house inside and out. Of course the holidays aren't complete without Santa coming to see the kids!

the lights

I love buying little gifts for my family! And staying at my mom's house, sleeping in my old bed.

What I love most about the holidays is getting together with dear old friends, reviving the ancient traditions and making new memories for tomorrow.

This would be PERFECT for a Christmas gift for a friend of mine! She collects angel items!

eating tamales on Christmas eve with my extended family and seeing my little boy's face on Christmas morning!

The sweetly pungent aroma of pine from the Christmas tree is wonderful :o)

Baking and decorating sugar cookies.

i love being able to shower my loved ones with gifts and seeing the joy in their face when they open them :)

I love all of the cooking and family time. We seem to get closer around the holidays.

The time with family of course!

Christmas lights, Christmas music, Christmas baking and, best of all, being with my family!(that's 4 things, isn't it?)

I love spending time with the grandkids and watching them open the gifts. I also like Stella Artois. Can I get that with my angel.

The whole experience - especially all things tacky and fun. Our aluminum pom-pom Xmas tree (with color wheel, of course) is going right now.

lights, lights, lights

I love giving, from the heart.

I love getting in touch with old friends around the holidays

I love that everything just kind of stops for a day or two -- it feels like time slows down!

I collect Angels all year, and during the Holidays the supply of Angels is so much better. I buy as many as I can. They give me so much Hope and Joy!

I love spending time with my family, and all the wonderful food

i love family time.egg nog,smell of pumpkin spice pie,and music.

I have always loved the holidays, especially Christmas. But, this year I love it even more because I am a new mom and will be watching my (by then) 11 month old at his first Christmas! We had a really hard time getting pregnant, I had miscarriages and several surgeries prior to getting pregnant naturally (surprise!) so we are just really blessed to have him, and I can't wait to see his sweet, silly self opening his gifts and sitting with us in the evening gazing at the lights on the tree!

mmmm the food.... OMG... teh co0ookies. :) YAY!

My favorite part is the gifts!

Fav thing to do is snuggle with my sweetie

I love spending time with my mom :)
Thank you for the giveaway and please enter me :)

Going to Midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

I love how much people volunteer to help others, I only wish it would continue throughout the year.

EVERYTHING ABOUT CHRISTMAS...THE FOOD, THE PRESENTS THE ATMOSPHER ..EVERYTHING

My favorite part of the holidays is getting the chance to see my extended family. Everyone is so busy nowadays that the holidays are the only time it seems that we all see each other.

I love everything about Christmas, but one of my favorites is decorating the Christmas tree!

I love seeing and spending time with my kids.

Seeing my daughter who lives on the opposite side of the country.

I love going back to visit the family, skiing, and not working!

I love the Peace that seems to fill the air on Christmas morning.

the tree in my living room

I love having all of my children home!

I love that the whole family gets together and has a nice large meal.

For me, the holidays are all about the children...I do all I can to make sure they have wonderful memories that they can pass on to their little ones some day.

I love how the family comes together!

being with family

getting the days off work.

I love the lights, the smell of the tree, and being with friends and family in a festive mood. It really is a magical time of year.

Ok, as much as I love seeing my family, getting the days off work, and snow, the one thing that I love the most about the holidays is the food! Is it bad that my mouth is already watering thinking about the upcoming holiday dinners?

My favorite thing about the holidays is watching the wonder and amazement in the eyes of my small grandchildren. I often feel the same because of them.

I love sharing a meal and the multitude of conversations.

Christmas Carols!

My favorite thing is to lay on the couch at night and enjoy all the decorative lights and our holiday tree!

I love the decorations and Christmas lights at night, everything is so festive!

It's a tie between LIGHTS and FOOD!!

the lights and family

right after dinner on thanksgiving we'll be hauling the decorations out and beginning to decorate the tree. i love the holidays

Green!!

Spending time with my family.

Lights everywhere I allready have mine up

I love the food and spending time with my friends.

spending time with family.

family time!

what I love about the holidays is sitting in my mom's house, when everyone has gone to bed, and every little light is blazing in that almost preternatural silence. In that moment of absolute quiet I am taken back to the wonder of childhood, when the holidays were magical moments of wonder and possibility, when the world seemed small and safe. Of course this would have to be before I was seven and saw that newfangled and sadly ill fated VHS Nostradamus video, Man Who Saw Tomorrow (Ye gads, 1981!), and had to worry constantly about the man in the blue turban and the end of the world. Sigh.

I love the cold weather, christmas songs, family time, and the overall love and happiness in the air!

Christmas cookies!

I love spending time with my family, baking cookies, cooking for Mom's christmas party. The joy on my daughter's face Christmas morning.

I think my favorite part of the holidays is looking at them through childrens eyes. I know that between family and career I tend to become a little jaded throughout the year and worry about everything and anything. During the holidays though I see the world in a softer and gentler way and I know it is due to my children and children all over the country. I see their awe at twinkling Christmas lights when the tree is on. I see their smiles of anticipation when the first Christmas cookies come out of the oven or when they are decorating gingerbread men. I love to hear them sing, no matter how off key, when Christmas songs come on the radio and how excited they are to see Charlie Brown and Snoopy on television celebrating Christmas or Thanksgiving. I love the way children make the simplest of things so exciting and I just can't help but get caught up in it. It makes me remember that the spirit of the holidays is more important than the gifts and also makes me a little kid again at heart, if only for a little while.

The thing I love the most about the Holidays is decorating. I absolutely love dragging the boxes out, unwrapping each ornament- especially the ones that my boys made when they were little (I get to re-live the expressions on their little faces as they presented me with these treasures), placing them on the tree or in a special place of honor & enjoying them & all of the memories they represent for the entire holiday season (I've started putting them up earlier & earlier each year) until the time comes to wrap them back up until next year. The last couple of years, we have a decorating party & tell stories of holidays past. We have snacks & drinks, take photos, laugh, cry & at the end of the evening, the house is festive & filled with the holiday spirit.

I love the twinkling of white lights and the smell of pine. Decorating with holly with wonderful.

I just love the kids faces on Christmas morning. The delight as they rip open those packages...for a little while, no problems, no troubles...just lots of fun!

my favorite thing about Christmas, is Christmas music, I love to hear all the great songs, it puts me in a good mood and gets me ready to enjoy Christmas, and I love a great White Christmas, I hope for one each year.
Thanks for the contest I love these angel designs
:)

My favorite thing about the holidays is that everyone is back home under one roof together! I love my family!

I love the look on my kids' faces when they open their gifts.

All the merriment with gifts, food, family and fun!

being with family

I love the music, playing carols on recorder and guitar with friends.

I love seeing the lighted buildings, homes and apartments. I also like the carol music and good cheer.

Reuniting with family members.

I love seeing my family

The fudge!

I love sharing baked goods with family and friends.

I love being with my family and seeing the total look of awe from the kids.

I love unpacking my collection of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer stuffed animals and displaying them prominently. Until my wife sees them and puts them away, she can't stand them.

I love all of the cheesy holiday songs that play endlessly on the local Light FM Station ("I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas," anyone) and the mainstay Christmas cartoons and specials I enjoy with my family every year, even though we're all grown up by now. Christmas is the time for camp and kitsch in my household!

I love the way everybody is happy and thinking of others.

Pie!

I like the sense of good will and doing for others that is seen most around the holidays.

I like the Christmas music.

the holidays are great for catching up with family and friends lives..also i love decorating the house its so much fun :)

My favorite thing is being with family.

I just enjoy spending quality time with my family.

ktgonyea at gmail.com

I have four small children so I love seeing the Christmas magic through their eyes. I have never been a big fan of the abundance of the holidays and I am not a big gift giver, however I absolutely LOVE surprising casual friends with small unexpected gifts.

I love decorating the tree, buying gifts and seeing my kids open their presents. Time off work ain't bad either.

being with family and friends

I like it all - shopping and wrapping and baking and cooking and especially spending time with family and friends.

My favorite is giving gifts to the grandkids.

I love the fact that all my kids come home on Christmas day and we spend it with 3 generations

Not feeling the need to worry about those "few extra pounds" hanging around...rock on sweaters!

I love everything about the holidays. Decorating,cooking,shopping and even wrapping the gifts. I love to have everyone together Christmas eve and then go visiting Xmas day

I love all the one time a year foods that we eat!

I love the decorations and lights!

I love sending and receiving Christmas cards with letters and pictures.

I love to see my kids on Christmas morning.

I love the lights

I love the family time, lights, parties and family updates with the Christmas cards.

Christmas always reminds me of a time that is magical. I don't believe in Santa anymore but at Christmas time everyone is just a little bit nicer.

I love the way people give during the holidays.That is
way they are happy because they give of their time
and themselves to others.That is the spirit of Christmas

One thing I love about the holidays is all the delicious food being served.

One thing you love about the holidays is making my family smile by giving them lots of food, fun and plenty of love!

I love having one "Christmas" day where I just put on Christmas music, bake cookies, watch the Grinch, and write cards.