Casey's Corner

On a recent trip,  I stopped in Casey's Corner for a hotdog. I had no intention of buying anything else because I find the hotdogs to be rather pricey,  but then I saw their new souvenir travel mug. I couldn't resist getting one for my dad.  The mug has a removable sleeve that is faux leather. It has embroidered baseball stitching and an image of Casey at the Bat. The mug costs $8.99 and comes with a cup of Odwalla lemonade slush. Yum!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

A Little Music for Christmas Eve

PBS

How about a little music to finish wrapping presents by? I do love listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, especially at Christmas. And I've loved Alfie Boe since I saw him in a Les Miserables special on PBS. So I thought I'd share this special with you.

It's Christmas Eve Eve!

Disney

As Eloise would say, "Wake up! Wake up! It's Christmas Eve Eve!"

Quote of the Week

Disney

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, 

and try to keep it all the year. 

I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. 

The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.

 I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!"

- Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Photo of the Week

Looks like Chewie is ready for Christmas. Are you?

Meet my Family Short

Disney

This "what makes a family" short from the Disney Channel is so cute. I love the way they show that families are all different, and yet all the same. 

Christmas Tsum Tsum at Target

Disney

Christmas Tsum Tsum have invaded Target. I believe they are the 2014 Christmas collection, but they're so cute! There are eight characters available: Mickey and Minnie in Santa hats, Pluto dressed as a present, Goofy as a Christmas tree, Donald and Daisy in snowflake scarves, and Chip and Dale with reindeer antlers.  If you missed them last year, be sure to check your local Target. You may even find that they're on sale. Recently, it was buy three get one free, which saves you $5. Not too shabby. 

Star Wars Day

Today is going to be Star Wars day in our house. We won't be heading to the theater to see The Force Awakens just yet, but we plan to watch at least our favorite three Star Wars movies (that would be four, five, and six) We might rewatch the Mythbusters Star Wars specials that are still on the dvr, and we'll probably have some blue milk and Wookie cookies as a snack. It should be a lot of fun!

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Trailer

WB

Coming next November, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, another tale from the world of Harry Potter. This movie follows the adventures of Newt Scamander, author of the book Fantastic Beasts, some seventy years before Harry entered Hogwarts.

Dapper Dans Christmas in Killarney

Disney

The Dapper Dans on Main Street singing Christmas in Killarney, one of my favorite Christmas songs.

Quote of the Week

Disney

"There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say," returned the nephew. " Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round - apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that - as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!"      - Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

From All of Us to All of You

Disney

This was the intro to my favorite Christmas video growing up. We watched it several times every year.

Elf on the Shelf

If your family has an elf on the shelf, you probably know how difficult it can be to come up with new ideas for your elf. I've gathered together hundreds of great ideas on my Elf on the Shelf Pinterest board. I especially like the printable Darth Vader mask and glow stick lightsaber. I think it would be a great way to celebrate the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Sabrina Carpenter Home for the Holidays

Disney

I just love Sabrina Carpenter of Girl Meets World. She's so adorable and she sure can sing!

Frozen as Told by Emoji

Disney

Have you seen the Frozen As Told by Emoji short? It is so cute and funny!

And don't forget Frozen Fever As Told By Emoji as well. It may be very short, but it's still hilarious.

Happy Hanukkah

Disney

Happy Hanukkah!

Tonight is the fifth night of Hanukkah. If you want to include a little Disney in your celebration, look no further. The Disney Family website has several fun Printables especially for Hanukkah. My favorite is the Mickey and Friends dreidel. It even explains how to play the game. There's also a Menorah centerpiece that is very festive and adorable set of place cards to decorate your holiday table. There is a set of gift tags featuring several different characters. Finally, there is a very cute Mickey candy box to fill with Hanukkah gelt.

A Visit from St. Nicholas

Disney

I've always been fond of this old animated short from Disney. While I miss seeing the full short, I really like Alfred Molina reading the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas", and the clips of other Disney Christmas shorts that have been interspersed to help tell the story.

Quote of the Week

Jim Henson Company

It is required of every man, 

that the spirit within him should walk abroad 

among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; 

and, if that spirit goes not forth in life, 

it is condemned to do so after death.

-Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

The Christmas Chronicles

Tarcher Perigee

A few years ago, I picked up a copy of the Christmas Chronicles, as told to Jeff Guinn. The Chronicles contain three separate books: The Autobiography of Santa Claus, How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas, and The Great Santa Search. As soon as I started reading them, I realized that these could easily become my new favorite Christmas tales.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas' birth in Lycia in 280 AD. He goes on to tell how he got started giving gifts in the dead of night and how he became a bishop. Eventually, he discovered that he had become immortal. He decidesdto use this unexpected gift to continue helping others. Along the way, he meets many friends, who join him in his work, and become immortal themselves. While a few of his companions are unknown to history, many, such as Attila the Hun, King Arthur, and even Leonardo da Vinci, had quite a well known impact. Over the centuries, Nicholas and his friends evolve, along with the Christmas holidays, into the Santa Claus we know and love today.

How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas is the saddest of the three stories. It takes place during a very dark time in England, the reign of Oliver Cromwell. It was at that time, in the 1640s, that the British Parliament outlawed the celebration of Christmas. Santa's wife, Layla, with a bit of help from his good friend Arthur (known to us as King Arthur of Camelot), worked behind the scenes to help bring the magic and hope of Christmas back to the unhappy people of England.

The final story, The Great Santa Search, takes readers on an entertaining trip through the history of Christmas in America. When the story arrives in the present day, Santa is faced with an unexpected challenge: a reality television show has declared that they will search for the real Santa. This makes Santa and his companions fear that the search may destroy the magic of Christmas. In the end, everyone involved learns some unexpected lessons about who Santa Claus really is.

I really enjoyed these well written and entertaining Christmas stories. This year, I'm sharing them with Bean as part of our Christmas preparations. I hope you'll share these stories with your family as well. You'll be glad you did.

Pentatonix Carol of the Bells

Pentatonix

I love this video of my favorite a cappella group, Pentatonix, singing one of my favorite Christmas carols.

Agent P Christmas Ornament

Disney

Our house is full of Phineas and Ferb fans, so it seems appropriate to add some Perry the Platypus to our Christmas decor. Just follow the link to print, cut, and fold your own adorable Agent P wrapped in Christmas lights from Disney Family. And while you're there, be sure to check out all the other Christmas Printables. There are several ornaments to make, including a Mickey toy soldier, Wayne from Prep and Landing, and even Cinderella Castle.

Disney Christmas Pinterest Board

There are many amazing Disney Christmas ideas out there. I've collected a few of my favorites on a Disney Christmas Pinterest board. Which idea inspires you the most?

Voices of Liberty at Christmas

Disney

Have you ever stopped by the American Adventure Pavilion at EPCOT to listen to the Voices of Liberty? These a cappella singers always put on an amazing show, but it's especially beautiful at Christmas. The group, dressed in their winter finest, sing Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs several times each day in December.

Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol

BBC

This may be my new favorite episode of Doctor Who. It's a beautiful, although very sad, retelling of A Christmas Carol, with a typical Doctor Who twist. Bean and I loved it!

Quote of the Week

Hallmark

Old Marley was as dead as a doornail.

Mind! I don't mean to say that, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a doornail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country's done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a doornail.

- Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol is my favorite Christmas story, and this silly quote is one of my favorites. I'll be sharing other quotes from A Christmas Carol throughout the month.