Merry Christmas

From us to you, have a happy Christmas. xoxo

Santa Tracker

There's a new Santa Tracker this year by Google & it's very cute.This will keep little kids occupied for awhile & you can always use it as an encouragement-threat-bribe (that is a thing, yes). Doesn't work on cats, be forewarned. If they're driving you mad, the children, here's the National Gallery's free Kids Art Zone, coloring pages, & last-minute fuss-free crafts. Breathe! xoxo 

PS: NORAD's Santa Tracker is up & running, too.

(illustration from Miracle on 34th Street via LA Times) 

Something Sweet ~ Jam Kolaches

It's down to the wire. Are you panicking? Been there, am there. If you've not done much baking yet but would like to, kolaches are super-easy & taste divine. Plan to make about three times the number you need. Seriously. Then give many of them away. xoxo

PS: Another delicious, easy cookie & it does not need decoration. Also, buy some prepared cookie dough (there are some decent ones at Whole Foods or similar stores, without a ton of additives), take out your cookie cutters & use up what time you have with decorating. This can occupy several children (& teens) for quite awhile.Still need ideas? GG Pinterest board with links to recipes.

(photograph by Brooke of Crackers on the Couch)

Easing into Christmas

It's been unexpectedly difficult to do (so far) this season. If you are feeling similarly, here is some inspiration via London & Toronto. Depending upon where you live, many of these ideas will transfer easily.

Annie warms up to Christmas in London, including ice skating at Somerset House.

Sasha's super-easy & delicious Nutella palmiers. Three ingredients!

The Clever Pup's Guide to Making Christmas Work. Hazel is so wise.

Here's hoping you are faring better in the Christmas spirit department. Decorating the tree this weekend surely will help. If nothing else, it is always fun to watch Giulia vs. the fairy lights. xoxo

(photograph by Gideon Mendel)

Holiday Movies

Under-the-weather (again), ugh. But one thing that can help the stress of the holiday season (&/or feeling less-than-stellar) is a movie. Especially a favorite movie. Many movies are not necessarily focused on the holidays but have major scenes during that time of year (e.g., Bridget Jones's Diary, When Harry Met Sally, Hannah & Her Sisters, & Sleepless in Seattle are a few favorites). As much of a mess (narratively speaking) as Love Actually is, it is still enjoyable. And while there are many favorites, nothing will dislodge It's a Wonderful Life from our No. 1 holiday choice.

Here is the list of Holiday Classics on at our local AFI Silver Theatre (how lucky are we?!). And here is a post with some more good suggestions (& an excellent all round place to read up on classic film) from Paula's Cinema Club.

Make a list & go to the movies! (And have a pizza party while you're at it:) xoxo

(film still by Andy Scwartz via IMDb)

Handmade Holidays

Yes, yes, one more thing to worry about for the holidays. Make stuff. Oh please, nooooo,  you squeal as you plug your ears. Don't stress out; don't worry about making something complicated or a lot of something complicated. Find something simple that appeals to you & try it. It can be relaxing. On our menu are these heart-shaped felt ornaments. If you're the Valentines-type, they can do double-duty, too.

Here are 101 Handmade Christmas Ornaments - go to it.

Keep up with Lori's lovely Handmade Holidays label for inspiration.

Remember Laura's snowflake curtain? She is also a prolific ornament maker. Easy, cute, free tutorials.

xoxo

(photograph by Loreta)

Make Vintage Christmas Cards

You can use these images for something other than cards, of course, use your imagination. It is that time of year; don't yell at the messenger! Christmas & Hanukkah are popular searches on GG so we're giving the people what they want.:) xo/gg

Vintage Holiday Crafts is a huge source of clip art for nearly every holiday & occasion. You can even make your own vintage-style gift certificate--for anything. We won't waste anyone's time listing, just visit. The rules are clear & the site is generous. It's hard to believe sometimes that anyone would do something like compile an enormous collection just because...but that appears to be the case.

Merry Christmas

From us to you. xoxo
GG & her editor

Christmas Eve Day

Giulia opened a present without permission thereby reassuring her editor that the house feline is feeling good. Carry on. We'll be back tonight (North American time). Halloo friends in Australia, New Zealand, & Asia. Merry Christmas! ciao-meow/GGCM

Santa Tracker

A reminder to anyone child-wrangling today & tomorrow. Check out this fun Santa Tracker. To complete your digital holiday needs: if you're on Twitter follow the Santa Tracker feed. Also for leetle ones: free coloring pages & some art projects from the archives. The Washington Post's KidsPost is fun wherever you live.

We only wish little GG responded to threats of Santa is watching. She's asleep in a sunspot now but only after a mad dash through the apartment dragging a red bead garland retrieved from the Christmas tree. Ahem. Off to run some errands!

ciao-meow/GG Holiday Central

(photograph by Anneke)

London Lights

A little calm in the midst of a political storm. We'll be visiting our Washington, DC holiday market today. Meanwhile, you should visit Annie's lovely blog Insideology. She posts on photography studies, architecture, interior design, London (lots of great London posts), & much more. Really worth a visit.

And from last year, Coldplay's Christmas Lights. It, too, is a popular search again this year. We confess: it's one of only 3 songs we own of theirs, but we do like the video of London. And even though it references Oxford Street, these photographs are from Carnaby Street.

pip pip & a merry ciao-meow/GGCM

PS: Liberty London Girl's Bond Street decorations.

(photography & collage by Annie)

Be An Angel

...and give some of your time or hard-earned cash to any of the worthy causes in GG's right side-bar titled Who, What, Where, When, Why To Help. That's really what we want for Christmas. (Well, that, & better health for the little redheaded feline.) Also random acts of kindness are super fun & calorie-free:) Happy first night of Hanukkah to everyone who celebrates!

ciao-meow/the Management

PS: Darling angel (easy) paper craft via The Guardian.

(photograph by the lovely liivia)

Simple Christmas Prep

We were out today doing some errands. Everywhere we went, people were worrying aloud about Christmas preparations. It made us nervous, too. People: calm down!

1. If you don't have any (or much) holiday music & you'd like some, put on Pandora's Christmas radio. If you have more than 30 minutes, try Spotify.

2. Check in with Real Simple. Make a few to-do lists (be reasonable).

3. Check in with Martha Stewart's site for good last-minute ideas. There is still time to bake cookies & cakes. But if it gives you a tightening in your chest, stop. Now. Buy some good cookie dough & have fun with the icing & decorations. Make some orangettes (you'll seem fancy & sophisticated).

4. If you'd like to send cards but know you won't get to it, you might like Jacquie Lawson's site. We use them & we're into snail mail. It's a low price for an entire year of unlimited ad-free cards; they've added a line of note cards, as well.

5. Rent some movies; if you live in North America & don't have Netflix, at least streaming, you are nutz. Do it. A two-week free trial membership is exactly as advertised: free.

6. Magically turn into a Scandinavian because they have this simple Christmas thing down.

ciao-om-meow/GG Holiday Central

(photograph by jutta)

Reindeer Cheer

How can it be the 18th of December already? Oh dear. To cheer everyone up, here is our very favorite reindeer. We're working our way through this 'brass reindeer' search on Etsy. Clearly, things like that are why we're so behind in holiday prep. Back tomorrow. Update - We'll be back tonight (Monday)

ciao-meow/GG & her editor

(photograph by John)

Ballet at the Movies

An alert to all ballet lovers, whether in the States, Europe, or Australia. The New York City Ballet's Nutcracker played live to audiences in movie theatres across America on Tuesday. (Here's the New York Times review.) The Bolshoi's Nutcracker is showing near us in the Washington, DC-area on Friday afternoon.*

These are positive developments for the ballet-loving public. Many do not have regular access to live in-theatre performances. Those who do may be unable to afford the tickets in this economy. And ballet companies win, too, by this introduction to a new audience: those who travel to New York & other ballet centers will surely be more likely to add a ballet performance to their itinerary.

ciao-pirouette-meow/GG

(photograph by Paul Kolnik via The New York Times)

*The live capture will be shown several times for those who cannot be at the 2pm performance.

Toys for Tots

There aren't enough toys being dropped off at Toys for Tots locations to ensure that all children will have a toy--one toy--on Christmas. The news overflows with stories about the uptick in spending this holiday season. We sure hope that this means that toy collection charities will have overflowing donation bins by the weekend; somehow, we're not that optimistic. In some areas, the request for toys is up a whopping 25%.

Of course, we support IKEA's Soft Toy Aid but there is a call, as always, for toys for the older children (13-17 years). If you would like to donate cash, that is a good option, especially by tonight/tomorrow. Toys for Tots can then purchase what they need to fill the gift gap.

ciao-meow/GGCM

(photograph from Miracle on 34th Street)

Make Vintage Christmas Cards

It's that time of year! (Stop yer grousin':) This is one of the most popular searches on GG.

Vintage Holiday Crafts is a huge source of clip art for nearly every holiday & occasion. You can even make your own vintage-style gift certificate--for anything. We won't waste anyone's time listing, just visit. The rules are clear & the site is generous. It's hard to believe sometimes that anyone would do something like compile an enormous collection just because...but that appears to be the case.

We also have Hanukkah crafts & clip art, & games. Because Hanukkah is not as early as last year, there's time to post in the coming weeks. However, if you are in the DC-area, or will be, & would like to go to the 20 December National Menorah lighting on the Mall, tickets go fast. Click here & good luck.

ciao-meow/GG Holiday Central

Merry Christmas

Very best Christmas wishes to all our friends around the world!

ciao-merry-meow/GG & her editor

(image via Vintage Holiday Crafts)

Italian Holiday Notebook

Have you visited Italian Notebook yet? It's written by an amusing bunch of expats in Italy. These photographs are by GB (in Rome). The modern LED fairy lights are rather a clash of modernity & the ancient but Rome is trying to find a way. Here is a message from Caesar Santa Claus (!) via the website.

ciao-bella-meow/GGCM

Faux Bo

Bo, the Obama family dog, sits by a larger-than-life holiday decoration of himself in the East Garden Room of the White House. Some 80 volunteers helped create the 4 foot statue, which is made of 40,000 pipe cleaners. (40,000!)

If you want to keep some people busy with pipe cleaner creatures, see here. More things are done with pipe cleaners than ever -- apparently. GG wants a tiara. Of course she does. (photograph courtesy White House flickr stream)

ciao-woof-meow/GG Central