Cool Handmade Green Bags

Colleen over at living life one day at a time is hosting a contest to give away VOLK! Apostle Totes.

These totes are handmade, green, and adorable!  They’re made from curtains, army blankets, bedsheets, airplane blankets, wool sheeting…pretty much anything that can be sewn into a tote bag.

A VOLK! Apostle Tote would make a great Christmas gift for that hard-to-buy-for person or for the person who has everything.  Perfect for carrying as a purse or to take purchases home from the store without using yet another plastic bag that will most likely just be thrown away as soon as you get home, these bags are very versatile and stylish!

Check out Colleen’s blog and Danny Volk’s Etsy shop to learn more about the contest or to check out the different styles of totes.

‘Cause I ain’t been nuttin’ but bad

A Christmas Story for people having a bad day

When four of Santa’s elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the Pre-Christmas pressure.

Then Mrs Claus told Santa her Mother was coming to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out, Heaven knows where.

Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys were scattered.

Frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of apple cider and a shot of rum.. When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of l ittle glass pieces all over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door, yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big Christmas tree.

The angel said very cheerfully, ‘Merry Christmas, Santa. Isn’t this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would you like me to stick it?’

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas tree.

all i want for christmas is you

Now that it’s actually Thanksgiving I feel like I can share my Christmas spirit with everyone.  Here’s another meme I received in my email that I’m going to share with everyone.  Enjoy!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Wrapping paper of course!

2. Real tree or Artificial?

Artificial.  Easier to clean up and take care of and cheaper and PRE-LIT!

3. When do you put up the tree?

Some time after Thanksgiving.  Usually around my grandfather’s birthday, which is December 9th.

4. When do you take the tree down?

When I’m tired of looking at it.

5. Do you like eggnog?

I haven’t tried it.  Doesn’t sound appealing to me.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

I don’t remember.  How bad is that?!  Probably something from my uncle because he always had the coolest gifts.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

My dad

8. Easiest person to buy for?

My mom

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

I don’t (that implies religion, and I don’t have that either)

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Mail. They’re much more personal that way

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

A Barbie doll when I was 12 or 13 and way too old to be playing with them :-/

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
The Santa Clause

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

It depends when I find something for someone.  For Christmas this year I started shopping the day after Christmas last year.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

I don’t think so

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Ham and mashed potatoes.  And the little green marshmallow wreaths my grandma makes!  And the chocolate covered pretzels I make

16. Lights on the tree?

Of course!  I even put more lights on my pre-lit tree!

17. Favorite Christmas song?

Silent Night or Sleigh Ride

18. Travel at Christmas or stay at home?

Stay in Indiana, but travel all over the state.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixon, Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen, but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?  (And no I didn’t look it up!)

20. Angel on the tree top or star?

Star (everything in my life is to do with stars!)

21. Open presents Christmas Eve or in the morning?

One on Christmas Eve (the pjs you wear to bed that night!) and the rest Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

Traffic!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

Clear lights with silver sparkly ornaments.  It reminds me of snow, which is fine on my tree, but not fine on the ground.  Even at Christmas.  I guess I’m a grinch in that way!

24. Favorite Christmas dinner?

Ham

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

A new iTouch to replace the one that got stolen.  And to give back to those less fortunate than I am.

26. Who is most likely to respond to this?

Whoever steals it and puts it on their blog! (All are welcome to!)

If you want you can copy this and post your answers in a comment.  I’d love to hear them!