10 #Christmas questions {link up}

Today I am linking up with Hayley from Hayley's World, "10 Christmas Questions"  She did a v-log about her likes and family Christmas traditions and now I'm answering those same questions. What a wonderful idea Hayley! 

It would be so much fun if you answered these questions on the comments section, also if you have questions you'd like to ask me go ahead and leave them on the comments section. 

1.- When do you start getting excited about Christmas?

2.- Do you still have advent calendars?

3.- What are your favorite Christmas films?

4.- Do you have any funny Christmas memories?

5.- Talk us through your typical Christmas day.

6.- What do you eat for Christmas dinner?

7.- Do you have any Christmas traditions?

8.- Which are your favorite Christmas songs?

9.- What is the best Christmas gift you ever received?

10.- Real or Fake Christmas tree?

Have a Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for following our adventures.

Being Merry...

As we prepare for a four day weekend, take a moment to regroup your thoughts. I promise it can take as long as you want but will feel amazing. Think of all the love, joy, peace and the reason for the season. 

Enjoy the weekend, your family, your friends and being together. It is truly a blessing. Being a family has no price, sharing the love doesn't mean buying a gift. So many gifts are free and bring more comfort and joy than one can think of:

A hug

A kiss

A compliment

Talking

Spending family time

Enjoying the view out your window

Whatever you choose to do, enjoy and savor each second for it is the best gift one can have. 

From the Stroller Adventures family to you:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We will be back to posting after Christmas, enjoy this time with you family. 

Christmas tree a family tradition

Do you have any holiday traditions? In our family we have a tradition of purchasing our Christmas tree the day before Thanksgiving and decorating it on Thanksgiving morning while enjoying the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. This year was different do to us traveling for Thanksgiving for the first time to spend it with our family.

This past weekend on Sunday when the rain finally gave us a small break we took advantage and visited a local tree stand. The one we chose was ABC Tree Farm and they had great prices as well as services {their website has a $5.00 coupon!}. We were very quick at choosing our tree I'd say that it took us at the most 10 minutes to select a tree and for them to wrap it up and put it in our car. Adventure Girl loves "white" trees, so we ended up choosing a "snowy" tree. 

We promptly began decorating it while listening to Holiday Music. First the lights and the kids chose colorful ones this year. I was particularly excited as this is our first year since Adventure Boy was born that we are decorating with ornaments and not stuffed animals. 

Our first Christmas tree ornament placed is a very special one... It was Adventure Girl's first Christmas. 

We have another tradition of adding an ornament every Christmas that represents all of our adventures from the present year. Of course we have other ornaments, but these are special and every year as we place them on our tree we reminisce on all that happened on that particular year. 

On one particular year Adventure Girl was obsessed with Gingerbread men. 

I caught Adventure Girl placing her Gingerbread ornament with a big smile {and a Halloween themed t-shirt!}. We have ballerina slippers representing a year in ballet lessons for Adventure Girl, our very first ornament from 2001 as Adventure Dad and I celebrated our first Christmas as a married couple. Yet another gingerbread men but this one is special because Adventure Girl painted it herself when she was only 2 years old. My personal favorite ornament with one of my favorite paintings in the background {Van Gogh's Starry Night} it was a very special gift. 

This ornament is also a great reminder of what the season is all about: Peace.

This year was marked by our move from SoCal to NorCal and with it a weather change for us, we have enjoyed the rainy days and fall weather. So we chose this ornament to represent 2012: Rainboots! Aren't they cute?

And to top it all off, our bright circa 60s style star!

Does your family have a Christmas Tree? What traditions do you have for your Christmas tree?

Christmas with the First Ladies {Book Review and Giveaway}

Just in time for the Holiday season, "Christmas with the First Ladies" arrived at my home for me to enjoy. From Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama this book shares how each First Lady has decorated and celebrated Christmas at the White House. 

Each with their own decor style and trends from when they were in the most visited House in the U. S. The book was written by Coleen Christian Burke who is an interior decorator that was part of the White House decorating team in 2008. 

Last year I shared about how the White House invites volunteers from around the Country to help decorate for their annual Christmas celebrations. In 2011 37 Christmas trees were part of these decorations. I have yet to visit the White House, but if I were to choose a season to visit it would be the Christmas season. Specially after reading this book. 

Like I said before, each First Lady incorporates their own style and I do have my favorites from this book: 

Jacqueline Kennedy in my opinion, had the tree decorated beautifully and accordingly to her children's ages {they were still young}. The tree was decorated with wooden toys and candy canes in true "Nutcracker" theme. I also thought it was very cute that she wore a red dress when she visited the District of Columbia Children's Hospital and a little boy confused her with Mrs. Santa. 

My other personal favorite was Betty Ford, she proposed the White House adopt the family's traditions, which were based on creativity, love and thriftiness. The theme for 1974 was "Patchwork Christmas" and it was special. At that time the country was in recession and the theme was selected fittingly. There are pictures in the book showing her and her daughter prepare homemade decorations. Still it ended up being one of the most expensive decorations compared to ones before.

Michelle Obama also has a personal style that I love, the simplicity in which she dresses and comfort. I loved the cranberry garland around the mantel instead of the traditional cranberry tree. I love how the First Lady includes her daughters in every activity as much as possible. Such as when they visited the Children's National Medical Center and they each took turns reading Christmas stories. 

But the book not only talks about the decorations and festivities, it also shares instructions on preparing one item of the of their holiday decor: Michelle Obama's Gingerbread Ornaments which are super cute, Hillary Clinton's Chocolate Chip Cookies {which just looking at the picture made my mouth water!}, Betty Ford's Cranberry Tree, Nancy Reagan's Monkey Bread and more!

As you can see this book had me very entertained for a little over 2 weeks and gave me some wonderful and easy ideas on how I'd like to decorate this year for Christmas. I liked it so much that I want to share it with you!

One lucky reader will win a copy of the book "Christmas with the First Ladies". It's perfect for this time of the year and to help you get inspired to decorate for it. 

To enter simply complete the Rafflecopter form below, winner will be contacted via e-mail and posted on this post. So please make sure your e-mail is complete and correct. 

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