My Dream Christmas Sweater

December 23, 2022November 5, 2022 ClassicBhaerLeave a comment

Hello and welcome to a post where I share my dream Christmas sweater. I know, I know a silly thing to share, but in sharing it I am hoping to one day actually make it. Almost like a declaration of sorts.

You know how people are really into their Christmas sweaters? Some people even through parties revolving around them as well. At least this is the case around me. I know I have even picked up a few here and there just to have somethings to wear to a friends house or a get together, but if I am being honest, I really never loved or really liked a sweater I picked up. I also have never paid full price, I always wait until the holidays are over to pick one up just to have one. In more recent years I have become more selective in what I buy and what I wear and really want to love what I have. I mean, I have started knitting my own sweater and summer shirts this past year and honestly I want to get into sewing them as well. That being said, I think I found my Dream Christmas Sweater and it is called Betty & Judy Lodge Sweater by PoisonGrrls.

Picture of pattern on model and name of pattern and company logo

This sweater has a 1950s/1960s vibe to it, which I love right off the bat, but I really love how simplistic it is. A lot of the holiday sweater I have come across are, in my opinion, too much. I know, I know a lot of people get them because they want an ugly sweater and tinsil, flashing lights and pompoms galore fit that bill. But, I like that this one is pretty as well as feminine, with just a bit of tacky in a sophisticated way. I think the sophisticated feeling of this sweater comes from the retro feel of the over all pattern, but also the shaping that is being used. I still feel that it is fun, and for sure fits the bill of an “ugly” Christmas sweater, but I feel like I could actually swear this to a ton of things throughout the season. It is not overly baggy, but is shaped really nicely. I was so close to making this sweater this year, but the recommended yarn was out of stock in the color and quality I needed. I was bummed, but now I am hoping to have something fun I can make and use next year and many years to come.

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Life Style

My Christmas PJs

December 14, 2022December 14, 2022 ClassicBhaer3 Comments

Hello and welcome to a bit of a silly post! A few years ago I decided to share my Christmas Eve outfit. You can find that old post here, Let’s Talk | My Christmas Outfit. I decided to do the same again because I thought it was lighthearted and I do love comfortable PJs!

Flannel two piece set with majority black and red colorways.

This year I ended up going on a few outlet websites and ended up coming across this set. This set is from Banana Republic Factory so they were very much discounted, can’t beat a good sale! As of right now there are still on the site you can find the top and the bottoms. Just so you know I don’t get anything from sharing these, I just figured if I am going to share them and talk about them I might as well share where you can get them.

I have never gotten any sleep ware from this company, but I have gotten a sweater in the past that quickly turned into a favorite because it was so soft so I felt pretty comfortable knowing the chances are they would be soft as well. I waited about a week and when I opened the bag I was truly delighted at how soft this set was. I am super excited to wear them, sip some hot cocoa and relax with my family.

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Let's Talk

How I Destress During the Holidays

December 10, 2022November 5, 2022 ClassicBhaer2 Comments

Hello and welcome to a little post where I am sharing some ways I destress during the holiday season. I know this time of year is meant to be a happy one, but I also feel like a lot of pressure comes with it, especially if you are hosting anything. I know for me, I make presents and sometimes I get close to my deadlines or I feel like I need to do more. The truth is, at least for me, I feel like this time of year is sometimes built up a little too much and has some very high expectations of baking cookies, finding the perfect present, and a lot of social gatherings. Don’t get me wrong they are fun, but is those are exhausting as well. I feel like with all of that going on sometimes we just need to try and take care of ourselves and remember that this is about having fun and not about being picture perfect. With that in mind, here is what I do to destress when I have a spare moment.

Watch a favorite movie
Put on music and just enjoy it, you can even sing along and dance if you want
Do a 5 min. meditation
Go for a walk
Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the decorations
Go on a drive and see the lights in your neighborhood
Take a few deep breaths
Break tasks down into smaller parts
Look at to-do list and remove things that are not something you need to or really want to do
Take a nap, even a small cat one
Take some time to do something selfish, even for a half hour

So those are some of the ways that I destress during the holidays, mind you these are what I do and I am no professional. This is just what I notice helps me when things get a bit overwhelming during this time of the year. I do hope that you are and continue having a wonderful month and enjoying the season and are not stressing too much.

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Lists & Recommendations

My Favorite Films to Watch This Time of Year

December 6, 2022November 5, 2022 ClassicBhaer4 Comments

Hello All! I am really excited about writing and sharing this post. I am normally not a huge movie watcher, but this time of year I get really nostalgic and love rewatching some movies from my childhood that I just absolutely love. Without going on too much with this introduction here are some of the movies I adore watching this time of year.

A Year Without a Santa Clause (1974)

This movie is not just one that is from my childhood, but was one from my parents as well. It was something they were really excited to share with me as I was growing up. The songs are catchy and the characters of the Miser Brothers are just the best! Just writing this I am already humming some of the songs. This movie starts off with Santa giving up on delivering presents because he was advised by his doctor after falling ill and he also feels like no one cares anymore. From there, many try to prove him wrong and the shenanigan’s go from there.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

I don’t know why, but when I think of the Grinch, this is the version I think of. I don’t think of the animated version. I think of Jim Carrey and him walking back and forth in the mailroom lecturing Cindy Lou Who. Also, who can say no to the cute puppy that played Max. This is another one that I hum along to the songs as well. It just sets up the feeling of the holidays for me.

Little Women (1994)

While I will say, I do very much enjoy the most recent remake in 2019. This is the version I loved from a very young age. This is also one of my all time favorite books and I read and watched this movie so many times and this is just a comfort cozy watch for me. It is like coming home. Sometimes with the chaos of the holidays it is really nice watching something that I know what is going to happen, I know what is going to be said, there is no surprises at all. I just feel really comforted while watching.

The Santa Clause (1994)

This is again a really festive and funny movie in my eye. What happens when your workahaolic dad you have nothing in common with or spend any quality time with ends up turning into Santa Clause after Santa falls off your roof?! It is just a really fun adventure story as well as a really heart warning story about a son and father.

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Let's Talk

Sharing | My Holiday Decorations

December 16, 2020December 13, 2020 ClassicBhaer4 Comments

Hello and welcome to a blogmas post that is a bit different than my normal content. I wanted to take a moment to share some of the decorating I have been doing for the upcoming holidays. So, here are a few photos and descriptions of what I have placed around my small space.

I hung garland that was intertwined with lights and pinecones across my window and added a star lantern in the middle. Not pictured is an electric tea light candle I turn on at night. I love how it flickers in the dark.

Next I added some standard green garland across the top of my bed and along my books. I really loved how my editions of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy popped among the greenery.

Here is a close up of some of the decorations on my tree. My tree is a light green that has scattered silver ornaments, clear or white snow flakes, chocolate candy canes, and pine cones.

I hope you enjoyed these few photos where I share some of my decorations for this year.

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Let's Talk

Blogmas | Let’s Talk | Christmas Traditions

December 24, 2019December 23, 2019 ClassicBhaer1 Comment

LetsTalk12:17

Hello and welcome to another blogmas post, I am so surprised I have actually stayed with my plan of 12 days of blogmas and the time is almost over already. Time flies when you are having fun! Earlier in blogmas I shared some of my favorite memories surrounds the holidays, Blogmas | Let’s Talk | Best Holiday Memories, well now I want to share some of my favorite traditions.

My favorite tradition would have to be cuddling into bed with a hot cup of cocoa on Christmas Eve and watching some of my favorite Christmas movies. I wrote up an entire post of the ones I love watch on the Eve and the day of, Blogmas | Lists | My Favorite Christmas Movies. There is nothing like relaxing and getting cozy with a heart warming movie. Then at midnight my boyfriend and I open our presents from one another, so it is technically Christmas, but we are the only ones awake and is it just so fun having our own mini Christmas in our own little world. We save all the rest for the morning with the immediate family.

The next tradition that really sticks out to me would be breakfast with my family after all the excitement of opening presents. It is just so wonderful to sit around the table, have fun, talk, and just be around one another without having to run off to this place or another. We always have the same breakfast eggs, bacon, english muffins, and delicious coffee. The coffee is very important because my extended family comes over for dinner so we have a lot of cooking to do. But, even with that breakfast feels so relaxed and nice. It is also at this time we usually take a family picture together to save the memory for us all.

My last favorite tradition is Christmas dinner with my extended family, I don’t see them often enough so I really love just sitting around and spending time with them. Our food is different every year, but we are always together and that is what I value very much.

What traditions do you have for the holidays?

SignOff12:17

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Lists & Recommendations

Blogmas | Lists | My Favorite Christmas Movies

December 23, 2019December 23, 2019 ClassicBhaer7 Comments

Lists

Hello and welcome to another blogmas post. Today I am going to be sharing some of my favorite Christmas movies that I love watching on Christmas Eve, which at this point is right around the corner. Since I was young I have always gotten hot cocoa on Christmas Eve, snuggled into bed and watched a few Christmas movies. It is just my own little ritual or tradition. It just puts me right in the mood to spend time with family and come together. Any who, on to the movies!

A Year Without A Santa Clause

Image result for A Year Without A Santa Claus

This is my absolute go to Christmas movie. It was first aired in the 1970s, so it is quite old, but for me it really shines. With characters like Mother Nature, Heat Miser, Snow Miser, and Mrs. Clause to name a few, they couldn’t go wrong. It is also stop motion so it has a really fun look to it. One I miss with all the computer generated cartoons. This tells the story of a burnt out Santa Clause that feels like no one appreciates his hard work year after year, he decides to just take a year off since no one believes anymore. The story follows a few elves and a few friends on an adventure to prove Santa wrong.

The Santa Clause

Image result for the santa clause

This one also have a soft spot in my heart, it was the first Christmas movie I have ever seen in the theater. It originally played in the 1990s, It tells the story of a man who accidentally kills Santa Clause and becomes the man himself while celebrating Christmas Eve with his son. This takes them on an adventure to the North Pole and the court room. It is a comedy and Tim Allen always makes me laugh.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Now, this one is one I am very particular about, I only enjoy the one rreleased in 2000, which starred Jim Carrey. I remember when this came out and LOVING it right away. His acting and facial expressions really sold me. I also loved how they did the sets and costume designs. I remember I even had a Cindy Lou Who doll I loved this movie so much and I think it is still packed away someone safe. I will even admit I watched this movie in the middle of the summer because I loved it so much. Also, can we just talk about the adorable puppy Max? How could anyone throw him out?! The Grinch’s heart is bigger than any who, who discarded him to the top of Mount Crumpit.

Little Women

I am also very particular about this one as well, I only enjoy the 1994 movie staring Winona Ryder. The three scene I love watching and feel like Christmas to me are when their father returns home from the war, Beth gets that lovely piano, and the girls playing with Lori in the snow. It is just a heart warming story I can get lost in at Christmas and every time of the year. It is my favorite book and I just adore how it feels like a cozy home to me. Also, I will admit I have not seen the one released this year, I still don’t know if I want to. I am worried they will ruin Professor Bhaer.

What is your favorite Christmas Movie?

SignOff12:17

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Hauls & Unhauls

Blogmas | Book Haul | November & December 2019

December 18, 2019December 14, 2019 ClassicBhaer2 Comments

Hello and welcome to my my book haul for both November and December. I fell a bit behind with my haul last month so I decided to just put everything together. I don’t want to ramble too much, so here are the books I picked up in one way or another!

I received A Christmas Carol through Coffee and a Classic Box, which I have been subscribed too for months at this point. The Queen of Nothing I picked up at Barns and Nobel it is a signed edition because I could not resist. Bonhoeffer is actually my mothers and I wanted to read it for a while so I am borrowing it from her because she is very supportive in my reading habit. Last, but not least is Gwendy’s Magic Feather which was a pre-order and a sequel to Gwendy’s Magic Box.

Great Goddesses is my latest purchase, I feel like Nikita Gill is one of the few poets I auto buy their works. I decided to pick up two of Shakespeare’s plays for a project I am working on for next year, I decided on Midsummers Night’s Dream and Twelfth Night. You should hear about that project very soon if you have not already. The Light Between Oceans is actually from my library, but I borrowed it this month for my book from Australia read, Bury What You Cannot Take is also for for that challenge, but takes place in China. Last in this pile is The Glittering Hour, this was my BOTM pick for December, if you want to see why I picked this one you can see my post here:BOTM Unboxing | December 2019.

My Best Friends’s Exorcism I picked up from a library sale, I know a lot of people were reading it during Halloween this year so I wanted to give it a go. I finally caved and picked up Alexander Hamilton that inspired the play. I also have my BOTM from November, if you want to know my reasonings you can see that here: BOTM Unboxing | November 2019.

Lastly I have The Morrigan, which is tales of a Celtic Goddess, I have always loved lure and myths so I wanted to explore more. I also picked up a book called Muse with the Moon, which is almost like a reflection activity book that has specific prompts during a particular phase of the moon. You all will be seeing that a lot, I am thinking about starting a series with what I put in that book each month until it is full.

What was your most recently acquired book?

Do any of these books sit on your shelf or have you read them already?

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Let's Talk

Blogmas | Let’s Talk | Best Holiday Memories

December 17, 2019December 16, 2019 ClassicBhaer6 Comments

LetsTalk12:17

Hello and welcome to a bit more of a personal blogmas post. I wanted to take the time and reflect on some of my favorite holiday memories and share them with you. I would also love to hear your favorite holiday memory as well. I feel like this is a time to spread joy and happiness and hearing all the wonderful stories and sharing adds to this. Anyway, on to my stories.

The first story is when I was very young. I can’t quite figure it out, but it was after the Space Jam movies came out. I remember laying on my floor Christmas eve and looking at my Space Jam poster of Lola Bunny. Then I heard a noise, jumped up and ran to the living room to see what was going on. Under the tree were all the presents all of a sudden dropped off by Santa Clause. I remember the glittering wrapping paper under all of the lights. It is still so vivid in my brain. I was so excited I ran to my parents room, jumped on their bed and announced that Santa had come already and he had presents for everyone. We all went to the living room opened all the presents, we laughed and played and had a wonderful time while both my parents had coffee.

As an adult, I brought this memory up to my parents and I was told some funny things I did not realize or remember. I apparently had fallen asleep on my floor without realizing it and I had woken up at about 2 or 3 in the morning and decided to wake everyone else up. Thankfully, I let everyone else go to bed after we opened presents. It is funny, because I totally had forgotten that it was still pitch black outside.

The second story is a little more magical at least in my eyes. I was driving home Christmas Eve in the backseat of my parents car from a Holiday get together. I remember looking up into the sky hoping to see Santa riding his slay around. According to Santa Tracker on the radio, he was seen over my area not that long ago.

I vividly remember the cold glass on my forehead as I peered as high as I could, begging the clouds to break. Then all of a sudden seeing a red light followed by some white lights. I was so excited I had just seen Santa Clause and Rudolf flying. I remember telling my parents to hurry home because I wanted to make sure I was asleep before he could make it to our house. I didn’t want him to miss us. I never told anyone what I saw, I wanted to keep it a secret because I was afraid my parents would panic we wouldn’t be home in time.

Both of these stories are silly, but they both are stories that stick out in my memory all these years later. I think because I felt true wonderment and excitement, I felt that I saw or heard something magical and it just ingrained itself on me. But, they also are wonderful memories that I told of me and my parents. They are both wonderful people and it is only proven more true because they let me wake them up in the middle of the night excited to open presents. I am very lucky to have them and I am so happy that I have these treasures of memories to hold dear.

What is your favorite Holiday Memory?

SignOff12:17

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