ok.. im back.. for real this time! :]

first of all… i have to tell you something……
I FINALLY HAVE A NEW CAMERA!
i am so so so excited!
1Here is a peek at my PEZ tree… hopefully i can get some better shots tomorrow… 

2(i obviously have a LOT of Christmas shopping left to do… haha! oh… and don't make fun of my newspaper wrapping paper… well, you can if you want. πŸ™‚

I need some suggestions for Christmas music. I want to buy some old Christmas albums.. what are your favorites??

OK. I am back in action now…I have been scrapbooking, decorating, cooking (gasp!), and shop*shop*shopping…. will be posting on here everyday (ish)… loves, Els

  • bing crosby and at starbucks they sell the music from Charlie Brown Christmas…. very cool.

  • I’m glad your new camera has arrived. Cant wait to see lots more photos. The tree is beautiful. Are tree got damaged in the basement this year from flooding. πŸ™ But with having a new kitten, he would have it in shambles in no time. So no tree this year. Maybe next year. I’ll just enjoy everyone else’s. Well I haven’t heard Larry the Cable Guy’s new Christmas CD yet. I’m sure it is pretty funny!! But that’s probably not what your looking for. Josh Groben’s Christmas CD sounds pretty good I hear. He was on Oprah about a week or two ago singing some. Anyway I will leave room for others to write. Bye for now!!

    Angela

  • Maybe this Christmas Tree- Various Artists

    Season- Jane Monheit

    Squirrel Nut Zipper’s Christmas Album

    Merry White TRee- Kirby Heybourne

    These are on my Christmas rotation this year. Hope you like!

  • awwwww a pez tree what a cool idea πŸ™‚

    I’m still trying to persuade my hubby to get my tree and decorations out of the loft πŸ™ any hints on how to persuade him would be gratefully received πŸ˜‰

  • My friend, Sarah Bowen has the best Christmas playlist at her blog right now- a little of this and a little of that and it all comes out perfectly! “Piece of Work”{www.sarahbowen.typepad.com}

    Happy December to you, Elsie. =)

  • So glad you are back (even though I hardly post on here, I still need my daily Elsie fix!). My favorite Christmas song is Last Christmas by WHAM!. I know it’s not THAT old, but it makes me feel young to call WHAM! old!!! Happy shopping!

  • What kind of Camera is it??

    I love some of these Christmas albums:

    John Denver and the Muppets

    Mariah Carey Merry Christmas

  • I am glad you still let everyone read your blog. I went to one I look at everyday and it was invitation only!

    Try some Barry Manilow and Harry Connick, Jr. Great stuff!!!!

  • such a cute tree, elsie! hafto say my all-time fav christmas album is nat king cole’s christmas album. just makes it feel like christmas to me when i hear it! blessings to you this christmas! πŸ™‚

  • So first of all I just wanted to say that that picture of you is absolutely adorable! Also I love the pez tree and I’m looking forward to pictures from your new camera. Hope all is well with the new loft!

  • Christmas Recs:

    Michael W. Smith-Christmastime, It’s a Wonderful Christmas

    Steven Curtis Chapman-All I Really Want for Christmas, Christmas is all in the Heart, The Music of Christmas

    Kenny G-Faith, Miracles, Wishes

    Third Day-Christmas Offerings

    The Polar Express Soundtrack

    Happy Christmas (all volumes-different and ecclectic)

    A Charlie Brown Christmas

    Christmas #1s (on iTunes-excellent collection)

    The Carpenters-Christmas Portrait

    Home Alone Soundtrack

    It’s Christmas Time (old school Christmas music-Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, Sinatra)

    James Taylor at Christmas

    Martha Stewart Living Music: Traditional Songs for the Holidays (excellent collection of older and some newer songs)

    Mariah Carey-Merry Christmas

    Relient K-Deck the Halls, Let It Reindeer Let It Snow Baby

    A good place to look is under Starbucks Entertainment (on iTunes) under their custom lists and iTunes essentials.

    Can you tell I love Christmas music? πŸ™‚

  • The Polar Express soundtrack is my favorite. It’s the perfect mix of classics (Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra)and fun new stuff. Guaranteed to make you smile.

  • ohhhh christmas music ideas are great. i suggest the charlie brown christmas soundtrack – excellent. and i have a cocktail christmas that has all those cool swinging stuff like dean martin – very cool. and you can’t go wrong with harry connick jr.

  • Hey Elsie!

    Glad you’re back…

    My dear Aunt used to wrap all of the kids gifts, every year, in the comics section of the newspaper…we all looked forward to seeing them under the tree on Christmas!

    I personally, love Sinatra and just bought the “rat pack” Christmas CD with Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. It’s wonderful!!

  • hmmm, i don’t know any old christmas cd’s but the christmas mix at starbucks is really good, let me know if i was any help! merry christmas, and your tree is stinkin’ adorable. OHHH! so i saw the tree your *AWESOME* DT made with the noel papers, and i went up to local scrapbook store and got some noel paper and made my own tree=]. it’s not as good but i have gotten lots of complements on it! you guys rock and keep up the amazing work:)

  • what kind of camera??? I just got a 5d today! It’s like Christmas coming early, isn’t it!?!

    Try Kevin Max’s Christmas album – It’s gorgeous!

  • +++You gotta get The Carpenter’s “Christmas Portrait” CD for old school good Christmas music–so classic & one of my faves!

    +++Lindsay

  • Congrats on the new camera arriving safely!

    Digging the tree, most definately that is original, never seen that before!

    As for music my fav oldscholl Record straight out of the 70’s has got to be the Boney M Christmas CD. Love Mariah Carey’s Christmas CD and the even more contempory Destiny’s Child’s Christmas CD. I was in Best Buy the other day and saw that Michael Buble has a Christmas CD out, that should be good, love him! Also saw a sesonal collection by the Rat Pack…(Frank Sinatra, Dean martin and Sammy Davis Jr.)I really want to get that one.

    HTH

  • You can’t go wrong with some good ol’ Frank Sinatra christmas music. Simply the best!

    and I have to say that the MercyMe christmas cd is just magnificent.

    Oh, and Michael Buble has a cd with only 5 Christmas songs on it, but it is so worth it.

  • Hmm..not sure about albums but did you see the Bird & the Bee free single of the week on itunes? It’s carol of the bells. I know you are a fan so thought you might want to check it out!

  • I LOVE LOVE LOVE christmas music – I have it playing all through the house and the car – it drives my hubby mad! I’ve always loved the Beach Boys Christmas album – their music is always so cheery – it puts a smile on my dial. Love your tree!

  • I love your tree! πŸ™‚ I like the newspaper wrapping, I do it too sometimes and plus you use what you got. I believe for my birthday once, my boyfriend used x-mas paper to wrap it. hehe

  • hello, first off – are you planning on selling your old camera? cause id be interested!! seriously.

    secondly – there’s a cool cd called – a coffee house xmas that’s all instrumental and a celtic christmas always sold very well (i used to manage a record store)

    old timmer music – bing crosby , burl ives, nat king cole, tony bennett

    of course if you like various artists (everything from wham to bing crosby and david bowie pick up a cd called the best christmas….ever or the coolest christmas. and lastly, i’d have to agree with a charlie brown christmas by the vince guaraldi trio.

    good luck and happy christmas! and i’m serious about the camera thing!

  • hey elsie, firstly – are you planning on selling your old camera? i’m interested – serioulsy!

    secondly – if you want cool instrumental music check out “a coffeehouse christmas” or “celtic christmas” of course “a charlie brown christmas by the vince guaraldi trio” is a definate favorite.

    various artist cd’s i would recommend “the best christmas,,,,ever” and “the coolest christmas” these have everyone from bing crosby and david bowie to wham!

    as far as old timmer music go for burl ives, bing crosby, nat king cole,and tony bennett. all of the selections were very popular(i used to manage a record store)

    but let me know about the camera!

  • Christmas Tunes:

    The Carpenter’s Christmas Portrait(my favorite)

    Harry Connick Jr.

    Dean Martin (because my grandma loved it)

    Love the photo – can’t wait to see more!

  • the oldest xmas songs i remember is Bing Crosby. I’m dreaming of a white christmas. It is still famous. Your new haircut is so so cute. I love that your hair color is brown again I just think it’s you. Your new bo is a cutie and so you looking.

  • uber cute tree elsie:)

    I bought most of my xmas music on itumes…they have a whole holiday section with playlists and themes..which is perfect if theres a specific type of xmas music u want:)

    here are a few a bought:

    Baby Its cold outside

    Santa Baby–Eartha Kitt

    Christmas Wrapping–THe Waitresses (love love this song)

    Rockin Around the Xmas Tree–Brenda Lee

    (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With The Bag–Kay Starr

  • tracey…. i gave my old camera to my sister. πŸ™‚

    thanks, everyone, for the music suggestions so far! πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚ πŸ™‚

    els

  • sufjan’s christmas album is great! and i must agree w/ all the nods to the muppets album! i’ve been a fan since the vinyl days when i played it on my fisher price record player! a true classic and must have!

  • ok, Christmas music: My fav fav fav song is Christmas Alphabet by the McGuire sisters. They never made this Christmas album into a cd BUT I found it on iTunes last year. Also ‘He’ by the same girly group. The whole album is my all time fav but I only have it on vinyl and sorry, but you can’t have it. So check it O U T!

    Love the Pez ornaments. So cute and SO ELSIE! Happy for you and Justin.

  • it sounds corny but `N sync’s christmas album is perfect!!

    and just wanted to say that i am really glad you`re back!!!!!!

    merry merry x-mas countdown :]

    bregje

  • Oh joy (to the world)!

    My favorite Christmas CD is from Target <3, it's a Frank Sinatra/ Rat Pack Christmas CD. It has the best version of Baby, It's Cold Outside (besides the version in Elf πŸ˜‰

    Oh! Do you guys have a Rasputins out there? It's a huge used music store out here in the Bay Area. they have them all over. I bought a butt-load of used Christmas CD's for $0.50 cents - $2.95.. Score!

    Have fun eating all that pez...

    πŸ˜€

  • Love the Pez tree! My favorite Christmas CD’s are Harry Connick and a mixed CD that has a great version of Winter Wonderland done by Phantom Planet!

  • 3 MUST HAVE Albums…

    1. A Christmas Gift To You From

    Phil Spector

    2. Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie

    Brown Christmas

    3. Booker T & The MG’s – In The

    Christmas Spirit

    Enjoy πŸ™‚

  • Love your PEZ tree! Really like it. And your new boyfriend is really cute! I’m so happy for you. WooHoo!

    And for the Christmas cd: I’m not really into the traditional Christmas music, but I love listening to Michael Buble to get in the Christmas mood. Maybe you’ll like it too. It’s quite romantic!

  • hi sweetie,

    your tree looks so great! I love all kinds of old christmassongs! So happy it’s december again!

    Enjoy the shopping girl! Hope to see more pretty pics soon!

    xxx

  • I Love the newespaperwrapping, great with a big Christmas bow, I had my schoolbooks in them and an other year in old roadmaps (that of course is ages ago;) )

  • Hi Elsie! I am seeing your adorable Chrismtas papers, ribbons and stamps EVERYWHERE! SOOOOOOOOOO cute! I can’t get enough of it!

    Your Pez tree is wonderful…what a blast from the past! Speaking of which, I LOVE my Christmas album called “A Crooner’s Christmas” Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra…hard to beat imho…

    I have been busy decking the halls as well. You can see my efforts thus far on my AltAred Art Blog: http://pclouse.blogspot.com Blessings to you and yours this Christmas!

  • Hi Elsie! I am seeing your adorable Chrismtas papers, ribbons and stamps EVERYWHERE! SOOOOOOOOOO cute! I can’t get enough of it!

    Your Pez tree is wonderful…what a blast from the past! Speaking of which, I LOVE my Christmas album called “A Crooner’s Christmas” Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra…hard to beat imho…

    I have been busy decking the halls as well. You can see my efforts thus far on my AltAred Art Blog: http://pclouse.blogspot.com Blessings to you and yours this Christmas!

  • Hi Elsie!

    Cool tree!

    I found the ultimate christmas album last week! Trojan christmas!! Lots of funky cool, reggae/calypso versions of all the classic songs!

    Have a happy day!

    Marlene, Norway

  • Old fashioned favorites:

    Bing Crosby

    Johnny Mathis

    Elvis — of course

    Any of the Rat Pack guys.

    I also throw in tracks from all those fun Rankin/Bass movies — like A Year Without a Santa Claus. Burl Ives, etc.

    Can’t wait to see the tree up close!

  • Cool tree!

    I like Relient K’s Let it Snow Baby, Let it RainDeer, and also Josh Groban.

  • Oh Elsie, these my old favorites-

    The Lennon Sisters, Burl Ives, Andy Williams, Bing Cosby, Frank Sinatra, Patty Page… oh, I could go and on.

    My husband and I collect old Christmas music from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Waaay fun!

    Enjoy!

  • I just got a $2.00 Christmas CD at Walgreens in their Christmas section that has a mix of really neat old music from Patti Page, Jack Jones, Bing Crosby, etc…

    There are some real classic versions on the CD.

  • Love your tree!

    I personally LOVE the Nutcracker soundtrack. There are lots of versions, but I have the one with the New York City orchestra. It always gets me in the Christmas spirit.

  • John Denver and the Muppets is the BEST Christmas album ever! I just got in on CD to replace my warpy vinyl πŸ™‚

  • Hi Elsie! Love your new place. Glad to see you’re doing so well. I love old Christmas albums. My favorite Christmas Album is “Christmas Dreams & Fantasies”. A lot of these songs are on there. I love almost everyone song on that album. Some individual songs are: Dean Martin, “A Winter’s Romance” is one of my favorites, and “I’ve got my love to keep me warm”. Sarah McLachlan “Song for a Winter’s Night” is my all-time favorite. If you like blues, B. B. King’s “Merry Christmas Baby”. Louis Armstrong “What a Wonderful World”. Dean Martin “Baby, it’s cold outside”. Nat King Cole “Chestnuts Roasting” (The Christmas Song). Eartha Kitt “Santa Baby”. Ella Fitzgerald “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Sleigh Ride”. Gladys Knight “This Christmas”. Joe Williams “What are you doin New Year’s Eve”.

    Hope you have a great Christmas!

    Susie

  • OK I love Christmas music & especially all the old classics. But for pure silly fun I love the John Denver & the Muppets Christmas album. It just brings me back to being a little kid.

  • This has nothing to do with your last post, but I wanted to thank you for sharing the link to Keri Smith’s blog. I’d never heard of her before that, but I love what she does and just bought her latest book!

  • I will agree….LOVE the Carpenter’s Christmas Portrait Album. It has such a great holiday spirit about it! And the Osmond’s Christmas album I grew up on too!!

  • I have the new Elvis Christmas CD and I like it…. The cover looks great on my Elvis shrine too!!! LOL (I will have to post a pic of the shrine on my blog!)

  • Ah…Elsie..I can’t resist recommending the Carpenter’s Christmas Portrait.

    It brings back such memories of my childhood, and I have gone through two CD’s since I moved away from home 10 years ago. They just stopped working after being played for hours and hours at a time.

    Love the Pez tree! Happy Holidays!

    P.S. What is your new camera? I am dreaming of a Nikon D40 for Christmas!

  • What a fabulous Christmas tree! My favorite Christmas CDs are the Mel Torme Christmas Cd, Nat King Cole, Natalie Cole and Harry Connick Jr.’s Harry for the Holidays. I also love the Frank Sinatra Christmas CD. For something newer and fun I love the Barenaked Lady cd – so fun very bouncy πŸ™‚ Can’t wait to see new pictures from your new camera. Hope you received the email I sent your way.

  • I suggest A Very Special Christmas 2 CD. It’s from 1992 so it’s kinda old school. =) Everything from Tom Petty to Run DMC is on it. It’s my fave!

  • This cd isn’t old but it has an old jazzy feel to it–over the rhine christmas cd’s their first (darkest night of the year) is a lot more instrumental and their second (snow angels) is amazing. just saw them live on friday and am still savoring it! so good. peace, jamie

  • I LOVE the PEZ tree! It’s so cute! My fave Christmas records are “John Denver and the Muppets” [dates me, I know ;)], Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” and Elvis’ “Blue Christmas.” Have fun w/your new camera!

  • Oh My Goodness ,, how freakin cute is that Pez tree??? I say ,, it’s totally freakin cute!!!! I can’t wait to get the directions on how to do it!

  • My xmas rotation:

    Mariah Carey

    98 degrees – beautiful accappella

    Bing Crosby

    1950-1960’s mix

    Elvis-Blue Christmas

    Martina McBride

    Josh Groban

    Orchestral compilation of xmas songs

  • I’m sure you have the Sufjan Christmas box set, but if not, add that to the rotation! It’s a great mix of traditional and Sufjan-y songs.

    Another big hit for me this Christmas is Vince Guaraldi’s Charlie Brown Christmas.

  • How cute is your tree?! Btw, your new bf sounds so sweet!

    As for music, we love to listen to the Muppets Christmas with John Denver every year. I’ve listened to it all my life. lol. Anything by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, the old classics are amazing.

  • My personal favorites –

    1. The Doris Day Personal Christmas Collection. She has a beautiful voice and does a great job on some classics! (My all time fave – “The Christmas Waltz”)

    2. The Charlie Brown Christmas album – always gets me in the spirit! I see that this year, they have an “extended” album with extra songs!

    Both of these are available on Napster! πŸ™‚

    PS: Your tree looks great!

  • I love newspaper wrapping! Its cheap, you recycle and your can be very creative!!!

    Congrats to the new camera..pretty girl πŸ™‚

  • congrats on the new camera!!what kind did you get?

    love the tree and your shirt is super cute!!!

    regarding music cd’s my favorites are Johnny Mathis & The Carpenter’s.

  • my fave christmas album of all time would have to be “Ella Fitzgerald Wishes you a Swinging Chritmas” Its perfect for getting into the holiday spirit, and i’m listening to it right now. Its so cheerful. Check it out.

  • Hey Elsie,

    Here are a few of my faves:

    ~Grown-up Christmas list: Michael Buble

    ~Baby its Cold Outside: Leigh Nash feat. Gabe Dixon

    ~Blue Christmas: The Perishers

    ~This Christmas: Elliot Yamin

    ~Wonderful Christmastime: Paul McCartney

    And of course good ol’ Otis Redding with White Christmas and Merry Christmas Baby, which is my all time favorite christmas song.

    Happy Jollidays!!

    Erica

  • I just got Relient K’s latest Christmas album. Love it. I like Josh Groban, Brian Setzer and of course old stuff like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Love an ecclectic mix for Christmas-well, all the time!

  • i do love old fashioned christmas music, but i love new funkier stuff even more! try these;

    the santa cause volume 1 – various

    happy christmas volume 4 – various

    songs for christmas – sufjan stevens

    great big sled – the killers

    music from the o.c.: have a very merry chrismakuh

    maybe this christmas – various

    maybe this christmas too – various

    maybe this christmas tree – various

    and the classic that takes me back to high school? mariah carey’s christmas album, haha.

  • Can never go wrong with the Charlie Brown Xmas! Also love Michael Buble’s Let It Snow EP, Josh Groben’s Noel (hee, hee!), and the Nutcracker soundtrack.

  • I love the kinks – father christmas, run-dmc – christmas in hollis, merry christmas (i don’t want to fight) – the ramones, phil spector’s christmas album (ronettes, darlene love, the crystals), so this is christmas – john lennon. Just a few great ones.

  • Great choice for a camera! It is a nice one.

    I seriously love the Home Alone 2 Soundtrack! I look forward to putting it in every year. And anything by the Trans Siberian Orchestra. πŸ™‚

    Angela

  • also to add to ella,is sarah mclachlan’s wintersong. its not old but her voice is timeless. its mellow, perfect for a quiet night sipping hot chocolate or coffee or your drink of choice.

  • If you want old fashioned and cool, find some Mahalia Jackson. I just got one by her. She really has that old ‘negro spiritual’ (I know, politically incorrect, but what else are they called?) sound. She’s the ultimate. Old standbys: Bing Crosby, Gene Autry, Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, Burl Ives, Andy Williams, Jose Feliciano (these all remind me of being a kid). Cool newer one to mellow out: Sarah McLachlan’s. My personal Unfavorite: Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys. Man, I hate that song.

  • Love your blog. Holiday music suggestions: Sarah McLachlan’s Wintersong, The Roche Sisters Christmas cd (can’t remember the name), any Johnny Mathis holiday cd and of course, the Charlie Brown Christmas cd

  • Josh Groban’s Noel…best christmas album ever. πŸ˜€

    (I notice someone at the top mentioned it too, but she spelled it wrong!)

  • Sarah McLaughlin (sp.) Wintersong is fantastic

    Chris Isaac’s cd is good

    Yule B Swingin’ is a good one as well

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