fitness & fro-yo: The Twelve Questions of Christmas

Merry Christmas, to those of you who celebrate! Because it's Sunday, and I committed to a Survey Sunday post each Sunday of December, I'm popping in with a Christmas-themed survey. You'll need something to read when you're sleeping off all that Christmas food you just ate.

1. What’s the best gift you have ever received?

Nothing sticks out in my mind as the best gift I’ve ever received, but I know it was a happy Christmas when I got the Samantha American Girl Doll. I had read all her books, and she was by far my favorite American Girl Doll. It was probably the fact that we shared the brown hair and brown eyes.

How about the worst?

I hate to pinpoint a “worst” present, but once I was given a deck of Texas A&M playing cards – as a joke, of course. It’s safe to say that I have never used them.

2. What is your favorite Christmas movie moment?

There are so many heartwarming Christmas movie moments, but my favorite has to be when the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes.

"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." (Source)

3. When do you hang your decorations up?

As this was my first year to be alone in my apartment, I started decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving. I wanted to be able to enjoy them for as long as I possibly could.

4. Do you prefer giving or receiving?

I LOVE giving gifts. Giving gifts truly brings me so much joy, and I tend to put a lot of thought into what I get people.

5. What is your favorite Christmas song?

'O Holy Night' is my number one favorite. But 'Hallelujah, What a Savior', and 'O Come All Ye Faithful' are close seconds.

6. Favorite Christmas movie?

A Charlie Brown Christmas will always be my favorite Christmas movie.

(Source)

7. What would be an appropriate gag gift for most of your friends?

A selfie stick?

Though that is how this photo was taken

8. What famous person would you most like to encounter under the mistletoe?

J.J. Watt. I’m still holding out hope.

9. What’s the most important thing about Christmas for you?

Remembering the true reason for the season. It is so easy to get caught up in the commercialism of Christmas, and I like to focus on spending time with family, friends, and celebrating Jesus’ birth. To me, Christmas has always been a time to relax and rejuvenate and reconnect, and to spread love, kindness, and joy to all those with whom I come into contact. Does that always happen? No, but that is what’s most important to me.

And the ugly sweaters

10. What is your favorite holiday dessert?

Christmas baking is my JAM! I love baking peanut butter blossoms. They’re easy to make, and they feature one of the greatest combinations – chocolate and peanut butter. The chocolate pretzel bites are another crowd-pleaser, but as far as what I like to indulge in, I love any sort of holiday-themed “protein bites”, and I love a good Pignoli cookie. Is that classified as a holiday dessert? If not, it should be. I also love popcorn mixed with dark chocolate. Does it get any better than the sweet and salty combo?

11. Do you prefer to shop online or at the mall?

Amazon Prime is hands down the best thing that ever happened to Christmas shopping. The other day I was trying to park at Rice Village so that I could simply eat lunch at Black Walnut Café, and it took me a good twenty minutes to get over there and find a parking spot. And I don’t even bother going near the Galleria or Memorial City Mall. While it would be nice to enjoy the decorations and Christmas music, I find that I don’t enjoy too much when I’m battling insane crowds.

12. Christmas letter or Christmas card?

Christmas card. Growing up, my family always secretly laughed at those who sent out a novel of a Christmas letter bragging on their families’ accomplishments. And there is absolutely a tasteful way to send out a Christmas letter, but we always kept it to a simple photo and some season’s greetings. And while I would love to send out a photo of Mack and myself, I just write cards to people. I’ve got quite the array of Christmas and holiday stationery.