25 Days of Xmas Photo Challenge Complete

Here it is. The completion of my 25 Days of Christmas photo challenge. If you want to know what the categories were click here. I have to say that It was really fun doing this Christmas inspired photo challenge. It got me to really appreciate the people I have around me and appreciate the things that are traditions too. This time of year can be stressful for most, but I made the best of it. Shopping wasn't bad, and I only made one purchase online. Even though I went out on the busiest weekend of the year, I made sure to keep my people anxiety in check and just enjoyed the company of the people I was shopping with. Some of our traditions fell to the wayside; we didn't paint a ceramic piece, but I think all the crocheting I did made up for that. I also didn't bake any cookies since my Kitchenaid mixer is in need of service, however we did make Scotcheroos.

Our holiday was spent with our wonderful families, telling stories and sharing memories. It was the perfect holiday season! New Years is going to be very low key for us. Just D and I and little miss Shelbydoo. It's not because of a lack of invitations, just because we need time for ourselves and just we time! Every couple needs that every now and then! What are your NYE plans?

Merry Christmas from the Kimball's

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas! Today is the last day of my photo challenge. Day 24 was Christmas Eve and I took a good photo with my love at our Christmas Eve party at D's parents house.

Today, day 25, the theme was unwrapped. I took a photo of our dog who successfully unwrapped her toy in 3.5 seconds. I got a new Coach purse and some vintage tees from Victoria's Secret to add to my collection. I have almost an entire rainbow of v-neck comfy soft tees! I am in love with those shirts.

I got D a new compact video camera and a video game for his play station. He keeps telling me how he wants a new video camera for when we do have kids, so I thought a little pocket camera would be perfect!

I hope Santa was good to all of you and you all had a wonderful holiday with your families!

Update: After visiting my in-laws and opening gifts with them, D got a great leather jacket and I got some great comfy clothes as well....I love scarfs and boots, and pjs! We surprised my folks at my Grandma's house in Simi. My mom made me a beautiful bag, and crocheted me a cowl scarf and a head band. She also made us a wonderful Christmas scrapbook and inside it was a trip to Catalina Island for our 11 year anniversary from my folks!!! The bucket list looks like its going to have some checks next year already!! Thanks to everyone for making our Christmas so special! We love you all!

Day Twenty Two/Twenty Three - Cookies/Sparkle

Day 22 was cookies. Knowing that the hubby was going to make his family Scotcheroos to take to work I decided to wait until they were made to take the photo. Not technically cookies, but still a holiday treat that we don't go a year without making!

Day 23 (today) is sparkle. Now we had glitter and lights already over the course of this photo challenge, but I thought I would take inspiration from the Bokeh trend and take a whirl at my own shot. Taking the "sparkle" of our Christmas tree and making it unique, in a way. Figuring out how to do it on our DSLR was interesting, but I finally got a couple of cool shots! Whoop!

Day Twenty One - Bells

Day 21 was bells. If you have ever read The Polar Express you know what the role sleigh bells play in the spirit of Christmas. This little guy is a door hanger and gladly chimes every time we open our front door!

Day Eighteen/Twenty - Giving/Memories and some hot chocolate and a bird house!

Ok, ok.....I know I missed day 19......but let me explain. It was Reindeer and the only reindeer I have in my vicinity I used on day two. So I didn't want to reuse the same photo, so I opted out.

Day eighteen is giving. The best part of this holiday is giving to family, friends, and people in need. Whether it be a skill, an ear to listen, a shoulder, your time, or a monetary gift. Remember that the idea of the holiday is to be there for your family and friends always, but especially this time of year. My photo is a picture of all our gifts wrapped, included in those are monetary gifts and ones that are handmade by me! I am excited to see the receivers expression when they open our gifts Christmas morning!

Day twenty is memories. The top photo is of us, with my mom in our flannel pj's on Christmas Eve 2010. We were being silly and D was getting used to his new flash (that's why its kinda bright!) The bottom photo is D's sibling with their significant others on Christmas Eve 2009 (his sister has since married her beau!) It's really hard to get full family shots every year, but I wanted to include memories of past Christmas'.

Yesterday, for our office 12 Days of Christmas we got super cute coffee mugs with some hot cocoa attached. With the weather being abnormally chilly for SoCal...it was a perfect gift!

We also painted holiday bird houses! The office and the daughter of one of the managers sat down and painted, glittered and ate cookies together. It's kinda fun to see each others creations at the end! Mine was shaped like an ornament, and while I was painting I thought it looked Charlie Brown esq' but perhaps the birds will enjoy it. Tomorrow I will bring it home and tie it up on our balcony and see if our feathered friends enjoy it!

Day Sixteen/Seventeen - Ornaments/Wreath

Yesterday (Sunday and Day 16) was a tired day. I managed to post my photo to Instagram, but was too tired to go into blogger and make the post so you all get a twofer! If you recall at the beginning of the month I did A Peak at my Tree post. These are some of my favorite ornaments on my tree. If you click on the link above you can read all about them!

Day Seventeen (today) is Wreath. This was the first wreath that D and I ever bought, in our first apartment. It's really small and I want to upgrade it to a bigger wreath for our entry, but it works for now. Even if I put something new on the front door, this will still be placed on a door, because it makes a wonderful Christmas sound with the bells. I love it!

Day Fifteen - Warmth

I love the warmth a flame can produce, but also the symbolism it provides. May we all light a candle in memorandum for the lives lost in Connecticut yesterday and prayers to all the families that suffered in this tragedy.

Day Fourteen - Glitter

This is the roof of my foam gingerbread house that we made in the office two years ago. Still holding strong!

Day Thirteen - Festive

Every year at the office we make craft projects at our office. I put them up to make my cubicle feel a little more like Christmas. My favorite piece is the wooden Christmas tree!

Day Twelve - Vintage

Alas, in our home we don't own Christmas items that are "Vintage" but what popped into my mind immediately was the classic clay-mation Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. My favorite part is when Burl Ives (the snowman below) sings the 'Silver and Gold' song! Still love to listen to him sing to this day, and it's not Christmas without hearing a carol sung by him!

Day Eleven - Carols

As I was trying to figure out what today's photo was going to be I thought I would get a little inspiration by playing some Christmas Carols on my piano. I went through every book that my mom brought over and sadly realized that all my holiday music was still with my piano at my parents house. I flipped through my Tchaikovsky book and found "The March of the Toy Soldiers" from the Nutcracker. Now I know it's not a carol, but I figured it counted since it was a Christmas song, and you can't tell unless you played the song! Haha!

Day Ten - Joy

I always find joy in a finished project and holiday projects are no exception. No waiting until the last minute this year! These babies are wrapped and under my tree! Score!

Day Nine - Treats

I went to the Swedish Festival today at the Shrine Auditorium with my mother-in-law. We ate some great Swedish food and then picked up some yummy Swedish chocolate and ginger snaps. Yummy treats!

Day Eight - Tree

This cool gadget came from my boss last year. We have the 12 Days of Christmas at our office and she brought in this LED Christmas trees that plug into the computer and change colors. They are very cheery and techie!

Day Seven - Snow

Since I live in Los Angeles, it's kinda hard to get a random snow photo. So here is a photo that I took 2 years ago at my parents house in Tehachapi. It had snowed all night long and D and I were able to build a snowman in it before it melted by the afternoon this shot was taken. I still love the freshly packed look and all the barren branches coated with snow, with the sun peeking through the clouds. One of my favorite photos! <3

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Day Six - Stocking

I know I know. Not technically a stocking, but lets face it...without this cute guy my stocking would be on the floor. (That and my photos of the stocking all sucked!) So, day six is a photo of our cute silver STOCKING holder. Enjoy! :)

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Day Five - Santa

I know this is not the real Santa, just one of his many many helpers spreading joy and laughter this time of year! Our pup certainly does that in our household!

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Day Four - Tradition

It's tradition in our house hold to set up Christmas decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving and then have a movie marathon of our two favorite Christmas movies. The Home Alone series. I still chuckle to this day at the antics that ensue in both of these movies (realistic or not!) This year we reversed the order and watched the movies first, but hey...we still watched them the weekend after Thanksgiving! Teehee

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Day Three - Gift

I don't have any stories for today's photo, other than I was able to get some early wrapping done and under our tree!! Woohoo for getting stuff done early! Today's photo challenge is Gifts, so I decided to take the opportunity to capture my pretty bows and paper. Christmas trees, snowmen and gold. Instead of curling ribbon I chose to do wire ribbon bows for a little extra touch!

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Day Two - Decorations

Since many of our decorations are hand-me-downs we never really had to buy a lot. Also because we live in an apartment we don't have a lot of places to put items either. This reindeer decoration is special because it was handmade by my mom, grandma and grandfather. They made one for everyone in the family. Each reindeer has hand painted face and hooves, custom sewed clothes and is just really special to me! It isn't Christmas without putting this guy out!

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