Christmas meme

I have been tagged in a meme - didn't know what a meme was prior to being tagged, and wasn't sure what tagging meant, so have been watching the blogs of the other 'tag-ees' to see what they have done and am now doing what i think I am supposed to do!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper where things are 'easy' to wrap. I cheat with the gift bags for awkwardly shaped presents although try to limit my use of them as they can get quite expensive. I'm a bit of a gift wrapping perfectionist (or 'facist' is another word that has been used to describe my approach) - a hangover from years working in a newsagency at Christmas time that had a gift wrapping service ....

2. Real tree or artificial? Always had artificial when we were growing up but I like the idea of real - but not the mess!

3. When do you put up your tree? For the last 2 years it has been the closest weekend after 3 December as that is Action Man's birthday and we want each event to be special in its own right.

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually when we get home from our trip to family over Christmas but before I go back to work - so around epiphany.

5. Do you like eggnog? No idea - never tried it!

6. Favourite gift received as a child? I got a teddy bear called 'Pammy' when I was about 12. I had really wanted this teddy bear - I mean REALLY. Not sure why.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? No. Have been meaning to do the advent calendar thing for a few years but haven't got around to it - mainly as a result of being heavily pregnant or immediately post natal for the last 2 Christmases in a row, and this year just not getting round to it yet - there is still time!

8. Hardest person to buy for? My grandmother.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My Boys - but its too easy and I have to stop myself from just being ridiculous.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't know - I haven't received a truly bad one that I can remember. Last year we got an ugly vase and a wooden fish that was made so that it moved by itself when the wind blew on it - I find it quite creepy. They are both from family though so we keep them and put them on display when said family visits.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Last year I did homemade cards with a lovely Christmas photo of Action Man on the front. Trying to do the same this year but Boys being quite un-cooperative in the photo posing stakes and am rapidly running out of time! Feel that I have created the precedent now with last year's effort so am still trying!

12. Favorite Christmas movie? It’s a Wonderful Life. I also like Love Actually.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? A couple of months before - if I see something when I am out I buy it and stash it away.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Am about to do it this year for the first time. We received some toys last Christmas for Action Man that were a little old for him, so he is getting them this Christmas - does that make me bad?

15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? Pork - especially the crackling! And especially cold the next day on sandwiches! And my mum gets fantastic Christmas cakes from a cake shop in the Sydney suburb we grew up in - it is a special trip each year as none of us live there anymore but we haven't found any cakes as nice anywhere else - especially not the ones I have attempted to make over the years!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Coloured.

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night – my absolute winner.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel - every year. My family one year, Hubby's the next.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? No. Its 5am and I've been up for almost 3 hours. Try me again when I've had more sleep.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. Not a fan of the angel.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning in my family. In Hubby's family we wait until after lunch on Christmas day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Christmas 'carols' that have nothing to do with what Christmas is really about. People who write 'Xmas' and who say 'happy holidays'.

23. What is the "corniest" family tradition you do, or miss doing? When I was growing up we would sit around the tree on Christmas eve and watch the carols from the Myer music bowl in Melbourne - this was when they were 'carols' sung by proper singers and not the dodgy Christmas songs with no meaning that are now sung by tv stars and Australian idol winners. I can't sit through it now.

24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented? We own it. My husband bought it as a joke - a cardboard Santa with a concertina red belly. The definition of kitsch. (We also have a Thanksgiving turkey on the same theme - why? I have no idea!)

.25. Which looks the best, theme trees or homey trees? I like the idea of themed trees, and the look of them in magazines and shops, but have some decorations with sentimental value that I can't let go of. Am fighting the tinsel war with Hubby - I am not a fan but he has snuck some on. Grrrr.

26. What does Christmas mean to you? The birth of Jesus - how awesome is that?