meme me too

LG, shazza, finn - everyone beat me to this. I wanted to fill out the meme for days now, but somehow my work didn't permit it. Now I have a moment of peace so I'll start. Never know how long it will last anyways.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Go Green and wrap your presents in newspaper! It's was more fun to find the perfect articles/motives than simply wrap it in something shiny anyway.

2. Real tree or artificial? My family never used artificial trees and neither will I. Since I moved out my parents don't put up a tree anymore, cause it's just too much fuss they don't need they say. Last year finn and I had one, a real one of course, but we're probably gonna forgo that this time around. Before I have an artificial tree I'd rather have none at all.

3. When do you put up the tree? back when we used to have them: Christmas Day, 24th of December during the afternoon. And we always always started late and barely got it up til the rest of the family arrived.

4. When do you take the tree down? Some time after New Year's I think.

5. Do you like eggnog? I liked the one I made last year. Probably will make some for gifting again.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My model railway. I think I was about ten years old. Actually I got it for my birthday but that one being on December 23rd you can never really tell if it's a birthday or a christmas present. I just remember that I still had school that day and when I came home there was this huge chipboard on two stands in my room. it already had the green coating and the rails nailed to it - it was just amazing! We took the rails down from the plate and Finn and I are planning to put the railway up in our apartment this christmas.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? My parents have one. I remember always having real trouble putting it up because all the parts are so small and tottery, and I have really clumsy hands.

8. Hardest person to buy for? I could say my dad because he never tells me what he wishes for, but actually it's my mum because she's the opposite. She always says what she wants and I have no fun giving presents that people already know about. I'm not a wishing well. Also, she doesn't really know how to say thank you and last christmas she really insulted me about my presents.0

9. Easiest person to buy for? Usually finn, but this year I only have a shitty present for her. No inspiration and no time to think about presents anyways.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither. To be honest, I can't be bothered and I always forget. and I hate that newest trend of texting everyone. that way the phones are constantly beeping and you spend a fortune on the texts.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? hm... I can't remember so it can't have been that bad, can it?

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? "love actually"

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually I do it all year round. When I see something that's perfect I buy it and stash it away for christmas.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't remember doing that, so I guess I didn't.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Just like gf: Vanillekipferl. mhhhh.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? I don't think candlelight comes in colors.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Dolly Parton's "Hard Candy Christmas". It always makes me happy. I also like "All I want for Christmas" sung by Olivia Olson and "River".

17b. Christmas Song That, When You Hear It, Makes Your Eyes Bleed And Your Brains Start To Leak Out Your Ears, Because That Is Less Painful Than Having To Listen To That *&%^&$# Song One More Time! Since I don't listen to the radio I just hear christmas songs I actually decide to put on :) but I can only endure "Silent Night" that one time under the tree on Christmas Eve.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We basically stay home, but on Christmas Eve we "travel" to Lower Austria to her parents and then back to Vienna to my parents before we drive home again.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers? Since traditions are way different here in Austria I don't think I've heard that song more than once. So that would be a "no" then.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A straw star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve, since that is when we celebrate. But finn and I usually exchange presents the next morning so we can have two days of presents.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The christmas lights in the streets - so kitchy and so not green. People are everywhere, in masses, all the time.

24. Favorite Christmas Tradition? All the baking and cooking I get to do ;)

25. Outdoor decorations? No, but we have a chain of small lights in our living room that I absolutely adore.

ooof, done. off to the dentist to get my wires fixed!