Why I Oughta...

As we've done since we moved in, we participated in the annual Elmhurst front yard Christmas tree tradition where we - along with our neighbors and folks all across town - erect small trees in our yards and light them up for everyone to see.  It's a really nice tradition and we have a particularly active block as almost everyone had a tree up. The full story is here in this post on our 2011 tree - which shows the sad state of snow that winter and looked a lot like this year's would have if I snapped the photo around Christmas. Here's my post from our 2009 tree . Here's my post from our 2010 tree .  Here's my post from our 2011 tree . Don't seem to have posted our 2012 tree. Here's my post from our 2013 tree .

I snapped this photo of the vintage Christmas cabinet up in Coloma at the Great Lakes Antique Mall when we were there over New Year's. This is the same cabinet that I took a photo of the past few visits. Here's the photo from our 2014 trip . And... here's a photo of the case from 2013 trip . There isn't a lot of changes between last year and this year, but I do notice a little tree on the second to top shelf and a few other items have been swapped out.  I don't have photos of the rest of their booth, so I'm not sure if the rest of their items don't turn over as quickly as these? I've always asked to have the case open and because of the prices, I've never bought anything.  Until this year!  I'll try to get a photo of that item up this week to connect the dots.

During the most recent polar vortex, the Babe and I went out in the front yard for some snow angels and getting pulled around the block in a sled.  The weather, did however, take the other two kids out of play for the night.  That's just fine with me as I got to spend some 1:1 time with the top dog.

I'm not totally sure how this guy will get used, but this Vintage Articulated Santa Claus pin worked too well to pass up.  He's holding a bell in one hand and a 'Merry Cristmas' flag in the other.  I think he'd look good in the china cabinet amongst his bretheren, but perhaps he'll get worn instead?

We didn't stop at little Santa's this year, as Nat picked up a few of these little Putz Christmas houses.  This one makes two houses now residing at our place.  I think this one is a residence, but our first one was a massive church building that lights up. Nat picked out this little treasure at the Great Lakes Antique market.  Martha Stewart has a project that Nat's mom/sister undertook this season that features these Putz houses on a wreath.   Check it out here .

As part of our annual New Year's tradition up in Michigan, we make a stop at the Great Lakes Antique Market and I gorge on some 50% off vintage Christmas stuff.   Here's the kickoff post from the 2014 series .  We went to two of these markets - the normal one in Coloma and a bigger one in Saugatuck a day later.  I think Nat preferred the Saugatuck market, but based on the prices alone, I'm more of a fan of the Great Lakes version. This first piece is a Holt Howard Santa Claus bell from 1962.  After seeing him in one of the booths, I couldn't pass it up.  Here's the upskirt below showing off the Holt Howard mark and the Japan sticker. This wasn't the only bell that we bought, but it is our first.  So...maybe there's a trend coming?

On the walk to the train late in 2014, this awning for Kilwins went up in the old Jamba Juice spot right south of the York Theatre.  While I miss Jamba Juice, getting a Kilwins is great.  Isn't going to be good for Cold Stone and Brain Freeze (nor any of the 3 yogurt joints in the City Center), but a good hardpack cone is what I want most of the time we go out for ice cream.  The kids, though....love those yogurt places.  What with their gummy bears and sprinkles and other gross things to pile on top of your chocolate ice cream.

Bought this stuff for New Year's Eve sundaes and it didn't disappoint.  Unfortunately for my new year's diet, we were left with a HUGE jar of the stuff after Dec 31st.  Hide your spoons.  Hide your wife.  And..hide your husband, too.

At Edelman, we don't need no stinkin' rules.  Or...at least it seems they won't be followed anyway.

I was back there cleaning things out when I discovered this gross mess.  This is the cupholder in the way-back of the van.  The Babe was using it as her personal garbage can.  Candy wrappers I expected.  But...ATM receipts and apple cores?  Not so much.