My Newest Obsession

The fact that I love Christmas is nothing new to my family, or to my friends who have known me a while. However, I believe this fact is becoming known to some of my new West Virginia friends. Honestly, did I ever think that I could try to hide it, because that's just crazy! My newest obsession has thrown it out in the open.

Does this not just scream cuteness!!!

One of my new favorite stores (there are many) is the local GoodWill. Oh my goodness do they have some cool Christmas stuff! I've taken a trip there twice in the last few weeks, and I've found some pretty neat stuff. It's not your typical, everyday, modern Christmas decorations and knick knacks. It's the older stuff, the stuff that screams Christmas!

While all Christmas decorations are wonderful, I love the older decorations. They are less about trying to "Wow" you with their newly installed gadgets that make them talk, sing or move. They just seem to hold the simplicity of Christmas without being too flashy. Now don't get me wrong, I love the new stuff too. I have a lot of it. I'm just also extremely fond of the old stuff that people would rather throw away because of its age.

That little snowman could possibly be my favorite find.

Not everything I bought was "old style". However, I just loved the fact that I could go to the GoodWill and find so many cute Christmas items! Each has a unique story behind it. Each has seen Christmases old, and Christmases new. If they could talk, what kinds of Christmas traditions and events have they seen that they would tell me? Why are they at the store? Were they given away to make room for new decorations or were their previous owners sorting out their Christmas decorations for various reasons?

The world may never know (okay, really we will never know), but it's fun to think about. Not everything I bought was a Christmas decoration, but it was so fun to see what cute stuff was there. One of the items was a glass sled candy dish. When I saw it, I about squealed with joy! Why??? My mom has one just like it, and I've always loved it! Almost every Christmas that I can remember, it has been filled with M&Ms on Christmas morning. Yes, I do intake too much chocolate and have chocolate way too much on the brain if I remember what candy one specific dish holds on Christmas, but seriously that's beyond the point right now. I was just happy to have found a dish like my mom's dish! At GoodWill of all places!

I was so happy with my finds the night that I bought them, that I had to Skype with my family to show them what I had gotten. My sister, Melanie, loves gingerbread houses and people...well just anything gingerbread. So as I was pulling out, one by one, all of my gingerbread houses, she was dying on the other end of the computer. I was laughing! Each one is different. The one on the left holds a tea light candle inside. The middle one used to have an actual light that went inside (there is a place underneath for the light's cord to fit so the house sits flat), and the one on the right holds candy canes (it has holes in the roof where they sit).  I can't wait to buy some candy canes for it! I think I'll just buy fake so I can use them every year. The gingerbread house with the little snowman is either a salt or pepper shaker.

They say "May All Your Christmases Be White"

 

These are only some of my new treasures. I'll keep you informed on my new Christmas adventures and finds as I try not to go broke looking for them! Until then, it shall be an adventure wondering what it is that I will find next!

Merry Christmas!!!
 

My Christmas Wonderland

Yes my dear friends, I am alive!!! Life has been so busy since my move to West Virginia 2 1/2 months ago that I've barely found time to update my blog. I would promise that I will do better, but I don't want to disappoint you by breaking that promise, but I will try to keep things updated on my Christmas adventures! And there have been some!

 

A few weeks ago, Christmas came knocking at my door! Or more like mailed to my door. I got a catalog from my favorite Christmas store ever: Bronner's! It was like Christmas morning all over again in my apartment as I squealed like a little girl and showed Gunney our newest edition to the family...ok, a little over dramatic and exaggerated, but still, I was excited. It was like a small piece of home in West Virginia.

 

In the tree section (btw nice photo bomb-perfect timing)

Now some of you are probably asking yourselves, what is Bronner's and is this girl ok or is she crazy??? I will leave you to answer those questions yourself. Now those of you who know what Bronner's is, I know that you are just as excited as I am!

 

Bronner's is the biggest Christmas store in the United States and is located in Frankenmuth, MI. My family tries to make a trip there every year just to look around. There's so much to see that you can't possibly see it all: ever. Unless of course you work there, which I don't obviously, but I would love to!!

 

My nephew, James, with the polar bear in the Christmas tree section.

This November, my family took a trip to Frankenmuth and stopped at Bronner's for a few things that my grandparent's needed to pick up (and also because we all wanted to look around). It was so much fun, and as you can see, my nephew even got into the spirit of it! Unfortunately for him, he slept through the entire store, but it was his first stroller ride.

 

 

Normally I just like to look around, but this time I was determined to buy something. I found a beautiful nightlight in the form of a candle, with the flame actually being a bubble light with glitter inside. They are my absolute favorite Christmas lights! However, because of moving and only putting  up a few decorations, I wasn't able to use it at Christmas time. I can't wait to use it this Christmas!

 

One of the most important things to do while in the store, is to look up. There are so many large and unique Christmas decorations all around on shelving around the store. If you go to Bronner's website, you can take a little look around with some pictures that they have. Their site is: www.bronners.com

 

When going to Frankenmuth, you must also stop by one of their famous restaurants to eat! The two most famous are Zhender's and the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. Our favorite restaurant happens to be Sullivan's Black Forest Brew Haus & Grill. They have amazing food! We always go for lunch, and it's nice if you can beat the crowd. My mouth waters just thinking about it!

 

One helpful tip for planning your vacation or day in Frankenmuth and you want to stop at Bronner's: don't give yourself a time limit! Take your time and enjoy looking around. There's so much to see, and it's amazing! Also, go in January or February. It's so less busy than in November and December.

 

Start planning your trip today! And don't forget to take me with you!

 

Merry Christmas!!!