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June 25, 2009

Merry half a year until Christmas!

Ho-ho-holy moly is it hot! With temps skyrocketing this week and the pleasant, cooler days that still retained some semblance of spring now a thing of the past, it would seem more apt to think of palms than Christmas trees, but I’m a holiday loving gal! I woke up this morning delighted by the fact that the six month countdown until Jolly Old St. Nick arrives has begun!

Indeed you might as well call me Ms. Festive; from decoratiing the tree to basting the bird, stuffing stockings to baking gingerbread, I’m wild about the winter holidays! What I’m not however, is one to buy into the mass consumerism and boatload of stress that sadly so often accompanies modern day holidays of all sorts. No matter the current year, to my mind, Christmas is eternally about the spirit of love and joy, about giving and sharing, spending time with those you hold dear and being thankful for what you have and what you can bestow upon others.

A simple Christmas is a beautiful Christmas in my books, which is a huge part of the reason why I love to turn to the past when I think of this cheerful time of the year.

I know that a lot of my fellow readers are sweltering under soaring temps now, so I thought it might oodles of fun to imagine for a few moments that it was suddenly December and we’re getting ready to deck the halls, linger under the mistletoe with a certain special someone, open our gifts, and sit down to a mouth-watering meal, as a gentle breeze blows picture-perfect snowflakes past the window. Naturally, we’ll be celebrating in vintage style!

♥ ♥ ♥


December’s just begun, which means it’s time to start the advent calendar and count down the “sleeps” until the big day arrives!




There’s so many wonderful things to do this month, but before the days fly past, we must ensure that we’ve checked our list twice, our Christmas card list that is! Wouldn’t want to accidentally forget a dear friend at this most amicable time of the year!








Next comes a different kind of list, the one youngsters (and the young at heart) pen to Santa! For that task, every member of the family will definitely need to pour through the Wishbook. From Johnny to Sally, mom to pop, there’s always something that everyone secretly hopes to find under the tree :)












With wish lists clutched firmly – and eagerly – in hand, it’s time to go pay a visit to Santa himself. Remember to tell him you’ve been extra good all year, kids – and to smile!








With friends dropping by, packages being sent to relatives, and plenty of hungery little snowman builders bustling around the kitchen, we’ll definitely need to whip up plenty of cookies and baked treats to have on hand.














The holidays are a time for socializing, from big office parties to small, intimate gatherings around the fireplace, and everything in between. So dust off your party dress, invite the gang ‘round and celebrate with festive cheer!










With the days ticking down, it’s time to head out to the woods – or for those of us who live in the city to the neighbourhood tree lot – and bring home a lovely tree for everyone to help decorate with all the beautiful, treasured ornaments you’ve collected over the years.








At last Christmas Eve has arrived; time to ensure that everything is ready for tomorrow! From prettily wrapped gifts under the tree to cookies and milk left out for Santa, the only thing left to do is hang our stockings and figure out a way to fall asleep!










Did you get any sleep or were you too excited to rush downstairs and discover the gifts piled beneath the tree? Or were you thinking about the delicious supper that awaits everyone later this afternoon? Whatever you’re jubilant about today, and however your family celebrates the holidays, I hope you have a very merry Christmas!

















{All images in this post are from Flickr. To get more information on a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective Flickr page.}


Did you enjoy our brief escape from the blistering heat, as we peered into Christmases of the past? I truly hope so, because I had an absolutely delightful time putting this post together.

Having hit the six month mark until December 25th, are you looking forward to counting down the months or dreading the thought of another holiday season? Personally I’m stoked, there’s nothing like the joy of celebrating the holidays in vintage style, watching my all-time favourite Christmas movie (White Christmas), singing carols, and roasting a turkey with all the trimmings to put a mile-wide smile on my lips in and in my heart.

14 comments:

  1. WOW this is SO ironic because I had a dream last night about a vintage Christmas!! (of course my dreams are known to come true, I think I was dreaming about this post! lol) I also happen to have a little something on my blog for you! (& another surprise to come tommorow ;) XOOX honey have a WONDERFUL day!!

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  2. Oh you norty girl, I love it!! I want a pink kitchen xx

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  3. You're making me hungry with all those pictures of Christmas cookies :D Those pics look like the ones in my old Betty Crocker Cookbook.

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  4. Wow what an amazing post full of so many lovely old photographs and ads I dont even know were to start naming my favorites. But the most adorable one by far would be the little boys cowboy costumes.....so darling!


    Dear Santa I will take one in every color and all of the the cowboy shirts holsters and everything else on that cowboy ad. Plus I will take one in every color of the stunning dress the gal in the fron is wearing in the christmas party at work ad.


    I grew up in a family that was not very religious, and I really do not follow any religions. But I do love to celebrate holidays! X mas is one of my favorites I have been on the lookout for a vintage fake x mas tree, hopefully I find one by this year. Any reason to decorate, throw a party or celebrate I am so down!


    Gorgeous post!

    Have a great day hun.

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  5. Hi honey!! I have a suprise for you on my sidebar! I was going to do it tommorow, but I was too excited :) let me know if you like it!!

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  6. :) yay! glad you liked it! I sent you the code to your email :)

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  7. Hey Jessica. Wow! What a cool post. I loved it. It's been between 90 and 100 here lately. It's so hot and humid. I'd love to imagine it's Christmas right about now. Great photos. I loved them all. They really put me in the spirit. Heck, I might have to get out some of my Dean Martin Christmas albums.

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  8. Oh I'm such a Christmas person too! I decorate and carry on, it's such fun.

    Totally loved all the pictures, thank you. My fav is the pink girls kitchen, yes please!

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  9. It was fun to see the Christmas posts when it's cool 93 degrees at my house. I love Christmas, but the post reminds me I have to start saving for gifts. :)

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  10. Hi Jessica!
    With temperatures here in the low 30's, it's sooo hard to imagine Christmas! Until I saw those food pics - wonderful!
    xLOL LOLA:)

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  11. Hooray for Christmas! I was born on the 25th and my son Noah was born on Valentine's Day:) We have a house full of holiday kids here!

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  12. Just stopping by to say HI! & have a wonderful friday! I love your Flickr photos, your cat is GORGEOUS! XOXO

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  13. What a fabulous post! I LOVE Christmas time!!! That little pink kitchen is adorable!

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  14. Hi lovely vintage dears, thank you each very much for your terrific comments!

    @ GypsyFox, what a fantastic coincidence - or premonition, depending on what you believe :) Thank you deeply and truly for your gift (which I'll be blogging about very soon). You're such a kind souled and wonderful person, and I'm so happy that our paths have crossed!

    @ MissMatlida, :D I want a pink kitchen to no end, too! Pink soothes and revives me sooooo much, plus I find it to be a creativity inducing colour, which would be extra perfect in the kitchen.

    @ Sher, they were making me nibblish too! I might have to cave into temptation and make some scrumptious Christmas cookie up in July :)

    @ Darla, thank you very much, sweetie! I had an amazing time putting this post together (I didn't grow up in a religious family either, but I certainly don't feel that one needs to be of faith to celebrate the holidays! The underlying messages - love, good will, kindness to one and all - that make up the root of Christmas are things that everyone should feel free to embrace and celebrate). I loved your wish list to Santa, thank you for sharing that, Darla honey!

    @ Keith, thank you so much!! Yikes, that sounds toasty indeed! We've been in the low 90s (or 30s, for my fellow canucks ;D), but I'm sure 100 isn't too far off. I have a tradition where I listen to at least one Christmas song a year on the 25th of June, and while I was putting together this post I probably got a good twenty five under my belt :)

    @ Moonspinner, thank you, honey! That pink kitchen is out-of-this-world adorable! I'd love it too, in either toy or "real" size.

    @ Amanda, sounds like summer is hitting your neck of the woods hard too! So glad you liked this post, but sorry to make you have to think about the hefty price tag that often accompanies Christmas. Too bad we can't celebrate the holidays with the same prices they had back in the 40s!!!

    @ Marie Reed, how deeply special! I've always thought there was something so beautiful about being born on a holiday.

    @ Nora, thank you, sweetie! I hope you and Lola will be sure to drop by in December for a spread full of vintage inspired Christmas cookies and beverages (and candy cane shaped doggy biscuits) :D

    @ Maggi, thank you very much, darling! Christmas is so awesome, I'm personally really excited about the fact that there's only 6 more months to go until I get hang up my stocking :)


    Oodles of thanks again everyone! I truly hope that you enjoyed our brief respite from the "fry an egg on the pavement" heat. Be sure to tune in come December for tons more fabulous vintage holiday imagery!


    Big hugs & joyful weekend wishes to you all!

    ♥ Jessica

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