A Christmas that started off inauspiciously, with stress and empty pockets, ended up being one of the best ones in recent memory. This was the first Christmas in four years where I didn’t have to work Christmas Eve, or the week after; everyone was in a good mood and liked their presents. Here’s how we celebrated (clockwise from top left):

• Watched holiday movies while working on this Thomas Kinkade Christmas Wreath puzzle (50 cents at the thrift store).
• Ate gingerbread (made with Betty Crocker mix and Target cookie cutters).
• Rented Bachelor Mother, which was even better than I remembered {film still via Livin’ Vintage; rent it for $2.99 On Demand}. David Niven and Ginger Rogers are just magic together, and the script’s so clever. In my opinion, it’s aged better than many so-called “classic” screwball comedies.
• Saw Arthur Christmas, the latest movie by Aardman Studios (Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep). My teen brother & I saw it in mid-December, and had the theater to ourselves. We don’t always find the same things funny, but we both laughed ourselves silly, especially at naughty Grandpa.
• Drank Crispin Honey Crisp Hard Apple Cider, another good & cheap holiday tipple.
• Also: Bought a bunch of snacks (chips, crackers, cookies, things we normally try to restrict), and made a giant batch of paella on Friday, and nibbled on both through the weekend. Watched the first episode of Rosemary & Thyme, a cozy British mystery series with a gardening theme (Season 1 is available for streaming on Netflix).

How about you guys? What made your holiday break special (or at least bearable)?

I had planned on doing a Winter Holiday special here, similar to Halloween Week, but…eh. I’m feeling stressed and Grinch-y this year. Christmas shopping & prep, the luminary ceremony at my grandmother’s grave, a major home clean out, and one big end-of-the-year freelance project (which I’m still working on) consumed the last few weeks, and I have miles to go before I sleep.

I did save up lots of great holiday post ideas at Pinterest, though, in anticipation of that holiday special, and it would be a waste not to share them with you. Here are a few favorite finds, from my Winter Holidays board:

Source: refinery29.com via Renee on Pinterest Source: amazon.com via Renee on Pinterest Source: myrecipes.com via Renee on Pinterest

Source: trissalicious.com via Renee on Pinterest Source: us.asos.com via Renee on Pinterest

Clockwise from top left (click images for links):

• a peppermint-inspired manicure from Refinery 29
• a chewy turrón recipe
• plaid tights
• a peppermint martini
• Bachelor Mother, a classic comedy set during the holiday season

There are a lot more goodies (over 300 pins) on my two Pinterest holiday boards, Winter Holidays and Holiday Gifts & Wrapping Ideas, and I hope you’ll click over. I also hope to do more holiday posting next week, once my big project wraps up.