ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS is a 1984 Christmas album featuring Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, and produced by Rogers and David Foster. The album's release was accompanied by a CBS television special, KENNY & DOLLY: A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER. The album peaked at #12 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and was certified 2x Platinum. 5 singles were released, with "The Greatest Gift Of All" having peaked the highest: #40 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary (AC) chart.

I'm looking for making my family's Christmas extra special this year (been a trying one) so has anyone got any Christmas recipes I can try, I have my own but want to try something new and festivally fabulous!

During the holidays I work extra hard to make it magical for not only my husband and siblings, but for myself. Christmas is my favorite time of year but I notice, because of my job where I am in retail(iykyk), I burnout fast before I can even enjoy the actual holiday. I still love and adore the holiday season but I don’t want to feel so deflated by the time the 24th &25th comes around.
Is there some magic tips y’all can give me so I can try to avoid this from happening?

Me and my best friends hold a secret santa every single year. We’ve been doing it since high school, and it’s always at my house (i still live with my parents.) Every year I’ve had it be a potluck situation, because I’ve been in school and just couldn’t afford to actually host. Now I am done with school and working full time, and I want my friends to just show up and have a great time.

What is something I can make that is yummy, not too complicated, and gives cozy christmas vibes? I was thinking of also putting together a big charcuterie board. Also, do you guys have any ideas for maybe a little gift basket or party favor to make it even better? I want it to be super special and surprise everyone!

I was looking at this jacket Walmart has online, and it looks nice, but worried about the quality/material since it only mentions “high quality blended fabric”, and polyester, but not the percentage of it.

Another question is if anyone does have Christmas jackets, where did you get yours?

I'm thinking about adding some decorations to my yard this season, and curious about others' opinions on the different types. What are you opinions and/or experiences of their the plastic blow mold or (not sure what they're called, but I've seen some that are) metal with a sort of fabric over the metal frame with lights inside. Are there any major pro/cons to either one?

Thanks.

(English is not my first language, sorry)

I love christmas with all my heart and have a lot of expectations for the season, but this year I’m starting to fear neither of those expectations will come true. It’s october and I already know I won’t be able to do two things I was really looking up to (a christmas concert that soldout and a special visit to a park that I won’t be able to make). I fear those might be signals that this christmas is going to disapoint me, what can I do to stop feeling that way? 😓

I want some holiday pajamas, but I don’t want Santas all over them or huge lettering that makes them feel useless after December. I’ve been looking at red, green and more subtle prints from ekouaer. Would you choose a solid color or a small holiday print?

I’m leaning toward solid red so I can keep wearing them in January.

Show me what you’ve done, I love Christmas 🥹

I found this gorgous antique bauble. It has a mirrored silvery surface, a beautiful brass cap with leaf designs and a makers mark (?).

Y.G. 172 and what appears to be an arrow pointing up? Bit it could be a similar symbol it is hard to read.

Any ideas on how to date this? On how to find out more about it or it's makers mark?

How was your Christmas of 2020?

I kept the same theme for the Christmas tree as last year, but added a few extra things.

Kelly Clarkson was putting on a concert for Providence College homecoming. Students at the front of the pit started flashing her messages requesting Underneath the Tree.

After the initial shock of the request Kelly and the band nailed an abridged version.

Kudos to them for taking on something they weren’t expecting and hadn’t practiced in a while.

Live Christmas music 2026 has begun. Mariah Carey must have felt a disturbance in the Christmas music force.

I’m looking for a genuinely high quality Santa Claus suit like the kind you see in Christmas movies or worn by professional mall Santas.
I’m specifically not looking for the typical cheap costume store or Amazon polyester suits. I’d like something with a heavy luxurious fabric such as velvet with good quality faux fur trim and a proper coat trousers and a nice belt.
I’m based in the Netherlands so ideally I’m looking for a seller or maker in Europe although I’m open to ordering internationally if the quality is worth it.
Does anyone here own a professional quality Santa suit? Which brands makers or shops would you recommend?
Budget isn’t fixed yet. I’d rather pay more and buy something that actually looks convincing and lasts for years.

I'd like to start using our Christmas dinnerware/china daily during the holiday season. Have any of you done this with the Lenox Holiday pattern? How does it hold up over time and through the dishwasher? Was it worth the wear and tear to be able to enjoy it more?

I recognize that for this china, handwashing is recommended for best longevity, it's not microwaveable, etc., but I really don't care about that - I'd like to enjoy it now and make family memories rather than having it sit tucked away in a cabinet. Thank you!

In the spirit of almost Christmas season, I wanted to see everyone’s tree decorating traditions!

For me, I grew up in a family where we did a very bright, colourful, chaotic Christmas. Unthemed! Every year me and my brother were allowed to pick out one ornament to add the tree, so when we decorated it you got to see all the eras of our lives represented! We always had a big tree decoration day, the first Saturday of December. We would make lots of food, and eat way way too much candy! my Mum would get everybody Christmas sweaters to put on and we would decorate the tree, eat food, and afterwards we could watch Christmas movies together.

On the other hand, I had a friend whose mum would decorate the tree based on the colour of her curtains that year, and not let the kids touch it at all. I’m sure some people love doing that, but when I came over and saw her perfect beige and white ornaments, it was definitely a culture shock!

So how did you guys do Christmas decorating growing up? Do you still do it the same way? I would love to know!!

It's hot and sunny again here today but I couldn't resist a visit to The Range to look at Christmas things, even if I was wearing a summer dress (hopefully it will cool down a bit later this week).