Oh, the Christmas place I've been

Pre-holiday fun is what I've been having, I hope that you have been enjoying fun Christmas activities with your family and friends. 

Here's what I've been up to.

Christkindlmarket in downtown Chicago is the annual German open-air market that has become a Chicago tradition.  It's set up as a little European village with timber houses, trees and festive tents with vendors selling unique holiday items, gifts, German food and drinks, and on weekends entertainment.

Here, are some of the sights.

Many vendors come over from Europe particularly Germany

to sell their goods for the four weeks leading up to Christmas.

 Vendors booths in front of the Picasso in Daily Plaza.

This year's tree was a huge disappointment

for me, think Charlie Brown tree.

Shopper lined up to view

the goodies at each booth

We watched as the baker made the pretzels.

 We took home two different kind of strudel.

 So many gorgeous ornaments to choose from.

 I did purchase an ornament for someone special.

 Pretty

Beautiful scenes on these mugs. 

 Where to look, so many pretty and fascinating things.

 This was the Polish booth, my favorite.

 The speciality drink of the market, 

Gluhwein, which is hot spiced wine.

 Imported in boxes from Germany!?!

 Served pipping hot in a toss away cup or

 in a souniver mug

For lunch, we eat Bratwurst, potato pancakes, Gluhwein.

Had a fabulous time with my sweet sister and made a wonderful memory. Have you done something special and made a Christmas memory? Leave me your blog name and I would love to pop over and read all about it.

Thrift Share

With the holidays rapidly approaching, and everyone busy crafting, baking, shopping, wrapping, and decorating, did you find time for some thrift shopping this week?
I did! While shopping in a neighboring town, I took a few minutes to visit the GW Boutique and found two items that I liked. Usually I purchase vintage items but not this time. Here, is what I found...

 I liked the cut of this trench coat but,  I wasn't loving the satin around the bottom. The price was $19.99, a size 8 that could fit either of my daughters and the label inside the coat said...

Does Coach manufacture clothes in China?

Is this a fake or could it be real?

This is marked Coach, but I don't know.

The stitching and the snap closures are sewn nicely.

I did a quick search on eBay and found someone selling this same Coach (?) coat. Their coat was new with tags, and the opening bid on the Satin Trim Winter Walking Coat was $199.00 with a buy it now price of $249.95. There was no photo of the Coach inside label. Would their label have said made in China?

I've come to the conclusion that it's a lovely coat that is well constructed, and after it's dry cleaned will make a nice coat for one of my girls. For the cost of $19.99 plus dry cleaning, I purchased a coat at a reasonable price. Does anyone know if this is an authentic Coach coat or if it's fake? 

Don't you love it when you're standing in the isle at Goodwill, and the clerk wheels a cart full of merchandise to be shelved right next to you? That's exactly what happened when I found this...

A Staffel Stoneware Wine Jug made in W. Germany with six cups.

I need to translate what it says on the wine jug. 

According to Google this is a modern day makers mark,

but for $6.99 I decided that it would be fun to own this set.

What did you find this week while thrift shopping? I can't wait to see!

I am linking up with, Her Library Adventures on Sunday, for:

Cap Creations for :

Thrifty Goodness

and  Hey What's For Dinner Mom? for:

Me and My Shadow for:

Magpie Monday

and with Apron Thrift Girl for:

Unique & Meaningful Christmas Tree

While blog hopping, I came across Sweet Romantic Notions written by Shirley. Her blog showcased her fabulous Christmas tree.  

Shirley has decorated her vintage silver tinsel tree in a unique, and meaningful way. I am so happy that I came across her blog, why don't you pop over and read her blog title Hanky Christmas Tree.

Photo courtesy of Sweet Romantic Notions

It wouldn't be Christmas without Candy Canes

Ah, candy canes the red and white curved candy that is loved during the Christmas season. Look for these red and white treats used as decorations on trees, a stirring stick for hot cocoa, used in various craft projects, in holiday baking, and Santa Clause always gives out this tasty candy to good little boys and girls.

During a nativity ceremony at Germany's Cologne Cathedral in 1670 sugar sticks were given to all the children.  According to legend, their curved shape was created to resemble a shepherd's staff. At that time, the candy was pure white. In the beginning of the twentieth century, red stripes and peppermint flavoring were added.

Traditional Candy Canes

Decorate your tree with Candy Canes

Candy Canes used to flavor and stir Hot Chocolate

Crafting with Candy Canes

Peppermint Bark

Santa leaves Candy Canes

In recent years, different flavored Candy Canes have become popular, no longer just a peppermint treat, you can find cinnamon, apple pie, SweetTart, cherry, grape, and new flavors continue to pop up all over the retailers shelves, and on the internet. 

Bacon Candy Canes

can be purchase from Amazon

My husband use to love Candy Canes, so as soon as the first boxes of this peppermint treat reached the retailers shelf we bought several boxes. I wonder what he would think of all the different Candy Cane flavors that are now available? 

Gift It Up with Spot It!

When my children were young after our evening meal, we would sit down at the kitchen table and play the card game UNO. We had many fascinating conversations, arguments, and hurt feelings during our card games, but we had fun. 

I watch my oldest daughter play games with her two children, and I wonder if she remembers our family UNO nights. My youngest daughter has always loved to play games and is extremely competitive. She has a group of friends who get together once a month for game night. My son loves to play cards and has hosted many poker parties.  I wonder if they remember our family UNO games, I'll have to ask them.

If you are looking for a fun game for that special child during the holidays I want to suggest the game Spot It! by Blue Orange Games.

Spot It! comes in a metal tin with round cards, and they all have different shapes on them. This game is recommended for players ages 6 and up. I have played this game with my 5 year old and 3 year old grandchildren, and they were faster than I was.

The card on the left has a black horse head that 

matches the horse head on the card bottom right,

There is always one, and only one, matching symbol between any 2 cards in this party game. Spot It! and you win! A keen eye and a little bit of speed is all it takes to become a Spot It! master.

Each game of Spot It! lasts 10 to 20 minutes and has been awarded the National Parenting Publications Gold Award and Dr. Toy Best Toys Award. Spot It! has directions for four different games that are very similar.

Give Spot It! to someone on your holiday list and maybe you can experience fascinating conversations, arguments, and hurt feelings during your game while having a blast and making memories.

Look What the Mailman Brought Me...

Getting the mail out of the mailbox has always been my favorite time of the day. Every time you open up the mailbox it's a surprise, and today I was pleasantly surprised. This is what waited inside of my mailbox today.

Thank You Mandie, I love this headband.

This darling headband was a giveaway from Mandie,

 who writes the blog Millie Morgan Media. 

Mandie has a great DIY on how to make felt ball ornaments.

She is also having a giveaway of these ornaments 

click here for her tutorial and to enter her giveaway.

Contest ends December 8th 

and the winner will be

announced on December 9th.

The designs are so delightful !?!

No words can describe these Christmas decoration, so I'm just going to post theses photos.  

 The word proportion comes to mind
when I look at this decoration. 

Did they lose one shoe and decide to make a 

Christmas decoration out of the one that was left? 

Not everything has to be recycled.

I do not own these nor, did I make them I just took the picture. ;))