December Wallpaper, Holiday Music & Paper Shoes

white christmas cup cake (by pixel_boy)

My favorite source for desktop wallpaper (among other things) - Smashing Magazine - has released their December wallpaper selections. Check out the wonderful, seasonal wallpapers that come in a wide variety of sizes, and often with a choice of a December calendar as part of the image.

Cheerful Earful shares Merry Christmas from Al Morgan

Listen to The Deal Is's Christmas Mixtape

It's (almost) Christmas...@ Hits in the Car

The Pillar Cast Christmas Podcast

It's that time of year where all podcasts are Christian music podcasts. Original music from Darrell Smith and some old favorite tunes from Ball in the House, Admiral Twin, DegreeZero, Smallfish, and Jaime Thietten. Have yourself a happy and very merry Christmas!

Electric Fantastic Christmas 2008 (Free Download!)

Kites With Lights - I Wish Every Other Day Was Christmas
Hyperbubble - Christmas With The Bee Gees (Robin Reindeer Mix)
Schmoof - Turn On Christmas
Libra & Atari Cowboy - Little Drummer Boy
Exx - Around The Universe
Diskodiktator - Green Christmas
Electraset - Christmas Wish
Quelles Paroles - In The Ghetto
Selfcentered Spacecadet - Three Kings
The Garland Cult - Blue Heart For Christmas
Electraset - We Wish You A Medley Xmas

Make Paper Shoes for St. Nicholas Day (Dec. 6) @ Foreign Language Fun

Christmas Comics: Dennis the Menace, Archie, Little Lulu

Dennis the Menace in Winter Wonderland



Plus check out these great blogs...

Magic Carpet Burn presents "Predicting the Present" from Little Lulu's Christmas Diary

Diversions of the Groovy Kind shares Archie in "Tree-Mendous" from Laugh 275

Christmas link round-up

Geilenkirchen, St. Nikolaus Market, 04 (by Hobby-Photograph)

Christmas Forever shares A Singer Christmas for the Family by The Mastertone Orchestra featuring the Don Janse Chorale and Favorite Christmas Songs from Singer by The Singer Orchestra

Joe Rock links to a tremendous selection of celebrity Christmas ID's at the daily wav

Christmas Music @ Download.com

Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh @ Nick.com

Christmas @ BBC Food

Snowflake and Yarn Wreath @ Cathie Fillian plus homemade Mini Cocoa Gifts

Santa's Beard Advent Calendar craft @ Kaboose

Resparkle Your Old Ornaments @ CraftStytlish

Holiday Gifts That Won't Break The Bank @ The Consumerist

Families.com collects some YouTube Christmas clips to help get you in the holiday spirit

Printable Letters from Santa @ Santaprintables.com

Christmas Music links, Ogden Nash, Chia Christmas Trees and more...

Kneehuggers (by paperheartpress)

AM, Then FM offers Three under the tree from the rare Verve vinyl Christmas Gospelodium

Guilt Free Pleasures' Holiday Hash Part 1 & Part 2

Ernie (Not Bert) shares Christmas With Ogden Nash

Big Rock Candy Mountain's Drinking Up Christmas on Santa Claus Shufflin' Stagecoach with the Xmas Present Blues again

bongobells spotlights seasonal chuckleheads Bah and the Humbugs

Christmas (as opposed to Bohemian) Rhapsody @ MeFi Music

Anglopunk at Condemned to Rock and Roll hates Christmas, so here's his Christmas Mix

Former Squeeze'r Chris Difford is teaming with the presenters of the BBC's The One Show to release a charity Christmas single - "Let's Not Fight This Christmas" - check out the project's Facebook Page

Glenn Packiam shares his new song "Gloria (Mary's Song)"

X-entertainment lights up The Chia Christmas Tree!

Christmas Music, Creepy ads, Wayside Waifs Charity CD + more

Jingle Bell Tree (by Kadance)

Two more albums newly shared at A Christmas Yuleblog: The wonderful Vincent Lopez & His Orchestra's "Christmas Music" & the steam whistle stylings (!) of "Marlin L. Ryan - York, PA Traditional Christmas Carols"

Ernie (Not Bert) has posted a pair of re-shares:
Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Carols and Saint Patrick's Cathedral Choir Sings Christmas Songs-Volume 2

bongobells offers Away in a Manger x 19!

Can You See the Sunset... has part 2 of Can You See Santa From The Southside?

Sofia Talvik's annual free Christmas single "A Carol for the Lonely" (via stubbysfears)

Presents of Christmas Past! (Pac Man Edition) @ Geek Orthodox

Creepy Christmas Ads @ Holidash

Classic Disney Holiday Stories with Mickey, Minnie, Donald and more.




Wayside Waifs - a charity compilation CD, and labor of love, from the Twelve Months of Christmas's Tone King, is finally available for purchase!

Here's the Tone King discussing it at Twelve Months of Christmas and here's a direct link to the compilation's very own web site.

Congratulations to the Tone King on putting together this amazing album and helping out our less fortunate four-legged friends!

Christmas Music Quickie

Music You (Possibly) Won't Hear Anyplace Else has jumped into the holiday sharity season with 3 versions of the Hanover Winter Song, "finally it's Christmas with the Singing Angels" and Freddy Martin's Nutcracker Suite in Dance Tempo

The hits, and posts, just keep on coming at Ernie (not Bert)! Since my last update he's added smashing shares and re-shares from:

• The Bison Glee Club, Warren Angell, Director-The Joy Of Christmas (re-share)
• the rare privately pressed The Glen Riddle Franciscans-Choral Group-Sisters Of St. Francis-We Sing Of Christmas (re-share)
• The Sisters Of Divine Providence-Christmas Mosaic-Our Greetings In Carols (re-share)
• Veo Gray And The Jodie Lyons Singers-A Christmas Happening (new share for 2008)
• Christmas With Big Tiny Little (re-share)
• Pete Fountain's Candy Clarinet (re-share)
• Jimmie Davis-It's Christmas Time Again (new share for 2008)

... all that plus the first track of this year's 27 Days of Christmas compilation!

A Christmas Yuleblog shares a merry pair - Bill Doggett's "12 Songs Of Christmas" and Fred Lowery's "A Family Christmas"

AM, Then FM spotlight's Michael Powers' "Frosty the Bluesman"

Check out bongobells' exclusive version of The White Christmas Album

Christmas with Anita Bryant @ Cheerful Earful

The King of Jing-a-ling scored an exclusive interview with Stu Phillips, the composer, conductor and arranger behind The Hollyridge Strings.

Christmas Music links plus the ultimate holiday TV viewing guide!

elf (by aragogweb)

CaptainOT over at a Christmas Yuleblog shares the terrific The Three Suns - The Sounds of Christmas EP

Three under the Tree Day One and Day Two at AM, Then FM

It's time for our daily dose of Ernie (not Bert)'s holiday cheer with the seasonal organ compilation A Kimball Christmas, the regional school choir/glee club collection Christmas In Cleveland and a new share for 2008 The Cardinal's Cathedral Choristers, Conductor: Very Reverend Monsignor Charles N. Meter-Carols Of The Nations

Can You See the Sunset offers Can You See Santa From The Southside? (Punk Christmas Songs)

Jul Igen shares Dances Around the Christmas Tree

Leaky Sparrow shares some Adrienne Pierce (and John Denver!)

Mike Went West shares it's choice for The Greatest Christmas Song Ever - Frightened Rabbit - It's Christmas So We'll Stop

The Killers with Elton John Launch Christmas Song Charity Collaboration @ Holidash

Diane Werts has released her massive compendium of the season's holiday TV programming:

From Diane's Blog:

The TV listings come in three separately linked categories --

* Christmas episodes, which means mostly scripted sitcoms and dramas with characters celebrating (or suffering from) the holiday.

* Christmas movies, which includes theatrical films old and new, plus made-for-TV movies, a genre proliferating of late. (Thank you, Lifetime and Hallmark.)

* Christmas specials, which collects just about everything else -- animated specials old and new, Christmas concerts/ballets, seasonal music videos and clip shows, reality/documentary programs, lifestyle shows (food, decor, etc.), tree-lightings, kids shows/cartoons, and other random inclusions.

Find out more about the lists here ...

and access the continually updated lists here:

• CHRISTMAS EPISODES!
• CHRISTMAS SPECIALS!
• CHRISTMAS MOVIES!

ASCAP's Top 25 Christmas songs of the last 5 years

ASCAP has released their list of the most played Christmas tracks on radio over the past five years.

#1 Winter Wonderland
Written by: Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith
Performed by: Eurythmics

#2 The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Written by: Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by: Nat "King" Cole

#3 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by: Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin
Performed by: The Pretenders

#4 Sleigh Ride
Written by: Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish
Performed by: The Ronettes

#5 Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Written by: Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
Performed by: Frank Sinatra

#6 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Written by: Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
Performed by: Michael Bublé

#7 White Christmas
Written by: Irving Berlin
Performed by: Bing Crosby

#8 Jingle Bell Rock
Written by: Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe
Performed by: Bobby Helms

#9 Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Gene Autry

#10 Little Drummer Boy
Written by: Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati, Harry Simeone
Performed by: The Harry Simeone Chorale & Orchestra

#11 It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Written by: Edward Pola, George Wyle
Performed by: Andy Williams

#12 Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Brenda Lee

#13 Silver Bells
Written by: Jay Livingston, Ray Evans
Performed by: Kenny G

#14 I'll Be Home For Christmas
Written by: Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram
Performed by: Amy Grant

#15 Feliz Navidad
Written by: José Feliciano
Performed by: José Feliciano

#16 Frosty The Snowman
Written by: Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Performed by: The Ronettes

#17 A Holly Jolly Christmas
Written by: Johnny Marks
Performed by: Burl Ives

#18 It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Written by: Meredith Willson
Performed by: Johnny Mathis

#19 Blue Christmas
Written by: Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson
Performed by: Elvis Presley

#20 (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
Written by: Bob Allen, Al Stillman
Performed by: Perry Como

#21 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Written by: Tommie Connor (PRS)
Performed by: John Mellencamp

#22 Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)
Written by: Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman
Performed by: Gene Autry

#23 Carol Of The Bells
Written by: Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola Leontovich
Performed by: David Foster (instrumental version)

#24 Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)
Written by: Midge Ure (PRS), Bob Geldof (PRS)
Performed by: Band Aid

#25 This Christmas
Written by Donny Hathaway, Nadine McKinnor
Performed by Gloria Estefan

Thanksgiving Night quickie

Happy Thanksgiving from Dartman's World of Wonder

Tune into Azathoth's Thanksgiving SomethingCast

Lots of stuff at Ernie (not Bert) including re-shares of The Going Thing, The Joy Strings, and the Thanksgiving single Thanksgiving Parade. Got all that already? well Ernie has you covered with a couple of super rare film-strip soundtracks - Squanto And The First Thanksgiving and How We Got Our Christmas Customs plus the way out groovy sounds of The Candy Store's "Turned On Christmas"

Twelve Months of Christmas debut's the Tone King's new podcast "The Phantom Blogger" full of rare Christmas treats.

Check out bongobells 2008 Christmas Sampler

Thanksgiving Comics

More at Senses Working Overtime

Thanksgiving Comics: Peanuts Nov 27, 1951 & Nov 25, 1965

Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving

Qui.... nevica! (by violaviola)

Not sure I'll find time to post tomorrow so here's wishing everyone a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!

Last Minute Thanksgiving Run! @ Holidash

The great one awakes! Ernie (not Bert), the blog that puts the egg in our noggs, has officially declared the sharity season open! Check out a winter wonderland of musical snowflakes with Six Family Mountain-Takin' A Ride With The Wind, Ray Conrad-The Cotton-Pickin' Lift Tower And Other Skiing Songs and The Blazers & The Yodelin' Guides-Track! Songs Of The Skiers

A Christmas Yuleblog shares Irwin The Disco Duck - Christmas & New Year's Party (!?!) and, on a slightly more sane note, Bobby Roberts & His Orchestra - Holiday Music For Happy People - in both mono and stereo versions.

Get 8 free Christmas songs at oprah.com. 48 hours only!

Free Christmas Music spotlights Jennifer Avalon - Sounds of Bethlehem

Check out the WOXY Holiday Mixer:

"From now through the New Year, we're pleased to offer up the WOXY HOLIDAY MIXER! This unique 24/7 collection features hundreds of seasonal tunes and is filled with unique renditions of your holiday favorites by modern rockers from around the globe. We have a little bit of something for everyone. This year, we've added almost 100 new tracks to the mix from bands like Frightened Rabbit, Low, Goldfrapp, Gentleman Auction House, Rogue Wave, Blitzen Trapper, Evangelicals, Jason Collett, and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin"

Tusday Night Quickie

Santa Railway (by Len_Scapov)

Here's a quickie as I find myself in the grip of a wicked stomach flu...

Relive Your Favorite Thanksgiving Episodes on TheWB.com @ Holidash plus $anta's Little Saver

A Christmas Yuleblog shares The Klaudt Indian Family - Peace On Earth; Christmas Greetings plus Dragnet: The Christmas Story

It's almost time for writer and television critic Diane Werts to unveil her massive Christmas TV schedule but in thc meantime she provides her picks for the rest of the week's yuletide viewing.

New Christmas Music from Mannheim Steamroller and Faith Hill

Here are a couple of quick first impressions of the new holiday releases from Mannheim Steamroller and Faith Hill...

Christmasville
Mannheim Steamroller

Commissioned by Universal Theme Parks the main selling point of this new disc from Chip Davis, and his Mannheim Steamroller empire, is the presence of vocals on most of the tracks. As with all Mannheim Steamroller efforts Christmasville is a pleasant, if brief at 31 minutes, holiday listening experience but I'm not sure the generic vocal performances are an improvement on the usual formula. Perhaps if I'd seen the show the music's been written for it would click with me more.



Joy to the World
Faith Hill

Country superstar Faith Hill's seasonal gift is a little bit country but only a little bit, it's also a little bit jazzy, a little bit soulful and a surprisingly well rounded effort that will probably find it's way into my holiday listening a lot more than I would have at first expected.

Holiday Links for a chilly Monday morning

Tis the Season to be Jolly (by Lester Shih)

Nikki's Sweet Potatoes @ 101 Cookbooks

The Great Thanksgiving Side Dishstravaganza (CityMama)

Thanksgiving Food 911: 3 Important Tips to Save Your Sanity @ Hugging the Coast

The Kitchn:

• Thanksgiving Tofu Loaf
• Quince and Apple Tart
• Getting Ready for Thanksgiving
• How To Cut Up a Turkey Before Roasting?

Roasted Acorn Squash and Bacon Penne @ Iron Steph

Brandied Cranberries @ Simple Recipes

Serious Eats: Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us: The Thanksgiving Special plus In Season: Cranberries

Super Punch has more terrific Thanksgiving links

Snowball Fight! (by boopsie.daisy)

Celebrate Christmas with Snoddas @ Jul Igen

Cool-Mo-Dee shares some Christmas music links

Be Jolly, By Golly has 9 Ways to Green Your Christmas

Nightmare Before Christmas toy spotlight @ Super Punch

Netflix Watch Instantly (req. acct.)

This Christmas

Gathering to celebrate Christmas together for the first time in four years, the Whitfield clan uses the opportunity to finally share their true feelings about one another. Small arguments over holiday traditions such as trimming the tree erupt into major conflicts that test the family's bonds. Delroy Lindo, Laz Alonso, Mekhi Phifer, Idris Elba and Regina King star in this ensemble film that fuses family drama, comedy and holiday cheer.

Christmas Comics: Peanuts Dec 22 & 24, 1956

Christmas Quickie

Baby, It's Cold Outside is a blog on a mission - a mission to list every version of blog author Brian's favorite song of snowy seduction - at last count he had more than a hundred. But Baby, It's Cold Outside isn't just a list blog - already Brian's shared a rare album of Christmas Carols by Father Sydney MacEwan from back in 1956.

The Tone King reviews the new Project 86 Christmas E.P.

I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday is Fab Four Christmas

The Christmas Special Wiki has added pages for Super Mario World's "The Night Before Cave Christmas", He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special and, Merry Nickmas , plus the beginnings of a List of Christmas television episodes - that is to say, Christmas themed episodes of various TV series.

Afternoon stocking stuffers

Have a Hip Christmas with Randy! rare tunes, the best new Christmas albums, a 350 song holiday jukebox and a sleigh full of other goodies await at hipchristmas.com!

Green Chri$tma$ - Fifty Year$: An Appreciation @ A Christmas Yuleblog

Low's classic Just Like Christmas @ I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday.

cyberinsekt shares Micheál Ó Súilleabháin - Oíche Nollag (Christmas Eve)

Grumpy Boss' Corner offers a trio of homemade compilations:

• The Christmas Songs: A Retrospective Journey
• An Orchestral Christmas:A Retrospective Journey
• An Orchestral Christmas:A Retrospective Journey 2

Be Jolly, By Golly asks "What's your decorating style?"

DVD Talk reviews A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All and so does The Home Theater Forum

Listen to the second rehearsal for Radio Theatre Group's production of The Plot to Overthrow Christmas

On First Listen: New Christmas Albums by Los Lonely Boys, David Arkenstone & Mary-Chapin Carpenter

Here are my first impressions of three new holiday releases...

Los Lonely Boys - Christmas Spirit

Anchored by the suburb track "I've Longed For Christmas" this rootsy 10 track stocking stuffer from Los Lonely Boys is destined for heavy rotation in my holiday music mix this year. At this, admittedly early moment, "I've Longed For Christmas" may be my favorite new rock Christmas song of the year.

Press Repeat:
I've Longed For Christmas, She'll Be My Everything For Christmas, Carol of the Bells, Away in a Manger



David Arkenstone - Christmas Lounge

Generic melding of new age noodling and "lounge" beats. I expected more from Akenstone for some reason, but this left absolutely no impression on me - of course your mileage may vary.



Mary-Chapin Carpenter - Come Darkness Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas

Beautifully crafted, mostly acoustic, offering from Mary-Chapin Carpenter offers a subdued and gracious collection of songs that could easily have been subtitled "devotions, reflections and lullabies". Heartfelt and highly recommended.

Turkey Lurkey Time

The Amateur Gourmet offers A Thanksgiving Confession (with Two Recipe Suggestions)

Turkey, or Not Turkey, That Is a Question The staff of the Dining section responds to reader questions about Thanksgiving. (NYT)

(NYC) Eating Out on Thanksgiving: Go Beyond Turkey @ Grub Street

The Kitchn presents Recipes for Thanksgiving Side Dishes plus Thanksgiving Wines: Keep it Simple

Serious Eats: Deep Fried Pumpkin Pie Makes My Stomach Rumble with Glee

My Dollar Plan has a roundup of Black Friday Resources on the web.

Christmas Music Quickie

Between The Shadows… Your Singing Light (by denis collette)

Hi-Fi Holiday shares The Living Guitars - The Joy of Christmas

FaLaLaLaLa is searching for the record Christmas Chopsticks by the Mike Sammes Singers (click to listen)

And if your at all a fan of Christmas music you owe it to yourself to check out the FaLaLaLaLa Forums!

Peace on Earth : A Charity Holiday Album Vol. II : To Benefit The Children of Uganda Fund is now available for digital download at It's Hard to Find a Friend. A $7.50 donation gets you (along with that special warm feeling of helping your fellow man)...

"Exclusive Holiday music from:
American Analog Set, Oxford Collapse, Bodies of Water, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Anathallo, Jason Collett, Jennifer O'Connor, Marla Hansen, Laura Gibson, Chris Garneau & More!"

Today's Holiday Links

Jazze Merry Christmas 2 U (by jazzejunqueinc)

Download Amazon's Holiday MP3 Sampler

X-Entertainment: Garfield's Thanksgiving: A Ravoo.

Top Turkeys @ Chow plus Is Canned Cranberry Sauce Evil?

Gearing up for Thanksgiving with CityMama

Cooking Light: Lighten Up: Holiday Classics

NYT Diner's Journal's Thanksgiving Q and A

The Kitchn asks "Do You Serve Appetizers for Thanksgiving Dinner?" plus Fresh Cranberry Relish

Thyme-Roasted Sweet Potatoes @ Serious Eats

An intimate Thanksgiving, chef-style. @ LoHud.com

Cathie Fillian's Dollar Saving Holiday Ideas

How to Crochet Autumn Leaves to Decorate Your Table @ Craftstylsh

Thanksgiving Recipes: Cranberry Desserts @ Families.com plus Fun Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained on Thanksgiving

Reader's Digest: Gifts to Please the Man in Your Life plus Don't Let the Economy Grinch Steal Your Holiday Cheer

The Snowballs - "Song About Christmas" at the Free Christmas Music Blog

Listen to the first rehearsal for Radio Theatre Group's production of Back for Christmas

Christmas quickie

Ilexkranz mit Schleife - Holly wreath with bow (by Tortentante)

Christmas trax from Gentleman Auction House, Chris Daniels & The Kings, Deep 6 Holiday, Deni Bonet and Ed Harcourt at The Late Greats

The Jul stylings of Thore Skogman re-posted at Jul Igen

Tip Junkie offers 5 Tips for Simplifying Your Holidays

Holiday links quickie

How to Peel and Cut a Butternut Squash @ Simply Recipes plus Butternut Squash with Browned Butter and Thyme

How to Make a Garland with Punch (CraftStylish)

Tussie Mussie "upside-down elf hats" craft at Christy's Closet

Jaunty Snowman Ornapendant @ The Impatient Crafter

Handmade Christmas Card a Day @ Scrapscene

Gourmet's Favorite Cookies - The best of 60 years of recipes from Gourmet Magazine (via Cooking Monster)

On First Listen: New Christmas Albums from Elvis Presley & Julianne Hough

Elvis Presley Christmas Duets

I'll start out by admitting that I find these posthumous duet projects to be rather unnecessary, and somewhat creepy. A duet should have, in theory at least, some sense of interaction between the artists involved and these recording can never achieve that. What we are left with is essentially celebrity karaoke - re-arranged classics turned into high priced sing a longs.

So here's Elvis and a bunch of his, occasionally quite fine, Christmas recordings tarted up with contributions from today's top female country stars. The gals do just fine but they never make you, or me at any rate, forget there singing along with the "late" great Elvis Presley.

There are apparently alternate international versions with contributions from various local artists.

Elvis fans, country fans, anyone else who isn't creeped out might well dig this - in fact the majority of listener reviews I've read have been overwhelmingly positive - but I'll probably stick to the original, unaltered, versions I've been listening to throughout the years.

Sounds of the Season: The Julianne Hough Holiday Collection (Target Exclusive)

I'm not that big a country music fan. every few weeks i'll go through a phase when I tune into one of the Satellite Radio's Outlaw Country or Roadhouse stations for a couple of hours and that feeds my need until next time. But when Christmas comes around , for some reason, a lot more country music finds it's way into my listening day.

I don't watch much reality TV, so I had no idea who Julianne Hough was until Google and Wikipedia clued me in. World class ballroom dancer tops her resume, though if this album is any indication se has every right to add first rate country singer right beneath it.

Now, as I've said, I'm no huge country music fan but I wouldn't be surprised if I find myself spinning this brief (only 6 vocal tracks plus an instrumental and short spoken word piece) disc quite a few more times between now and New Years.

Press Repeat: It Wasn't His Child/Mary Did You Know (w/ Phil Vassar)

Thanksgiving linkage

Thanksgiving Party Printables @ About.com Family Crafts

Bargain Briana's 7 Ways to Save on Your Holiday Party

Cathie Filian offers some Thanksgiving Day Activities & Ideas plus Cranberry Sauce and Leftover Ideas

Top 10 Tips to Bag a Bargain on Black Friday (Consumer World)

Thanksgiving Recipes: Spectacular Sides @ Families.com

Vegetarian Thanksgiving Recipes @ 101 Cookbooks plus, if you, or a guest, are really strict, Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes.

Cooking Monster asks What's a "Heritage" Turkey?

Joyce Slaton at Chow implores you - "Don't Fear the Tofurky"

Thanksgiving Wine, a Guide for Hosts and Guests @ Serious Eats

15% off any one item at Toys R Us printable coupon - exp Nov 20th.(Buxr)

Star Wars Holiday stuff and more...

Tips and recipes from your favorite Food Network stars @ Hulu

Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Star Wars Holiday Special at starwarsholidayspecial.com.

Plus, don't forget last years hilarious Rifftrax commentary still available, for a nominal fee, at rifftrax.com.

And, with the Force still in mind, check out Star Wars Galactic Heroes Stocking Stuffers at X-Entertainment.

DVD Savant reviews A Shari Lewis Christmas

Santa Claus has appeared as a character in more than 600 films and TV shows. according to the IMDB.

5 Holiday Copyright Hazards for Bloggers @ The Blog Herald

Christmas Comics: Peanuts Dec 25 1955

Stocking stuffers for Nov 16

New Holiday Special alert!

Check out A Miser Bothers Christmas @ ABC Family

"They're Heat Miser and Snow Miser, otherwise known as the brothers with the most heated (or is it the frostiest?) sibling rivalry around. So, what happens when the fate of Christmas depends on whether or not they can get along?

The story begins as all Christmases do, with Santa and his elves merrily getting ready for the big night. Little do they know that North Wind, Snow Miser and Heat Miser's brother, wants to steal Santa's job. North Wind stirs up a whirlwind of trouble that could put an end to Christmas as we know it.

Only Snow Miser and Heat Miser can stop him, but can they stop bickering long enough to get the job done?

Created in the beloved style of stop-motion animation, and featuring familiar as well as original songs, "Miser Brothers' Christmas" is a new kind of holiday classic."

Get yourself into a Snowglobe! (also at ABC Family)

Yuletube @ TV Worth Watching

Noelle reviewed at DVD Talk

Cruising Through the Holiday's with FlyLady.net

Christmas Countdown Day 22: Get Cooking Week! @ Organized Christmas

Visit the Magical Holiday Home Forums (via Organized Christmas)

Thanksgiving Link Feast

A Heritage Feast @ Bon Appetite

Thanksgiving @ Southern Living

Thanksgiving sushi, as bad as it sounds? @ Budget Travel

5 Turkey Strategies To Contemplate This Weekend @ Cookthink

Thanksgiving Then and Now @ FoodVu

The Thanksgiving Leftovers Solution: Pepper Jelly Ham @ Big Red Kitchen

1620: A bygone culinary classic revisited (Cape Cod Today)

Almost Heaven: Leftover Mashed Potatoes, Uplifted (NYT)

Thanksgiving Dinner Menus and Holiday Recipes @ Kitchenlink

Thanksgivingrecipe.com

Thanksgiving with...

• Pillbury
• Betty Crocker
• McCormick
• Woman's Day
• Reader's Digest

Trim portions for healthier feast, expert says (Journal Gazette)

Budget Thanksgiving: Tips for keeping Turkey Day expenses under control (WacoTrib)

10 ideas for spicing up turkey day (Seattle Times)

Christmas quickie

Hamley's Christmas Lights (by jenniejenjen06)

Irving Berlin'sWhite Christmas comes to Broadway

Internet Archive:

You Asked For It
Incomplete but fascinating 1950's TV broadcast of "You Asked for It" with a Christmas theme. As noted, it's missing a few minutes, but it's still watchable.

Martha Stewart's Christmas Workshop begins Nov. 17 - sign up now!

How Riggers Raise the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: Live on Scene (Popular Mechanics)

Create A Cookie @ Better Homes and Gardens Plus 22 Showstopping Christmas Cookies

Thanksgiving Goodies

Thanksgiving @ Martha Stewart

Thanksgiving @ Family Fun

Thanksgiving @ AOL.Food

Jacques Pépin's Thanksgiving Celebration

Thanksgiving Recipes @ Better Homes and Gardens plus Autumn Wreaths That Last

Thanksgiving @ Kaboose.com

Your 2008 Thanksgiving Playbook (LA Times)

Talking Turkey with Gourmet's Ruth Reichl (Serious Eats) plus Mixed Review: Betty Crocker Limited Edition Gingerbread Cookie Mix

Roasted Pumpkin Salad @ 101 Cookbooks plus Fall Favorites

Gourmet Magazine's holiday menus: Harvest's Home, Come Together, Over the Top.

You don't eat turkey? Here are a few replacements @ AJC.com plus DINNER DARE / Thanksgiving edition: Kevin Rathbun makes a meal to savor

Space 101: Make Thanksgiving dinner go smoothly (Chron.com)

Thanksgiving How-To: Horror Stories @ NPR plus Thanksgiving Questions? Ask The Naked Chef

Thanksgiving little blessing for turkey industry (AP)

This Thanksgiving, a family dinner will cost you more (Newsday)

Your Guide to Bay Area Sustainable Turkeys (KQED)

The History of Thanksgiving @ History.com

Holiday Links Quickie

angels on horses (by jerry_springberg)

Maple Sweet Potatoes & Thanksgiving Roasted Veggies @ Cathie Filian

More Easy Thanksgiving Pumpkin Crafts @ Families.com plus Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Snack Table

Christmas with Yngve Stoor - king of Swedish Hawaii-music @ Jul Igen

Sample the new Christmas release from The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain

Denim Decoration, A Blue Christmas, in a Good Way @ Craftside

How to Make a Button Advent Calendar @ Craftstylish