While Halloween is my favorite holiday, Christmas is a close second. Not because of the presents I receive (though they are usually pretty awesome), but because I LOVE the decorations that come with the season! (Also, I'm a huge fan of snow...even though we didn't have a white Christmas this year.) My absolute favorite part of the Christmas decorations at my house has got to be my mom's Department 56 North Pole Village. I just love all of the details of the houses, people, and decor, and I could literally stare at it for hours.

Often taking hours to set up, this village is priceless, and my mother has been collecting the houses for nearly 30 years. There is, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus' house, a reindeer barn, and various toy shops, but there is also an ice skating rink, a snowman factory, a greenhouse, a Christmas tree farm, and several wonderful little pubs, cafes, and bakeries. In all, this colorful little village pretty much sums up my childhood, and always makes me feel like Christmas has truly arrived, even when it doesn't seem like the end of December in New York! Merry Christmas!