"Everything Christmas" - Book Review and GIVEAWAY

While most people have now packed away the Nativity Scene, Christmas tree, house decorations, cookie tins and cutters, and all the other Christmas-themed stuff... I'm now ready to do my Christmas book review. {hehehe} Who says you can't keep the Christmas spirit alive?!

"Christmas is a time of celebration and wonder, a time to embrace longstanding traditions and establish new ones. It's a time for meals filled with memories and heartwarming stories shared around the fireplace. It's a time for worship, reflection, and remembrance of God's greatest gift.

Everything Christmas brings all of the best ideas for the holiday season together in one volume. In this book, you'll find your favorite classic Christmas stories and a few new ones destined to join them. You'll discover the most delectable holiday recipes, enjoy the words to treasured hymns and carols, and be encouraged by inspirational Christmas poems and the joy of the Nativity.

Organized by the days of Advent, Everything Christmas includes everything you need to make the holiday bright. From decoration ideas to Christmas trivia and humor - it's all here! Opening Everything Christmas is like opening a box full of Christmas cheer."

My review:

Everything Christmas, written by David Bordon and Tom Winters.

I got this book in the mail about 3 weeks prior to Christmas and couldn't wait to dig in! And the back cover description is absolutely right... it has a little bit of everything Christmas. My favorite things about this book were the historical accounts of Christmas in days-gone-by, meanings behind Christmas carols and hymns, the international Christmas dinner menus and the tear jerking stories. As a young family and new-er mom, I'm always looking for ways to build traditions into our family and this book offered so many great ideas!

This book is full of quotes and sayings about Christmas. I found myself writing so many down in my journal. The same thing with recipes and decor ideas. On day December 16th, "Christmas Gift Ideas for the Clergy" was the chapter title. Hilarious! Maybe the "Early Exit Alarm" was my favorite idea -

"Tired of all those people leaving church before the end of the service? A simple laser projector at each door sends out a piercing alarm each time the beam is broken. This splendid device will encourage church members to remain dutifully seated until dismissed."

So, while the book did have so many tear-jerking stories and heartfelt memories, it was also lively with funny quips and chapters like the above mentioned.

This book would make a lovely gift for someone who is a Christmas-all-year-round person, or would look beautiful on a coffee table during your holiday season. It's a little book full of all kinds of Christmas fun! I especially liked that it ended with some post-Christmas prayers and ideas. An adorable, thoughtful, book that will be loved by whoever receives it!

If this sounds like something you'd like to own or gift to someone - you can check out more info here. Or, catch a sneak-peek at the book here on video.

*I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Now, if you like just plain ol' FREE... here's how you can win your own copy:

- Leave a comment on this post. And since Christmas IS over and you have all this spare time... {chuckle}... write your best memory made this past Christmas! I'll do a random drawing tomorrow at some time - and contact the winner after that. Be sure to leave either a link to your blog so I can let you know if you won - or, some type of contact info!

And, I think it would be appropriate to say... HAPPY NEW YEAR!