feeling festive!

We've been a little bit frantic over the past few days, weeks ... and Christmas has definitely sneaked up on us this year! So, I thought I'd share some of our favorite Christmas songs in a handy little playlist -- just to help everyone feel a little bit more festive.

The first one, "Christmas Waltz" by Frank Sinatra is one of my absolute faves ... around this time of year you will often find me randomly belting out: "frost-ed win-dow paaaaaaanes!" The "three-quarter time" really makes it catchy :o)

On the less traditional side, "River" has been a family favorite of ours for years. I first discovered it when the Indigo Girls covered it on 1200 Curfews (my goodness I used to love that album, I need to dig that up) , but it's actually an old Joni Mitchell tune. My parents have a version of it sung by Robert Downey, Jr. (random -- from the Ally McBeal Christmas soundtrack. Even more random). And I have always loved DMB's "Christmas Song" -- that brings back a lot of warm memories!

{now that we're officially in the post-holiday song season and to spare you - but mostly me - from hearing this automatically load every time this page opens, click here to listen} 

I could create a whole separate list of my favorite Christmas hymns -- the above playlist is more "popular" than Christmas carols. But I did add in "The Holly and the Ivy" -- which is one of my mom's favorites -- it's a more traditional English carol.

What are some of your favorite holiday tunes?

**Update: Some of these songs may be slow to load, just FYI. Refreshing the page may help**

**Update 2: Here's the full playlist, if you're curious:

1. Frank Sinatra - The Christmas Waltz

2. Ella Fitzgerald - Sleigh Ride

3. Leon Redbone/Zooey Deschanel – Baby, It’s Cold Outside

4. Dave Matthews Band  - Christmas Song.

5. The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping

6. Sarah McLachlan - River

7. Death Cab For Cutie - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

8. Brian Setzer Orchestra - The Nutcracker Suite

9. The Holly And The Ivy (Traditional)

10. Charles Brown - Please Come Home For  Christmas

11. Dean Martin - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

12. Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby

13. Perry Como - Winter Wonderland

14. Bing Crosby - Silver Bells

15. Ella Fitzgerald & Frank Devol Orchestra - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?