I ended up making it to yoga today! I haven’t taken yoga in months and I felt like the least flexible person in the world (which isn’t really anything new), but it was great to stretch out my hamstrings and practice some relaxing breathing. As always, quieting my mind was a challenge!
The class was an easy class (level one by my gym’s standards) so it wasn’t a difficult workout and was much more of a relaxing stretch class than a sweaty power yoga class. Apparently Monday’s yoga class is a power yoga class. I may have to give it a try next week!
Lunch
After yoga, I met up with Ryan at The Southside Deli for lunch.
Ryan first went to The Southside Deli with his boss for lunch last week and has been talking about it ever since, claiming that their pastrami is unreal.
Naturally we both ordered pastrami sandwiches but while I opted for the regular portion, Ryan ordered the “overstuffed” sandwich.
Check out the beast!
My sandwich was a bit more modest, but still had a generous portion of meat and lots of veggies. I loved the stone-ground mustard, too!
Ryan was right about their pastrami. It was on point. Neither of us left even a bite remaining.
Now for some fun holiday talk!
Best Christmas CDs
Every year I store my all-time favorite Christmas CDs with my Christmas decorations and completely forget about them. It’s like a mini Christmas present to myself every year when I open the box and get to listen to some of my favorite music again.
I know many of you feel the same way about holiday music, so I figured I would put together a little post about my all-time favorite Christmas CDs. If you’re a holiday music fanatic, please leave the name of your favorite holiday CD in the comments section so I can check out some new tunes this year and add more music to my rotation!
Possibly my favorite holiday CD ever and there aren’t any words! This CD is my go-to Christmas CD because I never get sick of the gorgeous instrumental songs and the way the music goes from slow and soft to intense and inspiring is phenomenal. (Just listen to God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen!) I stole this CD from my parents when I went to college and they’re never getting it back. ‘Tis the season for giving!
All I want for Christmas is Chris Kirkpatrick’s amazing hair. And a follow-up Christmas album from ‘NSync, but without a weird, creepy song like “Under My Tree” and more a cappella songs like their beautiful rendition of “O Holy Night.”
The voice of an angel. Crisp, beautiful and classic.
Even though attempting to sing along with Whitney makes me want to cry, this Christmas CD is a beautiful compilation of classic Christmas songs. I like how Whitney stays true to the essence of the songs and doesn’t stray from the original songs too much.
Straight No Chaser is one of my all-time favorite groups and I was first introduced to them when I heard their mind-blowing a cappella rendition of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” in my car and literally stayed in my car when I reached my destination to hear the song in its entirety. Both of their Christmas albums are creative, uplifting and simply fantastic! (I’m also seeing them in concert again this month and cannot wait.)
Even though my friend Michaela nearly ruined the song “All I Want for Christmas Is You” for me by pointing out that Mariah has a mega-lisp and makes the words sound like “All I want for Christmas isth you,” (it’s all I hear when I hear that song now) this CD is still one of the best Christmas albums out there!
Question of the Afternoon
- What is your all-time favorite Christmas album or Christmas song?
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NewSong’s Christmas Shoes CD is my fave!!! They’re a christian group and absolutely amazing!
It’s not exactlyyyy Christmas music, but I love listening to George Winston’s “December” CD during the holiday season. It’s just piano music, but it’s so beautiful and definitely means the holidays are here for me! (Perfect background music if you’re doing work.)
Also, Harry Connick, Jr.’s “When my Heart Finds Christmas.”
love ’em both! 🙂
I love all the albums you mentioned and have bought several songs from them on iTunes… Oh! And thanks for the intro to Straight No Chaser! They rock! However, my all time favorite Christmas album is “The Most Fabulous Christmas Album Ever” which features classic Christmas songs from the 50s and 60s including the original “Santa, Baby”! I LOVE it!!!
My mom just bought me Michael Buble. I’m excited to listen to it!
My absolute favorites are: The Carpenters (grew up listening to their double CD!), Amy Grant and Trans Siberian Orchestra.
Oh, and Josh Groban’s O Holy Night! Seriously sends chills.
I like Mariah’s Christmas cd! I like tiny Bennett’s too, it’s pretty good!
I like good ole Ray Conniff!
my parents have this Stevie Wonder Christmas record-like, a literal .33- from the 60’s and it’s pretty much one of my favorite things ever. dude is a legend<3 otherwise, the holiday song i like most is "christmas all over again'" by tom petty.
Josh Groban’s Christmas songs are incredible. His O Holy Night is FABULOUS!
My all time favorite Christmas album is “The Roger Whittaker Christmas Album.” My parents always played it when I was growing up. The song lyrics are really nice–not sure if they’re traditional somewhere else in the world (I believe he’s from Africa and England). There’s even a cute little Christmas ditty called “Darcy the Dragon”. I probably sound like a tool, but if you’re intrigued by the idea of a dragon Christmas song, check it out!
I’m not too into Christmas music but there is a couple CDs I enjoy and I was going to suggest one to you but was happily surprised to see it on your list. ‘NSync Christmas album is soooo good! Track 9 & 10 my top faves for the album. I also liked Hanson’s Christmas album a lot though I seriously haven’t listened to that in years.
Michael Buble Christmas is seriously the best! I have been listening to it basically non stop since it came out in October…. haha 🙂
The Michael Buble Christmas album is one of my all-time favorites. It’s AMAZING.
I also love Celine Dion and Josh Groban’s christmas albums. So soothing and festive. 🙂
Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas …all time favorite!!! My husband and I blast it on a regular basis and sing along (he hits all the hight notes…jk) 🙂
12 days of Xmas- Destiny’s Child…LOVE!
I have to say Mariah does it for me every time 🙂
Reliant K’s Let it Snow Baby… Let it Reindeer! Also you should check out the new She & Him Christmas cd- A Very She & Him Christmas. Oh oh oh and Sarah Mclachlan Christmas Wintersong album. It’s hauntingly beautiful. And I have to say that the Love Actually version of All I want for Christmas is on not one, but 3 of my Christmas mixes.
what? no trans siberian orchestra?
i like a lot of their songs, but their CD as a whole wasn’t one of my favorites. they do produce GREAT music though!
I love the Jim Brickman Christmas album. The guy definitely knows how to play the piano!!
Manheim Steamroller is performing on the weekends at Universal for “Grinchmas!”
Barbra Streisand’s Christmas Album (I think she has two but it’s this one: http://www.amazon.com/Barbra-Streisand-Christmas-Album/dp/B0000024TV) You HAVE to listen to her version of Jingle Bells. Love it love it love it!!! (Maybe because I grew up listening to this CD during Christmas but I love every song on it!)
Omg I’ve ALWAYS thought the Nsync “Under my tree” song was creepy! lol. I remember listening to it when I was younger and being like omg I have such a scandalous cd! hahaha. ; )
Excellent Christmas album choices! Last year I bought the Glee! album – also awesome!
I thought you would have DEFINITELY added The Biebs’ Holiday CD…Can’t say that it’s a favorite, but there are some catchy tunes 🙂
My parents would always play old school Christmas music while we were putting up the tree when I was younger, so some of my favorite Christmas albums are Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and Mitch Miller’s Holiday Sing Along With Mitch. (Yes, I know Mitch Miller is a polka singer, but that CD rocks – especially “Must Be Santa” – you should check it out!) And then I also love Sister Hazel’s Santa Playlist, cuz I just love them.
Celine Dion is the best Christmas CD EVER!!!!!
My all-time favorite christmas song is the God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings mashup by Bare Naked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan. Beautiful!
Haaa nice hair Chris!
I love Mariah Carey’s album! And i need to pick up Michael Buble’s stat!
I love how some people have mentioned Amy Grant. It always brings me back to my childhood and jumping around on our beds while singing “shows” for my parents. We loved that CD and still listen to it each year!
Glee also has a great album and I am definitely going to check out Straight No Chaser and A Very She and Him Christmas for this year!
I LOOOVE Straight No Chaser. #1 holiday albums of all time.
I hadn’t heard of Straight No Chaser. Thanks for mentioning them. I can tell I will be hooked!
Besides N*SYNC being my #1 fave (which by the way, they should totally do a reunion tour like BSB/NKOTB did!!), Christina Aguliera put out a good one a long time ago, along with Hanson! I know so old and channeling middle school, but still good! 🙂
Mariah Carey is definitely a favorite but Hanson also has a great Christmas album :)k
My favorite christmas cd, by far, is Relient K’s “Let It Snow Baby…Let It Reindeer”. I can listen to the entire thing start to finish over and over!
Handel’s Messiah is an amazing choral/instrumental telling of the christmas story- it is a more religious album than others and I love it especially on Christmas Day!
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Best traditional: O Holy Night
Best non-traditional: (tie) “Born to Die” by Bebo Norman and “I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day” by Casting Crowns
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