I absolutely love collecting ornaments, particularly from different places of travel.  It’s really cool to find old and antique ornaments at flea markets, garage sales, antique shops or even in grandma’s garage.  I even have newer collections from Target and Macy’s.  Going to Macy’s holiday lane is so much fun for me and gets me into the holiday spirit.  As a matter of fact, this was the first year I got my picture taken with Santa Claus at Macy’s.

Don’t forget that ornaments make fantastic gifts as well.  Some great Christmas decorations and ornaments to collect and give as presents are from designers, Annalee and Kurt S. Alder.  You can find good deals and stock at TJ-Maxx or Marshalls.

Scottish Mr. & Mrs. Claus. They have their special Christmas outfits for all countries.

Lil' Drummer Boy - Pa rum pum pum pum! Found him at Perennial Clothing Antique Store in East Islip.

Lofty llama from Peru.

Ballerina Bunny- This was a gift from my sis.

Red Hot Sequins Dress- Great for holiday parties.

...and with that dress you need a leopard bag.

Gingerly Gingermen

Bavarian beer straight from Munich, Germany.

So I like Ballerina Bunnies! But this one is the Prima Bunny Ballerina. Another gift.

A cool TJ-Maxx find- Swirly lit Snowman

I spent this past New Year’s Eve in San Pedro, Mexico.  For those of you who may not be familiar with the area, its alongside Lake Chapala.  (Biggest lake in Mexico.) Approximately 1 hr more or less from Guadalajara. I know that when we think of Mexico during the holidays or winter… automatically we think beach, big resorts,  tacos, and tequila poppers but this trip was different. This trip was all about my friend Susan and (her now husband), Gerhard’s wedding.  Susan and Gerhard invited me to be their photographer for their wedding.  And I was soooo happy but really nervous at the same.  (I hope I dont disappoint them)

Going to San Pedro was really a wonderful experience.  I  kinda felt like I was in an old Clint Eastwood Movie like the “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” or in the movie “Babel”. Small towns, lots of cowboys, rodeos, milking cows, dirt roads, a few mariachis and lots of  “la bandas”… all awesome!

A little back story on why San Pedro. Susan’s parents met in this small town and also got married in the church there. Therefore, Susan & G (as his German friends call him) decided it would be lovely to get married in the same church as her parents. Their wedding entailed a Charro procession, Mariachi’s, blessings on the rooftop of Susan’s parents house, rosaries, offering flowers to the Virgin Mary, and the bride walking to church in red cowboy boots. It was amazing…and that’s on the Mexican side. G had a bunch of his buddies and family members fly in from Munich (Bavaria) for the wedding. WHAT A COMBO of cultures.

I’m just amazed that I milked a cow.  I fondled the crap out of the cow and only a  little squirt of milk came out!   Overall I was really surprised by how much fun I had on this trip. Probably one of the better New Year’s Eve’s I’ve ever had.  I normally do not like New Years.  And probably one of my favorite weddings that I’ve been to . I don’t really like weddings either.  In the end, I made some new friends from Cali, Germany, Austria, Mexico, you name it. I’m really excited to share some of my pics!

Yo Quiero Taco Bell- Authentic Mexican Chihuahua

Mariachi Statue

Handsome Mexican Cowboy

Tortilla Oven

Our Tortilla Teacher

Lake Chapala, Mexico

Best Full Moon with Ring- NYE 2009/2010

Lil Boy and His Rope at Rodeo