Christmas Music - iTunes Giveaway! :)

'Tis the season.


For giving.


For love.


For thankfulness.


For hope.


For awesome music and Christmas lights and snow and cookies and movies and milk and hot chocolate and snow. And music. And snow! And blankets and days in the house with your pjs on all day and hoodies and gloves and awesome coats and, well, I'll shut up now. :)


I love the holidays. And, as I mentioned in my earlier posts, one of my absolute favorite things is Christmas music.


Actually, I love music as a whole. It's incredible how much power music can have on your soul. I guess it should not have been such a surprise when I worked for two professional orchestras. However, as many of you should know, if you don't already, I know nothing about classical music. Well, I do know some now, but not a lot, especially for a woman who spent more than 5 years of her life raising money for it. hehe.


Oh well, I always said then and I still mean it when I say, "Music is not about composers and artists, but about how it makes you feel." 


And Christmas music makes me feel bubbly, cheerful, and relaxed. I can't help but smile when I hear it. Almost any Christmas song can make me happy.


The year that I was pregnant with Bailey, I worked with some really awesome girls at the University of Charleston. I miss them on a very, very regular basis. I don't think I have ever had so much fun at work, and actually still got work done. :) Amanda, one of my girls from UC, gave me a wonderful gift. It was a Christmas CD that she herself had compiled. She probably didn't think much of it and has probably not thought much about it since. However, it has become a staple in my holiday season. Over the years, I have been found blaring it in late November in my bedroom, dancing with the kids and singing in my most wonderful tone-deaf voice. It really is one of my most prized gifts. I think of her every year and think of how much fun we had. And, I miss her, but I know I will always have this to listen to with my kids. So, Amanda, if you are reading, thank you. My kids love your CD. Brad, well, he probably isn't such a fan. :)


What was most impressive to me is that on that CD, I found that I knew many of the songs, but many of them were songs that I had only briefly heard or hadn't really ever listened to at all. And it occurred to me, I love to know what music really impacts other people. Why is it that I think Bruce Springsteen's version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town is the only one worth listening to? Am I the only one who thinks this or is it just my personal favorite because I can remember my parents playing it for me when I was a little girl? They would warn me all about how I needed to be good, because Santa was watching. I, of course, only thought they told me this because they really hoped my brother, Cory, was listening and taking it in, too. :) Yet, it stuck. I love this song.


Since I am SICK of listing my favorite things (I feel like the most self-absorbed person in the world), I'm hoping to hear from you.


I want to know... What is your favorite Christmas song?


Tell me, please. Tell me why it means something to you, if you want. I would love to hear all about it. I will keep it quiet or post your responses, whatever you want, just let me know in your response. I just really am curious to see if it's just me that has this strange relationship with Christmas music. :) 


And, since I am just now learning to use iTunes (yes, I do know how pathetic this is), I will give a gift to you. For the first person to respond, I will send you the gift of my favorite Christmas song through iTunes download. And, for a random five others, I will also send one of my favorites. 


So, tell me. Tell me before the end of the week, Friday, December 10 at 6 p.m. what your favorite Christmas song is. And maybe you'll be the lucky winner to hear about some of my favorites. You can tell me by e-mail. You can leave me a comment. You can send me a message on Facebook. You can call me up and tell me, if you have my number. You can even send me a letter (even send me a Santa letter through Jingle Bell Mail! :)). Just tell me. 


Or, if you don't want to get my pick Christmas song because you really don't care, hehe, just tell me not to enter you. lol. It won't hurt my feelings at all. I promise. :) 


Or, if you hate Christmas music and don't want to be a part of this because you are like my beloved husband, tell me what it is that bothers you so much about Christmas music. If you are really creative, maybe I'll send you a song, too. 


Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Happy Holidays! Peace on Earth! Joy to the World!


OK. I'll stop being so annoying now. :)