Your NW Home reSource Real Estate Blog

24 Ways To Get The Holiday Spirit Day 12: Serve Those Less Fortunate

If you’re still not feeling the spirit of the holiday season, the easiest way to change that is to do something for those less fortunate. Opportunities abound this time of year!

 

Union Gospel Mission serving hurt and homless men, women & children;

Salvation Army serving needy families, seniors and homeless;

Angel Tree serving children with parents in prison.

Pine Lake Covenant Church's 'Christmas Presence' has a host of opportunities again this year..

 

 

 

24 Ways To Get The Holiday Spirit Day 10: The Nutcracker Ballet

 

Whether it is perfomed by a local dance company or the most famous, the Nucracker will warm the heart and the thrill of the perfomance will be contagious! Here are just a few in our area:

• Eastside Youth Dance Theatre at Redmond Perfoming Arts Center
• International Ballet Theatre Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue 
• Olympic Ballet Theatre at Everett Perfoming Arts Center or Edmonds Center for the Arts
• Pacific Northwest Ballet at Mccaw Hall in Seattle
• The Nutcracker in 3D at Regal Meridian 16 in Seattle

My personal favorite this year is Nutcrackers Excepts by the Issaquah Dance Theatre.

 

24 Ways To Get The Holiday Spirit Day 9: Get A Christmas Tree

Get in the holiday spirit by decking your halls! Putting up a tree will bring the sights, lights, and smell of Christmas to your home. Getting a real tree will fill your home with that lovely scent. Below is a list of great U-Cut Christmas Tree Farms in the area.

Carnation
Carnation Tree Farm 31523 NE 40th St 425-333-4510
Nothing but Nobles 33219 NE 66th St 206-595-0307
Fall City
Fall City Farms 3636 Neal Rd 425-222-4553 
Issaquah/Sammamish
Enchanted Winds Tree Farm 8021 Issaquah-Hobart Rd  425-432-4573
Trinity Tree Farm 14237 228th Ave SE 425-391-8733 
Maple Valley
Crystal Creek Tree Farm 23604 SE 192nd St 425-432-1111
Three Tree Farms 28033 SE 216th St 425-432-4372
Westover Farm 24030 SE 192nd St 425-432-1597
Wilson Hill Tree Farm 20241 SE 232nd St 425-432-2805
North Bend
Christmas Creek Tree Farm 15515 468th Ave SE 425-888-2099
Crown Tree Farm 13005 424th Ave SE 425-888-1506
Keith & Scott Tree Farm 43342 SE Mt Si Rd 425-888-1170
Redmond
McMurtrey/Redwood Farms 13925 Redmd-Woodvl Rd  425-482-6795
Noel Tree Farm 2200 148th NE 425-868-1707
Renton
Country Tree Farm 18225 116th Ave SE 425-255-5172
Snoqualmie
Holiday Mountain Trees near Snoq. Ridge Dev. 253-838-7979
Mountain Creek Tree Farm 6821 440th Ave SE 425-888-1770

 

24 Ways To Get The Holiday Spirit Day 11: Eggnog or Mulled Cider

 

Gather your family and friends for a cozy glass of Eggnog or Mulled Cider. There are many recipes online..Great reviews came in on Mulled Cider with Winter Spices from Bon Appetit and for Classic Eggnog from Gourmet. Of course these can be made without alcohol for everyone to enjoy. Cheers and Happy Holidays!

 

24 Ways To Get The Holiday Spirit Day 8: Get Your Picture Taken With Santa

A sure way to bring a smile everyone's face is by getting their picture with Santa. Here are three local locations.

 In Bellevue,The Bravern in Bellevue. Located in Building 2; enter on level 2.

• Friday & Saturday, 10am - 6pm (December 11, 11am - 6pm)
• Sunday, Noon - 6pm
• December 20-23, 10am - 6pm

See more information and details.

In Redmond visit the Redmond Town Center

• Monday - Saturday 10am - 8pm
• Sunday, 11am - 7pm
• December 24, 10am - 5pm

More information available at Redmond Town Centers website!

In Issaquah visit  Gilman Village the on Saturdays

• December 11th 
• December 18th

From 11AM until 3PM for photos with whimsical winter scenes. Bring your own camera.

 

 

24 Ways To Get The Holiday Spirit Day 7: Bellevue Ice Skating

Be the first to step on the ice this holiday season as the ice skating rink returns to Bellevue Downtown Park. The ice arena will host "Learn How to Skate" nights, family skating, private parties and other exciting holiday attractions for skaters and spectators alike. So bring your families, kids and friends and skate away under the winter sky in the area's only outdoor ice skating arena! 

For schedule details go to the Bellevue Happenings website

• Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, NE 1st St & 102nd Ave NE
• Parking: Free parking is available around the Park off NE 1st St and 100th Ave NE.
• Open daily thruough January 10th
• $10 including skate rentals for all ages; $7 with personal skates

We would love for you to send us your photos and or comments of your trip to the Ice Skating Rink!

 

24 Ways To Get The Holiday Spirit Day 5: Issaquah Reindeer Festival

Since 1988 Santan and his reindeer have been visiting the Cougar Mountain Zoo.  Enjoy the sight and sound of the holidays with family and frineds! Take part in the most unique annual holiday celebration in the Northwest, offerin excitement and fun for everyone!

Hours

• December 1^st through the 23^rd 10:00AM to 4:30PM
• December 26^th through the 30^th 11:00AM to 3:00PM

Admission - Minimum Donation

• $11.50 General (13+)
• $10.50 Senior (62+)
• $9.50 Children (2-12)
• Under 2 is FREE

 Special Discount for groups of 12 or more:

$1.00 off each admission when paid in one combined payment.

Reserve your groups Reindeer Festival Trip by November 1^st and receive a free group photo with Santa!

Click Here for Directions

24 Ways To Get The Holiday Spirit Day 3: Play Holiday music

Play Holiday music.

Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit faster than music. Once you hear those familiar notes, those same strains you’ve been singing along with since you were 5, the warm and fuzzy holiday feelings come rushing back. But to have maximum effect, you’ve got to listen to the good stuff, the classics....and sing along. Because as Buddy the Elf has wisely instructed us, “The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing loud for all to hear.”

Among my favorites are White Christmas-Bing Crosby, The Christmas Song-Nat King Cole, Holly Jolly Christmas-Burl Ives, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas-Bing Crosby, Sleigh Ride-Johnny Mathis,The Most Wonderful Time of the Year-Andy Williams

If you haven't downloaded and subscribed to Pandora yet...you should.  You can put in an artist and name and poof, you will have a station that allows you to listen to similar artists.

I hope the holiday music is blaring!  Enjoy!

King County U-Cut Christmas Tree Farms Open The Day After Thanksgiving!

Each year me and the family head cut our own Christmas Tree.  We love the idea of picking out the perfect tree.  Fresh cut trees last longer in the home and the smell wonderful !Below is a short list of great U-Cut Christmas Tree Farms in King County.

If your feeling a bit more adventurous and want to save some money you can pick up a permit to cut down a Christmas tree from one of our nearby national forests! 

 Carnation
Carnation Tree Farm 31523 NE 40th St 425-333-4510
Nothing but Nobles 33219 NE 66th St 206-595-0307
Fall City
Fall City Farms 3636 Neal Rd 425-222-4553
Issaquah
Enchanted Winds Tree Farm 8021 Issaquah-Hobart Rd  425-432-4573
Trinity Tree Farm 14237 228th Ave SE 425-391-8733
Maple Valley
Three Tree Farms 28033 SE 216th St 425-432-4372
Westover Farm 24030 SE 192nd St 425-432-1597
Wilson Hill Tree Farm 20241 SE 232nd St 425-432-2805
North Bend
Christmas Creek Tree Farm 15515 468th Ave SE 425-888-2099
Crown Tree Farm 13005 424th Ave SE 425-888-1506
Keith & Scott Tree Farm 43342 SE Mt Si Rd 425-888-1170
Redmond
McMurtrey/Redwood Farms 13925 Redmd-Woodvl Rd  425-482-6795
Noel Tree Farm 2200 148th NE 425-868-1707
Renton
Country Tree Farm 18225 116th Ave SE 425-255-5172
Snoqualmie
Holiday Mountain Trees near Snoq. Ridge Dev. 253-838-7979

Mountain Creek Tree Farm 6821 440th Ave SE 425-888-1770

This is only a short list of u-cut Christmas Tree farms in the area, what is your favorite? Tell us why! Please comment below! 

Pumpkin Patches in King County - Pick your "perfect" pumpkin

If your looking for that perfect pumpkin in King County try these Patches!

Carpinito Brothers Farm: (253)854.5692 1148 N Central, Kent -Here, customers can enjoy finding their way through both our corn mazes, enjoy the sights on a tractor-pulled hayride or search for the great pumpkin on over 50 acres of farmland. We also sell seasonal vegetables such as fresh corn, squash and cabbage to accent this family-friendly atmosphere that operates until Halloween.

 Fall City Farms: 425/222.4553 3636 Neal Rd, Fall City- September and October satisfy the summer anticipation of harvest. And Fall City Farms is vibrating with vegetables ready to awaken your palate to the taste of fresh and nutritious. In fact, if vegetables could talk, there would be quite a ruckus out in those fields these days. We have them in the field or picked daily in our store.

Jubilee Farm: 425/222.4558 229 W Snoqualmie River Rd, Carnation - Throughout the month of October, every weekend will be filled with the scent of hot spiced apple cider and the changing season here at Jubilee Farm. Hop on the hay wagon and find a pumpkin in the pumpkin patch! Lots of fun and activities to be a part of. Visit our store and see what goodies you can find!

Mosby Brothers Farm: 253/939.7666 12754 SE Green Valley Rd, Auburn- Mosby's Farm Stand has a full complement of locally grown and seasonal farm fresh fruits and vegetables plus many other items at a good value. We sell woven baskets, local honey and jams, flower baskets, herbs, eggs, milk, cheese, salsa, and gourmet goodies. Special orders for canning available. We look forward to meeting you. Plus: U-pick pumpkins in October that includes a corn maze and tractor-pulled hay rides. Take Auburn-Black Diamond exit off Hwy 18, turn Right, then Right again onto SE Green Valley Road. Stand is ½ mile on the right. Pumpkin Patch: Head west off freeway exit.

Remlinger Farms: 425/333.4135 32610 NE 32nd St, Carnation - - Our traditional fall them park designed for the 12 and under kids includes our Steam Train (a Remlinger Family Fun Park exclusive) and multiple mechanical rides (Mini Roller Coaster, Model "T" Electric Cars, Flying Pumpkins, Spinning Barrels, Mini Ferris Wheel and Mini Horse Carousel). Let the little ones cruise the Mini Canoe Adventure while the bigger kids race around the track on the Pedal Go-Carts. Kids and grownups will enjoy our 4-H Petting Zoo, see and touch the traditional farm animals that we all love.

Don't forget these fine options!

• Serena Farms: 253/261.8789 22431 84th Ave S, Kent
• Serres Farm: 425/868.3017 20306 NE 50th St, Redmond
• The South 47 Farm: 425/869.9777 15410 124th St, Redmond
• Thomasson Family Farm: 360/802.0503 38223 236th Ave SE, Enumclaw
• Two Brothers Pumpkin Patch: 425/333.4313 71103 310th Ave NE, Carnation

So get out enjoy the weather, and these great King County Area Pumpkin patches!