Jim Shore Twelve Days of Christmas Springbok Puzzle

I was looking for a Christmas jigsaw puzzle when I found this Springbok one by Jim Shore called The Twelve Days of Christmas. Since then, I have been sneaking time out to work on it. Christmas is such a fun theme for puzzling.

This puzzle features the artwork of artist Jim Shore in an image that is called The 12 Days of Christmas. It has 1000 pieces and was produced in 2007. Now discontinued, you will now have to look to secondary markets like eBay to find it. 

Find your Jim Shore's The 12 Days of Christmas puzzle here on eBay. 

Happy Puzzling!

Brenda

Treasures By Brenda

MORE PUZZLES:

Christmas puzzles in my eBay store!

Springbok's Christmastown panoramic puzzle.

Springbok Nutcracker puzzles.

Jellycat Christmas Tree Ricky Rain Frog

For frog collectors, Christmas fanatics and Jellycat collectors alike, this I am Christmas Tree Ricky the Rain Frog plush toy is one of the most adorable pieces I have seen in awhile.  

At 11 and 1/2 inches tall, Ricky's squat green form is dressed in a Christmas tree costume with a star on top. He is sure to make your family and friends smile despite his grumpy, Scrooge-y, bah humbug-y style. 

Why not add this Christmas Tree Ricky the Rain Frog to your holiday decor? Find your Ricky the Rain Frog I Am Christmas Tree here on eBay. Please note that Ricky has been out of stock at some locations and therefore may be selling at a premium.

Merry Christmas!
Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

Vintage Springbok's Christmastown, U.S.A. Jigsaw Puzzle Reviewed

My husband and I had fun working this vintage 1986 jigsaw puzzle from Springbok and Hallmark Cards though we struggled a bit with the edge pieces. Called Christmastown, U.S.A., it features artwork by Art Carlson and depicts a downtown scene with the main street dressed for Christmas and the townsfolk completing their holiday errands.  The scene is set in the 1980s but made more charming by the inclusion of vintage items like a couple of horse-drawn carriages and a trolley or street car.

The back of the box features a poem by Linda Elrod that starts, "When the Christmas crowds are heavy and the city moves too fast, I close my eyes and think about a Christmas of the past." It finishes with "Yes, I love these small-town memories, which time cannot erase. If Christmas joy is anywhere, it's in this special place." How lovely.

Marked puzzle number PZL9805, this puzzle has over 700 pieces and when assembled, will measure 13 inches by 40 inches.  

If you love Springbok puzzles as I do, you won't want to miss this one.  Search for Springbok's Christmastown, U.S.A. by clicking here to eBay.

Do you love working jigsaw puzzles? At Christmastime or all year long? Have you worked this puzzle?

Happy Puzzling and Merry Christmas to you!

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

Quick Links:

Springbok puzzles in my eBay store.

Springbok Nutcracker-themed puzzles.

A Christmas jigsaw puzzle tradition.

Springbok's Book Shop puzzle, perfect for puzzlers who love to read!

Fisher-Price Little People Christmas Nativity Set for Your One-Year Old

A trusted Christmas playset From Fisher-Price is the perfect gift for a one-year old. If you are looking for a simple and affordable gift, idea you couldn't do better than a beautiful Christmas themed gift set by Fisher-Price.

Packed within an attractive box your child will find hours of fun. On this page I have chosen to highlight a popular Nativity-themed set, which is appropriate for children aged one year and up.

My children LOVED their Fisher-Price playsets. The options we had from Fisher-Price were limited in comparison to the choices you have today but the sets we owned were well loved. I know my children would have loved this playset, too...

THE CHRISTMAS NATIVITY STORY PLAYSET

This set will allow your young children to enjoy the Christmas story. Included are the stable, manger and twelve figures that include the baby Jesus. They’re sized appropriately for small hands and will help improve fine motor skills. They are also perfect for imaginative play and will also help youngsters develop storytelling skills.

Be aware that not all Fisher-Price playsets are appropriate for one-year olds. This set is.

"Finally, a Nativity Set that little hands can touch. I have always had one out for Christmas up until two years ago when my kids were born. This year I am putting out this one without any worries of the kids playing with it. The set is very cute and well made. Thank you very much Fisher Price." - Karen Scheffe

Find your Fisher-Price Little People Nativity play set here on Amazon. 

MORE CHRISTMAS-THEMED PLAYSETS BY FISHER-PRICE

There are and have been many Fisher-Price Little People Christmas-themed playsets. As they go out of production, they are harder and harder to find. Click here to find a sampling of Christmas-themed Fisher Price Little People sets that are discontinued but available now new and used on eBay. If you see one that you like and it is an older edition, don't let it get away. Oftentimes on eBay, a seller only has one of an item.

Merry Christmas!

Brenda

New, used and vintage Fisher-Price Little People in my eBay store.

31 DAYS OF COFFEE MUGS (2020): Molly Hatch Christmas Mugs

I originally discovered Molly Hatch's Christmas mugs through Anthropologie. I loved their simple charm and the creamy white and red colors. However, I have since found them at other locations including on eBay, which often serves as the best resource when something is out of production.

I have found ten different images including a pair of ice skates, a pair of Christmas stockings, a swag of mistletoe, an elf-like creature declaring happy holidays, a bounding reindeer, a decorated Christmas tree, a bow of holly, a gingerbread boy, a snowflake, a vintage-style Santa and a candy cane. I am not sure if that is all of them and I would hazard a guess that there are more to come.

Whether you collect a theme or you want a collection of Christmas-themed coffee mugs, I think that these present great options. They are done in a few different sizes, which makes them in my mind at least more pleasing to gather and display as a collection.

The artist, Molly Hatch, lives in Massachusetts where she began her work in a pottery studio. The images that decorate her pieces are drawn from her life as the daughter of a painter and a dairy farmer. She created her first line of products in 2010 and her whimsical approach appeals to many.

My favorite piece from her Christmas collection is the adorable elf because he is just plain cute. I also like the holly mug a lot because we have holly bushes outside of our front door. See for yourself which Molly Hatch Christmas mugs are available on eBay by clicking right here.

Which mug would you choose and would you choose just one or would you like to build a complete set?

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
You never know what mugs
I might have in store for you!

More Mugs:

Check out all of the Christmas mugs in my eBay store.
Discover a fun Glass Christmas Tree Coffee Mug.

Discover a page full of Christmas mugs from the movies.

31 DAYS OF COFFEE MUGS (2020): Glass Christmas Tree Mug

It would be all too easy to make my 31 Days of Coffee Mugs series all about Christmas because there are so many fantastic Christmas-themed mugs available. However, today I am featuring just one, this unusual glass mug from Rain Tree.

It's a three dimensional mug that makes your coffee or tea or hot chocolate look like it is suspended in air. I love the Christmas tree shaped interior, the snow flakes and even the star on the top of the Christmas tree.

It is made from strong glass and made in a way that insulates your drink to keep it warm longer. It measures 4.33 inches by 4.33 inches and will hold 10 ounces or 300 mls of your favorite beverage. 

It is readily available you can buy it on your favorite platform or you can shop around to find the best price. You will find this fun glass Christmas tree mug here on Amazon.

Do you use a Christmas mug in December?

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
You never know what mugs 
I might have in store for you!

More Mugs:

Check out all of the Christmas mugs in my eBay store.
Christmas Coffee Mugs from the Movies.
Starbucks Christmas Coffee Mugs.

King George VI Christmas Message from the Throne

Today I am sharing a little piece of normal, everyday history. That is, a one-of-a-kind handstitched copy of the message from the throne that King George VI delivered in his 1939 Christmas broadcast to the British Empire.

The text reads, "I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he replied, 'Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be better than light, and safer than a known way."

This poem was written by Minnie Louise Haskins in 1908 but became known to the public in 1939 after King George VI quoted it. Princess Elizabeth, 13 at the time, discovered the poem and presented it to her father for his use. 

The poem went on to become inspirational and was widely circulated at the beginning of the Second World War. 

The poem was popular enough with the Queen Mother to have taken comfort from it throughout her life and she even had it engraved on stone plaques for the gates of the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The poem even appears in the final minutes of the 1940 MGM movie The Mortal Storm. 

The inspiration for this post is a framed cross stitch that was available in my eBay store. Unfortunately, it has been sold but you can check out some other great Royal Family-themed items by clicking right here. 

Please be sure to subscribe to my blog and come back soon because you never know what treasures I might have in store for you!

Brenda

Quick Links:

Discover the royal family themed collectibles in my eBay store.

Peanuts' Snoopy Christmas Coffee Mug

I Love the Holiday Season

Once again, Peanuts' Snoopy is preparing to celebrate the holidays. On this handsome blue Vandor mug, he is preparing to open his Christmas stocking. He's not alone though as his tiny little friend Woodstock is also celebrating the season with a stack of Christmas presents!

The details? This festive holiday cup holds 18 ounces and is dishwasher and microwave friendly.

2017 Update: This coffee mug appears to be out of production but is still available (at a premium as is the case when things are no longer made) from private sellers on Amazon by clicking on any of the pictures on this page.

Here's hoping that your favorite coffee mug overflows with your choice of hot and steamy beverage this holiday season.

I love the holiday season and I love coffee mugs! How about you?

Brenda



Quick Link:

Buy this Snoopy coffee mug on Amazon.

Springbok Nutcracker Jigsaw Puzzles

Over the years, Springbok has produced a number of different jigsaw puzzles with nutcrackers on them. I love them all.

I have gathered a few of them together here on the page but I am unsure if my collection is complete.

Shown at the top is the round puzzle, one that is simply titled Nutcracker. It has 500 pieces. The image credit for the picture of this puzzle goes to eBay store owner, bixbybasil. Unfortunately, this puzzle is out of production.

The second puzzle is a fairly recent one and is currently in production. It is called Nutcracker Collection and has 1,000 pieces. You can find it new, used and vintage on eBay by clicking here.

The third puzzle is the Nutcracker Workshop puzzle. It has 400 pieces and is a family puzzle meaning that it has big pieces for children and little pieces for the young at heart. This puzzle is and all of those that follow are also out of production. It can be found on eBay by clicking right here.

The fourth puzzle is the Nutcracker Brigade puzzle, which is a 500 piece puzzle that includes a wooden ornament. You can find it on eBay by clicking here.

The final puzzle I am sharing here today is the 400 piece puzzle shown to the right is known as Nostalgic Nutcrackers, which can be found here on eBay.

Sometimes you can find one of these older puzzles new and/or used on eBay:

Anyone who loves working a puzzle and who loves Christmas will enjoy working one of these Nutcracker-themed puzzles. They would make a great gift idea for someone who collects nutcrackers, too!

Happy Puzzling!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Find all of Amazon's Springbok Nutcracker puzzles here.
Find all of eBay's Springbok Nutcracker puzzles (which will include current and retired puzzles) here.

A Charlie Brown Christmas Collector's Edition Jigsaw Puzzle

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a classic television program that is watched by you and by me year after year after year.

The eternally popular story is presented here as a 550 piece jigsaw puzzle in an attractive collector's tin.

The puzzle features a familiar scene from the Charlie Brown television special, in which Linus wraps his beloved blue blanket around Charlie brown's pathetic Christmas tree.

Unfortunately, this jigsaw puzzle is out of print, which means if you want to own it it is probably going to cost you more than the original selling price.

If you are an Amazon shopper, you can check here to see if Amazon still has this puzzle available and, if so, at what price. 

Then you can check the eBay listings of this Charlie Brown Collector's Edition Christmas puzzle by clicking here. 

eBay shopping note: 

Not all of the puzzles will be new, so if that is important to you, be sure to shop carefully. If you are buying a used puzzle, make sure the seller guarantees the puzzle to be complete. A simple counting of the pieces is not enough because puzzle manufacturers do not always use the exact number of pieces that a puzzle is sold as. For instance, a 550-piece puzzle may actually have 552 or 458 pieces.

 
Shop carefully and happy puzzling!
Brenda

Christmas Jigsaw Puzzle Family Tradition

Include Christmas Jigsaw Puzzles in Your Family's Holiday Traditions 

Each year my family works on Christmas jigsaw puzzles during the month of December. We put a Christmas themed puzzle out on the coffee table and occasionally someone stops and puts a few pieces in place. If you are a puzzler, you already know that once the puzzle starts to come together, our visits become longer and more frequent. It is a wonderful family tradition that everyone can enjoy.

Have you considered working a jigsaw puzzle during the holidays? Puzzles are affordable, technology-free family fun. I have included on this page five lovely Christmas-themed jigsaw puzzles by Springbok. Each one of them retails for less than $15 on Amazon and I have showed a range of puzzle sizes from 350 to 1000 pieces. Whether you are shopping for a new puzzle or just curious about what is available, I hope you enjoy my choices.

Springbok Nutcracker Collection Puzzle

Springbok Gingerbread Fun Jigsaw Puzzle

Unfortunately, there is no quick and easy button to find all of Springbok's Christmas themed puzzles on Amazon so I have added a link below the picture of each of these puzzles to help you find them if you are interested in adding one of them to your collection.

Springbok The Candy Jar Christmas Puzzle

Springbok Feathered Friends Jigsaw Puzzle

Springbok Christmas Candies Puzzle

If you find that these puzzles are no longer available on Amazon when you follow the links shown above, you can look for your Springbok Christmas puzzle here on eBay. Be aware that used puzzles may not be complete. The only way to know if they are complete is to work them. Counting pieces doesn't count, LOL!

Start your own Christmas family tradition by working a jigsaw puzzle together.

Brenda

Treasures By Brenda

Mary Lake Thompson Christmas Coffee Mugs Tea Towel

I know, it is not Christmastime yet but it will be before long so today I am featuring this hot chocolate themed tea towel, which features two adorable Christmas coffee mugs on a kitchen flour sack. The tea towel comes with a recipe card for peppermint cocoa, too. I only wish I knew where to buy those coffee mugs because they are too cute.  Nevertheless, I love the tea towel and I think that it would make a great addition to a hot chocolate themed Christmas gift idea! Pick up a Christmas-themed coffee mug, some hot chocolate and this tea towel. Bundled together they'd make a great thank you or hostess gift for someone who loves Christmas and hot chocolate.

This particular tea towel may no longer be available but I see a host of Mary Lake Thompson Christmas items here on Amazon. You are sure to find one you love!

You never know
what I might have in store
for you!
Brenda

A Very Vintage Christmas: Holiday Collecting, Decorating and Celebrating by Bob Richter

'Tis not the season right now but I just finished watching a short video in which Bob Richter of Flea Market Minute and PBS' Market Warrior introduces his upcoming book, A Very Vintage Christmas: Holiday Collecting, Decorating and Celebrating.  The video shares Richter's flare for decorating in the rooms of his own home and you can watch it for yourself here:

There is no doubt in my mind that when this book is released readers, especially those who embrace things vintage, will find inspiration between the covers for decorating their own homes at Christmastime. You can read more and/or pre-order the book now from Amazon by clicking right here. Bob's Christmas book will be delivered on July 1, 2016.

Merry Christmas...
(many months early!)
Brenda

Quick Link:

Order A Very Vintage Christmas: Holiday Collecting, Decorating and Celebrating from Amazon.

31 DAYS OF COFFEE MUGS: Starbucks Christmas Coffee Mugs

We had a lot of fun this Christmas with our growing collection of Starbucks' Christmas mugs. Since there were going to be six adults present for Christmas, we pulled out six of them and displayed them on the counter. Each of us claimed one as our personal go-to mug.

There were a lot of hot beverages served up in those mugs from morning coffee to afternoon tea and even hot chocolate with Bailey's Irish Cream. Not only was it fun but it was helpful in a busy Christmastime kitchen to be able to differentiate that this was Brenda's and that was Chris' coffee mug.

If you love an attractive mug, I would highly recommend you do the same. Build your own set, that is. Building a collection of Starbucks Christmas mugs will not be hard with the help of the sellers on eBay and there are so many attractive Starbucks mugs to choose from. You can build a collection that features a bunch of different mugs as we have  or you could build a collection that features a group of matching Christmas mugs. The choice, of course, is all yours.

You could also build a collection in a colour or theme.  Your mugs could be all red like the beautiful red 2007 penguin mug shown here or they cups could be all green. As a matter of fact, they don't even have to be Christmas mugs to be Christmas-y. This handsome, generously sized Established 1971 mug feels like a Christmas mug at Christmas time but is actually not a Christmas mug at all.

You can see all of my Starbucks Christmas mugs by clicking right here.

I don't have many Christmas Starbucks mugs though so you might want to follow this link to see all of the Starbucks Christmas mugs available on eBay. There are quite a few, LOL!

Will there be a new Christmas mug in your collection? Or maybe even an entire set?

I Love Coffee Mugs!
Brenda
 

The 12 Days of Christmas Starbucks Gift Ideas

Image by Blackberry Light.

A Page Packed With Starbucks Gift Ideas

If you are looking for a Starbucks Christmas gift idea, you will enjoy this page because it is packed with great Starbucks gifts based loosely around the fun Starbucks Christmas commercial, The Twelve Days of Christmas.

I had a lot of fun searching for these items and I know you will love the TWELVE wonderful gift choices that I found to share with you.

There is no need, of course, to buy twelve items unless you are shopping for twelve people.  However, any one or two of these items would make a terrific gift idea for a coffee lover. You could also pick and choose from amongst the twelve items to create a great Starbucks gift set.

A List of The Twelve Days of Christmas Starbucks Gift Ideas

The Twelve Days of Christmas Starbucks commercial builds, of course, from one through twelve of the recommended items.

• A gold bag of Christmas blend.
• Two tasty drinks.
• Three coffee presses.
• Four Barista bears.
• Five merry mugs.
• Six ornaments.
• Seven water bottles.
• Eight advent calendars.
• Nine stocking stuffers.
• Ten tumblers tumbling.
• Eleven muffins marching.
• Twelve tunes a playin'.

The First Day of Christmas: A Gold Bag of Starbucks Christmas Blend Coffee

Starbucks' Christmas blend is made with a blend of Latin American coffees and smooth, full-bodied Asian Pacific beans and has been called sweet, spicy and herbal. Of course, the Christmas blend is only available at Christmas time and could be subject to change in both taste and bag color. You can look for Starbucks' Christmas blend here on Amazon.

The Second Day of Christmas: Two Tasty Drinks from Starbucks Passion For Coffee

Amazon customer reviews for Starbucks Passion For Coffee are glowing. This book includes recipes, instructions and information about coffee. I like the idea that it shares 34 recipes for sweet treats and provides suggestions for what types of coffee go best with them. I think it is a great gift idea. That is, the cookbook and a promise of two cups of coffee created from the pages of the book. It's still available new at a deeply discounted price on Amazon. Find Starbucks Passion For Coffee here on Amazon. 

The Third Day of Christmas: Three Coffee Presses by Bodum

Starbucks recommends using a coffee press at home. They say that coffee presses are a simple and functional way to brew "exceptionally rich, flavorful coffee." Shown here is just one of the many available from Bodum, which is the press of choice at Starbucks. I've shown it in the four cup size though it is available in a wide array of choices from a travel single serving version to a twelve cup version. Pick the size that is the most appropriate for the individual you are gifting it to. Of course, if they love and use a French press, they just might want to own multiple sizes so that they can pick the right size for the moment at hand. See Amazon's complete collection of Bodum French presses here.

The Fourth Day of Christmas: Four Starbucks Barista or Bearista Teddy Bears

Whether you start or add to an existing Bearista bear collection, a Starbucks fan who loves teddy bears will enjoy finding one of these cute bears under the Christmas tree. eBay definitely has a better selection of the these bears, which have been produced for many years. You can see all of the Bearista bears on eBay by clicking here.

The Fifth Day of Christmas: Five Christmas Starbucks Coffee Mugs

Starbucks Christmas mugs are pretty amazing. I have yet to see one that I did not like. How about you?  A mug makes a practical and affordable Christmas gift for any coffee, tea or hot chocolate drinker at Christmas time -- either given singly or as a group of five. I also like the idea of using a mug as a gift container, like the one in the picture shown above. I find that eBay definitely has a superior collection of Christmas Starbucks mugs, which you can see by following that link.

The Sixth Day of Christmas: Six Starbucks Christmas Tree Ornaments

Starbucks Christmas Ornaments
Image by y0aimee.

If your Starbucks fan already has a large selection of mugs, you might want to consider gifting one or more of these Starbucks Christmas ornaments from eBay. Whether you pick the ones shown in this picture of the take out cups or any of the others that available, they will be a reminder every year at Christmastime of Starbucks coffee.

The Seventh Day of Christmas: Seven Starbucks Water Bottles

Seven water bottles...that is what the commercial recommends next. Gifting seven friends with seven water bottles. A water bottle is another practical and affordable gift idea, don't you think? You can check out all of Starbucks water bottles on eBay by clicking here. There are some very handsome choices available.

The Eighth Day of Christmas: Eight Starbucks Advent Calendars

There are a number of Starbucks advent calendars available any of which would be an unexpected gift for any coffee lover. Next year, they will be able to count down the days to Christmas with Starbucks. Check them out on eBay by clicking here. Of course, an advent calendar is never out of date.  

The Ninth Day of Christmas: Nine Starbucks Stocking Stuffers

Sleigh Full of Songs CD
Stockings By The Fire CD
Starbucks Gift Cards
Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Instant & Microground Colombia Coffee
Coffee Cufflinks with Gift Box
Starbucks Vanilla Syrup
Handmade Wooden Coffee Scoop
Starbucks Ready Brew Colombia Coffee
Starbucks Iced Coffee

Is there anything on this list that you would not like to receive in your Christmas stocking? Some of these items might be a tad big or a bit more expensive than the amount that you and I usually spend on stocking stuffers but, when the item is perfect, it works. In my humble opinion, the BEST Starbucks stocking stuffer is a gift card. It is certainly the most practical stocking stuffer and I like to try to choose practical items rather than trinkets for our stockings. If you do not visit Starbucks yourself or your recipient is far away, you can buy gift cards for Starbucks directly from Amazon by clicking here.

The Tenth Day of Christmas: Ten Starbucks Tumblers Tumbling

Ten tumblers tumbling...I love this bright bold red one and there are plenty of red Starbucks tumblers to pick from plus, of course, tumblers in lots of other great colors. You can see them all on eBay by clicking right here. Who wouldn't love to receive a Starbucks tumbler for Christmas?

Don't miss the bear-themed Starbucks tumblers! They're here, on eBay.

The Eleventh Day of Christmas: Eleven Starbucks Muffins Marching

Eleven Starbucks muffins. Eleven muffins marching would be an amazing gift, whether you choose to make or buy the muffins. Failing that, how about a loaf of the best banana bread ever? Or maybe an entire cranberry coffee cake? Make them ahead and offer a loaf as a gift that will not last long. Making your own will prove to be less expensive than buying them from Starbucks.

The Twelfth Day of Christmas: Twelve Starbucks Tunes Playing

Twelve tunes a playin' are another great Christmas gift idea. Of course, Starbucks is better known for their coffee. However, their music compilations, holiday and otherwise, are popular and sought after, too, like the 2009 Stockings by the Fire; the 2012 release, Holidays Rule; or the 2013 release, 'Tis the Season, which is shown here and which was also released on vinyl.

In Closing

In closing, the Starbucks Twelve Days of Christmas television commercial inspired this page. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to find it.

I do hope that these ideas help you find some great Starbucks-themed gift ideas for your friends and family this year.

You never know
what I might have in store for you!
Brenda

MORE STARBUCKS:

Starbucks in my eBay Store.
Starbucks 2015 Year of the Sheep Zodiacal Coffee Mug

Author's note: This page was originally published elsewhere in 2011.

Christmas Coffee Mugs from the Movies

Five Fun Christmas Mugs From The Movies 

Love Christmas?  Looking for a Christmas coffee mug? For a practical and affordable gift idea? A thank you, a hostess or an office gift exchange idea? On this page you will find five fun Christmas coffee mug choices all of which feature images from classic movies and television shows.

Peanuts Peace on Earth 

Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts characters are enduringly popular. Who does not love the trials of poor old Charlie Brown and his companion, Snoopy? The first mug I have chosen to feature on this page is the diner-style mug by Vandor shown above that shows Snoopy and Woodstock carrying Charlie Brown's not-too-ugly Christmas tree. The back says simply, "Peace on Earth." Unfortunately, this first mug seems to be out of production. You can  click here to see if it is available on Amazon or here to see if it is available on eBay.

Happy Holidays

If you would rather have a mug with Charlie Brown on it, this Happy Holidays themed mug by Vandor might be the one for you. It's a bright and bold red mug, that shows Snoopy settled in for the night on the back.

Either of these mugs would be a great pick for a Peanuts fan especially with the release of a new Peanuts movie this year. Click here to find Happy Holidays on Amazon or here to see if it is available on eBay.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas 

Dr. Seuss's story, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, is another ever-popular film that continues to be a favorite Christmas story for both old and new generations. Those who love The Grinch will enjoy this wonderful green Christmas coffee mug featuring the face of the Grinch. This exact mug is no longer available on Amazon but you can click here see similar Grinch mugs on Amazon or here to see if it is on eBay.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mug 

This bright red Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer mug features a classic scene from the television program with Rudolph, Hermey and Santa Claus. The back reads, "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas" a line that all Rudolph fans will know comes directly from a song in the Christmas special. Click here to find the Rudolph mug on Amazon.

Star Wars Christmas Mug

A Merry Christmas may you have! Finally, a Star Wars Christmas themed mug. I have not seen very many celebrating this movie and I would not choose this mug for myself but I would choose it for my grown sons and my husband and for any man who loves Star Wars. It shows a very focused (as always) Yoda delivering Christmas greetings and on the back, Yoda's Christmas message, which reads, "A Merry Christmas May You Have." Click here to find the Yoda mug on Amazon. 

2021 UPDATE: This mug appears to be retired from Amazon but you can find it here on eBay.

And that's were I will close with the hopes that this page has helped you tick off one of the boxes on your gift-buying list and the wish, Yoda-style,  A Merry Christmas May You Have!

Brenda

More Movie-Themed Christmas Gift Ideas:

Make A Rudolph Gift Ideas Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Gift Set

Soffieria de Carlini Cat Christmas Ornament

'Tis the season for lovely stories like this one in which a woman breaks a prized Christmas ornament that she purchased at Lord and Taylor  in the 1980s when she travelled there with her now-deceased brothers. 

Her daughter, seeing her mother remember that Christmas ornament each year, eventually reaches out online for help and readers help her locate the ornament on eBay. Given eBay's vast selection of listings and global community, the fact that they found it on that site really does not really surprise me but it is heart warming that people online helped put the person who wanted to replace a treasured memory together with a seller who had one for sale.

The ornament is a hand blown and hand painted glass Italian Soffieria de Carlini Christmas ornament. Unfortunately, the one shown here is no longer available on eBay but there are other pieces, which you can find by clicking right here.

Merry Christmas!

Brenda

Quick Links:

Find more glass Soffieria de Carlini Christmas ornaments here.

eBay Makes Christmas Wishes Come True

At Christmastime, there are lots of great stories online about people helping people. Here's a lovely story that I discovered today. A short video that shows how eBay made the Christmas wishes of a group of children come true.

It reminds me, in a way, of last year's viral video about the West Jet Christmas, which you can view here.

The eBay doesn't seem as big or as flashy as the West Jet one but it is still a lovely story that those little girls and boys will remember forever.

Watch the video yourself here:

I hope that giving in one way or another is a part of your holiday season.

Merry Christmas!
Brenda

John Lewis' Penguin Ad Causes Toy Penguin Sales to Skyrocket

It takes a lot to surprise me and I have to say that I am not really surprised that the sales of and searches for penguins on eBay have skyrocketed on eBay since the release of the John Lewis Christmas advertisement for 2014.

The ad shares the story of a boy and his love for his toy penguin, Monty. You can watch the ad for yourself here:

Apparently, the toy penguins representing Monty and Mabel sold out at John Lewis’ stores within 24 hours.

People quickly turned to eBay to see if they could find a plush Monty and Mable and to see what other penguin toys are available that are similar to that new celebrity couple.

According to The Independent, 2,638 penguin toys were sold on eBay in the time frame of November 6 to November 17 or approximately 240 stuffed penguins per day. Of course, the Monty & Mabel John Lewis' stuffed penguins started showing up on eBay Immediately after they sold out at John Lewis. 

If you just want an attractive plush penguin, eBay presents a huge variety of new, used and vintage penguins.  My search just now for plush penguins turned up more than 15,000 penguin toys to choose from. You might narrow that search down a little bit by using the name of a brand of plush toys that you like. Perhaps Steiff, Gund or even Hugsy though Hugsy is far from a realistic stuffed penguin.

Who is Hugsy? Hugsy is yet another celebrity penguin. He is famous from the television series Friends. However, Hugsy's story is material for yet a blog post in the future.

Anyway, I do see a few Monty and Mabel themed listings on eBay here. Since John Lewis is a British company, you will have to shop on eBay.co.uk and you will want to shop carefully if you want to have a real John Lewis plush penguin. 

This fun Monty and Mabel shopping tote bag shown here was from eBay seller BeMineClothing, who does not appear to have a shop on eBay anymore. I think it could be part of a great gift set. Simply use a tote bag like this one as a handsome reusable gift bag and include a couple of other interesting Penguin-themed items, perhaps a plush toy and a copy of the documentary film, The March of the Penguins.

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
You never know what treasures
I might have in store for you!

Christmas and My Board Game Collection

The 2013 holiday season is almost gone and for me it was a highly successful celebration.

I define a successful holiday season as one in which my family is together and has time to enjoy our favorite pursuits including plenty of good food, a couple of great movies and LOTS of board games from our game collection.

This year was wonderful!

Our youngest son, now 20, returned home from university for a couple of weeks. Having him around the house is always fun.

We were thrilled to squeeze in a number of visits with our oldest son, who lives nearby in Ottawa, when he was between shifts.

We took a 24-hour trip to Amherst Island to visit my brother-in-law, his wife and their four children.

We had my sister-in-law visit for a number of days.

And yes, we have had plenty of delicious meals, including family favorites like the sloppy joes and the cranberry coffee cake and we even tried a few new recipes from Pinterest, too.

We finally saw Catching Fire at the movie theatre.

But most importantly, we played a number of both new and favorite board games. This year that list included Smallworld, Outburst, Trivial Pursuit Young Players' Edition, Settlers of Catan and even Yahtzee.

Because games play an important part in our family's tradition, I often look for new, used and vintage board games to sell in my eBay store. You can see all of the new, used and vintage board and card games available in my eBay store by clicking right here. Wherever we have played the game, I have added a personal note to the description of the game. 

How about you? How were your holidays? Did you play any board games?

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
You never know what I
might have in store for you!