The Santa Blog

 

Archive for November, 2014

The Magic of Music in Bellevue

November 30th, 2014 | Filed under: helpful hints Holiday Events Holiday traditions news planning your visit | Posted by Elf jennifer

 

 

 

Christmas Shopping

Photo Pinned by Frances

Strolling by shop windows, clutching hot cocoa, and oh… what’s that sound? Singing voices carrying throughout Bellevue Square. What magic! Bellevue knows just how to create a holiday shopping experience!

Starting December 1st, Monday through Friday, until December 19th you can experience the magic at Bellevue Square’s Center Court. Meander about the shops, listen to the beautiful voices and come see Santa, professional photos provided by Arthur & Associates.

Christmas Choir

Photo pinned by Cheryl Markham-Sisk

Help spread the joy and sing along!

12 Days of Christmas with 21 Christmas Trees

November 27th, 2014 | Filed under: helpful hints Holiday Events Holiday traditions news planning your visit | Posted by Elf jennifer

As we celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends today, we also wanted to share a very remarkable holiday event going on now.

This holiday season 21 designer Christmas Trees with be on display at the Downtown Seattle Fairmont Hotel. Each tree has its own decorative theme and displays a picture and a story of a patient from Seattle Children’s Hospital that the special tree is representing.

Northwest Christmas Tree

November 22 through December 3rd you and your family can view the 21 amazing Christmas Trees and learn about the brave patients they are helping to save! Other holiday events within the Fairmont Hotel include the Teddy Bear Suite. All donations taken at the Teddy Bear Suite and the Festival of Trees benefit Seattle Children’s Hospital.

There are many ways to donate during this event, visit Seattle Festival of Trees and the Teddy Bear Suite to find out.

An Extra Cool Holiday Treat!

November 26th, 2014 | Filed under: helpful hints Holiday Events Holiday traditions news planning your visit seasonal recipes | Posted by Elf jennifer

Holiday Gelato

With boutique ice cream stores becoming a popular trend in the Northwest area, I thought it would be awesome to feature some of the cool holiday flavors of ice cream!

At Molly Moon’s they are cooking up some festive cheer with flavors like Cinnamon and Ginger Pear Sorbet!

Downtown at Gelatiamo’s they are cooking up some fancy pastries and holiday gelato flavors like Peppermint, Ginger Snap, and Pumpkin!

Bluebird Ice Cream has holiday flavors such as Pumpkin, Candied Yam with Marshmallow Swirl, and Blueberry Crumble!

Godiva Chocolatier at Bellevue Square is serving up some extra special cones with flavors like White Chocolate, Dark Chocolate , or Swirl. Yum yum!

Cold Stone is offering Candy Cane, Eggnog, Dark Chocolate Peppermint, and Pumpkin for you to mix and match as you please!

Stop by to try these awesome flavors and let Santa know which is your favorite by using the hashtag #pnwclaus for Instagram and Twitter!

Bluebird Ice Cream

Sing with Ol’ Kris Kringle at Grand Ridge Plaza

November 25th, 2014 | Filed under: helpful hints Holiday Events Holiday traditions news planning your visit | Posted by Elf jennifer

Santa at Grand Ridge Plaza

Santa will be arriving at Grand Ridge Plaza Friday, November 28th, at 4:30 pm! Come and listen to the children from the Grand Ridge Elementary School Chorus sing and help welcome Santa with open arms.

Be sure to capture the moment in a photo with Santa Claus from professional photography provided by Arthur & Associates!

Cartoon Santa

Photo Pinned by zazzle.com

 

Happy holidays!

Santa Arrives with his Reindeer at University Village!

November 24th, 2014 | Filed under: helpful hints Holiday Events Holiday traditions news planning your visit | Posted by Elf jennifer

Santa Cabin at U Village

Santa’s Reindeer will accompany him on Santa’s first day at University Village! On Friday November 28th come and see the magical creatures and get your photo with Santa Claus, photography provided by Arthur & Associates.

Seasons Greetings!

Breakfast

Festive Elf Inspired Decorations and Holiday Snacks!

November 20th, 2014 | Filed under: helpful hints Holiday Events Holiday traditions news seasonal recipes | Posted by Elf jennifer

What better way to express gratitude for your friends than to throw them their very own holiday? Us elves throw each other parties all season long! It brings us great joy to be together. I want to share a few of my favorite decorations I’ve seen at gatherings that are great ways to tie in themes.

The first is a seasonal way to greet your guests by embellishing your front door as a gift! Simply make a large bow with burlap ribbon and fasten the ends like a present on either side of the door. Use a few points of blue tacky on each side; the tacky will preserve the door finish.

Door Gift

A fun finger-food to include in your gathering is garlic pretzels! This is a great recipe that is made ahead of time and takes only minutes to prepare!

Ingredients:

1 bag of Snyder’s “Snaps” Pretzels

⅔ cup olive oil infused with garlic

3 tablespoons ranch powder

Directions:

– Pour pretzels into a large mixing bowl

– In a small bowl whisk together olive oil and ranch powder

– Pour oil mixture over pretzels and toss to coat evenly

– Toss pretzels every 15 minutes for an hour

– Place pretzels into a large freezer bag and let sit for 24 hours

– Then serve!

Garlic Pretzels

 

This is a snack that is guaranteed to leave the bowl empty!

 

Celebrate Ten Years of Tradition at Snowflake Lane

November 18th, 2014 | Filed under: Holiday Events Holiday traditions news planning your visit | Posted by Elf jennifer

Snow, singing, and drums beating! What could be a more festive way to greet Santa Claus? Every year the Bellevue Collection puts on a spectacular parade to help kick off the holiday season and this year is extra special! Snowflake Lane celebrates its ten year anniversary.

Sights to see during Snowflake Lane and Santa’s Arrival are toy drummers, merry snow characters, snowfall and much much more! For the first time ever, there will be a spectacular tree lighting with Santa at Bellevue Place.

Snowflake Lane happens nightly but it is only one night that Santa takes part in the jollification! If you miss Santa’s Arrival, that’s ok! He will be here at Bellevue Square from November 28th – December 24th. You can get a photo with Santa provided by Arthur & Associates inside Bellevue Square.

Bellevue Snowflake Lane

Visit the Bellevue Collection to help plan your holiday experience.

Share your memories this season on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and use #SFLmemories!

First Annual Gingerbread Town at Country Village

November 17th, 2014 | Filed under: helpful hints Holiday Events Holiday traditions news planning your visit | Posted by Elf jennifer

In this quaint, quiet and cozy village nestled in the heart of Bothell, there will be a day of festivities with ginger wafting through the air! On November 22nd, 10 AM – 6 PM Country Village will host their first annual Gingerbread House Day.

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Santa is opening his workshop for Gingerbread House-making participants, providing warmth and all the supplies you need! If you are feeling like a pro, you can enter the house you construct into the Gingerbread House Competition!

There is much more to do and see at Country Village. There will be a live gingerbread man and woman to say hi to, Santa’s reindeer, and… the big man himself will be there starting November 28th!

November 28th – December 24th come get your photo with Santa, photography provided by Arthur & Associates.

Gingerbread Building

Visit Country Village for more details about this season’s festivities and sign up for Gingerbread House Day.

 

Let’s Keep it Local — Northwest Local!

November 12th, 2014 | Filed under: helpful hints Holiday traditions news planning your visit | Posted by Elf jennifer

santa-70

Finding unique holiday gifts for your loved ones can be difficult in the whirlwind of the holiday season. That’s why there is Small Business Saturday reminding you to make an experience out of shopping.

Take a day to slow it down and see what locals have to offer; visit some local shops, get a snack at an independently owned bakery, then come get your photo with Santa! Yep, that’s right, Arthur & Associates Holiday Photography is a business with local roots as deep as 1943. The holiday business has been family owned and operated for three generations!

Because the Viydo’s are a local family, they take pride in providing extraordinary holiday experiences for the members of the community. Make lasting memories within your community this holiday season. Slow down and remember to give back and keep your local roots strong.

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The Great Month of Giving: Part I!

November 5th, 2014 | Filed under: helpful hints Holiday Events news planning your visit | Posted by Elf jennifer

November is officially the month of giving! With Thanksgiving and the start of the holiday season, it only makes sense for us to take a moment and really think about what we are thankful for. Throughout this month we’ll share special  suggestions of ways to give back, whether it be in your community or within your family.

First on our list is volunteering to clean up at a local park. We have found a few upcoming tree planting and cleanup parties in the Pacific Northwest. This is a fun and educational activity for the whole family!

Nature

Seward Park Restoration – Saturday November 8th

A great chance to get to know members of the community, while helping the community!

Point Defiance Marina Beach Cleanup – Saturday November 15th

Help keep the beach clean and healthy by joining a cleanup party every third Saturday of the month.

Planting & Mulching along Lake Sammamish – Saturday November 22nd

Help prevent invasive species from spreading and rebuild the natural habitat.

Have fun giving back this month! Stay tuned for more ways we like to give back.