Earlier today, I told you about Raymond’s visit to a farm. Since I’ve had reindeer on my mind, I had to feature these laser-cut reindeer. These would look quite charming on a mantle or a coffee table. The natural wood grain would perfectly accent your rustic decor, or if you prefer a more finished look, you can easily paint it, bedazzle it, or coat it with glitter—because EVERYTHING is better with glitter! 😉 (Note: The reindeer are sold individually, so click here for the small one and here for the large one.)
Generally speaking, I don’t travel quite as often as Raymond and Becky do, but that’s because when Raymond’s home at the North Pole, he and I spend a great deal of time thinking of fun shenanigans like blowing bubbles, trying on outfits and posing in front of a camera, or baking cookies. 😉 This year, however, I had the opportunity to visit some relatives in rural Virginia, so Raymond accompanied me there.
In this part of Virginia, there are a handful of farms that grow fresh fruits and veggies, as well as raise animals. We stopped at one dairy farm to get ice cream, and then we walked the grounds to visit all the animals.
First we saw a pig taking a break from the shade to soak up some sunshine.
Look what Raymond saw when we entered the stables—silly goat!
What are these chickens doing under a tractor?!
The cow didn’t want to look at Raymond. Maybe she’s shy?
Raymond saying “Hi” to a donkey, who’s munching on some hay.
Speaking of hay, check out these minion haystacks!
Look at the size of that silo! Wowser!
Raymond stopping to take one last photo before we left the farm.
Where else do you think Raymond went this year? Let us know in the comments below!
It’s that time of year when ice rinks are popping up all around. We’ve hand-picked a few popular ones to highlight today that are located in large cities. As one might expect, most of these pop-up rinks charge admission, but some lucky souls can get in for free! So round up your troupe, gather your friends, or grab your honey’s hand and head to over to pop-up ice rink near you for some festive fun.
In midtown Atlanta, the ice rink at Park Tavern is a go-to spot for a gliding-good time. The rink is fully enclosed and temperature regulated, so it’s heated—or air-conditioned if Atlanta’s experiencing warm winter weather. While skating, you can enjoy music that plays over the speakers, and when you need to rest your feet, have a seat at a table and gulp down some hot chocolate. The last day to skate is February 15, 2016, so get your tickets today. They are available to purchase here.
The Rink at Park Tavern
500 10th St NE
Atlanta, GA 30309
404-249-0001
Admission: $15–$20
Skate Rental: Included!
Hours, Monday–Friday: 4:30pm–12am*
Hours, Saturday & Sunday: 11:30am–12am*
*Adults only: 8:30pm–12am
Well, this is something I’ve never heard of before—skating on a roof! Yup, that’s right, at a Whole Foods store in Austin, Texas you can skate on the top of a building! Sounds intriguing, doesn’t it? If you live within driving distance of Austin, head on over to the Plaza and take your turn spinning around this rooftop rink.
Know this before you go: Friday nights and weekends are always open to the public, but weekdays may be booked for a private event. To confirm that a weekday is open to the public, call Guest Services at this store.
Ice Skating on the Plaza
525 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78703
512-542-2200
Admission: $10
Skate Rental: Included!
Hours: 10am–9pm
In the heart of San Francisco, you can find a pop-up rink in Union Square. One unique feature about this rink is that they have a mobile app, so tech-savvy skaters can jump in the “virtual queue” instead of waiting in line. I’m sure you’ll enjoy spending that time scouting out some hot chocolate in the square!
While the rink is open now until January 18, 2016, you may want to go ahead and buy your tickets online as certain times are already sold out.
Union Square Ice Rink
333 Post St
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-781-2688
Adult Admission: $11
Children Admission: $7
Skate Rental: $6 (On Wednesdays, rent your skates for free, thanks to Bank of the West!)
Hours: 10am–11:30pm (Closes at 9:30pm on December 31st.)
Skating at Skyline Park is free—yippee! And, renting a pair of skates is only $2, or free if you’re a student (just show your MY Denver Card). With rates like this, it’s the perfect opportunity to come out again and again all winter long. Since the rink is open until February 15, 2016, there’s no rush to cram in your skate sessions before Christmas. 😉
Southwest Rink at Skyline Park
16th St & Arapahoe St
Denver, CO 80202
303-825-6787
Admission: Free!
Skate Rental: $2
Hours: Varies by day. Click here for details.
The Winter Village at Bryant Park is the only rink in New York that offers free admission! Since there’s no fee, it’s an inexpensive way to entertain all your relatives who are visiting. Or if you work nearby, you can pop over for a quick twirl on the ice during your lunch break! With the rink being open until March 6, 2016 you’ve got plenty of time schedule a slippin’ good time!
Winter Village at Bryant Park
Located in Midtown Manhattan between 40th & 42nd Streets
and Fifth & Sixth Avenues
New York, NY 10018
212-661-8870
Admission: Free!
Skate Rental: $15–$19
Hours: 8am–10pm
For our British friends, plan on visiting the ice rink at Canary Wharf. It is home to London’s only skate path and can proudly say it’s one of the city’s largest rinks. The trees surrounding the area are beautifully lit with fairy lights which add to the magical holiday feel. If you’d rather watch the icy action from the sidelines, you can make yourself comfy on the viewing terrace. The rink is open until February 27, 2016.
Ice Rink Canary Wharf
Canada Square Park
Canary Wharf
E14 5AB
London
08456 531 431
Adult Admission: £14.95
Child Admission: £9.95
Skate Rental: Included!
Hours: Varies. See here for details.
Isn’t this copper lantern gorgeous? So festive and cozy, it would be a wonderful gift for someone who loves luminaries. I really like how the curly swirls perfectly complement the holly as it envelops the phrase “‘Tis the season to be jolly.”
Cover your gifts with colorful nebulas and twinkling stars so that you can give presents that are out of this world! I have one elfy friend in mind who I know would love to receive a gift in this galactic gift wrap. The paper comes in a set of 12 sheets, each one measures 13" x 19", which is perfect for wrapping small boxes.
