25 Days Of Cardmas Day 25: That's Christmas To Me

Decorating one month ahead, putting up the tree on Thanksgiving night, makes me smile all month long, oh why? Because that's Christmas To Me.

Eating Sugar cookies, drinking eggnog for weeks on end, give my stomach so much joy, oh why? Because that's Christmas To Me.

Sharing sport cards about Christmas and posting every day, giving cards to those in need, give my heart all it needs...oh why? Because that's Christmas To Me.

Panantonix Christmas song Because That's Christmas To Me hits you right in the feels about what the season is all about. And with today being THE DAY, I thought this song makes a perfect blog title ending for this series.

I hope all of you have enjoyed this series. I am not sure if it will be back next year or not, probably deeply depends on how many Christmas cards I can accumulate between this year and next since today marks the end of all of the ones I grabbed this year in trades and pickups. Thanks to all of those who helped contribute to this 25 days of fun.

Christmas Day as I have said on here many times is very special to me. It's my grandmother's birthday, the birth of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and just such a happy time to celebrate family, friends, and simple joy....and the food of course. Can't forget the holiday food.

I have had some memorable Christmases in the past from gag gifts, to big gifts, to big breakfasts, to the joy of being around family near and far. Every year a new memory is made and not forgotten. That's what I am hoping for all of you today. I hope you have the happ, happiest Christmas ever.

God bless all of you!

Tell me your favorite Christmas memory whether its from your childhood or as an adult in comments. Would love to hear them.

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 24:The Christmas Song

 

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...Jack Frost nipping at your nose...

It's Christmas Eve. 

The night when the man in the red suit loads up his sleigh and visits all of the good boys and girls to give them gifts of joy. Or in real life terms, it's the day where parents are scrambling to get everything wrapped up in time or for the husband who forgets to get their wife a gift is running out to the shops before they close to make sure he gets a gift so his chestnuts are not hung by an open fire the next day for forgetting.

Don't worry, I already have my wife's gifts well in advanced.

 

Today's also the day I show off rest of my collection of NFL Properties cards, still many more to go before I have them all, and share some memory from Christmas Eve's past.

Christmas Eve used to be more fun for me.

Back before my nephew and sister-in-law moved to Tennessee, we would all go to the Christmas Eve church service, then come back to my house for cookies, cocoa, exchange stocking gifts with the in-laws then watch Christmas Vacation. Those memory-making, hysterical experiences I will never forget that we did annually for years.

Now, when they are able to come up for the holidays since they moved, they come two weeks before Christmas and we do things together at that time such as myself making their favorite foods and watching Christmas Vacation.

So now my Christmas Eves are spent pretty quietly at home and probably even more-so this year being the year 2020 where you must avoid people at all costs. Which is okay, this year I think most of us have become pretty accustomed to being at home.

I wanna know now, what are some of your Christmas Eve traditions? Have they changed over the years? What are your plans this year?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 23:Joy To The World!

 

Joy to the world...Christmas is almost here... Let me continue to sing...

2 days folks! 2 more days of me posting the 25 days posts. 2 more days left to shop. 2 more days of hectic crazy holiday planning.

And 2 cards I am showing off today. The first card is a Walker Buehler base card from 2019 Topps Holiday and the second is an Sp of Buehler with a scarf.

Out of my 37 years of life, I have never once worn a scarf despite facing some pretty cold tempatures where I live. I have on the other hand used them for Power Rangers, TMNT and even Darkwing Duck weapons haha.

Buehler on this card just looks right with a scarf the way he is holding his head, the photoshop was spot on. They chose a perfect person to attempt this on.

Have you guys ever worn a scarf?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 22: Soto Christmas Tree

  

Soto....Christmas Tree...Soto Christmas Tree..how steadfast are your branches?

Only Juan knows.

I think the Christmas tree Sp's are one of the best looking ones out of Topps Holiday. So you add a young slugger into the picture as well, you have an award winning card.

Literally, there is an award on there.

Here is another parallel version of the card. This time there are some lights on the bat.

And you can't see it, but here is the metallic parallel.

The song Oh Christmas Tree brings me back to the days of school holiday concerts. It felt like every year no matter what grade I was in, my class was stuck singing that classic tune while other classes got to have more fun with Frosty The Snowman or Walking In A Winter Wonderland.

What is a song you remember singing from school?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 20:Let It Snow

Let it snow..let it snow..let it snow....

I don't mind singing that up until Christmas, I need a white Christmas, but once it's past Christmas, I like to sing let it melt...let it melt...let it melt.

I can deal however with cards that feature snow on them and thanks to @KempTribe I was able to add a few more to my collection.

Not sure how these guys can see to pitch with snow in their face.

Only one year can I remember having a green Christmas where I live and it was weird as it gets. I am not sure how everyone in the south can celebrate Christmas in the warm and green grass. There is only way to celebrate the season and that's with snow.

How do you feel about snow?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 19: All I Want For Christmas Is You

Sorry readers. I know this title will hit your every nerve as we all know that big Mariah Carey hit is the most played Christmas song on the radio. It's not that its a bad song per say, but a lot are sick of hearing it.

Today's card features Jim Kelly getting ready to launch a Christmas present deep. Just hopefully there will be no Dallas Cowboys in his way. Sorry Bills fans.

The back of the card is like reading a Christmas card from the Kelly and Skybox family to us.

I know when it comes to presents this year, I always hope for card boxes and eBay gift cards but it doesn't always translate to that. A gift is a gift though because it comes from the heart. I know that sounds like a corny line from a Hallmark Movie but it's so true.

When I grew up, I was always disappointed by my presents though I know it was stuff my parents knew I would like. They just couldn't afford to get the stuff I actually really wanted like that Ghostbusters fire house or the entire line of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers figures. Every year I would get a notebook (I told you I love to write), some form of clothing and maybe one of the toys I asked for. Sometimes they would sign up for a Santa Fund which gives presents out to low income families. I wouldn't always get what I wanted from that either but made due. 

Even though stuff wasn't always what I wanted, I didn't just toss it in the trash. I always put it to full use and always treated and kept my stuff like a gem mint card.

Big or small gifts, its not the gift that counts. It's the thought. I tell myself that all of the time and live by it and hope you do as well.

What was a present you wanted growing up but never got?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 18: Happy Holidays To You!

 

The holidays are just around the corner with only 1 week remaining. I hope most of you either have your shopping done or almost done.

My wife and I are early shoppers meaning we did our shopping back in October long before all of the specials, etc. Though we may jump on a couple of deals just to add to what we had already finished. Can't argue with a good deal.

Today's card features Santa with a beautifully NFL decorated Christmas tree from the NFL Properties line of of 1995. The design used for this one is from Collectors Edge.

Next to that card is another Scentsy holder, yes my wife grabs one every year for a new Christmas decoration, this time a present one that says Happy Holidays. Not my favorite holder of the ones I have but still has the colors of green and red for the season so it works.

How far have you guys gotten on Christmas shopping?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 16:Please Come Home For Christmas

 

2020 will make for a different kind of Christmas for me.

Usually by now we would be expecting family from afar for Christmas #1 and Christmas #2 but with the pandemic, those days are gone this year and I will say it's really disheartening to say the least. I will miss the good times we have but as I have learned this year during all of this, it really makes you appreciate what you already have at home. This includes my hobby as well.

So this year instead of multiple Christmases I will be having one, just on Christmas. Which is okay because I will make it the best one ever.

 

Today's card is the oldest Santa card I own from my chase in the 1990 Pro Set version. I really hope someday to land the 1989 one.

 

Speaking of Santa and oldest one, really digging the older looking Santa's on this years Christmas stamps.

Are any of you expecting family to come visit this year or are you visiting them?

25 Days Of Christmas Day 15:Frosty The Snowman

Well folks, only 10 days until Christmas and this blogger is getting giddy.

Today's post is about an item that gets me just as giddy every year I put it out. 

It's my wife's, Mr. Snowman. She has had it since her youth and every year we have been together we have put it out on the counter. I used to keep it in the window back when it had a lightbulb, but since that piece went missing, we just keep it unlit on the counter.

Funny but not so funny story about this one, I tried replacing the light inside once with a lightbulb cord I stole from my Halloween pumpkin. The only problem was, the lightbulb didn't fit through the back like the cord that actually goes to the snowman and had to go underneath him instead. So picture plastic with a hot lightbulb on it on the inside...let's just say I am glad my wife has the brains though I was trying to be sweet. Fortunately, didn't burn the house down and only melted some of the snowman on the bottom.

 

Today's card is from 1991 Parkhurst. I don't always show the back of these cards I feature on here but I think today's was very important by the message on the back. 

I hope it hits you in the feels as well.

Have you ever helped anyone during this time of year? Buy a family gifts? Work at a soup kitchen? Donate your time elsewhere?

25 Days Of Cardmas: Step Into Christmas

Today's song matchup seemed spot on I must say. Santa's boots+Step Into Christmas...yeah, I expect an applause for this one.

Elton John is one of my favorite all-time singers, thanks to my father, and one of my more favorable Christmas songs that I don't really hear that often on the radio is Step Into Christmas by the legend himself. Elton released this song 10 years before I was born in 1973, but it's a Christmas classic to me.

Today's card is another one of those NFL Properties cards featuring Santa. It's actually the first one in the 1993 series. This time it uses the Action Packed design and feel as well. It's one of the better used designs and pictures in the series as it makes me think of an old fashioned Christmas and those are the best ones.

What is your favorite holiday song you don't hear enough of?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 11:'Mookie' Around The Christmas Tree

Mookie around the Christmas tree, have a happy holiday.....Later we'll have some pumpkin pie and do some caroling....

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee brings back some fond memories of when I would go to my grandmother's apartment during this time of year. She would break out her cassette tape of taped songs off of the radio, remember those days, and would play those songs all day long. One of those songs she favored and danced to was Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree. Though she was older, she still had some moves and would occasionally invite me in to join her which would lead to lots of laughs. It was always fun to see her happiness come out during this time of year. So every time I hear that song on the radio or even played on my Pandora app on the Christmas station, I turn it up a little bit louder than rest of those songs.

Is there a holiday song that connects you with a memory? Which one and if you don't mind, share that memory!

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 10:Go Yelich On The Mountains

 

I have already mentioned my pure passion for the 2019 Topps Holiday cards, especially it's Sp's, today I will show off the start of my Yelich rainbow cane thanks to @Jake1725, @CardboardSushi, and @NormC61.

The first variation I landed was the Yelich Candy Cane bat. Which to me is the coolest variation of the three I own.

The next one features a Brewers Ornament

While the final, which you can't see that well, is the metallic parallel. 

Seeing these reminds me of the ornaments my parents used to put on our tree. Most were the homemade ones I did at school while a couple others were team oriented with my Dad with the Giants and my mom with her Cowboys ones. Which once again always made for a fun football season with those two at each others throats for those game matchups.

They also used to decorate the tree with plain candy canes like the one that Yelich is using as a bat. We didn't do the fancy flavored ones you see a lot of today.

I am not sure how they decorate their tree now.

Do you decorate yours with any team attire?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 9:Coach Santa

Can you imagine a chunky guy in red suit coaching a football team to a big win...oh, sorry Chiefs fans. 

Coach Claus is looking for a way to lead Da' Deers back to the playoffs and make another run at another Super Candy Cane Bowl with his Snowflake offense and Chimney slide play.

According to the back of this card, it appears he has won the MVIP award again and netted another Wiseman Trophy for giving Playoff card to all of the good boys and girls.

Back in the 90's I had both coaches I liked and disliked. One of the most disliked coaches coached my Giants team. No it's not Ray Handley as I wasn't much into football then, it was Dan Reeves. He was a terrible coach for the Giants and ran the team into the ground before Jim Fassell brought it back to life.

Two of my favorite coaches in the 90's were Tom Coughlin for the Jaguars (who later on coached my Giants team to 2 Super Bowls) and Mike Shanahan of the Denver Broncos. I liked watching both of those teams play, particulary the Jags, in the 90's. They were my second and third favorite teams back then. Those coaches just knew how to win and connect with their players like Coach Claus does.

Good luck to Coach Claus and 'Da Deers if he is still coaching them this year. Hopefully they remember to wear masks so they won't be fined even in the North Pole.

Who are your favorite and least favorite coaches and managers?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 7: Prism Santa

 

Between 1991 to roughly 1997, NFL Properties released 5 to 10 to even 12 card Santa sets featuring the base card designs that year for the NFL products.

There are many of these to collect and I just got my sleigh underway in doing so.

One of the first ones I had to grab was this 1993 Pacific Prism version. Prism was one of the cooler products in the early to mid 90's.

It also ties into my life of collecting.

Towards the end of 1993, I had just started to find both sports and sport cards interesting. Most likely I didn't find any cards under my tree that year as at that point I was die hard Mighty Morphin Power Rangers fan and most likely asked for as many figures I could get of them from Santa.

But, it's good to see that Santa has great taste in his cards if he went home to open a box for himself of the Prism.

What is one of your first products you asked Santa for under your tree?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 5:Wrapped Up By Topps

 

Wrapping gifts, it's joy, misery and memories all wrapped tightly with a bow.

Having a big family requires you to do a lot of wrapping. At first your excited, you put on some Christmas tunes, grab a cup of hot cocoa with little marshmallows, get all of your stuff laid out and off you go. But, by the time you are half way through, you are done and regretting to had bought anything for anyone for Christmas. Don't tell me you don't relate to that.

Maybe I should wrap stuff the way my parents did when I was younger. Whatever they could find, they used. It could be wrapping paper. It could be a grocery store bag. It could be a box taped shut. No matter what it was, you never knew what you were going to get.

 

At least these Topps cards are already wrapped for me.

Thanks to @CardboardSushi for the trade for these and other cards to come in this series.

So, how about you guys, do you like to wrap gifts?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 4:Jingle Snell

Jingle Snells, Jingle Snells, Jingle all the way!!

I am more of a Jingle Bell Rock kinda guy when it comes to my Jingle Bell songs.

How many of us grew up singing that song at our school holiday concerts? Raise your hand....oh all of you! I see....I remember doing this song sometimes with a bell and sometimes with just my non Mariah Carey voice.

It was sometimes really hard to even try to sing with so many in the crowd and many of those holding up their VHS Camcorders knowing that it could come back to haunt me some day.

Which it hasn't....yet.

 

These Santa Hat relics were not easy pulls and were limited to the 2019 Topps Walmart Holiday Mega boxes. This one is /75.

Thanks to the @BbaptistThe for the RAK of this card. I really wanted one of these last year when the product came out but never landed one. One of the cooler Santa hat relics out there.

So now I gotta know, what would you guys choose? Jingle Bells or Jingle Bell rock?

25 Days Of Cardmas Day 2:Sport Santa

 

When I went on a card searching frenzy this year for Christmas related cards, one of the first ones I landed was this 2019 Parkside Collectibles Limited Edition cards from my friend @JG24everfan.

Sport Santa as I like to refer to him as, appears to be a stud multi-sport player. This must be what his offseason workouts must look like before he sits down and plumps up for the holidays.

That's pretty similar to how I feel every Christmas as an adult.

First, we get together with the in-laws for Thanksgiving (once again looked different this year) and then my sister-in-law from Mass comes up and we have a big eat-out-palooza, then my wife hosts a family get together, then we do my favorite meal of the year in a Christmas breakfast and end that out with a sister-in-law from Tennessee food time. 

Fortunately but unfortunately at the same time, my wife and sister-in-law from Tennessee are not able to do their bake off anymore since she moved. That was a time where they bake goodies all day to hand out to co-workers, family, etc. Because of course who isn't going to sneak a few sugar cookies or chocolate fudge pieces.

Do any of you have any food traditions around the Christmas?

25 Days Of Cardmas:2020 Donruss Holiday Blaster Box

  

What a great way to kick off the holiday season! A box break of a holiday product!

This wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for a contest win from @acc2107 with retail shelves around me always empty.

So I got lucky.

Each blaster box comes with 88 cards and one exclusive rookie holiday sweater card. I assumed this product would be similar to Hoops winter product for basketball where all of the cards had some "snow" on them separating them from the regular product. 

But, this wasn't the case.

The same photos and design were used. That part was a bit disappointing, however, this break wasn't.

Zack Moss who has played well in spots for the Bills.

 

Ben Dinucci got a start with the Cowboys in their rotating QB doors. It's just too bad his play didn't equal the excitement collectors had for the start.

 

Unlike this guy who is tearing it up in LA. Bright future ahead for this runaway 2020 OROY player.

 

Both Tua and the play of the Dolphins has been surprising. He and this team have a bright future ahead.

Great start to this box so far. Let's see how the rest of it goes,

 

Also one-per-holiday blaster box of Donruss is this Red and Green Optic parallel. These look spectacular!

Gallup 90's Donruss

Duvernay Elite Series rookies

The Holiday sweater card was in the last pack...

Not too bad at all! CeeDee Lamb has played well for the Cowboys. Being a big Giants fan I dislike the team and player, but dig the card with the multi-color relic.

Thanks again to Adam for the blaster box.

I will be posting more about these Rookie Sweater cards as the month goes on.