Welcome to Litsy!

One of my seasonal traditions is a reading a Nutcracker retelling and/or watching a performance. The version I chose this year is put out by the NYC Ballet. It‘s in picture book format, but the text is clearly intended for much older children. It follows the scenery and costuming of the Balanchine production, and the illustrations are so incredibly evocative of dance and music. Probably my new favorite children‘s retelling!

Love all the pink on my Advent Day 6 mini book 🤶🎅💚🐉

#newyorkcity #julyjourneys @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Confession time: I was not familiar with the story.

This was cute and magical with gorgeous illustrations.

+26 for #wintergames2020 #merryreaders @Clwojick

My aunt and uncle have quite the Nutcracker collection, this is only a handful of them, there was a shelf I couldn‘t get to and a shelf that went all the way to the ceiling that had Nutcrackers on them!

#WinterGames #MerryReaders #SelfieWithANutcracker

Day 13 - #Nutcracker #PoetryMatters #WinterGames #JingleBallers

The Nutcracker Ballet is a #SharedHolidayTradition
21 points

Day 18 - #nutcracker #seasonsreadings

1. The nutcracker suite 🧚‍♀️
2. Baking and wrapping presents 🍪🎁
3. White Christmas and others
4. Cookies and truffles/ candy cane hershey's
5. I tag @Endowarrior21

https://youtu.be/5UGWcY3rW4Y

The last nutcracker party photo for you--just wanted you to show you my striped "wallpaper", china cabinet with toy soldiers, and tinsel garland with ballerina silhouettes cut from Tchaikovsky's score.

I keep forgetting to finish posting my photos from the Nutcracker party! Sorry if this is spammy at this point, it was just so much work so sharing it with more people makes it feel more worth it. I last shared the snowy outdoor scene in the entry way. From there you looked through fake windows and doors into the Stahlbaum house, complete with the "growing" tree and grandfather clock.

Another photo of nutcracker party decor! The entry way was decorated with snowflakes, tulle, evergreen garlands and our real tree, to represent the outdoor snowy woods set from the ballet. It's hard to get a photo bc it's a small space.

So I wanted to finally update you all with photos from our Nutcracker party this past weekend! It was a total whirlwind and we barely finished (almost) everything! Here is a photo of me setting up my bar in the Land of Sweets. 🍭🍬🍭🍬

Hello friends! I have been AWOL because our Nutcracker party is THIS SATURDAY and we are very behind in the land of sweets, here... I'll be back after that to see what's been going on! 😘 📚

Gotta love one of my granddaughters as a mouse and an angel in The Nutcracker! Just started ballet but loving it!😍

Party construction day 9 // 20 days till party

Got a few different things done today but the main one is that the tree pieces are halfway attached! It looks like green flames right now, but I think the details I intend to paint after will help that significantly.

Party central day 7 // 22 days till party

Today we debuted the keyhole system for linking these tall flimsy wooden panels that will be painted as the backdrop for the Land of Sweets. We determined that they were too flexible to paint elsewhere and then move because the paint would slough off, so it looks like my mom is going to have to deal with no light in the dining room for 22 days...sorry, Mom.

Party construction day 6 // 23 days to party

Today we made the general shape of the grandfather clock (to be painted later) and cut out a bunch of cardboard that doesn't look like anything yet. I guess it's not very exciting yet. 😆 #partycentral #barnesparty

Party construction day 5 // 24 days till party

Today I built the skeleton of what will be an oversized tree for our Nutcracker set. The scenery is all made of painted cardboard so that's why this huge tree will be too, once I cut out and paint all the sections to attach here like shingles. 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

Totally forgot that tickets for NYCB's Balanchine's Nutcracker went on sale today until Lincoln Center was mentioned in my current read. I'm lukewarm on the book but will be ever grateful for the reminder.

I've had a busy weekend as a #dancemom of the most beautiful Spanish Chocolate & Marzipan you've ever seen (though I may be a bit biased). ❤️ My reward? Two of my library e-books holds became available! Excited to dive into The Nest tonight.