mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

A Visit from the Grandparents: A Holiday Poem

December 23, 2020 / 42 Comments
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

As I sat down to share this cute festive sparkly reindeer sweater outfit just two days before Christmas, the poetry angels seemed to be whispering in my ear to write my own little parody version of A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clark Moore. Of course, you are all familiar with this traditional Christmas poem. And I am certain that you have read parody versions of it as well. Our favorite version of this poem is The Soldier’s Night Before Christmas.

In case you have been living off the grid for your entire life, or maybe you don’t celebrate Christmas, let me share the original work first. 

A Visit from St. Nicholas
BY Clement Clark Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds;
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

And now here is my little twist on this Christmas classic. It is not quite as many lines as the original. In fact, I think I am about 20 lines (5 stanzas) short. But I ran out of patience and creativity when my children came barreling through the front door after their last day of school before Christmas break.

A Visit from the Grandparents
by Shelbee on the Edge

’Twas the week before Christmas in a pandemic year
All of the world was at home dealing with all sorts of fear. 
The stockings were hung near the old window sill
Patiently waiting for a stimulus bill.

For without any money and no income earned
The socks may be empty until tax returns. 
The children were trying to warm their cold feet, 
For winter is here and expensive is heat. 

With dad in his sweatpants and I in my fleece
We had just started hoping for some sort of peace. 
When out on the porch we heard a great boom,
I sprang from the couch and peered out of the room. 

Peeking through the front window, pulling back the blind slats
My eyes were quite blinded by a flurry of bats. 
Bats on Christmas, all around flocking,
But ’tis the year of Covid and nothing is shocking. 

The icicle lights were shining so bright
I could barely see as the bats took flight. 
They flew into the darkness and away from my dwelling
Revealing an image that left my heart swelling. 

There were eight sparkling reindeer parked right on the lawn
Bedazzled in sequins because that’s never wrong. 
A super soft sweater in shades of mint green
Would be my best option for a holiday theme.

I paired this cozy soft jumper in all of my swift 
With a little black dress that I had found at the thrift. 
It was the perfect outfit to welcome my in-laws
Their arrival was anticipated like that of Santa Claus. 

We cooked and baked and ate ’til our tummies were full
And said farewell before the kids returned to school.
With the festivities over for our humble home
I hope you can all find joy in the weeks to come.

Put on your masks and stay six feet apart
Because Covid don’t care if it’s breaking our hearts. 
With all the glitter and sparkle that I’m able to find
I can’t wait until this year is left far behind! 
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

A quick word about this mint green sequined reindeer sweater. I have had this sweater for quite a few years. It is LC Lauren Conrad from Kohl’s. I was almost ready to list it on Poshmark because the mint green and the fit of the sweater are rather unflattering on me. But then Catherine of Not Dressed as Lamb recently shared a post titled, Why It’s Perfectly Okay to Wear Unflattering Outfits. The message of her post is basically if you love something for whatever reason, who cares if it’s not the most flattering thing on you.

And so I became determined to keep this cozy sweater for a bunch of different reasons. I do love the color just not so much with my complexion. Putting a black mock turtleneck dress underneath definitely helped with the color. It is so soft and cozy that I want to wear it all the time because it just feels nice. The shape of the sweater highlights most of my problem areas. Again, layering it over a dress definitely helped to smooth some of that out. I love the sequins and the adorable reindeer so I couldn’t just toss it away into the unwanted pile! And I have the same exact sweater in a peachy pink color with sequined snowflakes which I will share very soon.

Overall, I think my determination paid off in giving this sweater one more try. I felt super festive and ready for the holiday activities that we enjoyed all week long with my in-laws.

mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge
mint green reindeer sweater, lbd, holiday outfit, fashion over 40, Shelbee on the Edge

I hope you enjoyed my silly little poem. And I also hope that you are able to find some holiday inspiration here! Wishing you all a very happy holiday season. May 2021 be a much better year for all of us.

I will be back tomorrow on Christmas Eve with another holiday outfit that was inspired by one of my dear blogging friends. I will also be sharing my Link Up On the Edge on Christmas Day if any of you happen to be surfing around blogland for the holiday!

Keeping it silly on the edge,

Shelbee

Linking up with these Fabulous Link Parties.

Shop my look…

Outfit Details: Sweater-LC Lauren Conrad / Dress-Thrifted / Tights-c/o Sheertex / Boots-JustFab / Earrings and Beret-Old

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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