Thanks for the Roses (Merry Christmas) by Antje Duvekot

I am a big fan of holiday music.

Really, not kidding. Don't believe me?

The 1,600 plus songs in my Christmastime iTunes folder back me up!

This December, I am going to share

some of the songs that are not traditional favorites.

Many musicians and bands release holiday tunes,

some just to share with fans, others to get some notice

from music lovers who wouldn't have known of them otherwise.

I love that there is so much free

and legal music given out at this time of year!

Don't get me wrong, I love the classics, have tons of them.

But sometimes I come across a new song

or a new take on an old song,

and just fall in love with it, as well.

First up, from 2009,

Thanks for the Roses (Merry Christmas) by Antje Duvekot.

Download it free HERE!

Halloween Haunt

I like listening to podcasts, especially when I am doing chores, walking the dogs or exercising.

One that I have recently discovered and have been enjoying is Halloween Haunt.

On their iTunes page they have over 50 different Halloween or horror-related podcasts. They are short, averaging under five minutes each, so they are good for when you don't have a lot of time, or as short bits between longer podcasts you may listen to.

The topics range from history and traditions of Halloween to movies and poems, with works by Lovecraft and Poe covered. And each podcast has appropriate sound effects and background music, well edited together.

So, if you're looking for Halloween-themed entertainment, head on over to their site or look them up on iTunes. They are also on Facebook and Twitter!

And Happy Haunting!

Day 8: Favorite Christmas Song

Now here I am really stumped.

See, I love Christmas/holiday music. A lot.

Don't believe me? Well, my iTunes "Christmastime" playlist has 456 515 items right now.

That is over 24 hours of Christmas music!

I have many variations of different songs, like 6 versions of "Blue Christmas," 8 versions of "Deck the Halls" and 12 versions of "Silent Night". And those are just a few examples.

But, a favorite? Wow... Okay, I am going with The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole. It is just great and encapsulates so much of what the holiday is about, to me.

How about you?