Today Sweet Southern Home is excited to join the WinterHaven Sleigh Tour hosted by WinterHaven Books. This week, I am posting my favorite Christmas story. To see who else is on the sleigh, go to WinterHaven Sleigh Tour  for a list of participating blogs.

Hey yall, I can’t believe Christmas is so freakin close!  Down here in Louisiana, there’s not much winter.  It’s very common to run the air conditioner during the day, and the heater at night!  It hasn’t snowed here in 3 years, but I’m hoping we get some this year now that my son is old enough to know what it is 🙂

I have to say, my favorite Christmas story is my favorite when it’s not actually in the form of a book.  It IS a book, but much more famous on the stage.  Of course, I’m talking about THE NUTCRACKER.

I have loved the ballet ever since I was a little girl.  I was one of those girly girls who realllly thought she was a ballerina (sometimes I still do…).  To this day, I am still mesmerized when I watch the Sugar Plum Fairy:

And delight in the acrobatics of the Candy Canes:

But of course I love the beauty of the ballet because The Nutcracker is just a GREAT Christmas story.  A girl has a fabulous party with her family and friends, gets a beloved toy, and travels to amazing worlds in her dreams–accompanied by a handsome prince!  It tells kids that even their wildest dreams can come true through the magic of Christmas–and that is a truly timeless tale.

WinterHaven books will host a give-away for everyone that will include two book bundles to be donated to an elementary school or library of the winner’s choice. The winner will be able to choose two from the following choices:

Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins (includes all 3 books)

Shiver Trilogy by Maggie Steifvater (includes all 3 books)

Dairy Queen Trilogy by Catherine Murdock (includes all 3 books)

Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare (includes first 3 books)