a flaw in the plan...

Now that the Christmas tree is up, you put the presents under it and it looks so great, right? Not here.  We don't have little kids in the immediate family (sorry, Mom) and none of us really need anything for Christmas. If we want it, we'll buy it.  So for the past couple of years we haven't done presents and have decided to donate, instead. It would be nice to say that it's all very selfless and we just want to help others, but that's not completely true.  There are people who need things or don't have the resources to get some of the things they want.  And if we can help make someones holiday a little better, that's great.  But on the other end it's totally awesome for us. 

There it is... the What's in it for me? 

Well, what's in it for me is not having to stress out about what I'm buying for everyone else this year.  And not having to try to drag suggestions out of people or have them try to drag them out of me.  And not be frustrated when they tell me I don't know... or that I have to tell them I don't know... or worry that we're all spending roughly the same amount of money on each other.  And I don't have to wrap they guys' presents (except Brian's - he knows why).  Instead, I can relax and enjoy the season. Maybe bake some cookies. And smile because I don't have to go to the mall. :)  It's totally awesome.

Don't worry, though.  Santa still visits our stockings at Christmas.  He knows that's all we want.

So where is the flaw?  Now we have this big tree and no presents to take up space below it. Maybe I'll take Tim's suggestion and wrap some empty boxes to get the look... is that lame?

now it's time...

... to get going on Christmas!  I mentioned before that I have a rule about any Christmas activity prior to Thanksgiving: Don't. But I did cheat a little - a little bit of Elf and I listened to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's christmas CD on my way home for the holiday.  Thanksgiving was great - special thanks to Pam & Jim for hosting!  We, as most, ate entirely too much food and had a good time chatting, etc... Mom braved shopping with me on the dreaded Black Friday to go buy a new Christmas tree - but we only went to the side of town away from the mall so it wasn't terrible. We just went to two places, had lunch, and then went home.  Saturday we went to the craft fair and did a couple of errands.  Saturday night was girls night at the Festival of Trees!  This year's theme was Christmas in New York and it was, as it always is, beautiful.  Friends, christmas, food, dessert, drinks, and fun.  Can you ask for more?  And to those who helped organize and decorate - thank you. I know how much work events can be and you are amazing.  I even bought the t-shirt!  If you haven't gone, please do next year.  It's a 5-star event in my opinion and supports great causes. 

And Sunday I was exhausted so just hung out, relaxed, took in a Hallmark Christmas movie or two.  And then drove back home.  And then it was over.  Or was it?

Remember the new Christmas tree?  We put it up Tuesday night.  The previous tree was a little 4.5 foot tree and we've graduated to a 7 foot tree.  A real grown up tree.  Because it was boys' night, the guys were here to supervise and let me know that it was a little slanted (it was) and then it was less slanted (it was) and then it was perfect (it is).  The secret?  There may or may not be a Glamour magazine under the stand on one side hidden beneath the tree skirt. 

It turns out that when your tree gets bigger, the number of decorations needed increases as well.  Fortunately, we have almost enough decorations - the front is good, the sides are almost there... and who looks at the back anyway, right?

It ended up being an easy 3-step process:

Are you getting in the holiday spirit?  I am!

p.s. happy birthday to all of the recent/upcoming birthdays since Thanksgiving - next week: Nov. 27-Keith; Nov. 28-Grandma; Nov. 29 Tammy; Nov. 30 Ryan, Joan & Matt; Dec. 1 Michelle; Dec. 2 Katie; Dec. 6 Belva & Julie.  Whew! 

thanksgiving spirit

Thanksgiving is awesome.  There's great food, great friends, and it's a great chance for people to take a step back and be thankful for the things they have.  And while I'm thankful for a lot of things, I'm not going to make you read through the list.  Around Thanksgiving and through the Christmas season, its heartwarming to see people using this as an opportunity to donate, volunteer, and be all-around more pleasant, helpful people (black friday crazies excluded).  To make a difference.  It makes me think a little bit further, though.  What happens after the holiday ends?  Do we retain that ambition?

This is something I've struggled with.  I try to be an all-around more pleasant person, albiet not always successful.  I enjoy volunteering but should do it more often.  I participate in the United Way campaign and the food drive at work.  And this year around the holidays some friends and I are planning to bake cookies to donate to an agency that provides resources and support to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS in the Twin Cities. Those are all nice, but the part that I struggle with is finding my passion. My purpose.  My consistent role in making a difference - and I hope I find it. 

The point is this: the holidays are certainly a great time to be thankful for what you have, aware of where the needs are to help others, and to donate, volunteer, support, or be an all-around pleasant person - just don't forget about the rest of the year. And even if you don't have time or resources available to volunteer or donate, simply remembering to smile and say 'thank you' to people around you or holding a door can go a long way in making someone's day.

one step at a time

I usually have a rule that all things Christmas are not welcome in my world until after Thanksgiving. But the outside world does not want me to be able to keep my rule. I swear there are Christmas things in stores before Halloween now. What next, before Labor Day? Some of my friends started Christmas shopping weeks ago.  And I don't think that I've noticed the Christmas movies on TV before Thanksgiving - at least not much. But this year, they started a week ago. And I caved because Elf was on - I can't pass up an opportunity to watch it. As soon as it was over, I switched over to what was supposed to be Desperate Housewives, but the AMAs apparently take precedence tonight. Oh well... at least Elf is on again. What's a girl to do?

Speaking of which, it's hard to choose my favorite scene from Elf, because I love all of it.  But this one's pretty good.




But I digress and I'm still breaking my rule.  So, no more Christmas until after Thanksgiving.  I'm going to do my best to stick to my guns for the next few days. So, we'll come back to more discussion around our Christmas holiday favorites after Thanksgiving. For now, I'm going to focus on being thankful (and maybe the food we get to eat, a little, too.)

And in that spirit, what are you thankful for this year?

And how's that for a random thought post?