The Christmas season that is. I really enjoy the hussle and bussel this month brings, and when I've had enough any given day, I'll retreat. I'm not sure how this December will feel. I think we all thought with vaccine's the holiday season might feel more normal, but here we are. I got two curve balls at work, but I'm determined to not let them suck my evenings. With this mixed mindset, I'm preparing my list of what I want to do or experience before Christmas. Yep, many, many food ones.
- Drive and see holiday lights
- Make gift boxes of assorted fudge- deliver said fudge to friends and family
- Make my regular treats, mostly to give away!
- Make Scandinavian rosettes
- Attend a Christmas concert in addition to my daughter's
- Downtown stroll with camera and take pictures
- Hot drinks out of Christmas mugs
- Watch the London YouTube tours if the stores that go all out! Fortnum and Masons, Herrods, Liberty, John Lewis. Give me more ideas please. These are short and a nice unwind.
- Trader Joe's holiday treat haul
- Fill my House advent calendar with fun things ( may need to have daughter's play catch up), notes, pictures, poems, tiny ornaments, stickers, just fun things
- Do an email Christmas card- we'll see if I truly down turn my mailing list
- Watch 2-3 classic Christmas movies, plus 1-3 new ones
- Actually read a Christmas book-not sure if it will be Dickens, but happy to take recommendations
- finally find and ut out my various Christmas blankets for cozy nights
- Light candles by 4:00 so that they glow as the sun starts to set
- Get my Christmas cards displayed rather than just in a basket
- Make some cheesy paper wreaths and cut outs for my windows
The list may continue if I think if things. Some will extend into January and perhaps February . I just want to make sure I'm focused on holiday cheer and will take you all along. I've included pictures from past December blog posts to get me motivated. What's one thing you really want to do this month?
Is that bottom snowman set a Hallmark musical? I have been buying a new edition Hallmark snowman that moves and plays music for a grandson for about 12 years now, he’ll be 15 in January. It’s cute cause he still loves them and was so glad when it was unwrapped last year. This year’s is already wrapped too! Two other grandkids always want the annual Walmart Christmas bears, (ugh) but I get them ha! (To my son’s dismay).
ReplyDeleteIt is! I would have bought more but space was really becoming an issue.
DeleteYou’re really getting into the Christmas spirit! My son requested my homemade fruitcake that I usually bake in October- hmm didn’t this year- but I will try to bake a couple tomorrow. I really shop very little since everyone wants cash but I did buy the youngest grandson Christmas outfits. Of course my daughter had to pick them out lol. I want to do a little baking/freezing this weekend- we shall see. Nan
ReplyDeleteMy list is to try and get into the spirit. We'll be gone most of the weekend, but I'll do treat next week.
DeleteLong time reader but first time commentator
ReplyDeleteI usually adore Christmas
Not this year
Yesterday my husband was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer
Nothing much seems to matter anymore
Hillary x
I'm sorry. I agree that priorities need to be your husband and yourself. I hope you have people surrounding you with love.
DeleteHillary, I'm sorry to hear this, too. My dh goes in next week to have a biopsy done on his to check for cancer.
DeleteI'm so sorry, Hillary. It is so hard to see a loved one ill. I just lost my sister to pancreatic cancer. I wish your dh the best in the days ahead. Blessings to you, Celie
DeleteCute and festive. My grandma used to make Scandanavian rosettes. I loved helping her when I was little and they were so good. I should get the stuff to start making those.
ReplyDeleteI'm horrible at making them, but I have the irons to use, and the ingredients are about as inexpensive as a cookie can be, so I thought lets give it a try again.
DeleteI have very few goals. 1) Make cardamom bread. 2) Go see lights with the kids. 3) Have a lovely & relaxing family trip that combines a couple of days with my parents/sister & a ski trip with family.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend the dark chocolate covered Trader Joe's peppermint joes. They are my absolute favorite!
I am interested in seeing what Trader Joe's has. We bought the regular Joe Joe's last year. I may splurge for the dark chocolate version.
DeleteIt sounds like Christmas is in full swing at your house!
ReplyDeleteThe thing is, it's not! That's why I thought I better get some things down on paper and start making plans.
DeleteGo to the zoo for their Christmas walk thru, we did it last year and it was lovely. I’m doing an ornament exchange with my mom squad and secret Santa with managers at work. Make popcorn strings for the tree. Lots of cookies! I will gift some to our UPS and USPS guys at work as well. Maybe a gingerbread competition? We are doing a lot of theme days at work too, like pajama Sundays, Grinch day. I’m donating to two charities this year, a no-kill shelter and a Shop with a Cop event that helps kids that have had a tough year. I’ll be watching my movies and the usual cartoons. Hoping to cram a lot of fun in a short amount of time. It’ll be here before we know it! JoAnn
ReplyDeletePerhaps-it depends on where we end up exploring on some of my list. I didn't put that or going through the Conservatory just because I wasn't sure I'd have time. I guess not counting this weekend I still have two full ones to plan outings. Plus, I'm not opposed to letting things linger to New Years.
DeleteThat sounds like a fun-filled and very achievable list.
ReplyDeleteAs you know Xmas isn't my thing, I'm more excited about celebrating my own birthday rather than some bloke's I've never met - hopefully I can get together with friends for mine next week before any more restrictions get put into place! xxx
Restrictions might dampen many of these as well. It's just a list, and many things are small little nuggets of time. I hope your birthday is filled with time with friends.
DeleteHi Sam, When I was young there was a house (most people would use the word estate) that had such a spectacular Xmas display that it was a real traffic stopper. In fact, the city had to put up warning signs "Caution--Christmas Display Ahead." I tried looking this up on the internet without success (there must have been press photos of it), but then one blogger from Ohio wrote that he recalled it vividly.
ReplyDelete--Jim
We have a street/large cul de sac really we call Christmas court. All the neighbors do it up. We also have a Griswold house-and they are accepting food pantry donations which is lovely. Last night I did a little detour and got some views in. Near my daughters house is a great display, but not estate, just a modest house with loads of lights.
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