1. Decorating – As I’ve mentioned before, we love to decorate for everything at our house and Christmas is the big show! Garland, twinkle lights, Christmas trees and even a airplane runway on our lawn for Snoopy’s bi-plane (still trying to figure out how that is related to Christmas, but it made our son happy so who cares). If it stands still at hour house it gets festooned with some sort of decoration, our dog included. Is it becoming an obsession? Not yet. But if I start decorating earlier than November 30th, it just might…
2. Holiday Beverages – From peppermint mochas to cranberry mojitos, there’s a holiday-themed beverage for every hour of the day and occasion. Whether you need a quick espresso pick me up or your singing carols in front of a cozy fire, there are festive beverages a plenty to choose from. I love to squeeze every bit of fun out of this time of year because it seems to fly by so fast. So adding a bit of holiday fun to my morning cup of coffee or unwinding with a merry cocktail is just one more way to enjoy they merriment of the holidays.
3. Hygge – I’m writing this post on a rainy Sunday morning, with a steaming mug of coffee next to me, Christmas carols playing in the background. Hygge is a Danish word that describes a feeling of “coziness and comfortable conviviality” that is one of my favorite things about this time of year. Yes, there are always a million things to do, but at this time of year hunkering down at home with a fire and a warm mug of something at home is top on my list of holiday to-do list. Whether you’re shopping for gifts online, paying bills, studying or baking – being cozy at home is one of the best things about this season.
4. The Elf On The Shelf – Who knew this little felt creature would be so controversial! Some love the fun, magic and good behavior The Elf on The Shelf evokes in their children in the weeks leading up to Christmas. But a large number of people find the idea of a strange elf skulking around their house at night watching them down right creepy. We’re big fans in our house and finding ingenious spots for him to appear each night is a tradition that we’ll keep for a long time.
5. Christmas Cards – I love sending and receiving them. Whether they’re family portraits or hand written cards, it’s a great opportunity to catch up on the year’s accomplishments and activities of friends and family. Plus it’s a great opportunity to reach out to people who I might have lost contact throughout the year.
6. Crafts – I’m not the craftiest person, but there’s something about the holidays that makes me want to get out my glue gun and make something cute to hang in the tree. Every year my son and I paint ornaments for each other. It’s a wonderful keepsake and a fun way to spend an hour during Christmas break.
7. Movies – We watch the same handful of movies every year in our house and we’re always looking to more add to our list. Christmas Vacation, Elf, Arthur Christmas, The Home Alone series, Klaus, Fred Klaus, The Bishop’s Wife, Scrooged, It’s A Wonderful Life, Trading Places, Love, Actually…too many to name here. What are yours?
8. Looking At Christmas Lights – Loving Christmas decorations as much as we do, it’s no surprise that one of our favorite family pass-times is looking at Christmas lights. Nearby Dana Point Harbor always has a fun Christmas boat parade we love see every year. We also drive to Hastings Ranch in Pasadena to look at their Candy Cane Lane. Hands down it’s the best Christmas light display in Los Angeles.
9. Singing – I belong to a local choir and our Christmas concert is our biggest show. There’s nothing like being with a group of friends and singing favorite Christmas carols to put you in the spirit of the season. Whether you’re with a group or on your own, I bet you find yourself singing a lot more at this time of year than any other.
10. Gift Giving – I enjoy picking out gifts for friends and family. Whether they’re bought or homemade, finding a thoughtful gift for someone I care about gives me a warm feeling in my heart.
Let me know what your favorite things are about the holidays. And if you have any movies you think I need to see, let me know and I’ll be sure to watch it.
Happy Tuesday🎄