Hello December

Just wow. Can you believe we’re 4 weeks away from yet another new year? I don’t know where the time went. I feel like it was just February a few weeks ago, but * poof* and the whole year flew by.

On Sunday, we got out our Christmas decorations, put up the tree (with lights, no ornaments yet!) and set up the advent wreath. I love this time of year and J and I have vowed that because last year’s holiday season and Christmas was so shitty, because we were both sick, we would make up for it this year.

We started December with our first Christmas movie, Love Actually. This is one of my favorites and I won’t promise that we won’t watch it another, oh, 2-5x times before the month is over.

Things I am looking forward to this month:

★ Mailing some holiday cards. Sending out cards might be my most favorite thing about the holidays. There is nothing better than getting a real letter in the mail.

★ Sending out some gifts. I always think that I’d like to celebrate Christmas without the gift-giving, but then again, I really like to buy small gifts for people for the holidays.  It doesn’t have to be anything big or expensive, just a small little gesture of appreciation.

★ Baking some Christmas cookies. It’s part of the holiday season for me and everyone deserves some damn Christmas cookies if you ask me. One of these days, I am going to buy a “meat cookie dough grinder” and make authentic German Spritz cookies.

★ Donate for a good cause. I always try to do this every year and I do have money set aside in my budget for this. It’s a small gesture with a huge impact on the less fortunate.

★ Watch Christmas movies. As mentioned above, we started early and I am planning to see many more. Any suggestions (besides the usual ‘must-see’ movies – The Holiday, Home Alone, The Family Stone, National Lampoon’s Christmas, Elf)?

★ We now live in a part of town that is famous for its holiday decorations. There are a couple of blocks that go all out and people come from everywhere to check out the Christmas lights. We only live a short walk away this time (which is nice, because you can’t really park anywhere close) and it’ll be nice to go and walk around. Do you decorate your house?

Things I am not-so-much looking forward to this month:

★ We are – again – not traveling to Germany for the holidays. There were times when I thought it unfathomable to not see my family for Christmas, but it’s become sort of the norm in the last few years (because there were other times in the year where I wanted to go to be present for certain events). While I enjoy a quiet and cozy Christmas at home, what I really want to do is spend the holidays with family.

What’s on your ‘to-do’ (and ‘to-enjoy’!) list the next two weeks?

  1. As you know, I love decorating the house :) I’m also looking forward to some Gluehwein with friends (so sad you are going to miss this :( and a quite Christmas. I haven’t been with family on Christmas for the last 12 years but one of these days I’m going to make it happen (too bad my company doesn’t allowed any vacation from mid December until beginning of February ….) xo

  2. I’m really looking forward to traveling home to see my family in a few weeks. It’ll be nice to have a little time off with them.

  3. I love watching Christmas movies! You listed a bunch of my favorites, I also really love The Santa Clause. I love baking cookies at this time of year too. And I’m so sorry you won’t be traveling to see your family again. But I hope you make the most of your time at home. Sounds like you have some good things planned!

  4. bis auf den Baum steht unsere Weihnachtsdeko auch bereits. (Patric sei Dank *g*) Wir feiern dieses Jahr alle gemeinsam am 25.12. bei meinem Vater und seiner Frau zu Hause. Auch meine Mutter ist dieses Jahr dabei. Früher hatten wir immer ein Essen bei ihm und ein Essen bei ihr. Wir haben Betriebsferien über Weihnachten/Neujahr, sogar wir in der Buchhaltung haben frei. :) Für mich heisst das allerdings möglichst jeden Tag nähen für die Fasnacht… Ich wünsche dir eine schöne Weihnachtszeit! :-*

  5. Every year I get together with friends and their kids to decorate Christmas cookies. I usually host but took the year off from doing that this year and another friend hosted. It was nice to just show up with a salad and cookies instead of making a meal and hosting everyone! We decided not to decorate this year since Paul gets into everything and doesn’t understand no yet. I think next year we’ll be able to put the tree up again, though! It’s kind of sad not having one but I will be happy we don’t have decorations to take down come January. And we’ll get to enjoy the tree at my parents!

    This year I’m making a point to play Christmas music on our piano. Paul sits in my lap while I play and seems very entertained. I’ve been able to play for over 10 minutes which is pretty long for a 9 month old to sit still!

    We don’t buy many presents, though. We got one thing for Paul and it was something we were planning to buy anyways! Phil and I don’t exchange gifts are we aren’t present people. The nieces and nephews draw names so we just buy for one person + I put money in my Godson’s college account. We made a shutterfly calendar for Phil’s mom with pictures of Paul and Oscar – I think she’s going to love that! But other than that, we really don’t have many gifts to buy which I’m happy about as I kind of hate shopping!!

  6. I’ll cosign The Santa Clause! It’s my favorite Christmas movie, probably because it has such sentimental attachment to me. My brother and I watched it every year growing up and quote it year-round. I’ve also never outgrown my crush for the head elf, Bernard. :)

    I’m excited to have most of my Christmas shopping done already (I am NEVER finished this early), so I can enjoy all of the Christmas movies to my heart’s content. I love wrapping presents while watching a Christmas movie. I’m also very much looking forward to my book club’s Christmas get-together next weekend.

  7. I’m wrapping presents and I am looking forward to my daughter’s birthday December 20th and then Christmas with her and my grandchildren. I feel such peace in my heart this year.
    I’m sorry you aren’t going home. Sending you hugs!

  8. Tobia | craftaliciousme

    December 9, 2018 at 11:02 pm

    Sounds like a fun December list even though you won’t be able to see your family. Looking forward seeing some pictures of those Xmas lights.
    Happy December

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