Bring on the Holidays!!

Oh how I have missed writing for you…  I took the last couple weeks off and now that I am actually sitting down to post, it feels like I haven’t written in months!  My hands are even a little shaky (or maybe I have had too much coffee)  Either way…

I hope that you all are doing well and feeling great!  I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my little family.  It is kind of funny, because every year that we don’t have company come for dinner;  I go through this process leading up to it, asking myself, Is it really worth all of this extra work?  Time?  Money?  Honestly?  For 6 people?  The answer is… yes!  When all is said and done; it’s always yes.  Our food was absolutely delicious, as usual, and we just relaxed together and enjoyed our day.  No pressure at all… heck, we didn’t even have to get out of our pajamas if we didn’t want to!  I mean, we did, but we definitely didn’t have to.

I have gotten all my Christmas decorations up.  On the inside anyway… the outside is my husband’s job.  No worries, he’ll get it done.  It’s a little tricky when you don’t get home from work every day until after dark and pick up the on call every weekend!!  But he always finds a way.   I put up 2 Christmas trees every year.  It’s a little much, I know, but I like to do one in the front window that I call my “fancy” tree.  Then I put up our “fun” tree in the family room.  It has multiple light show selections and has all the decorations that we have bought and the kids have made over the years.  They absolutely love it!!

Shopping?  Nope.  I know heading out on Black Friday, Local Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday is the Super Shopper’s dream, but it’s not for me.  I hate shopping on-line for anything unless I absolutely have to.  I’m also not generally a very patient shopper, so I get irritated with people easily, especially when I am moving and there is a lot of standing in the isles and “looking” going on.  Now don’t get me wrong… I love shopping as much as the next girl, but I like to get in there and get it done!  I would most certainly rather pay full price for everything, if it meant I could shop with half as many people.  It is not great for budgeting, trust me, I know.  But… it’s just the way I am.

Now if that is your cup of tea and you got some great deals and had fun;  good on you.  And if you are a one upper and actually started your shopping the day after Christmas…  last year… you are way too crazy for me!  But I’ll give you this, you are amazing.  I wish that I had the ability to plan that far ahead.  Or the desire to even want to!!  But I don’t.  So don’t worry, I’m not going to spend the next month walking you through my great holiday planning guide or asking you to download my expert holiday checklist.  Because I don’t have one.

My annual ritual?  I knock it out in one week.  The week right before the big day.  I refer to it as “My Christmas Power Shopping Extravaganza”… and it is awesome!  I’ve had people give me a hard time about it for years:  Why would you do that?  Aren’t you scared you won’t get done on time?  Doesn’t it stress you out?  What if you can’t get what you are looking for?  To which I respond:  Because it is fun.  No.  Yes.  Impossible.

Now truth be told, I may not have always been this way.  I think it had a lot to do with my work schedule during the holidays and the timing of my paychecks.  For years and years,  I just had to make it work.  But I am also a procrastinator by nature, and a lifetime of experience.  I like feeling the pressure and it helps me perform better; without question.  So I do what works for me and I haven’t ever been disappointed.   It also has a way of revving up my Christmas spirit and that’s contagious to everyone in the family!

Whatever you are doing this holiday season…  Whatever holidays you celebrate, or choose not to celebrate, I hope it is absolutely amazing!  I hope you are surrounded by friends, family, and the people you love.  I know that I will be… and I am grateful.

Cheers!  🙂