I love being excited for Christmas.
I love looking forward to decorating and baking…
not so much Christmas shopping, but that’s a whole other story.
Isn’t it too soon you ask?
You see, there is a point (usually half way through December) in which I am no longer excited for Christmas. (I know… that is terrible, isn’t it?) The stress of everything… last minute gifts, wrapping, shipping, traveling, etc. takes away my Christmas joy. I shouldn’t let it and I even make a conscious effort to simplify every year, but by the time Christmas day rolls around I don’t want to see another Christmas decoration for another minute. The season is officially over for me on December 26th.
But right now, in November, there is no stress. I am excited to decorate. I love the joy and anticipation of the season. I am enjoying being in the mood to go shop before the malls get crowded (afterall, the stores and malls are already decorated for Christmas… might as well enjoy picking out gifts while there is a good selection and no crowds). Might as well enjoy your home decorated with twinkling lights, sounds of Christmas music and fresh Christmas cookies coming out of the oven.
As women and as homemakers (and a good lot of y’all being mothers… it is not my turn for that just yet) we take the brunt of the stress. We are usually in charge of gifts, decorating, organizing, wrapping… pretty much everything that doesn’t involve a rickety old ladder and climbing up on the roof to hang Griswold style Christmas lights. And I’m not complaining about that one bit. But the reality of the matter is that it is our turn to enjoy the holidays right now… before it gets all crazy. We always have great intentions to bake and decorate Christmas cookies… but decide it is too soon. So we wait… and then the season gets too busy with obligations and parties… and we miss out on the parts of the season that we actually enjoy.
Have I convinced you to get in the holiday spirit? 
If not, these should:
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{via house to home}
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Ooohhh… yes. I am definitely ready to watch Elf. And Garfield’s Christmas (it wouldn’t be Christmas without it). I’m hoping to get everything decorated this weekend. I started unpacking some Christmas items during the move… but I am far from organized. Unpacking one box at a time, our little place is beginning to have a floor. 
In the meantime, I decided to fill our disaster of a home with the smell of the holidays with some cinnamon sticks. Such a little touch that has me a joyful mood. And in
