Cranky People & Angry Crowds

What is it about the Holiday season that brings out the worst in people?  I guess the stress of cooking, family visiting, shopping, cleaning etc., all builds up and overwhelms us until we reach a breaking point.

The last few years, I have dreaded this time of year.  I do not like dealing with cranky people or angry crowds - which ironically brought out the worst in me during the "happiest time of the year".

So, I am making a purposed effort to be extra nice to cranky people and to enjoy this time of year with family and friends.

Let me challenge you that when you find yourself getting all holiday bent out of shape, that you find a way to make someone else's day better.. after all, giving always makes the heart happy.

I mean seriously people, if you're gonna get that stressed out over it, then what is the purpose?  Because you are making the rest of us miserable.

It's December?!

Holy cow!  Where has this year gone?? It is December 1st and that seems crazy to me.  I love Christmastime, I do NOT love the craziness that this season brings.  I always find myself getting stressed out.  I remember last Christmas while I was attempting to decorate our house... we had just moved a few months before to this house that is much, much smaller than our last house.  I have a hard time fitting my stuff, nevermind trying to put Christmas stuff up.  I was really not in the decorating mood last Christmas.  Which is not like me at all, because usually the Friday after Thanksgiving we dig everything out, get a tree and spend the day decorating.

So anyway, I am feeling a bit better about the whole idea this year.  Tomorrow is the day we are planning to go get the tree and start some decorating.  I think part of my problem is that I need some new decorations.  :)

I am planning on keeping it kind of simple, but pretty this year.  I have some new ideas for our tree too.  So I'm starting to get excited about putting it all together.  I love Pinterest for Christmas decor ideas.  There is so much great stuff on there for Christmas, I especially love looking at christmas trees.

I will be sure to post pics of the tree this year - which in case you are wondering will be real.  We have always done a real tree.  Growing up in MA, they have tree farms everywhere and you cut your own tree.  Which was one of our family traditions.  In TX, they have tree farms, but the trees are weird and not the kind of trees that I like.  So we go to Lowes.  Which kind of takes away from the fun of it.  So I think after Christmas this year, we might invest in a really nice artificial tree.

Do you go with real or fake?

Happy Thursday everyone!

Advent Calendars

So who does advent calendars?  I love them so much but I am not very consistent.  I just don't like the grocery store bought advent calendars, so I end up just not doing one.  I am planning on doing one for the girls this year.  They would just love it.   The problem is, I have no idea what I want to do exactly.  I've been on Pinterest alot, and there are so many great ideas.  It's hard to figure out exactly what I want to do.  I would love to see / hear about what ya'll do in your homes for Advent calendars.  I need some inspiration here, and there's not much time left. 

Here are a few that I love from Pinterest

I like the idea of giving an ornament to put on the tree for each day.  What's your favorite?

You can see all of my boards here to find out how to make any of these particular advent calendars.