Deck the Halls.

I had a LOT of fun decorating for Christmas this year. We have a new home, the first house we've ever lived in, and it feels really special to be able to make this space completely our own. Before Thanksgiving, I spent a lot of time getting our trees (yes - we got two!!) up and decorated, getting presents wrapped, and hanging the stockings. There is something a little bit magical about "decking the halls" for Christmas, isn't there? You've got to have a hot beverage to return to over and over again, while you assess the progress of your work. And you've got to have Amy Grant Christmas songs in the background, because, I don't know. I just always have. Thanks for programming me, Mom. And you've got to have that wriggly little toddler clobbering around, ready to tear into the presents at any moment, because he just makes it all the more exciting. We had to let him open at least ONE. Because we are the parents. And we get to make that call :)

Shhhhhh! Stevie doesn't know that the stockings actually have gifts in them yet :)

Little target finds. Aren't they the cutest?

I might have made them kiss.

Thanks to my sister Rachel for taking these pics. And fishtailing my hair. She's so talented.

Present time!

He loves Elmo these days!

// Woodland Stockings - Pottery Barn Kids // Ornaments - Mostly Target // Tree Topper - The Nest // Hand-Lettered Print (Bottom Left) - Jenny Highsmith //

I hope your Christmas decorating is going merrily! We might do a little more on the outside of the house. Having Stevie climb up on the roof makes me nervous, but a few lights in the bushes couldn't be all that bad :)

Merry Christmas friends! Have fun decking your halls!

P.S. - A Christmas giveaway you don't want to miss.

Play Play Play!

This is always a funny week, the week after Thanksgiving. The societal pull is frenetic, spastic, telling us to hurry up! This sale won't last! Hurry up - the deal is over at midnight! My email inbox is flooded - literally flooded - with zillions of sale notices and the tone of each and every one is - HURRY, or else you might miss out!

You guys. What would happen if we didn't care? Didn't care to MISS OUT.

I can't let myself get overrun by the holiday crazy. So much about the holidays is just wonderful - the meaning of the season, the traditions, the surprise, and especially the wonder. I am finding myself wonder-fied over and over again, because I am introducing my son to the season of Christmas and it is so much delicious fun. He saw a house lit up in icicle lights in our neighborhood the other night, and he was absolutely mesmerized. He just stared. Then clapped. It was THE BEST. He definitely saw lights last year, but it's a whole new year - and he is so much more aware. He opened his first Christmas gift with my sisters over the weekend, and there it was again - the wonder! That distinguished moment of pure, radiant, child-like joy. It was enough to make me like a giddy little girl again. The wonder of the season! That is the good stuff that I want to remember and focus on.

And then I open my email, and literally, all I see are "Cyber week savings!", "Last Day! 50% off!", "30% off starts now!"

I know what you're thinking. Delete your emails, girl.

I totally agree with you.

The thing is, I love a good sale, and I have no problem with a bit of hoopla. I just think it's important to not let the hoards of hoopla rock the internal compass of this season. I want to buy gifts and give gifts, because I am a crazy gifting person. It's one of my favorite things to do. But there is a point where the consumerism suddenly becomes like when you ate one too many cookie. The sugar doesn't taste good, and sort of turns to ash in your mouth. That's how I feel about all the sales and promotions and consumerism - it's just ash. Tomorrow there will be another deal, and another, and another. And suddenly, its not satisfying anymore because DO WE REALLY NEED THIS STUFF. I'm realizing it's my job to remove myself from all of it.

I am reeeeeally close to being totally done Christmas shopping. And it's on me to finish my list, and then be done - and not get sucked into overspending, or lusting after more than I need/want. It's my responsibility. And the one way that I am managing going about that this year?

First, I am going to finish my Christmas list.

And then I am going to play play play!

Get outside and throw around some leaves and remember what it's like. To be a kid. And play. Play hard. Play like it's my job. Man, kids have the best life. They aren't tempted by the notion of a good sale. They are expected to eat well, sleep long and play hard.

That's what I wish for you this Christmas season. Eat well, sleep long, and play hard, friends.