Sunday, November 27, 2016

Thanksgiving Goodness






















It truly was a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with food, family and good times.  I hope you all had a blessed holiday as well.  Now here's to the Christmas season and all its gloriousness!

Saturday, November 19, 2016

Countdown To T-Day

The official countdown to Thanksgiving has begun and I cannot wait.  I am doing a few things a bit differently this year than in previous years and I am excited to see how the day goes.   Like for instance, decorating for Christmas a bit earlier than usual this year.  The anti pre-Thanksgiving decorating for Christmas nazis are not going to like that.  But I would love to have the Christmas tree up and lit for Thanksgiving.  I just think it will give the house a bit of holiday ambiance.  Plus, seeing as I don't have much Thanksgiving decor out this year anyway, a bit of Christmas decor flare is needed.  And on the plus side, I get to enjoy my holiday decor for a little bit longer.

Another thing I am doing differently this year for Thanksgiving is not hosting a huge crowd:  it's just going to be my immediate family for dinner this year.  I love hosting.  I love a big crowd.  And I love celebrating this special day with friends, especially those who are not used to celebrating Thanksgiving.  But I decided not to host a grand Thanksgiving meal this time around and just celebrate the day with my kids because it's been a few years since we've done that and I was needing a change of pace.  Also, this year the kids will be going to school on Thanksgiving because they have their Christmas celebration that day and I just did not want to deprive them of that.

So things will be a little different this year, but I feel like in a very good way.  It makes me excited!  I am so ready for T-day.  I have my menu planned.  I have my schedule set.  And I am looking forward to a fun and relaxing day with my fam.

Sunday, November 13, 2016

It's All Happening So Fast!

Yesterday I took the kids to the Lincoln Plaza Christmas event, although with all the traffic it took us over an hour to get to the mall so we missed the event completely.  Not to worry though, we made the most of our time there and did a bit of shopping, browsed the toy, Christmas decor and craft departments at the Universal Department store and then the kids got to enjoy some strawberry ice cream.  It turned out to be a fun night after-all.

It seems to me that as soon as Halloween passes, the Christmas season just thunders down on us as quickly as a downpour from out of nowhere.  And you better be prepared for it!  You might not need an umbrella but you will need a pocket full of cash for the season.

The kids finally made their wish lists and I have been picking up stocking stuffers here and there for the last few weeks.  So I am getting there with my shopping, somewhat.  It's going to be a smaller Christmas this year than last because financially we just can't afford to do the expensive gifts. Although last year, we did not get anything expensive for the kids at all and they still had an amazing Christmas, so it's not about the price for us.  It's about the experience.

I just feel so ill prepared this year compared to last, since I started earlier last year and had my Christmas fund set aside for the holidays.  But I tell you this, we will be having an amazing Christmas this year for sure.  I am excited and I cannot wait to finish up the bulk of my shopping so I can focus on the little things, like all our movie nights with hot chocolate and popcorn (Polar Express please!!!), baking goodies and making a few Christmas crafts.  Looking forward to a happy holiday season.












 

Saturday, November 5, 2016

The Holiday Season Has Officially Begun!?

For us anyway, the Holiday season has officially begun and now that Halloween is over, I can finally concentrate on the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas season.

Because Thanksgiving will be smaller this year than in previous years, not much planning will be involved and so not much work to be done.  That means I have more time to focus on Christmas earlier.  I have a party to plan and our beach vacation to figure out as well as getting gifts and the like.

Today, I am taking the kids to the mall to the Universal Department store to meet and greet Santa.  I am pretty excited and cannot wait for all the festivities to begin.  Not to mention, school is almost out... YAY!!!  So bring on the season of giving, merry and all thing bright.