That Spirit of CHRISTmas

We started our Holiday season with a Straight No Chaser concert!!!!!!!!!!!!! You've all got to see these guys sing together live!

I am in the spirit of Christmas now! My Straight No Chaser Christmas CDs play in my car every morning on the way to work, I've already had TWO Starbuck's Peppermint Mochas & the tree is hung up at home (parent's house). 

That Spirit of Christmas, is the one played in the background as Clark Griswold reminisces about Christmases past. He gets stuck in the attic (movie-National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation) and ends up making the movie more sentimental than you would imagine. As weird as it sounds, the song is one of my favorites of the season--originally recorded by Ray Charles. It forces you to REMEMBER & REFLECT on memories & how we preserve them in our minds as a heightened, wonderful emotional experiences--one we re-visit every holiday season eagerly. Each year we all try hard to keep the momentum going with our traditions.

NOW...for my segway/transition to my next random thought: STAYING CREATIVE.  Every December we try to cram in as much as possible, & I say...switch it up this year! Make NEW traditions...but keep the old, of course ;) Here is a recent find that was posted in one of my favorite blogs, Fitnessista:

As you can tell, this has very little to do with the Christmas season SPECIFICALLY, but it may give you a few ideas to switch up your way of thinking at the moment :) 

#1: It's okay to make lists--brainstorm about what you wish to give your loved ones this year! That way it is easily documented, & YOU don't feel like a CRAZY person.

#4: Get away from the computer--this is a big one for me!! You lose so much of the ambiance, as well as the atmosphere, that is created by physically going outside of your home to shop. Shop Main Street...shop the mall...shop local. All of these places provide you with so much joy on their own...I'm a sucker for lights & decorations strewn everywhere. You don't get the same effect of the hustle and bustle on the couch!! There is also less urgency...which is fun to experience. Impulse buys are always great to make fun of later :)

#6: Don't beat yourself up if you don't get to all of your Christmas traditions this year...it will make them all the more special when you get to them NEXT year!

#7 AND #9--Take coffee breaks...with a loved one!! Go ahead and include some Christmas cookies in there to nibble on.

#8--PLEASE sing Christmas tunes...in the shower--I DO!! Great acoustics...just ask Will Ferrell (ELF reference-hehe).

#21-COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS- can be referenced to White Christmas: "Count your blessings...instead of sheep...& you'll fall asleep counting your blessings!" So true.

#30: Skipping right along--it is important to write ideas down...namely new recipes to try! Peppermint flavored EVERYTHING. Confession: I still haven't given pumpkin up for the year.

#33--Whatever your priorities are this season...make sure and do them wholeheartedly.  It is better to COMPLETE a few SELECT activities--WELL--than to try and run yourself ragged and doing them half way.

I hope you take time to realize the "reason for the season" as well.  That little baby was born in Bethlehem...our savior...Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Have fun celebrating and hug someone who means a whole bunch to you!

PEACE & BLESSINGS to your Christmas season!