Merry & Bright

Stampin' Up stamps, ribbon and oval punches

Cuttlebug background, Stickles glitter
Spellbinders 'Nestabilities' diecut frames

I'm slowly getting over the 'Bah Humbugs' and getting on board with the holiday spirit - cold rainy days and hot cups of tea are helping immensely. It's not so much that I don't like Christmas, because I do, honest, it's just that this year, and for the past few years, I've been feeling more and more disenchanted with the commercialism that seems to run rampant at this time of year. Seriously, stores and parking lots were decorated for Christmas right around Halloween, what's up with that? I can't even imagine how people who don't celebrate Christmas must feel about all this madness.

A sprinkle of glitter

I'm feeling more like getting back to simple - home cooking, home made, home centered holidays. Less fuss about the shopping, and more effort to spend time together, enjoy simple pleasures, and remember the reason for the season. So, I'm having fun doing a little baking (not much, I'm more a cook than a baker, although I made a pretty good batch of lemon shortbread last week if I do say so myself), a lot of crafting, and a ton of cardmaking. Playing some seasonal tunes, and feeling a little bit of the holiday glow. I've arranged to have Christmas Eve off work so I'll be able to enjoy the day with my kiddos (yes, they're pretty grown up now, we can graduate to Midnight Mass instead of the earlier children's service), and I'm glad the holiday falls on a weekend this year so I won't have to go to work on Boxing Day, since it's not an observed holiday over here.

A little twinkly bling

Hmm, I still sound pretty grumpy and grinchy, must get over that and bring on the merry and bright :) How do you get into the holiday spirit?