Looking forward to/dreading as the holidays approach?

[canuk-gal]

HI:

I like the smell of Christmas candles--and the cranberry soap. And I really don't mind baking.

I don't dread anything around the holidays; we don't fly at Christmas anymore, specifically for that reason. Stress!

cheers--Sharon

I love holiday candles. Usually I start burning them in Oct-Dec! This year I found some super yummy cinnamon vanilla soy candles.


MC:

Me too! Is there any particular brand you buy--I haven't had success with some brands lately.....I have half a candle left when the wick is dead....

cheers--Sharon

 

[erinl]

I think this brand is very nice--but pricey too:

http://www.waxmancandles.com/

 

[LJL]

DREADING: Eating everything and gaining weight.
LOOKING FORWARD TO: spending my first Christmas with SOs family

 

[LJL]

double post

 

[Missy]

I'm looking forward to the holiday feel- the music, the decorations and the cheer. The only thing I don't like about the holidays is the fact that once they are over we are in the dead of winter and for some reason that gets me a bit down. But I do look forward to spring so that's one thing to hold on to. But in general I love the holidays.

 

[princesss]

I love Christmas! I'm not big on Thanksgiving, but I'm going up to my grandmother's next weekend for that. (That is on my "not excited about this" list.)

This year I'm living in my parents house and they won't get here until right before Christmas, so I get to decorate and get everything ready so they can get right into feeling Christmas-y. Woohoo! Tree, lights, the whole shebang. I love it. I didn't decorate last year because I was just really not feeling it and I ended up spending all of Christmas day on the plane. Yuck. Plus I just want to enjoy it because I'm trying to move next year and I'm 99% sure I won't be able to get back for the holidays, so I really want to enjoy it.

I've actually already started my Christmas movie watching. I bought and watched Love Actually this weekend, but Elf is what really kicks things off for me, and that's queued up for Black Friday, even if I have to watch it on my laptop by myself.

 

[canuk-gal]

I'm looking forward to the holiday feel- the music, the decorations and the cheer. The only thing I don't like about the holidays is the fact that once they are over we are in the dead of winter and for some reason that gets me a bit down. But I do look forward to spring so that's one thing to hold on to. But in general I love the holidays.

I concur Missy. Once the glitter is gone....it is just cold and snow here. But when life gives you snow--you make snowcones!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Missy]

I'm looking forward to the holiday feel- the music, the decorations and the cheer. The only thing I don't like about the holidays is the fact that once they are over we are in the dead of winter and for some reason that gets me a bit down. But I do look forward to spring so that's one thing to hold on to. But in general I love the holidays.

I concur Missy. Once the glitter is gone....it is just cold and snow here. But when life gives you snow--you make snowcones!

cheers--Sharon

I like the way you think Sharon! Wish you lived closer- we could enjoy those snowcones together!

 

[canuk-gal]

I'm looking forward to the holiday feel- the music, the decorations and the cheer. The only thing I don't like about the holidays is the fact that once they are over we are in the dead of winter and for some reason that gets me a bit down. But I do look forward to spring so that's one thing to hold on to. But in general I love the holidays.

I concur Missy. Once the glitter is gone....it is just cold and snow here. But when life gives you snow--you make snowcones!

cheers--Sharon

I like the way you think Sharon! Wish you lived closer- we could enjoy those snowcones together!

That would be awesome--we could also ski or just enjoy the apres ski....

cheers--Sharon

 

[MichelleCarmen]

HI:

I like the smell of Christmas candles--and the cranberry soap. And I really don't mind baking.

I don't dread anything around the holidays; we don't fly at Christmas anymore, specifically for that reason. Stress!

cheers--Sharon

I love holiday candles. Usually I start burning them in Oct-Dec! This year I found some super yummy cinnamon vanilla soy candles.


MC:

Me too! Is there any particular brand you buy--I haven't had success with some brands lately.....I have half a candle left when the wick is dead....

cheers--Sharon

Sharon - yes, I get Stella Mare candles. One voltive will add a nice touch to my entire house and they burn the best. They also sell them pre-poured into a jar but cannot be burned all the way to the bottom, so it's a bit of a waste and so I switched to the little ones. I buy them at a local store (where I found the cinnamon vanilla)...here are some of the other scents on the Ulta site.

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod2500119

Here it is...limited edition fall scent:
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp;jsessionid=3C34F77F71D3459A4F219F039C9855F5.pr-a2-app2?skuId=2250387&productId=xlsImpprod4650061&bstore=bareescentuals&navAction=push&navCount=1&categoryId=rootCategory

 

[aviastar]

My DH and I own a business and this is a CRAZY time of year for us, so I am not looking forward to not having a single, blessed minute of rest between now and Dec. 25. I am very much looking forward to splitting town on Dec. 25; this has become a bit of a tradition for us- get through all the crazy and just leave! This year we are going to surprise my Grammy- her birthday is Dec.26 and we're so excited to see her!

Oh, and I do LOVE Christmas music- classical, spiritual, or celtic are my favs!

I'm looking forward to 2 weeks off (gotta love working at a university) and my trip to Spain to see my sister!

I'm not looking forward to all the traveling, but seeing my fam will cancel out the annoyance of the travel!

OHMIGOSH, I'm so excited for you for your trip! Have an awesome time in Spain!!!!

Circe--Say WHAT?! My husband's family is Russian, though they are very Americanized and don't hold on to anything from their Russian heritage. (He's second-generation born in this country.) I'm thinking it's time to bring that tradition back to the family! I'm so excited. Off to go research. Seriously, this information made my year.

Haven- I do all the decorating for our office and because I don't want to put anything up that has to come down faster than 3 months later, I decorate for winter. Snow, snowflakes, white lights, greens, pinecones, birch branches, red berries...all the trimmings (but I can leave it up till March ). Completely non denominational, but so fun and pretty and still puts me in the spirit!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Thanks for the tips for new brands of candles! So far the Fruits and Passions Holiday candles--made in Canada YES!!--are excellent. Inexpensive, fragrant, nice glass container and burn evenly.

I am having a difficult time walking by the candy isles while shopping. At Christmas I only buy certain kinds of candy--never concern myself about it the rest of the year. But now the time is "near", I hear the Almond Roca, Turtles, Quality Street, Cordial Cherries CALLING my name......

Anyone else have that problem? What candy do ya'll buy, just for the holidays???

cheers--Sharon

 

[zoebartlett]

It's hard for me to stay away from the Lindt chocolates during the holidays. I don't eat them other times of the year, but as soon as the holidays roll around, I'm all over them.

 

[justginger]

Christmas is the only time of the year that I still struggle with homesickness. Hot, southern hemisphere holidays are all wrong. I dream of my midwest snowfalls, crackling fireplaces, gathered family, hot dinners. I get 105 degrees of sunshine, packed beaches, no relatives, working Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Years Day, and cold cuts.

Perhaps this is why DH and I are so wasteful with giving gifts - I literally try to buy the Christmas feeling.

Thankfully DH's sister and four kids will be here for New Years and into Jan this year. We're pushing Christmas back to celebrate with them. I adore those kiddos, so that will definitely be my source of Christmas joy.

 

[qtiekiki]

I am looking forward to the little traditions that we are starting with our LOs. It's so fun now that they are older and are excited. I am not dreading anything, at least nothing I can think of right now.

 

[HollyS]

Dreading:

Crowds
Commercials
Christmas specials on tv that have nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas . . . but will feature Justin Bieber, or worse.
Did I say crowds??



Looking forward to:

All of my quiet, contemplative music for Advent. And the classic hits for the week of Christmas; that's when I want to hear Bing.
Making Christmas cookies from my Mom's recipes. She made the same list of goodies every year to give to family and friends.
Knowing that I have everything I need to decorate, and I don't have to buy a thing.
The classic Christmas movies and tv shows. And the occasional not-too-hokey Lifetime movie.
Midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I really look forward to Christmas Day at my house with my kids and first granddaughter! I look forward to going to church on Christmas Eve. I look forward to visits with some extended family and sort of dread some others.

I love buying gifts that are things someone really wants, and I hate buying just to buy something. Elderly parents are hard because they really have all the "things" they need. In the immediate family, I usually have a list of what everyone wants, which helps a lot. I do most of my shopping online.

 

[zoebartlett]

Happy birthday to your granddaughter, DS!

 

[Haven]

I really look forward to Christmas Day at my house with my kids and first granddaughter! I look forward to going to church on Christmas Eve. I look forward to visits with some extended family and sort of dread some others.

I love buying gifts that are things someone really wants, and I hate buying just to buy something. Elderly parents are hard because they really have all the "things" they need. In the immediate family, I usually have a list of what everyone wants, which helps a lot. I do most of my shopping online.

Awwwww, have a wonderful holiday with your growing family!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

If you are dreading Christmas commercials: don't watch this one. But if you don't, you'll be sooorrrrrryyyy!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/embed/vcmfCXwAFs4

chers--Sharon

 

[AmeliaG]

Look forward to - seeing my family for Christmas.
Dread - flying, the first Christmas without either parent, not seeing my nephew who died in a freak car crash this year.

 

[NTave]

Looking forward to watching my children's faces on Christmas Day, spending time with family, the birth of my newest nephew..starting my masters degree classes. Dreading the extra pressure I put on myself by starting classes in December, worrying about not having a gift for someone that gives us one, and the cold weather. I've streamlined Christmas and no longer put pressure to bake a zillion cookies for a swap or cards, or any extra stuff..we get our tree, decorate one batch of cookies, decorate a gingerbread house and call it good.

 

[Missy]

Looking forward to watching my children's faces on Christmas Day, spending time with family, the birth of my newest nephew..starting my masters degree classes. Dreading the extra pressure I put on myself by starting classes in December, worrying about not having a gift for someone that gives us one, and the cold weather. I've streamlined Christmas and no longer put pressure to bake a zillion cookies for a swap or cards, or any extra stuff..we get our tree, decorate one batch of cookies, decorate a gingerbread house and call it good.

This one's an easy worry to take off your list...just wrap a few extra gifts (wine, candles, etc.- whatever makes a good generic gift) to have on hand just in case.