Doing it up...Bronner's style

The Holidays come and go so quickly it always seems. Every year I make a promise to myself to slow down just a little bit and enjoy the season. Every season still seems to come and go before I can blink and count to ten. This year, I've tried a few new tricks to slow things down. First up, I started decorating the day after Thanksgiving. Nothing too extreme to start, but slow and steady to get things done. I put up the tree one day, Brad hung the lights two days later, and by the fourth day, I finally got around to hanging the ribbon, bows, and ornaments. I make subtle improvements every year, but this baby will always be my first real tree in my first real home.

O'Christmas Tree, O'Christmas tree

Another sneaky trick I pulled this year was taking a day off in the middle of the week, and heading up to Bronner's in Frankenmuth. I spent a couple hours immersing myself in the lights, the music, and the vast amounts of all-year round Christmas cheer. Oddly enough, being in that giant warehouse of commercial goods actually helps me to remember what the season's really all about. I left feeling spirited, calm, and a little excited about spreading a few of my finds around the house.

Deck the Halls

As I sit here tonight sipping my tea and nibbling my candy cane Joe Joe's (which are quickly growing on me, btw), I'm starting to enjoy the season at my own pace. So much so, that I'm ready to spread a little cheer of my own next week at my annual Cookie exchange. So stay tuned!