Yay, Christmas! This month is off to a spirited start, and I want to share the 25 ways I celebrate all month to make December merry and bright.
2. Attend the GAA's Holiday Concert where a cappella carols abound (I highly recommend this - next year it's on Nov. 30).
1. Decorate, of course. This is our first year with colored Christmas tree lights and so far so good. This includes adding an ornament to the tree that represents a favorite moment from the year.
3. Kick back at a reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas (located on Carolina's campus at Bull's Head Bookshop).
4. Have some fun at work holiday parties.
5. Watch the usuals: Christmas Vacation, Elf, Home Alone and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
6. Drink the usuals: apple cider, hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows, eggnog, Christmas lattes and all that. Best Christmas lattes are at Thanks a Latte in Holly Springs.
7. Dine at The Carolina Inn (their Christmas decorations are my favorite).
8. Compete in Southern Weddings' Annual Gingerbread Barn Building Competition (also at the inn - there's still time to sign up here); build a gingerbread house with family.
9. Craft an ornament, and participate in an ornament swap.
10. Drive around looking at tacky as all get out Christmas lights (if you need some good houses - I've got some great ones).
11. Take Bentley to his kennel's open house where he gets to see Santa.
12. Make red and green Jell-O shots on Christmas Eve and open homemade poppers with lottery tickets all while devouring lots of apps... Naughty before nice!
13. Christmas feast with our friends Jen and Nick.
14. Go ice skating in Raleigh. More on that here.
15. Read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - boomingly! - to family on none other than the night before Christmas.
16. Bake cookies with lots of Christmas sprinkles.
17. Attend candlelight service on Christmas Eve (the service at Hope in Raleigh is great).
18. Listen to Kenny G's Miracles: The Holiday Album - my "I'm castaway on an island during the holidays and can bring one album" album. Seriously.
19. Turn on Time Warner Cable's Yule log channel in every room of the house (TWC channel 508 in the Raleigh market; search options along bottom, to the right, until you see Yule Log, select 2014 Yule Log HD for the "ultimate experience complete with a crackling fire and holiday music").
20. Have some fun with our Christmas card.
21. Random acts of kindness (crucial!).
22. Get new Christmas jammies.
23. See Kathleen over Christmas break - preferably at What-A-Burger in Concord - it's all about traditions (she told me a baby was on the way here last year!).
24. Celebrate 'A Very Bestie Christmas' with May complete with a slumber party.
25. Try a new holiday happening.
I love old traditions, new traditions, all traditions. Here's to a month full of love and happiness and a whole lot of fun.
{photo of my delicious latte from restaurant Sip in Holly Springs}
