I’ve been telling myself that we can’t get into the holidays yet. We can’t celebrate anything! I’m going away this week, so we’ll celebrate when I’m home.
Sometimes I just have no idea what I’m talking about.
Late Friday night, fuelled by powdery community hockey rink grade hot chocolate (one of my favourite treats) I decided enough was enough. I was kicking off Christmas. We hopped in the car, hands numb and breath hanging in the air, and slipped over icy streets to the nearest shopping district. We went to the LC to gather up wine from France and South Africa, and seasonal beer that tastes like Cinnamon and Christmas. We scoured the fake tress until we found a skinny little waif of a seven footer that was beautiful and pre-lit. It graciously allowed us to skip the near-marital experience of trying to get a real tree into its stand in favour of plumping up the new tree’s wire branches.
I’m not really sure how many time I referred to myself as our “Tree Fluffer” but each time it was funnier than the last, I promise you.
Sometimes waiting for the perfect time to celebrate gets in the way of the joy. As an incessant planner I always want to know what’s next, what will be happening when, and if there’s anyone around who will humour me enough to synchronize watches with me. But sometimes the best thing for my heart is a late night mission to the liquor store, some cheap hot chocolate, puppies scrambling underfoot, and a wire ode to a real tree to have start the season right.
And, as in all things, seasonal micro brews really help.
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
When I read your posts, it always feels like I am right there with you. And your advent calendar is indeed adorable. :) Where did you get it?
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..More things that make me happy. =-.
I love this post. I fully support the idea that some things just need to happen when the mood strikes. And a seasonal ale that tastes like cinnamon and Christmas? Kicking off the holiday doesn’t get much better than that. I also love that you kept referring to yourself as the “tree fluffer.”
.-= mandy´s last blog ..Was That The Weekend? =-.
I love your little advent calendar! And the fact you left the Christmas beer in my fridge :) I have to come see your big tree!!
.-= Emily Jane´s last blog ..Happy 101 =-.
This just sounds all kind of lovely. And I am INTRIGUED by that beer!
.-= Doniree´s last blog ..Oh, Believe Me =-.
I love your advent calendar! And your tree topper. We haven’t been able to find a cute one so the top of our tree is bare for the time being. :)
My husband is currently waiting for the “perfect time” to celebrate Christmas, while I’ve already gotten into the mood. Glad that you have, too!
.-= Samantha´s last blog ..I Need To Do This More Often =-.
Where did you get that advent calendar? I love it!
Stefanie & Jennie – I got it at The Real Canadian Superstore, and it’s so cute. Putting the decorations on it every day makes me so happy. I want to keep it for when we have kidlets so I can wrap all the decorations in tiny boxes and have them unwrap them every day….
*blacks out from the rush of estrogen in her system*
awww!! i love this post. me and my honey set up our tree last night. (well…i set it up…he watched, and helped me with the lights. haha.) it’s amazing how something so simple can change your whole mood. we have a fake tree as well (we aren’t going to be home a lot during the holidays, we visit a lot of family) but just having it up makes the living room sparkle with joyous, festive energy. it makes me feel just…happy! it’s that little something that makes being at home just that much better. i’m glad you were able to get in the christmas spirit! i love it. oh, and my favorite beer this time of year is karl strauss red trolley ale. i don’t know if you can get it there but if you can, you should try it! it is so delicious and perfect for the holiday season. :P
cinnamon beer?! i have never seen that. must try it.
and i agree. you celebrate it when you feel it’s right, even though i am an avid believer you don’t celebrate it until december.. haha :)
much love darling.
.-= missy.´s last blog ..purple. =-.
I love that you went with the feeling. When the mood strikes right, you’ve got to go with it. And now, you’ll be able to come home from Vancouver excited to relax in your already-decorated home!
.-= SoMi’s Nilsa´s last blog ..Birthday =-.
CUTE advent calander!! I want to make a few of them for my kids, but thats a project for another day. Maybe this summer I’ll get all of my Christmas crafting done, haha.
Lovely pictures!!
.-= Tia´s last blog ..Sending Out Some Ornaments! =-.
Maybe you and I get along so well because we are both planners and have to know what’s coming next!? Or maybe it’s cause your fabulous and are a “Tree Fluffer,” which is what we have nicknamed my mom on more than one occasion. =)
.-= Nora´s last blog ..November Recap =-.
Isn’t it nice? This year the Christmas spirit has just totally hit me. You gotta just go with it! And, it’ll be so nice to come home to a place that’s all decked out and full of warm holiday cheer when you get home from your trip =)
As a side note – have the puppies been trying to climb, play with, or eat your tree? My cat went a little bonkers when we put it up, so we waited a week to put the lights on (hopefully tonight!)
Oh! How warm and cheerful! I think you just put me in the mood for Christmas treatsies!
.-= Brittany´s last blog ..sweatpants are all that fits me right now. =-.
I love this! The fella and I had been putting off doing Christmassy things because he insists that it’s too early, but the other night I convinced him to sit down and paint christmas cards with me, et voila, the season has begun!
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..At least the day ended with cupcakes =-.
“Tree Fluffer” is probably the best title ever!
.-= Vanessa (Last Night’s Leftovers)´s last blog ..New Year, New Goals? =-.
Oh hurrah, celebrating Christmas can never happen too early :)
.-= Elly´s last blog ..Cute Curly-Haired Distractions + Moving Forward =-.
I am not 21 yet, but that cinammon beer sounds interesting! I don’t like spicy things like that, cinammon, but it would definitely be something to try out when I am older.
And your tree topper??? Lovely.
Yay for Christmas and its lovely decorations.
:)
.-= Kristi´s last blog ..Best of 2009: Book. =-.
I love Winter Spice. Nom nom.
.-= Elle Bee´s last blog ..On why I love being a student =-.
You want an estrogen rush?? Wait til you meet my Princess… I’ll even dress her up super cute for you ;)
.-= Margarita´s last blog ..It’s a Cold One, Mr Grinch! =-.
Our tree isn’t up yet, and it totally bums me out. Ted is working insane hours for the holidays, so it’s hard to find when we are both home to actually do it together. Hopefully tonight, though.
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Christmas Card Photo Session =-.
I agree that when I read your posts, it feels like I am there with you. I love it :)
.-= Janie´s last blog ..my place and yours: wherever I lay my hat =-.
I love that you said that the beer tastes like Christmas. I walked into a meeting a couple of weeks ago and said – ‘it smells like Christmas in here’. I got some really strange looks!!
.-= Lisa from Lisa’s Yarns´s last blog ..Sunday Night Dinner: Stir fry & a movie review =-.
I could not agree more with this post. I currently have written on my weekly planner, under Thursday, “Buy Xmas Tree.” After reading this post, I went back and scratched it out! Why plan such a thing – it’ll happen, when it happens, yeah? Thanks for sharing, Kyla!
P.S. I love that you said “Tree Fluffer” in this post:)
.-= cait´s last blog ..(Part 2 of 2) =-.
That sounds like a great weekend. I love that you guys got a tree and celebrated with seasonal beer. Seasonal beer makes everything better.
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..My love/hate relationship with snow =-.
Just found your blog – very nice :)
.-= Being Brazen´s last blog ..Tuesday…. =-.
Husband and I have found a new way of enjoying the early sunsets of winter. Basically, we go out spontaneously. Sometimes, we just make a short drive to look at Christmas lights. Other times, we drive an hour away to do some random shopping. It really does make winter more inviting!
.-= Megan´s last blog ..Making Progress =-.
Yay for getting into the spirit! I start getting in the Holiday spirit right after Halloween…lol.
Love those photos!
Okay. Beer that tastes like cinnamon sounds like the best thing EVER!
.-= Erin´s last blog ..What’s that? A silent moment and I’m not sleeping? =-.
tree fluffer? *roars with laughter*
I have read this to Jared. he concurs.
We do indeed love you.
And expect totally PG porn soon. xo
.-= andrea´s last blog ..In the Weeds. =-.
oh yay for the holidays! and love your advent calendar, it’s just so cute and unique.
.-= katelin´s last blog ..This. Is. Hollywood. =-.
Sounds like an awesome way to get into the spirit!! Woohoo!
.-= steph anne´s last blog ..Kind of Icy Cold Cactus Needles =-.
Hi there. Your observations are so right on. If you wait for the right time to come, it probably won’t. I know you’ll have a wonderful Holiday and thank you for the inspiration.
Keri
http://www.samwich365.com
Your decorations look absolutely adorable! And I felt the same way you did — wanting to hold off the decorating. While I haven’t gotten around to mine just yet (hello, Christmas decorations being in boxes), I seriously cannot wait to put it all out!
Also? That beer sounds AMAZING.
.-= E.P.´s last blog ..Endings and beginnings =-.
I’ve always had fake trees growing up, so when it came time to buy my first tree two years ago, I naturally went with a fake one.
My boyfriend hated it last year. He was so annoyed putting it up with me that I did it without him this year, and what does he say? “I thought we were going to do it together.” I can’t win!
Glad you had a much better go of putting up the decorations!
.-= MinD´s last blog ..Two? Already? =-.
Pretty, pretty – as always! Happy travels, & happy holidays upon your return!
.-= Suburban Sweetheart´s last blog ..The White House: I Want to Go to There =-.