‘Tis the time of year again! Here are just a few ways I’ve been embracing the holiday szn.

• Happily put up the tree and decorations: I was such a Grinch last year about putting up the decorations. This year, I was actually looking forward to it. Decorating took place a bit later (we wanted to do it after Thanksgiving but we were both recovering from colds). The tree is up along with some little decorations in the living room and my office. Plus we dug out our Elf on the Shelf, Tinsel.
• Hosted Josh’s friends for a holiday party: Our second annual Just Elfin’ Around party! It’s also the only time a year Josh and I host people. We invited his friends over last Friday for a holiday party; we do potluck style so everyone brings an appetizer or dessert, it’s BYOB, and we play a game (Joking Hazard). Everyone had a great time and I’m glad we’ve started this little tradition.
• Watching Christmas movies: So far I’ve watched Our Little Secret and almost all of The Merry Gentlemen (Netflix), Christmas on Call and Holiday Touchdown (Hallmark), The Polar Express, and I’ve caught parts of Home Alone 2 on Freeform. There are a few more movies on my must-watch list for the season, mostly on Netflix. I want to find a good one to watch when Josh and I celebrate our own Christmas.
• So many peppermint mocha coffees: All made in my Paw La La La La mug from Target.
• Already wrapped all of my gifts: It took me almost two hours but I wrapped everything for Josh and my parents—and put everything under the tree! Here’s a good life hack: I go to Target right before New Year’s and get $7 wrapping paper on sale for like $2—paying close to $10 for wrapping paper seems like a crime so I always get it discounted.
• Have more holiday-related plans: This could be a good or bad thing for me. The holidays can be socially draining for an introvert like myself, so I always make sure post-plans I have time to blanket burrito. Some upcoming plans: ugly sweater party at a brewery, holiday party with the theater group I volunteer with, Josh’s family party (with his dad’s side), Josh’s family party on Christmas Eve (with his mom’s side), and a holiday light walk-through.
• Listening to Christmas music: I’ve been listening to the Christmas Coffeehouse playlist put together by Spotify a lot.

Left to right: the tree in the living room, little trees I made with wine corks and clippings from a Christmas pick, and Tinsel the other day in with our wine bottles.