Leaf and Steel

motherhood - growth - living

Here’s Why Christmas Season is the Best

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” and I will die on that hill with Andy Williams!

Christmas season is full of wonder, cookies, presents, and cheer. If I can get my shopping done early enough, Christmas season is pure JOY!

I delight in baking cookies to Christmas music with my TV fireplace on in the background. My Christmas season begins in early November and I love every second of it.

Christmas season is the best, and here’s why!

Decorations

Who doesn’t love a simple color scheme and bright, shiny lights? The actual act of decorating is a fun way to bring in in the holiday season. I love adding to my “collection” each year and having specific decor for specific places. The next item I have on my list to get is lighted outdoor reindeer. We have a big yard and I’d love to look out my window and see a herd of reindeer lit up in the night!

Christmas Music

Who doesn’t love Christmas music? I start listening in late October/early November because who’s going to stop me? They key to Christmas music is having playlists that reflect the mood – somber Christmas, joyful Christmas, religious Christmas, background Christmas, rowdy Christmas, etc. Check out my post on Christmas Compilations to Listen to this Year for some inspiration!

Food

There’s not much to say here – holiday food is it’s own animal. Sugar, sugar, and more sugar is always on the menu. I love letting loose and going to town on candy canes, Christmas cookies, and pie!

Gift Giving

One positive to getting older is starting to enjoy gift giving! I love getting people exactly what they need or ask for, or finding something unexpected they didn’t even know they wanted.

Holiday Cheer

Something changes in people once the jingle bells start ringing and the lights go up. They just become nicer, myself included. Despite how stressful the Christmas season can be, it feels like people have a little more grace with each other, at least her on Long Island.

Presents

We never want to admit, but presents are one of the best parts of the holiday season! Now that I’m a stay at home mom, I really look forward to having some gifts for myself, since I don’t get to do as much shopping as I used to. Now that I’m an adult I’m perfectly content with socks, books, and a warm scarf!

Seeing Things Through My Child’s Eyes

Ah, I saved the best for last. I saw this cheesy quote on Instagram today, “As a grown-up I’ve learned that all the “Christmas magic” I felt as a kid was really a mom who loved me so damn much” and oof I felt that! Both of my parents worked so hard to make Christmas the most special day of the year. They were so cautious about keeping us grounded in reality and gratitude but on Christmas we were spoiled rotten (or at least it felt that way).

Now, as a parent, I love recreating those enchanted moments for my daughter. I want it to be the most relaxing, magical, exceptional day for her. I want her to compare everything in her life to the excitement of Christmas morning.

This will only be her second Christmas, but I can already sense her joy and excitement when she sees the lights and decorations. She remains very confused about trees coming indoors, though.

Seeing her light up over the simplest things is the greatest gift I could ever receive. Now, if only we could figure out how to get her to sing Jingle Bells…

Agree or disagree? What’s your favorite part of Christmas? Do you think it’s overrated or are you obsessed, like me? Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:

Here’s Why Christmas Season is the Best

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” and I will die on that hill with Andy Williams!

Christmas season is full of wonder, cookies, presents, and cheer. If I can get my shopping done early enough, Christmas season is pure JOY!

I delight in baking cookies to Christmas music with my TV fireplace on in the background. My Christmas season begins in early November and I love every second of it.

Christmas season is the best, and here’s why!

Decorations

Who doesn’t love a simple color scheme and bright, shiny lights? The actual act of decorating is a fun way to bring in in the holiday season. I love adding to my “collection” each year and having specific decor for specific places. The next item I have on my list to get is lighted outdoor reindeer. We have a big yard and I’d love to look out my window and see a herd of reindeer lit up in the night!

Christmas Music

Who doesn’t love Christmas music? I start listening in late October/early November because who’s going to stop me? They key to Christmas music is having playlists that reflect the mood – somber Christmas, joyful Christmas, religious Christmas, background Christmas, rowdy Christmas, etc. Check out my post on Christmas Compilations to Listen to this Year for some inspiration!

Food

There’s not much to say here – holiday food is it’s own animal. Sugar, sugar, and more sugar is always on the menu. I love letting loose and going to town on candy canes, Christmas cookies, and pie!

Gift Giving

One positive to getting older is starting to enjoy gift giving! I love getting people exactly what they need or ask for, or finding something unexpected they didn’t even know they wanted.

Holiday Cheer

Something changes in people once the jingle bells start ringing and the lights go up. They just become nicer, myself included. Despite how stressful the Christmas season can be, it feels like people have a little more grace with each other, at least her on Long Island.

Presents

We never want to admit, but presents are one of the best parts of the holiday season! Now that I’m a stay at home mom, I really look forward to having some gifts for myself, since I don’t get to do as much shopping as I used to. Now that I’m an adult I’m perfectly content with socks, books, and a warm scarf!

Seeing Things Through My Child’s Eyes

Ah, I saved the best for last. I saw this cheesy quote on Instagram today, “As a grown-up I’ve learned that all the “Christmas magic” I felt as a kid was really a mom who loved me so damn much” and oof I felt that! Both of my parents worked so hard to make Christmas the most special day of the year. They were so cautious about keeping us grounded in reality and gratitude but on Christmas we were spoiled rotten (or at least it felt that way).

Now, as a parent, I love recreating those enchanted moments for my daughter. I want it to be the most relaxing, magical, exceptional day for her. I want her to compare everything in her life to the excitement of Christmas morning.

This will only be her second Christmas, but I can already sense her joy and excitement when she sees the lights and decorations. She remains very confused about trees coming indoors, though.

Seeing her light up over the simplest things is the greatest gift I could ever receive. Now, if only we could figure out how to get her to sing Jingle Bells…

Agree or disagree? What’s your favorite part of Christmas? Do you think it’s overrated or are you obsessed, like me? Let me know below!

O.

More from Leaf and Steel:

Is November too Early to Decorate for Christmas?

Is November too early to decorate for Christmas?

It’s a very contentious debate in this house.

Traditionally, I would wait until the day after Thanksgiving to decorate for Christmas. In my mind, that’s the official start to the holiday season.

But, if you’re out in the world, you know that Christmas now starts in October, at least for retailers. The Christmas Creep has been pushed farther than ever this year. I know I noticed holiday decor in stores as early as September.

It’s crazy that it’s early November and I feel late to the party! Christmas is undoubtedly my favorite holiday and favorite time of year. I love how strangers can become cheery and kind. I love the music. I love the lights and decorations. I love the focus on gratitude and family and being together.

Is it too early to decorate for Christmas?

This is a very personal question.

Here are some things to think about when asking yourself whether or not it’s time to bust out the lights and snowglobes.

Let’s Talk Christmas Season Layers

There are many layers to the Christmas season. Maybe you prefer to do it all at once, making a day of it. Or, maybe you like to slowly integrate in your decor and music.

Let’s dive into the layers of Christmas below.

Layer I: Christmas Music

This one is pretty innocuous. Personally, I believe that Christmas music doesn’t have to be reserved for the season.

Silent Night? A great lullaby. Winter Wonderland? Works in February too.

I love listening to Christmas mixes on YouTube to get in the holiday mood.

Layer II: Light Indoor Christmas Decor

The next layer is to me, a true signal that we’re getting started. Maybe it starts with a little reindeer, maybe some mistletoe? We’re just flirting with Christmas here – we’re not taking Christmas out to dinner yet.

Layer III: Deep Indoor Christmas Decor

Here we go, now it’s really begun. This is what I would usually wait until Black Friday to start, but heck it I’m going to start in November. Deep indoor decor would be pulling out the big box from the attic that’s labeled XMAS and going ham.

I’m talking garlands.

I’m talking needlepoint North Pole pillows.

I’m talking fir tree scented candles.

I’m talking obscure santa memorabilia.

At this stage, you’ve gone full Christmas, baby!

Layer IV: Outdoor Decor

This is to show the neighbors that you’re not messing around and waiting until December. This is when you get out the gloves, the boots, the lights, and you find a tall person. Anyone tall will work.

You hang those lights and you show that neighborhood that you are ready for Christmas and you’re not messing around.

Layer V: Live Christmas Tree

If you have a fake tree, please fight me in the comments. Live trees are superior. I don’t care if it’s 4 feet tall. Get a real tree. Forget to water it. Spend a good portion of December trying to figure out if it’s going to hold out until Christmas. Find pine needles in places you didn’t know pine needles could go for years to come.

If you have your tree up, Christmas is a comin’. There’s nothing better than a lit Christmas tree with Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on in the background.

Layer VI : Presents Under the Tree

This is the last and final layer. Putting presents under the tree is the ultimate sign that Christmas is near. If you have kids or a pets, this might be a no-no until Christmas Eve.

When I was growing up, “Santa” put all the presents under the tree on Christmas Eve night. We would leave out cookies, milk, and carrots for the reindeer. The living room doors closed and the house would fill with a quiet excitement. We could hardly fall asleep.

My siblings and I would wait at the top of the stairs together and then rush into the living room all at once while our parents watched.

It was always inexplicably magical.

There are very few things in my life that compare to the excitement and enchantment of Christmas morning.

Now, I have a kid, so I’m more than excited to share that magic with her.

Do you do layers? Or go all at once? There’s no right way to get into the Christmas spirit.

Where do you stand on this? Is November too early to decorate for Christmas? Let me know below!

O.

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