It is the most wonderful time of the year!
Now that Thanksgiving is over and, basically, so is November, the Christmas season is finally upon us. All the lights, the gift wrapping, secret Santa gifts, they are all upon us. So let's get to the good stuff, what do you look forward to during the Christmas season? Here are my top 5 favorite things to do as Christmas comes around.
1. Watch Hallmark Christmas Movies
Who doesn't love a good Christmas movie? In my opinion, Christmas movies are the best way to get into the holiday spirit. All Christmas movies always have happy endings where a couple falls in love, a child gets his Christmas wish, or a family comes together again, and of course, Santa is always included.
What's better than snuggling up on the couch under a warm and fuzzy blanket with some hot chocolate to watch a movie that gets you even more into the Christmas spirit than you already are?
2. Visit Rockefeller Center (Or New York City In General)
Everyone knows that the place to be (or visit) during the Christmas season is New York City. If you live in Manhatten or on Long Island, this is the time of year you fall in love with the city all over again, even if you're there almost every weekend already.
Visiting the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, you'll see tourists, couples, children of all ages, but the one thing they all have in common is the look of awe on their faces.
Whether it's watching the buildings perform what I have dubbed "The Dancing Snowflakes," ice skating at one of the city's many rinks, looking at the strings of lights that adorn the Macy's store, taking pictures under the Christmas tree the size of the house, New York City is known for what it looks like during the month of December.
3. Wrap Presents
When I was 8 years old, my mom taught me how to wrap my first present. From then on it is a tradition we have to wrap presents together while watching a Christmas movie and drinking hot chocolate. For me, wrapping presents is almost more fun than opening them. There's something about wrapping a gift for someone that you know they'll love that gets you hype for the holidays.
4. Decorate... Everything
I'm definitely not joking around with this one. Growing up, another thing my mom did was make sure that my house was decked out in Christmas decorations.
Everything from colorful lights, to multiple Santa's around the house, all the way to nutcrackers sitting on the ledge above the fireplace, there was no space untouched, and that is one of the things I look forward to most.
Hanging up the ornaments, decorating the front of my house in freezing temperature? I wouldn't trade any of it for the world.
5. Listen to Christmas Music
I don't know about you, but I grew up to hearing Elvis Presley's Christmas album on repeat during the holidays.
Whether my mom was cleaning the house, decorating, cooking, or helping me with my homework, she always made sure to have the house filled with Christmas music, and smelling like a mix of cinnamon and sugar cookies.
I have no true preference for Christmas music, no real true favorite that stands out... But you better believe that I am belting Mariah Carries "All I Want For Christmas Is You" as loud as I can sing (scream) it!
Now that November is over, no one can tell you it's too early to be in the Christmas spirit, so go all out!
