Spreading some Holiday Cheer

While I enjoyed Thanksgiving, I am glad to be moving on. Although, December is a crazy month for us. Do you have one of those months in your family?

Nic's birthday is on Sunday, mine is on Monday, Marcos' is on the 12th, our 18th wedding anniversary is on the 16th, then there is the family Christmas Eve (what I like to call Christmas Adam) on the 22nd, the real Christmas Eve on the 24th and then Christmas Day on the 25th. Of course, then there is my aunt's anniversary on the 21st and my grandparent's on the 22nd (missing you, grandpa!). Then throw in wrapping parties, cookie exchanges, my neighbor's daughter's bridal shower and wedding - yikes!

Whew. I am just glad I remembered all of that.
With all of that said, I am not ready to put the tree up yet. For several reasons. The first is that Nic's having a birthday party on Saturday, here at the house. I want to celebrate his special day before we celebrate Christmas! ;) Second, I *just* completed my formals... why would I want to move things around now? I need at least a week of good, clean, fun. ;)

However, that doesn't mean I can't get my mantel and bookcases all dolled up.

I pretty much reused everything I had from years past. The Elf is new... and so is the reindeer glitter art, which was so easy and sits in a dollar store frame.

I printed off a picture of a reindeer from Google, traced it and filled it in with Elmer's glue and then sprinkled red glitter all over it. The tree art on the right is a gift bag from the dollar store... I just cut out the front and put it in the frame. Here are some posts about easy, cheap, Christmas crafts.

Even my couch is getting in the spirit. For now, anyway. This sweetie will have to move and make room for our faux evergreen come next week. I love my new pillow case from IKEA. Mr. and Mrs. Clause... and some random kids/elves/hired help. Did the Clause's ever have kids, do you know?!

That's it for now... just a little holiday cheer popping up here and there.
We are looking forward to two new holiday traditions we are starting; meeting our new Elf {on the shelf} and also our advent calendars! Yum, 25 days of chocolate. ;)

Do you  have any special holiday traditions?