The most wonderful time of the year...

...OR IS IT?


Ah, Christmas. When I think of Christmas, I typically think of bright lights, that crispness of the air, time spent with family--really, just a general, gingerbready sense of joy and well-being.

But lately it seems like Christmas is less about fuzzy festivity and more about

SHOPPING SPREES THAT DEVOLVE INTO OPRAH-LEVEL INSANITY:

"The Last. Reindeer. Mitteeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnn"*

PRESENTS. PRESENTS. MUST GET PRESENTS FOR EVERYONE, WHAT DO I BUY?!


RELENTLESS BOMBARDMENT OF CHRISTMAS-THEMED PRODUCTS!!


Remember this?


Yeah, neither do I.



I think all of this has played a part in my complete lack of Christmas spirit this year. Usually my Decembers look something like this:











But this year I seem to have had a complete Christmas meltdown. I change the station when holiday music comes on. I have no Christmas tree. I'VE BAKED NO COOKIESSSS. My December has had a noticeable lack of holiday cheer:































































I've pretty much ignored Christmas this whole month, but even I can't escape the inevitable. As the date draws near I'm increasingly aware of things that I MUST DO and presents I MUST BUY. I'm feeling the pressure of the holidays. It's almost like something is...following me....

'WHOOOOOoooooooooo....cookie tiiiiime.'

But I do I think I'm starting to break (I've bumped my number of peppermint hot chocolates up to three! Go with The Coffee Bean's).So now I'm rather desperately trying to conjure some of that ol' holiday spirit, since I have to play catch up with gifts and such. It's okay though, it's only December twenty-something! It's not too late, right?


Right?



------------------------------------------------------------------
FYI: I actually started this post about 1.5 weeks ago. Yet another victim of my holiday procrastination! I'm not actually trying to buy all my presents on dec. 23rd...and in fact, I do feel a little more Christmas-y, thanks in part to my wonderful family and co-workers. I DID feel this way, though, so everything here is totally legit (I didn't want to waste a post, OKAY :[ )

*fun fact: a lot of these expressions were taken from actual oprah audience screencaps. Oh, Oprah...you so crazy.
----------------------------------------------------------
edit: hehe