Monthly Musings November 2021: Holiday Preview

 


Happy Friday Eve Besties! The holidays are in the air. Can you feel it yet? Now I am not trying to skip over Thanksgiving at all but I am so excited for this holiday season. Today Holly and I are hosting our monthly link up Monthly Musings a week early due to Thanksgiving and this week we are getting you ready for the holidays with our Holiday Preview 2021. Join us for our fun questions and visit the other writers who link up with us as we get you ready for the holiday and season. Feel free to leave your own traditions and answers to the questions in the comment section below. Let's do this!


1. Share your holiday traditions


The first is that Running Daddy lights up the house outside. Depending on time, some years we decorate more than others. I am hoping to do it up big this year. Running Daddy is actually working on a small electrical fix outside to make sure we can light things up soon.


We also typically go somewhere and look at lights and go out to dinner. Sometimes we go the week after Christmas to avoid the crowds and keep the magic going.

2. Do you see holiday lights? Driving tour on your own? Attend a park or festival?

As I mentioned above, we like to go to a driving tour of lights in a park. We really like Lights on the Bay in Annapolis, MD. Annapolis is less than an hour from our house and it gives us an excuse to go there an go out to dinner. 


We have also been very lucky to have a light display around the corner from our house that won "The Great Christmas Light Fight" a few years back. Everything is set to music on a radio station when you pull up in your car.



While the owner of the house has had some health problems over the years, we have truly enjoyed what he has given the community over the years. You can read more about his story here.

3. Favorite holiday recipe?

My very Best holiday recipe is my Cornbread, Sausage and Chestnut Dressing. This can be made gluten free or with regular cornbread. I am not going to lie to you Besties, this is a lot of work but totally worth it.


4. Any must have holiday fashion staples?


I think if you have a Good pair of black pants like these I have from Wit and Wisdom and a festive top. I love the look of the puff sleeve top with black pants. Dress it up with some great earrings or statement necklace and you can literally go anywhere.




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5. Any special or extra festive holiday plans this year?

We are still talking about our plans and will hopefully make some decisions this week. We want to get everything ready and set for Thanksgiving as our plans are coming together a little later this year.

I am pretty sure we will go see the lights in Annapolis at some point and then we need to fill in the rest. 

6. Best holiday planning tip?

Hire an elf. No, seriously. The years I hire an elf I am so much less stressed. What do I mean by hiring an elf? Find a high school or college girl (or guy) that wants to make extra money to help you with your holiday planning. 


I really don't enjoy wrapping at all and frankly I am not even Good at it. I have an elf and she does all my wrapping for me. I drop off my gifts at her house, organized and labeled, and pick them up about a week later all wrapped like something out of Santa's workshop.

Your elf can help you with all types of things: babysitting while you shop, helping to make cookies, decorate inside, decorate outside or help with lights, help with addressing Christmas card envelopes, helping to serve at a holiday party and of course wrapping.

7. Favorite holiday movie?

There is no way I can just pick one favorite holiday movie, so I am giving you a quick list of our favorites in the Good Better Best household.

Christmas Vacation-If we had to choose just one favorite for all three of us, it would be Christmas Vacation. We can pretty much quote the entire movie. I have a friend who had a Christmas Vacation themed 50th birthday party a few years ago and we try to text each other when we see that it is on tv.


Elf-We also watch Elf multiple times per season.

Charlie Brown Christmas-Charlie Brown Christmas is a total classic. We own it on DVD so we can watch whenever we want.

Family Stone-This is such a Good movie and I don't think it gets the credit it deserves. Years ago Running Daddy and I got an invite to a screening of this movie before it came out and just went not really knowing anything about it. It's one we always watch together. It also has one of Running Daddy's Hollywood girlfriends in it, Rachel McAdams, so he is always up for a watch.



Love Actually-The movie about all kinds of love. What could be Better?

If you have been a reader for a while, you know that I am a big Hallmark Channel fan. I have been watching the Hallmark Channel probably since 2008, long before it was a "thing". I even watch them while I drink my coffee first thing in the morning. While I love all the movies, these three are my all time favorites.

Mistletoe Promise-This movie is the Hallmark movie by which all others are judged in my book. It makes me laugh, it has the Best fashion, it has a delightful storyline and I cry in the same spots every single time. My favorite line "These nothing ever wrong with being Good people." Check it out if you have not seen it.



Let It Snow-For a while, this movie starring Candice Cameron Bure was the tops for me. It's still up there with it's Christmas traditions and delightful scenery. A few weeks ago it was on and Hockey Guy walked by and said "Is this THE Let It Snow?" I responded that indeed it was and he told me that he loved this movie. 

A Christmas Love Story-Speaking of Hallmark movies that make my heart sing, this is one. Kristin Chenoweth is one of my all time favorite people. She is delightful in this. I will listen to her sing at any time. Kristin Chenoweth radiates Joy




8. Die Hard...Christmas movie or not?

Die Hard is an action movie. Die Hard is a fun movie. Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. Period.

 

9. Tree/decorations up before or after Thanksgiving?

This year it is taking all my will power to not get things up yet, but I am an after Thanksgiving gal when it comes to Christmas decorating. Everyone can do what gives them Joy, but I like to keep Thanksgiving separate and then move into Christmas.

10. Do you celebrate other holidays in December?

In our family, we celebrate Christmas only, but I love all the different holiday traditions. Hanukkah is a beautiful holiday.

I hope this post helps you get into the holiday spirit Besties. Be sure to check out the other writers who linked up below. There are some very talented and fun people who join us every month.


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4 comments

  1. Such a fun post. Thanks for hosting! I need to add those Christmas movies to my list. That’s so cool that you have so many fun Christmas light viewing options!

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  2. Do my kids and husband count as my Christmas Elves?!?!?! I make the kids help with holiday card addressing and stuffing envelops and I make my husband do all the wrapping! I love that idea though!

    I just started watching Hallmark movies last year but they are definitely fun. I don't know that I have a favourite one yet.

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  3. The lights in Annapolis sound amazing! Hope you go and take pics for us! Your stuffing sounds amazing too! Hope you can enjoy it for Thanksgiving AND Christmas! XO

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  4. We like to keep xmas separate and decorate after Thanksgiving too. Our two favorite family Christmas movies are Elf and Christmas vacation. I like to add in The Holiday, Love Actually, While You Were Sleeping and just about any other holiday movie I can think of. All the jobs you dole out to your elf are my favorite holiday jobs so I try to start early and spread them out so they stay enjoyable and don't become stressful.

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