frosted window panes, Christmas tree rockin', roasted chestnuts and other merriments

When do you start listening to Christmas music? I pull up my Christmas playlists sometime around Thanksgiving, maybe a little earlier depending on what I'm baking in the kitchen. If you haven't listened to any holiday tunes yet, then get with it and put on some Amy Grant. Or the Carpenters (Josh's holiday music staple). Or Vince Guaraldi.

Josh tried to tell me last week that it was too early to listen to Christmas music. I just laughed and turned up the volume. Listening to Christmas music is more like a month-long event. I've been enjoying my usual favorites like the albums from Hilary Weeks, David Archuleta, and James Taylor; and this year I'm also quite smitten with Jenny Oaks Baker's newest Christmas album and A Very She & Him Christmas. And my Christmas-ing is not complete without listening to Amy Grant's Home for Christmas, especially that jaunty ukulele rendition of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." When I listen to that song, I may or may not actually dance around my Christmas tree.

Speaking of trees, on which side of the Christmas tree lot do you plant? The side right next to Target, or the one at the edge of the wilderness? I'm a fake tree gal all the way, which here in Oregon is arboreal blasphemy. My four-foot fake tree is low maintenance, is always the shape I like it, and comes with the lights already entwining the branches. It's an obvious choice for me. But I hear that some of you like picking out a tree, like the smell, the tradition, etcetra, etcetra. I'll keep mine of the artificial variety, thank you very much.

Favorite Christmas movies? I can't go a holiday season without cozying up to It's a Wonderful Life and crying my eyes out. And I think I'll convince Josh to watch A Muppet Christmas Carol with me this weekend. Plus you can find me with a cup of cocoa in hand at least once throughout the day. In fact, I think I'll go make a cup now.

Your holiday favorites and must-haves? Please share.