It took me a few days but I got all of the indoor Christmas decorating completed.

I’ve had the same old decorations that I have been using over and over again for about a decade, some old plastic garlands that I also seem to be allergic to now I decided to get rid of. So this year I decided to replace some of the old beat-up and outdated items and make our home a little more festive this year.

Some years Christmas feels rushed and others just seem to be missing the spirit of the holiday. I wanted to make this year’s Christmas one of the best ones we ever had. It won’t be about the presents but instead be about slowing down, taking joy in each other’s company and our surroundings.

I’m looking forward to taking the time to read in our library under the glow of the twinkling lights on the tree. To baking yummy cookies and sharing them with my friends and family. To watch my favorite Christmas movies and enjoy lots of hot cocoa.

I want to focus on being joyful, and I plan on avoiding crowded stores and making a concerted effort to relax and catch up on doing the things that make me happy.