Heather: Christmas time!

Howdy to all 4 of you who actually read this!
Sorry its been awhile.. I'm gonna go ahead and blame that on my busy schedule.

ANYWAYS. It's a whoppin' two weeks and two days away from Christmas! :) Yayyyyyy for Christmas. <3 I am a BIG fan of getting people presents.. whether it's for Christmas, their birthday, or just cause I love them. They mean something to me, and I want them to know it (that's my logic for all the money I spend on gifts.. just fyi).
Well, this year I'm having lotsa fun shopping for everyone, and I'm almost completely done getting all my people's gifts! :D YAYYY! ..I'm somewhat proud of myself for this, in case ya couldn't tell.

If you haven't purchased x-mas gifts yet, that's okay. Don't feel TOO bad.. you still have a couple weeks. ;)

I wish I could tell you all the gifts I've purchased (and have yet to get), but sadly, someone very close to my family is muh partner in crime for this blog.. *COUGHBECCACOUGH* ..yeah. So, I apologize. 

BUT HEY. Tomorrow, the Hauer's are gonna have a family-putting-up-the-tree/ornaments/Christmas decor-day. :) Am I excited? Yes. I am. I love the general feeling that comes from everyone during the winter holidays.. with Christmas music filling the air, the delicious smell of candles, and sometimes even the smell of freshly baked goodies coming from our kitchen. :) I dunno, maybe it's just me, but I find that atmosphere comforting.

But, if for some reason your Christmas season is normally not that joyous, here are 5 tips on how to add a little happy to your holiday:

1) Make (and then share) cookies. Almost anyone you meet will smile at the chance to taste some homemade heaven.

2) IFYOUHAVEAFIREPLACE, start a fire. In the fireplace. Not in the middle of the living room.. that would be a bad idea. But a fire going crackle-cackle is always a nice relaxing sound. :) ..in my opinion, anyway. And no, I'm not a pyromaniac.

3) Smile (nicely) at a stranger! Yeahyeahyeah, I know. "People are scary!".. they probably think the exact same thing about you. So, go out of your comfort zone, and bring them a little holiday cheer. :)

4) Start singing Christmas songs! It doesn't matter where you are. If you're at home, in a treacherously long line at Wal-Mart, sitting at your desk at work, IT DOESN'T MATTER. Singing is just a recipe for joy. ..And if your voice isn't half bad, other people might start singing along too. :D

5) Last but not least, get someone you know a gift. Gift giving shouldn't be about winning someone's love or favor, it should be a gesture that shows them that you love THEM. Honestly, and I know this is probably gonna be a shocker, they probably forgot to get you something this year. Don't hold it against them! Their schedule might be just as (if not more) busy then yours. Let them know you think about them, they'll appreciate it. 

So there ya go! I hope and pray all of you have an excellent Christmas, and a happy new year! :)

You're blessed. <3