Topic: holiday traditions

All You New Year’s Eve Party People Have Fun On Amateur Night, I’ll Be In Bed By Nine

All You New Year's Eve Party People Have Fun On Amateur Night, I'll Be In Bed By Nine

I hate New Year’s Eve. I always have. New Year’s Eve is the holiday equivalent of the Sunday night 60 Minutes signature Aristo stopwatch ticking, which is probably the saddest sound on earth. New Year’s Eve is amateur night, when people get all dressed up and go out into the freezing winter night, trudging with silk heels through filthy snow-plowed curbs to make their way to overcrowded bars, eight dollar glasses of eight dollars a bottle “champagne” and cheap paper tiaras made from silver cardboard and dayglo feathers. More »

As An Adult, I’ve Realized That All My Favorite Christmas Movies Really Suck

As An Adult, I’ve Realized That All My Favorite Christmas Movies Really Suck

I’m a child of the 80′s. And as such, I’m used to the feeling of realizing that the things I loved as a kid are actually really weird. I mean, I thought overalls were the most awesome thing ever. But I have to admit that my disappointment over some of my favorite Christmas movies feels especially painful. Smoky Mountain Christmas, anyone? The Night They Saved Christmas? These were the December movies of my childhood and they are downright agonizing to watch as an adult. More »

In Defense Of Lying To Your Child About Santa Claus

In Defense Of Lying To Your Child About Santa Claus

I’m a liar. I’m a big, fat tall-tale-teller. When my daughter asks if fairies like Tinkerbell are real, I reply, “They are if you believe they are.” When Easter rolls around, I have a friend hide eggs in my house while we’re gone so that she arrives home with a huge look of shock and wonder on her face. And when it comes to Santa Claus, we’ll be baking cookies and leaving “Reindeer feed” on the lawn. More »

I Hated Tacky Christmas Decorations Until I Became A Mom

I Hated Tacky Christmas Decorations Until I Became A Mom

I used to be that person, driving past your multi-colored lights and inflatable snowmen with a superior grin on my face. My house never had lighted candy canes lining the walk. We didn’t do projected graphics onto the side of the house or garage. We were all white lights outlining all the gutters and windows. We were the classic, traditionally reserved Holiday decorators. Then I had a kid. More »

My Post-Thanksgiving Tradition: Chopping Down A Christmas Tree

My Post-Thanksgiving Tradition: Chopping Down A Christmas Tree

The end of Thanksgiving officially marks the start of the holiday season. Christmas music takes over the radio, lights go up in neighborhoods around the country and shopping becomes a competitive sport. But before my family decorates the house or mails letters to Santa Claus, we have a very important holiday tradition that I can’t stand to miss.

Since I was very young, chopping down the Christmas tree has been my favorite part of the pre-holiday set-up. More »

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