Did you have a nice Christmas? I sure did. I love how Christmas doesn’t have to be about the money. Indeed, the best things about Christmas (to me) are free/priceless: baking, putting up decorations, sitting in front of the glowing Christmas tree, relaxing with a cup of tea and listening to Christmas music, watching the snow fall outside, hanging out with family, and visiting neighbors and friends.
Coincidentally, two of my main decorations this year happened to be free (and definitely priceless!). The were both dumpster-dived, in fact. The beautiful evergreen centerpiece in the photo above was on a table at work for about a week. I admired it each time I walked down the hall to the kitchen. One day, it was gone. When I got to the kitchen, I spotted it in the trash. Who would throw this away?! I plucked it right out and carted the little darling home. It’s certainly getting much more enjoyment at my house!
The other free decoration was the Christmas tree!! I went over to a tree lot a couple days before Christmas, only to find them closed up, having sold all their trees. I noticed a few branches sticking out of a dumpster in the far corner of the parking lot, though, so I walked over to have a look. There inside the dumpster was my lonely little tree, obviously waiting for me. 🙂
Isn’t it sweet? I just love it.
And for another old-fashioned Christmas activity, my mom and I got together and made gingerbread houses. What a blast!
What are your favorite commercialism-free ways to enjoy the Christmas season?? I would love to know!!
Happy New Year!
I’m with you 100% on what are the most special ways of celebrating Christmas–thank you for mentioning them! I also love looking at Christmas picture books–either ones from my kids’ childhoods that were so loved, or ones with photos of long-ago or country Christmases…of course I enjoy doing this with Christmas music playing and a cup of tea and some Christmas cookies! 🙂
Oh picture books! Yes, I love looking at photos of other peoples’ old-fashioned Christmases!
Getting up in what feels like the middle of the night, fueling with coffee by the glow of the Christmas tree lights, and sitting on the couch with my husband, waiting for that first moment when our young children discover that Santa came… priceless.
Oh my goodness, that is what life is about! I remember being a young child, discovering that Santa had come! Those are some of my best memories. I can’t wait to re-create that when I have my own children!