Rants:
Annual Holiday Photoshoots: Every year, that one family’s Christmas card showcasing matching Christmas pajamas and picture-perfect smiles always ends up in people’s mailboxes. Those photoshoots are a waste of time because of how falsely cheerful and stifling they are. The pressure to top last year’s shoot and pose your kids perfectly in the best outfits often leads to overstimulated mothers. Ironically, they wear angry expressions as they demand their children to “look happy.” Selecting imperfect, but authentic snapshots from everyday life allows you to skip the stress and does a much better job of showcasing your family’s unique charm anyway.
Holiday Merch Collections: While it’s no secret that corporate America uses all kinds of marketing schemes to raise profits during the holiday season, celebrity merch collections might just be the most egregious. Many celebrities quickly create holiday blankets, sweatshirts, vinyl variations, and even seasonally improper clothing like t-shirts just to make a quick buck. Not only is the use of these products limited to a short couple holiday months, the target audience are the people who already own WAY too many of that celebrity’s products. Trust me, your holiday spirit is much better shown donating to the poor, instead of buying that ugly Taylor Swift Christmas scarf.
Gingerbread Houses: Let’s be honest, while these things are super fun to decorate, no one ever eats them afterward. The gingerbread tastes like spiced cardboard and the frosted candy is sugary enough to make your teeth ache. Therefore, many people must tearfully watch as their hard work is disposed of in the trash and the food is completely wasted. Instead of putting yourself through that, consider turning to frosting cookies that are actually pleasant on the tongue. Or there are a myriad of other fun holiday crafts—wreath making, ornament decorating or paper snowflakes, just to name a few.
Raves:
Holiday Scents: There’s nothing more comforting than snuggling into your favorite blanket and letting the aroma of home-made cookies waft around you as a candle burns bright. Whether it’s cinnamon, nutmeg, pine or even citrus and clove, the smell of holiday times always sends me spiraling into nostalgia. I’m filled with a distinct bubbling joy, feeling like a little kid again who has just mastered how to put ornaments on the Christmas tree. The different candied scents also fill another part of my body with happiness: my stomach! I swear, the smells inspire people to open their kitchen ovens more and I always receive an influx of home baked goods around this time of year.
Theme Park Holiday Decor: Everyone loves a front yard decked out in Santa Claus inflatables and light-up reindeers, but the full immersive holiday experience comes from walking through theme parks’ gates. With paid designers strategically planning every garland placement, the colors and lights’ festivity is maximized to their greatest potential. Plus, people are already flushed with joy seeing their favorite cartoon characters, riding their favorite rides or overstuffing their mouths with theme park snacks. The overall jolliness from fellow theme park attendees just adds to the holiday cheer, brightening everyone’s smiles further.
White Elephant: Everyone loves a good traditional open-your-gift-under-the-Christmas-tree, but for competitive folks like me, this is our place to shine. Designed so that you have the choice to unwrap a new present or steal from someone else, finding the perfect gift becomes a delicious game of strategy and maybe a splash of hilarious bickering with loved ones. I love how it spices up the Santa process and creates a situation where you can skip the disappointment and customize a gift you absolutely adore.
