I love the red and green decorations. Evergreen and holly berries are just winter shit. Like snow. Except in Socal, where we just get dust storms, which aren't as pretty.

Onerous task: scheduling a meeting with VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE who all insist that this VERY IMPORTANT MEETING take place either monday or tuesday. Great. Except that their calendars are filled and they can't move these other meetings.

I suggested a rift in time-space.

PS: I missed you guys.

As a shiksa married to a Jew, I haven't that much trouble finding good holiday decorations. I buy all the sparkly decorations I want, but keep them in the blue and silver color range. I also find a lot of wintry-type decorations, like [link] and this: [link] Or a bunch of these: [link]

I also collect snow globes and put those on the mantel, and just avoid any baby Jesus ones.

My mom was trying to find some winter decorations for the house that were not Christmasy.

My mom has some snowman decor, so it does exist. I'll bet there are also lots of snowflake things.

There are actual snowmen out along my street. One is nearly 6' tall and has a carrot nose and coal eyes.

Despite many years in northern climes I don't (yet) associate Christmas (or December) with snow, and have a massive eye roll at faking that stuff. It's avoid-worthy!

I am not doing any significant decorating until I turn in final grades, but I did get a tiny wreath to put on the car, as per my DH's request. Oh! And the car has been washed--woot!

Party City had a buttload of snowmen/snowflake decorations.

My goal for the next few days is to have enough energy to put up the tree and make gingerbread bats.

Mine is to make fruitcake. If I have the energy.

Ooh, fruitcake. Nom. I LOVE homemade, classic, soak-the-fruit-in-booze fruitcake.