25 reasons to smile this December

Excluding good ol' Scrooge, most of us are definite fans of this month, no matter if you observe Christmas, Hanukkah  Kwanzaa  or any other special event. December is a unique month, for it caps off the year, but first it make sure that we get more celebratory fun and activity squeezed in than you shake a spring of holly at all. So often through the month, serenity and hecticness jostle one another for top billing, and sometimes that holiday season tug-of-war can start to wear you out, or worse perhaps, lessen how festive you feel.

Epic mall crowds, eye-rolling worthy office parties, mile-long menus to cook, stacks of cards to send out (let's face it, they don't always get out the door in November by any stretch of the imagination!), and myriad other demands of the season can all too quickly depilate one of their energy and happiness levels. On the other hand, you may be able to enjoy a more relaxed holiday season free of some of the aforementioned points, and instead simply yearn to further bolster the festive mood you're in this year.

In either case - and whatever other situation you may find yourself in at the moment - I feel that this chilly, frost covered first Monday of December would be a fantastic time to share twenty-five things (one each for every day between the first of the month and Christmas Day) that are usually associated closely with December. These entries always bring a hefty smile to my face, no matter how much the the holiday season may have (temporarily) frazzled my nerves (and, momentarily, sent me wishing for July again).

Long time readers may recall that back in the early days of November 2010, I wrote a list of 50 reasons to love the holiday season; this post shares much in common with that one, however instead of describing today's entries in detail, I'll let a charming group of images do all the talking for me.

Time is already a premium at this point in the season, and I thought you might appreciate the moments shaves by just scrolling through a fun pile of vintage winter and Christmas themed images, partnered with the brief description of each listing itself.

Here's to all the best points of December, starting with this festive roundup!

 


1. Santa Claus

 


2. Tobogganing

3. Cookies, cookies, and more cookies!

4. Dressing especially glamorous for fancy parties and formal events

5. Listening to vintage Christmas music

6. Advent calendars

7. Visiting people with your arms loaded full of holiday gifts

8. Sears Wish Book catalogs

9. Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas

10. Going home for the holidays

11. Hanging up your stocking

12. Trimming the tree and decking the halls

13. Going ice skating on an open-air pond

 

14. Breath-taking holiday light displays

15. Peppermint everything!

16. Pets in cute holiday bows and outfits

17. Knowing that you've gotten someone exactly what they wanted

18. Cooking oodles of delicious holiday foods in the company of those you love

19. Vintage pink Christmas trees

20. Gorgeous winter and Christmas themed vintage magazine covers

 

21. Raiding the fridge for one of the best midnight snacks of the year thanks to Christmas dinner leftovers

22. Awesome holiday mail days!

23. Mistletoe

24. Taking tranquil winter walks in the great outdoors

25. Christmas/the winter holiday season comes but once a year!

{To learn more about a specific image, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

♥ ♥ ♥

I love the final month of the year, plain and simple. Even in the busiest, most chaotic or harried moments, it really doesn't take much at all to help me snap right back - with a Christmas cracker "pop" of intensity - into a very chipper state of mind.

The reasons above are usually always able to do just that, as are many others that have been a part of my annual holiday celebration since I was knee-high to a snowflake. What are some of your most beloved causes for good spirits and merriment this month?

As with all other times of the year, there will always be good and bad moments throughout December, but it's my deepest hope that the positive far outweigh the stressful for all of you, and that you get to partake in as many of your favourite reasons to smile this month as possible.

Joyful December wishes, one and all!