Christmas is almost here!

Okay not really.  Thanksgiving still isn't until next week but it feels like it.

One thing I've realized is that after doing children's roles in the ballet west nutcracker, not doing it for two years, and then doing it again, is that for me it just doesn't feel like that wonderful holiday season without the months of rehearsals and performances leading up to Christmas.  The last couple of years it took me until Christmas was almost on top of me for me to start singing along with the songs playing on the radio and excited about the snow on the ground.

This year is going differently.

I even have an early gift coming just for me!

My violet the last time it bloomed

My african violet is starting to bloom!  I love this little flower, it was the first house plant I ever bought, I've only seen maybe one or two other's with the same double color and ruffly petals.  I have yet to see one that has flowers nearly as large as mine :)  It may not have to most numerous blooms I've seen, but they make up for it by being large, bright, and gorgeous!

The first bud started opening up this morning.  All the cute little magenta buds should open up in the next few weeks.  I'm so excited.  I'm very good at enjoying the simple things in life most of the time.

I'm ridiculously pumped about this year's upcoming holiday season for absolutely no reason.  I have no money to get gifts for the people I love.  My mom, who generally funds our Christmas, is super strapped for cash and it's probably going to be our smallest Christmas yet. (they've been getting tinier but sweeter every year)

But you know what?  I don't care.  I have a plan.  And I'm secretly listening to Christmas music alone in my car.  But really I'm not listening until after Thanksgiving ;)

November is usually for turkey and NaNoWriMo, and I gave the noveling month of madness my third failed attempt this year.  I'm putting writing on hold so that I can draw pretty pretty pictures for my family and friends as their presents :D  I still want to make my word goal, it will just be after the holidays rather than at the end of November.

I'd like to post progress on Christmas drawings, but then people might see them and it would spoil it so I'll just have to wait until after Christmas.