the new yuletide spirit

So much of the hype this past couple of days has been about shopping for the holidays ... it's on the news, the t.v. commercials, the web pop-ups, the radio ads, the brochures that jam the mailbox full ... on billboards, Facebook, my spam mail folder ...  it's even on the place setting at the local deli where we had lunch today. It's hard to focus on family, food, and thanksgiving when you have to start strategizing your "attack"plan for black friday, small business saturday, and cyber monday.

The shopping frenzy pretty much sums up the yuletide spirit. We buy gifts and give gifts to the people we love and care for. We partake in this shameless capitalistic commercialism sometimes because it seems like we're expected to. And it appears nobody's spared. Even pets expect gifts.

I am not above all this. I'm currently working on putting together a special gift bag for Zach. If there's anyone who is staying sane in the midst of all of this, it is him. And perhaps, from what my mom's been telling me, my dad too. The men in my life don't believe in gift-giving on designated days. They work hard enough all year round so us women can have what we want when we want it. I'm so blessed I'm not going to complain about a christmas without presents. I'm gonna approach the yuletide season with this attitude instead:

the simple, joyous embodiment of giving.

... and now for a shameless obligatory plug. Anyone who's still in search for one of a kind gifts need to visit our Etsy shop. Zach and I have stocked the shop with our favorite pieces from every kiln load. Go see!