December is here! One of my favorite Holiday traditions is decorating a gingerbread house. For the past few years, a girlfriend and I have attended a fun and festive event to kick off the Holiday season at the Hyatt or Darien CC in support of the Rowan Center. It was always an exciting event filling the ballroom of the Hyatt with busy ladies having fun and gentle competition decorating their houses in suggested themes or their own creative designs. This year the Rowan Center is offering this tradition virtually. The beauty of virtual events is that the limitations of attending are lifted as you are able to participate from the comfort of your own home. Many charities are finding that their bottom line is greater with virtual events as people participate outside of the geographic area and all virtual participants have the same experience. It is a leveling platform. I am thrilled to be able to share this experience with my sisters and nieces and one brave nephew! We have all purchased our Gingerbread package and will enjoy decorating our houses together as a family activity. We are all looking forward to it and will certainly have our own independent competition, too!
You don’t have to be a part of an organized Gingerbread event, you can create your own! I know that the Black Forest Pastry Shop in Greenwich is famous for their undecorated Gingerbread houses that you can purchase and decorate them yourself. I am sure other local bakeries also provide the same service, and it is great to shop local. I am sure Trader Joe’s also has an option, too. These items sell out fast, so don’t wait too long to decide. I just found a flyer for Bed Bath and Beyond that is selling the kits to actually bake the houses and then decorate them and the kit is only $19.99! They have a few other options to choose from, too. What is great about purchasing online, is that you can ship one to friends and family and set up a date to do it together using whatever online platform you prefer-Zoom, Facebook, or Facetime. I hope you will find the time to try this activity, too.
Some of my other favorite things to enjoy this time of the year are Holiday songs which have been playing on SiriusXM since November 1, on the Hallmark Channel. I find that listening to the music brings me a sense of calm and Joy during this anxious time. It is fun to sing along! It is sure to bring a smile to your face!
As we are all home more of the time, I am finding time to actually watch movies again, and am grateful for the line up of Holiday favorites! I have enjoyed Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007 version), The Wizard of OZ, Charlie Brown classics, and I am looking forward to many other beloved timeless movies.
I look forward to sharing this Home for the Holidays series of Newsletters with you. Feel free to reply and let me know some of your favorite things or how you are celebrating differently this year. It is great to keep in touch!
Sending you Love and Joy!
Comments