I probably could have written this post a month ago because it was beginning to look like Christmas then. Just as the stores were full swing into Halloween decorations, I saw the Christmas trees popping up ever so subtly.
Now that Halloween is over, it’s apparently okay to go full scale Christmas. The trees are up in the stores. The banners are up in the shopping center parking lots. I’m getting toy catalogs every day. And I’m actually starting to think about Christmas cards.
When I graduated from college and moved to an apartment, I felt like I could finally begin my grown-up life even though I was only 21. I got my first Christmas tree. It was live tree. My first live tree ever. I grew up in the 70s where the best Christmas decorations were plastic, colorful, and shiny. A live tree was a novelty for me.
I hung a few solid colored balls and colorful lights and voila I was a grown-up. Then I collected addresses and sent out Christmas cards. Because that’s what grown-ups do every year.
I continued the tradition every year. I always looked for the prettiest, quaintest, non-denominational card out there. I handwrote a note to every friend and family member. I signed it. I handwrote the envelopes. I mailed them.
Then I had my bebe. I was not going to be one of those families. I was not going to torture people with a long typed letter telling everyone of fabulous vacations and family milestones. I was not going to detail every ailment that every family member had suffered. I was just going to send out my cards. And they were not going to be those Christmas photo cards either.
Well, no one told me my baby would be so darn cute. So I graced his face on our Christmas card in 2007.
And I got rave reviews. I mean, how could I not? A gorgeous babe, indeed. So I continued the tradition into 2008.
Argh. I can’t stand the cuteness! But then I started getting requests for mom and dad to step into the picture. So in 2009, we reluctantly did. This time, our “studio” was the big Christmas tree outside the local mall.
Not too bad for a camera propped up on a nearby table set to an auto timer. Now, what can we do to top that for 2010?
I’m planning to buy a special lens for my camera that automatically sheds 10 pounds and ensures that my son is not making goofy faces when the camera goes off. And then I’m headed to Shutterfly for the quick and easy photo upload.
I love the folded holiday cards that actually look like cards. Not the big long photo prints. This is what I have my eye on this year.
I might actually replace the little girl’s photo with my son’s though. I don’t know. I haven’t decided. She is pretty cute. One thing is certain though. I’m getting them for free. If you’re a blogger, you can too.
Go to the Shutterfly Community Blog and sign up for the 2010 Holiday Card collection promotion.
Now that that’s finally out of the way, I can start focusing on Valentine’s Day. It’s right around the corner, you know.
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As part of Shutterfly’s 2010 Holiday Card collection promotion, I volunteered to write a post about Shutterfly’s fresh and fabulous holiday cards in exchange for 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly. If you would like to contribute a blog write up and receive 50 free holiday cards, please visit their blogger promotion.
