Love/Do Not Love {No. 4: Christmas Edition}

(a balanced breakfast)

It's time for a special Christmas edition of Love/Do Not Love! Leave your blog post link if you join in this time.

I love:
- Wrapping paper. The really elegant designs, with lots of ribbon or tags to gussy it up. My next dream job after writing would be gift wrapping. It's almost better than a good present.

- Garrison Keillor. If you haven't ever listened to him, stop what you're doing and go buy an album. He has the most soothing voice and tells the greatest stories. It's perfect, but especially this time of year.

- Santa Claus visiting our library. I'll be blogging pictures soon, but it turns out, there is something even better than a little Millie sitting on his lap and asking for toys- a Millie and a Walter.

- Christmas tree cakes (see photo). They are loaded with sugar and the icing has a consistency of wax, and I'm so excited every year when they hit the shelves. Tradition!
- Christmas lights. Driving around at night, looking at houses all lit up purely for our happiness? Adore it.
- Whipped cream. Whipped cream and I are having a moment. I usually ask for drinks without it. Now I'm piling it on any coffee or hot chocolate I drink. The higher the whipped cream, the closer to God, right?
- Tights. This is not very Christmas related, but let's discuss it anyway. I don't have many dresses...or tights...but I would wear dresses and tights all the time if I did. And leggings. But you know what's hard to find? Tunics. Moving on...
- Playing Santa. Before having kids, I wasn't sure I would play into the whole Santa Claus thing. But then Millie was born. I found myself going full steam ahead into the deception. We call the Santa hotline. We see him at the library. My dad even dressed up as Santa for her last year and brought in her presents. I emphasize that the reason we celebrate Christmas is the birth of Jesus, and we talk about stars, and wise men, and angels. But for a few short years, she'll believe in Santa.
- Christmas cards. It doesn't even look like we'll be sending them out this year, which makes me sad. Because mail + Christmas? Two of the best things ever.
- Carols. The richness and depth of those lyrics makes me a little sad that they're only sung one month each year. We've all heard them since we were small and could sing them in our sleep, but really listen to the words sometime. They're beautiful.
- A white Christmas. The actual weather condition, not the song (although that's nice, too). There's no other way to go.

And now, a few things I do not love:
- Driving in the snow. Yes, I said I like white Christmases, and I do. I like it falling. Just not on the road. Or if it is on the road, only on Christmas.
- Related: Scraping and defrosting windows for 20 minutes before going anywhere. In the (obviously) cold weather. Especially when I forget to allow time to do so. NEAT.
- A Christmas Story movie. I know. People will hate me for this one. I just don't like it. At all. Not a bit.
- I can't deal with the Elf on the Shelf business. Partly because it's a $30 little toy, but mostly because I'm scared of it.
- People making out in the Target parking lot 2 feet from me. I realize this is also not Christmas related, but I need to establish some boundaries. Hold hands all you want. Kissing is even okay. But not when I'm close enough to join in. It was weird and I wanted a shower afterwards.
- And in the also-not-Christmasy-but-loosely-Target-related category, the "word" selfie. It's a shirt at Target even. No. It's not the concept I have a problem with as much as that terrible word. I'm going to start an Instagram movement called #aselfportrait or something. #hereisaphotoofme #THISISMYFACE
- Flannel sheets. I want to like them. But they are too hot and get scratchy after two washes.
- Materialism at Christmas. Or anytime of year, but especially now.
- Egg nog. Every time I have it, I think I like it, but then I realize I do not. I've never had the alcoholic version. I suppose if I drank enough of that, I would like it.
- Running out of Christmas cookies.

Tell me your favorites about Christmas!