Gather Savor Dwell

Hobby Lobby has Christmas things 50% off and the radio starts playing Christmas jams well before Thanksgiving, but Mr. Heid has a rule that we can’t purchase Christmas things, decorate for the holiday, or listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving is over. Don’t tell him, but I sometimes sneak a few songs in.

The moment Thanksgiving is over, I fill our house, my car, and my office with Christmas music every day! I do worry, though, that I’ll overplay some of the music and get really tired of it by the time Christmas Day actually rolls around. To avoid this, I’ve created a few different lists that I rotate through.

Deck the Halls — This list has ev.ery.thing festive to ring in the holiday season.

Deck the Halls | Chill Christmas — A low-key holiday playlist perfect for an intimate gathering — no highs and lows, all steady.

Deck the Halls | Classics — Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Burl Ives, Bing Crosby… you get the idea.

Deck the Halls | Instrumental — All instrumentals! Best paired with wassail, a cozy fire, and holiday wrapping.

Deck the Halls | Keira’s Favorites — All of my favorites so that I don’t miss out on hearing those during the season (because there are so. many. Christmas. songs out there!)

Deck the Halls | Punk — For when you really just wanna skank through the holidays! This is work-in-progress, so if you have any songs for this playlist, send them my way!

Whatever you need a Christmas playlist for, I hope one of these works or inspires you to build your own!

Cheers,

OVERHEARD | *Woman holds a candle up to her friend's nose* W1: It smells just like a real Christmas tree doesn't it?! W2: It doesn't smell like my Christmas tree. W1: That's because you have a fake tree, Ethel. // I die.
MISHEARD | You know the song Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Christmas Song)? Can we talk about how for my entire life, I thought the line was “Mele Kalikimaka is a wise way to say ‘Merry Christmas to you.’” One day (seriously just last Christmas) the song was on the radio and I heard it differently (read: correctly) — “Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say ‘Merry Christmas to you.’” Obviously the correct one makes sense, but hear me out. I already knew the song was about Christmas in Hawaii, so I assumed they were just giving advice. Like, “Hey — if you’re going to Hawaii for Christmas, it’d be wise of you to say ‘Mele Kalikimaka’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas.’” My logic also made sense, right? RIGHT?! Right.
FIR REAL | Our Frasier Fir Christmas tree is up, we’ve got Pine candles burning (my personal favorite here, and we’re using this Frosted Fir Method Hand Soap in our bathrooms. It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!
HOLY WOW | Did you know that Brenda Lee was only 13 when she sang and recorded “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”?! And here we are today, still adding it to every holiday playlist.
FEELIN' CHEESY | Netflix came out with a new movie called The Princess Switch. I watched the preview and my first thought was that it sounded a lot like The Parent Trap. I love The Parent Trap (both versions) and it seemed cute, so I watched it. It is legit a redo of the '98 version — same “You’ll teach me to be you, and I’ll teach you to be me” lines and everything. While the similarities were uncanny, it was enjoyable nonetheless. In one scene they shamelessly plugged A Christmas Prince, which Netflix came out with a yeeeaaar ago I think… Anyway, I watched it next and there’s a line where one person says the weather is lovely and the other comments something along the lines of, “Yeah, if you like frostbite.” And guys, I shit you not, they gave two characters the same exchange in The Princess Switch. Fo’ real, Netflix? Was it just that good of a line? But all that aside, it was cute and I like Rose McIver, so I wouldn’t rule out watching the sequel that came out this year… though the reviews so far haven’t been stellar.