Last Wednesday marked the beginning of Tiny Secret Festive Season! If you’re new here, welcome! Everyone is welcome in the Boyhouse. Also, if you’re new, you may be wondering what even is Tiny Secret Festive Season. The short answer is that it is something that I have created to enjoy the Christmas holiday spirit in the face of those who think that November 1st is Too Early to start being jolly. Generally in Canada “Too Early” can be defined loosely as “Anytime Before Remembrance Day, You Disrespectful Bitch” all the way to December 1st. In the US, the consensus seems to be “Before US Thanksgiving.”
But why should there be time restrictions on Being Jolly, I ask, and so Tiny Secret Festive Season was born. Now, if you are a person who is in agreement with the Too Early sentiment, well, you are still welcome here but just know that I am keeping it a secret from you, hence the Secret part of Tiny Secret Festive Season. On the other hand, if you’re a person who likes to mimic Costco and start your Holiday Jolliness in July, well, that’s not really Tiny, is it? You’re still welcome here, in fact, I salute you! But that is not what Tiny Secret Festive Season is.
The key is that one must incorporate small, festive items into everyday life, so on the outside one is just living a regular everyday life. But on the inside! Secretly there are small things that are making our Inner Elf feel known. For me, that means a) festive hand soaps by the major-use sinks, b) wearing my Christmas bracelet every day, c) using Vanilla Candy Cane foot cream, d) hanging holiday-themed tea towels on the oven door, e) playing holiday music for my daily piano practice, f) wearing holiday-themed pajamas, and g) using Christmas napkins at the dinner table.
In other festive news, we had not two but THREE Trick-or-Treaters on Tuesday! I gave my husband a meaningful look as I dropped a few assorted full-sized bars in the little girl’s pillowcase; the lesson, people, is to always buy extra candy. I think this is a lesson not just for Halloween, but for life. Now, was I a little surprised to get a knock on my door when I was in my pajamas with no makeup on and a face full of night cream? I was. But I overcame them, in the spirit of the holiday.
Speaking of which, I do think the myriad night creams and serums are working, in that my skin is softer and more, dare I say, radiant, but there is nothing in this world that is going to fix my raging case of Bitchy Resting Face. It’s pretty bad, friends. Several years ago I was at a get-together with friends from high school, who I hadn’t seen since those days, and a man looked at me and said that I looked disgusted with everyone. I replied with surprise that this is just my face in repose.
One area in my life that happily appears unaffected by my Bitchy Resting Face is that people, particularly strangers, are apt to talk to me very openly about a wide variety of topics. Maybe I give out an aura that I want to know everything about them, which is true, I do. People are endlessly fascinating to me. I think that small talk is a wonderful way to connect to people in this shared human experience, and it often, for me, leads to incredibly involved discussions about someone else’s life. I think that people are often very lonely, and just want someone to listen to them, and when I die I hope my photo evokes conversational memories for the populace. Oh hey, that’s the woman I talked to about my eyelashes and how I was using that new L’Oreal Telescopic mascara while we were in the security line at the airport.
Eyelashes are definitely a hot topic of conversation for me these days – are they real, if not, what mascara are you using – and much preferred to the one I once had about the occasional utilization of Smooth Move tea on days that a person is, shall we say, backed up. This conversation took place after a yoga class, with a young yoga student who was just in my class. I generally do not want to talk about bowel movements – I am even grossed out by the poop emoji, do NOT text me with that thing – but I guess I am happy that I’m a safe space for such discussions, and also that I am clearly just a regular gal. Also, I should probably not be so squeamish; after all, as the children’s book says, Everybody Poops.
I can talk to pretty much anyone about a wide variety of topics, is what I’m saying.
Sometimes, looking back, I have no clue how lighthearted chitchat turns so intense. In the last two months alone things have escalated. I don’t know how the piano tuner got on the topic of how his wife died of cancer only four days before their thirty-third anniversary, but I was happy to hear he’s found love again in the shape of his colleague at the middle school they have both worked at for twenty-five years. I’m not sure why the woman with the cute Labradoodle at the dog park tearfully told me that she yelled at her children that morning for losing their shoes and then cried after school drop off, but I’m glad our dogs could play together while I assured her that parenting IS hard. I’m still a bit worried about the cashier whose dad was in the hospital with what they thought was a gall bladder flare; he’s ninety-six and she was waiting for The Call. I felt badly for the older gentlemen couple on the walking path who just got back from two weeks in Paris in which they never got over their jet lag and also stayed at a very high priced, but inconvenient location, dissuading them from going to Europe ever again.
Possibly the most interesting conversation with a stranger of late was at, of all places, Superstore, and in this case I actually DO know how one topic segued into the next. I complimented the cashier on her Tree of Life necklace, which led, immediately and startlingly, to how she wanted to turn into a tree when she died, as opposed to being cremated. We briefly touched on the unsettling environmental impact of cremation, at which point I, having recently heard a science podcast on the topic, brought up the idea of human compost, and with that, we were off to the races, unfortunately for the people behind me in line who were listening to this grim topic of What To Do With Our Bodies When We Die. We both agreed that we believe souls can live on, and maybe we’d both return as birds to visit the flora that our composted bodies were nourishing. I contemplated this beautiful idea as I wheeled my giant cart away and I didn’t notice my 16-pack of Kleenex had fallen off the bottom of the cart and was lying in the middle of the parking lot until another woman called my attention to it. Another opportunity for small talk and human connection, but after discussing usage of my future corpse I was not equal to it. I thanked her, picked up my Kleenex and went home.
Weekly Reading
Sweetbitter. I typically dislike books in which the protagonist is a very young mess of a woman (SEE BELOW), with vast amounts of drug use, description of the aftereffects of drug use and drinking (SO MUCH VOMIT), and bad choices in general. Typically I avoid those books but there was something really captivating about this story of a young Ohio woman who lands in NYC and starts a job as backwaiter at a very upscale restaurant. If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant the scenes of stress and conflict during a shift will resonate, even if the restaurant in question was Moxie’s in the 90s, and not an expensive NYC place in 2006. Nothing really happens, and yet everything happens. It’s a compelling read.
Really Good, Actually. SPEAKING OF HOT MESS YOUNG PROTAGONISTS. I have to say, this book was quite a ride. At first, I found it absolutely delightful and so very clever – lots of smart pop culture and literary references, like the “soft animal of her body loving what it loves” while she ate hamburgers, for example. Then, midway through I thought “wait, is this the whole book?” Then the delight really took a turn into “wow, if this woman was in my life I’d never speak to her again.” As an example, there is a scene in which her dear friend and her fiance have decided to adopt a dog, and instead of being happy for this turn of events, she says “We all know a puppy is just a down payment on a dog funeral” which, hey hot mess protagonist, just go fuck yourself. I found myself warming to the her a bit near the end as she tries to redeem her sorry self, but in a cool, detached, “If I saw her in the grocery store I’d maybe have a polite conversation about seasonal vegetables” way. It’s yet another book about a hot mess of a young woman going through a divorce, is broke, and her thesis as yet unwritten. It’s very readable, but kind of like Train Wreck Readable, and tl:dr; I am probably, yet again, too old for these books. But fun fact: the author was one of the Schitt’s Creek writers!
Happy November, everyone! How are you doing? It rained here for a few days and I cannot even express how novel that is to me. Rain? In November? It’s not snowing? Well, as they say, it’s hard to hold a candle in the cold Gnomevember rain. xo
I’m endlessly fascinated by your conversations with strangers, Nicole… Yet another reason I think there’s a book or two inside you! Where did I read that conversing strangers is a building block to a happy life? Anyway, you have it in spades! I talk to everyone too, but rarely do my conversations include life after death debates!
I dislike the poop emoji too! Thankfully I have never received it–I’ll never use it, obviously. I’ve seen novelty pillows and phone cases featuring it, and…. just no.
Here’s wishing you a very happy and blissful tiny secret festive season!!
I laughed so many times reading this post–righ tfrom the meaningful look you gave your husband at your THIRD trick-or-treater to “cold gnomevember rain.”
You’ve probably seen this already, but I like to share it with students when we workshop writing: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/notes-on-sweet-child-o-mine-as-delivered-to-axl-rose-by-his-editor
I agree with you Maya! Nicole HAS to write a book.
And thank you for the November Rain chuckle.
Aw, thank you both! xo
Hahahahahaomg, that is tremendous, thank you Maya!
I haven’t heard that about the building block to a happy life but it makes me happy just hearing it! Awww!
“Where do we go now?/WHere do we go now?” lol
Nicole, I think the very first post I ever read of yours was about the Tiny Secret Festive Season three years ago. I immediately knew you were MY KIND OF PERSON. And the truth is, I was kind of thinking about it all weekend, hoping you would mention it in today’s post. AND YOU DID, hooray!!!
If you like talking to people about their lives, you should have my job (massage therapist.) You would think people would just want to relax, and some of them do, but others decide to basically brain dump for an entire hour, and I have heard some stories!
I’m laughing at your future corpse conversation in the checkout lane- especially at the people behind you listening. It is interesting how much people will open up to a total stranger- I think in general people must be really lonely.
OMG really? That was the first post you read? Well I’m glad I stay on brand!
I have to say I am a little surprised people talk so much during massages! But I guess people are lonely, and that’s an opportunity to just let it out. I bet you’ve heard some great stories!
I am a Too Early person, I have to admit. But for myself. You do you. (And I am thinking of making an exception for holiday drinks and pastries at Starbucks because I do need to pace myself, but so far I’ve held off.)
You must be a very approachable person in person, which is not a surprise based on your online persona.
*remembers to keep this a secret from Steph*
I don’t know what it is about me, but it happens SO often that I get really involved stories from complete strangers!
Fun story about the poop emoji. The other day I was talking to my hairdresser (speaking a CONVERSATIONS) and she said a child showed up at her door in a puffy, swirly costume and she [my lovely, introverted, hairdresser] said: Oh, I know what you are! You’re a chocolate soft-serve ice cream.
You can see where this is going, can’t you?
To which the pint-sized child replied, with a side of self-righteous scoffing: Um, no. I’M THE POOP EMOJI.
I will put up my downstairs artificial tree right after Remembrance Day, my photo cards arrived today (I like to mail them out in November – yes I am THAT person, I figure people will remember the first and last card they receive, so I aim to be the first), and I’ve wrapped some gifts. That’s about it. But we have a cookie and carol sing night at church next week, so they’re getting in the spirit early 🙂
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
I am SO grossed out by a child dressing as the poop emoji, the only thing worse is seeing poop emoji stuffies for sale. Someone is buying them for their children to snuggle up with. For their children to snuggle up with POOP.
I am a Too Early person, too, but I will not harsh your Tiny Festive Season. You do you, my friend.
I am dumbfounded that people talk to you about such personal things so quickly! I do not elicit this response from people and not so secretly wonder what the people behind you in line are thinking when you are engaging cashiers in these talks!
I don’t know how or why it happens, but it happens all the time, ALL THE TIME, ENGIE. Sometimes it is really startling. I can only hope the people behind me in line while talking about my future corpse were amused, or at least not too horrified. Maybe they wanted to join in the conversation!
I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY. First of all, I ALSO want to be turned into a tree when I die. I have spent the last 22 years Making My Wishes Known to my husband, whose own wishes, I am only just now realizing, are completely unknown to me. Hmm. Better ask him about that.
I also have Resting Bitch Face. People will ask me, occasionally, what’s wrong, and I will have to say, “Nothing, that’s just my face.” I try to keep an expression of pleasant expectation on my face when in public (I think part of the issue is that my mouth naturally turns down, so I try to counteract that), but it makes my face tired and I think it’s exacerbating my forehead wrinkles.
People ARE endlessly fascinating. I love it so much when people tell me things about themselves! Like the pharmacist who told me about her seven-month-old and then asked if it gets harder, because that’s what she’d told her husband; next summer, the baby will be MOVING and things just go downhill from here. Or the serviceperson who called and regretfully rescheduled because of his vertigo, which he’s had for several years, and shared a couple of the more upsetting incidents (once, he was driving! on the freeway!). People are so different and they are all just walking around experiencing things and I want to know it all.
OMG I think this is WHY I have such forehead wrinkles, because I’m always conscious of my BRF and also when I smile my whole forehead just wrinkles up. Like an apple doll.
I WANT TO KNOW IT ALL TOOOOOOO. I’m so here for all the stories!!
So funny. From your dislike of the poop emoji to your resting bitch face, not to gloss over the very deep, yet casual conversations in the grocery store. I’m not one to get Christmas decor out early. In fact, I drag my feet getting it out at all. It’s a chore for me. Once it is up, it’s lovely. I should probably invest in some holiday scented hand soap, because I love it so much when it’s at someone else’s house. I was up at 4 am again and before my run, I gathered up the handful of Halloween decorations and put them on the living room coffee table. Baby steps, baby steps. A train wreck character isn’t really the kind of thing I want to read about either.
Oh, the hand soaps are so nice and such an easy way to feel festive!
Like you, it doesn’t matter where I am or how I look, people tell me things. Fortunately, like you also, I am endlessly fascinated by people especially when they tell me why they’re doing something. That’s the juicy part.
On a different note, not a fan of hot mess protagonists in novels about modern angst. There seem to be more of that genre anymore.
Ally, it’s so funny that we were just talking recently about oversharing! I love that we share this!
There are SO MANY books about hot mess/ modern angst right now.
In spite of having traveled to Canada often when I was younger, following you and Elisabeth, and my trip there this summer, it’s taken me THIS LONG to figure out that the “not until after [US] Thanksgiving” does not apply to…well the entire rest of the world. I’m fascinated to learn that Remembrance Day is the “acceptable” start – I think it’s a very nice tribute.
But I’m also with you that the correct time to start the holiday spirit and to put out holiday decorations and to take them down is WHEN YOU PERSONALLY FEEL LIKE IT. The older I get the more I appreciate holiday cheer and the sooner the better. The Christmas stuff started going up in my ‘hood on Friday, and our favorite winter dog walking hobby is to see how late it stays up – sometimes until Valentine’s Day and I think we have a record of early March.
Lol, Birchy, this reminds me so much when, as a child, we travelled to the States and upon finding out that we don’t celebrate the 4th of July in Canada, a waitress said in this stunned and surprised voice “well, do y’all celebrate Christmas?” I felt extremely exotic.
In my old neighbourhood there was someone who left their extensive Christmas decor up well into April, and I actually was a bit concerned – did the person in the house DIE, are they incapacitated, what is happening. But I guess it was all taken care of because eventually it did get taken down.
I have a resting bitch face too and, strangers tell me things too. My husband is always amazed by what I can get out of person in only a few minutes. And, speaking of what to do with our bodies when we die (we were speaking of that, right?)-have your read Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach? It is one of the most interesting (non-fiction) and funny books about dead bodies I’ve read. I don’t recommend it to everyone, but I know you will love it.
Ooooh Laura, twinsies! I haven’t read that book BUT YOU KNOW I WILL. Putting it on my list right this second!
I thought of you and TSFS as soon as the calendar flipped (you disrespectful bitch hahahah). I use the candy cane foot cream you gave me every night year round because I just can’t imagine any other acceptable scent for foot cream. I think I might just start everything super early this year, especially Christmas cards, because I just can’t do the same flurry of activity in December that I’ve done the last few years. Giant In-Your-Face Festive Season? Perhaps!
OOOOH GIANT IN YOUR FACE FESTIVE SEASON! I like it, I like it.
I love that candy cane foot cream but their vanilla coconut is also quite lovely. They also have a blood orange/ grapefruit scent which is pleasant, but I think of as more of a warm weather scent.
Love tiny secret festive season— this is genius.
It’s just so fun!
You must be much more approachable than me because strangers don’t converse with me at all. Now, if I’m seated next to a stranger at a work event, etc. I can become best friends with someone by the end of the night. But random strangers passing by? Nope.
I don’t do anything Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. And after cleaning out my parents’ home, I now have some nice Thanksgiving decor that I will enjoy all November. But you go, girl!
I like to think of myself as also waiting until after Thanksgiving – Canadian Thanksgiving!
I didn’t love Sweet bitter, but read it because of the very cool backstory to the book. The author basically pitched her book idea to a literary industry regular that dined at the restaurant she worked at (which is the restaurant in the book, I’m blanking on the name of it – Gramercy Tavern or something like that?). I think the book was too dark and had too many bad decisions for me.
My heart goes out to the dog park mom who was still berating herself for yelling at her children. I’m glad she had you to tell her that parenting is hard. Sometimes validation from a stranger can be so cathartic, oddly. I don’t know if I have a RBF but I do not invite small talk… I am the person who gives off the “do not talk to me” vibe, I think!
I’m here for celebrating the holiday early. I don’t have an official kick off to the holiday season but I do tend to put our tree up in mid-November. Otherwise life gets busy with Thanksgiving followed the Taco’s birthday weekend. I happen to have 11/16 off so will be decorating our tree that day, probably when Paul gets home from school but before we go to get Taco from daycare because it’s way more fun to decorate with a 5yo than a 5 and 3yo…
Did you ever say where you got your body butter? I want some!
In an upcoming post, I’ll talk about memorial trees, but I, like you and Suzanne, want to be turned into a tree when I die. Side note- I have THOUGHTS about death and embalming, among other things. About how much it costs. TO DIE. Do not even get started….BUTTT this got me thinking about how wonderful it would be to have an entire death forest filled with loved ones. That sounds terrifying. Maybe I should reconsider.
RBF all the way, sister. Let’s all start a club.
Lolololol a death forest filled with our loved ones, it’s grim and somehow kind of nice all at once! The body butter is from Rocky Mountain Soap Company, they have some really great products!
I’ve heard of that company! Headed there now! Thank you. ❤️
I always put up the Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving. For some reason though, it seems like a long time to wait this year. I love your idea of Tiny Secret Festive Season! I’m going to try it. Your gnome is THE BEST! I’m definitely going to look for a gnome that lights up!
Michelle, true confession time. I bought it when I was in Banff recently at The Spirit of Christmas. My friend and I had had a FEW glasses of wine and I almost bought another gnome, but realized it was like $200. So I picked up this guy, saw he was only $16.99, a steal! And it wasn’t until I got him home that I realized he lit up! What an exciting surprise.
OH, and I also hate the poop emoji. I just remembered I hadn’t mentioned that when I saw a mom on Facebook requesting stuff to help make a POOP-THEME BIRTHDAY PARTY for her two-year-old. Like, to each their own except NO, WHY, DON’T
WHAT NO. NO, THAT IS UNTENABLE.
This post gave me a lot of laughs, someone else said it and I loved the way they put it…”from your side glance at your husband to cold gnovember rain”. So I now have that song in my head, thank you very much. My question to you though is that if you have RBF, why are people talking to you out of the blue? I think I have RBF or at least some sort of leave me alone face, as I never have people randomly talk to me in public!
I have listened to that podcast about human composting! Or at least A podcast about it; it was fascinating, and I suppose if you were in line next to me I would be happy to talk about it. But how does that conversation start? And is cremation really bad for the environment? We really just can’t win, can we?
Lastly, I gave that Really Good book two stars as I just could not relate to her, nor did I like her. I would kind of agree with another member’s Goodreads review which said: Not Really That Good, Actually.
Lololol Kyria. First of all – this is the million dollar question! I do have RBF in a terrible way but maybe I try to compensate for it? I don’t know. Did you listen to the Science Vs podcast about human compost? It was interesting and no, there is no way to win. Did you ever read Bill Bryson’s book (I can’t remember which one, maybe At Home) in which it seemed like an old church in England was sinking into the ground, but it was really the many bodies buried in the churchyard over centuries which was making the soil rise? That’s unsettling. Anyway, there is no way to win, just being on the planet is bad for the environment. And Not Really That Good, Actually is brilliant and sums it up.
It WAS the Science Vs. podcast and I have read At Home and you are spot on!
You and your Tiny Secret Festive Season arrived in my life around the same time as TK Maxx did. (That may be called something else over there… TJ Maxx? Marshalls? TJX?) Anyway, as an Australian that was my first access to things like Christmas scented handwash, and I have embraced it with vigour! Love your description of the small things for our inner elves.
Kate, this is absolutely wonderful to hear! There’s something about Christmas scented soap that just makes me feel festive! Thanks so much xoxo
Oh, and I’m not sure if we have TJ Maxx in Canada – I know we have Marshalls – hmmm…I should know this!
I keep thinking about that unlikable character and the puppy/dog funeral comment. It’s mean and unkind, but also feels true sometimes. I want another dog at some point, since losing Mulder, but boy, this part sure sucks, and it’s nice to not have new vet bills. My cousin called me crying today, her dog has cancer and they had to put him to sleep today. UGH. What a downer I am, sorry.
Conversations with strangers can be so interesting, and yours are amazing.
I’m not at all an Early person. I prefer to wait until after my brother’s birthday (St. Nicholas Day, December 6th) before doing any decorating. My daughter pretty much wants the tree up ASAP, but I refuse. I am, however, a relatively early gift shopper. I have to mail most of my gifts, so I think that’s why.
Woof, J, December 6 seems very late to me but you do you, girlfriend. I am also an early gift shopper but that’s mostly because I kind of hate the mall when it’s busy. And there is only one mall where I live now, so this will be interesting!
Re: the dogs. I know. The last 18 months of Barkley’s life were so fraught for me, every morning I wondered if I would open up his crate and he would be dead. That’s grim but it’s true. Every time I walked him – which was daily, because I was worried if I stopped that would be the end for sure – people would ask “what’s wrong with your dog.” It wears on you. It was hard to remember him as a puppy when that was the daily reality. So I really, really get it.
This was one of those posts that had too many Favorite Parts for me to list all the Favorite Parts, so I will just list a few, but I need you to know I left others out. For example, there is an emoji I hate so much I will hide Facebook posts that include it, but I don’t want to quote that as a favorite part because that will bring it to our minds.
“Now, if you are a person who is in agreement with the Too Early sentiment, well, you are still welcome here but just know that I am keeping it a secret from you”
“if you’re a person who likes to mimic Costco and start your Holiday Jolliness in July, well, that’s not really Tiny, is it?”
“at which point I, having recently heard a science podcast on the topic, brought up the idea of human compost, and with that, we were off to the races, unfortunately for the people behind me in line”
“I found myself warming to the her a bit near the end as she tries to redeem her sorry self, but in a cool, detached, ‘If I saw her in the grocery store I’d maybe have a polite conversation about seasonal vegetables’ way.”
Swistle, you always know how to make me smile! Thank you!
I, um, don’t decorate? (*ducks*) Seriously, Nicole. I need people like you and Stephany who embrace decorating and loving the seasons to get me to stop being so darned Grinchy.
But I refuse to back down on the poop emoji. There is no call for that grotesque and gross … thing. Can we start a removal petition?
You don’t decorate at all, Anne? Not even a festive themed napkin? Stephany and I will be right there to Griswold your house!
Catching up on the past few weeks of your posts and I’m reminded your blog is a cozy/comfort read for me.
We had a first/bittersweet change for Halloween this year: Ethan, at age 15, went out with friends instead of us. They did a group costume–“French People”–which reminded me of the kind of thing my high school guy friends would have done. For instance one year they went out in only shorts but wrapped in towels and holding bathing implements so it looked like they’d all just stepped out of the shower. In Chicago.
Here’s the link to pics of my kids’ costumes: https://www.instagram.com/p/CzGxyg3gUvEXOEWfO-M1EfUmbEKRQsIMEmRoXg0/igshid=czQ1ZDlsYW5hMG9o
I didn’t do anything this year, though I usually AT LEAST paint my face, because I’ve been stressed waiting for a decision from a local university about my application to the accelerated bachelor of science in nursing program. They said “mid-October” which to me begins on the 13th but means something different to these people: they sent the decision at 9pm on October 31! I didn’t see it until November 1 at 9am. But I’m in!!! Midlife career change!
Anyway I just love you and by you I mean your blog but probably you as a person if I met you in real life, at a dog park, say, or in line at Costco.
Btw my Instagram is private but if you request I’ll accept!
Erin! This is SO exciting! I am so thrilled for you and your midlife career change. Wow, this is incredible. I’m so impressed! Also, wtf, mid-October is not the 31st. Anyway, yay for acceptance!
The wrapped in towels costume cracks me up. Also, it reminded me you live in a much warmer climate than I do!
Oh Nicole, how you crack me up. What a blessing to get to know you!!
I think Christmas lights and music should be left until after November 11th from a respectful point of view. We will have more than enough time to Merry it up!
My favourite chatter that you had with strangers was with the person in the dog park. Oh woah as YOU…
Keep gnoming it up while you’re enjoying your Tiny Festive Season. Loving all the moments you bring to our lives!!
Wendy
Thanks so much Wendy! I’m so glad you enjoy it. I will be enjoying my TSFS until I go Full On Festive Season!
Tiny Festive Season – yayy! I will admit that I brought out my Christmas couch pillows this week. I missed them!! And they make me happy. I also opened up a Christmas tree scented dish soap today. I AM CELEBRATING EARLY AND I DON’T CARE.
I am mystified that you have RBF! I would have put you down for someone with an open, friendly face since people talk to you all the time. I also have massive RBF, and that’s why people DON’T talk to me, haha.
EARLY CELEBRATING TWINS! Honestly, it’s just so much fun.
I DO have RBF! But I think maybe I try to overcompensate for it? I don’t know, it’s a mystery.
You know I am not ready for full blown holiday season, but I like the idea of tiny festive season to easy myself in and make the transition smoother 🙂 I’ve started lighting candles in the evening. BTW, my heart always jumps a tiny bit when I see your (YAMAHA) piano, because I think I told you that I have the exact one at my parents’ house.
I agree with Stephany, I have yet to see your RBF because you seem to be approached by people all the time … but maybe RBF just means you’re NOT smiling all the time and then people take it that you’re somewhat closed off? (I often used to get the “why don’t you smile more”? comment and I wanted to scream “THIS IS MY FACE, deal with it”. LOL
I did remember you have the exact same piano!
I am scared of actual candles, but I am enjoying my electric ones, and my gnome!
How festive!! Loved the warmth oozing from your post. I ad Russian so I don’t smile a whole lot but that does not mean I am not content lol Works great when I’m teaching. I like to keep more of neutral face, not mad or anything, just neutral. They listen better 😉
Daria, that’s so interesting! Is that a Russian thing? I had no idea!
Nicole,
Love the idea of slowly filtering Christmas into your life until it’s time to light up the tree and the outdoor lights! Your post was very enjoyable! Love it when I have talks with strangers. They provide so much fodder to write about! And the Gnovember rain pun made me giggle! Mona
Hi there! I’m so glad you also love random chats with strangers! I love it so much. It just makes life so interesting!