Xmas, Already?

So I was putting DD to bed just a few minutes ago, and I came back downstairs to clean up the supper dishes and things, and I heard the Planters Peanut commercials, with the baby Mr. Peanut and Christmases past, with the song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," as the theme.

I could hardly believe it. I walked into the living room to look, and yes, it was *that* commercial. It's November 13th. There is still a week and a few days until Thanksgiving.

I am not ready for that most wonderful time of the year. I'm not even prepared for the cold weather. In fact, last week, we had a few 65+ degree days.

I noticed that there were a few commercials dealing with Christmas about a week or so ago; mostly they reminded people that Christmas was coming, and to be planning for gifts. I suppose that in another couple of weeks, we'll really be getting bombarded by advertisements.

I am cutting back this year on gift-giving. Last year, DD got so much stuff that we still have some toys that we didn't even open. (Plus, her birthday is a month after Christmas, so she gets more stuff then.) So, Santa will be bringing probably a few smallish gifts and clothes, because she's outgrown nearly everything. As for my other family members, I already told my sister and my sister-in-law that we're buying for the kids only, so that's four nieces and one nephew.

I went crazy last year trying to bake cookies and give them out to my family members and I felt so let down afterward—I know they enjoyed eating them, but my mom had also made a slew of cookies. And DD seemed completely overwhelmed with all of the stuff she received. I went shopping the day after Thanksgiving and spent too much money on junk and then felt major guilt for the rest of the year afterward. My post-holiday depression finally let up around February.

I don't want to have to feel like that again this year. I've already been planning the few gifts to buy for my nieces and nephew, so that I don't end up spending way too much money on something that ends up being crap.

I would like to enjoy the holidays this year instead of feeling like nothing is ever good enough... so I guess I should quit watching tv now, huh? ;)