Oh, hi!

That's what my sweet niece, Moriah, says when she sees someone she loves. No matter if you've been gone for five minutes or a week, she looks up with a bright smile and wide eyes to greet you with those two words.

Only, truly, it sounds more like, "Ohhhh, hiiiiii!"

After being on a few extended trips with her and her family, you can't help but adopt the saying yourself. All of us Petrees do it now. And I think, like Moriah, what we're really saying is "I am so happy to see you! You really matter to me and I'm glad you're here."

So. Two months later.

Oh, hi!

It's December, my friends. December! That means Christmas! I love me some Christmas and I feel all bear-huggy about this one. Yup, bear-huggy.

I kicked it off down in Macon where I spent Thanksgiving with Mom and Allie. Jason was supposed to be there too, but God love 'im, he ended up sick and we decided he should just stay put. So, a girls only Thanksgiving it was! I basically stayed in my pj's the entire time and it was GLORIOUS. However, I did make my 2nd Annual Black Friday Jo-Ann Fabrics Trip and came away loaded with all the supplies I need to make this another Crafty Christmas.

Oh, yes, it needs to be capitalized. Crafty. Christmas. Bring it.

Jason surprised me this week with a date night, free dinner at Outback Steakhouse (thanks generous homeowner clients!) and then our annual picking of the Christmas tree. Kickoff to Christmas Date Night? Don't mind if I do! We ran into a handsome fellow at Lowe's...

...then it was on to peruse our options.

{Seriously, how cute is my husband? Totes adorbs. Be still my heart....}

Y'all, no joke, we ended up with the very first tree Jason picked up. It was everything you want in a Christmas tree. Tall, destined to be full but not too full, a perfect gap here and there for those larger ornaments, a nice tall topper for the angel...divine. Climb into the back of the truck, tree! You're coming home with us.

And it did.

I shocked Jason by not decorating the tree that very night, but I just wasn't feeling it. What's this? A break from Christmas decorum? Yes, but I plan to give that tree all sorts of Christmas accessories this weekend so it ends up looking a little something like this...

Don't you worry, darling tree. You're going to be gorgeous and loved and admired by all who enter here. I give you my solemn word as the Queen of Christmas.*

More December Delights were to be found this week in the form of OH MY WORD, I WON FREE CONCERT TICKETS FROM A FACEBOOK CONTEST. There's a new music venue in Chattanooga called Track 29 that is bringing in some of the major artists that cities like Nashville and Atlanta tend to attract. Jars of Clay and Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors are playing their Christmas show there tonight and Track 29 was giving away a pair of tickets every day this week.

Um, hello? Social media competition with minimal entries? Oh, I am ALL over this. So I liked the status, made the poster my profile pic, commented and shared it on my wall. I may or may not have even kept track of all the given entries on a day so that I could figure out what percentage would be mine. But that would be weird, right? Well, weird sometimes pays off because my friend Lexi and I will be singing along at the show tonight!

Live Christmas music + Christmas craftiness + Yuletide decorating = my delightful weekend to come.

And stay tuned! Next week, I'll be hosting a giveaway for a fabulous print created by one of my dearest friends in Texas. Her shop is going to help you with your Christmas shopping list, I promise.

In the meantime, please do remember that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loudly for all to hear. So go do it. What are you waiting for? It's December!

*I've found that giving yourself a title for holidays increases your seasonal joy tenfold. Won't you make yourself a queen or king or duke or duchess today? You won't regret it.