Although it is hard to believe it’s that time of the year again already, all of the stores here have had their holiday decorations up for weeks. My neighbors’ front yards are full of lights and inflatable snow globes. People around me are already halfway through their holiday shopping! I’m not there yet, not even close (okay, not really started on the shopping thing at all!)…but I am happy that the holiday season has finally arrived.
One of my favorite parts about Christmas is the music. I love all of it – the silly songs on the radio, the beautiful sacred music at church, and our family favorites that get played and replayed on our iPods from the Friday after Thanksgiving until January 6, when the 12 days of Christmas are up and we finally have to admit that the holiday season is over.
There is nothing like the perfect holiday song to set the mood and bring back memories from special times. Whether you are hosting a dinner party, baking treats, wrapping gifts, or cleaning your house for an onslaught of guests, the right soundtrack can make the difference between feeling festive and feeling frantic. To that end, I offer you these holiday playlists: one for the high-energy times when you need motivation to get things done, and one for the calmer, quieter times when you’d like to sit down and savor the season. Think of these as a gift to each of you in your crazy, need to be soothed moments and in the moments when you need a little encouragement to crank out another batch of cookies.
However you are spending the holidays this year, I hope these songs will be a welcome addition to your preparations and celebrations. Enjoy!
**Note: You may need to download the free Spotify software on your computer (if you don’t already have it) to be able to listen to the music. No worries, though- it’s really easy to do and doesn’t cost you anything but a few minutes.
Abbey Dupuy is a stay-at-home parent to a preschooler and one-year-old twins. She writes about practicing gratitude and learning to be a little easier on herself through the ups and downs of life at www.survivingourblessings.com. To keep her sanity, she enjoys running, fiber arts, baking, and going places that offer free refills on coffee or Diet Coke.