I’m not big into holidays. Not really my thing. I dislike Christmas music and easily get fired up about insane consumerism/materialism of the season (of which, unfortunately, I often participate in. ugh.) But this year, my goal is to embrace the holidays and learn to enjoy the nonstop twitter tirade of “Just tuned in to the 24/7 Christmas music station!” and “Starbucks finally has their gingerbread/apple cider/acorn delight lattes!” Why am I such a Scrooge?!

This year will be different though. I WILL BE A JOLLY GOOD ELF! Even if it kills me… And so, to start the season off right, Koes and I cut down a tree. Neither of us has ever had a real Christmas tree and after talking to some longtime PDX-ers we found out that chopping down your own tree is super cheap. And FUN. I loved it. Maybe it was the hunt. Finding the perfect tree was no easy task. It took us at least an hour to find “the one.” Maybe it was the therapeutic act of using a saw for the first time ever. Anger and aggression is temporarily relieved. Maybe it was being in the fresh air and smoochin on the Bong in a forest that kinda reminded me of Twilight. Whatever it was, it was really fun. It helped me forget about all the things I hate about holidays and focus on what I am truly loving about this Christmas season…