Commencing the Christmas Season in…NOW.

Before you all get up in arms (but AMY, it’s not even THANKSGIVING yet), let me just tell you that if I wait for Thanksgiving, I’m a dead girl! I leave for the holidays in less than a month, people. So, yes. It’s time to declare the Christmas season OPEN. You guys can wait until after Thanksgiving if you want, but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do.

The first order of business is to create a Christmas music playlist. This might seem simple, but I usually try out several versions before settling on the final line-up. As of today, I have proto-type 1 created. I’ll give you the rundown when it’s passed all its inspections. Hey! This is serious business. A Christmas playlist must have the perfect blend of the of old classics and the new additions. The right combination of upbeat vs. dignified. A diverse list of artists. Here are a few of my favorites, just to get you started.

Makes me cry every time

Hands down, this is Josh Groban’s version of Home For Christmas. Every. Single. Time. Sometimes, even when I’m just describing it.

Makes me want to car-dance (I think you know what I mean)

Um, gotta be All I Want for Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

Makes me laugh

Relient K’s fresh approach to The Twelve Days of Christmas is the winner here. My favorite part is when they sing “Five golden rings” backwards. That kind of committment should be rewarded…

Makes me feel nostalgic

White Christmas from the incomparable Bing Crosby, of course. I believe my family has this on record. 🙂

In addition to creating my first go at my official 2011 Christmas mix, today, I had a peppermint mocha out of a red Starbucks cup, Christmas shopped (even stopped at the MALL!) with two of my favoritest friends ever, honed my Christmas shopping list, and tuned into the local holiday radio station.

It’s so go time! Who’s with me?!?