Brown Paper Packages

It snowed here the other day. It melted when it hit the ground, but still...it snowed. I love the snow. I can't imagine having winter without it; the two are synonymous. For me they have to be, because if winter's not cold then what would happen to all those cozy indoor holiday traditions? Would they loose their magic? Because they do have have it. There is a tiny bit of magic woven into the fabric of our holiday traditions.Holidays can bring about a lot of pressure. Scheduling in your family time with your spouse's family time, digging out all the decorations that don't seem to be in the same spot you put them last year, frantically trying to finish up all those handknit scarves you're giving to all the women in your family, mall parking - 'nuff said. But the thing about all of those stressors is that, when you live in the moment, you'll find they're really part of the joy of the season. We can't manufacture time, but we can make something out of it.One of my favorite things to do is to weave some of that magic into each and every gift I give. I may not make all of my gifts by hand, but it doesn't mean I won't spend hours dressing them up and grooming them just so. Most people see gift wrapping as a tedious chore that's rushed through the night before, but not me. I cherish that time spent wrapping. I see it as a luxury; a chance to sit and immerse myself in the moment. I get to re-look at my purchases and envision how their intended recipient will use it, wear it, love it. I get to surround myself with my favorite things - scissors, paper, glue - and turn a white shirt box into a masterpiece. And that smile that lights up someone's face before they've even unwrapped their package - well, that's just plain old magical.

For more handmade holiday traditions, including cute printables and yummy recipes galore, take a wander through some of my EtsyGreetings team member's blogs by clicking either arrow above.

til next time,
-Kate ♥