You know that warm Christmas-is-coming feeling that you used to get when you were a kid, and you never really get it anymore, but every year you look for it? And hope that it’ll appear? I’ve been feeling that warm Christmas-is-coming feeling lately, and I don’t know where it came from, but I want it to staaaaay ❤
On Saturday evening I was standing at checkout with a basket full of candy, and the woman standing behind me (holding a couple rolls of Christmas wrapping paper) commented that I was either going to the movies or had some crazy munchies. I told her that I was actually on my way to a gingerbread house party and how happy I was about it, as I hadn’t made one in years. She got really excited and said how much she loved making gingerbread houses, and she and the cashier both agreed that it was an amazing Christmas tradition. I finished paying, and the cashier and fellow shopper both gave me a big smile and said goodbye with a genuine, and exuberant, “I hope you have fun tonight!!”
And that’s what I love about this time of year — those sweet interactions with strangers aren’t really all that rare.
Most of us have experienced the joy of small holiday traditions with the people we adore, and when we connect with someone about it — not matter how brief the interaction — I think it somehow makes us all feel closer in a weird way, like we share something special.
As someone who always smiles at strangers, I love that, and it made me feel warm and fuzzy while I drove to my aunt’s house, singing along to Christmas songs on the way.
two pounds heavier — I miraculously got her home in one piece
I must say, I’m relieved that I built my graham cracker structure before the actual party day, cause I ended up arriving a bit late (I had a busy afternoon), and I didn’t need that kind of pressure when it came to creating a masterpiece.
My clean lines and candy cane beam supports were carefully thought-out and executed, and it held up extremely well to two tubs of vanilla frosting.
Back in the old days, Mom would host gingerbread parties. All the aunts, uncles, and cousins would come over and create…well…creations. Not all of them would fall into the category of “houses,” but, they were, for sure, something special.
Let’s be honest, we’ve really stepped up our game since then, because what were all those empty cardboard bases?? Where were the snowy yards?? The walkways?? The fire pits?? The trees??
December 19th, 2005
The memories of those parties hold nothing but warmth and festive feelings, and I was so excited when my cousin decided to go through all the work of hosting one this year.
When I arrived, the tables were already trashed — pure sugar-filled chaos. There was too much to choose from, and I honestly didn’t even know that some candies were in the mix until I saw them on other people’s houses later in the night (I really could’ve put those star-shaped sprinkles to good use).
gotta say, Payne did an exceptional job executing this party, and officially kicking off the Christmas season
Although the other people at my table seemed to have well-thought-out plans, my course of action was to simply just start sticking random candies down.
My theme was: as much candy as the frosting can hold, and I’m pretty sure I succeeded. By the end of the night my roof was starting to bow a bit, and my woodshed (with a stack of tootsie rolls inside) currently looks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The competition was steep this year too — I was impressed, to say the least.
A beach house on stilts (complete with tiki torches)?
Full candy-corn roofs?
Whole farm yards?
Log cabins with shimmery streams?
Lollipop hobbit doors?
An admirable attempt at stained glass (we saw the vision)?
I may not have won 1st place (or 2nd or 3rd), but I did win the category of most scrumptious™, so that tells you everything you need to know about my heavenly little cottage with the rickety balcony, the twizzler-lined driveway, and the two little ponies in the yard (a last-minute, and unexplainable, addition).
Anyway, what screams Christmas-is-coming more than twenty people, covered in sugar, and proceeding to play silly games til midnight? 🎄
art by jordan rae 