The Best of November

I don't think November is the easiest month to like - kind of dull, kind of cold, no celebrations (we've already had our Thanksgiving) etc.  So I'm setting myself a challenge to find ten things I am looking forward to enjoying in November.  At the end of September and October when I looked back at the lists I had made I realized I had in fact got to enjoy every item on them.

So here is my list of things to enjoy in November - interspersed with photos that I took this morning, a cool crisp fall day with a lovely frost.

 

1.  Frost (and possibly first snow fall) - I love how frost looks like icing sugar on everything.

2.  Jack Frost on the windows - I put this one separate in my list from the one above, because what I love are the shapes and designs that appear as if by magic when you are defrosting your car windows.

3.  Bum Heat - my car has a seat warmer (aka bum heat) and I have to say I loooove it on a cold winter morning.

4. Crisp, clear, sunny days - like today in fact.

5.  The last of the coloured leaves - most trees are already bare, but there are still a few yellow and brown leaves clinging to the trees and some coloured bushes.

6.  Christmas Shopping - we try and get our shopping done in November.  Hubby and I  make a table on the computer with ideas for stocking stuffers and gifts and then we highlight them when they are purchased.   We email the list back and forth to each other so that we can add ideas at home or work - whenever inspiration strikes.

7.  Homemade Christmas gifts - Every year I used to have the kids make homemade presents for their teachers and the grandparents, but those days are long gone.   I still want to make something homemade, though, and I have an idea that I would like to make in the next week or so.  I'll share it with you then.

8.  Prepare the advent calendar treats - When the kids were small we had an advent calendar with pockets that I would fill with chocolates, but now that they are older and some of them are living away from home I'm going to make up little presents to send out to them.

9.  Enjoy the Christmas frenzy in magazines, in stores, and across blogland.   It's not about feeling guilty for not doing more than I do or even necessarily looking for inspiration, but rather just to enjoy the creative styling that is available.

10.  Eating by candlelight.  Once the days grow longer and we are no longer in daylight savings time, it is dark by dinner time so we eat by candlelight most nights.  It kind of elevates an ordinary meal into something fancier.

What about you - anything you especially enjoy in November?