And It’s November…

Yes. It’s weird to have a picture of ice cream in a post about November. But I’ve completely run out of pictures having anything to do with Fall or Winter or the Holidays, and this photo was taken the last time I can remember being truly cold. (It was 18 months ago. And I was in Maine.)

November promises to be a crazy month around here. In a few weeks I’ll board a plane for the states to see friends, spend Thanksgiving with my family, move forward on possibly purchasing our first home, and show my dude’s art at an indie Christmas market (“The Christmas Show”) in Denton. Before that, I’ll be finalizing products for the market, preparing to leave home for a few weeks, and trying to home-school the heck out of myself about home-buying. (If you know of any must-read books, PLEASE let me know.)

Overall, I’m pretty dang excited. Besides spending a holiday with my family, I’ll get to see Breaking Dawn (in the theater!) with one of my best friends and sneak away to Seattle, a place which promises to be everything that the dessert is not. I’m a happy girl.

But enough about that. Here are a few thoughts for November and a prompt for the personal monthly preview.

Now is a Great Time To: Start Christmas Shopping

Several years ago, my other best friend on the planet let me in on a great life secret: get your Christmas shopping done before Thanksgiving.

I’m sure she’s not the first to say it, but she’s the first person I’ve known who’s ever regularly done it. I’d tell you how she finishes so early, but then I’d be spoiling an upcoming post.

Even if you don’t finish by Christmas, making your list now and purchasing the things you’re already sure of will ease the December gift-gathering mania.

November is a great month for: Warm Drinks!

One of the many things I miss about cold weather is the soul-stirring way it couples with a warm drink. So as the cold weather starts coming down and the holidays gear up, drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte and think of me, will you?

My hope is to share several DIY hot drinks with you on Foodist Fridays this month. Of course, I can’t go promising because we all saw what happened last time. But I do promise to try, and I already have several in mind to share with you.

Also, I just saw an ad in my tablet version of Entertainment Weekly (love that I can still get this stuff from home without spending the $10 an issue it costs here!) that from Nov 15 – 18, from 2-5pm, Starbucks is offering buy one get one free on their holiday drinks. (Don’t worry, I’ll remind you on Twitter.) And, as long as customs doesn’t hold me up at the airport, I’ll skate in just under the deadline. I’ll likely be at the Starbucks near Grapevine Mills Mall sipping a Caramel Brulee Latte. Oh gosh I’m excited.

And of course it’s time for…

The Monthly Preview

Do you get tired of these? I always need a reminder to get centered at the beginning of the month. But if it’s a downer, I’ll certainly rethink continuing to post it each month.

There are just over 8 weeks left in 2012. And as the last two months of the year are often the busiest, if there is anything you need or want to get done before January 1st, now is a great time to prioritize, plan, and schedule it.

Because my next four weeks are scheduled in fine detail already, I’m forgoing my usual personal monthly preview for November. I feel like I’m working on what I need to be, and I’m afraid that if I think about the bigger picture at this point I might get really overwhelmed by all the stuff not getting done.

But I’ve already chosen what I’ve chosen, and I’m content with that.

…what about you?…

Have you already taken a wide-angle view of November? What will you be up to this month?