"It's the most wonderful time of the year..." Christmas is around the corner and now that Thanksgiving is over Christmas music can be played and Christmas decorations can go up! This excites me since Christmas is my favorite holiday. Christmas music is going full blast and my apartment is starting to look and feel like Christmas. I was able to find an artificial tree that comes up to my waist. It is now decorated with white lights, red and gold ribbon, and white frosted pine cones. I'm pretty satisfied with my effort. I also found a snowman with a sign that says "Willkommen"(German)...in Japan! Of course, I had to purchase it. I am part German after all and it will forever remind me of the many "Valkommen" (Swedish) hangings we have at home:)