Dave and Busters wasn’t the only fun aspect of this week. I can easily tell it’s the onset of the holiday season.

Wednesday my community had a holiday party. It wasn’t as amazing as the event to celebrate the opening of our community center, but it was close. The day was sadly ruined when Applebees charged us out the ass for our beer afterwards. Still, the wine and people were great!

Friday, we had a fabulous visit to Delux for our holiday lunch at work. I had a nice flight of fruit inspired beers and an interestingly good white chocolate ale.

After work there was a meet up at Papago Brewing. This was my first time at Papago. I loved the selection of items on tap as well as the selection of bottles. The atmosphere is nice as well. Unsure of what to have, I asked for a pale ale suggestion from the bartender. I ended up having Stone’s Pale Ale and upon thanking the bartender for the wonderful selection, I was informed by the gentleman next to me that women with good taste in beer, such as myself, are in high demand. I should’ve mentioned that I am addicted to watching NFL games as well and that I enjoy Rock Band, Mortal Kombat, and I still dress up unlike a tomboy. I guess I really am just that amazing

Last night I went with friends to see the holiday production of the Phoenix Neutrino Project at Space 55. It was a great production and I even donated my Starbucks coffee cup (empty of course) as a prop. Afterwards we attended the “cast” after party for a bit. I won a fabulous glass tray in multiple shades of purple in an auction to benefit the Phoenix Improv Festival but sadly left before the karaoke began.

I also would like to comment that I received all my Christmas presents from my parents and I have only opened one.. and only because I thought it was a piece for my nativity set. It ended up being a gorgeous scarf though that I am seriously in love with and cannot wait to wear!

My plans for today? Watching some football (go figure) and then who knows.

I spent awhile this year hoping I could find a live tree for Christmas. I came to the realization that I would have to travel a distance if I would want to cut one down like I normally do, and settled for the fact that I would realistically have to pick one out of a parking lot.

It came down to the weekend after Thanksgiving, when I usually pick out my tree. It was warm and sunny and beautiful out. It just didn’t feel like Christmas. I tried to put on some Christmas music. . . that didn’t help. Then I attempted to dress like it was Christmas, and that didn’t help either. Finally I decided I might just try a new tradition here, and while that seems slightly bittersweet, it’s also a little exciting.

One of my friends offered me a small (4 ft) pink tinsel tree. This tree is incredible. It even has a pink electrical cord. I opted to run with it. I found my older small snowman angel tree topper as my Rainbow Brite angel would more than likely cause the tree to topple over. I put on some of my favorite ornaments. Once it was up it was just too low to the ground so I put it on top of a rubbermaid bin that contained my decorations. Over that I put my enormous tree skirt which due to the size of the tree looks like a piece of fabric I bought to cover the bin. My nativity scene and other items are all up as well.. everything except my typical household decorations (those will come in the next week or so).

Alas, here are some pictures of the tree and of my house (don’t mind the random boxes and clutter and lack of items on the wall).