I think I wrote the same thing last year

I am beginning to realize something about myself. I don't like Christmas. Let me clarify...I don't like the gift giving. I hate it actually. Each year I try to plan ahead and make lists or try new ways of "giving" gifts, but in the end I hate it still. I am being completely honest here, the perfect Christmas for me would involve NO GIFTS!!! There I said it. In fact this year Andy and I aren't exchanging gifts at all. Instead we are using the money  towards a new dresser that we desperately need.

I have no idea what I am going to do for gifts this year. I have tried to enlist the help of my husband, but he hates this part of Christmas even more than I do, so I really feel like I am on my own here. Today I am getting off work early to get some Christmas shopping done, and I have little to no idea (not to mention money) as to what I am going to buy people.

On the flip side, I have no idea what people should buy Andy and I. We have more than enough stuff. We don't even have room for all the stuff we have. That is again why I am so anti-gift. I think once you get to a certain age the idea of gifts becomes irrelevant, because you start wanting/needing really expensive things. For instance, this is what I would like our Christmas list to look like;

• A new bed (peferrable solid wood)
• A new dresser
• A kitchen hutch
• A new TV
• A new artifical Christmas tree (I am pretty sure ours is on its last leg)

Okay, I feel like I should stop being so grumpy about it. I should try and see the silver lining. I have friends and family who I love and who love me in return. I just feel that there is so much pressure associated with this day and I know that there would be one really easy way of getting rid of all that stress. My future plans is to own a house and throw a huge Christmas potluck. Gifts would be strictly forbidden. Instead there would be good food and friends. To mee that is how you celebrate a holiday.