Angela Jamison is a native Montanan and she grew up in beautiful Bozeman. I'm the mother of two girls and write a blog about our life here and taking in the simple pleasures of family and food.
I’m a holiday girl and Christmas ranks right up there at the top. Things begin right after Thanksgiving when the holiday decorations come out. A tree is hunted in the mountains while consuming plenty of hot cocoa and then promptly put up and quickly covered in lights and a history of ornaments. Our tree is not one of those perfect looking trees…you know the ones. Color coordinated, with lights situated in just the right places and beautiful ornaments to accent it. Ours is a perfectly imperfect tree, branches uneven and a bit sparse from a hard life as a mountain tree. Lights are strung with care, but no matter what always seem to be uneven. The ornaments are an assortment of ones from my childhood, new ones we’ve accumulated and of course the beloved handmade ornaments. These will forever be my favorites. Candy canes made from pipe cleaner and handprints with photos…things that make us stop a moment as it’s unwrapped and recall the memory that surrounds it. Throughout the month of December, each time I look at the tree I will smile.
As crazy as I am about Christmas, I strive to keep it as simple. To not get caught up in the chaos that can surround this holiday. The craziness that can ruin it because of the many commitments, too much buying, over indulging…it’s easy to lose sight of the true meaning. We are not a religious family but try to keep the real spirit of the season alive. For me this means focusing on my family and our time together creating holiday traditions. You can’t do everything, so I stick with a few that are important to us and soak them up. The getting and decorating of the Christmas tree is just one of our favorites.
More traditions...
Going to the Bozeman Christmas Stroll. Oh, the stroll. It is the first Saturday of December and officially begins the season in my opinion. I’ve been going for many years and I love it always. Even when it is well below zero. Even when it’s too crowded. Even when it’s hard because you are taking a baby and toddler. The magic of seeing the old lights lit up. The festive spirit in the air. Running into old friends. The hot toddies. What’s not to love?
Baking goodies. There’s something about the combination of cold weather, snow and the holidays that makes baking the best. It’s about being inside and cozy and creating something. We up the ante of baking by having an annual cookie party with family. Filling the kitchen with delicious smells, lots of laughter and a huge mess of sprinkles and frosting. Bonus points for setting up a reindeer food buffet for the kids. An assortment of goodies…oats, cocoa, glitter and flour (flying powder!) for kids to put together to sprinkle on the driveway on Christmas Eve.
Giving Back. We are very fortunate to be able to give Christmas gifts to our loved ones. I am aware that not everyone gets this luxury. During a holiday that can be all about getting gifts we make sure to include the tradition of giving. Even if it’s in a small way. Encouraging our children to participate, nurturing their feelings of gratitude and compassion. Helping others in our Bozeman community.
Shopping responsibly. Oh, how easy it is to get caught up in the consumerism of this holiday. I am 100% guilty of this. Over the past several years I have tried to find a way to change this so I can feel good about the purchases I make. Trying hard to make thoughtful, considerate purchases for those I love. Thinking quality over quantity always. Focusing on shopping locally. We are so lucky to live in Bozeman where this is attainable. Our downtown is filled with small businesses to choose from. We have gift bazaars and SLAM before Christmas for opportunity to buy unique, handmade gifts from local artists. Every time I buy a gift locally I feel good about it. Some of my favorites…Tart. It’s in the Emerson and everything is from local artists. It is my go-to gift store. Hey Day-they have a huge variety…from jewelry to cooking items to books. Things you wouldn’t normally think of, but when you go in you always find something. Country Bookshelf-when looking for books it’s so easy to go to Barnes and Noble but every time I go in the Country Bookshelf I am happy. Maybe I’ve watched “You’ve Got Mail” one too many times but I love supporting this small bookstore. Leaf & Bean-not just for coffee…they have the best quirky gifts. I don’t do all my holiday shopping downtown, but the gifts I’m always the most excited to give are when I go local.
Christmas morning. Waking up way too early. Anxious to see excited faces when they check out how many cookies Santa ate and catch their first glimpse under the tree. Staying in pajamas all day. Even if we go sledding. Spending time with family and friends. Collapsing at the end of it knowing it was simply a success.
Yes, I love Christmas very much.
Happy Holidays…may yours be simple and true.
Montana’s estimated population rose by 8,715 people, or by 0.9 percent, from mid-2013 to mid-2014, the U.S. Census Bureau reported this week.
President Barack Obama has signed wilderness legislation that preserves large areas of land in the North Fork of the Flathead and on the Rocky Mountain Front.