I was not aware that we moved the Christmas Season to start the day after Halloween, but apparently that is the case, so “Merry Halloween” everyone. I went to Target early on November 1st to check out the left-over Halloween costumes on sale, but instead I was greeted with snowflakes falling from the ceiling and aisles full of Christmas items. I hear Santa is already in the malls too. I refuse to be a pawn in the retail establishment’s game! I will not listen to one note of Christmas music or hang one sprig of mistletoe until after Thanksgiving! Except…I was at Target last night and passed by the Christmas aisles where I saw A FULLY ASSEMBLED GINGERBREAD HOUSE and I just had to get it.

For those of you who decorate gingerbread houses each year, you understand. And for those of you who go all Martha Stewart-like and bake your own house pieces and make your own icing and then expertly put the whole thing together….I bow down; I’m not worthy. For the rest of us, the fun is in the decorating…the frustration is in “gluing” the house pieces together with icing, without it falling down or the roof sliding off. And then waiting for it to dry while your previously eager kid has now moved on to another project. About 3 years ago I discovered the beauty of using a fully assembled house, but unfortunately couldn’t find one again until now. So, even though I loathe this whole Merry Halloween sham, I just had to buy the gingerbread house. I suggest that you do the same.