Okay... I finally found this thread. Thanks for pointing me to it, OM!

Jim Dixon: Yes, but doesn't bying them ready-made rather defeat the whole point? ;-) I certainly don't think Linda's grandmother would approve...

This is what gets me about all the sour-pusses that complain that "Christmas has become too pressured and commercial!"

The desire to bring some brightness into the house isn't commericial. The desire to give isn't commercial. The desire to make someone smile isn't commercial. It's only too pressured if you allow yourself to give into the hype that says there's only one way to do these things.

It's a wonderful feeling to go into the Mall, see the Christmas decorations, smile and wave at the Santa, and realize that you don't want any of the stuff.