In the court of VERY unpopular opinion, my roommate and I decorated our apartment for Christmas before Thanksgiving…gasp! I know. I get it every. single. year: “It’s not Christmas until Santa comes down the street in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.” “Oh, so we’re skipping Thanksgiving this year?” “You can’t do that!” Honestly, that one is my favorite: You can’t do that. I can and oh honey, I just did.

Living in Florida is one of my favorite things ever, the weather is amazing, it’s basically sunny every single day of the year and during the winter 60° is cold! However, downsides include sweating all of the time in the summer, even when it’s dark out, the wildlife is really trying to kill us and oh yeah, during the holidays it just doesn’t feel like Christmas when you can go swimming on Thanksgiving day!

This is the main reason I embrace the Christmas holiday a few weeks before it’s culturally acceptable. There is no snow, no smell of pine in the air and most certainly no crackling fireplace to hang our stockings on with care so it’s hard to think that Santa is on his way. In fact, here in Florida, it’s actually possible to take your photo with a Surfin’ Santa while strolling the outdoor malls with a nice, cold beer in hand.

When I’m not in the winter wonderland that is my beautifully decorated apartment I am either listening to a podcast, the new Taylor Swift album, or some of my absolute favorite holiday songs! With that being said I couldn’t let this holiday season begin without sharing some of my favorite songs with you. This list may jump all over the place and be pretty eccentric but at the end of the day…it is all about Christmas. Whether you’re celebrating the holiday with hot chocolate to keep warm while it snows outside, or you’re getting your feet wet at the beach I hope you have an amazing time surrounded by your friends and loved ones and some really awesome holiday tunes!

My Revamped Playlist: November 26, 2017

“Soulful Christmas” by James Brown

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman/We Three Kings” by Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan

“Linus and Lucy” by Vince Guaraldi Trio

“The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole

“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid

“Mele Kalikimaka” by Bing Crosby and The Andrew Sisters

“All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey

“O Holy Night” by Celine Dion

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams

“Winter Song” by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

“Last Christmas” by Wham!

“Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by *NSYNC

“River” by Sarah McLachlan

“(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays” by Perry Como

“Christmas Eve/Sarajevo” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Judy Garland

“Auld Lang Syne” by Bing Crosby