Let me tell you about November. It starts and you immediately realize there are only 2 months left in the year (and this year only two months left in the decade!) and you are in full holiday mode. Starbucks holiday cups can be seen from a mile away, dogs are lining up for their “Puppucinos,” and shopping malls, like the Grove in LA, are entertaining crowds with fake snow, Santa lines and holiday music.

Well let me tell you: this time of year has been notoriously up and down for me. If you’re anything like me (aka relatively normal and know what you do and don’t enjoy this time of year) you usually know this month can go one of two ways: good or bad. So I decided to break if down for you as to whether November is either going to be a really great and relaxed month and how you know it likely won’t be:

When November is Good

1. You’re in no rush to start outfitting your apartment with fall and Thanksgiving type pieces but are more interested in investing in year round home decor (Hi, me!).
2. You have not thought of a single recipe to make and are entirely sure that grocery shopping shouldn’t be done in person: Amazon all day, all night.
3. Around the second week of November you start buying some cute pumpkins and trinkets for decorating the house, nothing fancy but festive enough: the shopping experience is enjoyable and fun.
4. You have a plan for the actual day of Thanksgiving: i.e. where you’ll be and who you will be with. Hopefully it will be with people you actually like, in a hotel where you don’t have to clean up after yourself. Also, your dog will be there because: emotional service.
5. You are for sure planning on going shopping on Black Friday: from the comfort of your couch, with your laptop and a glass of wine.

When November is Bad

1. Your family members have been texting you since 12am on November 1st their recipes for TG and a link to the Pinterest board they created.
2. Said family members are also texting, face timing and sending a list of items to pick up from several stores. (Because there isn’t one store that has all the items you need. Oh wait, there is and it’s called Target.)
3. Family members come from out of town and stay with you for just a little too long.
4. You have to put in a special request for turkey to be on the menu at Thanksgiving. (True life: if happened to me).
5. You get drunk on TG and pass out on the couch from over consumption and mental/emotional exhaustion.

So I’m not a total grouch and do enjoy the holidays but I enjoy it a whole lot more when there is minimal work and you can actually enjoy time with the people you are choosing to spend the holidays with. So far my November is starting on the good list and I’m even eyeing those cute white pumpkins at Trader Joe’s! Win!