Am I the only one who gets annoyed with holiday music when grocery shopping? Don’t get me wrong, Mariah Carey is absolutely iconic, and Sinatra does an incredible job too, but constant jingle bells at every store you walk in… for me it can be a little too much.

What really excites me in the holiday season are the lights! I love how the Galleria area is decorated with blue and golden lights. And wow, have you seen those beautiful houses in River Oaks? Perfectly decorated by the very best and most creative teams!

During this time of the year, for some reason, I also feel like cookies and a nice and warm chocolate milk bring comfort and extra relaxation. For some, this season is associated with family time. For others, this is party time. For me, this is when social life gets most busy with all the holiday gatherings and when work is most demanding, plus the expectation of the season with decorating, cooking, and buying gifts.

How do you really get to have time to enjoy yourself without being on a task or having to accomplish something? Here are some of my suggestions:

Enjoy A Sweet Snack

Enjoy a sunny winter afternoon! Get your sunglasses, and prepare yourself to feel a nice breeze at a beautiful yard at Tiny Boxwoods, located at 3614 West Alabama Street, Houston, Texas 77027.

At Tiny Boxwoods, you can sit outside and people watch – usually, people dress up there and you can find cool holiday-inspired looks too!

If you are in a more casual mood, I suggest going to Tiny's Milk and Cookies, right next door. They are owned by the same group, are right next to each other, and have a similar menu.

What to order suggestions: Chocolate chip cookie, Cinnamon Roll Cappuccino (for breakfast), or Americano (at any time). If you go on a Saturday, I recommend their special – focaccia slice! It is delicious!

Photo courtesy of Pexels

Drive Through River Oaks and Tanglewood

Tanglewood is known for its holiday lights. The neighborhood is located west of the Galleria and north of San Felipe.

What I love about this neighborhood is that residents go all out! It is not a sporadic house decoration from one block from another. The whole neighborhood is really committed to amazing decorations and beautiful lights placed not only on houses and yards but on century-old trees! It is really worth checking it out!

This is an easy activity for residents who live at our inner-loop Camden communities!

Walk with friends and family at Clay Family Eastern Glades, Memorial Park

The Clay family Eastern Glades area at Memorial Park does an amazing job with their Holiday Lights! Want to put those steps in? Exercise, get fresh air and enjoy lights? Perhaps walk your dogs? Or get your kids to run a little and be in contact with nature? December 4 to January 3 is your lucky window to do it!

Take a stroll with friends and family through Clay Family Eastern Glades while enjoying festive holiday lights! Food trucks will be available on the weekends.

Photo by Askar Abayev studio on Pexels

Have some drinks and bites in the River Oaks District

If you are feeling fancy, dress up for a glass of sparkling wine at Toulouse Café in River Oaks District, or if with kids, how about Gelato at Amorino? Both places are at the same open mall area, and you can walk around, and see some marvelous fashion boutiques!

Houston is an amazing city with wonderful Holiday attractions! Hopefully, these tips are useful, and you get to enjoy yourself and our beautifully holiday-decorated city!