It's definitely Christmas time, and for me, that means my calendar is filling up with company Christmas parties, gift exchanges, Nutcracker performances and dinners with friends. I love that about Christmas time. This Friday, AIG is treating it's employees and their spouses to dinner at Fifty-Five Degrees, one of my favorite Tulsa restaurants.

But a new variety of December events has entered my life since my marriage; NFL and college play-off games. Every night from Thursday through Monday. I just never associated Christmas with football before, but that's okay; I'm learning. We Baucoms have two play-off game dates this week; one with the McGuires and one with Bryan's boss. These events are fairly low key, and usually involve comfort foods, beer and lots of yelling. And, instead of a sparkly cocktail dress, the appropriate attire is sweats and a team ball cap. Not bad.