This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hiltons of Branson. All opinions are 100% mine.
(At left: We need a little Christmas, right this very minute. Um….a little more than that. Well…Steven Seagal volunteers for the police force in New Orleans. Maybe Santa moonlights, too.)
Are you generally sick of everything and everybody? Or, are you generally a happy person, but just overwhelmed by the choices and the baking of the season? If either of that its you, it may sound mighty attractive to load up the kids and the dog or cat and go somewhere else for Christmas, somewhere where nobody knows you. “But how will Santa find us?”
Well, Santa and the Mrs. are hanging out at the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel through December 23rd this year. They needed to refuel and recharge a little bit before the big day. Mrs. Claus will be reading stories for all of the kids, and of course, the big guy himself will stop in for a visit. It goes without saying that you need to book right now. Then hop in the car. You don’t want to miss a guaranteed sighting of the man and woman in red to present all of the corroborating evidence that you have been very very good this year. I haven’t figured out if the most effective way to handle it is to present a large volume of evidence, or is it sheerly based on content. Someone could write one sentence of something really, really good that they did and clinch it right there.
Over at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing, you can experience the “It’s a Wonderful Life” package, where you may receive a spa treatment with your stay. It will surely melt your troubles away. However, I can’t guarantee it will melt the fat from all of the extra cookies away.
There is so much to do and see. You can stay at the hotels the entire time, nice and cozy warm, or you can venture into the adorable downtown Branson area to peep at some Christmas lights and do a little shopping. You can even “let yourself go” and not do your hair because everyone you know and anyone that would run into you and point a finger at you are miles away. Why is this such an obsession? I would want to end the year up “nice” instead of being tempted to get into an argument about my hair with someone who was just gunning for one.
So, hop in the car and go have a talk with the Big Guy before you run into your neighbor, Myrtle McBusypants. Well, if you do, then just book the massage before you present your evidence.

For years, there were folks I knew around the Northeast that would take a day or a one night trip to New York City. They would look at all of the fantastic Christmas window displays, buy some Christmas presents, and then maybe take in a Broadway show or see the Rockettes. Of course, all sorts of culinary delights awaited you if you had the time.
Happy Pumpkin was a pattern introduced on Fiesta Ware, and by most sources it was discontinued in 2002. The pattern sometimes pops up at this time of year from the vaults, meaning that sometimes you can order a few from Homer Laughlin. You can also find it on the secondary market from private parties. The smiling Happy Pumpkin is on actual Fiesta, not another Homer Laughlin style of dish. It is available directly from the maker at $14.99 for the luncheon plate. They are currently in stock, but in limited quantities. Replacements, Ltd., also carries them.

Some people were not home and they left baskets on the front porch and asked us to be honest and only take two each. Then there were the dads who handed out candy to the kids, and “ice cold brewskis” to our parents who were wandering around after us. One set of parents even had the grill going and were dishing out brats. I try to explain to people that life in Wisconsin wasn’t all about cheese, brats, and beer, and the next thing I know, I have yet another story that is just about that. I should get some sort of demerit for perpetuating the whole Wisconsinite stereotype.
Happy Halloween, everybody! The greeting comes a little late in the evening this year, but I figred you would be back from the party to actually read it, or wouldn’t notice it was late as you were bleary eyed or on a sugar high.




