If you are planning on doing any shopping this weekend why not make plans for the 20th Olde Alton Craft Fair sponsored by the Alton Band and Orchestra Builders.

This weekend there will be more than a hundred vendors at Alton High School selling there wares and dozens of volunteers will be there, including me, trying to raise money for the school district’s band and orchestra programs. It should be a lot of fun so why don’t you come out and join us.

Shopping at the craft fair is a way to support your local schools, plus it keeps you from fighting the crowds at malls out of town. Hope to see you there.

It’s amazing how fast four days go by when you’re off. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I know I did. I split my Thanksgiving between my brother’s and aunt and uncle’s homes.

I didn’t rise too early for Black Friday, but I did go shopping. I am on the lookout for a few things, but what I wanted the stores were already sold out. I guess when you snooze you lose, but hey I need my beauty sleep.

OK it’s 24 days to the big day and I’m so not looking forward to it. I know I should have all this cheer, but it never seems to happen. I enjoy the food and spending time with family, but the gift giving, well if it were to go…I would be OK with that.

I sound like the scrooge I know. But I think I get depressed during the holidays. I know there are countless women and men who feel the same as I do.

According to an article I recently read from the Mayo Clinic there are three main trigger points of holiday depression — relationships, finances and physical demands. There are even 12 tips to preventing holiday depression. Check out the article to learn more.

Let me know what some of your tips are when it comes to keeping your sanity.