Dear Neighbor,

The holiday season is officially upon us!  The turkey’s moment in the spotlight has passed, and its now time for the blow-ups, trees, menorahs and lights to shine (literally!).

Holiday lights are one of my favorite parts of this time of year.  When the splendor of the fall leaves has subsided, the flowers have wilted and the landscape looks rather bleak, the twinkling lights are a happy treat amidst the darker days and chilly skies.

Ever since my son was born, we choose several nights in December to don our coziest pajamas, fill our mugs with marshmallow and whipped cream topped hot chocolate, and pile into our car to go “light driving.”  Our community is so festive (hooray!), so even aimless driving around town rewards us with no shortage of classic white outlined houses, colorful bushes, and of course, blow-ups (my kids’ favorite).  There are also the well-known over-the-top houses of our area that are must-see stops, as they delight with their overdone-in-the-best-way spectacles.

Speaking of spectacles, I was recently made aware of an app that caters exactly to the caravanning-on-a-quest-for-lights people like me.  It’s called ChristmasPrism, available in the Apple store (sorry Android users!).  The app allows homeowners with awesome light displays to upload a photo of their home along with address information.  People on the hunt for cool lights can open the app and map out a whole viewing itinerary in their town or beyond.  The coolest part about this app?  It’s Delco made!  The developer of the app lives in Delaware County with his wife and kids. 

While I can make no promises that “all is calm” (my house sure isn’t with my two little energy-overloaded elves), I can promise that “all is bright” around the Main Line for the month of December.  Throw on your flannels and fuzzy socks, put your kettle on for some hot chocolately goodness, and hop in the car for a “light drive” adventure.  It’s festive fun at its finest – and simplest!