Those tell-tale clues that the holiday season is upon us have started popping up again, even earlier than usual.
One can be at home surfing the channels late at night, and suddenly notice the fact that holiday programming appears to have exploded overnight.
While childlike wonder can often be accomplished by coming across a classic holiday movie or television show that you haven't seen in ages, sometimes the season that's all about giving just leaves adults feeling a bit stressed and spread too thin to get anything done.
Whether living in Idaho or Iowa, the stress of the holidays can really do a number on anyone.
However, there are plenty of simple gift ideas that make picking out the right present a whole lot easier once the holiday rush begins to bear down upon smart shoppers.
In a world of fancy gadgets across the board, it's no wonder that HDTV sets are becoming such a popular Christmas present.
Once something that only fancy households could afford, the change in technology means that now, anyone can watch "Frosty the Snowman" on a cold December night.
And since nothing brings back a sense of happiness around the holidays like thinking back on what it was like to wait for "It's a Wonderful Life" to start after enjoying a Christmas Eve dinner, there's no better way to make watching satellite tv's endless broadcasting of little Ralphie and his Red Rider BB Gun bonanza than a fancy new television set.
Since programs like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and other classics have become such a sacred part of many people's lives, it makes sense that they deserve to be preserved and displayed in the same way that precious family Christmas decorations are lovingly packed away for the rest of the year before being gingerly hung up once it's time to begin celebrating.
So accordingly, watching these classics on HDTV simply makes more sense.
It's a better way to experience a classic, and making sure that there is a fancier television around the house to experience the best of the holidays is often a far more affordable way to stay entertained year-round than heading to the movies every Friday.
This way, high-quality viewing happens at home, with considerably less stress.
After all, nothing is worse then sitting down to enjoy a holiday classic only to find that the quality of the picture fades in and out, with sound distorting and the entire mood of the gathering being disrupted because of the need to deal with technical difficulties.
Since HDTV is a guaranteed way to enjoy all of your favorites with vivid sound and color, it makes sense to invest, particularly around the holiday season.
And it's the kind of gift that ends up lasting for more than just the season, since the entire house can enjoy the pleasure of sitting down for a favorite program or film at any given moment, regardless of the month.
So those shoppers who have been out there searching for the ideal holiday gift this season should put down the socks and step away from the pointless Sky Mall apparatuses.
For the best experience and something that will last for a whole lot longer than some so-so fruitcake, it makes sense to treat oneself and the whole family to an entertainment experience that will be long remembered.