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Thirteen days until Christmas. That can't be right. It doesn't feel like Christmas. The temperature outside is peaking around 85 degrees and it shows no signs of cooling off anytime soon. We haven't picked out a Christmas tree, and all of our holiday decorations were brought down from the attic last weekend, but continue to sit in a sad little heap on our living room floor. Where did the time go?

This time last year we already had the lights on the house up, the tree ablaze in the window, decorations filling the living room and gingerbread men cooling in the kitchen. To make matters worse my mother is due in from Baltimore this Sunday and we've got a Christmas party to attend Friday night and a birthday party on Saturday night. Finding the time to decorate, shop and wrap everything is proving to be a challenge. It will be a miracle if I can pull it all off without losing my mind.

To calm myself down and get into the Christmas spirit (despite the sweltering heat) I've decided to go home tonight, curl up with a tall glass of eggnog, pop A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio into the CD player and dust off one of my favorite Christmas stories.

If the holidays are taking a toll on you, try one of my Top 10 Christmas fail-safes. It could be just the thing you need to put the merry back into your Christmas.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Ah, the innocence of childhood. This is quite possibly my all-time favorite Christmas story ever. Can you hear the bell?

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A classic written by a true master and still so relevant.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

One of my new favorites that has John Grisham stepping outside of the courtroom and into a winter wonderland filled with giant Frosty dolls and Caribbean cruises.

A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote

A collection of short holiday stories by my favorite author. He's truly a gifted storyteller.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

What would Christmas be without the Grinch?

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson

One of my absolute favorites from childhood. The Herdman family's antics will have you laughing out loud and choking on your eggnog.

The Snowman by Raymond Briggs

You don't need words to tell a beautiful story.

The Official Guide to Christmas in the South: Or, If You Can't Fry It, Spraypaint It Gold by David C. Barnette

Oh, my god. This book is hilarious. You won't be able to put it down.

The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry

Barry uses his biting wit to tell a unique tale of Christmas.

In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepherd

Several chapters were used as the basis of the film, A Christmas Story. If you've seen the movie you'll recognize lots of the holiday anecdotes.