MY CHRISTMAS WEEK

Hello again and welcome to the second day (almost third) of the new year! I actually wanted to make this post earlier, around December 28, but that just didn't happen. I started and finished a book called Goodbye Friend by Gary Kowalski that I got for Christmas, had a Harry Potter marathon with my mom and sisters, relaxed with friends, celebrated Christmas on the 27th with my step-mom's family, as well as other things keeping me from posting this until now. I wanted to have a little Christmas week in review to talk about, well, the week of Christmas, hah!

I didn't really do anything December 21-23 other than exercise, read blogs, drink tons of green tea, and enjoy the fact that I'm officially on break! I'm also obsessed with our Christmas tree this year. We decided to get a real one and it's so much fuller and bigger than our fake one. Plus it smells good too.

 On Christmas Eve, I woke up, exercised, took my shower, and put on my new favorite Christmas jumper I got for my birthday and skinny jeans from LoveCulture. I've worn the jumper so much, it's so comfortable. Later that day, my family and I went to my brother's church for a Christmas service and afterwards went to Denny's. I got the apple and candied pecan salad with cranberries and balsamic vinegar. So good but also really sweet. We then drove around town to look at Christmas lights while listening to Christmas music on the radio. The deal was also to get holiday drinks at Starbucks, but they were closed by the time we got there. We celebrated Christmas with my dad that night, so we opened gifts until around 11pm. By that time it was almost midnight, so we decided to stay up until midnight to celebrate my sister's 17th birthday (she's a Christmas baby). Good thing we already had cupcakes and a cake ready. 

Because of the night before, we had to get Starbucks first thing the next day for Christmas! Perfect way to wake up. I got the venti soy peppermint-mocha frappuccino with no whipped cream. I also love to see how Starbucks spells my name wrong. Sometimes when they ask for a name, I've gotten to the point where I don't even tell them my real name. One time I told them my name was Meredith, another time Beatrice, and one time even Simba. We stayed at Starbucks over an hour to soak up everyone's holiday cheer, relax, and inhale the fresh coffee smell. Starbucks always smells so good. For Christmas, I wore a black skirt from Wetseal, black leggings, black boots, and...y'all 'ain't gonna believe this...my Christmas jumper from when I was 5 years old. I cut the top around the neck though so it isn't so tight and I just raised up the sleeves so it doesn't look so short in the arms (otherwise it's about a 3/4 length and looks funny since it's supposed to be for a little kid). I've kept the jumper all these years because I just think it's so cute. It has a little teddy bear on it and says "Beary Christmas". Anyway, we celebrated Christmas with our mom that afternoon. My mother prepared the honey baked ham and green bean casserole while I made a Vegan Shepherd's Pie and Apple + Sweet Potato Casserole (my suggestion if you ever make this is to boil the sweet potatoes first until they're soft, but not mushy, otherwise they stay hard). We then opened presents and afterwards played a game of SkipBo. Later we went to see Mockingjay.

The 26th, I literally just stayed inside all day, reading, listening to music on Pandora, and admiring my new candles (Pumpkin Gingerbread and Pumpkin Pecan Waffle) from Bath and Body Works. I sniff them so much. That sounds so weird but they just smell heavenly! I love love love the types of scented candles stores come out with during the holidays. I cannot go into a store without smelling all the different types. Also, I think Santa's done for the year. I went outside and saw what looks like him passed out on the lawn. So much traveling to deliver gifts wears an old man out!

The 27th of December, I celebrated Christmas with my step-mom's family. We opened more gifts and played more games. We had a brunch and I made Eggnog French Toast. Later, my sisters and I went to Starbucks, yet again, and HobbyLobby with our gift cards. I got a Bambi picture and at Starbucks I got a soy chestnut praline frappuccino with no whipped cream. That's the good stuff. It's a new favorite now.

Finally, the 28th. My family and I went to church, out to lunch, then delivered gifts the our local animal shelter. We ended up staying for over an hour playing with all the animals. When we got home, my sister Kuyuki and I made homemade peppermint-mocha drinks, sat by the fireplace and played more SkipBo (a family favorite game if you couldn't tell already). 

Well that pretty much sums up my Christmas week as short as possible. I realize it got to be pretty long though. Longer than I wanted it too. But hey, a lot goes on in just one week! Especially during the holidays. Unfortunately though, Christmas and even the celebration of New Year's is over, but to keep the spirit going, I'm still going to be listening to Christmas music, watching Christmas films, wearing Rudolph onesies, fuzzy socks, and enjoy the Christmas tree as long as it's up. Have a wonderful rest of your winter break!

Love,

Mickey

DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS

Yesterday marks the end of the semester for me! I have completed all of my finals, so I am officially done with this set of classes, and I honestly couldn't be happier. I feel I have worked harder this semester than any other year in school. Elementary school was easy. Middle school I didn't even really try. And in high school, the work came easy to me, so I would get straight "A's" without really having to study. Just do the work and nothing more. My first year of college, I didn't try either. But this past semester in college, I decided that college is a waste of time if I'm not going to get serious.  So this time around, I feel like I have been doing homework and studying nonstop. I've had to turn down my friends on numerous occasions when they've asked to hang out, just so I can get work done. Basically, I'm am so glad I have focused on my studies and can say I have a 4.0 GPA for this semester, however, I am glad I can finally relax for a month long winter break!

Moving on. I've recently started reading my father's book, A Christmas Treasury of Yuletide Stories and Poems. It contains many Christmas tales and poems by authors like Robert Frost, Charles Dickens, Hans Christian Anderson, J.M. Barrie, and more! It's a perfect read for the winter season, and it's fun to read this while sitting near the fire place in cozy pjs while drinking hot tea. Along with that, I have decorated the side of my dresser with a little "Charlie-Brown" Christmas tree, little reindeer figurines, and a snowman. The candle I have is Marshmallow Fireside from Bath and  Body Works (I have the mini one, but I can only find the larger one online - you'll want it though). It literally smells so good. I can't get enough of it. I am really in the Christmas spirit right now!

I've just realized that Christmas is only 6 days away! Are you excited? I know I am. I hope you have enjoyed this set of images and hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!

Love,
Mickey