Tuesday, November 30, 2010

I'll Not Be Having a Blue Christmas



I have been forcing myself to get into the Christmas spirit this year.  Usually, it comes naturally, but this year, it's different.  Maybe it's because familiar traditions are put on hold this year.  Maybe it's because I'm getting older and a bit more cynical.  Maybe it's because as much as I complain about decorating, it actually made me a little sad not to pick out a tree and do all of the ordinary trimming activities.  

And then, just as I start to feel a little blue, I realize how lucky we are to be spending every moment of this holiday season with family.  I remember feeling like a different child for the entire month of December.  My mom would transform our house into a Winter Wonderland and I would spend nights playing with my toys under the lit tree. There is something about being in your old home at Christmas that just makes being away from your own home more bearable.  

Next year, we will have new traditions in our new home but this year, it is all about reliving old traditions.  I can't wait to bake cookies with my mom, put all of the wrapped presents under the tree, and wake up to the smell of Christmas Breakfast cooked by my dad. 

I'm trying to remember how lucky I am to have this time and not to take any moment for granted.  Christmas 2010, I'm ready!!! 

I may be ready for Christmas but I'm not so much ready for the blustery winter weather.  Me and cold are not a match.  

The days of overnight oats and iced coffee are no more but hot oats and hot coffee are welcome. 

Scottish Oats, Berries, Granola,
White Chocolate Wonderful PB


Anything to keep me warm is my first thought before I eat these days. 

I was presenting to a business today for a lunch n' learn so on my way, I stopped for a quick snack to hold me over since I wouldn't be back in the office until after my normal lunch hour. 


Apple and Coffee= the perfect pick me up!  Someone once told me that an apple contains more caffeine than a cup of coffee.  Or maybe it has more of an effect of caffeine than coffee, I can't remember, but either way, I doubled up. 

While at Barnes and Noble, I also picked up another tool to help me get into the Christmas spirit. 


Now if this doesn't force the magic of Christmas into my heart, I'm not sure what will. 

My presentation went well and when I got back to the office I was cold, wet and hungry and very happy to have leftover soup to eat. 

I did not take a picture because the photo opportunity did not look very appealing, but I swear the minestrone soup was better than it was last night. 

Dinner tonight was not what I had originally had in mind because what I originally had in mind we did not have. 

So the back up was pulled on a whim but worked perfectly. 

Greek Salad


Annie's Organic Mac and Cheese with Roasted Veggies


Let's be honest though, as soon as I put the camera down, half of this plate was covered in ketchup.  But if you saw a salad and a pile of ketchup you'd think I was nuts.

Or you would think I was completely normal depending on who you were.   I know who you are! 

What are some things that put you into the Christmas Mood?  Christmas music is always a sure way for me. 


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12 comments:

  1. yes! This will be a totally special Christmas for you two!! Owww- glee Christmas? I need this. What a great pickup. And I am not much for packaged dinners....but I will take Annie's Mac n Cheese any day :)

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  2. I've been eyeing that album!!! The holidays at your house sounds like fun :)

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  3. We are totally opposites right now - I am longing to be BACK at my parent's house for Christmas. It's weird being gone for the first year, that's for sure!

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  4. So jealous of the Glee Christmas album! That is one of the Christmas items I'm hoping to pick up this week! Christmas music always puts me in the holiday mood too!

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  5. ah, i do believe that my father imparted the wisdom to me about the apple having more caffeine than coffee. hehe. love that you're getting in the holiday spirit. i think we're getting our tree in the next few days and then i can join the bandwagon too! i do love me some christmas music!

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  6. I totally feel you on the blue-ness of Christmas that seems to set in as we get older. When I look back on past christmas times, it always makes me sad that it won't be as magical as it was when I was younger. I guess that may be the cue to make my own magic :)

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  7. I adore Christmas music...especially some of the classic hymns. They instill such peace in my heart! I have been fairly cynical about Christmas for the past few years, and it is only in this current season that I'm beginning to see some of that melt away. Having your own place can make a big difference (we were with my parent's last year). But as you said, we are so blessed to have our families. Thank you so much for sharing. I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday.

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  8. Listen to Grinch music! I love the Grinchy music, they always cheer me up.

    I'm not looking forward to Christmas much, actually, either. I won't be returning home, so I'll be by myself in LA.

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  9. I know what you mean about the whole Christmas spirit thing! This year is better, but I'd been living in southern Florida for a couple years and it was WAY worse there! First, it was like 80 degrees on Christmas day. Second, there are NOOO neighborhoods (everything is gated, only - and I lived in an apartment), so there was no such thing as "driving around to look at Christmas lights". Third, South Florida is largely Jewish so by and large - people DON'T celebrate Christmas! It was super depressing!

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  10. my family always bakes christmas cookies together! my grandma, aunt, and godmother come over to make them with my sisters, me and my mom! it's one big bakefest :) also, picking out and decorating our christmas tree together.

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  11. Christmas music, decorations and movies always get me in the spirit! I LOVE the holidays. This is the first year my Boyfriend & I am spending Christmas in our new apartment, so I made sure to decorate our place to give it a more home-y feel. Its definitely hard to adjust sometimes, but its important to focus on all the positive things. After all, home is where the heart is :)

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  12. I ALMOST bought that Glee CD the other day. Let me know how it is!!

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