Friday Favorite: Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!! Hoping you're spending the day relaxing, sleeping in, eating, drinking, and being merry with lots of loved ones around you.

Here's a cute (and crocked) picture of my Christmas tree in my living room taken by one of my favorite little budding photographers. Thanks Nate for the pic!

12 Days of Christmas: Day 12--A Village

Ok. Quite possibly, my FAVORITE collection of ornaments. The little village people! They're these little wooden characters--one is holding an old fashioned oil lamp, one has a little broom, one's got a little Christmas tree--and they're all just so cute!

I remember when we were little, my sister and I would play with the little people before we hung up the ornaments. And we'd make up little stories and play out the lives of these little guys in their village. To this day, these are still some of my absolute favorite ornaments and they bring back so many happy memories.

Surprise Christmas Present--Guest Blogging

What a treat. I've never been asked to be a guest blogger before! So when I was at my friend's for our annual holiday get together, I was pleasantly surprised when his brother, and my friend, Adam asked me to guest post on his blog. And by guest blog, he meant right then and there!

So while he was in the shower, the fastest shower in the world, I was put to the test. It's a little bit of pressure to write something on someone else's blog. And in so little time! But here it is--on his blog: Cycling Teacher Guy.

So thanks to Adam for letting me write a little something on his blog. Hopefully I'll be able to convince him to write a few guests posts for me too! He's always out hiking and riding, and has great stories from his classroom and travels. I'm jealous of the things he gets to see and do. So maybe he'll share some of it with all of us here!

Hoping you're all enjoying the holiday season with your friends and family!

12 Days of Christmas: Day 11--Home is Where the Heart Is

One of my simpler ornaments. But in it's simplicity is it's beauty.

After all, aren't the holidays all about family, friends, and loved ones?

12 Days of Christmas: Day 10--Precious Moments

Growing up, we loved the Precious Moments 'dolls'. Not so much the actual dolls or figurines, but the images. The characters were always in these beautiful settings and they were just so cute. As we grew older, I think we realized that there was a not so subtle religious message. It didn't matter. The messages were simple, and in the end, religious or not, still made you feel warm and fuzzy.

One of the ornaments I still put up on my tree is this one. Here are the two different sides to it. They're almost scenes out of an old animation. Like some of my favorite Christmas cartoons, Charlie Brown's Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. These are all childhood favorites that make the holiday season what it is to me. Christmas just wouldn't be the same without the little Precious Moments ornament...and Charlie Brown's Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas: Day 9--San Francisco Treat

It's no secret. I'm a pretty huge San Francisco fan. It really is a unique, amazing and special city. So it would only seem appropriate to have an ornament on my tree that was a shout out or nod to my city.

I especially love this ornament because it reminds me of all of those mornings when I took the cable car to work! Ding ding!

12 Days of Christmas: Day 8--Ice Cream!

Hmm. Maybe my ice cream obsession started a lot longer ago than I realized? For sure. Hands down. One of the favorite ornaments in the collection--the pink, sparkly ice cream cone:

One of the first things my sister asked when I told her our dad had dropped off the box of ornaments was "Was the ice cream cone ornament in there??" And I excitedly told her--YES!

I've written lots and lots about ice cream. Both about making it and eating it. But maybe what I didn't realize, was just how important of role it played in my childhood. Really, something as simple as ice cream, was something special for my sister and I. Whether a trip to the local Baskin Robbins (hey, we didn't have Humphry Slocombe then!), or to the ice cream counter inside of the Thrifty, or even a simple scope of ice cream at home, it was always a treat. Always time for us to just be kids. To relax. To talk. And to spend time with each other and mom and dad.

I think I'm going to have to go make some ice cream for Christmas. Until then, I'm going to look at one of my favorite ornaments hanging on my tree!

12 Days of Christmas: Day 7--Go Ags

I'm a proud to be an Aggie--and am often thinking back to the fun times I had at UC Davis. So many of my amazing friends are people I met there and I have so many good memories and have taken away so many incredible experiences.

These two ornaments are special to me because they make me think of UC Davis:

It's a bit dark, and so hard to see, but the little teddy bear has a little UCD on his shirt, and the other ball is just a beautiful blue and gold. I love looking at these ornaments and thinking back to all of the wonderful memories I have from UC Davis. Go Ags!

12 Days of Christmas: Day 6--Stained Glass

I think those of you that know me (and even those that don't but that may have been following this blog could guess), I'm not much of a church goer. But regardless, a few of my favorite ornaments from our family collection, are these.

Beautiful stained glass 'windows' that you can appreciate for their artistic nature, no matter how you feel about church and religion. These are just gorgeous works of art. And when you position them just right on the tree, and you can get one of the lights to shine through it, they're perfect.

Friday Favorite: Picture Perfect

One of my favorite pictures of all times.

My dad took this photo when he was on a cruise through Alaska. I'm not even really sure which port or which town this photo was taken in. But I just love it. It's very Anne of Green Gables...and oh so perfect. Well, except for the "Shop This Way" sign.