We have been having the most glorious winter weather the last few days, and I for one could not be happier. It’s cold, but it’s snowy and beautiful and and wonderful! We had a big storm (at least for this southerner) come in on Friday last week and now everything is covered in white. The temperatures are low but it somehow it feels ok because of the winter wonderland it gives us. I know this is only my opinion and some of the true northerner’s won’t agree with me…maybe give me a few winters here and it will all become old news to me too.

The storm was made even more fun with having my grandparents and mom here over the weekend! We were able to get out on Friday afternoon with them for a crepe lunch at one of my favorites spots (thanks to Ben driving…i would not have dared attempted to drive through that stuff) and it was so neat to sit in a cozy little cafe watching the snow fall with my family around me. I loved having them come for a visit and it was a different feeling being the one hosting them, instead of the other way around.

My grandparents + mom weren’t sure when they would be able to get out with the storm and roads like they were, but did make a break for it around noon on Saturday. It took them almost double the hours it normally does, but they made it safely!

The rest of the weekend was mostly just spent being cozy at home. We tried to talk ourselves into going out and about for different events, but we just couldn’t muster up the energy or motivation. That’s what happens when two introverts get married and have a home together. We can be just as happy being here as anywhere else. But once we do get out and spend time with friends or go to an event, we love it and have a great time. It’s essentially a win-win either way for us.

I realized yesterday that Christmas is next week already. It’s crazy how fast time goes, especially this time of year. We have a few Christmas events + outings planned yet, so I know that the big day will be here before I know it. I have my fingers crossed that everything will still be white for the 25th…a white Christmas sounds perfect to me!

What about you: what are your favorites parts of the holiday season?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I normally like to have “something” to say when I do a blog post…but sometimes you just feel like chatting. I call this “fluff,” and I’m generally really not a fan of the fluff. I can tend to think that all the chit-chat and how-de-do’s and etcetera are a waste of time, but I’m realizing that actually sometimes you just need it. I guess the fluff can be an important and vital part of a conversation and relationship, because sometimes you just want to talk about all those little things in life that really aren’t very significant or important in their own right but ultimately do contribute to knowing and understanding someone else. I guess in essence the “fluff” is the backbone of life. Maybe all the “every day rustics” are “legs on which you stand.” (EverAfter, anyone?) I’m a firm believer in “quality over quantity” and stick to this mantra is almost every aspect of my life, but maybe when it comes to chatting and conversation, whether in person or online, quantity over quality is good too.

We’ve been having a fun and busy month so far, and I am soaking up the holiday spirit as much as I can! I love to wake up in the mornings and plug in the tree and feel how it instantly makes the day feel so festive and grand. We haven’t done a whole lot of holiday-ey events and outings yet, although we did venture into town last weekend for a local Christmas street event. We watched our niece + nephews perform some sign language carols and strolled through the streets sipping hot chocolate and holding hands. It was a cold evening so it was fun to bundle up in boots, beanie, and scarves and feel like a true northern lady.

We’ve been having snow flurries off and on for the past few days now, and without fail, it catches me by surprise every time I see it falling outside. Where I come from, any sign of snow means that everything comes to a halt and you stay inside doing nothing but being cozy. You don’t dare venture out on the roads unless, of course, you’re young and fun and want to be a little dangerous. But here it’s just another day, another snow storm. It’s funny because I never imagined myself living in the north where snow and all that comes with it is just a part of normal life. I never imagined it, and now I could hardly imagine anything else. Not to be all Hallmarky here, but where that husband of mine is is my home and I don’t want to be anywhere else.

I’ve been slowly edging myself out of the cooking rut that I was in. We had chicken and rice soup plus homemade (<– !!) focaccia bread last night, and Asian noodles and summer rolls with spicy peanut sauce tonight. If you have never made peanut sauce before, please run into the kitchen and immediately throw some together and pour it over some noodles or rice or anything else you think would taste good with peanut sauce. So yum!

Ben and I have watched this video several times this week and we just get the biggest kick out of it!

If anyone wants to make me a Christmas present, make me this and you will be my best friend forever.

I know I’m a million years behind most everyone else, but I just downloaded this tonight. Love it so far!

What about you: what have you been enjoying this holiday season so far?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!