it's been a while crocodile

It's hard to believe that we're more than halfway through January! I am definitely feeling the effects of all the Christmas eating I did. I don't regret it, but the track at the gym gave me a serious kick in the bum yesterday. One of the dinners that contributed to my Christmas food baby was a friend's swanky Christmas party. It was extra special not only because there was a cocktail shrimp platter, but because Kyle came home and ayce* was once again, complete. Although, the shrimp did make the night pretty fantastic.

* ayce stands for "all you can eat." My friends and I have been using that term to describe our gatherings and our little group for years now and we like to believe that we were the ones who first started using the acronym...even if we weren't.

slowing down

This Christmas has been one that was filled with home cooked meals and merry times spent with cousins, aunts and uncles. It was a Christmas that brought together friends who I see often and those that I wish I saw more of. It was made up of sweets, catching up, gift giving, parties and a Christmas market. It wasn't one event, but the combination of all that made this Christmas one that was filled with happy memories.

holding on to the last bit of the holidays

(although, I do have every intention to relive everything in my upcoming Christmas recap posts)

noël in focus

Christmas is one of my most favourite times in the year. What I love most is spending time with my family and friends (the presents and all the eating are just bonuses). As a child, Christmas was always a busy time with many dinners and parties. It's odd, though, that if asked what I remembered most about Christmas during my childhood, memories of quiet Christmas nights spent staring at Christmas lights conjure up in my mind. I have vivid memories of me lying on the sofa in my living room by myself just staring at the changing lights on the Christmas tree. I always had this feeling that I could never quite put my finger on that popped up when I revisited that memory. Maybe it was happiness or maybe I was just sleepy and a bit delirious from all the eating. I still have trouble describing it with words, but I get it every Christmas.

I was an odd little one.

May your Christmas be merry and focused on the people and things that matter most!

(Unlike the picture Nathan took of me that focused on the ornament. Maybe he's hinting something at me...)