SAYING HELLO {december tenth}

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!