Countdown to Christmas 2023 Edition

Besides Halloween, I will admit I still get excited for Christmas time. Things just seem to be more magical in the month of December. Luckily enough last December, while hard, I was smiling and happy and I think it is because of this checklist as well as keeping myself surrounded with love and light as much as possible. Definitely glad I changed the pattern of unhappy holiday seasons.Christmas without my parents is still an adjustment period. While it is getting easier, having some traditions are keeping my spirit and light up. I will make it through the best way I can. Most of the things will be done either by myself, with a date, or with friends and family. Also, just because there is a date attached does not mean it will happen on that date -- it is more of a checklist.


November 24th: Get holiday cards Done!
November 25th: Start writing out holiday cardsDone!
November 26th: Watch The Noel Diary on Netflix Done!
November 27th: Watch Falling for Christmas
November 28th: Watch Pee Wee's Big Holiday Done!
November 29th: Order 2024 calendars on Amazon as well as get 2024 weekly planner from Erin Condren. Done
November 30th: Watch Spirited
December 1st: Start advent calendarDone!
December 2nd: Mail out holiday cards.Done!
December 3rd: Watch Violent Night
December 4th: Watch Scrooged
December 5th: Watch A Hollywood Christmas on HBO Max/Go to Postmodern Jukebox concert in Morristown, NJDone!
December 6th: Watch The Santa Clause/Go to Sustainable Green Holiday Drinks at Emma'sDone!
December 7th: Get a holiday inspired candle from a small business I made one!
December 8th: Go to Lewis Black in Montclair, NJ.Done!
December 9th: Watch Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square
December 10th: Wear Christmas inspired sweaterDone!
December 11th: Add to my holiday playlist on Spotify and share it with all my friends on social media for them to enjoy listening to Done!
December 12th: Watch Holidate on Netflix
December 13th: Watch Home Alone
December 14th: Watch The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix
December 15th: Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas
December 16th: Start binging the Netflix seres Dash and Lily.Done!
December 17th: Get holiday inspired manicure at CuteiclesDone!
December 18th: Wear rhinestone reindeer antlersDone!
December 19th: Watch A Christmas Story/A Christmas Story 2
December 20th: Watch Gremlins.
December 21st: Read the book Dasher: How a Brave Little Doe Changed Christmas Forever by Matt Tavares to my class
December 22nd: Watch 8-Bit Christmas
December 23rd: Watch Love, Actually
December 24th: Watch Die Hard Done!/Christmas Dinner with David's familyDone!
December 25th: CHRISTMAS!!! Watch all of the Gilmore Girls Christmas episodes and spend time with my loved ones.

Countdown to Halloween -- 2023 Edition

My favorite holiday, besides my birthday, is Halloween. I am drawn to all things Halloween/Autumn -- vampires, zombies, werewolves, cheesy 80s horror movies, dressing up, anything pumpkin flavored or scented, sweater weather... Just love it! With that said I thought it would be cool to do a COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEN activities list. Most of this stuff will be done by myself or with friends and family. I will admit that due to the pandemic, which at the time of this writing and publication is officially over as far as I am concerned, and the deaths of my parents -- I have lost my gumption and my spark of things that I used to love. However it is getting easier every day and I am still working hard to bring that spark back; to make myself feel good again; and to reculivate my happiness. Therefore this list, instead of being with dates, I will put 31 things to go to celebrate and countdown to Halloween. Here we go!

1. Purchase Halloween cards. Done!
2. Carve a pumpkin
3. Give yourself a spooky manicure Done!
4. Fill clear plastic skulls with treats
5. Play Glow-In-The-Dark Mini Golf
6. Visit a haunted house
7. Try some cool face paint that could be your entire costume. Done! /br> 8. Share Halloween puns
9. Send Halloween cards out Done!
10.Watch the Japanese version of The Grudge
11. Play Halloween Bingo
12. Go on a scary hayride
13. Go on a legal tour of a haunted place or a ghost walk
14. Bake googly eye cookies
15. Watch Malignant Done! 16. Make a Halloween playlist on Spotify and share said list Done!
17. Bake pumpkin dark chocolate brownies
18. Take pictures of the changing leaves Done
19. Read a story in The Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King
20. Read 2 tales in Toil and Trouble
21. Drink cider Done!
22. Get candles with a cinnamon or pumpkin smell from Bath and Body Works for my room. Done!
23. Make my own Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte at home Done!
24. Bake something pumpkin inspired 25. HAPPY BIRTHDAT VERONICA!!!
26. Get myself a Halloween inspired flower bouquet. Done!
27. Burn A Habit – Write down a habit I am attempting to kick (and would like to have broken by next Halloween) and either burn it in a cauldron or in a bonfire.
28. Dance the Monster Mash either by myself or with loved ones.
29. Visit the Addams Family Mansion in Westfield, NJ (corner of Elm Street and Dudley Avenue)
30. Wear bone headclip
31. HALLOWEEN!! Watch Halloween and Halloween Ends. Put out treats for trick and treaters.