Countdown to Christmas -- 2020 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. However some sadness has returned due to the pandemic and the death of my father. I will make it through the best way I can. Most of the things will be done either by myself or with my boyfriend Mike, 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 27th: Get holiday cards Done!
November 28th: Start writing out holiday cards Done!
November 29th: Start reading the book The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand. Finish it by Christmas Eh. Will not be part of my tradition list next year.
November 30th: Watch Die Hard Done!
December 1st: Order 2021 calendars on Amazon Done!
December 2nd: Watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
December 3rd: Mail out holiday cards. Done!
December 4th: Get a holiday inspired manicure. Make sure one nail is sparkly! Done!
December 5th: Watch Scrooged
December 6th: Read one story in the collection My True Love Gave To Me Done! Read the story "It’s a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown” by Stephanie Perkins.
December 7th: Make and decorate gingerbread cookies Done! They were so yummy!
December 8th: Watch He-Man & She-Ra A Christmas Special
December 9th: Get a holiday inspired candle from Bath and Body Works. Done!
December 10th: Wear my funkiest pair of leg warmers (or treat myself to a new pair) Done! Got another pair of Pudus fuzzy slipper socks.
December 11th: Watch Nailed It! Holiday Edition on Netflix Done!
December 12th: Make a holiday playlist on Spotify and share it with all my friends on social media for them to enjoy listening to Done!
December 13th: Watch Holidate on Netflix Done!
December 14th: Watch Home Alone
December 15th: Watch The Christmas Chronicles on Netflix
December 16th: Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas Done!
December 17th: Wear rhinestone reindeer antlers during my Zoom lessons. Done!
December 18th: Leave a card/gift for my mail delivery person and/or garbage person who is working extra hard this time of yearDone!
December 19th: Watch the movie Tangerine Done.
December 20th: Watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer Done!
December 21sr: Watch Gremlins.
December 22nd: Watch Anna and the Apocalypse
December 23rd: Watch Mr Bean's Holiday
December 24th: Spend the day with my boyfriend being all beautiful and magical. Catch up on Christmas movies not watched yet on this list
December 25th: CHRISTMAS!!! Watch all of the Gilmore Girls Christmas episodes and spend time with my loved ones.

December Advent Calendar 2015

Besides Halloween, I will admit I still get excited for Christmas time. Things just seem to be more magical in the month of December. Maybe it is because of finally finding the love of my life or maybe it is due to still working in Kindergarten; I do not know. For the fourth year in a row, I am doing an activities Advent Calendar to count down to Christmas after reading some great articles online about it. I am big on traditions so here is an outline. Most of the things will be done either by myself, with George, or with my 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 29th: Give George his Countdown to Christmas advent calendar (25 wrapped books. He opens up one a day to countdown until Christmas.)(Done!)
November 30th: Watch the 50th Anniversary Special of Charlie Brown/A Charlie Brown Christmas (Done!)
December 1st: Gather clothes and bring to The Bowery Mission.
December 2nd: Make Christmas mix CD for George. (Done!)
December 3rd: Get holiday cards. (Done!)
December 4th: Wear mistletoe headband.
December 5th: Watch the movie Scrooged.
December 6th: Get some chocolate coins and give them to people who make me smile. (Done!)
December 7th: Wear Christmas ornament earrings, get some hot chocolate at Hu Kitchen & walk around Union Square holiday market. (Done!)
December 8th: Watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
December 9th: Start writing out holiday cards. (Done!)
December 10th: Get a holiday inspired manicure. Make sure one nail is sparkly!
December 11th: Watch A Nightmare Before Christmas.
December 12th: Attend CZW Cage of Death with George. (Done!)
December 13th: Mail holiday cards (Done!)
December 14th: Watch He-Man & She-Ra A Christmas Special
December 15th: Get a holiday inspired candle from Bath and Body Works.
December 16th: Make Star Wars themed glitter snowflakes.
December 17th: Go watch some ice skaters in Bryant Park.
December 18th: Watch one of my favorite movies Untamed Heart and have a good cry.
December 19th: Cozy up in some pajamas and watch the Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special.
December 20th: Give my Funshine buddy her present.(Done!)
December 21st: Watch The Original Christmas Classics (Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Little Drummer Boy) on DVD.
December 22nd: Make sure all of my gifts are wrapped. (Done!)
December 23rd: Wear ugly Christmas sweater to work. (Done!)
December 24th: Go Christmas caroling in Washington Square Park. (Due to the weather, I didn't go.)
December 25th: CHRISTMAS!!! Open presents and watch The Muppets Christmas Carol.
December 26th: George visits to celebrate Boxing Day and Christmas. Go and see Star Wars: The Force Awakens, go to dinner, and just celebrate our time together.

I hope all of my readers are enjoying this holiday season! What did you do for the season? Leave a comment below to let me know!

"The Book is Better" Holiday Gift Guide

Today I decided to put together a mini-gift guide of books I have read and loved, because as always the book is better, divided by who in your life who might like them. Most, not all, of the books are fairly recent and have published in the past two years or so.

Enjoy and happy reading!

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For your advice loving friend: Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar by Cheryl Strayed

For your comedy fan friend: Yes Please by Amy Poehler Nine times out of ten, he or she has probably read everything written by George Carlin, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling and Bossypants by Tina Fey.

For your crime/thriller friend: Level 26: Dark Origins by Anthony E Zuiker

For your writing obsessed friend who just finished NaNoWriMo and wants to continue writing: On Writing by Stephen King

For your healthy tips loving friend: Eat, Move, Sleep by Tom Rath

For your paranormal romance/vaginal fantasy fan friend: Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

For your zombie fan friend: The Walking Dead: Rise of the Governor by Robert Kirkman

For your romance fan friend: Written in My Own Hearts Blood by Diana Gabaldon

For your graphic novel fan friend: Saga by Brian K. Vaughan

For your comic book fan friend: The Joker: Death of the Family (The New 52) by Scott Snyder

For your dystopia fan friend: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

For your horror fan friend: Prince Lestat by Anne Rice

For your post apocalyptic fan friend: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

For your sci-fi/fantasy fan friend: The Silence of Six by E.C. Myers

For your historical fiction fan friend: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

For your non-fiction fan friend: Smoke Gets In Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty

December Advent Calendar 2013

Besides Halloween, I will admit I still get excited for Christmas time. Things just seem to be more magical in the month of December. Maybe it is because of my new found singledom or maybe it is due to still working in Kindergarten; I do not know. For the third year in a row, I am doing an activities Advent Calendar to count down to Christmas after reading some great articles online about it. I am big on traditions so here is an outline. Most of the things will be done either by myself or with family; others with my class or friends.

December 1st: Gather clothes and bring to The Bowery Mission. (Done!)
December 2nd: Make Christmas mix for my iPod and burn a disc of it for my Funshine Buddy in work. (Done!)
December 3rd: Get holiday cards. (Done!)
December 4th: Wear mistletoe headband. (Done!)
December 5th: Go decorate some cookies with The Group that Shall Not be Named (Harry Potter NYC Meetup) (Done!)
December 6th: Get some chocolate coins and give them to people who make me smile. (Done!)
December 7th: Wear Christmas ornament earrings, get some hot chocolate at Hu Kitchen & walk around Union Square holiday market. (Done!)
December 8th: Go to Argo Tea Cafe with some chocolate coins to hand out.
December 9th: Start writing out holiday cards (Done!)
December 10th: Get a holiday inspired manicure. Make sure one nail is sparkly! (Done!)
December 11th: Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas. (Done!)
December 12th: Mail holiday cards. (Done!)
December 13th: Go take a picture with Santa Claus at Macy's.(Did not get around to going to Macy's. Oh well next year.)
December 14th: Go see the new Disney animated film Frozen. (Done!)
December 15th: Get a holiday inspired candle from Bath and Body Works. (Done!)
December 16th: Make Star Wars themed glitter snowflakes.
December 17th: Go watch some ice skaters in Bryant Park.
December 18th: Watch one of my favorite movies Untamed Heart and have a good cry.
December 19th: Cozy up in some pajamas and watch the Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (Done!)
December 20th: Wear ugly Christmas sweater to work. (Couldn't find it..so can not do. Sad face.)
December 21st: Visit nephews/Veronica and Damian. (Done!)
December 22nd: Make sure all of my gifts are wrapped. (Done!)
December 23rd: Walk along 5th Avenue and look at the holiday windows
December 24th: Go Christmas caroling in Washington Square Park. (Done!)
December 25th: CHRISTMAS!!! Open presents and watch The Muppets Christmas Carol.

I hope all of my readers are enjoying this holiday season! What did you do for the season? Leave a comment below to let me know!

My December Activity Guide

Besides Halloween, I will admit I still get excited for Christmas time. Things just seem to be more magical in the month of December. Lights and sparkle are everywhere. Last year, with inspiration from Gala Darling's December Activity Guide I wrote up my own and it made my month of December just that much more fun. Below you will find an outline of what I am doing this month to bring on the holiday cheer. Yes some of it might be cheesy but the point is to be FESTIVE! I do apologize for writing this on December 5th, but as you can tell...I have been busy!

December 1st: Gather Christmas music to make a mix for my iPod. Donate clothes to The Bowery Mission.

December 2nd: Make Star Wars glitter snowflakes.

December 3rd: Get holiday cards ready!

December 4th: Wear mistletoe headband at work and at the French Institute.

December 5th: Get some peppermint hot chocolate and enjoy Gingerbread Extravaganza at Le Parker Meridien.

December 6th: Get some chocolate coins and give them to people who make me smile.

December 7th: Wear Christmas ornament earrings at work and at the French Institute.

December 8th: Get some Ferrero Rocher chocolate or Godiva Chocolate for the NYC Vaginal Fantasy Book Club meet up.

December 9th: Go to Bryant Park, get some hot chocolate, and watch the ice skaters.

December 10th: Start writing out holiday cards.

December 11th: Watch something holiday related.

December 12th: Attend holiday party at The French Embassy.

December 13th: Start wrapping presents!

December 14th: Mail out holiday cards.

December 15th: Attend Unsilent Night in Washington Square Park at 7pm.

December 16th: Check out Christmas windows along 5th Avenue.

December 17th: Wear ugly Christmas sweater at work.

December 18th: Maybe take a picture with Santa Claus?

December 19th: Watch the Polar Express with my class.

December 20th: Get a manicure and make one nail sparkly.

December 21st: Go see How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Broadway with David.

December 22nd: Have Rankin Bass Christmas special marathon at home.

December 23rd: Visit nephews.

December 24th: Have dinner with David.

December 25th: Watch A Muppet Christmas Carol after opening presents.

I hope all of the readers of my blog have a wonderful holiday season!

My Activities Advent Calendar for December

As I am sure a lot of people are aware -- it is Christmas month and I am more excited this year than ever. It might be due to being a Kindergarten teacher and that is okay. This year I am doing an activities Advent calendar to count down to Christmas after reading some great articles online about it. I am big on traditions so here is an outline. Some of the things will be done by myself, with others, with David, or with my family.

December 1st: Start decorating house and gather Christmas music.
December 2nd: Get a delicious scarf from the Union Square Holiday Market (support small businesses!) and start going through my winter accessories to donate to The Bowery Mission.
December 3rd: Visit nephews and start to get cards ready.
December 4th: Donate winter accessories to The Bowery Mission. Help someone in need.
December 5th: Watch Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer with my class.
December 6th: Make paper snowflakes and hang in windows.
December 7th: Wear custom made mistletoe headband to work.
December 8th: Try and take photo with Santa Claus.
December 9th: Go to Bryant Park and watch the ice skaters. Ever since breaking my left ankle and left foot I am deadly afraid to put anything on my feet besides shoes.
December 10th: Eat some Ferrero Rocher chocolates and try a peppermint mocha at Starbucks.
December 11th: Go with David or by myself for some hot chocolate at Jacque Torres Chocolate. If you are reading this and would like to join me, please do!
December 12th: Watch Pee Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special with my class.
December 13th: Get some chocolate coins or candy canes and give them to the people who make me smile.
December 14th: Make a gingerbread house for my classroom during recess.
December 15th: Get a sparkly manicure and pedicure at Blush Nail Lounge.
December 16th: Start getting letters and decorations together for Secret Santa party at school.
December 17th: Start wrapping my gifts before attending Family Wrestling Entertainment in NYC.
December 18th: Take picture in Santa hats with David in Union Square.
December 19th: Watch Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the cartoon) with my class.
December 20th: Visit Rockefellar Center Christmas tree.
December 21st: Wear Christmas themed/ugly Christmas sweater clothes at work.
December 22nd: Wear mistletoe headband again.
December 23rd: Check out Christmas themed windows along 5th Avenue.
December 24th: Dinner with David (this will be our 3rd engagement anniversary)
December 25th: Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Christmas specials with David after opening presents and having dinner with family.

Are you doing a activities Advent calendar this year? If so, please let me know!