Wrapping: All my Christmas gifts. I finished all my shopping by Cyber Monday (except for Kevin). My assistant is not very helpful – he fell asleep on the job and then walked all over everything when he woke up lol
Baking: Nothing yet. I made ginger molasses cookies last month and Kevin asked me to make more so maybe those and then something new. Do you have a favorite holiday treat you like to bake or eat?
Lighting: The tree. This is the first tree we’ve had in almost 30 years so it’s been fun to decorate that and a little bit of the outside of our new house.
And almost my face – we have a gas stove now and I’m not quite used to lighting it and almost burned my eyebrows off!
Sending: Everything I wrapped has to be mailed and I’m excited that my new town has a very small local post office so no big crowds or lines for me!
Enjoying: Getting settled in the new house.
Discovering so many small, local coffee/donut shops. All of them have books and comfy chairs/couches/fireplaces that really encourage you to sit and relax a while.
Cider with caramel while walking along the waterfront down the street from my house.
A massage with my new therapist who is so nice and manages to work out all my aches and pains.
Beautiful sunsets that I can see right from my living room.
What are you enjoying this December?
* A reminder that I have a December giveaway with a bonus 10 year blogoversary prize going on this month - enter here!
A ten-year blog anniversary wow! This post is certainly a happy one. Smaller towns do have their perks
ReplyDeleteIt's been a bit of an adjustment but also a lot of fun discoveries.
DeleteI'm with Fonzi...wrapping presents is boring! I'm glad you are enjoying the new house and everything in the local area!
ReplyDeleteI love wrapping gifts! But I go all out with silly paper and all that.
DeleteThose pictures are awesome! I want to curl up in front of that fire eating donuts!
ReplyDeleteThe sunset picture from your house is also amazing. Looks like a nice area you've landed in.
Enjoy getting settled and all the festive madness.
I for one don't mind the lack of reviews/bookish posts. I'm nosy and like seeing what's doing in peoples lives! 😆
I'm happy to ehar that because I'm not sure I'll ever read again lol
DeleteThanks so much for joining in! I always make cutout sugar cookies at the holidays (http://www.anneinresidence.com/2014/11/holiday-baking-essentials.html), but I think ginger molasses ones sound so yummy for the season too. Enjoy the season in your new home - how fun! Even better when you've got cozy shops nearby :)
ReplyDeleteI found the recipe off one of those Ginger People brand bags and it was intense lol but delicious.
DeletePssst. I don't think you linked to your December giveaway.
ReplyDeleteMan, your assistant is a slacker - but he's super cute. ;) And is that PENGUIN WRAPPING PAPER??? Omg, I love penguins. So cute.
All those coffee/donut shops sound fantastic. I love just hanging out in places like that.
Yay for linking up with Currently! I love doing these every month. :)
-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I don't think I've done one post correctly the first time lately lol Thanks for letting me know :-)
DeleteI think I'll continue to join in with this. I really enjoy doing them and miss that other one we used to do every month. I can't remember the name but the bloggers stopped awhile back.
Mmmm cookies! I want to make some now
ReplyDeleteDooooo it! lol
DeleteI love everything about this post! Everything sounds so wonderful. I'm glad you're settling into your new home and state so well. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's always chaotic and stressful moving but I'm happy I'm finally in the place where going to stay so I can really settle in.
DeleteI’m sorry, I still can’t get past “I finished all my shopping...” Who are you?! And can you clone yourself? LOL I made 2 or 3 purchases on Cyber Monday and that’s ALL I’ve done. Ack! I never really bake at the holidays since neither me nor the husband have a sweet tooth. So glad you’re getting settled into the new house. And hooray for good massage therapists who can work wonders!
ReplyDeleteIt is a very rare occurrence lol I have to ship most of my gifts and waiting until the last minute is a nightmare when I finally head to the PO. I'm hoping my small town one is easy in and out!
DeleteI'm living your cozy Christmas vicariously LOL. The season of gifts ended many years ago for me...I wouldn't even be able to treat myself if it wasn't for my parents, who are so generous all year long, and even more on Christmas (and on my birthday on the 14th). I don't even have the time to clean my house, let alone decorate...and besides...it's not like I get visitors. Depressing, I know...
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you've settled nicely, and frankly, you deserved that, after that momentous move from FL to WA and having to switch house again. Now you only need to stop worrying about Fonzi, which I hope can happen soon!
I don't buy many gifts. It's usually little things for my blogger friends and gift cards for my nieces and nephews. Kevin and I don't exchange much. Just something small.
DeleteI hope you get lots of books for your birthday!!
How wonderful that you are enjoying getting settled in your new home. It's an omen, that you found a great one. Yum! I wished I enjoyed baking as much as I enjoy eating cookies.
ReplyDeleteA new house brings it own stresses but it's been nice to be able to settle in, unpack, and make it mine.
DeleteYeah - I'm not a big baker either. I usually burn or screw up something lol
What is it with these little tippy tapper feet walking all over whatever we're doing. As soon as I sit down to warp a present / put together a flatpack / sit on the floor to do anything, Jessie either sits and lays on top of the thing I'm doing or stands on it with a toy in his mouth. I have to make sure I have a tub of tennis balls next to me and keep throwing them to get anything done.
ReplyDeleteHe usually lays by my side but man - he loves walking on gift wrap and presents lol
DeleteMy assistant (the demon cat) eats the paper and tries to leap in all the boxes so I feel you! I'd love to open up a little comfy coffee bookshop. All of the coffee shops around here feel sterile and generic and they don't encourage you stick around.
ReplyDeleteThey were like that back in FL but every shop I've visited out here is very cozy and welcoming!
DeleteLook at your precious dog laying there as you wrap! Your December sounds like it is off to a wonderful, blessed start, Karen. :)
ReplyDeleteThat photo was when he was being sweet - not when he was trampling everything lol
DeleteMy dog always looks like he wants to help too. lol I put up my tree and Christmas decorations.
ReplyDeleteYes, they "help" lol
DeleteBook reviews? What are those lol???
ReplyDeleteYou too Greg??? lol
DeleteGreat job on your Christmas shopping! I'm almost done too!! I also live in a town with a very small post office and it's so, so nice. Congrats on your new house! That's so exciting!
ReplyDeleteThe small PO is the BEST!! lol
DeleteOh wow, send some of that productivity my way! I haven't even thought about Christmas shopping, it honestly might not happen. I was upset by how little I was doing in relation to the holidays so I made cookies and a no-bake pie yesterday. It felt good.
ReplyDeleteHey - you have a human being growing inside you! You're allowed to chill and let everyone else be festive for you lol
DeleteI'm so glad that you are loving the area. I know it was such a shock for you at first. And kudos for getting all your gifts wrapped and ready to go. I still have some last minute things I need to grab and wrap before I can ship out everyone's gifts.
ReplyDeleteI shipped out my last two gifts this morning. I just have to get a few things for Kevin.
Deleteoh I am just loving those pictures and so happy to see you enjoying your new place!!! You deserve it. Hope you have a wonderful month this December!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you :-))
DeleteSounds like you are settling into your new area nicely! 👍✨
ReplyDeleteI have all my shopping done, but I haven't started any wrapping yet. Ha! 🎁
Have a wonderful week. 🌞
I sent out my last two packages this morning and other than my husband - I'm DONE!
DeleteLove the photo collage. How nice to be enjoying the holiday season in a new house - a chance to make new memories as well as enjoy the old traditions.
ReplyDeleteWe don't usually do anything so it's been fun putting up a few lights and a tree for the first time in decades.
DeleteA lot of it is Christmas themed at the moment! It's definitely that time of the year for you :3 Hope all the preparations are going well ^.^
ReplyDeleteWe don't do much for the holidays but our new house has a fireplace and we're up in the mountains (sort of) so it feels a bit more Christmasy.
DeleteIt's great that you have a choice of cosy cafes nearby. Not having a favourite cafe is one of the few things I miss about our travelling lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteI've never really had them. We had a lot of Starbucks and those types of coffee places that really want you to pick your drink up and go lol
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