Holiday Bucket List

HELLO IT IS DECEMBER WHICH MEANS IT IS OFFICIALLY THE HOLIDAYS.

To be honest I start thinking about the holidays as soon as it starts to get cold and all I want to do is sit inside with a warm drink and lots of blankets. But since I can’t hole up inside all season long, here’s the list of things I’m aiming to do this season:

• Bake cookies. All the cookies. (Likely a few of these recipes too)
• Make mulled wine. Nothing says holiday spirit like some holiday ~spirits~
• Go to ZooLights! This is one of the cutest holiday events and it’s free in DC! Thanks Smithsonian.
• Go to a Christmas tree lighting. This was one of my family’s traditions–my hometown lights the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving and everyone comes with hot cocoa and cider and watches the lights go on. Looking forward to finding one around me this year.
• Listen to holiday music. I’ll share my holiday Spotify playlist soon!
• Participate in my annual Secret Santa with my besties. Every year we do a Secret Santa instead of buying everyone gifts (there are only 4 of us but it still helps with budgeting). We use Elfster to help with secret matching and wish lists and addresses–it’s free and super convenient!
• Travel home and visit family. Hands down my favorite part of the holidays is getting to go back to the west coast to visit my family and relax with lots of food and love!
• Wear cozy clothing. All the sweaters and fuzzy socks and pajama sets and scarves and everything soft and cozy.
• Try every Starbucks holiday drink at least once. They’re super sweet and super overpriced but there’s just something about that seasonal drink that gets me in the Christmas spirit.
• Get a glittery manicure.
• Read at least three books. I love reading by the fire (or by the heater) and it’s the perfect way to spend the evening when it gets dark so early.

Do you have something else on your holiday bucket list? A special tradition you do this time of year? I’d love to hear about it.