Posted in Lifestyle, Monthly Muses

Busy before the holiday

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Happy Blogmas Day 8!

I took a little break from the blog because life got quite busy! On Thursday, I had a wonderful time at my niece’s bake sale, which was a fantastic success. The kids watched “The Grinch” in the gym, and we sold a lot of snacks. The highlights were our themed offerings: green popcorn and green sugar cookies decorated with red hearts. Of course, I also made coal cake pops. 

Then Friday, I had the chance to visit Fullerton, and I was really impressed with everything the school has to offer! They have a fantastic communications degree program and so many resources to help students. I love how they focus on building communities that make everyone feel like they belong, encouraging self-discovery and critical thinking, and providing inclusive and welcoming spaces. 

The library was definitely my favorite spot! It’s actually two buildings, and the basement level is where the communications media section is located, featuring podcast rooms, a radio station, and a TV studio—super cool! That said, I still think UC Irvine has the most beautiful campus I’ve ever seen!

Saturday was filled with fun as I attended a demonstration at my niece’s karate dojo. It was absolutely adorable watching the kids in action! Unfortunately, the Zoom link was acting up, so many people missed the event. Once the demo wrapped up, we transitioned into a dojo holiday party, which was complete with a gift exchange. One little kid ended up with a set of wine glasses and wanted to trade for something else, but his parents were all about keeping them. I mean, who thought wine glasses were a good fit for a children’s holiday white elephant party? 

With all this hustle and bustle between school and work, I think I really need a day to just kick back and relax!

Posted in Monthly Muses

Holiday Traditions

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Happy Wednesday, and welcome to Day 4 of Blogmas! What holiday traditions do you have?

I love using this blog as a personal journal sometimes! I would really enjoy hearing about your holiday traditions. Who knows, I might borrow a few ideas for when I start my own family one day!

One of my holiday traditions growing up was making tamales early in the morning on Christmas Eve with my family. This way, when we opened our presents at midnight, we could enjoy the tamales right away. My mom always said that the tamales we eat first are the initial gifts we get to savor. This blog has also become a personal tradition for me; this is my fourth year writing my Blogmas post.

I believe I’ve mentioned before that we watch the Harry Potter movies starting on Christmas Eve and finish the franchise on Christmas Day. Recently, someone on social media asked why the characters celebrate Christmas in the Harry Potter series, suggesting that, as witches and wizards, they would be pagan and it would make more sense for them to celebrate Yule. However, Ron very clearly says, “Happy Christmas, Harry.”

Posted in Monthly Muses

Blogmas Day 3

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Hello and welcome to day 3 of BLOGMAS

I am creating a 12-day Christmas advent calendar for my niece, which sparked a heated debate among my family. i have a few baubles and lipsThe question was Do the 12 days of Christmas start on December 1st or 12 days before Christmas? I believe they start 12 days before Christmas Day. However, my sister and boyfriend think it starts on December 1st. But we were both wrong! according to my church and From a traditional Christian perspective, the 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day and end on January 6th. These 12 days are most accurately recognized as the time when the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, which aligns with the celebration of His birth. 

As much as I would love to wait until Christmas Day to start the 12 Days of Christmas, we’re going to kick it off 12 days before Christmas this year. I’ve filled it with all sorts of fun little goodies! There are cute stocking stuffers like lip gloss, hair bows, nail polishes, and, of course, candy. I even found these adorable mini Nutella jars at 5 Below, which my niece absolutely loves. Additionally, I thought it would be nice to include a few eyeshadow pens since she’s getting into makeup now. A little eyeshadow and lip gloss can’t hurt, right? It’s going to be such a delightful surprise for her!

Posted in Monthly Muses

Blogmas 2024

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So I’ve been so busy holding space with the lyrics of “Defying Gravity” I forgot to prepare for Blogmas. We are on the Second of December, and I barely started. 

What is the plan for this holiday season? 

My niece has got me busy with her school activities! They keep having bake sales, and I find myself making treats for them. This time, there’s a movie night at her school, and the kids will watch “The Grinch.” I’ll make bags of “coal” and Grinch cookies for this event. The bags of “coal” are cake pops, but without the sticks; they’re rolled in powdered sugar and resemble truffles, along with green sugar cookies.

After that, she has a holiday-themed karate demonstration. I can’t wait for her holiday-themed karate demonstration! It’s my first time attending one of her demos—I’ve only attended her karate classes and tournaments. It’ll be such a fun experience! No baking is required, but I will still make sugar cookies for us to decorate after the event to get the family into the holiday spirit. 

I have already finished all of my Christmas gifts, and since this year, I’ve only been buying gifts for my nieces, nephews, and hector. I plan on gifting everyone else cookies and other baked goods. My coworker asked if I knew how to make zeppole, I don’t, but she gave me a traditional Italian recipe to make them, so now I must. They are like Italian donut holes. The cookies I made last year as gifts were good, but I want something exciting this year. 

Nonholiday related, I’m really excited to share that I plan to visit California State University, Fullerton, this week! I’ve never seen the campus before, and it’s my top choice for college right now. I used to have my heart set on the University of Michigan, but with how far away it is and the hefty out-of-state tuition (64k), I’ve decided it’s not the best fit for me anymore—especially after the last election. Fingers crossed that CSUF will feel like home!

Posted in Monthly Muses

A Little Christmas Eve Stress

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Merry Christmas Eve!!!!

Are you ready to start the celebrations? Are you prepared for the holiday to be over?

Will you stay up until midnight on Christmas Eve, or will you celebrate Christmas Day?

Are you still trying to make food, wrap gifts and not have a mental breakdown?

I’ve already had two holiday breakdowns. That’s a new record for me.

Usually, I’m prepared for the holiday. I say that, but I always have some last-minute gifts I have to buy and some last-minute desserts I want to try. This year it feels like I got blindsided by Christmas.

I’ve stressed getting gifts, making food, and being as helpful to others. I’ve worn myself thin. Now I want the holiday to be over. I know I can’t always buy the perfect gift, make everyone happy, or have every holiday experiment unique. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try.

I want to sit together, gifts open and forgotten, and a Harry Potter or a Christmas movie playing. I want to get over this giant to-do list I’ve made for myself.

I still haven’t gotten my boyfriend’s family a gift. I want them to like me, but I’m also never around because I always work. I feel it makes the few times I do come about more of a nuisance and cause more problems than I’m worth.

How is that different than any other time I’m literally anywhere with anyone? It isn’t, but I think due to the holiday, it feels different.

Buying my boyfriend’s parents’ gift, I have fallen into a spiral.

I don’t know what to get them. I don’t know what they like. I’m never around to talk to them. Maybe I shouldn’t get them anything. How can I get them to like me if I don’t get them anything. And restart the cycle.

And it doesn’t help that my boyfriend’s advice is they will like whatever you get them. First of all, that is a lie. Second, don’t you know what your parents like?

I was going to make a cheesecake, but what if it isn’t good enough? I might make them some fudge, but what if they don’t like it?

So many what-ifs, and I only have one day.

Posted in Monthly Muses

Letter To Santa

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Three Days to Christmas! How?

Is it just me, or is this Christmas not Christmasing the way it is supposed to? I barely wrote my Santa letter and started my Harry Potter marathon.

I’m SOOO thankful to autocorrect. I wrote this whole letter as Satan instead of Santa. Like, I’m not even dyslexic; I’m just dumb.

Dear Santa,

This year has passed so fast that I cannot keep up with the days.

I want to start by saying I’ve been good this year. Like really good, and it wasn’t easy. As I get older, my wants and passions have changed, so I am asking for a lot.

I’ve been suffering from crazy anxiety attacks, so there may be a way to stop that. Can you give me a little serotonin that lasts all of next year? Or something that will help me find the motivation to do little things like get out of bed and do the dishes? Maybe slip a sense of purpose to me; that would be great too.

Let us be realistic. Since only a therapist and a fistful of pills can help me. Can you give me a basic understanding of taxes and some business advice? From one hopefully soon entrepreneur to the most famous philanthropist in the world.

Now, my dear Santa, I know you are a strong supporter of the dadbod and have a few extra pounds. I love that for you, but me not so much. Now I know I’m a full meal, and my thick thighs saved lives, but I could use some help to lose some serious weight. I’m over here looking like the pickle guy from SpongeBob.

I’ll put in some work too. Just help me lose a stone or two. If by the end of the year I’m 57 kilos, that would be perfect. Sorry, I’m obsessed with British weight loss shows.

I would ask for a better world. I’d say world peace, but I doubt this world will ever be peaceful. Can we restart this game of the sims because everyone is poor and fighting with each other? But you aren’t a miracle worker. I have a specific idea of how we could improve the world. Now this one isn’t your forte but would it be possible to do a scrooging on like every billionaire? Send the ghost and let them buy the turkeys for the poor and give away millions to the needy. It would only be right. This is the 30th anniversary of The Muppets Christmas Carol. So like perfect time. We could even use The Muppets again.

I realize this all seems like a lot, but I’m sure you can handle this.

Please and Thank you,
Eryn

The only proper response to this letter is.

Posted in Monthly Muses

Sharing the Love this Christmas

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This Christmas, I feel like I’ve been so materialistic. Not for myself but for getting everyone the perfect gift.

Because gift-giving is one of my love languages, I forget that gifts don’t matter. Spending time with friends and family is more important than checking off an Amazon wishlist. And it took me watching Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas and writing out my Christmas cards to realize that it’s just about sharing love.

I’m watching the movie, and the last story, The Gift of the Magi, comes on, and I’m crying. I’m twenty-five years old; I’m still crying over this.

Does anyone else watch it and wish you had a love like that? Willing to give up everything that matters to make the person you love happy?

But it wasn’t even that story; it was the narrator at the end before everyone started singing. The narrator says, “This Christmas season let us all do our parts to keep Christmas spirits alive in our hearts.”

And I was like, what have I done to share the Christmas spirit? And all I could think about was, well, I’m buying everyone gifts. But let’s be honest, that’s not doing that much. And I looked down and remembered I was writing these sincere cards to people I can’t see often and who I don’t talk to regularly because I miss them and want them to know I care. But I want to do something for the people around me in my neighborhood, but I don’t know what.

My grandmother had a lemon tree in her backyard and would force us kids, to pass out lemons to all the neighbors. It didn’t matter if they asked or not; they got lemons on their doorsteps.

I would love to do something like that, but in this day and age, people would throw away whatever I left on their doorstep. I know because if something random appeared on my doorstep, I would throw it away.

It’s sad how we’ve grown as a society to be so untrusting of everyone. I wish I could have experienced knowing your neighbors, instead my neighbors are crazy. I literally had a neighbor yell at me over stealing their Amazon package.

Things just aren’t what they used to be.

I wish we could grow closer as a society and be kind to one another.

Posted in Bun Appétit, Monthly Muses

The Fudging Best

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Guess who finally learned what fudge is?

That’s right it’s me.

After years of watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas and the holiday cheermeister scene and the Whos shoving different foods down the Grinch’s throat I finally stopped and said what is fudge?

The fact that fudge is a cream candy made of butter, sugar, milk, and usually chocolate. It’s so easy to make.

I had to make some. Luckily a friend of mine had a recipe and was willing to share. Of course she was confused how I never had fudge before.

I’m sure I did as a kid but I didn’t remember.

So we made fudge and watched the Grinch.

And of course I have the recipe.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups dark chocolate chips,
  • 1 14- oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 tbsp caramel topping

Directions

  1. Line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving the ends hanging over the sides. Be sure to press it down.
  2. In a microwave safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and condensed milk. Microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir. Return to the microwave and heat for an addition 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, until smooth when stirred.
  3. Stir in the vanilla extract and half the walnuts. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread into a single, even layer. Sprinkle with the remaining walnuts.
  4. Warm the caramel sauce until its of spreading consistency. Drizzle over the fudge. Cover with foil and chill at least 2 hours or until Fudge sets completely.
  5. When the fudge has set, remove the dish from the refrigerator. Carefully run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen any fudge that is touching the side of the dish. Use the ends of the parchment paper to lift the fudge and place it on a cutting board.
  6. Cut the fudge into your desired size.
Posted in Monthly Muses

Christmas Cards

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BLOGMAS Day 15!!!!

At the beginning of the year, I recently reconnected with my family on my dad’s side, so I decided to send them all Christmas cards. I’m behind on sending out my Christmas cards

But I have this fun little idea to make Christmas Crackers out of the card. Now in the UK, they have these super cute little decorations that have jokes or poems or quotes in them with little trinkets. I think they are adorable and are becoming more popular in America.

So I plan on writing my cards like usual with a message about I’m grateful to know the person, but I wanted to add a recipe and some stickers to each gift. And since I’m not sure if everyone knows what a Christmas cracker is, I plan to write a little message explaining it in each card.

“I’m not sure if you are familiar with Christmas crackers; they are popular British decorations with small gifts inside. Unfortunately, we aren’t British, and I’m not there to spend Christmas with you. I hope you enjoy my version of a Christmas cracker.”

I think having some little tuck-in, the card makes it more memorable and fun. No one really gets physical cards, but I love the idea of a physical card.

Posted in Monthly Muses

Countdown to Christmas

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Where has the time gone?

We are eleven days from Christmas! And I barely started my holiday checklist. 

It’s the same every year; hopefully, I can add more things to it in the upcoming years. I think we can all tell I am a creature of habit and like repetition. 

  • Have a Harry Potter movie marathon
  • Make Hot Cocoa from scratch 
  • Decorate a gingerbread house
  • Make my 2022 ornanament
  • Christmas movie marathon
  • Holiday crafts 
  • plan my 2023 goals
  • Write my letter to Santa
  • Send out Christmas cards 
  • Make Tamales 
  • Drive and see Christmas lights

The current list has no particular order. These are things I try to do every year. Do I do a special something every year? Heck no! It wasn’t until I put up the tree I noticed I did not make a 2021 ornament. I got ornaments as a gift, but I didn’t make any.  

For a Christmas movie marathon, my must-watch movies are:

Noelle, it’s on Disney Plus. Super cute movie with Anna Kindrick as Santa’s daughter who has to help her brother become the next Santa Claus. 

The Muppet Christmas Story is also on Disney plus. I would love for a bunch of very serious movies with the muppets. The Muppets’ version of Hamlet would be amazing.  

The Little Shop Around the Corner is a classic romance. Boy meets girl, and they reject each other they fall in love. It’s the original enemies turned lovers. 

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas is always a must-watch. Where are you Christmas gets stuck in my head the second I hear it.