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‘Twas the week after Christmas

I hope everyone’s holiday was fun and full of love and surprises.

I know mine was. I can’t even remember everything I got, and I got a lot of stuff. But it was mostly about being together and enjoying my friends and family.

We did gifts a little differently this year. Usually, we all open our gifts all at once and get it over with, but this year we made a hot seat. So everyone took turns sitting in the chair and opening presents, making us feel like kids all over again; we all got to ooh and aah together, and it was nice seeing everyone’s reactions; some of us screamed and cried all out of love.

This year we all tried to outdo each other with super thoughtful gifts, which is so selfishly driven because we all wanted to be crowned Father Christmas. No one won cause we all kind of went about and beyond. And it was worth it.

My friend was gifted a perfume bottle, but it was the scent her mother wore, who passed a few years ago. There was a custom-made vest and tie to match and a dress for my friends who recently lost a lot of weight or for them to redo their wedding photos. We spent almost $300 on magic books for my boyfriend because we knew he wouldn’t buy them for himself. I received a Mini Mouse Kate Spade mini backpack full of Disney merch.

Honestly, I didn’t even look inside all of it, mainly because I was like, why did you spend so much money on me? If you know me, I love Disney, mini bags, and Kate Spade. And they don’t sell any fun bags at the Kate Spade stores near us- which is stupid because most people who shop at Kate Spade are like me, and I want the croissant bag, not one of the leather bags. So they drove to the outlet for me, which is an hour away.

I love the bag, but it’s more that they drove for two hours to get me a specific bag. I screamed when I got it, which was probably their goal.

I wonder what we will do to each other next year.

Posted in Blogmas

A Little Christmas Eve Stress

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 Blogmas

Letter To Santa

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 Blogmas

Sharing the Love this Christmas

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 Blogmas, Food and Beverage

The Fudging Best

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 Blogmas

Christmas Cards

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 Blogmas

Countdown to Christmas

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.

Posted in Blogmas

I Want a Winter Picnic

It’s 49 degrees outside and, basically, midnight, and all I want to do is have a winter picnic.

There’s something about how the moon looks and how it’s cold but not too cold. I think even if it was snowing I’d still want a picnic.

It doesn’t even need to be anything fancy. Something simple, calming and romantic.

Warm blankets wrapped around our shoulders, on top of a hill watching the city lights while drinking hot chocolate with cookies and foil wrapped toasted sandwiches. All the picnic spots in LA close at 10pm. But there are plenty of places to park a car and talk.

My life’s best and most meaningful conversations have been in a car. Car talks are so intimate if you’re with the right person. It’s pretty much completely quiet except for your voices.

Maybe I’ve been reading too many books and watching too many hallmarks. But I think I’ll wait another week until people are finally in the Christmas spirit, have up their lights, and then try to drive around.

Maybe I can convince my boyfriend to wear a matching onesie, get some hot cocoa and drive around. Maybe I can come up with a nice winter sandwich by them. Or maybe make popcorn since well be driving around.

I know picnics are usually associated with summertime. But why not be adventurous and try out a winter picnic?

Posted in Blogmas, Food and Beverage

Santa Cookies

I know im late with this post but I had to see a woman about a cookie.

I confused a few people when I said I wanted Santa cookies instead of Christmas cookies a couple of days ago.

No they aren’t cookies that look like Santa.

These are called Santa cookies because they are Santa’s favorite cookies. I know you think your grandma’s recipe for chocolate chip cookies are his favorite, but they aren’t.

I would love to take credit for these, but they are a friend’s cookie recipe. 

My friend and her mom make these during the holiday season. 

While my family and I make dozens of tamales, my friend makes dozens of cookies. 

Now you can make these all year round, but they like to make them at Christmas time just cause it makes it more unique and gives us something to look forward to.

Now my friend hasn’t made the cookies yet. And I’m fiending for them. I can eat my body weight in these. So I begged for the recipe. The original recipe, not the version they currently use, makes 100 cookies at a time.

Luckily my friend’s mom took pity on me and gave me the recipe. And she even gave me permission to share it. I’m so excited i plan on making them tomorrow.

They did preface by saying it is not a unique cookie recipe and that they don’t know if the grandmother made this up or found it in a magazine. So humble of them to downplay it.

They make two types of cookies. The cookie base is the same for both Christmas and traditional versions. I love the classic cookie better. But maybe you prefer a more festive cookie. 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup shortening 
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed lightly
  • Two eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 6 oz chocolate chips

Directions 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F
  2. In a large mixing bowl, beat shortening on medium speed for one minute until smooth and creamy. 
  3. Gradually add in both sugars, vanilla, and eggs. Add eggs one at a time, beating for 30 seconds after each.
  4. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt into the wet ingredients and combine well. 
  5. Add chocolate chips and oats to the batter. (For the Christmas version, add half a cup of chopped walnuts or pecans and half a cup of shredded coconut, and replace half the amount of chocolate chips with festive M&Ms.)
  6. Shape the batter into small balls using your hands and place them on a greased baking sheet. Leave a few inches between cookies for them to spread.
  7. Bake for 13 to 18 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let cookies cool on the tray for 3-4 minutes before moving them to a wire cooling rack.

Do you prefer to eat traditional cookies or something with an added festive flair? Either way, you’re going to love these cookies!

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Santa Claws is coming to town.

I’m sorry I’m a little late with this post. I wasn’t even sure I was going to post.

I feel like I’ve been very bipolar this past week. One day I’m like super stressed out and hating Christmas, then the next, I’m like, you guys, I saw a puppy in a Santa hat, and now I can’t stop crying.

I plan to try to stay positive even when I’m stressed this holiday. The last thing I want to be is a scrooge.

I have a couple of ideas for just small gifts that mean a lot but don’t cost a lot that I plan on doing.

The only one I know that I can pull off before Christmas is taking a festive photo shoot of my cousin’s cats.

I’m currently cat-sitting, so it kind of feels like I’m cheating because I plan to do a photo shoot and put their pictures on the wall and see if my cousin notices.They are the most photogenic cats I’ve ever seen.

They are cute and cuddly, at least today they were. They seem to be loving on me for some reason. Last time they were little demons; my arms and legs were covered in scratches. So I’ll take all the cuddles and purrs they give me.

It sucks that I can’t give them the proper affection because I’m allergic to them. Well, it’s not an allergy but more of a sensitivity. It takes a few hours of being immersed in cat hair before I start getting hives and sneezing. Nothing a Benadryl can’t fix.

I have a few inspo pics that I would like to recreate. I know from working with these cats before most things never go according to plan. These cats make me work for my photos. But I think they like it when I record them. Every picture and TikTok I’ve ever made of them wasn’t too hard to make.

Wish me luck. I’ll definitely post the pictures.