Confidence and Ignorance : Holiday Cheer

"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peach and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." -Calvin Coolidge

I love Christmas. For as long as I can remember, Christmas Eve has always been my favorite night of the year. I love the tradition and anticipation of Christmas Eve coupled with the amazing food and stellar company.

I was lucky enough to be at my parents house when we decorated. We all got ourselves a glass of prosecco and went to work turning the inside and outside of our home into a winter wonderland.

Back in the East Coast- my roommate and I decided this was the year to get a tree in our apartment. We dressed up as elves and got ourselves a tree. We decorated it with tinsel, colored lights, and terrible ornaments from the Dollar Tree. It was a tacky masterpiece. Our apartment was the exact opposite of the classic, catalog-like decorations of my familial home, but it was very cheery and full of holiday cheer.

Back in college, we used to throw an annual 'Holiday Party'. Luckily, I still live close to a number of my college friends and I was able to drive out for Holiday Party '14. It was a mess of frivolity and a lot of haircuts (peppermint schnapps chased with chocolate syrup). Buddy the Elf would have been thrilled with us.

Christmastime is the best- mulled wine, whisky, fresh snow, roaring fires, and I can watch Love Actually on a loop. What could be better? This was the first time I ever bought a nice bottle of Scotch. I am well on my way to my goal of loving whisky.

The company I work for throws a great Holiday party every year. Its always at a gorgeous hotel with multiple open bars, great food, and casino games. I love having an occasion to get dolled up, and luckily- I also really like my co-workers. A lot of them are some of my favorite people.

Following the company party, I flew back to CA to spend the holiday with my family. It was a bit of a rough time- my Grandmother fell and broke a number of bones. We were all very worried and considered canceling Christmas Eve, but decided to go on with the show.

I was so glad that we did- it was good to be surrounded by people we love. Two of my cousins had recently gotten engaged so we had a lot to celebrate.