The candles are lit and the lights in the city are becoming brighter as the sun dips below the horizon. I love this season of the year! Where it’s filled with gatherings of family and friends, nights spent under the covers and a good book in my hands, the hot coco and tea seems to never end, and on some nights I mix my earl grey tea with some rum and top it off with eggnog.

Today was spent listening to christmas music, pulling out wrapping paper and all the trimmings, and just relishing in the time spent folding and wrapping presents. Last year I didn’t get to wrap any presents, so I’m enjoying another year putting my love of giving gifts to use.

Image via 79ideas.

As mentioned before I adore giving gifts. The searching, scouring, deciding between this one or that one until I find the perfect item and then being giddy with happiness with my parcel tucked under my arm. I’m like a little kid waiting for cake when I’m waiting for the person to open their gift! While they admire the packaging a smile goes wide across my face and then as they tear the paper off I hold my breath waiting until they see the gift inside. Once they see it, it takes everything I have not to clap saying “Isn’t it the best thing, ever?!”

The 5 Love Languages say that one love language is the receiving of gifts, but I think my way of showing love isn’t the same as receiving. I LOVE gift giving and I love how Christmas allows me to indulge in this showing of love as much as possible! Now I’m off to anticipate Christmas day and all it’s tearing of paper and exclaiming over gifts showered with love!

As we sat among the dry grass watching exotic animals pass us by, we chatted easily about the places we had recently seen and also the places we wanted to go. While living in Europe travel was the thing we lived and breathed for, we would eat homemade soup just so that we could hop on the next plane to take us anywhere. Travel still is the thing we live and breathe for, but we no longer have to eat soup for the next plane ride, we just have to go longer stints between traveling and enjoy a different lifestyle.

Another item I wrote down on my bucket list, was travel to NYC. As with everything else on my list, I didn’t actually think it would ever come true. Many reasons being that I told myself I wasn’t worthy enough, good enough, lucky enough. I believed those lies to the very core of me, until recently. I’ve been crossing items off my bucket list with such vengeance that I’m afraid soon I’ll have to make another one with even bigger desires!

So today, as I pack my carry-on and make sure all my camera batteries are full, I am looking forward to finally seeing the city that never sleeps, having amazing culinary experiences that will make my heart burst, and falling even more in love.

Original photo source, unknown.

I’m enjoying a season in my life where I get to just enjoy and be. I’ve never really had a season like this in my life and some days I have no idea what to do with myself. I feel like I’ve been constantly on the run going to school (interior design), working a full-time job, or pushing my small business forward. At one point I was doing all three of these at the same time. I’m so used to having a to-do list a mile long, the rush and pressure of being on social media, and making sure my clients are happy and more than satisfied with their products. But now, I sit and listen.

I spend mornings wrapped in my soft beige throw and stare out the window watching ships come and go from the bay. I read books while nibbling on apples and oranges. I cook fun and balanced meals (today at 10 in the morning I decided to make mousse de chocolat, and I can’t wait to have it later this evening). Every day I have the privilege of doing the things I’m inspired to do and activities that will make me happy. Sure there are days that are filled with running to the bank or post office, but while I’m running there I have the time to linger over shop windows and stop for a take away latte instead of dashing back to my desk.

I know this season won’t last forever so I’m soaking up every last drop I possibly can. So the other day I wanted to learn how to make an animated gif that wasn’t what you typically see on sidebars but one inspired by Jamie Beck. I spent the afternoon learning and teaching myself and I really like what I came up with. Still much to refine and work on, but I think I’m going to end up doing more of these during my season of rest and creativity.