10 Christmas Things

1. We had our third annual Christmas party over the weekend and it was so much fun. I made this Pinterest pull-apart Christmas tree bread (I subbed extra sharp white cheddar cheese, lactose-free cream cheese, and raw, super-aged parmesan, and brushed the top with olive oil instead of butter to make it low in lactose) and not only did it turn out cute AF but it was DELICIOUS. I think it lasted about 10 minutes before it was gone. I also went with this tomato and mozzarella wreath (buffalo mozzarella for me!), this mulled wine recipe minus cider, and this Christmassy pomegranate and rosemary gin fizz recipe.

2. Shitty Christmas Movies—for some reason this is all I want to watch this year. Usually I stick to my go-to, wonderful wintry wonderland movies like White Christmas and Love Actually, but this year Netflix is bringing me all my hilariously bad movies in a major way. So far my favorite has been a Christmas Knight starring Vanessa Hudgens, closely followed by Christmas in the Rockies and Merry Kiss-mas (so so incredibly bad). I am going to create a drinking game/Bingo board to play while watching these bad boys, so stay tuned and you, too, can get wildly drunk while watching terrible actors fall in love in five minutes

3. We’re going to go see the Zoo Lights at the Oakland Zoo next week! I’ve lived in Oakland for almost six years and this will be my first time seeing the zoo all lit up, so I am pumped. 

4. Last year we went to the Dickens Fair and it. was. EPIC. Not sure if we’ll make it this year, but… if you’re local, I highly recommend. The Queen even made an appearance. 

5. I got Jason this boozy advent calendar last month (of course now it’s on sale), and it’s been so much fun trying all the unique liquors. So far the best one has been the brown sugar bourbon. 

6. Not to be outdone, Jason got me a candy calendar, but he did a little game of Operation to remove all the dairy-filled products and replace them with lactose-friendly options. He’s the best. 

7. I’ve mentioned this a few times on Instagram, but J is British and therefore somewhat new to American chain restaurants. After one too many, “OMG you’ve never tried ___?!”s, we started a tradition where any time we take a road trip, I introduce him to a chain that we would *never* visit otherwise. So far we’ve done Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Chili’s, Arby’s, Chick Fil-A, and Buffalo Wild Wings. I think Applebee’s is up next, but please let me know if I’m missing anything crucial (chains they have in the UK don’t count, like KFC or TGIFridays, and apparently Taco Bell was first on his list when he moved here four years ago). This weekend we’re going against the rules and double dipping at Buffalo Wild Wings because a) I had never been there before either and I was v impressed and b) we’re going to go see Candy Cane Lane, which is apparently where a neighborhood goes all out with Christmas decorations in San Ramon, so we’re making a day of it. I’m way too excited about it.

8. Gingerbread Decorating! I’m taking J to Florida with me in a couple weeks for his first Gibson Christmas and the first thing we’ll do (after making white Russians) is have our annual gingerbread party. Attendance is lookin’ good this year and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with for his first time. 

9. Ziggy hates Christmas outfits. This is a recurring theme, but I can’t help but keep trying. How amazing does she look in this Santa hat? (Looks like she had one too many white Russians). Also, this weekend I’m taking her to sit on Santa’s lap… I’ll let you know how that goes.

10. My roomies, Jason, and I may or may not have all gotten matching Christmas jammies (including Ziggy), so if we can get it together in time, holiday cards are forthcoming. 

So those are just some of the ways I’m getting into the spirit this year. How are you celebrating the holidays?

Need more holiday inspo? Check out the Christmas bucket list  and a last-minute, budget gift guide.