fresh traditions

christmas tends to = lots of presents. i am really not into having a bunch of stuff, and i am always trying to makeunder my home, my closet, my life. and the other day i was skyping with my two closest friends, who i always exchange gifts with. we almost always give each other a piece of silver jewelry. but silver is getting more and more expensive, and we all have lots of earrings, bracelets, rings. maybe it's time for a new tradition.

(a fraction of my sterling silver ring collection)

we talked about putting the money that we would spend on gifts and postage aside, and using it for visits, dinners, trips, concerts. i think i love it.

christmas spirit

for the first time in a long time, december doesn't mean exam time. i think that's why this year we are so much more into christmas stuff. loved the santa clause parade. excited for a christmas tree.  j and i had been debating getting a tree. we didn't feel good about cutting down a perfectly healthy tree, but didn't want to purchase an artificial one. but then we were driving by a developing area in our town on sunday, and found a bunch of trees already cut down in a huge pile. we found a decent one, and threw it on the truck. we only own two ornaments, but i think we will string some popcorn or something.

weekend: cobb's pond and coconut hot chocolate

some type of bird party in our yard saturday morning 

coconut hot chocolate for the santa clause parade. soo good 

breaking the ice 

 chilly cobb's pond

awesome weekend

coconut hot chocolate:
1 part coconut milk
2 parts boiling water
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 teaspoon maple syrup

mix the coconut milk, syrup, cocoa together. then add the boiling water. mix until frothy. amazing

looking forward

i love having something to look forward to. especially a trip. especially when the weather is cold and dreary and the days are super short. i pretty much always have a trip on the horizon. we will be in mexico in 3 weeks. looking forward to some major lounging.

library list

i read these two books on the weekend. i learned a few things from the wealthy barber. bossypants was just really funny. it was awkward to read this book in public because i was laughing so hard i was crying. i love tina fey even more now. also plowed through the hunger games in half a day. so addictive. and woody harrelson is in the movie, which i am excited for.