Xmas 2016

Just a short post today, recapping the highlights of hosting our first Christmas! Although my mother was originally rather vocal about not wanting to travel during the holidays, I guess the thought of not spending Christmas as family won out in the end, and both my parents and my brother joined Keizo and me in Takoma Park, MD. 

Not only were they the first guests to sleep in our guest room and on fold out couch, but it was the first major holiday I've ever hosted. Thankfully, they're pretty easy guests, and we all enjoy eating, beer tasting and jigsaw puzzles. We kept a few family traditions alive, including coffee cake for Christmas breakfast and wrapping up "gifts" that are really more odds-n-ends from around the house or essential items like toothbrushes. Sounds pretty terrible, but it wouldn't be Christmas at our house without at least a few of these things.

We had brunch with extended family in northern Virginia, took advantage of the trail close to our house on a bright sunny day, ate extremely well and spent an afternoon in downtown DC at the Natural History Museum and checking out the National Christmas Tree. One of the biggest highlights of their short visit was my brother gifting Keizo a cast iron dutch oven and some bread making lessons, both of which I hope will be used frequently in the new year. 

Happy (almost) 2017!

Currently - December '16

And just like that, it's the last month of 2016! November went by very quickly, and December seems to be moving along at the same rapid pace. But, since I pretty much live by the adage "better late than never," here is what I've been up to currently. For a more timely take, please stop by Anne and Kellie's excellent sites.

doing - Working hard or hardly working. I've always had a hard time finding a good in between, running myself ragged at work, and coming home with zero energy to do much more than sit on the couch. I'm looking forward to a few days later this month sans work when I can focus my energies on having fun.

enjoying - The Amazon series Good Girls Revolt. Powerful message, great styling, and very human characters; I hope there's a second season.

cooking - The last things I can remember making are a pumpkin roll cake for Thanksgiving and this creamy chicken fajita soup on a recent chilly Sunday. Keizo's still cooking dinner the nights that he's home, and when I am on my own I usually just reheat leftovers.

wrapping - My shopping is only about half done, and the wrapping is much less complete. Most of the purchased gifts are in a pile on a shelf, but a few have made their way under the tree covered in some festive paper.

playing - at being a runner. I've been consistently running 2-3 times per week for the past few months, and I'm starting to think about signing up for a race with a distance that I would have to train for (anything over a 5K, so options abound!)

Thanks for reading and have a wonderful holiday season!