White Christmas

In the wake of relentless rain and ice, it managed to snow on Christmas here - just enough to make a new layer of white. "It's a Christmas miracle!" I know it's cliche, but there really is something extra special - and magical - about a Christmas snow. All that clean new white seems to gently foreshadow that "fresh start" that comes with every New Year.

I'm not one for making resolutions, but I have been quietly mulling over what I'd like to do, where I'd like to go, who I'd like to be for the last few months, and if I can't accomplish those goals in the remaining days of 2013, then 2014 and onward it will be!

I felt determined to get the most out of Christmas this year. With three Christmases under our belts as a married couple, it seemed like this fourth one should be done with a little more purpose and intention than simply exchanging gifts and following along with our family's events and traditions (because we're still clumsily assembling our own). And while I still haven't quite got the hang of it (we never did find those perfect stockings or finish twelve dates in time), I at least felt like the captain of my own ship. It made Christmas more meaningful. It made Christmas ours.

And now we're all tuckered out, Patricio's suffering from a stomach bug, but we're happily surrounded by our special new treasures. We are blessed to be given so much - indulge me while I share a few.




1. Darkest of dark chocolate and The History of Love from Patricio.
2. A versatile, geometric Shop for Jayu necklace from Sacha.
3. Polka dot socks, a lint roller with cats, and a cozy pom-pommed beanie from my sister.

And because I feel a little swell of pride from the gifts I bought for Patricio this year (since he brought them with him to all our family events), here's a few:

The Wes Anderson Collection (which is as much a gift for me as it is for him, to be honest), the Beautiful Losers book and DVD, and PEZ.

I'll be sharing a few more snippets from our Christmas over the next few days, but for now I'll be taking it easy. We hope that your Christmas was merry and bright!