Life as of Lately: Christmas Everything

With getting everything prepped for Christmas - i.e.: wrapping, baking, shopping, cooking, etc., etc., etc. It's easy to lose track of exactly what Christmas is all about. Although this season my entire family can't be together, it'll certainly be special to spend time with my family and friends that are in town.

To me, Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year - my family makes homemade spaghetti & meatballs (my favorite meal, basically ever), we drink vino and tell old stories (my dad pretty much tells the same stories over again - it's seriously amazing how each time the story gets better & better. Not to mention, he remembers everyone's name. I can't even remember what I wore last night. It's seriously impressive, you guys.). There's something special about Christmas Eve that makes it unlike Christmas Day - low key (minus the loud, drunken story-telling), but full of love. 

Picture this: A mix between Kenny G and a Star Wars Christmas album, the smell of garlic-y meatballs, tons of red wine and my dad's ultimate Grasshopper Cocktail (mixture of creme de menthe + vanilla ice cream = amazing-ness).

I can't wait.

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?

{ This recipe is actually crack. OMG. }

{ Holiday Sangria is now a tradition. There's no doubt I'm making this every single year. }

{ Hotel Roanoke during the holidays is pretty much necessary. }

{ You guys, why can't we just start dipping the cookies into frosting instead of actually frosting them? It'd make like so much easier. }