Home for the Holidays

WAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I’m finally home for Christmas! Finals are done! I survived!

Can you tell I’m happy?

Well, with finals behind me and Christmas and a three week break ahead of me, I am so so happy.

I mean, how could I not be when I get to stare at my tree every night, instead of at the pages of a text book or endless notes and essays?

I’m just relaxing at the moment (I’ve been waiting for this for so long), so I figured it’s the perfect time to check in on here.

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The past few weeks were pretty crazy with studying and essay writing galore, so my days pretty much consisted of: wake up around 8:30, workout (I ran almost every day since it was the perfect stress release/ energizing activity for me, but I did a few intense room workouts here and there to mix it up). Then I would eat breakfast, shower, and get to work.

We decked out our common room, which actually made it feel slightly more like Christmas time, as opposed to just endless hours spent in a timeless studying bubble.

My friends and I went stir crazy by the second study day. There were a few too many weird photos and videos taken that I probably should not share.

Besides allowing our inner maniacs out in the common room, we attempted to stay sane by stuffing our faces with some Christmasy treats.

Cupcakes

Mint Chip Brownies (I’m obsessed.)

Dark Hot Cocoa

They may not have made us act normal, but they definitely satisfied our sweet tooths!

We also got totally distracted by this app…

Should I dye my hair blonde?

HA. Just kidding!

My last school meal for the year. Salmon, sweet potato, salad. See ya in 2014, dining hall!

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Now that I’m home, I get to eat homemade meals, go out to dinner, hang with the fam and my high school friends, and RELAX. Oh, and celebrate CHRISTMAS!

Insert random fun video here for no reason:

Homemade version of the same dining hall meal… Mango salsa covered salmon, sweet potato with cinnamon, whole wheat roll, roasted veggies. I helped myself to seconds, of course.

Pasta with kielbasa and salad.

Can I just say that we have so many desserts at my house…My mom made a few batches of oatmeal cookies, and she went to a cookie swap, and both my parents got tons of candies and baked goods from coworkers and friends.

PLUS there will be even more after Christmas since we’ll be baking and some of our guests will bring some, too. Hey, I’m not complaining!

On my first night home, I was faced with a tough decision about which dessert to choose. I went with caramel ice cream and a chocolate covered gingerbread cookie.

Good choice.

At my friends house, we had delicious cake batter and cookie monster ice cream from a local ice cream shop that one of my friends works at. I didn’t snap a photo of it unfortunately, but let me tell ya, it was amazing.

Last night, the fam and I went to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, and I got my usual – a veggie hummus and avocado wrap with sweet potato fries. ~~Demolished that plate.~~ Ate every single bite.

After digesting that for a while, I spent the night in front of my beautiful Christmas tree, talking to my parents while enjoying half a hot cocoa packet mixed into plain greek yogurt (so good and creamy – try it!) and then sipping the rest stirred into hot water.

It’s times like these that I look forward to every year. The moments spent all cozy and warm, surrounded by family and friends, enjoying delicious food, and not wanting to be anywhere else.

This is absolutely my favorite time of year, and looking forward to being home and getting to do all of my favorite things is what gets me through the stress and craziness of finals.

Now that I’m home, enjoying every minute spent exactly where I want to be, I could not be happier.

I hope you are feeling the exact same way.