at the beginning of this February i was shell shocked that it was already 2024. now it’s December, and i’m even more baffled at the fact that that moment of disbelief felt like it was just days instead of ten months ago.

in my mind, however, it’s still June and i’m on vacation in Sweden, so i really can’t complain with the current circumstances. despite never mentally leaving the summertime, this holiday season has consequently arrived with guns blazing from all of the fun and festive events swirling around my circle.

to kickoff the season’s celebrations, we had a “holiday hop” for our book club’s December session. the concept arose from the convenience-factor that comes with the majority of my friends living in the same apartment complex. each resident had the option to buddy-up and host, and were to provide guests with a specialty drink and appetizer.

Sam and Chutine graciously took me under their wing since I don’t live there. we provided guests peppermint patty shots delivered haircut-style, and some chocolate treats. Sam made Christmas Crack, a Midwest staple, and Chutine found a Rolo pretzel recipe on Pinterest.

the book of the month was All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, and it wasn’t discussed in the slightest. maybe we’ll get there in January.

at the beginning of the hop there was also a lipgloss exchange. those who wanted to participate brought their favorite lipgloss for a White Elephant-style gift swap. i bought Maybelline’s Lifter Gloss in ‘Moon,’ a tried-and-true formula in a beautiful shade that compliments all skin tones.

1AM rolled around and we made executive decision to have a sleepover in Sam and Chutine’s apartment. we pulled their mattresses into the living room, ordered lo mein and watched Sex And The City until we all dozed off. this is the first sleepover i’ve had in ages, so it was the perfect end to a fun-filled night.

that Sunday i then proceeded to complete my 24th lap around the sun. i cried so much that Saturday that I spent an hour depuffing my eyes with cold spoons the morning of.

it always gets me when i think about all the experiences i’ve had, people i’ve gotten to meet and all the versions of myself i’ve gotten to become. so i regard the yearly birthday tears as an act of mourning and renewal to make space for what’s to come this year.

and is it actually your birthday if you don’t cry at some point?

anyways, that night i had friends over for pizza and Prosecco. we also took the opportunity to exchange our Secret Santa gifts.

German Village also happened to have their annual lights festival on my birthday, so we headed over there after digging into some cake. my favorite part of the whole event was at Lindey’s, a Columbus landmark restaurant. it had a brass band playing Christmas music, free hot chocolate, and lights-galore on its patio. what a great way to start 24!

the preceding weekend, my sister Emma showed me an incredible time in her new home base of Washington DC. on Friday we went shopping around Georgetown before heading to her company’s holiday party. and then we walked the hangover off, amassing a total of 24k steps on Saturday as a result of seeing all the sights the city had to offer.

one of the many highlights of the trip was going to the National Botanical Garden. we got to see replicas of all the monuments we walked to in real life hours earlier, but this time made from pine straw and pine cones instead of marble. it’s free to the public and right next to the Capitol, so if you ever find yourself in DC during the Holiday season i would definitely recommend checking it out.

now that my siblings and I are back in Atlanta for the holidays, my family is in full-blown Christmas-mode. the house is decorated, and we’ve spent the majority of our mornings drinking tea on the couch by the tree and listening to Christmas music.

and as if that wasn’t enough, we’re slated to go to Atlanta Ballet’s performance of the Nutcracker, bake Christmas cookies, assemble a gingerbread house and watch at least five Christmas movies.

Christmas is a big deal over here for the Shaw Family, and even Georgia (our 15-year old Malshi who can be a Grinch) has found herself in the Christmas spirit.

i hope you have an incredible holiday season filled with light and love, and spend lots of time with friends and family!! XOXOXOXO

💘, Hanna