December makes me a kid again .... it's my most favorite time of the year! There is nothing I don't love about the Christmas season! From the wonderful old classic music, pajama time watching Christmas movies on Netflix, tree lighting at your county and yes we put up our tree on 12/1 every year pretty much after Thanksgiving but oh boy this year there was a mad rush of events Halloween and Diwali zoom passed with a blink of my eyelid... it was funny to change your avatar from being a witch for Halloween to the magical festival of Diwali lights, Diyas and Lakshmi pooja it all just spilled over in one weekend but the celebrations were to the brim!!
As a kid we never put up a tree or celebrated Christmas as such because back in good old India it was seen more like a festival for Catholic or Christian religion only however my Dad would deligently take us to visit Santa at Akbarallys a big outlet store those days and buy my sister and me a present. My Catholic friend Natasha would go for a midnight mass to the church and we'd have a Christmas get together at her house next day .. pretty much seen a tree in her house, nice lights, plum cakes and one lovely evening my sister and friends decorated a huge tree outside her house that was the first time I heard the word 'reindeer' it was a ornament that we hung on the tree along with candles and it looked so so pretty I wish we had a camera then to have captured those moments. We received a lot of compliments from passer bys.
.... as time flew by Christmas was so much in the air even my most crowded Mumbai city back in India looked magical with restaurants lit up, Santa everywhere, Malls with huge trees and themes and Red sweaters everywhere, Mumbai can be cooler in December ... it really began to feel like a Magical month. Yes I love December bcos there is something magical,the love in the air, toys, gift wrapping, Santa and the tree itself I love it, so merry!! The very first year itself we had a tree for sunshine in good old Bangalore and then when we moved here to the west we continued the practice of course.
Here in the west it's beyond magic, as a kid I was a voracious reader I used to finish books on Christmas during the Christmas break from school which then turned to movies as I grew up and my favorite was 'Home Alone Christmas movie', literally everything I've seen in the movies is a reality during this magical month here in the west right from the mistle toe, the reindeer, the aroma of cinnamon and cookies, the sounds of sleigh bells, sleigh rides, Mrs Claus and Santa Claus, Elf helpers, shopping, the holiday lights everywhere, its all real and so magical, accompanied by the cool temperature of winters you surely need a hot chocolate if you are out in this frosty weather but who does not want to right!
So for Xmas 2016 what did we do? It's only December 1st and we put up our tree today did lots of DIY to decorate it, used last year s wreath which was a DIY too, and my boy is in full spirits and his full Master Chef avatar this year so he is a Baker... yes he baked a chocolate cake just as delicious as he is, aaha yes he did, patiently and persistently followed the instructions in a YouTube video, Mommy helped of course he also made mac and cheese during Thanksgiving! I boxed some to work and my colleagues love it!! Here is a video of Xmas day 1 and sssshhhh he wrote a letter to Santa and we are counting days to receive his gift from Santa. USPS has a wonderful service for delivering Santa letters and hopefully a reply too :).
Above all I love spending time with those I love and shop a small gift to express my gratitude and gesture to my friends and family and giving back to kids who need toys. Last year I did 'Toys for Tots' at a local store and at my workplace yet to decide this year s give back but I do want to do a tad different. So that's my doodle do for Christmas! It surely brings out a good attitude in you and cheers you up after all it's the last month so be merry and be cheerful and be good. Spread love spread joy to the world!
Love.... always! More to come...
Sunshine and his Mommy
As a kid we never put up a tree or celebrated Christmas as such because back in good old India it was seen more like a festival for Catholic or Christian religion only however my Dad would deligently take us to visit Santa at Akbarallys a big outlet store those days and buy my sister and me a present. My Catholic friend Natasha would go for a midnight mass to the church and we'd have a Christmas get together at her house next day .. pretty much seen a tree in her house, nice lights, plum cakes and one lovely evening my sister and friends decorated a huge tree outside her house that was the first time I heard the word 'reindeer' it was a ornament that we hung on the tree along with candles and it looked so so pretty I wish we had a camera then to have captured those moments. We received a lot of compliments from passer bys.
.... as time flew by Christmas was so much in the air even my most crowded Mumbai city back in India looked magical with restaurants lit up, Santa everywhere, Malls with huge trees and themes and Red sweaters everywhere, Mumbai can be cooler in December ... it really began to feel like a Magical month. Yes I love December bcos there is something magical,the love in the air, toys, gift wrapping, Santa and the tree itself I love it, so merry!! The very first year itself we had a tree for sunshine in good old Bangalore and then when we moved here to the west we continued the practice of course.
Here in the west it's beyond magic, as a kid I was a voracious reader I used to finish books on Christmas during the Christmas break from school which then turned to movies as I grew up and my favorite was 'Home Alone Christmas movie', literally everything I've seen in the movies is a reality during this magical month here in the west right from the mistle toe, the reindeer, the aroma of cinnamon and cookies, the sounds of sleigh bells, sleigh rides, Mrs Claus and Santa Claus, Elf helpers, shopping, the holiday lights everywhere, its all real and so magical, accompanied by the cool temperature of winters you surely need a hot chocolate if you are out in this frosty weather but who does not want to right!
So for Xmas 2016 what did we do? It's only December 1st and we put up our tree today did lots of DIY to decorate it, used last year s wreath which was a DIY too, and my boy is in full spirits and his full Master Chef avatar this year so he is a Baker... yes he baked a chocolate cake just as delicious as he is, aaha yes he did, patiently and persistently followed the instructions in a YouTube video, Mommy helped of course he also made mac and cheese during Thanksgiving! I boxed some to work and my colleagues love it!! Here is a video of Xmas day 1 and sssshhhh he wrote a letter to Santa and we are counting days to receive his gift from Santa. USPS has a wonderful service for delivering Santa letters and hopefully a reply too :).
Above all I love spending time with those I love and shop a small gift to express my gratitude and gesture to my friends and family and giving back to kids who need toys. Last year I did 'Toys for Tots' at a local store and at my workplace yet to decide this year s give back but I do want to do a tad different. So that's my doodle do for Christmas! It surely brings out a good attitude in you and cheers you up after all it's the last month so be merry and be cheerful and be good. Spread love spread joy to the world!
Love.... always! More to come...
Sunshine and his Mommy
