❄ My Childhood During the Holidays ❄

It's the full swing into the holiday season, and I've been reminiscing on the memories I've had about this time of the year.

This is going to be a blast from the past for me. Haha, it's story time with grandma Vicky!

It's been a tradition for my aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends to all come around my home on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holidays. There would be a santa plushie on our couch, and a light-up snowman that was hung on our window.

All the kids would be sitting on our living room floor, and happily accepting the red envelopes and wrapped presents from the adults.

This was on Christmas Day 2010, I had just turned 11 years-old the day before.
*I'm cringing at my hoop earrings and wire glasses *


And I remember this specific year where my dad came home in the middle of the party. I don't remember if the box was wrapped or not, but it was probably the best gift I got as a kid. A plastic keyboard. And it was actually a working toy! I was so excited that I took it to the bathroom with my younger cousins, and we spent the rest of the evening pushing the black and white keys.

But now that I'm "too old" for gifts, I usually get presents from my brother. Which I'm super grateful for. It's funny because we never really said out loud that we would do that for each other. But I guess it started when he drew me little birthday cards when we were young.

These are some memories I haven't shared out loud before, so I hope you'll think back on similar childhood moments :)

Happy holidays from me to you, and I'll talk to you soon :)
~ Vicky

3 AM Thoughts

It's been December 24th for only 3 hours and 12 minutes so far.

The night sky is quite grey, so it's not really pitch black outside.
It's been lightly drizzling for a while, just like it was last year.

I couldn't fall asleep so I decided to write this while I lay in bed.
I turned my fairy lights on to make it feel more Christmasy, and this is just going to be me splurging out my thoughts.

Here's something --
I was born at 2:15AM on this night 17 years ago.
Yeah, I'm a Christmas Eve baby.

I wonder where my brother was.
He was only one year-old.
Was he asleep or awake when my mom was having me?

I wonder what my mom was doing when she realized she was going into labor. Or what she thought.
It was probably along the lines of "oh crap!" But in cantonese of course, haha!
She was probably like, "aww c'mon, I just want to sleep. I'm too tired to push this thing out."

(I'm silently laughing so hard right now, and I can't breath underneath my duvet. Hopefully my parent's don't hear me).

Crazy huh?

17 years.
Seventeen.

I'll probably come back to this page when I'm older, and think "Oh Vicky. So young and naive."

My birthday's don't ever feel like one... if that makes sense.
It would feel like it's just another day, nothing really special.
Since it would be the first day of winter break, I'd be sleeping in or doing homework most of the time.

Last year I went on a walk in the morning, and I think I'll make it my own little tradition. I'd go to a cafe for a hour or two and enjoy being alone. It gets me out of the house before some of my relatives come over, and I could get some peace and quiet for the day.

It's something that I've been trying to do this year.
It clears my mind a bit, and gives me some time to breathe.
It makes me feel a bit small... you know?
There's so many people in the world, and then there's just me.

I would think about all the people in the world on this day, and try to imagine what they're doing and how they feel.

There's kids and adults who are super excited for the holidays.
Loved ones who are spending their first holidays together, kids who may remember this time for the rest of their lives, or people who just love the festive period. The people who may not celebrate this time, or can't.

I wouldn't spend time having a giant birthday bash like most teens. I'd spend most of my time reflecting on the year I had, and what I've done or haven't done. It's a pretty downer time for me, but I like it.

My relatives would come over for dinner, and I would binge watch movies in bed or at my desk with my cousins. The fairy lights of my room would be on, and I'd be all warm underneath the blankets.

It's better than anything else I'd wish for.

That's it from me, I'm probably going to watch some movies until the sun comes out.
~ Vicky

❄ Christmas Gift Guide ❄

Happy holidays :)

How's December going for you?

Are you cozying up with a cup of hot chocolate? Watching movies at night? Bustling around to find the perfect gift for someone?

Well I hope you have time to slow down a bit and take in the festive time!

As I'm growing older, I know that my downtime is the most valuable thing!

I've been doing a bit of shopping recently, and I thought I'd share my gift giving thoughts :)

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Here are some gift ideas that you can give away (or ask for), I even made cute theme names! :)

❄ The Cozy Hug ❄

~ All I can imagine is laying in bed with some comfy pajamas on ~

These are the cutest socks! I got them at Target ($1) and was so surprised at how soft and fuzzy they were (or at least the middle one). 

I love everything Christmas and holiday themed! The PJ bottoms on the left are from Old Navy, and the middle and right ones are from Primark. They make the cold mornings in NYC all more festive and cute! 

❄ AHHH, by the way, I found out that there's going to be 2 Primarks in NYC :D Even though they're deep in Brooklyn and Staten Island, AHH!! ❄

A mug from Michaels Craft Store (aka, my favorite place to shop at -- besides Sur La Table). I got this as a gift for a White Elephant game, and I thought anyone could use a mug for some hot drinks at this time of year.

☆ Wright's Apothecary Bathing Infusions -- Lemongrass & Aloe, Olive & Fig, Rose & White Tea

☆ Blistex Lip Medex

It may seem a bit generic but it's always nice to treat someone with a good quality pamper session.

This is very Tumblry, haha. I took some Christmas lights and hung them around my bed to mix things up from the dull fluorescent color of my room. Even though it took me a hour to work the lights onto my bunk bed, it adds a bit of fun when I'm watching movies in bed.

I got The Room Essentials lights from Target ($6) for Secret Santa, and my friend  loves it! 

For the artist! 

I got these pens at Michaels Craft Store ($10), and they're really useful for anyone you know that loves sketching, drawing, or painting. 

❄ The Librarian's Trinkets ❄

~ Sometimes I think of myself as a old librarian at heart ~

Egghead - Bo Burnham

If on a winter's night a traveler - Italo Calvino

Invisible Cities - Italo Calvino

Cosmicomics  - Italo Calvino

These are my favorite books this year.

They're great for any bookworms looking for a escape route.

Disney's Tsum Tsum

THEY ARE SO TINY, CUTE, AND SQUISHY! 

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I hope these ideas were helpful :)

Much love and warmth,

~ Vicky