winter wish list
Every December 31st, I always regret not doing more Christmas-y things. The holidays seem to pass in a blink of an eye, leaving me wishing for more. This year's gap between Thanksgiving and Christmas seems so much shorter than other years, so I feel it is even more vital to be intentional about figuring out the things I want to do this month. Otherwise, it is too easy to get swept away with shopping lists, deadlines, and errands, missing the precious moments to revel in the beauty of this season.
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my winter wish list:
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my winter wish list:
pick a christmas tree from a tree farm. i haven't done this in so long and would love to walk through rows of evergreens and then enjoy a warm cup of cocoa afterwards. i bought an adorable dwarf tree from a boy-scout fundraiser tree lot, but i still want to visit a farm and just walk around amongst snow-powdered 'greens while jack frost is nipping at my nose.
[1]
visit leavenworth, wa. i experienced this bavarian village several years ago during the holidays and felt like i was in a snowy christmas globe! it was so fun and christmas-y! i am taking my family this time around and am super stoked to spend a few days walking through the village and riding through the snow-covered forests in a horse-drawn sleigh again!
[2]
christmas concerts. i am planning on joining several friends this weekend for the singing christmas tree, which is a concert i have been wanting to see for several years. the nutcracker would also be wonderful, but i don't know if i'll manage to see that as well. there is just something about dressing up and joining friends for a christmas concert that makes me so joyful.
watch polar express at the imax theatre at OMSI the day after christmas and walk down the festive peacock lane. this is a family tradition with my younger brothers and sisters that we are always excited for. if you are in portland, check out peacock lane during December!
watch a few other Christmas classics at home, such as It's A Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and Elf (i just bought Elf today and watched it while decorating my apartment)
decorate our family christmas tree. i decorated my own apartment and trimmed my little tree, but i love joining my siblings to decorate our family christmas tree.
complete an advent bible devotional. she reads truth has a wonderful study called emmanuel that i am going through! i love that the verses are taken from both the new and old testaments, showcasing jesus all through the bible, because it really is all about him! there is also a christmas song that matches with each day's topic and an "advent action" to further help the topic take root in the heart + mind.
snail mail hand-written christmas letters. i bought adorable cards and am hoping to get to this soon.
would you like a letter? email me your address! i love sending + receiving mail!
find a roaring fireplace to lazily sit by, preferably with a mug of hot cocoa
pittock mansion's locally crafted christmas. each year, the many rooms of this gorgeous hilltop mansion are decorated with a theme. last year, i had a blast exploring the christmas carol-decorated rooms, and this year, each room will be decked out in northwest splendor!
[6]
attend apostolic faith church's christmas events. i grew up attending this church and always loved the nativity plays and other christmas events they would host. i was the inn keeper of the "procrastination station" one year and was supposed to tell mary and joseph that i would try to find them room later, but i sped through my lines so fast that i would be surprised if someone understood anything. stage fright maybe? ha. anywho, i also love that the church hosts "christmas at the campground" where live barn animals, nativity actors, + thousands of lights decorate their campground + tabernacle across the street.
[7]
write a christmas poem. i am no poet (boy, do i know it), but i love to spend time thinking of a rhyme to show how i feel during special moments (do you see what i did there?)
the grotto's festival of lights. i try to make it most years to the grotto during christmastime to see the thousands upon thousands of lights decorating the many acres of paved gardens surrounding the cathedral. and speaking of cathedral, most nights there are beautiful choirs from the community that come and perform christmas carols. the grounds also include a hot chocolate station as well as a petting zoo of farm animals. so fun during the holidays!
[8]
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What about you? What are some of your goals for winter?
decorate our family christmas tree. i decorated my own apartment and trimmed my little tree, but i love joining my siblings to decorate our family christmas tree.
complete an advent bible devotional. she reads truth has a wonderful study called emmanuel that i am going through! i love that the verses are taken from both the new and old testaments, showcasing jesus all through the bible, because it really is all about him! there is also a christmas song that matches with each day's topic and an "advent action" to further help the topic take root in the heart + mind.
snail mail hand-written christmas letters. i bought adorable cards and am hoping to get to this soon.
would you like a letter? email me your address! i love sending + receiving mail!
find a roaring fireplace to lazily sit by, preferably with a mug of hot cocoa
[5]
listen to a nauseating amount of christmas carols. along with all the classics, i will thoroughly enjoy putting citizens' repeat the sounding joy on replay. check it out. you wont regret it!pittock mansion's locally crafted christmas. each year, the many rooms of this gorgeous hilltop mansion are decorated with a theme. last year, i had a blast exploring the christmas carol-decorated rooms, and this year, each room will be decked out in northwest splendor!
attend apostolic faith church's christmas events. i grew up attending this church and always loved the nativity plays and other christmas events they would host. i was the inn keeper of the "procrastination station" one year and was supposed to tell mary and joseph that i would try to find them room later, but i sped through my lines so fast that i would be surprised if someone understood anything. stage fright maybe? ha. anywho, i also love that the church hosts "christmas at the campground" where live barn animals, nativity actors, + thousands of lights decorate their campground + tabernacle across the street.
write a christmas poem. i am no poet (boy, do i know it), but i love to spend time thinking of a rhyme to show how i feel during special moments (do you see what i did there?)
the grotto's festival of lights. i try to make it most years to the grotto during christmastime to see the thousands upon thousands of lights decorating the many acres of paved gardens surrounding the cathedral. and speaking of cathedral, most nights there are beautiful choirs from the community that come and perform christmas carols. the grounds also include a hot chocolate station as well as a petting zoo of farm animals. so fun during the holidays!
* * *
What about you? What are some of your goals for winter?
I am mesmerized by this dreamy list!! Love it! Wish I could be up there with you doing all these beautiful things!! That little Bavarian town sounds AMAZING!! I would LOVE to go:) Thanks for sharing this lovely lady!! love Katie
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katie! Yes, the Bavarian town is wonderful! I feel like I am in Europe whenever I visit! My family has never been, so it will be fun to show them around and see their faces light up with the whole experience!
DeleteThat Bavarian village looks amazing! I want to take our boys to Germany one year for the xmas markets.
ReplyDeleteWow, that would be dreamy to actually be in Germany for Christmas!! This Bavarian town is as close as I'll get, but it is totally adorable. I can't wait to share photos after I get back!
Deletethis is magical! you've inspired me to update our december to-do list and really live up the season! XO
ReplyDeletethe well-traveled wife ♥
Aww, great! I saw a few bloggers post autumn goals and I thought that was such a great idea, so I made a point to do it for winter so I would be intentional about getting certain things done!
DeleteThis is such an amazing list!!! Nate and I honeymooned in Leavenworth so it has a special place in my heart. :-)
ReplyDeleteAwww, honeymooning in Leavenworth?! DREAMY!!!
DeleteThis is seriously the most PERFECT winter wishlist, Elena! I am in love with the photo of Leavenworth and now want to add that to my future to-do list or bucket list. I am in love with those pretty lights and the village feel of it all, too. So pretty!
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'm with you on the going to a Christmas tree farm. I've never done that but the more I read about it on blogs and hear how others have that sweet tradition the more I want to, too. :)
AH, YES! You need to experience Leavenworth! Quite a drive (5ish hours from Portland), but the snow-capped mountains, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and Bavarian-style buildings lit up in twinkling lights make it soooo worth it!!!
DeleteGreat list! That Bavarian village sounds perfect for Christmas spirit.
ReplyDeleteIt is! I can't wait to see it again!!
DeleteOooO! Hope you get to do all of these! Leavenworth sounds like my kind of place... hmm... need to add this to my list of places to see now. If you like old black-and-white, Christmas movies, you should check out "Christmas in Connecticut" and Cary Grant's "The Bishop's Wife."
ReplyDeleteYes you do! It is so dreamy! I am so excited to see it again! And thanks for the recommendations! I'll have to check those out!!
DeleteThat village with the lights, looks so cool! I might have to go someday :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Britney! Yes, you should visit one day!! So beautiful!
Deletethat's one fab little list. I have GOT to see Its a Wonderful Life this year!! its time, sheesh. and yay for handwritten snail mail! major props.
ReplyDeleteThanks!! I sent out a few letters last night after I was drinking a warm cup of cocoa and writing :)
DeleteSuch a great list! Those little villages look so great with all their Christmas lights! It reminds me of the ski lodges in Tahoe at Christmastime. It was so pretty especially with all the snow in the background.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to get my Christmas tree from an actual farm and cut it down. I'm so happy that we get real trees though (we went through a period where we didn't). They are just so beautiful and smell wonderful! :)
And snail mail is the best. I love checking the mail and seeing fun envelopes with my name on it! Much better than seeing bills! :)
Something on my list is to go see a Christmas play! Or any play at all really. I just think that would be a fun thing to do in the wintertime. :)
I would love to visit Leavenworth during Christmas! I also love the Grotto. :) So many fun things, I just wrote my list too!
ReplyDelete