Remembering the Holiday Magic

Now that the last of the holidays are over, things seem to be slowing down and are beginning to feel a tad bit normal again. I still haven't taken down my Christmas decorations yet, but that will come this weekend. To be honest, I'm a bit sad. I love Christmastime and wish it could have lasted just a tad bit longer. However, I cannot complain as I've had a wonderful holiday season jam-packed with almost everything that I wanted to enjoy this season.

I wanted to share some of my favorite pictures from the holiday season with you:

If you follow me on Instagram, then you would have seen this hideous creation right after I glued on the very last sequin and was finished pinning on these battery-operated lights. Did I win the contest? No, apparently someone else had an uglier sweater, but at least I can't say that I didn't try!

My mom came down twice in December to spend time with me. The first time, she and I baked up a storm - between the eggnog bread, sugar cookies, chocolate crinkles, thumbprints, and whoopie pies, I'm surely surprised that we even had time to watch Christmas movies or go to my holiday party at work!

During the first weekend she came down, I had her marked as my +1 at my company holiday party. Here is the fancy tulle dress I wore, and us at the party in our fancy makeup. The following day, we enjoyed the Holiday Pops concert at the Seattle Symphony, where we eventually bumped into my boss.

Finally, it wouldn't be Christmas without the beautifully decorated trees! The top-left was at the Puyallup Fairgrounds - where I had attended the Victorian Christmas Festival. The bottom-left is the beautiful tree that beams brightly at Westlake Center in Downtown Seattle. Finally, on the right, my own little Christmas tree, lit with white lights and sparkly butterfly and flower decorations.

Only 355 days left until Christmas 2016! ;-) Until then, I am going to enjoy every last minute leading up to it - including all the days of January left unexplored.

I'm wishing you all the best this year and hope that you have the best and most joyous year yet.

Much love,

Em

I Didn't Know What to Say

This world is full of both wonderful and heartbreaking circumstances that wear us down daily. As a nation, we are mourning another tragedy where violence has torn apart communities and families - and for what purpose? We just don't know.
I didn't write on this yesterday because I didn't know what to say. I've read that it's the deadliest mass shooting in American history. I don't know what's more sad to me: that this deplorable act is something that I feel numb towards given the increasing numbers of shootings and tragedies we are seeing nationally, or the act itself: where some random person unbeknownst to even his own family made a decision that forever altered the lives of millions of people.
The biggest encouragement and consolation I can try to provide is to continue to shine the light into the darkest corners of the world. Whether you emit joy and love, peace or kindness, these are a few ways to impact the world in a positive way that anybody can gi…

Compassion

Months ago, I filmed a video about compassion and empathy. When I downloaded it to my computer, I didn't have the time or the drive to edit and upload it... until today. I re-watched the full 11:37 video and realized that my message was very clear and that it applies just as much to today as it did when I originally filmed it in November.
Compassion. It's something that many people lack - not on purpose, but out of convenience. Out of carelessness. Without a thought. People aren't bad because of it, rather unaware and lacking mindfulness of who is around them and how they may be feeling.
I wanted to share this video as a reminder for people to view other people as humans - as people just like themselves. To have empathy and compassion because you just do not know what another person is going through.

Lovingly yours,
Em

A Spring in My Steps

For those of you who have followed me for some time, you must know by now that one of my favorite spots here in Seattle is Green Lake. There's something so serene in walking the almost-three mile path around the lake - all while never even leaving the city. It's a short drive away and I find myself longing for a visit when I think only of its lush natural scenery and everything you could want in a park.
I went to Green Lake earlier in the day than normal and spotted these lovely little crocuses, reaching their aubergine-veined petals through the soil. I see them every year scattered about the city, but something about how they always reach for the sky makes them so relatable.
Starting my walk, I noticed the eerie sky and how white it was with overcast - there were crows cawing and screeching from all over, fields and branches full of birds. My assumption is that after all the earthworms were about and crows were swarming to get a shot at their evening meal.
Concluding my wa…

Bellezza di Vita

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