Hello my sweet munchkins! Happy post-Thanksgiving! Tell me, are you all in the Christmas spirit already? I honestly feel like the Grinch this year because while I’m usually ALL OVER Christmas and can’t wait for the season to start, I’m just not feeling it yet. Like I’m super excited to feel it, and I can’t wait for all the pretty decorations and the holiday cheer, but I haven’t had that feeling yet. That feeling where you go outside and there’s a chill in the air and some kind of tangible feeling of magic, and you know the Christmas season is here. But also, I’m in the camp that looks at December 1st as the opener of the season, so hopefully I’ll feel it then.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. How was your Thanksgiving? I hope you all rested up and ate some very satisfying pie food.
My Thanksgiving break was actually surprisingly low-key, and I liked it that way. It was super restful, a bit lazy, but also quite sweet. Let’s go over some highlights, shall we?
Wednesday was my first full day back home. I started the day with a breakfast date with Syracuse Bestie whom I missed something awful. We spent several hours catching up at Penelope over eggs and waffles and lots of strong coffee. Sophomore year hasn’t been great with finding time to check in with friends outside of college (everyone is seriously so much busier), but one of my goals for the rest of the semester is to make more of a conscious effort to connect with friends back home. They’re all so very important to me, and I never want to take those friendships for granted.
In the evening, I met up with another dear friend, and we caught up at Le Pain Quotidien. Not sure if I ever mentioned this, but this was THE hangout spot for me and my friends throughout high school. So I’ll always love it, if even just for the nostalgia. But the food is delicious too! I had their warm autumn grain bowl that had quinoa, sweet potatoes, goat cheese, and some other stuff I can’t recall. 🙂
And then we walked over to see the inflated balloons that would be making their debut the following day at the Macy’s Parade. I’ve never actually attended the parade; in fact, I don’t even remember watching it on TV ever, but this was my second time going to see the balloons, and I think it’s a much more chill and less mainstream way to enjoy the tradition. 😉 There were still tons of people though…
Thursday was Thanksgiving, which was spent with my little family and Georgetown Bestie. I get sad sometimes that so much of my family lives elsewhere because I have always loved the idea of giant family get-togethers, but our small gathering was perfect in its own way too. 🙂
GBestie and I hadn’t seen each other in a week (*gasp*) so we spent like an hour nonstop talking in my room after dinner. We’re ridiculous.
Friday I hung out with my dad, and we just went for a walk in Prospect Park. I played with some leaves…
I was also feeling some movement, so I did this lower body workout not realizing that it was basically gonna take me out of commission for the next 3 days. No. Joke.
I also decided to use the Thanksgiving leftovers in kind of a creative way for dinner where I took mixed greens, put some turkey on top, some roasted brussels sprouts, and a serving of sweet potato casserole. And then I used cranberry sauce as the dressing. (All recipes are in this post.) It was actually delicious and a great way to revamp leftovers!
And Saturday I noticed that we were out of pie, and we had a surplus of bananas, so banana bread it was! I used this recipe, which is a real winner! I used about two tablespoons of coconut oil and the rest almond milk because I was running out, but I think next time I may use a little more coconut oil to make it more crumbly.
I also did this stretching and yoga routine to placate my sore leg and butt muscles, and then I did this one for the arms to ya know, balance the soreness a bit. 😉
NYC looks pretty daytime and night. <3
And then Sunday I returned to my lovely Georgetown. The picture below is the beautifully decorated Union Station, which is evidently much more ready for the holiday season than Nicole. :p
On the bus ride, I was only productive in the first hour, but then lost all motivation and decided to journal and stare out the window instead. Yup, I’m definitely still in vacation mode. Good thing there’s only two weeks of classes left (Eep!).
How was your Thanksgiving weekend?
Are you feeling the holiday spirit?
Linking up with Meghan for Week in Review!
I am not in that holiday spirit yet either but hoping to get there soon. Looks like you had a great break.
patrick@looneyforfood.com recently posted…What Im Thankful For 2017
Haha, hope you’re there by now 😉
Low key and slightly lazy sounds delicious to me. Also I’m surprised Union Station didn’t give you the holiday tinglies. Oh well, you’ve got a couple days.
Have a great week.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets recently posted…Week in Review: The Thankful Edition (#110)
Haha, I’m there now! Campus is so pretty, you can’t help but feel the Christmas
I’ve been pretty in the Christmas spirit – much earlier than normal this year. I just hope it doesn’t wear off too early! It will come for you, I’m sure. Talk me on December 1 and tell me how you’re feeling… 🙂
Meet ups with home friends during college is just the most special thing. It’s so true that everyone gets far too busy during the year. Before you know it the semester is done and you haven’t had any time to have that “phone date” with that friend. It always happens. But those friends that you can get together with and spend hours talking and when it feels like you were never apart…. those are priceless.
Cora recently posted…Week In Review: Looking With a Lens of Gratitude
Haha I am DEFINITELY feeling it by now! Oh you are so so right about the talking for hours friends; they are the gems we must hold onto.
Strangely, I was very much in a Christmas mood before Thanksgiving, but now, not so much. It just doesn’t feel like Christmas time yet.
All of your meet ups with friends sound lovely. I haven’t been very committed to connecting with friends outside of college lately either. I really want to, but it seems like everything gets in the way. Your goal sounds like a good one for me to adopt for myself.
I LOVE turning leftovers into salads. Cranberry sauce as dressing? Genius. Also, yay banana bread! There’s nothing that can ever compare.
Naomi | Naomi Why: Roots recently posted…Intuitive Eating and Body Image during the Holidays
That is quite strange 😉 If anyone so much as mentions Christmas before Thanksgiving, I roll my eyes. But once I get in the spirit, i am IN THE SPIRIT! I totally get everything getting in the way; hopefully when you come back for break everything will fall right back into place. I find that first winter break back is usually a sweet reconcilement period with all the friends you feel farther away from.
I think the Christmas spirit is a contagious feeling, at least for me. When your family members and friends start talking about Christmas decorations, gifts and meals you kind of start thinking about it and hopefully get excited too. Christmas gift games are always a fun way to enjoy the holiday.
You’re so right! Plus all the pretty decorated streets and trees!