gladysjpadilla posted: " "The smells of Christmas are the smells of Childhood" ~ Richard Paul Evans It's always been both sentimental and stressful, this Yuletide Season. More so this year when we decided to travel to New York to fulfill a lifelong dream of spending th" The Working Mom Chronicles
"The smells of Christmas are the smells of Childhood"
~ Richard Paul Evans
It's always been both sentimental and stressful, this Yuletide Season. More so this year when we decided to travel to New York to fulfill a lifelong dream of spending the holidays in the city that never sleeps. So the rush ensued preparing not just for the trip, but in keeping most (if not all) holiday traditions for our family before and after New York. We were able to tick most in our list:
Starbucks planner which we finished quickly in November
Lights and Sounds show at Ayala Triangle
Christmas Tree photos at Powerplant and Shang
Netflix binge: The Crown (last season!)
Grocery shopping at SnR
Christmas Basket c/o Pasig (was not able to arrange for my Unilab basket sadly)
Christmas Reunions with Tentatues, Haberdei and Westmont (Pops to follow; missed Kuai Luh and LRTH because we were out of the country)
Simbang Gabi (on my arrival day, thank goodness for jet lag!)
Bibingka and Puto Bumbong (still no castanas though)
Family lunch on the eves (Edsa Shang Heat and Novotel Food Exchange)
Noche Buena c/o Mom & Tina's and Media Noche c/o Conti's
Liwanag Park Nativity and Lights
MMFF (Till I Met You in Tokyo)
Gift shopping at Bath and Body Works for office
Clean up of our Condo (I can see the dining table again!)
Spouse Date - Bioessence massage and TokyoTokyo bento
Still to do: Celine shopping with Mama and Payless shopping with hubby
New traditions we were able to do in New York, that I hope to continue next year: is a photo shoot (like what we did for Central Park), mass service or community service (we were able to offer in Gaudate Sunday), and a family trip. We may travel just locally or perhaps abroad again. But family trips expand our understanding of others, strengthen our personal fortitude and gratitude, and create lifetime memories, which is what December is all about.
My heart is happy and fulfilled. It seems like a lot of activities, but it is in keeping the traditions alive that we strengthen connections with family and loved ones. It is in remembrance of the real reason, the birth of Jesus, that should bring us more joy to celebrate traditions also with family. Till the next year's Season!
No comments:
Post a Comment