There are few things I enjoy more in relationships than giving someone something that I picked out just for them, that I know (or suspect or hope) they'll love, that makes their lives a little bit brighter. I take gift-giving very seriously -- probably too seriously? OR NOT SERIOUSLY ENOUGH. My philosophy of gift giving … Continue reading 12 Holiday Joys, Joy 7 – Giving

The winter holiday season in American can be a gluttonous, slobbering, insatiable beast, feeding off of images of desirable privilege and spewing forth messages of love and happiness as codified by wealth, gain, dollars spent, and the virtue of obtaining the newest gadget simply because it's new. Oddly enough, my favorite time of year is … Continue reading 12 Holiday Joys, Joy 6 – Privilege

It feels a bit odd to write a post on books for the holidays because... well, I read year-round. All the time. And because of that, I don't get the same "seasonality" affect with books that I get with tastes and sounds. I don't have holiday books to save for this time of year like … Continue reading 12 Holiday Joys, Joy 5 – Books

Music is so much more to me than anything I can write in a silly blog post. And it is deeply wedded to my love for and immersion in the holiday season, mostly the Christmas season. (Though a South Park Hanukkah song does make the cut.) This is nothing new, but music stirs my emotions … Continue reading 12 Holiday Joys, Joy 4 – Music

So real food is awesome and all, but let's be honest -- sugar is the love language of the season. Last year a friend came over and we did a major cookie blitz of all the cookies on the platter -- mixing, baking, decorating, and taste-testing (a LOT of taste-testing, oops...). I love that aspect … Continue reading 12 Holiday Joys, Joy 3 – Cookies

If you thought I waxed poetic about drinks, you ain't seen nothin' yet. (Sorry, my Idaho likes to come out every so often.) Food. Is. Life. And good food is good life. Good food doesn't have to be expensive, either. I'm a firm believer that simple recipes are often the best recipes (all the ingredients get a … Continue reading 12 Holiday Joys, Joy 2 – Eats

One of my favorite sensory pleasures is a good, event-appropriate drink. And I don't mean necessarily alcoholic; drinking a glass of ice-cold water after a long run is one of the best, most refreshing, most satisfying experiences in life. Drinks are essential to life (we need water to survive) and also part of frivolous-yet-essential human … Continue reading 12 Holiday Joys, Joy 1 – Sips

As I mentioned in a prior blog post (months ago, dang! I was in a dark place only Christmas planning could lighten), I love the US holiday season. I love the sensuous feasts between Thanksgiving and Christmas, feasts for the eyes, ears, tongue, and nose. Over the next 12 posts, I want to celebrate the … Continue reading 12 Holiday Joys