All is calm, all is bright.

Navy blue envelopes are a beautiful choice…until you realize that ink/marker/nothing shows up on them.

One midnight run to CVS for white labels and we were back in business.

My favorite cities in the world: Paris, London, Salzburg, Rome and (obviously) Chicago, all decked out for the holidays. The idea of global holiday spirit is rather comforting, don’t you think?

I believed in Santa until I was 11.

For real.

The commitment my parents had to keeping dreams of the Big Guy alive in our house was second to none. There were always sleigh tracks in the yard, half eaten cookies dropped in the snow, half eaten carrots on the roof. There was the trip to the Dollar Store with my dad to buy the warmest gloves they had to protect Santa’s hands from the reindeer guiding elements and of course, the year my mom set up a mini recording studio in our house.

Because, you see, Santa needed a Mixtape.

I mean, maybe he wanted to listen to his favorite holiday hits while driving sleighing around the world.

The tape (yes, tape) was a mix of songs off of albums we already had…and me singing along to the keyboard I was just learning how to play. Oh man, I bet Santa loved that off key Mixtape.

If Capture the Magic had existed when I was a kid, I swear, I would still believe in Santa Claus. You take a picture of your living room, impose Santa…what other proof do you need that he is real?! So clever.

But without fancy schmancy technology, my parents somehow had their kid believing in Santa until she could practically drive and while that is kind of embarrassing (for me), I think that deserves a round of applause (or at least a slow clap).

Well done, guys!

Present over perfect.

Quality over quantity.

Relationship over rushing.

People over pressure.

Meaning over mania.

“Those are my guiding thoughts for this season, and the ones that I keep at the forefront of my mind as I look over my plans for this week. Nothing else to be added, except blessed little stretches of rest and space.

What does this mean for your week? What might need to be crossed off your list, or simplified, or postponed until after the holidays?

What might you need to say no to, in order to bring a whole, healthy self to the things you’ve said yes to?”

As always, words of wisdom from the wonderful Shauna Niequist. Read the rest of her beautiful blog post here.

We have teased my father for years about “the year he ruined Christmas”. Long story short, my stepmom and I were gushing about how much we love the movie White Christmas when Papa G offered up this little gem of trivia: “Ya know, Bing Crosby used to beat the crap out of his wife.”

Wha?!

Well, last Saturday night, I proved once and for all that I am my father’s daughter.

Scene: Lincoln Park Zoo, African Ape exhibit, watching a big Gorilla move around

Nina (to Ryan): This makes me so sad about the baby gorilla.

Lady Standing Nearby: Baby gorilla? Where’s the baby gorilla?

Awkward pause.

Nina: Um, well, um…it’s not here anymore.

Lady: Where is the baby gorilla? Where is it?!

Nina: It is, um, no longer at the zoo. It’s gone.

Lady: The baby gorilla! Where did it go? To another zoo? I want to see the baby gorilla!

Nina: It’s not…it went… It died. The baby gorilla died. It’s dead.

(Pan to two small children standing at her feet.)

“Mommy? The baby gorilla DIED?! It DIED?!”

Ryan: We need to get out of here. Immediately.

End scene.

Spiked Starbucks in hand, we walked up through the Gold Coast, through the snow covered fields in Lincoln Park, the water conservatory where geese were landing by moonlight (true story- these things came outta nowhere!) and finally to the Lincoln Park Zoo. Ryan and I could see the lights from a distance but once inside, Zoo Lights far surpassed any expectation we could have had.

Every branch of every tree was a technicolor dream. Christmas music was blaring from every speaker and kids were making snow balls and tackling each other in the newly snowy open areas. Some exhibits were open and the cats were kind enough to share their House with the big guy- Santa!

The entire thing was amazing. I cannot believe I have lived here for so long and never been to Zoo Lights before! Strolling through my favorite neighborhoods on a crisp, cold night with my favorite person to go bask in holiday gloriousness…well, last night climbed the ranks of the best holiday memories.

Zoo Lights goes until January 1st so there’s still time! Go!

Friday night.

A good workout, manicotti, Christmas card writing, The Santa Clause and Luna Bell, settled in for a long winter’s nap.

I love the holidays.

This morning, I “needed” to get Christmas cards printed, finish shopping, wrap gifts, run this errand, go here, go there.

Then I woke up feeling awful- sore throat, itchy eyes, runny nose, the works.

What I actually need? To lay on this couch and watch “Miracle on 34th Street” with a cup of OJ and the Williams Sonoma catalogue (great recipes).

It’s so funny how the body has a way of telling us what we really need. I knew my week was spread too thin after a weekend where I was spread too thin but full steam ahead it was.

In the midst of your to-do list today, find some time to slow down, just for you. Drink a cup of tea slowly, go for a walk, chuckle about a long forgotten holiday memory. Slowing down to speed up- you’ll thank yourself later.

Happy Friday!