what the dickens?!

Let the Christmas festivities begin! This weekend, amidst the chaos and routine of my usual school work, I had the pleasure of enjoying some amazing holiday activities with some of the very best people on earth. I have not had the chance to go on any "adventures" as of late, with all of the tenure-year responsibilities and tutoring. I have been crunched for money and am spending every extra minute I can get trying to earn some much-needed cash for the holidays, while Douglas is busy cramming for finals. When my cousin told me about the Christmas "Dickens Festival" being held in my beloved old home, Narberth, I refused to pass up the opportunity to participate in some holiday cheer... even if it meant I would be paying for it later. My Saturday kicked off with a trip to green eggs café in Philadelphia for some delicious breakfast with my beautiful friend, Theresa. I enjoyed some tasty salmon eggs benedict, which literally left me satisfied the entire day, and Theresa ate a decadent plate of crème brûlée french toast. Crème brûlée is my favorite dessert so, being the sweetheart she is, of course she let me sample some. Om nom nom!! Everything was so good.

After we stuffed ourselves silly and caught up over coffee, she was off to a bridesmaids' fitting for her wedding while I headed to the quaint little village of Narberth, my grad-school stomping grounds, to meet up with my cousin, Robert. Every year, Narberth holds a Charles Dickens festival, where the whole downtown area is transformed into a scene from A Christmas Carol. It is really magical! The town hires actors to portray different characters, whom the children can hunt down as part of a scavenger hunt. Local bars sell hot toddies and churches give out free home-baked goodies. It was so lovely to walk the streets of my old home, visit my cousin and his wonderful wife, and scope out the festivities. My only disappointment was that Douglas could not make it. I cannot wait to bring him next year!

My family has been gearing up for our annual holiday traditions - decorating the tree, listening to my mother's favorite Christmas music, and last minute holiday shopping. By "gearing up," I mean that I am sending them constant reminders about all of the things I have planned for them to do :) I love this time of year. What does your family do during the holiday season?