Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Good Kwanza and have a great Holiday! (I think I covered them all) Even if you don't celebrate anything, this time of the year is always so cheerful. I like to think that everyone is just a bit happier. But... Actually, let's just keep it at that. Good spirits!

I celebrate Christmas, so that's what the rest of the post will be about. This year my extended family didn't get together, so I was free on Christmas Eve for the first time ever. Or at least, for the first time that I can remember. Luckily, I also happen to have a boyfriend this year, so I went out to his families house to celebrate. I have to say, it's a large family.

Christmas Day was also a first, kind of. We normally open most of our presents on Christmas Eve, since that's the Swedish tradition. Since it was just the immediate family this year, we went for a more American Christmas, and opened all our presents on the 25th. So, as you may have expected, I have pictures!

My boyfriend wrapped this present in the shape of a Triforce. Inside were a shit ton of Magic cards.

Me wearing my new sweater, and my boyfriend wearing the shirt I made him

Just a nice picture while we were on a walk... I need a haircut.

Some wool that I will hopefully put to good use.

Lots and lots of candy.

Several pairs of socks. There are six more pairs that I already had rolled up.

A lunchbox... I guess I need to start making a lunch for work now.

Super Smash Bros. and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

A beautiful bracelet

And the crowning glory, a Hylian shield that my dad made. He started it in September and finished it last night. It goes beautifully with my Master Sword (which I bought a few months ago)

Couple Weeks of Relaxation

And I am done! For the year, at least. I had my one and only final for the semester today. I never realized how much it was taking up my thoughts. Even now I keep thinking that I should be studying. But now I can relax and concentrate on Christmas and other fun stuff.

Except I really don't like shopping... Even for just myself. And when Christmas comes, the mall is just twice as bad. And everyone brings their kids to the mall. It's horrible. Never have I hated kids more. (Except for one time at work when it felt like a kid's screaming would burst my ear drum). I wish human kids were more like baby animals. But nope, we're stuck with the poopy, whiny, crying monsters. Ugh.

But Christmas! Yay! I'm nearly done with all my shopping. I keep finding things people would like, or thinking of other people I should get presents for. It seems like the shopping with never end... And Christmas is only a week away now. There's no snow where I am, so it really only feels like a cold fall day. Rather disappointing, actually...

But now back to working on Christmas presents. There's a certain one that I'll be working on until the day before Christmas... it's a lot of work...

Christmas and Movies and Finals

Wow, times goes fast. I though I had posted something on Tuesday... Apparently not. Anyway, have a Friday post instead!

But hey, twelve more days 'till Christmas! This year I'll be spending Christmas Eve with my boyfriend's family, since my family has decided not to get together this year. It should be fun. I have to work until 6:30, but oh well. I took several days off for Christmas last year, so I guess this makes up for it. And I don't have to work on Christmas day, so that's even better. Then, to top it off, I get paid time and a half on Boxing day. Yay! I'll have some money stashed away before I cut my hours to nearly nothing... I really should have spent less on Christmas presents... Oh well.

In other news, the final Hobbit movie comes out on Wednesday! I'm determined to see it on Thursday.... And maybe again several times after. I'm a little excited.

However, I have one final before I can really get into the Christmas or movie spirit. I should be studying... But it's on Tuesday. I have time...

Presents!

I completely forgot what day it was yesterday... Okay, that's not true. I knew it was Thursday, but it didn't click that I had to write a blog post. I'm still on vacation mode.

Speaking of which, I just got back from my holiday vacation! I had a whole five days off of work! It was glorious. When I went back, I was in a great mood. Now my legs are really store and I'm getting a little grumpy. But anyway, presents! They're kind of scattered around my room and I'm being lazy, so I don't want to gather them up to take pictures. You'll have to take my word that they're all pretty. This list is no order except whatever I can think of first.

1) Assassin's Creed: Black Flag for Wii U
2) Olive green scarf
3) two pairs of touch screen friendly gloves (Those seem to be popular this year)
4) Several pairs of socks (I love socks)
5) $50 gift card to Chapters (Already mostly spent...)
6) A spiced apple scented candle.
7) A Legend of Zelda calender (I'll probably take a picture of this later, since it's so cool)
8) A set of nail polish (I'm actually cutting back on my collection, but these colours are beautiful, so I'll keep them)
9) A black lace bracelet
10) A Dance of Dragons (fifth book in the Song of Ice and Fire series)
11) Numerous smaller things as stocking stuffers

And I know that there are a few things that I'm forgetting about, but I'll try to post them if I remember. I might even take pictures and post them at some point. But you know, I say things like that all the time. Just be happy that most of the time I remember to even post something...

Merry Christmas!

First thing you should know is that my dad's side of the family is Swedish, so we celebrate Christmas on the 24th, rather than the 25th. I actually didn't realize for a very long time that Christmas was considered by most people to be on the 25th. So movies really confused me. I didn't understand why everyone waited until the morning to open presents. I thought it was only for stockings. Then I grew up and got a brain. And despite being twenty now, I still like to gloat to my friends that I get my presents a day early. They claim that they like the excitement, but I know they're all jealous. (joking, of course... maybe)

And since tomorrow is the 24th, I will be fairly busy with Christmas stuff. It's nearly midnight now anyway, so I feel justified in posting now. So, for any other European/Scandinavian/ 24th celebrators, Merry Christmas! For everyone who celebrates it on the 25th, Merry Early Christmas! For anyone that celebrates something else, Happy Holidays! I hope you get to spend the rest of this season with family and friends.

Updates on tomorrow night will arrive either Wednesday night or Thursday morning. I'll be working a lot once I get back from Christmas with my family, and hopefully will get the assistant manager training soon, so I might be a bit more busy. Not to mention I'll be going to school for a class in January, with at least a two hour commute, though I really need to test it out before classes start.

One More Week!

It's one more week until Christmas! I'm twenty now, and I still find myself getting giddy thinking of it. Especially since I get a few days off work to go see family. And speaking of work, time for some updates!

By the end of this year, on the 31st to be exact, I will be tested and hopefully receive my proper certification to be able to train new people on drinks. Once I'm done with that, I'll be trained to be assistant manager! No more maybes, all we need to do is find a Starbucks that isn't too busy and will be willing to train me. My current manager had to go pretty far and cross a toll bring five days in one week to get her training. I'm not sure how extensive my training will be, or if I'll have to go to the same place as her. Since I don't have a car and will have to be bussing, I hope they'll take pity on me and find somewhere closer to home that won't require me to pay a toll.

So that's that. Look forward to a review on Thursday... If I remember. I was actually going to do it today, but then I only remembered after typing all of this up...

Christmas Aftermath

It is now December 26th, a day after Christmas day and two days after Christmas Eve. Everything is finally starting to settle down, and I can take a breather to post those pictures I promised. Unfortunately, I don't have the time for energy to get permission from everyone to post their pictures, so everything I post will either include only me, or just objects/dogs.

My sister and I are the ones that wrap most of the presents, and for some reason it has become tradition to wrap them in my room. The picture is a little hard to see, but there were probably about fifteen presents in my room, and another five or so under the tree. My room is still a mess with wrapping paper, tape, ribbon and tags.

My mom bought a pen so that I could paint her some french nails. Since the pen was so easy to use, I decided to put some snowflakes onto my nails. Unfortunately, the quality of my camera makes them very hard to see.

These are the earrings that my cousin and his new wife gave me from Hawaii.

I have finally completed my Lord of the Rings collection, and all I need now is the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean to complete that series too.

I got a really nice small notebook in my stocking.

This is the nail manicure set. It works pretty well, but I'm not really sure what head to use... The two white ones in the box are pretty much the same, the silver one looks like something the dentist would use, the pink one is also similar to the white ones... but pink, and the puffy white one is too soft to make a difference... But I kind of went all out and now my nails are smoother.

The chocolate and candy cane lolly pop a family friend gave me.

The three tubes of scented chapstick, although they're a little hard to see in this picture.

Another small notebook.

Gloves that I can wear while playing on my ipad. Very handy, considering how often I will be bussing out in the cold next semester.

The case used to hold my Chapters gift card. I think we all agreed that it was the best one this Christmas.

And the actual gift card.

The earrings that my mom got me for my birthday, but forgot about and gave me for Christmas instead. One is a skull and the other is a peace sign.

There were a few small stocking stuffers too, like candy and pens and things like that. I also got the Sims 3 Supernatural, but it's downstairs and I'm too lazy to get it, so you'll just have to use your imagination. Maybe later I will post a picture of my Sim. 

A Nutty Norman Night

First off, I must say Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and have a great New Year.

Since I am half Swedish on my dad's side, and since Christmas is a huge deal in northern Europe, we celebrate Christmas on Christmas eve. That means we got to open all our presents tonight. That also means all the hilarious hi-jinx and laughter ensued. But since my memory is terrible, unfortunately I won't be able to remember everything, especially since I'm too lazy to take pictures. However, half my family did have cameras, so I'm hoping they will be willing to send some of them to me to post on Wednesday.

Now, I know everyone loves to know what other people get for Christmas, so here is a list:

$50 gift card to Chapters (This will be buying me A Memory of Light when it comes out in January)
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
   -Note: I already have the third LotR
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
   -Note: I already have the first and third PotC
The Sims 3 Supernatural
A battery operated manicure set (It polishes the nails)
A pair of gloves with touch screen friendly finger tips
A pair of flower earrings from Hawaii
A pair of earrings with a skull on one and a peace sign on the other
Three tubes of scented chapstick

That is all for now, but I have yet to open my stockings.

And now, I bet you're all interested about the title of this post. Since I don't remember enough to go into detail (I am not drunk, I simple have a bad memory!) I'll just briefly go over a few memorable moments.

There was of course some singing, though it never got past a few lines. I can't even remember what songs were being sung, but I have a feeling they weren't Christmasy... Then there was my dad's and uncle's conversation about Gangnam Style, even though they pronounced it differently every time the said the word. One of the dogs got dressed up in half  dozen ribbons and covered in wrapping paper... And a pillow. We had a family picture and my uncle decided to give me bunny ears, then he gave my aunt bunny ears. So hen those go up on Facebook, it should be interesting...

Looking back at what I have written, it really doesn't look all that different from an average Christmas with family. I guess you really just need to be here to truly enjoy it. But I'm missing out on the fun, so I'm going to wrap this up now. I hope that everyone had a great day and will have an even better Christmas Morning.