It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Last week flew by!  I can't believe it's already Monday!  My weekend was a whirlwind, starting with Friday.  I had been kind of sick all week but on Friday night I thought I was going to die.  I started feeling nauseous and dizzy around 5 pm.  I haven't been able to eat much lately because I've been feeling so sick that the thought of food makes my mouth water, and not in the good way, in the 'uh oh I think I'm about to puke' way.  I was trying to tough it out and go to work that night because I was supposed to close.  So I get to work at 7 and the feeling just keeps getting worse, not to mention all of the food and the smells that I had to be around that night.  Finally I decide that if I don't sit down soon I'm either going to faint or throw up, and nobody wants to see that while they're trying to enjoy their dinner.  I went to sit downstairs and my manager shuffled some things around and told me to go home and get better.  I was sooooo thankful!  I stopped by Walgreens and picked up all of my sick essentials (rice chex, gatorade, pepto bismol) and some slim fast shakes because I figured if I couldn't eat anything I could at least try to choke down some slim fast to get something in my system.  I laid on my couch the rest of the night until Vinnie forced me to go to bed.  

Saturday I woke up feeling a little bit better and I went to have lunch with my friend and her boyfriend at a pizza place called 'Roots'.  Pizza did not sound good and I started feeling sick again.  I forced down a little bit so that they didn't know something was wrong but when we were done eating I raced home and climbed into bed again.  Since Vinnie was working, Marley stayed by my side the rest of the night.  I started feeling better later that night, which was good because the friends I had just had lunch with got engaged and I went to meet up with them downtown to have a celebratory dinner.  Vinnie met up with us when he got off work.  It ended up being a pretty nice night.

Sunday I woke up late, watched the Bears lose pathetically, and went to work at 4.  It felt weird working on a Sunday because I normally have Sundays off, but I switched shifts with another girl I work with so that I could have Saturday off to celebrate with my newly engaged friend.  It's a good thing I got that day off because I would have felt miserable at work anyways.  After worked I stopped by another friend's surprise going away party then I rushed home to pass out in bed before I had to wake up early and start this week.  So no pictures, just lots of rushing around and one sick Tarah.  Luckily I am starting to feel better (knock on wood, I don't wanna jinx it!)

Alright, today is December 10 and this means that Christmas is a total of 15 days away!  I've pretty much got all of my Christmas shopping done, our Christmas tree is up and decorated (I watched my roomie decorate it while I laid on the couch yesterday), and the rest of our apartment is decorated with lights and other miscellaneous Christmas decor.  I am definitely in the Christmas spirit, which is why I'm dedicating today to the spirit of Christmas.  This is for all the grinchs out there!

How to get into the Christmas Spirit:

{Deck the Halls!}

Whether you're a DIYer or a Target-a-holic (like myself) it's easy to find lots of cute ways to decorate for Christmas.  If you get on Pinterest you are bound to find a million different arts and crafts projects that you can partake in for Christmas.  I'm not a big DIYer but I have seen a few cute ideas that I have thought about doing for my apartment.  I relied on Target to help me with my Christmas decor, and we all know that Target never fails.  I found lots of adorable, and not to mention cheap, things for my apartment.  Our tree is decked out in Target ornaments too. 

{Bake Christmas Cookies!}

I love baking sweets but especially around Christmas time because there are so many fun cookie recipes for Christmas.  Whether you go with the traditional sugar cookie cut out into Christmas shapes and topped with red and green frosting, or a more complex cookie for the ones with a more sophisticated taste, just baking cookies while listening to Christmas music will bring a smile to your face!

{Take Christmas themed photos}

My family and I have never taken festive photos and sent them out in Christmas cards, but I do love the idea and once I grow up and have a family of my own I might even part take in the yearly Christmas photo op.  Either way, I love looking at Christmas cards and Christmas pictures.

{Paint your nails}

It might sounds girly, but painting your nails all festivey will surely put you in the Christmas spirit.  I mean come on, you can't be sad when you have green and red nails!

{Watch Christmas Movies}

This is self explanatory.  You don't have to watch the sappy Christmas movies that are going to make you cry (Miracle on 34th Street) but there are tons of them that will surely make excite you for this time of year.  You can't get through a Christmas season without watching Elf, don't even try it!  But seriously, just turn to ABC Family.  They don't call it 25 days of Christmas for nothing.  Some of the Christmas movies they show are even worthwhile, but if Christina Milian is the star of the movie, take it from me and switch the channel to MTV and just watch Ridiculousness with Rob Dyrdek (is it just me or is that show always on?).  Sorry Christina, your career ended after 'Dip it Low'. 

{Make Christmas Drinks}

Again, just turn to Pinterest for this one.  There are tons and tons of awesome Christmas themed drink recipes that you can try out.  Alcoholic or not (but obviously alcoholic is what I prefer) I've found a few sweet drink ideas.  If you're not feeling very creative just whip out the old champagne and orange juice and make yourself a mimosa.  Just put the word Christmas in front of it and you have yourself a Christmas drinky drink.

{Go look at Christmas Lights}

Even if it's just around a fancy schmancy neighborhood (which is probably the best place to look at lights because apparently they pay people to hang theirs for them) just take a drive or a walk and look at all the pretty Christmas lights and decorations outside.  If you're driving, just pop in a little N'SYNC or Mariah Carey Christmas and you'll have a grand ol' time!  I'm lucky to live in Chicago where they have tons of lovely Christmas decorations in the city that I plan on checking out.

If all else fails, just find Winter Wonderland Christmas Festival, because we all know that you can find at least 19 of these Festive Festivals near by you around this time of year.  

And there you have it, Tarah's Guide to finding your inner Christmas Spirit!  Now stop being a Grinch and go decorate a tree already!

XO. Tarah