I haven’t made a Christmas list in quite a few years, but the mood struck today and I decided to go with it.  Truth be told, I don’t really expect to get anything, or really care one way or the other. I’ve realized, especially the last few years, that the best part about the holidays are spending them with the people who really matter. Still though, this was fun to put together and I thought I’d share it!

1. Clarisonic Mia. Skincare is something that has gotten more important to me in recent years, and I’ve heard great things about Clarisonic products. The Mia is more affordable and comes in a lot of fun colors.

2. Philosophy lip shines. These are my favorite lip glosses and they last forever. I have my eyes on the coconut frosting, mimosa, cinnamon buns and pink frosted animal cracker. How fun are those flavors?

3. KitchenAid ice cream maker attachment. If you have a KitchenAid stand mixer, there are a bunch of attachments. I have my eyes on this ice cream maker because I love ice cream with the burning passion of 1000 suns.

4. J. Crew classic merino long cardigan. Even though I live in Florida, I love sweaters. This cardigan looks light weight, soft and, as the title implies, classic.

5. Le Creuset 4 1/2 quart dutch oven. This is one of the items I’ve always wanted in my kitchen. It will make such fantastic soups, chili, sauces and more. I covet Le Creuset items.

6. Burberry Brit Sheet rollerballer. This is my all-time favorite perfume, but I don’t use it enough to warrant an entire bottle. A perfume rollerballer is a great idea for a stocking stuffer because you can get designer perfume at a reasonable cost.

7. Lululemon Cool Racerback. These are a staple for every yogi’s wardrobe.

Aside from all of that, I’d always love comfy pajamas, yoga pants, and my yearly I Love Lucy calendar. Oh, and lots of Christmas cookies.

A lot has happened over the past month or so, both good and bad. Let’s start with the good:

• I’ve started really trying to commit to formal exercise. I’m not keeping a workout log on my layout’s sidebar to help keep myself accountable. I’ve mostly been sticking to jogs/intervals on the treadmill or strength workouts that I mostly create on the spot. I’m trying to keep things interested by doing something slightly different every day, and so far it’s working.
• I started teaching at a yoga studio this past fall, and while it was a good opportunity, it wasn’t the right choice for me. I ended up leaving the studio about a month ago. I’m now on the hunt for other teaching jobs, but it’s been difficult.
• I’ve made the decision to go back to school. This is huge news because it’s something I’ve been contemplating for over a year now, and I know that I’m now ready to go for it. I’m not sure if it’s actually happening yet but I’ve taken all the necessary steps to get the ball rolling.
• There are a few, pretty major obstacles in regard to going back to school. I’ve gotten some straightened out, so I’m just waiting for other things to fall into place before I make a final decision.
• It’s the holiday season! I’m headed up to New York again to visit my boyfriend’s family, as well as to Massachusetts to see my mom. I’m really looking forward to it.
• I made really, really good oatmeal chocolate chip cookies last night. Seriously, they were out of this world. I used this recipe, but subbed chocolate chips for the raisins and nuts. If you’re looking for a comfort food pick-me-up, this is it.

A lot of things are up in the air right now and it’s making me feel incredibly stressed and uneasy. Despite that, I’m still happy and I’m working on making things better. I know that my life really isn’t that bad, and I’m blessed in a lot of ways. Regardless of what happens, I know that most things will work out eventually.

Now, I’m off to cuddle with my furry friend!