Sorry for not posting any life updates n a while. I know, you’re all probably wondering what I’ve been up to besides baking (because let’s face it, that’s all I’ve been posting about). Well, I assure you, the days these past few weeks have looked pretty much the same. Wakeup. Workout. Work. Go to ____ holiday party/get-together/dinner/drinks/etc. Go home, finish up last minute holiday activities or work, go to bed. Repeat.
Don’t get me wrong, I LOOOVE all my holiday gatherings and love a chance to catch up with different people – I realllly love this time of era and the holiday lights, drinks, get=togethers, sparkly outfits, etc. but it hasn’t given me a lot of time to blog! Anyway, here are a few ways I’ve been enjoying the holidays in Cleveland before heading home to New York:
Running in the mornings when it’s cold and dark can be tough but with views like this? It isn’t soooo bad:
Drinks (and dinner) with my sisters-in-law! Every year in lieu of gifts during the holidays we all make time to hang out – for dinner, drinks, or really anything we want. We were going to get manis this year but it didn’t work out so instead, a delicious meal and tasty festive drinks.
Holiday party with my coworkers! We hit up Platform Brewery for a tour, tasting and fun.
Holiday baking makes me happy. I wish it were acceptable to marathon bake like this yearround! (Recipe for the below peppermint Oreo bark is here)
The Holiday Flea! I love the Cleveland Flea (giant flea market with crafts, local food, antiques, etc.) all year long, but there’s just something about the Holiday Flea that makes me feel all warm inside (and it could be the holiday beverages).
More treats! Holiday cookie exchange with coworkers.
FaceTime with my brother who is on the opposite coast. Happy to be able to see him thanks to technology – even happier to see him in person for Christmas!
Making limoncello. And finding it to be easy and quite delicious! (Recipe coming soon)
Holiday parties with friends. Because holiday drinks+treats+Santa outfits make this time of year splendid.
Buying gifts for our adopt a family, wrapping them, and delivering them.
Groceries, blankets, etc. wrapped up and ready to be delivered with gifts!
And enjoying this lovely lights right in my neighborhood. So. Beautiful. I stop to take a picture nearly every time.
So yeah, that’s what we’ve been busy with. How about you? Any holiday events still to come? What are you most looking forward to now that December is halfway done?
I Crashed The Web 
I’m curious – can you tell me more about this “adopt a family”? Sounds like a really interesting initiative; was there a blog post I missed?
Psylina – Great questions! No, you didn’t miss a blog post, I just realize I’ve never written about it. Each year my husband and I lead a local Adopt a Family program – we work with a local nonprofit to “adopt” local families during the holiday season and provide holiday gifts, food and groceries. We personally take care of one family and are given their names, wishlist, needs, etc. We buy and wrap the gifts, and also buy food and groceries for them. We work with others in the area to ensure that other families are taken care of and coordinate with a small group to make sure a group of families are provided for