White Elephant Gift Exchange

Yesterday I took part in my first ever White Elephant Gift Exchange with my favorite people ever. It was a splendid night full of luscious wines, succulent goodies, and horrible card games. That's right, Cards Against Humanity is back in my life and I couldn't be happier!

Even though with the stress of gift-shopping and giving it's easy to forget what the holidays are all about, it's a good time to remember what you're thankful for and I'm thankful to have these amazing people in my life.

Goals for Winter

This year has been completely volatile for me. Luckily it's almost up and the time to start anew is nearly here! I've decided in an effort to keep up my mood I'm going to start seasonal goals, little forms of achievement and accomplishment and good times! This idea was inspired by The Dainty Squid's Fall Goals. Today marks the end of Autumn but tomorrow begins Winter, so I'll start there.

Winter Goals

photograph more (I can't emphasize this enough!)

play in the snow (Rupert included!)

hike more

bike more

snowboard 

start up knit shop

find a mahvelous New Year's party to get fancy for

visit somewhere with gorgeous Winter scenery

have an amazing birthday party

purchase and learn to play the ukelele

finish playing Skyward Sword

yoga/meditation/exercise

add-ons:
get my own recurve bow and practice archery
take Rupert on walks 

and, well, if I manage to come up with anymore I'll add them as they come. 

The Happiest Place on Earth

Yup. You guessed it:

DISNEYLAND.

As a kid my parents didn't take me once a year to visit so I felt like I missed out on that as a kid. The first time I remember going was for grad night.

After a terrible break-up.

Surrounded by couples.

I'm sure you can imagine how much fun that was for me.

Ever since I got my annual pass back in June I have been back there approximately 10 times.

You'd think I'd get bored,

but oh no.

Every time I've gone back I feel like I've discovered something new.

There's always something new to experience depending on the time of year.

Twice a year they have Dapper Day,

where people dress to impress in their finest vintage apparel.

We got to see Molly Ringwald recite verses for the Candlelight Processional,

and last night I experienced A World of Color for the first time.

We pretended to be back at summer camp and horsed around in the Redwood Challenge Trails.

There's always some beautiful fireworks to witness.

and we fell in love with the Grand California Hotel

with it's exquisite, rugged good looks.

(I tell ya, I wouldn't mind going there for a birthday)

and well, anyway, here are the photos of it all.