It’s the middle of December, and I’m sitting here with my half-full cup of coffee, and I have no idea what I want to write about. I’ve been so caught up in the holidays and new, exciting things happening, that article topics have slipped my mind. What’s on my mind is that my Christmas tree in the corner is only half-decorated—just the lights, some garland and one single ornament since I forgot to pack the rest during moving (don’t worry my sister successfully shipped them to me.) I go complete type A during this season—decorating the tree December 1, creating the perfect holiday atmosphere. But here I am, already midway through the month, and I can’t seem to comprehend how, its midway through the month!
It’s funny, the holiday season always seems to come with this pressure to make everything perfect. The perfectly wrapped gifts, the perfectly decorated house, the perfect plans with family and friends. And then, you wake up to reality. My tree, as pretty as it is with its twinkling lights, is unfinished. I had to cancel plans with new friends tonight because I forgot I already had plans with my boyfriend’s family. And, if I’m being honest, my back hurts so bad from sleeping wrong that I’m wondering if this is what “getting old” feels like... And I’m twenty five years old.
But, maybe that’s just it. The holidays aren’t really about being perfect. They’re about messy moments—the ones that don’t quite go according to plan but somehow still make the season feel special. The kind of season where you forget to pack your Christmas ornaments when you move.
So now I’m sitting here letting my coffee get cold, writing this with the sounds of “ Love Actually” playing in the background. It’s one of those movies that’s become a holiday staple for me, and I wasn’t always a fan. I used to be one of those people who didn’t get the hype. But over the years, it’s grown on me, and now, it’s one of my top ten favorites. The soundtrack alone has this nostalgic vibe that gets me every time. And there’s something about the interconnected stories—about love in all its forms—that makes it feel like a perfect snapshot of what the holidays are really about.
If I’m being honest, Elf will always hold the top spot in my heart. I’m not even going to take the easy way out—it’s a classic, and for good reason. I know every word by heart. It feels like you’ve broken the fourth wall of Christmas magic. Maybe that’s what I love about it the most—the way it reminds you that Christmas isn’t just about gifts, but about the wonder we used to have when we were kids.
And then there’s The Holiday, which, if you haven’t seen it yet, should be at the very top of your list. It’s my favorite Christmas movie of all time, hands down. The characters are flawed, the storylines intertwine, and there’s a sense of cozy magic that permeates every scene. Don’t get me started on Nancy Meyers perfection of directing, she’s a god send. I can’t explain it exactly, but there’s something about it that feels like home—and it doesn’t hurt to watch Jude Law for two and half hours.
Right now, my coffee is definitely cold, and my Anthropologie mug is so cute but I can’t put it in the microwave or else it will start to catch on fire. So, I’ll take the imperfect tree, the canceled
plans, the back pain, and not knowing what to write today. Because somewhere in between all of that, there’s the magic that we watch in Christmas movies that we think is so perfect.
Now I have to go pour myself another cup of coffee.