There are very few things I like more than Christmas. Growing up in London, there was nothing better than walking around Oxford St. with the street lights and store windows lit up for the holidays.

There’s something magical about being bundled in your favorite hat and gloves, holding your coffee and walking through the crowded streets with friends like a Pinterest photo shoot to do some Christmas shopping. Ahh those were the days…..

These days my parents live in Loudoun County and its more of a cozy country feel for Christmas – still amazing, though.

Anyway, anywhere we go there are still certain traditions everyone has to countdown the big day. Here are some of mine. 🙂

1. Go get a tree!

This has been a family event for as long as I can remember. We hit up the Starbucks drive through, head to the Christmas tree farm, my brother chooses a tree in five minutes and I mosy around taking pictures for 20 minutes while everyone else complains about being cold. Family fun!

2. Decorating the tree the Friday after Thanksgiving

When you think about it, it’s really such a waste to only decorate for a week or two before Christmas. Our hall get decked as soon as everyone is out of their turkey comas.

3. Advent calendar

Yes, I still get a crappy advent calendar with chocolate inside from the grocery store. I don’t even like the chocolate, Jonathan eats it, but it is nostalgic. The mystery of finding the number for the day never gets old.

4. Grandma’s sugar cookies

I don’t know what it is about this recipe, but these cookies are the bomb.com. I suggest trying them if you can read this recipe.

5. Christmas Eve fondu

We wait all year for this 2000 calorie melty mixture of cheese, beer and bread. What could be better? Hurry up, December 24th, I’m hungry already!

Only 25 days ’til that cheesy goodness, yall!