The holiday season is always met with excitement and open arms. “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” after all.
But as decorations started to appear, lights began to twinkle & the spirit of Christmas began to descend on our city this year—something felt different.
The three of us take on a lot in our day-to-day lives. We work more than one job, we volunteer, we exercise, have pets and partners and we prioritize time with family and friends. So, as a break from the chaos of the everyday approached, we realized how much a tiny reprieve was needed. We’ve arrived at an age where we’re able to truly cherish small gifts, like the uncommon opportunity to sleep in, and it’s a simplistic kind of wonderful.
On a personal note, this Christmas my entire immediate family was in Ottawa (usually spread across three cities and many miles). It was short-lived, bringing the bittersweet ache that happens often in adulthood when you realize the velocity at which life flies by, but it was also blissful and gave us pause to be thankful for that time together. I made a true effort to take every moment of the holidays in, to be equally grateful for the bustle and the quiet, and to arrive in 2016 feeling inspired and reenergized.
We hope your festive season was as exciting or as restful as you needed. Here are some highlights from our own holidays that we wanted to share with you:
Christmas parties came fast and furious this year. Highlights from December’s social calendar included: our book club’s annual Christmas party, The Dailey Method staff’s holiday party and a dinner Kate & I organized for all the female small business owners we are fortunate enough to know!
The season’s simple pleasures …
Family is everything. Kate had a wonderful Christmas Eve and spent it carolling at St. Andrew’s church in an unusually calm downtown Ottawa where the many decorative lights turned the city into a Christmas wonderland. She then hosted her mum, Jackie, on Christmas Eve for hors d’oeuvres, seafood stew, many libations and a slumber party.
Meghan spent Christmas Eve & day with her favourite people on the planet: her grandparents. Spending Christmas morning with them is one of her most cherished holiday traditions. She also got to spend time with the newest addition to her family. Her niece, Avery, was born in May and it was so special to celebrate her first Christmas! Meghan’s heart actually exploded when she looked up from colouring with her nephews to see her Dad and her boyfriend, Shaun, holding and entertaining her.
As for me, Christmas Eve is always a huge party in my household as we celebrate the French Canadian tradition: Revéillon. Being able to celebrate Christmas morning with my niece, Charlotte, was the cherry on top of my holidays. I adore her, and getting to experience the excitement of Christmas through her eyes was magical. I was also able to surprise her with a private tour of a fire station – she loves firetrucks and Santa delivered by putting one under the tree for her. 
We all got an extra gift this Christmas as Jess came to Ottawa to celebrate her birthday. One hundred drinks and a serious dance party later, we think we convinced her to visit the capital again soon. 
Kate & I joined my brother, sister-in-law & parents for a Sens game on the 27th! The highlight was probably when Meghan let us visit her in Club Bell (fancaaay). 
With no big plans this year for New Year’s Eve, Meghan & I joined some friends for a fun celebration which included way too many shots of tequila. (Hello, from the wrong side of the bed, 2016.) 
And, of course, we didn’t forget about our blog duties over the holidays. Meghan & I did a segment on CTV Ottawa Morning Live about hot, holiday beverages, and Kate & I were back a week later giving suggestions for last-minute NYE ideas.
Before heading back to work, we popped some champagne (read: accidentally sprayed it everywhere) with friends, drank one last noon-time Caesar and got in-the-zone for the year ahead! Cheers to 2016!
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