The Most Important Thing That Make This Holiday Season Worth Celebrating

Family...What Makes This Season Worth Celebrating.

​It's that time of year again! The days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and the smell of pine trees fills the air. I know you're probably thinking that sounds like a great time to curl up on your sofa with a hot mug of cocoa and Netflix or a Christmas holiday movie on Hallmark—and yes! Possible even a cookie too.  That totally counts as celebrating the holidays. Especially if you want to avoid and hide from the cold temperatures Northern Virginia can give off during the winter months.  But there are also tons of ways to have fun with family, friends, and neighbors over this holiday season if you're not just cozying up inside all winter long. Here are some ideas:

It's A Chance to Celebrate Family and Friends
Christmas is only a few days away.  In this season of giving, it's important to remember that family and friends are the most important things in life. If you have a family, make sure you're spending quality time with them this holiday season. If you don't have a family, try to make some friends, or find ways to take care of yourself. The holiday season is an opportunity for everyone to look at what they've done over the year and reflect on where their life has taken them so far.  Especially this year; with the recession and high cost of things.  Spending time and giving someone your time and presence is just as valuable.

It's also worth pointing out that when people say "family," what often comes to mind is their nuclear family—the moms and dads who raised them, the siblings who taught them how to ride bikes or read books or play board games together as children. But there are many other kinds of families out there: foster families; blended families; extended families (aunts/uncles/cousins); godparents; dorms full of roommates from college who still share houseplants named after each other; groups of friends who've been through many ups and downs together over long periods of time (and keep inviting one another around Christmas!).
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If you'd like some inspiration for what kind of Christmas gifts your loved ones might appreciate this year (whether they're close friends or distant acquaintances), check out the Cosmopolitan 75 Best Christmas Gift Ideas gift guides for ideas!
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This year I was able to channel all my stressed-out energy into baking some delicious holiday treats.
With the holidays here and stress levels rising, it's a great time to channel some of that energy into baking. So, if you're feeling stressed out, don't fret—here are some ideas for how you can put your energy to good use this holiday season:

• Make treats for your family and friends. Cookies, cakes, pies—there are so many delicious options available! You might even consider making some treats specifically for them (or even just one person) that they'll really love. For example, if your brother loves chocolate chip cookies but never gets any because he eats them all too fast, make him some super-delicious ones with extra chocolate chips! That way he'll be able to enjoy them without eating every crumb in sight within seconds.  I invite you to check out my family’s favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe.  It will soon become your family’s favorite before the end of the season.
• Make treats for your business or organization. If you run an office party or holiday gathering at work and would like photography for your party, contact me directly at [email protected].

If none of these suggestions are right for where you live right now in life right now, fear not: there's always next year - and until then, try baking something delicious while thinking about what makes it worth celebrating!
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Fun Ideas!
Here is a list of fun activities you can do with your family the days leading up to Christmas or even on Christmas day.

• Bake Cookies
• Watching movies on Netflix or Hallmark; even CBS brought back the Sunday night movie for the holiday season.
• Visit the neighborhood lights
• Take a holiday card photo
• Family Game Night
• Write letters to Santa; Mom don’t forget to take pictures of your children writing to Santa
• Go Ice Skating

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Merry Christmas!
I hope you had a wonderful holiday season. I would like to thank my family and friends who have supported me during this time! And if you're looking for a gift idea, try baking something delicious while thinking about what makes it worth celebrating! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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I hope your holiday season is filled with happiness, love, and memories that last a lifetime.
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Conclusion
I hope that the coming year brings more joy to your life, and I thank you for joining me in this merry celebration. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season celebrating with your friends and family in the Northern Virginia area.
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I would like to thank my family and friends, and most importantly my photography studio clients who have supported me this entire year! And if you're looking for a gift idea, try baking something delicious (I highly recommend my family’s favorite cookie) while thinking about what makes it worth celebrating!

Merry Christmas!