The Most Perfect Day!

This weekend has been such a blur. I once again tried to cram way to much in but I wouldn't change anything. 

First, J and I went to see New York City Ballet's "The Nutcracker." It's funny because my experience or the Nutcracker was always Pacific Northwest Ballet's and I assumed it would almost all be the same but as it turns out, the NYCB choreography is much truer to the original choreography. The dancing was just on another level. Even J murmured "how is that possible" at one point during the sugar plum fairy's dance with her cavalier. 

The only draw back was all of the kid noise. Haha. It sounds like such a snobby thing, and I really love kids. Plus, I know when I have kids I'll bring thing to theater and ballet, but it's just a strange thing when you pay a lot for a ticket to go to the ballet and hear kids rustling candy wrappers the whole time. Actually my biggest problem wasn't the kids, it was the adults who somehow thought that since it was a kid friendly performance it meant they could behave as kids. The woman beside me literally stood for the beginning of the second act, and we had good seats. It's not that she couldn't see. (End rant. It was an amazing experience and I can't wait to bring my kids and be the mean mom that won't let them rustle candy wrappers). 

After the ballet we headed to Brooklyn to this neighborhood called Dyker Heights. It was featured on one of those, "Extreme Christmas Lights" specials, and for a good reason. More lights than you can imagine. J was such a good sport and I laughed good-naturedly about my pure joy and enthusiasm despite the freezing weather. 

(More lights below)

On the way home he surprised me by stopping at my favorite restaurant in my old neighborhood, Lot 2. He won serious points with that move and then was rewarded by them having his favorite cocktail featured as the drink of the night (Veiux Carre...recipe at very bottom. It's the perfect winter warm you up cocktail. It was a shame I don't live a few blocks away and we couldn't stumble home because we both would have gladly imbibed more.)

Then we were going to have "Christmas" because I'm heading to the west coast for Christmas with my fam tomorrow but we decided to watch an episode of Breaking Bad instead...priorities. Christmas tonight though!

Happiest Christmas Tree

Santa! Christmas has arrived! 

I'm slightly fanatical about Christmas. I've been preparing J basically since we met about my obsession and then talking about getting a tree since summer. 

My family has always gone to cut one down ourselves. I think there is something special about seeing a tree amongst hundreds of others and deciding it belongs in your family. There is a song, "happiest Christmas tree," that I always think of when choosing a tree. 

I was determined to cut one down but all the determination couldn't compete with plain bad timing. We were going to go Friday after J was done working but then he ran late and the tree farm closed early, and we had a friend taking a train to come over so we didn't have time. I'm kind of surprised but I totally took it in stride and suggest a trip to Home Depot. I think I shocked J too. 

We got there and all of the trees were already bailed. J thought this was convenient. I thought it was an outrage and joked with another equally outraged customer. How will we know what it looks like?! I chose this little guy because the bottom was peeking out and it looked ok. 

We asked for help tying the tree to the and the guy came out with a roll of shrink wrap. Haha. I'm so sad my battery on my phone died because the process was hilarious. He wrapped through the inside of the car then over the roof tons of times making the car look like Thanksgiving left overs. J refused to use his phone for a picture out of embarrassment. The whole ride home other drivers were gawking and it's a Christmas miracle we didnt cause an accident. 

It all worked out though. Our tree is up, and all decorated and it makes me so happy. The apartment is in a state of chaos because of the great move-in but in one little corner there is a bright calm. I'm in love with this scrawny little tree.