On our first Valentine's day together, after we got married, I wanted to go somewhere special. Back then, budget was tight and a regular restaurant was expensive for us. We still wanted to have something special and I was also still discovering Wisconsin as it's only been a few months since I arrived.

We found the only sushi buffet place nearby - Island Sushi in Appleton! Oh you can just imagine my happiness. Seafood is hard to come by here (at an affordable price), let alone a nice sushi place! It was definitely a great restaurant and we've spend all our Valentine's day there... until 2021.

Bear's new job requires him to be away for days at a time and we really can't decide right now when he will be home. A snow storm and lonely on a Valentine's day, I focused in blowing the snow and getting things done. While it sounds sad, it's also actually a good me-time moment.

If you're in the U.S., you've probably heard of the massive snow storm that hit us and affected mostly the South. We still got a good chunk of snow up here in the Midwest, and I was on duty keeping the driveway and sidewalk in tip-top shape. While I was clearing the driveway on Valentine's morning, I was caught by this sweet surprise!!

Not gonna lie, I was in a quick panic the moment I noticed him because he pulled in as soon as I was starting to put away the snow blower. Next thing I know, he handed me this very beautiful vase of flowers - my favorite roses and carnations at that!

Things can still get magical ♥

I don't think I previously mentioned it yet, but Bear was laid off at the end of November due to the pandemic. It's truly unfortunate, especially that we just bought a home. Thankfully, there's already a lot of back up assistance for people affected by the pandemic so I was able to postpone some bills. That being said, things are a little tight with just my income and savings. It really sucks because I don't think I would be able to buy gifts and all.

Now, now - that doesn't mean Christmas is over right? Great things still happen and I know this is just a challenge. So let's get on with the magic!

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year ♥

I will begin with saying I am not religious, and I believe in nature and a higher deity. That being said, I sometimes get asked (usually by Bear), how can I love Christmas so much as it really has no religious meaning to me. There are several things that make me truly appreciate this holiday and today I will talk about these things that I do not really openly discuss.

Lights, Glitter, and Decor

My reasons aren't really in any particular order and this first reason probably sounds shallow to some, but for some reason I really enjoy decorating and definitely love the lights. There's something about lights that really amaze me. I love fireworks, holiday lights, flickering lights... lightworks just really make me feel... happy.

That being said, this year I was able to decorate more outside and it really made me happy. I love the puppy too! I think that's my favorite decor to date. I guess with decorating comes shopping, and I got to admit that I probably have some mild shopping addiction.