So this was Christmas. (Christmas 2013)

the weather stayed dark and gray all through Christmas, but the atmosphere was cozy and warm. i ate too much, like one does during the holidays. the kids were restless but joyful. everyone got great presents. i, of course got books! which i will make a separate post about at my book blog, soon. it was nice to be all together for once, i don't think i've been with around my whole family since summer. i mostly read, petted our old dog and cat who had suddenly gotten adorably fat. and i realized, that despite of growing up, Christmas to me, still feels like magic. just different kind of magic.

we rise like smoke until we are free. (Christmasy things)

i wish i could say that it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but the weather is rainy and gray and it looks like it's gonna stay that way all through Christmas. well, i've still managed to gather a little bit of Christmas spirit and i can't wait to just spent few days around family and eat and read and exchange presents! 

Dinosaur Gingerbread Cookies!

We had a little snow but then it melted away pretty fast.

But i can't complain, since the river and the lights outside my window are beautiful in any weather.

How are you getting ready for the Holiday Season?

i'm shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town.

I've been busy is the lames excuse for falling off the face of the earth, but it's also way too true sometimes. my first semester at University is coming to an end- the past few weeks have been filled with exams, due dates, stress and crying, stress and eating, and not enough sleep. week and a half to go until Christmas break. i can't wait to have time to read for pleasure. or actually clean or do laundry properly.
there was a firework show under my window tonight. i've been putting up Christmas lights, buying unnecessary but pretty household items. i love that the city is dressing up itself for Christmas, yet i wish there was snow. i like the dark nights and the frozen streets, Christmas lights on trees and the Christmas carols playing in all the stores. it's the most wonderful time of the year. i might even masochistically like the exams and hardcore studying.  

i've been told i was born to endure this kind of weather. (day 10)

sorry you didn't get a christmas craft related post yesterday, nor do you today (later this week, i promise). i was too hooked buy a book i was reading, one that i mentioned on the Christmas Reads post and here's my review on that.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares
by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan 
★★★★

Lily is about to spend her Christmas practically alone since her parents have flown to Fiji for their 25th anniversary and her grandfather is in Florida visiting his girlfriend. the only person to keep Lily company is his older brother Langston who is ignoring Lily to spend time with his boyfriend. though Langston has arranged something special for Lily, he has persuaded Lily to leave a red notebook to her favorite bookstore, a book of dares, so that when the right kind of person finds it, he will answer the dare and maybe Lily will finally get a boyfriend, and be out of Langston's hair.

Dash is also spending his Christmas alone, but by choice, he has tricked his divorced parents to be able to do so by telling his mother he is spending the Christmas with his father and vice versa. so with his mother out of town he has the whole place to himself. one day he stumbles upon a red notebook stuck between the books of his favorite author in his favorite bookstore, curious Dash can't resist the dare and so begins the treasure hunt and game of dares that takes Dash and Lily around New York city to places they never thought they'd go. like Macy's during the worst shopping season or a night club full of hipsters and a man dressed in drag as a bouncer. but is Dash the right guy to pick up the book of dares, could the treasure hunt and words in the notebook turn into something more.

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares is a book written by two authors, David Levithan and Rachel Cohn, David wrote Dash's parts and Rachel Lily's. this style of writing works in this book very well, both characters have their own explicit voice. both of the characters are very relatable, Lily is this very happy-go-lucky kind of girl and complete Christmas enthusiast where as Dash is cynical and doesn't care for the Holiday season. he is a word nerd who likes to use big words in his conversation. some may thing that makes him pretentious but i didn't see him that way.

one of the most enjoyable things in the book for me was the side characters, from Lily's brother and his boyfriend to Dash's friends. i also really liked the fact that there are quite a lot of characters of different sexual orientations that are introduced very casually and naturally which doesn't happen too often in books, something similar that i noticed in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, a movie based on a book written by these two authors, a book that's going on my to read list.

i really recommend this modern fairytale for Christmas read to everyone who doesn't shy from romance. this book is witty and smart and laugh out loud funny! a perfectly light holiday read.

“I was attempting to write the story of my life. It wasn't so much about plot. It was much more about character.” 

Let is snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! (Day 7)

i wish i was homeward bound. (Day 6)

Northern Lights in Finnish Winter 

Colorful Aurora Borelis in Finland.

Wild Nature in Kilpisjärvi, Finland.

Singing Huskies in Hetta, Finland.

Pallas, Finland.

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Unesco World Heritage.

Helsinki Cathedral in a winter mist.

Happy 95th Finnish Independence day to all my fellow Finns! to the rest of you this might not seem very Christmas-y post (as i promised you'd get everyday this month), but to me this day is strongly associated with the holidays. and winter, and snow! which we have plenty this year. so i thought i'd share some pretty pictures from my homeland via Visit Finland's flickr. and to the rest of you, happy thursday! tomorrow i will teach you how to make animated snow.

Last christmas i gave you my heart. (Day 5)

Gift Ideas For Photographers:
1. Gerogia Neon camera bag, $107 from Jo Totes.
2. The Get Into Focus lens mug, $15 from Photo Jojo.
3. The handy Dandy hand strap, $40 from Photo Jojo.
4. I Shoot People scrapple tile pendant, $6.50 from Etsy.
5. Holga 135BC camera, $52.49 from Holga Direct.
6. Four Corners film collection, $10 from Four Corners Store.
7. The Lensbaby Spark lens for Canon or Nikon, $80 from Photo Jojo.
8. The Polaroid Z2300 digital instant camera, $160 w/10 prints, $205 w/110 prints from Photo Jojo.
9. The Lens bracelet set, $15-$25 from Photo Jojo.
10. LONDON Backpack camera bag, $224.99 from Epiphanie bags.

All i want for Christmas is you. (Day 4)

Christmas Reads

1. Christmas at The Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan | Chicklit | 351 Pages | Published October 25th 2012

2. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle |YA | 352 Pages | Published October 2nd 2008

3. Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan | YA | 260 Pages | Published October 26th 2010

4. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens | Classic | 112 Pages | Published December 1843

5. Skipping Christmas by John Grisham | Comedy | 117 Pages | Published November 6th 2001

6. Moominland Midwinter by Tove Jansson | Children's Novel | 139 Pages | Published 1957

7. Silent Night by Stanley Weintraub | History | 256 Pages | Published 1995

8. Merry Christmas, Alex Cross by James Patterson | Crime | 400 Pages | Published November 12th 2012

come on y'all it's christmas time! (Day 3)

do you know any fun Christmas facts?

But baby it's cold outside (Day 2)

1. John Green The Fault in Our Stars art print by Sarah Turbin, $13.15 from Society6.
2. The Great Gatsby sweater, $42.00 from Out of Print Clothing.
3. Star Wars bookends, $59.99 from ThinkGeek.
4. Kindle e-reader, $69.00 from Amazon.
5. Hedgehog fabric buttons bookmark set, $6.00 from Etsy.
6. Personal Library Kit, $15.00 from Amazon.
7. Tell The Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt, $13.99 from Amazon.
8. Virginia Woolf A Room of One's Own Penguin Books mug, £8.95 from The Literary Gift Company.
9. Behind The Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death and Hope in Mumbai Undercity by Katherine Boo, $15.63 from Amazon.
10. The Complete Novels of Jane Austen box set, $59.99 from Amazon.

Thank God It's Christmas (Day 01)

Doctor Who
A Christmas Carol
Season 6, 2010 Christmas Special

Amy and Rory are trapped on a crashing space liner and the only way The Doctor can save them is to save the soul of a lonely, bitter old man Kazran Sardick. 

My favorite of the traditional Doctor Who christmas specials.

Six Feet Under
It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year
Season 2, Episode 8

 As the Fishers get ready for the holidays they all start remembering, in flashbacks, the last time they saw their father and husband who died the Christmas before.

A darker take on christmas episodes, but utterly brilliant.

The Big Bang Theory
The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis
Season 2, Episode 11

Sheldon hates the idea of gifts, but since Penny is giving him a Christmas present he has to go and find something for her.

This episode has one of the most adorable Sheldon moments.

Misfits
Christmas Special
Season 2, Episode 7

The week before the Christmas the gang learns about a man named Seth who can trade and deal powers.

A bit different Christmas special just in the traditional Misfits style!

Community
Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas
Season 2, Episode 11

When Abed wakes up everything has turned into stop motion animation. Professor Duncan and the study group help him to discover the true meaning of Christmas in order for things to turn to normal again.

One of the most original Christmas episodes and my absolute favorite.

Community
Regional Holiday Music
Season 3, Episode 10

A holiday-themed musical-parody episode of the popular TV show Glee, in which Abed tries to convince the rest of the study group to join Greendale’s Glee club in order for them to qualify for regionals.

Another brilliant Christmas episode from Community.

The O.C
The Best Chrismukkah Ever
Season 1, Episode 13

It’s Ryan’s first Christmas with the Cohens, but they don’t celebrate Christmas like other people, Seth has invented a bi-religious holiday he calls Chrismukkah, that is the combination of his parent’s religions, Catholicism and Judaism.

Seth's holiday enthusiasm is contagious.

How I Met Your Mother
Symphony of Illumination
Season 7, Episode 12

Robin tries to come terms with a revelation about herself she has recently learned. Marshall tries to decorate their house with Christmas lights when a neighbor’s kid plays pranks on him.

A bit darker than HIMYM usually is but still uplifting and amazing.

Glee
Extraordinary Merry Christmas
Season 3, Episode 9

The New Directions glee club has two different events they are asked to perform at and a tough decision to make about which one to choose.

The Holiday special within this Holiday special is one of my favorite holiday special! Also check out this most adorable scene that was sadly cut out.

Friends
The One With The Holiday Armadillo
Season 7, Episode 10

Ross wants to introduce his son Ben to Hanukkah, but Ben get disappointed when he hears Santa isn’t going to visit him this year. Ross tries desperately to find a Santa costume in the last minute but without such luck ends up dressing as something he calls The Holiday Armadillo.

This episode of Friends is an absolute classic!

What are some of your favorite Christmas episodes?