Can y’all believe it’s already advent?! My very favorite season kicks off TODAY! I’m so excited for a month of celebrating the birth of Jesus. It’s already off to an awesome start, with this week full of holiday celebrations.

I’m usually the type to wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the tree, but my roommate and I both had last Monday off from work so we made a day of it: Saw Mockingjay Part 1, stocked up on Thanksgiving foods from Trader Joe’s, watched every Thanksgiving episode of Friends and put up our tree! What a wonderful day it was.

Of course when we put up our tree I realized that I didn’t bring any of my ornaments with me in the move – and all of Becca’s are from her alma mater, which is my alma mater’s rival! So on Tuesday I started replenishing my Christmas stash with this ornament featuring the best letter in the alphabet.

In many ways, Thanksgiving this year was just another Thursday for me, with fewer people in the office and more phone calls placed to family. But I was shocked when getting off the train in Manhattan to find New York City looking particularly charming – especially considering we’d just suffered the first slushy snowfall of the season. It made for a cold but beautiful walk to work.

Friday was my college’s annual game against our aforementioned rival. It’s considered football’s most intense rivalry, so obviously I had to post some support for my Sun Devils! Tragically, we lost the game. I don’t want to talk about it – but I am forever proud of ASU!

Finally, last night my sweet friend Chelsea – the very first person I met at Liberty Church back in the spring – hosted an impromptu Christmas party. Santa hats were involved and many photos were taken. Such joy I take from my friendships here in NYC!

Happy holidays, friends!

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