Tag: holidays

Blogmas Day 25: Merry Christmas

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Hello Sunny Siders, we’ve made it to the final day of Blogmas!

I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a wonderful start to the new year.

I love how Blogmas always helps to get me in the festive spirit and I hope these daily blogs help to make this time of year a little more joyful for you too!

Keeping this one short and simple, hoping you all have a great time focusing on what matters most this time of year, the people in your life who bring you joy and happiness.

Take care everyone and I will be back with more blogs in the new year!

Blogmas Day 21: 2025 Highlights!

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Hello Sunny Siders, it’s Blogmas day 21 and today I want to reflect and share some of my highlights of 2025!

Fiancé and I ended our long distance chapter and moved in together!

Attended Megacon and had fun meeting artists and buying art.

Started my small business and launched 29 sticker products.

Got a new job doing data analytics and love it!

Spent a lot of time with my family and friends.

Found a wedding venue and picked our wedding date!

Visited Boston and Salem for a fun couples trip.

Got back into gymnastics skills and learned some cool handstands.

Expanded my gallery wall and made my apartment a home.

Attended a pop up anime cafe!

Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie with my family!

Christmas candlelight processional and high tea with my family.

Kept up with my Duolingo Japanese streak!

Reflecting back and reminiscing in all the great things that happened this year is always a favorite thing for me as we round out the year.

Blogmas Day 20: Family Smiles

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Hello Sunny Siders, we are on Blogmas day 20! Today I wanted to share a really fun family moment from the day.

My family is visiting for Christmas and today we had a really fun day planned at Epcot.

A bucket list item for my mom has been to see Disney’s Candlelight Processional and today we made it happen!

The Candlelight Processional is a show hosted in the America pavilion where a special guest speaker (usually a famous actor or actress) narrates the story of Jesus. Alongside the narration, there is a choir made up of volunteer Cast members singing classic Christmas songs.

We were very excited because the guest speaker for our showing was Brendan Fraser, star of The Mummy.

The Candlelight Processional is a very popular event at Epcot this time of year and seating is limited. One way to guarantee seating is to book the dining package, which we decided to do today.

Our day started off like a normal park day where we went and rode our favorite coaster at Epcot, Guardians. Then we grabbed snacks before heading to ride Soarin Around the World.

We had an earlier dinner at the Garden Grill, which consisted of a family style meal of turkey, beef, Mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, and fresh vegetables from Epcot’s greenhouse. We were also surprised to see that our dinner was a character dining experience.

The meal was delicious and dessert was a scrumptious strawberry shortcake.

With full bellies we started making our walk over to the America Pavillion for the evenings main event.

My family loved the show, the music was fantastic, the singers were spectacular, and Brendan was such a marvelous host.

I definitely teared up a few times from how moving the experience was. But even more so, I was so happy I was able to make this dream come true for my mom and my family.

This to me is the best part about being an adult, getting to treat those that I love to wonderful experiences that we will remember and cherish forever.

Brendan ended his reading by saying that the spirit of the season is really about peace and goodwill towards all and that really rang true as I stood there alongside my loved ones this evening.

Blogmas Day 19: Daily Blog

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Hello Sunny Siders, we are back with another daily blog. Today, I wanted to share a day in my life when I am working during the day.

This was a work from home day so I got to wake up a little later than normal since I didn’t need to drive to work.

I made myself a cup of tea while I settled on my couch and got to work. I am a digital analyst so I spend a lot of my day looking at data and working on specific requests from the partners who use our data to evaluate their work.

I was locked in brainstorming a new project I am working on and that took most of my morning before I jumped on to my main meetings for the day.

After my meetings, I took my lunch break to do an at home weighted arm workout as well as to eat some pasta.

Once my lunch break was over, I got back to work doing some other analytics work.

I wrapped my day by writing out some holiday cards for my colleagues before logging off for the day.

With work done, I pivoted to taking care of chores around the house. I did laundry and cleaned the floors.

My fiancé and I looked at some cosplay costumes for our future convention while eating dinner which was more pasta.

Then, I drove to my friends house so we could watch Sailor Moon. I haven’t seen this particular friend in awhile and it was so nice catching up with her!

I wrapped my day by driving home and then hanging out with my family before heading to bed!

Blogmas Day 12: My Favorite (and least favorite) Holiday Songs

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Hello Sunny Siders and happy Blogmas Day 12! Today I wanted to feel extra festive and talk a little bit about some of my favorite holidays songs.

Something I always find fascinating is that even as time goes on, there really haven’t been any new Christmas or holiday songs that have broken through to become new classics. It’s always the same songs that have been around for decades and honestly I think that is pretty special to know just how impactful those older songs have become for people.

Anyways, let’s get in to some of my favorite holiday songs!

First off, Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby are the co-kings of Christmas in my book and I genuinely look forward to any song sung by either of these two as their vocals really encapsulate what the spirit of the season means to me. So instead of listing specifics of these two, just know almost all of the Christmas songs by them are good.

When I want to feel extra holly, jolly and upbeat, these are the songs I’ve been gravitating to lately:

– A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives

– I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

– It’s the Most Wonderful Time of The Year by Andy Williams

– Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses

– Wizards in Winter by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

– Ho Ho Ho by Sia

– Heat Miser/Snow Miser from A Year Without a Santa Claus

– One Foot in Front of the Other from Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town

– ANYTHING FROM THE NUTCRACKER

They are just so jazzy and put me straight into a great mood if I wasn’t in one already.

The next category is songs for a good laugh. These are songs that I don’t necessarily like for the peak vocals or lyrics, but usually leave me in a fit of laughter or are perfect for when I’m feeling silly.

– Dominick the Donkey by Lou Monte

– I’m the Happiest Christmas Tree by Nat King Cole

– O’ Holy Night (Worst Version) on YouTube from Channel Novelty Songs

– The Umamusume x Jungle Bells cross over song on TikTok

Moving into our next category, we are shifting away from specific songs and more into types of holiday playlists I enjoy listening to when I need to focus. These are perfect for when I’m at work and want to feel festive while also stay focused. A lot of this section is lofi playlists and Nintendo music, so if that isn’t your speed feel free to scroll along to the next section!

– feeling festive! — christmas/holiday nintendo & video game music 🎄🎅 by Lumie Plays on YouTube

– another winter nintendo mix ❄️ by stellarsheik on YouTube

– Jazzy Jingles 🎷 ~ Smooth and Jazzy Nintendo Music by Crazy Cloud on YouTube

– christmas lofi music🎄cozy radio to get festive to by Lofi Girl on YouTube

The final category is going to be Christmas and holiday songs I actually don’t like. These are songs if they come on I usually skip them or just turn off the music altogether until they’re over.

– All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey

– Last Christmas by Wham!

– I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Gayla Peevey

– I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by The Jackson 5

– Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt

These might be controversial, so I’m curious to know your thoughts and what you think of these songs!

Blogmas Day 11: Holiday Card Designs!

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Hello Sunny Siders and happy Blogmas day 11! Today I wanted to share some holiday cards I designed this year to give to family and friends, instead of buying them from the store.

This started off as a special order from a business for their Christmas party. They asked for four card designs with 12 of each card and I used the leftovers to be able to use for my family and friends.

With all the practice I got making cards this holiday season, I’m hoping to be able to start selling them, or some other variation, on my Etsy in 2026 now that I’ll have a stockpile of designs!

Blogmas Day 9: Rengoku Chai Recipe

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Hello Sunny Siders, we’re back for Blogmas day 9. Today, I’ve got another recipe and it’s a Chai recipe inspired by my Hashira coffee drawing.

Ingredients:

  • Chai blend
  • Blood oranges
  • Milk
  • Heavy cream
  • Cinnamon

Blood Orange Syrup:

  • 2 C white sugar
  • 1 C water
  • 2 lbs of blood oranges, zested and squeezed
  • 2 Cinnamon sticks

Directions

  • Slice a blood oranges thinly and dehydrate in air fryer for 6 hours at 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Zest and juice 2 lbs of blood oranges.
  • Combine white sugar, water, orange zest and juice in a saucepan over low to medium low heat.
  • Add in cinnamon sticks and occasionally stir until syrup reaches desired consistency. Let cool completely.
  • In a saucepan add 8 oz of water and bring to a boil. Add one teaspoon of chai blend and stir until steeped.
  • Turn off heat and stream in milk until chai reaches desired color and creaminess.
  • Strain chai into cup to remove any loose tea. Add in desired about of blood oranges syrup.
  • Froth 3 T of heavy cream with a tiny bit of blood oranges syrup until thick and foamy. Slowly pour over top of chai.
  • Garnish with dried blood orange and cinnamon stick!

Blogmas Day 8: A Check In On My 2025 Goals

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Hello Sunny Siders, it’s Blogmas day 8 and I want to share a recap on how my 2025 goals went this year. During last year’s Blogmas I set my goals for 2025 and now we will revisit them to see my progress.

Drink my daily recommended amount of water

Yeah… once again this one didn’t go very well. I try every year to set the goal of staying hydrated and go through ebbs and flows where I’m really great or really terrible. Definitely going to have to keep working on this one in 2026.

Start a side business

I checked this goal off very early in the year when I established Sunny Sider Crafts, LLC and created my Etsy shop to sell stickers in February. This was probably one of my biggest accomplishments of the year, which I plan to go into more detail during a later Blogmas post!

Continue my Duolingo streak

I’ve stuck to my goal of keeping my streak and am now at 1,417 days straight of practicing Japanese. I didn’t step up to the challenge of 15 minutes a day, but I definitely spent more time practicing than last year.

More time with family

I’d like to say that I made a very conscious effort to spend more time with my family in 2025. I took time off to travel and ensured anytime they were in town that I got to see them. I’d love to step it up even more in 2026 if my PTO allows.

Visit at least one new place this year

I definitely was not a world traveler in 2025, but I did visit a new city! I had never been to Salem, Massachusetts until this year when I went in October. It was such a fun experience and the perfect time of year to visit!

Opting for homemade over store bought and takeout

This is another goal that I feel went pretty well in 2025. I’ve spent a lot of the year making food at home and limiting the amount of time I eat out during the week. I can’t remember the last time I bought or ate a store bought dessert, as I’ve been making everything at home myself.

Blogmas Day 7: The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe I’ve Ever Had

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Hello Sunny Siders, happy Blogmas day 7! Today, I am sharing the BEST chocolate chip cookies recipe I’ve ever tried making and I want you all to be able to experience the magic of these cookies.

These are brown butter chocolate chip cookies that I have adapted slightly from a recipe @/samanttha_chen shared on instagram!

Ingredients:

1 C unsalted butter

2.5 C all purpose flour

1 T cornstarch

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 C brown sugar

3/4 C white sugar

1 egg

1 egg yolk

1 T heavy cream

1 T vanilla extract

Mix of dark chocolate and semi sweet chocolate chips/chunks to your liking

Optional: toasted crushed walnuts or pecans to your liking

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Take the cup of butter and heat in a saucepan on medium/low heat until the butter turns golden and brown (it should smell nice and toasted)

Remove butter from saucepan and chill in the freezer for 10 minutes to cool down

Combine flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt together in a bowl and set aside.

Beat together butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.

Add in the egg, egg yolk, heavy cream, and vanilla.

Slowly add dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix, then fold in chocolate and nuts.

Bake cookies for 12-14 minutes to desired doneness.

Should make about 2 dozen cookies.

Let me know if you try making these delicious cookies. I truly am not exaggerating when I say that I make these on a weekly basis.

Blogmas Day 3: DIY Gift Ideas

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Hello Sunny Siders, happy Blogmas day 3! Gift giving can be so stressful and expensive this time of year. It sometimes feels virtually impossible to balance showing your friends and family you care while also staying on budget. That is why this year I thought it’d be fun to share some DIY more affordable gift ideas to help make that balance more feasible!

DIY Gift Ideas

Handmade cards/card boxes – Not only to people love receiving cards, but having a stock of cards on hand for the year to come is so helpful. Design, print, or draw greeting cards for various holidays throughout the year and package them in a box to serve as a stock for the person you are gifting to!

Personalized drawings (thrift a picture frame for an added touch) – If you are in to art, drawing something meaningful to the person you are gifting is a great option. I have done this for birthdays and holidays in years past, and it is even more fun when you find a nice picture frame to elevate it.

Handwritten letters (thrift a picture frame for an added touch) – As simple as it sounds, write a nice letter to someone you love. You can jazz it up with thick paper or even a nice frame.

Coupon book – Make coupons of things/experiences your person can cash in when they want at a later time. This could be for simple things like a movie night at home, breakfast in bed, or even something fancier like an evening night out at their favorite restaurant.

Write a poem – My Grandma has been doing this for years as birthday gifts and trust me when I say people are more excited and appreciative of her poems than anything else they are gifted. I have witnessed first hand my aunts and uncles sob tears of joy reading her poems. Truly, a great and meaningful gift idea.

Themed dinner night at home – Don’t have the means to go out? Not a problem! Make a themed meal at home. This can be tied to their favorite cuisine or even a book or show they enjoy. Set the table and plate it up like you are one of those master chefs!

Cook a loved one their favorite meal – If theming seems too much, simply cooking someone’s favorite meal is sure to be appreciated. I know anytime I get to savor my mom’s homemade Mac n Cheese or my Grandmas pierogis it makes me feel so nostalgic and at peace.

Handmade baked goods box – If you enjoy baking, this is a perfect time to bake some treats and pack them up in a festive tin. Expanding on this you could do themed boxes to breads, adding homemade jams to the box. Or, make a coffee themed box, with homemade syrups and coffee grounds.

Scrapbook/dump journal – Turn those memories you’ve made into a scrapbook that your person can look back on when they need a smile. I did this for my friend when we graduated High School, for my fiancé when we had been dating for a year, and for my Grandma’s birthday. Something simpler would be to keep hold of little things like concert tickets, movie tickets, and other little paper goods from events or experiences you’ve attended with that person and turn it into a dump journal.

Personalized photo calendar – My family has been doing photo calendars for as long as I can remember. We used to do it as our entire extended family, and I would get so excited seeing what photos made the cut. Now, I make one for my parents and my brother every year focused on our family.

Family recipe book – I received one of these for my High School graduation and to this day it is still one of my most used gifts. My mom asked family members and friends to share the recipes for my favorite treats they make and compiled it into a book. Now, whenever I am craving comfort food from my childhood, I can open the recipe book and get cooking!

Bracelets – Grab some beads and string and make some bracelets. I love making bracelets focused on words of the year. A few years ago there was a trend to get beads that look like your eye color and that of your family, and I had a blast making those too!

Thankful jar – I have been doing a thankful jar for the past 4 years and I think gifting someone one would make a great gift. Take any jar, I used an old peanut butter jar that I washed, and decorate it. Include a pack of sticky notes along with it. The goal is to write one thing you are thankful for each week and put it in the jar. At the end of the year you have 52 memories to make you smile.

I hope these DIY gift ideas give you some inspiration on fun ways to show your appreciation to those you love while also not breaking the bank. Let me know if you decide to give any of these a try!