Christmas is a time to reconnect with family, relax and celebrate a season of giving and reflection. I know people constantly say Christmas isn’t about the presents, and I completely agree but yet they always play an undeniable role in the holiday.

Oh you know pretty much an exact replica of my living room

From explaining to Santa (who mysteriously had the same phone number as my uncle) that I would like the brunette Barbie not the blonde, to my mom’s insistence that Santa’s favorite cookie was peanut butter not sugar, my earliest memories revolve around a large man in a less than fashion-forward red suit toting around presents.

I feel that way about red velour too

As much as I love Christmas, when I left for college I braced myself for that fated day when my parents would decide I was just too old for presents.

I had a similar realization..+10 years

Yet, here I am verging on my third Christmas since being in college and this year just like every year before my mother has requested that I, “properly fill out a Christmas list and e-mail it ASAP or there will be coal in my stocking LOL!!” Hilarious mom… but endearing nonetheless.

Here is my reply:

Mom,

Here is my Christmas wish list. Please disregard the other e-mail about the American Girl doll and that Limited Too shopping spree

1.     Gift card to Whole Foods

2.     Gift card to Starbucks

3.     Subscription to the NY Times

4.     My textbooks for next semester (ISBN’s attached)

5.     Spending my favorite holiday with my family

P.S.- I would be totally and completely satisfied with just number 5