Merry Christmas, beautiful people

God speed.

xoxo,

Tressabel Hutasoit

Being single for the holidays

and how to deal with friends' excitement over couple-y plans 

Lucky for me, I do not have: 

#1. Nosy families. My families are the laid back type. Happy-go-lucky when it comes to relationships. 

#2. New Year's love. 

I have never been a big fan of New Year's Eve. So, a "3...2...1" then kiss- scene would never make me go gaga. 

Now, even the recent (very important) studies say those are the main problems that singles will have to deal with during the holidays, I cannot really say anything much.

But I can relate with... #3. Surrounded by friends ( that I love) who love to over-share their couple-y plans. They can give you this feeling that perhaps you are familiar of: You cheer for them, but your paired-up friends can't help over sharing their chronicles of joint travels or Instagramming photos of engagement rings (#soontobemrsxxx). You're happy for them, but sometimes it's enough to make you feel like this girl on the left with my fave gesture!. They will ask for your recommendations for Christmas dinner or brunch, your advice on what's the perfect gift for their partner of 3 years (that you have only known well for the last year), lalala. 

Be still, they do that because they trust you have a discerning taste. By no means to make you feel annoyed. That's how happy they are. They found the love of their life and is just over the moon with excitement! Let them be. March on that parade if you like as it should not make you any less happy. 

And—there are good things about spending the holidays solo!

Good Thing 1: No need to search for the perfect romantic gift or finding the perfect place for Christmas dinner, or toss one or having to worry if you have too much bubbly during Christmas brunch because you significant other's judgmental sister is there.
Go buy a nice gift for yourself instead, gather (single) friends for a pot luck at your place, or a group of friends who may like to host lunch at an orphanage or at a retirement home with you. 
Good Thing 2: You can skip awkward in-law interactions
When you're single, you don't have to dread yourself along awkward conversations or pressing ones (say you are the new girl), or try to finish someone's cooking that's not to your liking (or pretending that you are interested with the amount of cardamon needed for that dish). You can celebrate with your own wacky family instead. Not with family during holiday this year? Call them. Skype.
Good Thing 3: You get to do whatever you want
Don't feel like splitting time between your and a significant other's families? Or having to dress like a nun just because his Grandma still think that you are a virgin ? You get nervous around kids? Great! You don't have to deal with those. Do exactly what you want, single friend. I am doing... me and , grab myself a bottle of nice top- shelf Chardonnay, go to the mass, read poetry book, eat a lot, skip exercise, write, watch The Grinch for 100 times, or Love Actually ;-)

Thou shall not be disgruntled.
Happy holidays, everyone! 

Love, 
Tressabel.

What's your favorite holiday treats?

My take on answering Emily Mcdowell's pressing question; "What is your favorite holiday treats?"

1. Macaroni schotel, Potato Gratin, klappertart, vruchtensalade (fruit salad) and...
2. Roasted pork with andaliman sauce. Andaliman sauce makes it very North-Sumatran and no one... I repeat, no one can whip it better than my Grandma!
3. Speculaas cookies... hhhmmm #nom. I can eat stacks of them till my face is swollen!

ps: Coincidentally, I was interviewed for an article titled Ghost of Christmas Delights. Read it here:)

What's yours? Emily's answers below, I agree with her on NO straight eggnog. But I have no tolerance for anything minty in my food. I just do not get it.

Blue Christmas

Wont' mean a thing, dear... If you're not here with me...

ps: If miracle still exist, I am going to find this album again! 

(Bad reckless movers. Bad... )

Oh... confession, my real fave Christmas song is... from the Boss!

Little Girl Surprises Deaf Parents With Adorable ASL Holiday Medle

I just read this from one of my favorite blog:

Claire Koch, a five-year-old from Clearwater, Florida, performed in her school's Christmas pageant, and since both her parents are deaf, she surprised them by translating the songs into American Sign Language during the entire medley. 

Claire's enthusiastic sign language and singing were a true showstopper, outshining her classmates' dance moves.

My gut is telling me that this girl is going to do big things in life...

ps: Happy Holidays sweethearts and sorry for the radio silent the past weeks :)

Merry Christmas

Well hello. I just spent Christmas (Eve and Day) at the hospital. Being far from family during the holiday is hard, not to mention having to be hospitalized. Super sad. I am not sharing the detail here, but I just want to say that I am getting better and stronger now. Still have to rest a lot at home, but I have faith that God is healing me through all the treatment and medicine from the doctor.

I hope it is not too far too late for me to wish you a Merry Christmas. God be with you and your family.

ps: This picture below reminds me of my house (which will be ready in just a few months!). Next year Christmas will be a lot more exciting :).

Pinterest

A Merry Little Christmas

I feel horrible that I did not shower an enough of Festive posts this year. This illness is killing me. 

But I am going to get the best medical treatment soon and be good as new in no time (fingers crossed!).

I hope this one song will be a good touch. James Taylor is one of my fave (yes, Dad introduced me to him).  

ps: From now on, our troubles will be miles away ;')

December

Oh there you are, at my very door step. Please come on in.

Pinterest

A wrap: Christmas all around the world

This is to officially wrap my 2011 Christmas post series.

Must love this photo article from The Atlantic: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (the many ways of celebrating Christmas) . Great to know how the fest is celebrated in other parts of the world. Oh and a bungee Santa in Kuta-Bali is included too!

A bungee jumper dressed as Santa Claus leaps from a platform above Kuta beach, Denpasar, on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, on December 2, 2011. (Sonny Tumbelaka/AFP/Getty Images)

Excuse me...

Talk to you later sweethearts. I have a big family reunion to attend, Christmas spread to eat all up, church mass, guests to host, gifts to share and to unwrap, loved ones to kiss and hug,  stories, laugh and a bit of tears to exchange, songs to sing and... long grateful prayers to lift up.

You should get some too! So please do as written below... 
ps: God bless and joy to the world. We sure need some.

Santa is real!

I was 10 when Santa transformed into a "reality". Yes, 10 is quite old. Scary indeed. My sweet, very soft spoken Grandfather revealed the truth by telling me the history of St.Nicholas and how the spirit of giving is packaged in such beautiful story of an old men in red suit.  I cried at that time. I am one of those people who have trouble in letting go off of the childhood magical vibes. 

So, today as I reached home, found that the Kerstboom (Christmas tree- we still use dutch verbiage sometimes for almost everything Christmastide) is standing beautifully, all carols are on standby in the CD player, socks are hanging... I am reminded of my childhood. 

Then I started to think of how far am I going to enliven the story of Santa for my children in the future. Browsing through related stories, I stumble upon this  website:  CapturetheMagic.com .

It lets you upload a photo of your living room and then add a stock image of Santa (hundreds of poses) into the scene.  Proof you can present to your little ones that Santa exists. To me this is mind boggling!

I am crazy about childhood... So if you ask me how far am I going to go to enliven this story to my children... I think you can guess it, yes?

ps: Thanking one of my fave blogger  Joanna:)

from Capture the magic

Quirky holiday gift(s): for the geek in everybody

I will try to make this as my last holiday gift guide. Like I said, we only have 5 more sleeps before Christmas and there is no way you will be all empty handed or bringing boring stuffs for your loved ones. Okay... it is the thought that counts I knoooow... but why go mediocre when you can be awesome! Oh crap am I exaggerating this? I don 't care really. 

Now... below items are just the "IT" gift for the little geek in you, your brother, sister, friends...  and me! (yes... I would love them too) or anyone else who are just as cool :)) Order now or keep looking for other gift ideas :) .

Ueber cool grassy charger docket

Camera lens mug- perfect for Me!

Kill you with my brain... I just did ;)

Happy Holidays!

Dear sweethearts and loved ones... We only need 5 more sleeps before Christmas!
This is to extend you my most sincere holiday greetings. May all the love, warmth, joy be with you during this wonderful season and all the way through!

God bless.

More holiday gifts (and or birthday)

Now I have to excuse myself from the so-called gift guide browsing and read my book instead. 

These three are too dashing and awesome I will marry whoever can give it to me! Oh, just kidding. I will kiss you and that's about it.

Because if you borrow my book I really want it back.

Because of the title of my blog and because I wander a lot.

Because my ipod playlist is for real.

Quirky holiday gift(s)

Are you a high key on holiday seasons? I am. I am getting presents (small-mediocre-big) to people I care about, playing carols, dress up and even add cinnamon in my coffee at this  time of the year :)) A real sucker for Christmas.

Well, aside from that, I also love to pamper myself. I am now looking forward to get this quirky stuffs! Dashing cool!

In case we bump into eachother again *grind

Breathe in... and out

Ask again...

I Want: This Warm December

How can I not want this... Too bad the album is not in Indonesia yet . This Warm December is a holiday season album contains twelve songs produced by various artists of the Brushfire Records company, including Jack Johnson, G. Love, Matt Costa and Mason Jennings.  And to enliven the holiday spirit,  25% of the profits from the album will be donated in support of children’s music education. What else? Inc. 12 collectible postcard sets!

I want. I need. I really do.

This Warm December