Hi, gals and guys on the internet AKA my online friends. How are you all doing?? It's being a while since I made a chatty type post and I figured this would be the perfect moment to tell you all the things!
Let's take a break from recipe posting and chat. Here are the things I want to chat about:
- I don't have a Christmas Tree
- The weather in California
- My YouTube Cooking Videos
- My babies
I Don't Have a Christmas Tree
Listen, I don't have a Christmas tree set up. In fact, since we moved to the United States, we have not put up a Christmas Tree.
Why? Because life and Christmas have just been different for me. Things have not been the same.
My family -(parents, brothers, sisters) are not here. I am not really motivated to put up a tree. And our Christmas celebrations have been very different.
Also, I have conflicting views about setting up a Christmas tree. While I love it because it makes the home look festive and all, I also don't consider it a necessity.
I'm not gonna lie: I feel a little left out and a little weird. I have even made plans for hanging some Christmas decorations just for fun but I haven't gotten to it.
So if you don't have a Christmas tree up, you are not alone. Lol
One of my favorite Christmas reads is this post on 15 fascinating things that happened at the birth of Jesus.
The Weather in California
I don't think I will ever get over how good the weather in California is. Mama, we are taking walks in December! It is all dreamy to me!
I have felt like I am on a long vacation since we moved to California. I am not even joking. There are no harsh winters, snow blizzards or needing to shovel snow. I could live with this.
My YouTube Videos - Where are They?
You guys, first I am so sorry for leaving you hanging on YouTube! The thoughts of not having put up a cooking video have been haunting me for a while.
I have actually shot a few videos but none of them came out the way I wanted them to. With Christmas approaching, I am working on releasing 2 videos to help with Christmas cooking.
I should be able to put out the first one in the days ahead. That's if everything goes well. I will keep you guys updated on my Instagram/Facebook stories and on my YouTube community page.
My Babies - They Are Growing So Fast!
Baby Essie just turned 1! Can you believe that? I am so emotional because of how fast she is growing. She is so chubby and sweet and I don't want to lose my baby.
But I am also excited about seeing her grow! So my thoughts are so conflicted. Ah.
Taking pictures of Essie these days is a total struggle. She is always busy and can't sit still.
She even tore her 12-month sticker. The sticker was supposed to be on her but I couldn't leave it on her because she kept grabbing it. I just place the torn sticker on the chair and managed to take some pictures.
Salma also turned 7. This girl is as obsessed with cooking as I am and she is threatening to take over my kitchen!
Her big sister made her a crown with paper. She put alot of love into making handmade gifts for her sister's birthday.
Salma requested that I make my lemon pound cake for her birthday. So I baked the cake in a bundt pan (I poured all of the batter into 1 pan and not 2 like in my recipe). We also made some lightly sweetened whipped cream to cover the cake and we added some fruits on top.
We have a few more birthdays coming up early next year. Once "birthday season" rolls in my home, it takes a while before it stops.
Now tell me about you: do you have a Christmas tree up? What are your favorite things to do in this season?
Here's wishing you a great week and a wonderful rest of the year!
Thanks for the update! Your kids are so so cute!!
Thank you, Dee!
I unreservedly love precious.. thanks for the lovely writeups and recipe
Thank you, dear Sandrine.
Thanks for the write-up, I have truly learned a lot from your page and still learning, happy to know you and the girls are doing good, as for Christmas, am just gonna be home eating and watching movies, am far away from friends, family, and my lover. Merry merry.
Merry Christmas, dear! Hope you enjoy.
You are not alone regarding the tree and decorations. I know the feelings you’ve described but I managed to put up a small tree and a few decorations because this will be my husbands first Christmas in the states. I really want it to be special for him. Also, birthday season is the same here. Happy Birthday to your little ones and all celebrating this season!
I sincerely appreciate your updates, it allows me to see a side I can relate to. Your recipes are amazing and have helped me greatly in making my husband feel at home. Thank you.
That's so sweet of you, Nicole. Merry Christmas to your beautiful family.
Hey Mrs N.
Thanks for the update and the chat. Noted, if I ever consider living in the states, California is top on my list on where to live. That weather sounds awesome. As for for Christmas Trees, 🙈I do have one and my reasons are really to have some family bonding time as we decorate and we make some DIY personalized ornaments to add up each year and everyone participates. For me , it's really all about that time we spend as a family setting it up! And each year we send out ornaments we make ourselves to our family members and close friends so they get to have a little bit of us with them as they celebrate. Baby Essie is growing up into a Chubby Cutie really. She looks so beautiful and looks a lot like her dad I think. Hahaha!! Thanks for the constant updates, and the recipes. Its always a pleasure going through each one of them and learning new stuff. Have a great week.
I love your approach towards Christmas Trees. We just might have one next year. Also, you are right. Essie looks just like her dad. Hahaha, and they are best buddies too. It was great reading from you, Aky. Have a wonderful weekend!
Happy New year Precious
thanks for the recipes you've been sharing
your kids are so lovely
more blessings your way
Happy New Year, dear Quinta. So glad the recipes have been useful.
I thank God for your beautiful family; I subscribed on your YouTube presently and finding you're inspiring& interesting. Hope we will we get along well to learn from each other, hear testimonies & experiences in life; your cooking is wow and I love it.
Becky from Kenya.
Thank you so much, dear Becky!