on growing up

It was one of those days when you realize you're growing up but you can't do anything about it. And maybe that's a good thing.



A few of my high school girlfriends got together at Sara's after Christmas just to catch up. For the most part, we all went to different colleges and we live all over California (and now Arizona) so it's easy to get caught up in the current everyday. Work, school or whatever gets in the way so reuniting and just being together again is perfect.



And then you find out that one of your girlfriends just got engaged on Christmas Eve!!! We're all talking casually when Emily says, "So. I got a really great present for Christmas," and puts her new ring on. (And we squeal in excitement/delight, of course).











So even though we'll go weeks without talking to one another, I'll always cherish little moments like this-- that Emily waited to tell us in person. I didn't see it on my facebook news feed and I didn't hear it from anyone else.

Of course, this also means that we're getting older. We're growing up. It's a little intimidating but I can manage small steps.

Just add a few hours of conversation and Christmas leftovers and let me reminisce about that Monday afternoon.

christmas eve

For as long as I can remember, Christmas Eve has always been the "bigger deal" in my family than Christmas Day. All of my family gets together then and now that my sisters are older.. married.. mothers... there are a lot more people to fill the house (think: three significant others and seven children).









It's interesting looking at things now that I'm no longer the family baby (I'm the youngest of four). When did I become a grown up? And where did all my money go? (A growing family means more presents.) Christmas Eve is by no means the only time we're all together, but it was the only time we were all in tears of laughter because my mother posed with her "new family" on the box of the TV we all chipped in to get her.

last minute wrapping à la fraulein maria

I'd originally written this post for another site, but since it didn't make it up I couldn't bear to wait until next year to share. So, in the off chance you've waited until the very last hour and 15 minutes until Christmas to wrap your presents, here are some quick wrapping ideas inspired by Julie Andrews’ character, Fraulein Maria, in The Sound of Music. These ideas are simple, sustainable and easy to put together with typical household items.



Using old grocery paper bags, gently rip the bag open along the seams to get one flat piece of wrapping paper. Measure the amount of paper you need for your present and cut the appropriate amount.



Presents wrapped? Great! Here’s where Maria comes in. Throughout the movie, Maria made things more beautiful and creative using these three steps:

1. Get back to the basics: When the Von Trapp children told Maria they didn’t know how to sing, she started them off with “Do Re Mi.” If your gift consists of multiple presents, try “1 2 3.” Wrap them individually and number them in the order they should be opened.



2. Sing about it: Write the lyrics to your favorite song on your wrapping paper and use that to wrap your present. “Brown paper packages tied up with strings” have never been more fitting.



3. Use what you have: We kind of already did this using our paper bags, but don’t limit your resourcefulness to that! When Maria wanted the children to have play clothes she used her bedroom drapes. Me? I just snipped off a piece of my sister’s Christmas tree and used baker’s twine.

Happy last minute wrapping! (But really, you could use this "wrapping paper" year round.)

Wishing you the merriest, love-filled holiday season to date.

happy holidays!

Love,
RIMRAM

(Raine Isabella Maranan (4) & Raiza Alexis Maranan (2))

downtown christmas lights (a new tradition)

When we realized our old tradition was coming to an end, we decided to start a new one. We loaded up eight people in one van, five in a car, and went to Union Square in downtown San Francisco to see the holiday lights.

They were perfect. The tree was gigantic. Raiza was afraid of Santa Claus. We gave a lot of business to Starbucks.

There were adoptable pets in the Macy's store windows. Raiza tried hot chocolate for the first time. Raine ran full-speed into the window of a revolving glass door* (oops).

A lot of silly, little things. At one point I went to take a "guys" photo of my brother and two nephews, but Raine insisted that the photo wasn't complete because Uncle David wasn't in it.

I might be having my quarter-life crisis but my heart is overflowing with love.

*She ended up being okay. David later described the event "like watching a bird fly into a window," and my sister (Raine's mom) couldn't stop laughing. None of us could.

(thanksgiving) weekend

Lots of food.
Lots of family.
Lots of messes.
Lots of laughter.
Lots of lights.
Lots of love.

PS - A little gif of Raiza eating her cake pop.
PPS - Does anyone else think that Raiza looks like Toad with her helmet on? (She decided to put it on Thanksgiving evening.)
PPPS - What the heck was I thinking wearing red lipstick during Thanksgiving dinner?!

thankful

It shouldn't have been, but this was difficult to put together. Lately it seems like this quarter-life crisis has been getting the best of me. I couldn't be happier that Thanksgiving is here. It's just the reminder I needed.

(There are empty spaces because I always try to leave room for more things to be thankful for.)

Happy Thanksgiving, friends.

And a special thank you to Janis for sharing this font with me! It's my new favorite.

le 14 juillet

For the past three 4th of July's, I've been abroad in Europe (Greece then Italy and now France). I've always been a little sad about it because I miss the fireworks and the celebrations, but this year was the best substitute I could hope for.

Little did I realize that France's day of independence is ten days after our own! For the Fête Nationale Française (which commemorates the storming of the Bastille), my new French friends (staff at the hotel restaurant) invited me along to Terrasson to see the fireworks. We were running a little late so Matthieu sped through the tiny, twisty countryside roads, I felt like I was on a roller coaster (this is no joke). Just as we were approaching Terrasson, we saw the fireworks go off and we thought we were going to miss them, but we made it in time to catch the end of the show.

Speeding in a tiny European car with fireworks straight ahead was one of the best feelings. When we finally made it to the rest of the crowd, there was a carnival, a bar, and a dance floor where everyone was just celebrating. It made me miss my "own" country but still feel happy about being here.