Hello, friends online — it’s been a while since I wrote a chatty post, so I thought this would be the perfect time to catch up and share a few things.
Let’s take a break from recipes and chat. Here’s what I want to talk about:
- I don’t have a Christmas tree
- The weather in California
- My YouTube cooking videos
- My kids
I Don’t Have a Christmas Tree
We haven’t put up a Christmas tree since we moved to the United States. Life has been different, and our celebrations have shifted without my extended family nearby. With parents, siblings, and other relatives living elsewhere, I haven’t felt the same pull to decorate in the usual way.
It’s not that I dislike a tree — I love how festive it makes a home — but it doesn’t feel essential right now. Some days I feel a bit left out or strange about it, and I’ve even planned to hang a few decorations just for fun, but haven’t gotten around to it.
If you don’t have a tree either, you’re not alone. I find comfort in quiet traditions and thoughtful readings during this season; one of my favorite reflections about Christmas is a piece I often revisit about the birth of Jesus.
The Weather in California
I still marvel at how mild California winters are. We go for walks in December — it feels like a perpetual vacation. No shoveling, no blizzards, and no bitter cold. The gentle weather has been a welcome, dreamy change for our family.
My YouTube Videos — Where Are They?
I’m sorry for the radio silence on my YouTube channel. I’ve been working on new cooking videos, but a few of the early shoots didn’t turn out the way I wanted. With the holidays approaching, I’m focusing on two recipes that should help with Christmas cooking, and I hope to publish the first one soon.
I’ll share updates on Instagram, Facebook stories, and my YouTube community page so you’ll know when a new video goes live. Thanks for your patience — I really appreciate it.
My Kids — They’re Growing So Fast!
Baby Essie just turned one, and I can’t believe how quickly she’s growing. I’m so emotional about it — she’s so chubby and sweet, and I want to hold on to every baby moment. At the same time, watching her learn and change is such a joy.
Taking photos of Essie has become a challenge because she’s always on the move. She even tore her 12-month sticker while I was trying to take pictures, so I ended up placing the torn sticker on a chair and snapping a few shots.
Salma turned seven recently. She’s as passionate about cooking as I am and jokes about taking over my kitchen someday. Her big sister made her a paper crown and put a lot of love into handmade gifts for the birthday celebration.
For Salma’s birthday she requested my lemon pound cake, so I baked it in a bundt pan (I used one pan instead of splitting the batter into two as in the original recipe). We topped it with lightly sweetened whipped cream and fresh fruit — simple and delicious.
We have a few more birthdays early next year, so once “birthday season” starts at our house it tends to last a while.
Now it’s your turn — do you have a Christmas tree up? What are your favorite seasonal traditions? I’d love to hear what you’re up to.
Wishing you a wonderful week and a joyful end to the year!