I’ve been talking a lot about Christmas this year. Here, here, and all of those gift guides. But I’m still not Christmased out yet.

With just over a week until Christmas, I’ve been making sure I’ve checked off all of my holiday must dos before December 25. This year I really made it a point to take in every moment of the holiday season. This is the first Christmas I’ve spent with my family since 2010. This is also the first holiday I’ve been out of the retail world since 2008. It’s been a good past few months to just sit back and take in everything around me.

I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite holiday traditions I’ve been able to enjoy this season.

Holiday Cookie Swap

Next week my girlfriends and I are getting together not to swap gifts, but instead something everyone could enjoy: cookies. Now I suck at baking, so my boozy hot cocoa bar will be my contribution to the group. More about that next week on the blog, but trust me, I was doing everyone a favor by not baking. (Although I can make a mean biscotti, but that’s about where it ends.) This was just such a great way for all of us to get together, not spend a ton of money on gifts or dinner, and relax.

Embrace New York City during its prime

The holidays are one of my favorite times of year to visit the city. It’s festive and busy and oh so cliché. Give me all of the decorations, big cozy jackets, hats, gloves, warmed street nuts, and a vat of hot cocoa while strolling the streets of Manhattan. This year I was able to see the Rockette’s Christmas Spectacular for the first time and it made my Christmas in the city experience that much better.

Take a trip

If you follow me on Instagram, you know a few weeks ago I went up to Boston. Being able to have a quick getaway thrown in during the busy holiday season was perfect. And going to a city like Boston, we were able to stay in the holiday spirit. A full post about our weekend in Boston will be up in the new year, but you can check out some of my past holiday getaways to Big Bear, Scottsdale, and California’s Central Coast.

Have a movie night

The holidays can be exhausting, stressful and crazy juggling the added holiday parties, dinners, and shows on top of your normal daily schedule. Take some time for yourself with a glass of wine and take out, turn off your phone and watch some o your favorite holiday movies. I make sure to watch Elf and the Holiday at least once every December but in the past few years I have really added to my Christmas movie favorites.

Take a drive to look at Christmas lights

Most cities have “that house.” In Los Angeles Christmas lights were at a new level. With so many people in the film and television industry, they had so many connections to lights and projections that aren’t really on the market. Each Christmas we made it a tradition to stroll Candy Cane Lane in off of Oxnard St in Woodland Hills, CA. Here you can see a group of about four streets that come together and put up elaborate Christmas decorations. You may have to sit through an insane amount of traffic to see the all of the houses, but it is absolutely worth it.

What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?? Post your answers below!