Aside from a gift for the grandparents and the homemade goodies I plan on giving away, I am completely done with my Christmas shopping. Actually, I've been done since Saturday... and it is fantastic. I feel like I am so much more able to enjoy all the activities of the holiday season now that I have that out of the way.

Friday night, Adam and I are going with out friends to ZooLights. (Thanks to Jodifur for the tip!) I'm going to skip out of work a little early to meet them and then we're going out to dinner in the neighborhood afterward.

Saturday, I will be hosting a cookie exchange. There are going to be about twice as many people as came to the one I had last year, so hopefully it will be pretty fun. Most of the girls who are coming are in my book club, so they've already met each other at least. I can't wait to try all the different kinds of cookies they bring! I've been planning the menu for the past week. It's hard to balance having enough variety of foods without ending up with way too much food. I've decided on a cheese plate, a couple of dips (spinach and hummus) and mini versions of my favorite chickpea patties. I wanted food that will balance out all the sweets... even though the party isn't about eating cookies, of course there will be sampling.

Sunday, if I'm not stuck at work, I'll be going to a friend's house for a brunch/lunch and Christmas movie marathon. Then another night next week, I will probably be going to a dinner party at a friend's place. Next Friday is my work party, and next Saturday is another friend's Christmas party. And I'd love to find a night to go out and walk around the neighborhood with some hot chocolate and look at all the lights.

And once I'm back in town after spending Christmas weekend up in New York, I will have TWO New Year's Eve parties to attend!

** Don't forget to enter the Gift Card Giveaway from Snapgifts.com!!! Only two more days to enter! **