I love my job, so I don’t typically experience much Sunday night dread (woo!), but I do like to have nice, relaxing Sundays. Don’t get me wrong, I love a boozy brunch, but I prefer it on Saturday, so I have more time to recover because I’m old.

The Sunday before last, I had a really fun, relaxing day going to the Park Ave. Christmas Tree Lighting (new annual tradition, for sure) and writing out Christmas cards with a friend.

This week though, I picked it up a notch.

I started the day heading out to Brooklyn to meet my coworkers to go ice-skating. You know you really like people when you spend 50+ hours a week with them…and choose to spend more time with them outside of work. In their borough on a Sunday morning

We went to LeFrak Center in Prospect Park, and got there right when it opened at 10. Jordan and Alex both used to skate competitively (NBD) and were doing all kinds of awesome tricks on the ice. Me? I was just trying to keep my balance. But by the end, I wanted to play, too, and asked them to teach me some tricks. I am proud to say I didn’t fall after this one. What you cannot see is that I am gripping Alex’s arms within an inch of their lives. You don’t have any marks on your arm now, do you, Alex? We skated and listened to Christmas music and drank hot chocolate. And it was PERFECT.

I hopped back on the subway and got off at Union Square and slowly made my way home, stopping in the stalls in the holiday fair there before having a near panic attack with how crowded it was, and then meandering up Fifth through Flatiron, crossing some people off my shopping list. Finally.

NEXT! My parents came into town to see the Nutcracker. We’ve been doing this every year since I moved into the city except last year, since my dad was about to have knee surgery and in a lot of pain. I have seen this show so many times now and it never ceases to amaze me. I got us, um, not the best tickets, and we had to crane our necks to see over the balcony. We had a great view of the orchestra, though, which made me appreciate what an amazing job they do. Every single thing about that show is on point, from the music to the dancing to the costumes to the sets.

I am so lucky to have my parents close by and in good health, and I will treasure special moments like this forever and plan to continue on this tradition with kids of my own one day. Tutus required.

What’s a perfect Sunday for you?