If you’ve read this blog more than a hot second, you know that I have basically as much Christmas spirit as Buddy the Elf, my spirit animal. This is my favorite time of year, and I hate how quickly it passes. It can also be a trying time to remind you of what you don’t have in your life when everyone else seems to be so happy and celebratory.

Lately I’ve felt that I’ve spent a lot of time desperately seeking the highs to avoid the lows and missing out on the in between in the process, but today my friend Karen knew just what my soul needed.

I woke up and went for a run passing Bryant Park and the tree and market and then coming back to get ready to meet Karen for breakfast at EJ’s. She’d proposed breakfast there and then going to her place to write out our Christmas cards together. I got my cards from this great Etsy shop last year and never got around to sending them. Karen and I had a lovely afternoon writing out our cards and listening to Christmas music…

Before I headed up to the Park Ave Christmas Tree Lighting. In its 70th year, the tradition began as a way to honor those who’d lost their lives in World War II. 104 trees are lit between 54th and 97th Streets and people gather to sing carols in front of the Brick Presbyterian Church.

I think my heart swelled to a million times its size and if Buddy and Santa and their Clausometer had been there, the sleigh definitely would have had enough power to fly.

I had to leave early, and the crowd burst into Jingle Bells as I was walking back to the subway, just grinning ear-to-ear. I love you, NY.

How do you get in the spirit for the holidays?

I am undoubtedly a thrill-seeker, an adrenaline and endorphin junkie. This is why I live in the most high-energy city in the U.S., where the possibilities are endless.

But lately, I’ve found joy in the simple. In the weekends with a few or even no plans at all, that truly recharge my batteries, and that’s what this weekend was all about. No big events or races or jam-packed calendars.

A nice little run through the park with my Junior League ladies…

Followed by brunch at the Boathouse.

It’s funny, as I trotted over to meet the girls in front of the Boathouse, I thought about how just a few years ago, I was terrified to show up to run club. I didn’t know a ton of people in the League, I didn’t run very fast, but I showed up and now some of these women are my closest friends, and I feel completely at home walking up to meet the running group.

I walked back to Columbus Circle to get on the subway…and saw one of my favorite views in the city. These stars and this view never cease to take my breath away and make me so happy to live in this crazy city. I wandered around aimlessly for a bit, browsing through C. Wonder (which apparently is closing many of its retail stores) and then stopping to look at Wolford tights. I’ve heard they’re amazing, but I was not ready to drop that kind of dough on tights.

I got a much-needed mani/pedi and decided to go for this luscious color. I stopped by Lacey’s for a glass of vino and we headed out for two birthday parties—a 30 year old’s and a 25 year old’s. Stop #1 was for Daria’s birthday at The Wren, where they had SUPER cute cocktails, including a “Wren-Quila” delicious tequila drink.

From there, we went to Kat’s birthday at Whiskey Town. She’s one of the Uplift instructors, and the irony of having several drinks with fitness instructor buddies is never lost on me.

I slept in this morning until the sun coming through my windows woke me up, and I lazed around until brunch at noon. An old friend from DC had emailed me a few weeks ago that she, too, lived in NYC now and wanted to see if I wanted to get together. I headed out to Brooklyn to meet her at Prime Meats, a cute farm-to-table restaurant in Carroll Gardens. As we talked about D.C., I realized for the millionth time that moving up here nearly 7 years ago was the best decision I ever could have made.

The weather was FREAKING gorgeous today, so I got off the subway several stops early and just meandered my way home, stopping to sit in Madison Square Park to finish Andie’s book. I need a little more time to think about it and digest my feelings about it, but DAMN. Her writing is beautiful, and she’s incredibly open and vulnerable about her issues with food. It was the kind of book I never wanted to end. As I sat there in the park reading, I ran into Melissa and her sweet little pup. I love Bailey to death, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a little bit of puppy envy any time a sweet little muffin bounds over to me and gives me lots of kisses and smothers me with energy.

I’m prepping some Brussels for our Friendsgiving at work tomorrow, and I’m really happy to go into this (short!) work week nice and calm. Self care is not overrated, it turns out!

How do you recharge on the weekends?