This year I'm celebrating Christmas my way! ๐

Hi, everybody! I hope you had an awesome weekend. This is truly the most wonderful time of the year and Iโve been looking forward to it all semester long.
Christmas is my favorite season for many reasons: the decorations, lights, music, holiday spirit, festive activities, family time, movies, and because itโs the only time of the year where you can be unapologetically extra. Haha!
For the longest time Iโve wanted to celebrate Christmas my way, but, since the school semester usually ends pretty late in December, that kind of sucks the life out of me. I donโt know about you, but, after Thanksgiving, Iโm in between oral presentations, essays, group works, projects, and work, while preparing for finals. When I finally get a break, surprise! Itโs Christmas eve and I didnโt enjoy the holiday season.
Well, I made a commitment to myself to have the best Christmas Iโve ever had and end this year on a high note. So, today, Iโm so enthusiastic to share with you my ultimate Christmas bucket list. (A little secret, Iโve been planning and preparing for Christmas since September! #UnapologeticallyExtra ๐)
Remember to subscribe to be notified every Monday when a new blog post is up and to follow me on Instagram to witness my Christmas festivities or to get ideas of what you can do in yours. Iโll be posting everything I cross off my list, which you can find at the end of the post and save. Now, letโs get into the bucket list. ๐คฉ
1. Put up the Christmas Tree

I know this might seem obvious, but last Christmas, my family and I went through a Grinch phase and we didnโt put it up. Well, I can proudly check that one off my list. ๐ฅณ
2. DIY Advent Calendar
An advent calendar is a special calendar used to count down the 25 days of Christmas. I wanted to be creative with mine, so I mixed it with a secret Santa. (Again, be sure to follow me on Instagram to know more about how I did it.
3. Make DIY ornaments
I wanted to get back to my crafty self and I chose this Christmas to start. Youโll notice there are a few crafty activities in this list that can be used as holiday decor. ๐คญ
4. Family Game Night
This is a fun way to spend quality time with oneโs family, which is something I wanted to be mindful about. Choose games you all enjoy and can all be a part of.
5. Make a Homemade Candle
The idea is to make it Christmas-like, but you can choose the colors, scents, and jars that you like. I bought my candle-making kit on Amazon. (Honestly, Amazon has become my go-to for everything during the pandemic.)
6. Drink Hot Chocolate
This is very self-explanatory. Have fun with it, though. ๐
7. Make a Donation

This holiday season is a reminder to give back. Take a moment to count your blessings and see how you can be a blessing to others.
8. Build a Gingerbread House
Iโve always wanted to build a gingerbread house and never have. That changes this year. You can either make it from scratch or buy a pre-made kit.
9. DIY Snow Globe
Snow globes are so beautiful and itโs a fun little way to be crafty and creative.
10. Meet Santa / Write him a letter
Meeting Santa is not as easy as it used to be due to the pandemic. Now, you have to make reservations, which most are already filled. If you can meet him and have a picture taken with him, thatโs great. If not, you can simply write him a letter. ๐
11. DIY โuglyโ Sweater or T-Shirt
Honestly, Iโve never understood why theyโre called โugly sweatersโ. I think they are so fun. Iโm making a t-shirt because Puerto Ricoโs weather is quite toasty all year long. ๐ฅต
12. Christmas Lights Tour
This is exciting because I love seeing how creative people get when decorating their houses. Iโll be sharing the places I go to on Instagram and Facebook.
13. Bake Christmas Cookies
Those who know me know that Iโm not a fan of cooking or anything related. However, I do want to learn and Iโm starting with baking fun goodies. Haha! I think itโs a terrific place to start. Besides, Iโm mostly looking forward to the creative process.
14. Write Letters
Another way to give back during this season is by writing letters to people you donโt know, like veterans, children at hospitals, sexually abused survivors, etc. Hereโs an article where you can find options to send letters electronically or in paper. Here is another one. โ๏ธ
15. Wear Christmas Socks or Outfit in Public
Whatโs my hashtag for this holiday? #UnapologeticallyExtra! Wear whatever makes you happy. Own it and have fun with it!
16. Christmas Movie Marathon

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays, and all year round, is watch movies. I made a 25 Days of Christmas Movie Watchlist of some of my favorite films, plus some Iโve never seen before. You can download my list here or you can screenshot it on Instagram and Facebook.
17. Christmas Cards
There is nothing more thoughtful than giving your loved ones a handmade-personalized card. Many misinterpret this act as being cheap, but itโs the complete opposite. Think of the fact that someone is actually taking their precious time to make something exclusively and specifically for you. Thatโs irreplaceable.
18. Read a book
One of the New Yearโs Resolutions I make every year is to read a book. Most of the time I start and never finish because I read so much in school that I donโt have the energy or the desire to read more. However, I definitely want to create the habit. I used to read cheesy romance books before college, and this season Iโm reading one of those. Lol! ๐
19. Volunteer / Community Service
Again, this is another way to give back to your community. You can feed the homeless, help rebuild someoneโs house, read to children, clean beaches, work at a shelter, or entertain the elderly, etc. as a way to bring love and joy to others.
20. Make Coquito
Christmas in Puerto Rico calls for coquito. My hope is, not only to drink it, but make it. Wish me luck!
21. Complete a 500-1,000 piece puzzle
This is another activity you can do with your family. I bought a 500 piece puzzle, but if youโre up for the challenge, go ahead and find one that has 1,000 pieces. ๐คช
22. Christmas Scavenger Hunt

This is a fun activity you can do by yourself, with family or with friends. You can also turn this into a friendly competition between teams. The first team to find all of the items in the list, and document it with a photo, wins a prize. ๐
23. Christmas Family Photo
Whether in red or white clothes, with Santa Clause or a Santa hat, in matching pajamas, or glammed up on Christmas Eve, a Christmas family photo is a must during Christmas.
24. Read Luke 2
Letโs not forget the reason for the season. Luke 2 tells the story of Jesusโ birth and which better day to read it than the night He was born.
Adjust this to your particular beliefs or switch it for some other activity.
25. Sleep by the Christmas Tree
More like wake up by the Christmas tree. Sleep next to it on Christmas eve and wake up to a wonderful Christmas day. Have a wonderful and merry one, friends!

I hope you enjoyed my bucket list. If you use it, tag me @findingourbeat so we can do it together and see how many we can cross out.
Have fun, spend time with your loved ones, and end this year in wonderfully. Iโll meet you here next Monday with a Spanish blog post on Puerto Rican Christmas Traditions. A warm virtual hug for all of you! ๐ค
"It was a long time ago, longer now than it seems, in a place that perhaps you've seen in your dreams. For the story that you are about to be told, took place in the holiday worlds of old. Now, you've probably wondered where holidays come from. If you haven't, I'd say it's time you begun." ๐ถ
Me gusta tu lista de pelรญculas, pero hay una evidente omisiรณn. ๐๐๐
Tambiรฉn, aรฑadirรญa una que se llama Jack Frost, con Michael Keaton. De niรฑo me gustaba verla.
Canโt wait to do my Christmas Movie Marathon ๐
You got it! ๐
This is awesome. Its clearly you are going to be extra