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Something about December brings out the 8-year-old in me. My parents have been divorced since I was in 5th grade, and I have far from the perfect family dynamic– but nevertheless, this season erases all that dysfunctionality and serves a reminder of how truly blessed I am. I’ve got two living parents, plus a bonus parent, plus two big brothers, and as I get older, the more meaningful our time together becomes. It doesn’t matter how cold it is, how busy I am, or what fabulous holiday vacations are planned, Christmastime means family time. Waking up, grabbing a cup of my favorite coffee, and reading and/or blogging by the tree, with my loved ones nearby, is what Christmas means to me.

Literally the first thing I do when I wake up on a cool December morning (and I, as a Floridian, use the term “cool” loosely) is grab my favorite S Anthropologie mug and brew a cup of my favorite coffee. With my pageant history and calorie aversion being what they are, I’ve searched high and low for a great tasting black coffee, and McCafé has always taken the cake. They just came out with all new coffee pods at Walmart, and I love brewing up their caffeinated goodness at my leisure by the fireplace.

McCafé’s coffee pods are brand spankin’ new, and they’re made with 100% Arabica Beans, so you know you’re getting premium quality coffee. You can conveniently find their new French Roast pods, as well as 7 other flavors in both coffee pod and ground form, at Walmart. I attended a demo in my nearest neighborhood Wally World, and they gave me a handful of amazing coffee recipe ideas, like homemade espresso ice cream. Needless to say, my mouth watered a little bit.

If you need more recipe inspiration, check out one of my favorite domestic databases, the Cooking Up Good website, which offers a plethora of recipes, sweepstakes, loyalty programs, coupons, and more– basically anything and everything you need in life.

Remember that song “O Christmas Tree?” Yeah, well, ever since I was little, I’ve been mesmerized by Christmas trees. In Florida, we rarely see trees without palm fronds, so the idea of aromatic and rich green balsam fir? Love. My parents even caught me singing to our tree on multiple occasions, which in retrospect is probably comparable to having an imaginary friend. Whatever, I turned out alright.

My form of December morning meditation consists of a cup of caffeinated McCafé coffee, a delicious-smelling candle (currently obsessed with Bath and Body Works Evergreen 3-Wick Candle), and an intense stare-down with my Christmas tree. Nothing puts joy in my heart and peace in my mind more than quiet alone time with me and my tree. After my mind is clear, it’s my favorite time to open up my laptop and get to work on the blog. It’s when I’m the most relaxed, most honest, and most creative… basically my morning meditation routine is my blog’s secret weapon, if only I could keep my tree and the Christmas spirit alive year-round.

Oh, and I also have a stuffed dolphin with a Santa hat named Snow, who rejoins the family from her pack at Sea World the day after Thanksgiving and helps give me blogging tips. To answer your question, yes, I sleep with a stuffed animal at Christmastime; I told you the season turns me into an 8-year-old.

We have boxes upon boxes of Christmas decorations which have been passed down to me from generations of fellow Christmas lovers, but I’ve had the same favorites since I was little. My favorite ornament has always been a gorgeous porcelain seashell with gold glitter all over it, and my favorite fireplace embellishment has always been our “Santa Stop Here” sign, which I “helped” my mama make when I was in preschool.

Oh, and I know it’s easy to get lost in the coffee aisle, so look here at Walmart to find the McCafé goodness:

Well, I shared a little bit about my Christmas routine and traditions with you. What are yours? How do you inspire yourselves to stay focused during the most wonderful time of year? 3 Days!