Chai Gingerbread Smoothie

November 17, 2016 by Georgie @ The Long Run

This Chai Gingerbread Smoothie is like drinking Christmas for breakfast.

A week from tomorrow is Thanksgiving and then *boom* it’s full-on, full-force, full-steam ahead holiday errythang.

I’m far from the first person to wonder “why does this season have to feel so crazy?” But, seriously, why? Is it because we’re bombarded with more commercialism in every aspect of the season or that we’re seeing so much of what everyone else is doing on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat?

This year I’m asking myself, and hoping you’ll ask yourself the same:

How do I feel like I’m doing enough this holiday?

No FOMO, no disappointment, no comparison, just good ‘ol love and joy.

Not to get too didactic here, but I think the only way we can survive this whole shebang with the joy in our hearts that this season is meant to bring, is to figure out what is important before it all begins.

Right now, take a break from whatever you are doing and jot down the 3-5 things that are MOST important about this time of year to you. What are the non-negotiables. What are those 3 to 5 things that really really make you grin ear to ear.

For me, I love making cards. I love sitting down and thinking about all the people in my life I couldn’t live without and making them something each unique and special. If everything else went to shit this Christmas I’d be ok, as long as I could deliver my special cards.

I have recently realized that gift giving might be one of my love languages (no idea what I’m talking about, check out this quiz.) The idea of distilling someone’s passions and personality traits into something special and meaningful that they can cherish really lights me up. And receiving a thoughtful gift, handmade or otherwise, really does fill me with joy too. I was always kind of embarrassed that gifting meant so much to me, but I’ve realized it’s not the material aspect that I like. In fact, my favorite gifts are experiences like travel or concerts. It’s the idea that someone would go out of their way to make me feel special, that really gets me.

With all of that said, this year I am going to prioritize my card making and gift giving. To me it’s worth every second and every penny. The last couple years I neglected this aspect of the holidays (in fact, I kind of neglected all of it.) And as a result I felt a little hollow because of it.

Now that my priorities are intact I know that I’ll have a great season no matter what.

So whether it’s baking cookies, going caroling, having that special holiday drink, expert gift wrapping, volunteering, or whatever get’s you going, make that list, check it twice and enjoy the crap out of this holiday season because you deserve it!

Looking for a holiday drank to put you in the mood? Try this epic chai gingerbread smoothie. I reshoot and tweaked the recipe from when I originally posted it 2 years ago.

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