It’s not beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.

Is it the warm weather? Is it the lack of a big fat tree in the house?

This is our tree. A true compromise between husband (no tree) and wife (big fat tree).

If you’re wondering, those makeshift ornaments are in fact a few of the 7 gajillion flowers we made out of coffee filters for the wedding. As my mom said, “A Girl Scout is resourceful.” We haven’t been Girl Scouts since the late 90s, but it’s cool.

In yoga the other night, the instructor offered some peppermint oil during savasana. For non-yogis, savasana is the final resting pose (literally means “dead man”) where you just lay on your back and meditate. Some instructors will incorporate aromatherapy into it, and the peppermint oil was a nice ode to the season.

Until she put it on my neck and it felt like I was on fire. I was lying there imagining giant red boils springing up all over my neck and everyone gasping in horror when the lights came back on post “namaste.”

You guys, I’m so good at meditating.

It felt like my neck was covered in Icy Hot. I’ve never actually used Icy Hot, but I have an active imagination. Or maybe it was like that time I made sriracha with bare hands.

Crisis averted, there were no visible boils. And it did smell lovely, so she accomplished her mission.

When I got home from said yoga class, I wanted a Christmas-y dessert. So here it is!

Affogato is traditionally espresso poured over ice cream or gelato. But I can’t drink espresso this late at night. By late, I mean 7PM.

Dark Chocolate Chai Affogato

(makes one serving)

1 cup milk of your choice (I used unsweetened almond milk)

1 Chai tea bag

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

1 tbsp cocoa powder

1/8 tsp salt

1 scoop vanilla ice cream

Pour milk into a saucepan over low heat, swirling (?) the tea bag around in it. Add chocolate, cocoa powder, and salt. Whisk until melted and simmering.

Pour into a mug, and add a big scoop of ice cream! You can also use frozen Cool Whip- which is a great trick I learned when we used to pretend to be on Weight Watchers in college. Sunday through Wednesday only, obviously.

This is SO MUCH BETTER THAN SWISS MISS. Ice cream > marshmallows.

Heading to Syracuse today, probably my last post before Santa visits. Happy Holidays everyone and thanks for reading!