Xmas MOOD / COZY up with Tea and a Flower!
The Xmas Mood has arrived in full force. From Xmas songs to Xmas Vibes! What to do throughout Xmas, in case you want to incorporate a delicious Christmas drink, songs, home scents, and a to-do list to get cozy! Let’s get in the Christmas Spirit! Feliz Navidad my Cocoon Friends!
Who else is in a Christmas Mood?!
I am definitely ready and getting in the mood now.
Did you begin your Xmas decor?
It took me a little bit, but I have gotten inspired.
HOW DO I GET INTO THE CHRISTMAS MOOD?
I remember our Christmas in Puerto Rico in 2019.
We celebrated our engagement and had an amazing get-together with family and friends at a hotel rooftop.
Nothing gets me on the Xmas mood more than good music, great dancing, happy people, more dancing, and such amazing food.
We hoped to get married, but we decided to wait since Frank’s family could not make it.
Celebrate when you are able to, that is my big lesson.
Thankfully, We are so happy we went all out and spent a month on the island on a pre-honeymoon.
It was beyond incredible! Because I rarely would take vacations and I had so many days saved that I went all out.
Check out my post on tablesetting ‘HOW TO CREATE A STUNNING TABLESCAPE – AS A DESIGNER’.
The Final Wedding!
After the engagement party in 2020, we waited and waited.
Then, we got tired of waiting.
Finally, we decided to do a last-minute wedding.
After 3 days of planning, we got married at a park with my Mom, Brother, and a dear couple that are amazing friends. December 31st, we went for it!
The best part is that my brother and Mother wanted to surprise us with a cake and got one at the supermarket and I had to decorate it. To sum it up, they got a cake and decorations that I had to take care of the night before. LOL!
I spent the night decorating the cake and the table. I had to incorporate my favorite, air plants!
Check out my air plant table display on this post ‘CREATIVE AIR PLANT DISPLAY IDEA DIY.‘
For our dinner celebration we sat around the kitchen island and ate crab legs and corn on the cob. The best?
Taking my Amazon wedding outfit off and put on my sweat pants to enjoy our wedding dinner. Perfection!
WHAT IS THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?
Tradition Brings Great Memories through Songs.
If I had a choice for a holiday that took place year round, the Puerto Rican Xmas would be it. What are the main reasons you ask? We celebrate non stop for 2 months, get gifts twice, food is delicious, music/singing and one get together after another, without too much planning. You just show up!
A few of the Puerto Rican Xmas Song Facts:
- NEW YEARLY SONG: Every year a new Xmas song makes a debut, thought old ones are still a hot ticket.
- SPECIAL SONG: We have a special song called ‘bomba’. One person starts the singing making up the words as they go, then stops with a particular word and the next person takes it up by improvising a song lyric with the same word. Whoever can’t improvise, the crowd will start singing and dancing ‘no sabe na’, which means ‘ doesn’t know anything. The rhythm is contagious.
- SPANGLISH SONG: We have a Spanglish song that is about The Night Before Xmas. It goes like this:
‘Tis the nite before Xmas, when all through the casa (house), not a creature was stirring. Caramba que pasa? (what is happening?). The stockings were hung con mucho cuidado (very carefully). In hope that San Nicolas no se haya olvidado (has not forgotten).
For a Cozy Quiet Day at Home for Christmas Vlog on You Tube below.
WHAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?
Getting on the Christmas mood in Puerto Rico is full of traditions.
These are some fun examples of the Christmas spirit:
- ‘Asaltos’! The day after Thanksgiving, everyone prepares their fridge through Christmas with food and drinks. We are all well aware that the Xmas spirit may visit your home on an unknown day in the middle of the night. This tradition starts with a couple of people, a guitar, and singing. The group moves to the next house and wakes them up singing and the ones in that new house join them. At the end of doing this on 20 homes, if you are last, get ready for a large crowd waking you up by singing in the morning. You may find 50 people that are hungry for breakfast, but happy celebrating! And don’t try to hide, they won’t go away. Food is the best part!
- January 5th, the children go out and collect some grass and water for the camels. Items are placed under the bed along with a cookie for Santa. A gift is left as a thank you from the 3 Kings! Comes the morning, the grass and water are gone, and the kids enjoy celebrating the day.
ENJOY A TRADITION! A Christmas Gift for You.
I have to share with you what we call our Puerto Rican eggnog!
You can create your own tradition.
However, the coquito can be strong, so sip from a small glass slowly while listening to good Xmas music and slowly enjoy it.
The day after Thanksgiving the bottles come out and they are given to everyone in the family. No Puerto Rican refrigerator does without.
You are welcome! SALUD and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
COQUITO
Equipment
- blender
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 1 Bottle with lid
- 1 1/2 cup Dark Puerto Rican Rum To flavor rum
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 1 can Coco lopez
- 1 can Evaporated milk
- 1 TBS Cinnamon
- 1 Egg Yolk
- Fresh nutmeg
Instructions
- Add Rum and cinammon stick – let it sit overnight.
- Remove the cinammon stick after a day from the rum
- Add in a blender; coco lopez, evaporated milk, egg yolk, cinammon powder
- Blend together all together
- Place bottle in the refrigerator
- Mixture must be kept refrigerated since it has eggs.
- Serve in a shot glass and ENJOY!
Notes
- Do not replace Coco Lopez! No other will provide the right coconut flavor.
- Shake really well prior to using
- Keep the mixture refrigerated for no more than a month.
- We serve it in a shot glass, but if it not very strong, then, you can serve a nice glass
- Add a little nutmeg to garnish. Very little, it is a very strong flavor.
- ENJOY!
SHOP BELOW!
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SHOP INGREDIENTS FOR THE DELICIOUS COQUITO!
This is a delicious holiday drink we have every Xmas season.
HOLIDAY MOOD IS ALIVE AT HOME!
I am finally so excited for the Xmas vibes!
Coquito, Christmas decorations, good food, and family and friends to celebrate with.
Listen, no, I am not excited about the rain and darkness, but that is what a good fire and candles are for.
I already made some hot apple cider.
Here are 11 Steps to Get into the Xmas Mood
- Decorate with Lights: in an innovative way. Add a remote-operated strip light to have flexibility.
- Festive Foliage: Use a Christmas wreath and an Architectural element. Simple in shape and different textures.
- Create a Cozy Nook: Use throws to create a super comfortable area for yourself to listen to Xmas Music and watch Xmas Movies.
- Aromatherapy: Find the right candle to add a fragrance that relaxes you. You can also boil applecider with cinnamon and oranges for that Xmas feel!
- Music: Explore other countries Xmas music to introduce a sense of discovery.
- Grow Edible indoors: Plant some winter herbs; thyme, sage, and other herbs that you will use for your Holiday dinners.
- Bird Feeders: Include your wildlife in the adventure! Add winter feeding for your feather friends.
- Meditation: Take time to take care of yourself and meditate to escape the stress of the holidays.
- Host a Garden Gathering: I have provided you with a delicious Xmas Drink to bring the Christmas Vibe to your Holiday Season. Try something new!
- Stay in the Moment: Don’t try to be like everyone else, do you! You are unique and wonderful my sweet friend.
- Nature: Consider a Modern nature theme this year. Nothing better for a cozy feel!
LET’S TALK CHRISTMAS MOODBOARD AESTHETIC
Do you have a Christmas theme yet?
A friend of mine was looking for those little mushroom decor pieces made out of wood to decorate her home. It made me remember last year when I used mushrooms for my Xmas mood to recall my love of nature.
I could not help myself and started searching for mushroom decor for her and here it is!
So many beautiful ones!
SHOP BELOW!
Links in this article are affiliate links and if you click on them, we will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you! Clicking and purchasing help to support this blog and all of the home and garden posts we bring to you! Click here for full disclosure
SHOP A MORE NATURE-INSPIRED CHRISTMAS LOOK!
Are You Looking for a Nature Look? Try adding mushrooms to get a raw nature feel in your Christmas Decor.
SHOP A MORE COZY AND PLUSH CHRISTMAS LOOK!
Do you want a more cozy or plush feel to get into the Christmas lay-back feel? Look at textures and colors that elevate the look of your Christmas Decor this year.
Check out my previous post. It has some more Xmas mood boards for inspiration.
CHRISTMAS VIBES
I am so grateful for so many things starting with my family and good health.
Three years I began on the journey of blogging. Social media is a new world that was scary for me, but in the middle of it all, I got to meet the most amazing people through the Instagram community and inspiring individuals at Thistlewood , which has kept me learning each day something new.
So many things that I could have been scared about the past few years, but I chose to go for it and have no regrets.
The creativity continues to flood my heart. Each day I can’t wait to jump from my bed and pour my heart out and share it.
What are some of your traditions?
Do you have big plans for Christmas?
On December 31st, we will Celebrate our 3rd Wedding Anniversary. What a big blessing!
WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Your Cocoon Awaits You,
Stay Creative!
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Your engagement sounds amazing! How wonderful to have such beautiful memories with family and friends. As for your special cocktail, I am definitely trying this, it sounds fabulous. I hope that you enjoy this beautiful Christmas season.
Elizabeth, I am so happy you are going to try the cocktail! I hope you enjoy it! You and your family have a Merry Christmas my sweet friend!
Loved this blog. So interesting to learn the different traditions. Will sure try to make the coquito, but will try the coquito with rum.
Have a Merry Christmas!!!!
Feliz Navidad!!!
I so much enjoyed reading about your Christmas traditions.
Thank you so much Paula! I hope you and your family have an amazing Holiday Season!
Great post! And such a tiny tiny mug :))
Thanks Carrie! You know you can have more than one. LOL! Merry Christmas!
I am definitely going to have to try your Coquito recipe, Melba. It looks so yummy. Your Christmas in Puerto Rico sounds like it was absolutely amazing. And that rooftop!
Thank you Kim! You will need to let me know how you liked the Coquito! I can’t wait for you to try it! That day was one I will never forget, so very special.
What fun Christmas traditions! Your engagement party was gorgeous, and your wedding decor as well! The drink looks absolutely delicious!
Thank you Danielle! It was so fun to get all the flower ideas together, the place made it so easy, it was breathtaking. Merry Christmas! Try the coquito, it is so delicious!