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*CAUTION: SPOILERS*

Over the past few months, I’ve been trying to read more. I used to read a ton when I was younger, but school has become busier and busier. This month, I read Internment.

I mentioned this book in my post about books I want to read, which can be found here. On my flight back to the US a few days ago, I finished it and I tried really hard not to cry on the plane! It’s sad, but definitely worth it.

Internment is about 17-year-old American Layla Amin, who is sent to an internment camp for Muslims with her family. It takes place in an alternate universe in present day, but the author stresses that the issues present in the novel are becoming more and more real. Layla encounters violent guards and an authoritarian director, but manages to shut down the camp. With the help of friends on the inside and her boyfriend on the outside, Layla smuggles out blog posts and draws media, the Red Cross, and protestors to the camp in the middle of the California desert. By the end of the novel, I felt like I knew Layla and her friends to the point where I cried when one of them was shot by the Director.

This book really opened my eyes to the possibilities of America’s future. America is mostly made of immigrants, and closing ourselves off from the rest of the world won’t bring us together, it’ll tear us apart.

I highly recommend Internment. In fact, I’d give it 5/5 stars. I’ve always liked books with a message, and Internment is full of purpose. Although it’s classified as a YA book, I think it’s a crucial read for anyone who wants to make a difference. Resist.

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I hope you enjoyed this post. Unfortunately, I missed a couple of days because I was traveling. I didn’t have the time to write posts in advance. Thanks for reading today! Happy Blogmas!

Hi, everyone! I’ve decided to begin a new mini series in the form of pictures about my many Christmases. Although I have experienced 14 so far, I’m not sure how many episodes there will be because I don’t plan to do all of them.

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Two years ago, my family and I traveled to Italy for Christmas. The plan was to spend Christmas in Venice, finish out the year in Rome, and then stay in Florence for a few days.

Venice

Rome

Florence

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Italy was one of my favorite vacations. I love Europe at Christmastime because it’s festive and chilly. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s episode: Germany!

I got this idea from The Life of Dee and I thought it would be really cute, so I’m going to make a list of Christmas things from A to Z. I won’t be using any resources for this, so it’s kind of like a challenge.

Angel

We used to have one for the top of the tree, but not anymore. 8/10 in loving memory.

Bulbs

The most classic tree decoration. 6/10 for creativity.

Chestnuts

Roasting on an open fire. 10/10 I love that song.

Dessert

I’m really craving some pretzel sticks dipped in white chocolate with peppermint. 9/10 can’t wait to eat gluten-free junk in the US.

Eve

Christmas Eve is the coziest day of the year. Eat some cookies and watch the tree. 10/10.

Father Christmas

In Russian, Father Christmas is Дед Мороз (Ded Moroz). In American, he’s Santa Claus. 10/10 for globalization.

Gingerbread

Perfect straight out of the oven as actual bread or as cookies in the form of a house. 9/10 because it reminds me of Germany.

Holly

This is my Aunt’s name and also the name of a plant. Both are very festive. 13/10, would recommend.

Icicles

I used to throw rocks at icicles until they fell down and then I would eat them. 7/10 cuz they just tasted like water

Jingle Bells

Fun to sing, but really not my favorite Christmas song. 4/10 I’ve sung it in too many concerts.

Knocker

You know, like in A Christmas Carol? When Scrooge sees Marley in the door knocker? 7/10 as an average for all versions of the movie.

Lights

Pappy used to drive me around at night when I was half-asleep to look at all the lights. 15/10.

Mistletoe

Kiss the person under it, not the plant itself. If ingested, mistletoe is poisonous. Pretty ironic, huh? 7/10 cuz I like a good joke.

Noel

Another Christmas plant. And also Aunt Holly’s middle name. Another 13/10 for both.

Orange

“An Orange for Frankie” is Mom’s favorite of our Christmas book collection. I always thought it was pretty sad, but I still like it anyways. 7/10.

Pickle

Mom used to hide a pickle in the tree and my brother and I would try to find it. 10/10 makes no sense and that’s why it’s great.

Quiet

If you’re quiet enough, you can hear Santa’s sleigh on the rooftop (unless you live in an apartment like me. In that case, its probably just the loud guy upstairs.) 2/10 wishing I could fall asleep.

Reindeer

I never understood the Rudolph song because it says:

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen,
you know Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen,
But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

If he’s the most famous… wouldn’t we know him before we know the others? 6/10 for poorly written song lyrics. Sorry, Rudolph.

Sledding

When I lived in the US, I went sledding every year. One year, Dad lost his wedding ring, though, so this one only gets a 6/10.

Tree

This year, I stood on the couch beside our tree and mom pretended to hold me up so I could put the topper on. 9/10, a pleasant experience.

UGGs

I never liked them very much, but now I kinda do. They seem cozy and warm. 5/10

Velvet

A nice material for tree skirts and red dresses. 8/10.

White Christmas

Haven’t had one in way too long. Also a great Christmas movie. 8/10 and wishing for snow.

Xacto Knife

Necessary for present wrapping. 6/10 very satisfying to cut with.

Yule log

I’m pretty sure this is the only word starting with Y for Christmas, and I don’t exactly know what a yule log is, so it gets a solid 5/10 for effort.

Zzzzzz…

Santa won’t come if you’re awake. 10/10 everybody loves sleep.

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Hope you enjoyed hearing a mishmash of holiday memories and thoughts. Have a relaxing day!

I’m trying to get back into reading more, and with the break coming up, I’m hoping to have plenty of time. I have a long list of books and, although none of them are actually Christmas related, I want to read some of them this winter. Synopsis(es?) are from Good Reads.

Internment by Samira Ahmed

I’m reading this one right now, and it’s really good!

“Rebellions are built on hope.

Set in a horrifying near-future United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens.

With the help of newly made friends also trapped within the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside, and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom, leading a revolution against the internment camp’s Director and his guards.

Heart-racing and emotional, Internment challenges readers to fight complicit silence that exists in our society today.“

With the Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo

“With her daughter to care for and her abuela to help support, high school senior Emoni Santiago has to make the tough decisions, and do what must be done. The one place she can let her responsibilities go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness. Still, she knows she doesn’t have enough time for her school’s new culinary arts class, doesn’t have the money for the class’s trip to Spain — and shouldn’t still be dreaming of someday working in a real kitchen. But even with all the rules she has for her life — and all the rules everyone expects her to play by — once Emoni starts cooking, her only real choice is to let her talent break free.”

Heretics Anonymous by Katie Henry

“Michael is an atheist. So as he walks through the doors at St. Clare’s—a strict Catholic school—sporting a plaid tie, things can’t get much worse. His dad has just made the family move again, and Michael needs a friend. When a girl challenges their teacher in class, Michael thinks he might have found one, and a fellow nonbeliever at that. Only this girl, Lucy, is not just Catholic . . . she wants to be a priest.

But Lucy introduces Michael to other St. Clare’s outcasts, and he officially joins Heretics Anonymous, where he can be an atheist, Lucy can be an outspoken feminist, Avi can be Jewish and gay, Max can wear whatever he wants, and Eden can practice paganism. After an incident in theology class, Michael encourages the Heretics to go from secret society to rebels intent on exposing the school’s hypocrisies. When Michael takes one mission too far—putting the other Heretics at risk—he must decide whether to fight for his own freedom, or rely on faith, whatever that means, in God, his friends, or himself.”

How it Feels to Float by Helena Fox

“Biz knows how to float. She has her people, her posse, her mom and the twins. She has Grace. And she has her dad, who tells her about the little kid she was, who loves her so hard, and who shouldn’t be here but is. So Biz doesn’t tell anyone anything. Not about her dark, runaway thoughts, not about kissing Grace or noticing Jasper, the new boy. And she doesn’t tell anyone about her dad. Because her dad died when she was six. And Biz knows how to float, right there on the surface—normal okay regular fine.

But after what happens on the beach—first in the ocean, and then in the sand–the tethers that hold Biz steady come undone. Dad disappears, and with him, all comfort. It might be easier, better, sweeter to float all the way away? Or maybe stay a little longer, find her father, bring him back to her. Or maybe—maybe maybe maybe—there’s a third way Biz just can’t see yet.”

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

“Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.

On the Come Up is Angie Thomas’s homage to hip-hop, the art that sparked her passion for storytelling and continues to inspire her to this day. It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families.”

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I know I didn’t actually write much in this post, but hopefully I gave you some ideas for books to read. Reading is a great hobby to have, especially when you don’t have a lot of supplies. All you need is a book and your imagination!

Read the first half of the Christmas tag here.

21. Have you ever regifted something someone gave you?

I don’t think I’ve ever regifted something on Christmas. I’ve defined given away Christmas gifts (very casually) after Christmas 😬.

22. Do you consider yourself a Grinch?

No, I love Christmas!!!

23. Which holiday song annoys you the most?

There’s no particular song that annoys me, but I really don’t like those kids’ versions of Christmas songs. You know, the ones with the kids singing them and they sound really high pitched and creepy. I can’t stand them!

24. Does your family drink alcohol on Christmas?

Yeah, probably.

25. Have you ever built a gingerbread house before?

Yes, many times! I usually eat them as soon as I make them, though. Don’t wanna waste and gingerbread…😋

26. What was the worst present you’ve ever gotten?

I don’t think I’ve ever gotten anything that bad…

27. Do you do your holiday shopping online or visit the actual store?

I do a mix of both, since I don’t see my whole family at Christmas. For the people I’ll actually see, though, I usually shop in a regular store.

28. Do you like surprises or do you like to pick out what you’re getting?

I like to pick out what I get. I don’t want to waste anybody’s money on something I might not like. Better to be safe than sorry!

29. When you were a kid, did you help your parents decorate the tree?

Of course!

30. What does your family usually eat for Christmas dinner?

We don’t have a particular tradition. One year, we had spicy chicken wings!

31. When was the last time you built I snow man?

Gosh, I don’t know. I think it was probably at least 2 years ago when I lived in Turkmenistan.

32. What’s your favorite holiday movie?

Ahhhh I can’t pick one! Read my post about Christmas movies here.

33. Was Christmas your favorite holiday as a kid?

Yep, always has been, always will be!

34. Would you ever celebrate Christmas somewhere warm, like Hawaii?

Surprisingly, I’ve never spent Christmas somewhere warm before. Last year, I was in the US and the year before, I was in Italy. This year, I’m going to Florida, though, so it’ll be my first warm Christmas. I love snow, so I would prefer a cold climate, but I’m really excited to see family! I’d rather do that than travel somewhere cold.

35. What time do you wake up on Christmas morning?

There’s no exact time, but it’s usually early because I’m pretty much incapable of sleeping in late.

36. Do you like the taste of eggnog?

If I’ve ever tried eggnog, I don’t remember. I don’t like the idea of it very much, but hey, maybe it’s delicious.

37. Which relatives are you most excited to see on Christmas Day?

As I said before, I’m going to see my mom’s family for Christmas this year, so I’m super excited! I’ll get to see my cousins, my grandmother, and my aunt’s an uncles.

38. Do you send holiday cards?

No, I don’t really. I used to when I lived in the US, but we can’t really mail anything from China.

39. Name three cities you’d love to spend Christmas in.

New York City, Berlin, and London. I really like Europe at Christmas, and I also want to see what New York is like just because it’s so big and busy.

40. Have you ever wanted to skip Christmas?

ABSOLUTELY NOT THAT WOULD BE HORRIBLE!!!

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Thanks for listening to my two-part Christmas rant. Have a great day!

It’s getting closer to Christmas now, so I decided I’d answer these 40 questions about Christmas! I’m going to do 20 today and 20 tomorrow, and they’re from @_valyrian on We Heart It. Let’s begin!

1. Who’s your favorite person to buy presents for?

I like buying presents for anyone who actually told me what they want. That way, I know they’ll like it!

2. What kind of food did you leave for Santa when you were little?

I used to leave the classic homemade sugar cookies and milk, but I would also leave carrots for the reindeer.

3. When you don’t like a present are you honest or do you pretend you like it?

I pretend I like it anyway. It’s the thought that counts, and if somebody took the time and money to get me something, I’m grateful!

4. Which ornament has the most significance for you?

All of my ornaments are new, but I have one from Italy a few years ago. I really liked that trip, so it’s probably the most significant.

5. Did you have a real tree or a fake tree when you were little?

I lived in the US when I was really little, so we always had a real tree. Since then, we’ve only ever had fake ones, though.

6. When did you find out the truth about Santa?

I think I always sorta knew, but my mom told me when I was 10 or 11.

7. Do you usually buy your pets presents for Christmas?

Yes, I do! I usually get a new toy for my cat for Christmas. Last year, we got him a robotic mouse that moved on its own. He was kinda scared of it!

8. Have you ever seen the tree in Rockefeller center?

No, I haven’t. The only time I’ve been in New York City was last summer. I would love to, though.

9. Do you prefer giving gifts or getting gifts?

I really prefer giving gifts. I think I’ve said before that I like the atmosphere of everybody opening things on Christmas morning.

10. Do you prefer gingerbread cookies or sugar cookies?

I honestly haven’t had gingerbread cookies in a really long time, but I think I prefer sugar cookies. Both are really fun to decorate though, and I can’t say I don’t like gingerbread, because I do love it.

11. Have you ever gone caroling?

No, but I want to!

12. What’s your favorite holiday song?

Ooh this is a hard one. I like “Silver bells,” “Christmas Time is Here,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “The Christmas Song,” and other slow ones.

13. Do you usually put a star or an angel at the top of your tree?

We always used to put an angel up, but now we don’t have either. We use a silver sign that says “Merry Christmas” with bells hanging off of it.

14. What’s the best gift you ever got from your parents?

The first thing that comes to mind for me is my Nintendo 3DS. I really wanted one and on Christmas morning I thought I had opened everything, but then I found it behind the couch and I was so excited!

15. Do you own an ugly Christmas sweater?

Yes, I do, and it will make an appearance in a future post!

16. Do you open your presents on Christmas or Christmas Eve?

My family opens them on Christmas morning, but my parents give me a new Christmas book on Christmas Eve every year. It’s a tradition my mom’s been doing since my brother was little.

17. Have you ever kissed someone under the mistletoe?

Nope.

18. Do you go to church for midnight mass?

Nope again.

19. Would you prefer it snow on Christmas or stay sunny?

Snowwwwww!!! I miss snow so much living here in warm, sunny Shenzhen.

20. Have you ever had your picture taken with a mall Santa?

I actually don’t know. I’ve had my picture with many Santa’s, but I’m not sure if it’s ever been at a mall.

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Thanks for reading! Make sure to read the rest tomorrow!

The trends are always changing, and it can be hard to keep up. Never fear, for I have done my research and put together a list of the trendiest items of 2019.

VSCO Trends

VSCO is a photo editing and sharing app but it’s more commonly known for its “VSCO girls.” A VSCO girl is often classified by scrunchies, Hydroflask water bottles, Kanken backpacks, long shirts, Birkenstock’s or Crocks, and much more. Here are some gift ideas:

1. Scrunchies

2. Kanken backpack

3. Birkenstock’s Sandals

4. Hydroflask water bottle

5. Croc’s sandals

6. Wildflower phone case

7. InstaX camera/refills

8. Mario Badescu products

9. Checkered Vans

10. Metal straw

Aesthetics

Another popular trend is the “aesthetics.” Basically, an aesthetic is a vibe and style that sort of defines you. Of course, very few people actually fit perfectly into an aesthetic, but aesthetic items are still cool gifts.

1. Paints or brushes

2. Plants

3. Stationary/ art supplies decorated with plants or avocados

4. Converse sneakers

5. Vans sneakers

6. Yellow instaX camera (instaX is lnked above)

7. Vintage/thrifted jeans and tee shirts

8. Hoodies

9. Supreme clothes

10. Nike clothes or shoes

11. Thrasher clothes

12. Makeup, especially highlighter and eye makeup

13. Ripped jeans

14. Fishnets

15. Band tee shirts

16. Leather jacket

17. Black combat boots

18. Anything from Miniso

19. Muji stationary

20. Chi’s Sweet Adventures comics

21. Pastel stationary (office supplies)

22. Clout goggles

23. Vintage jackets

24. Records

25. Spotify premium subscription

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I know this hasn’t been a particularly specific list, but I hope I gave you some ideas anyway. Sorry this post is so late, by the way. I’ll be back on track tomorrow! Merry blogmas!

Hey, y’all! Today, I’m going to answer some this or that questions about Christmas. I don’t have much else to say, so let’s begin!

Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

This is difficult, but I have to say Christmas Day. The only reason is because I’m going to the US this year. I love watching my family open the presents I got them! Plus, Christmas Day is usually when I get to see my family and eat really good food. If I wasn’t going to the US, I’d probably say Christmas Eve because it’s really festive and cozy, especially in Europe.

Real Tree or Fake?

Real tree. But, I have a fake tree because I live in China. Real trees smell so nice and they’re fun to go out and buy and then drag home on top of the car.

Tree Ornaments or Tree Lights?

I prefer tree lights, because you can’t see ornaments very well at night without the ornaments. A tree doesn’t really look very merry without lights on it.

Going Christmas Caroling or Watching A Christmas Movie?

I’ve never actually been caroling, but I would like to, so I’ll say that I want to go caroling. It just seems like a lot of fun to go out with your friends and make people happy.

Indoor Decorations or Outdoor Decorations?

In my own house, I prefer indoor decorations, but on other people’s, I prefer outdoor ones😂😂. I like driving around and seeing them all.

Santa or the Elves?

I love the elves! Somewhere, we have an elf on the shelf, but he hasn’t shown up yet, so he might be trapped in storage.

Eating the Christmas Cookies or Leaving Them Out For Santa?

Eating them, duh!

Putting Presents In Front Of The Tree Days In Advance, or Waiting Until Late Christmas Eve?

I put presents in front of the tree when I wrap them, but I kind of like the idea of putting them out Christmas Eve so that there’s more excitement that night!

A White Christmas or A Green Christmas?

A white Chrismtassss! I love snow (snow, snow, snow, SNOW!) But, I won’t get any this year.

Spending The Holiday With Your Immediate Family or Your Extended Family?

Extended family! I love seeing them when I go home for the holidays.

Eggnog or Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate all the way.

Giving or Receiving?

Giving. Like I said, I like seeing people open my gifts.

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Thanks for reading! By the way, these questions are from https://www.quibblo.com/survey/hmcKx60/Christmas-This-or-That XOXO!

Even though we’re far from the US and China is considered an atheist nation, Christmas is still a major holiday here in Shekou due to the high density of expats. Walmart sells decorations, our school decorates (although we can’t explicitly say that they’re Christmas decorations) and lots of stores have specials this time of year. Here’s my list of current holiday “attractions” in Shekou.

Walmart

Walmart has a section by the main door that varies by season. Now, they’re selling lights, trees, and giant moose(s). Last year, mom and I bought a big, table-top tree and some blue and purple garland that matches our living room. This year, we got even more garland and lights. Outside, they sell chestnuts year round, which are especially delicious during the winter because they’re warm, sweet, and soft.

School

Last week, our student counsel put up candy canes along the stairwell, snowflakes, and two trees on the first floor. To raise money for Habitat for Humanity, some friends and I have been selling hot cocoa this week in the mornings. It’s a nice treat to beat the cold outside. Another friend and I are doing a news report about some of the winter holidays celebrated by students at our school, including Hanukah, Christmas, and New Years. We even filmed part of it in front of one of the trees, a white one decorated with red garland and a bright, silver star.

Winter Concert

At the middle school campus, there’s a winter concert yearly. I didn’t go this year, but I was in it last year. We sang lots of holiday songs, including one called “Winter Without Snow,” which was written by our music teacher for our particular situation.

The Malls

There’s a mall right next to my apartment and they’ve put up a few trees. Starbucks has winter drinks, like the black forest latte and sugar cookies in the shapes of trees and snowmen. Another mall that I went to recently was also decorated, and the chocolate store, I think it was Godiva, has winter-themed truffles.

We may seem far away from the places that traditional celebrate this time of year, but the festivities have carried over nonetheless. While I’m excited to be visiting the US for winter break, I feel very at home here right now, and I’ve heard there are even more festivities to come!

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Thanks for reading, see ya later!!1!!

One of the many reasons I love the Christmas season is the cozy holiday treats that can be enjoyed at Christmas markets or at home with friends and a festive movie. Here are my top holiday treats!

Candied Almonds

A few years ago, while in Germany, my family and I visited a few Christmas market and fell in love with the hundreds of flavors of candied almonds. There were stalls and stalls of them, ranging from cinnamon roll to chili pepper. Although we can’t really get them this year unless we make them somehow (?), they still remain my favorite holiday treat of all time!

Peppermint Pretzels

This one’s really simple and kind of random, but white chocolate and peppermint pretzels are delicious to me, even the cheap store bought ones! There’s something about the salty, crunchy pretzel with the sweet, creamy white chocolate and the mint that I just adore. I’ll probably attempt to make them this year.

Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are fun to decorate and I like mine with lemon icing to balance out the sweetness! I feel like sugar cookies get taken for granted way too much, but I genuinely enjoy eating them. My friends and I are going to make and decorate some next week!

Hot Chocolate

I feel very strongly that there’s a difference between hot cocoa and hot chocolate. Most, if not all, of the mixes that you can buy in store are hot cocoa mix. They’re light, milky, and usually added to water. Hot chocolate, though, is very common in Europe around Christmas time. It’s an amazing delicacy that I had in Italy, when I was there for Christmas. I like cocoa, too, but the thickness of hot chocolate is much more addictive. It’s pretty much just melted chocolate and milk, I think, and I love it!

Ginger Snaps

Christmas spices are the best: cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and more. Ginger snaps are perfectly crisp and sweet, but not too crunchy or too sweet. Simple, elegant, mouth-watering. I’ve tried a few different ginger snap-like cookies here in China, and they’ve been pretty good. One kind was from a village we toured. They were more crumbly and thick than regular ones. The others were oat breakfast biscuits that I ate every day for about a week. Then, we went back to buy more and they didn’t have them.

Peanut Brittle

I forget how much I like this stuff. As you may have noticed, crunchy foods are my favorite! Peanut brittle is sweet and occupies me for a while, so I like it. In Turkmenistan, we used to buy it from the “nut guy” at the bazaar we shopped at. It came in a big rectangle and we had to break it apart. I haven’t had it too much since we moved, but I’m pretty sure it’s a Christmas thing.

Buckeyes

My meemaw used to make these, and I’ve never had them any other way. I’d like to make some this year. I’ve never really heard of them that much, so I don’t think they’re super popular, but I’m not sure why. They’re so good! It’s just peanut butter balls covered in chocolate but there’s vanilla and butter in the peanut butter. That must be what makes them so delightful!

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Thanks for reading! Maybe I gave you some dessert inspiration for this Christmas. Let me know what your favorite treat is this time of year. See you tomorrow!