In the moment, it can feel intense.  In the moment, it can feel like the end of the world.  In the moment, it can feel like the best thing you could do for yourself.

In the moment.

Whether it’s getting unnecessarily frustrated at a red light or slap-happy laughter at midnight on a Tuesday, those moments are fleeting.  This month has been a montage of intense sweetness and intense stress.  I stuffed my face with chips and dip, Bunny Tracks ice cream and chocolate chip cookies at a Friendsgiving.  I’m positive I permanently raised my blood pressure from all the deadlines and to-do lists this month.

You know what they say, that hindsight is 20/20, and this rings truer every day.  The moments that we think will last forever don’t, and the moments we want to rush are missed eventually.  This is an attempt to document the seemingly minor moments, which have painted my month.  Here’s my top 5:

 1. Travel preparations for my European adventure are underway!

It’s been a hot sec since I’ve been out of the country, but not for much longer. This month I’ve amped up preparations for my trip across Europe, and I’m itching to leave. This month included getting to know fellow travelers and adding helpful items like good walking shoes to my Christmas list. I’ll get to add three new countries to my list: Spain, Belgium and Czechia. On y va !

2. Stress management

Dude, it’s been a month. This semester has been a bear with my heaviest load ever, and I love to make things more difficult for myself than they need to be. Other than taking a deep breath, here are some of my best stress management tips when you’re drowning in to-do lists.

3. Christmas shopping and decorating

If you know me, you know I love giving gifts. I love spending excessive time searching high and low for just the right gift for my loved ones, and I’m happy to report I’m over halfway done with my list! This Christmas season, I found some cutesy trinkets like candles and decor at Marshall’s and fun gifts like a children’s book about fish and a guide to stripping — quilts, that is.

If you need gift ideas for the traveler in your life (or yourself), I got you covered. 

Our house has three Christmas trees in it currently, and I have no regrets. The time has finally come for buying Christmas candles, decorating for Christmas and pulling out the Santa mug.

4. Site makeover (and upcoming birthday)

Those drop caps though! I’m digging the new white space and font. The design is new, but Round Trip sure isn’t. I’ve had this site for four years as of December 1 — wowie! That’s enough time for someone to earn a bachelor’s degree. What is this craziness? But truly, I’ve loved every minute and want to thank you dedicated readers. (Birthday post coming soon!)

5. Guide to Scotland

My friend Grace shared some of her favorites from her trip to Scotland, and her photos have me dreaming of castles and cobblestone streets.