It's finally that time.

Us college kids are finally heading home for winter break. The day we (I) thought would literally never come.

After a long, cold, tough semester, we did it. And I can't wait for Christmas, my favorite holiday.

As I'm getting older, I'm finding it more and more difficult to create my Christmas lists. As a little girl, my lists were filled with new Barbies, playhouses, Nintendo DS games, and Bratz Dolls. Now I get excited over a pair of socks (not kidding).

So this year, I found myself especially struggling to find things to put on my list. But as I was brainstorming some things I've been wanting, I realized the real reasons I couldn't wait to come home for Christmas.

1. My mom's cooking.

I can't even imagine every complaning again about a single thing she makes.

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My mom is literally the best cook ever. Every Sunday she makes a huge breakfast filled with breakfast potatoes, eggs, beans (she has a secret recipe), fruit, and toast. It never fails to get me out of bed on a Sunday morning.

2. Not eating dinner alone.

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Going off of my previous point, I am just now realizing I usually eat my meals alone. Which is pretty sad. It isn't until you lose something that you realize the importance of it. And I definitely can't wait to spend every meal with my favorite people.

3. The ability to drive everywhere.

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The simplest things become burdens once the temperature drops below 50 degrees (well, at least for me). If it wasn't for the fact that I'm very disciplined, I would never step foot in the gym during the winter time. At home, I simply just warm up my car, drive to the gym, and run inside.

4. Cable access.

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I don't know about a lot of other college students, but I don't have cable in my apartment. And while I really can live without it, I definitely can't wait to watch TrueForm's 25 Days of Christmas with my mom every night.

5. Being around the ones I love.

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The best part of being home is the feeling that nothing has changed. Despite the four and a half months I've left Jersey, each time I go back it feels like home. And that's because it is. Home is where the heart is; and it's also where my family and best friends are. That's the very best part about the holidays.