It's 9:30pm and I'm laying on my bed with off-white Christmas lights surrounding me. Hot peppermint tea steams in my new Anthropologie mug and my "Sweater Weather" candle burns on my desk. It's beginning to feel like Christmas.

Now that I'm in the Christmas spirit, I decided to count down how many days there are until Christmas...27 days!!!! Since there are 27 more days left until Christmas (starting November 28th), here are some of the reasons why I'm excited for Christmas.

1. Christmas music. If you lose your voice to singing, rather belting Christmas music, it's something to feel proud of. I mean, how could you not belt out Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You"?

2. Christmas lights. Driving home from college is a little boring without the Christmas lights. Plus, driving around town seeing which house is the most lit up is also something to enjoy.

3. Getting a Christmas tree. Whether you go pick one out, then cut it down or find a tree in a YMCA sponsored lot, finding "the tree" definitely makes for interesting dinner conversations down the road. At least it does for my family.

4. Speaking of Christmas trees, decorating the Christmas tree is one of my favorite things. The lights that have to be strung evenly, the ornaments that have to go in the same position every year and the stories behind each one will never get old...or maybe it will.

5. Hot Chocolate, with marshmallows and peppermint sticks. A classic and is only truly enjoyed around the holidays.

6. Christmas cookie making...or eating. Whichever you prefer. The numerous batches, kinds, and designs of cookies seem to be endless and I wouldn't want it any other way.

7. Putting out the other Christmas decorations. In our basement at home, we have a "village". Porcelain little houses that make up a small community. There are fake trees with snow, a brick road that we lay down and snowflakes that we sprinkle around the town. The perfect North Pole town seems to come to life as soon as the lights are turned on.

8. Of course everyone's favorite (or not so much) part of Christmas...shopping. The deals, coupons, the ad's in the paper and empty wallet make for an interesting and difficult shopping season.

9. Wrapping presents. Yes, I like to wrap presents, and arranging them under the tree is very satisfying. Even sneaking a peek to see what all presents are yours is exhilarating.

10. ABC family's Christmas countdown. Elf, Home Alone, The Polar Express, A Christmas Story, I could go on and on. The 25 days of Christmas starts in two days, people!!!

11. Waking up in the morning to go turn on the Christmas tree. Since my family gets a real one each year, we have to turn off the lights before we go to bed so we don't start a fire. Whoever is the first person up in the morning gets the privilege to turn the lights on. Surprisingly, I've been the first person up over Christmas break, so I get to enjoy the multi-colored lights that share the Christmas spirit in the morning.

12. Eating the cookies and the Christmas food. I don't know how else to say this, it's very explanatory.

13. Walking my dog through the snow. He's a black lab, German shepherd mix who acts like he is seeing winter for the first time every year...he's 13. He leaps and bounds through the snow only to stick his nose in as far as he can, moving it like he's Sherlock Holmes, coming up empty handed.

14. Sweaters. Christmas sweaters, thick wooly sweaters, comfy sweaters in general, ya it's the most wonderful time of the year.

15. Movie season. The snow falling outside, the fire going next to you, the Christmas tree lit up behind you, a warm, flannel blanket strewn across your lap, and hot chocolate in your hand with a movie playing before you. Tempting, isn't it?

16. Snowmen. I live in a neighborhood that has many young children running around in their big puffy snow outfits. Hats covering their eyes, jackets and snow pants that make them look like astronauts and boots that clunk when they hit the cement, they all rush as soon as it is good snow to make the biggest, tallest, most sideways snowman that they can. Moms come out with unwanted buttons, carrots and old scarves to make the snowmen come to life. Each creation throughout our block is unique and surely brings a smile to everyone's face.

17. Sledding and skating. I live right next to a skating rink and a really good sledding hill. When I was younger, my parents and I would make our way over to the rink, put on our skates and pretend that I was in the Olympics until our feet and hands became numb. We would also take our Toboggan over to the hill, I would steer (not always the best decision) and we would fly down the hill..mostly alive.

18. The Christmas Eve church service. Singing Silent Night is always a killer, passing of the candle is sure to bring a tear to everyone's eye and it's the best darn service all year.

19. Opening Christmas presents. The excitement of shaking, listening and guessing days prior to actually opening adds to the feeling of suspense when you finally figure out what's inside.

20. Waking up Christmas morning. Walking out into the cold living room with a blanket wrapped around your shoulders, looking at what Santa brought you from the night before, what a feeling.

21. Eating Christmas Day meals with your family. It's like Thanksgiving all over again except there's snow outside and more presents that you get to open!

22. Christmas in Christ Chapel. If you haven't been to it, go to it (December 2-4!!). If you haven't heard it, watch it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4VxZz6mQS0) or do all of the above. I guarantee you will love it.

23. Recapping the year. It's always fun to think about and go over what happened that year. Embarrassing stories, pictures, exciting trips, new memories etc.

24. Preparation for New Years. It's never too early to start!

I guess looking at all of these reasons why I am excited for Christmas, it all boils down to one thing that I have realized that I am thankful for. Tradition. My family has kept most of the same tradition since I was a little girl and for that, I'm thankful because this holiday season, our traditions seem to make it a little brighter.