I remember being a kid and thinking about how sad Christmas must be for adults. Not only did Santa not bring them anything, but they just received the worst kinds of gifts from family and friends. When I was younger, my family and I would sit around the Christmas tree on the morning of the big holiday taking turns opening presents from one another in order from youngest to oldest. My little sister would be first, and she would quickly unravel a stuffed giraffe animal and giggle with glee that she could add it to her collection. I would then go and open up a perfectly pink and blonde Barbie doll, more than excited to rip it out of its box with pliers and scissors (they secure those things pretty good). Then my mother would go and she would open a perfectly wrapped box and receive a blender. A BLENDER. Little me just didn't get it. Why would someone buy my mother such a boring and lame gift? Why couldn't she receive something good?

But now it has come to the point in my life where I see how good of a present a blender really is. I have reached the time in my life where my Christmas list has changed from dolls and princess outfits to candle holders and a fluffy throw blanket that would just look great in my apartment living space. Dear God. I have gotten old way too fast.

The magic of Christmas is so strong when you are young. I miss those Christmas days where I could picture a sea of new toys that I would spend hours on hours playing with. With age my Christmas magic has become one of practicability, of wants only adults can possibly desire. Visions of sugar plums have become dreams of a newly refurnished desk chair. My youthful hopes for American Girl Dolls now a desire of gift cards to restaurants to help me get by another week in college with out starving. My boring adult Christmas list goes on and on.

I miss the days where I couldn't sleep because Christmas was the next day and Santa was on his sleigh. The magic of being young is so vibrant and special, and can never be felt again once grown out of it. So this Christmas I hope to make a young kid feel double the magic than any other year. Everyone in their own family should keep that holiday magic alive for their little cousins, younger siblings, nieces and nephews. The years for Christmas lists full of toy cars and stuffed animals are numbered and we must preserve them for the people we love as long as we can. Because let me tell you, this grown up life of wanting house decor for Christmas is not nearly as fun.