I recently played a “Most Likely To” game with some friends and one of the cards was “Most likely to have a family that runs a 5k on Thanksgiving.” Everyone pointed to me and I laughed uncontrollably because that statement couldn’t be more accurate. My family has run a 5k on pretty much every holiday. Christmas? Of course. Fourth of July? Always. Super Bowl? You betcha. That might seem crazy to some—or maybe to many—but to me, it’s just a typical holiday tradition. There are so many things that I absolutely love about going home, and with the semester coming to an end, it’s all almost within arm’s reach. I’m going to share a little bit about what home is like for me and hopefully spark some favorite memories from your own home.
- Walks Along the Beach
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Okay, so for you people who don’t get to leave the snow, I’m sorry. I’m from Huntington Beach, California, and as you can probably tell from the name, it is within walking distance of the beach (remember my family is full of walking and running freaks, so it might not be walking distance for everyone!). I love to walk or run along the beach, especially during sunset. There’s nothing quite like the sound of waves crashing and the feeling of the wind blowing in your face.
- Acai Bowls
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There is this cute little acai place downtown that my family and I love to stop by after we—yup, you guessed it—run. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Their acai bowls are the best I’ve ever had, and they also have iced coffee that is to die for. It’s so peaceful to sit outside watching the waves as you eat your bowl and sip on your coffee while the sun hits you in the face. I actually make acai bowls in my room a lot. They remind me of home and are way better than the dining hall.
- Baking with Mama
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My mom is an absolute QUEEN in the kitchen. Whenever I’m home, we usually spend a good amount of time baking. Whether we are trying something new or whipping up an old family recipe, we always have a great time. We make anything from fudge to sugar cookies to frosting—and taste test everything, of course. It’s moments like these that I miss the most when I’m away at school.
- Playing Cards
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We play lots of different card games. Some old, some new and some I swear my dad just made up; but either way, they are all so fun. My family is just the right amount of competitive so that the games are fun, but not necessarily cut throat. We have a great time and always laugh a lot, no matter what the game is.
I hope you enjoyed reading a little about my favorites things from home. I know you are all looking forward to going home in a few weeks—we’re almost there!