Christmas on the Island | Galveston, Texas

Oh, Christmas in Texas. Where do I even begin? The weather has been warm and muggy, making it nearly impossible to find anyone in the Christmas spirit. Christmas, it seemed, was going to come and go without anyone batting an eye!

That was until I got a wonderful email from my friends at the Galveston Visitors Bureau. Over the summer they invited me to spend a day at some of their best summer attractions. Galveston is a city I know very well but I was still surprised at all the things I hadn't seen! So for this holiday season I was eager to learn all about the Christmas happenings on the island.

I started my day off with a trip to Moody Mansion. Located just a few blocks down from another impressive mansion, Bishop's Palace, Moody Mansion has an entirely different story. 

The Moody name is a familiar one in Galveston. When William Lewis Moody moved his family to Galveston in 1866 he had no idea he would be starting a dynasty. The Moody's quickly became a prominent family in Galveston society, business, and trade. Today you can see remittences of the Moody name plastered across the city. Their family home is just a small reminder of how well off the family had become. One of the most beautiful homes on the island, Moody Mansion was bought by the Moody family in 1900, just months after the deadliest hurricane in United States history. From there, the Moody family help rebuild Galveston through many business endeavors. William Lewis Moody even bought the Hilton hotel chain at one point, helping Conrad Hilton get out of his finical troubles as a result of the Great Depression. 

That evening when the sun went down we headed across the island to Moody Gardens. Moody Gardens, named for the same family who made Galveston their home in the late 1800s, is an education center and tourist attraction. Seen on the Galveston skyline for miles, Moody Gardens is famous for it's 3 tall pyramids. Inside each pyramid you can find an aquarium, a rainforest, and a science exhibition. For Christmas however, Moody Gardens puts on a Festival of Lights that stretches all across the vast grounds. Similar to the Houston Zoo Lights, the Moody Gardens Festival of Lights is a self guided walking tour of lights and Christmas festivities. 

The idea of Christmas usually involves snow or any form of 'winter'. Here in Texas, we have to make do with what we have. Christmas on Galveston Island may not be the traditional sense of Christmas, but it's the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit when that cold weather is seriously lacking. 

xoxo

The Christmas Tag

It took awhile but Christmas is finally in the air, Michael Buble is practically singing my life soundtrack, and my candle addiction has hit an all time high (or in the case of my wallet an all time low). Christmastime is the best time of the year, and to kick off the start of Christmas week I thought I would sneakily steal the Christmas Tag (as posted by Milk Bubble Tea and reposted by What the Elle).

1. What is your favourite Christmas Movie/s?

It's a Wonderful Life, followed closely by Love Actually and Elf. 

2. Do you open your presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Growing up, every Christmas Eve we were allowed to open one present (a tradition my parents denied every year but was firmly upheld by my sister and I). However, Christmas morning is when we usually open everything else. 

3. Do you have a favourite Christmas memory?

To be honest I really can't think of one specific memory. All my Christmases have been amazing! Family, friends, and food. What could be better?

4. Favourite festive food?

Tamales! Christmas is a chance to celebrate my mother's side and our Mexican heritage. Our typical Christmas Eve meal is Tamales, beans, rice, and of course salsa. 

5. Favourite Christmas gift ?

Vacations are the best gifts in my opinion. One year our Christmas gift was a trip to Rome, another year a trip to New Orleans. Travel is the best gift anyone can give! 

6. Favourite Christmas scent?

Apple Cinnamon is my go to holiday scent, however this year I'm loving the scent of pine needles!

7. Do you have any Christmas Eve traditions?

Like I said earlier, Christmas Eve is largely celebrated with my mother's side, which is Mexican American. Other than the traditional Mexican meal, we sing Silent Night in Spanish, which I still don't know completely despite the fact we have sung it for the last 24 years!

8. What tops your tree?

Angels. I say angels because this year we have three trees (sorry not sorry). 

9. As a kid what was the one (crazy, wild, extravagant) gift you always asked for but never received?

I was never really an extravagant kid, however I do remember always asking for a horse! At the time it wasn't so ridiculous, I had been riding horses for a couple of years! Needless to say my parents DID think it was ridiculous. 

10. What’s the best part about Christmas for you?
Family, friends, and dare I say the 'Christmas-y' atmosphere?

As always, around this time of year, I will be taking a little blogging break for the holiday season. I hope everyone enjoys their time with family and friends, as I'll be enjoying mine! Look out for me in a week or two! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

xoxo

Houston Zoo Lights

Getting into the holiday spirit this year has been a difficult task. Last year, I was celebrating in England, a country where 'magic' just seems to fall off the trees as easily as the leaves fall during winter. I've traded my winter coat for a light sweater. My boots are collecting dust in the back of my closet. Christmas in Texas has not come this year for me. That was, until I visited the Houston Zoo Lights. 

On one of the very few 'cold' nights this year, my mom took me out to the Houston Zoo for an evening of lights, music, and festivities. I was skeptical at first, thinking the event was geared towards kids. I was so wrong. As soon as we walked in the familiar Houston Zoo entrance I was amazed. Thousands of lights, dancing to the beat of Christmas songs, stretched out as far as I could see. I couldn't help but take a million and one pictures, so grab a cup of tea and enjoy the beauty the zoo has to offer!

The trail leads around the entire park. As we wandered around the thousands of sparkly lights, I couldn't help but wonder how the Christmas spirit effected the animals. Christmas lights, shows and music everywhere. Was this disturbing them at all? So I did a little research. 

Zoo lights are pretty common across the country during the holiday season. With most animals hibernating for winter and the others all tucked into their warm burrows and caves, the lights themselves don't really bother the animals at all. Trails are places strategically to disturb the animals the least. The only animals I saw during my entire visit were a couple of flamingos and a few giraffes (who were enjoying the warmth of their indoor barn). The main attraction to the zoo lights are the lights themselves!

The best time to visit is right when the light display goes up. The closer to Thanksgiving, the better. As December progresses, the crowds only grow. Avoid the family crowds by going late, 7:30 - 9:00pm is the perfect time. Tickets are kind of pricey, but help the care of all the animals at the zoo.

With a hot cup of coffee in my hand, and lights twinkling down from the trees above, the zoo lights were the perfect thing to get me into the Christmas spirit! What is something you have done this year to get you into that holiday mood??

xoxo