What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?

In 2010, I made xmas photo. In 2011, I made metaphorical things—that were intentionally symbolic of relationships and history. In 2012, I made ice cream. In 2013, I made design. In 2014, I made “my room”. In 2015, I made the last line of Ice Cream Travel Guide, literally.

This year, it could be a number of things—the creativity that comes in the burst in this year. Whether it was the youtube video for the Christmas greeting (see below). Or the directing people to make the cheesecake in the Instant Pot for at home Christmas Eve dinner. Or whether it was the creativity that I lent toward the Christmas gifts this year. It’s all of that, because it’s my way of expressing myself.

It’s the creativity of the holiday magic. I love creating things. The video is the second time that I have done it, coming up with the idea in the span of the day and executing it with as little overhead as possible. But what I have in my mind has been churning for a number of days—the vision was already set in my head with shots and poses. Or the gifts (aka #smallacts) had settled in my mind, because my desire to be less materialistic and shallow — I tested the water at a White Elephant exchange a few weeks ago where I offered an anonymous gift that was simply $20 in honor of the white elephant gift recipient. No gifts for anybody because you’re just going to get something donated to charity in your name! Or food, in an effort to demonstrate a gadget or food that people normally never eat. Thus CREATIVITY.

On the video above, it took about 30 minutes to shoot. Part setup in getting the stuffed animals and Game of Thrones video together. Just one walkthroughs, one dry rehearsal, one dress rehearsal, and two shoots. And getting my sister on board to shoot everything. It was awesome.

Then I had an egotistical moment once completed. I wondered aloud whose name would be present if I had credits rolling. Like for director, editor, writer, location scout, sound editor, director of photography, producer, production designer. “Oh wait, that’s me!” I shouted.