Things I Like - December 2022

Usually at the end of a quarter I feature books the boys have liked recently.  However, I've been talking A LOT about pictures books on here lately so we're going with an all Christmas (ish) version this month.  A lot of things that are making our December a little more merry!

I always enjoy hearing what works for other people and I like sharing things I like, it's part of the reason I have a blog.  I've been doing these monthly posts for 10 years and they also provide a nice little snapshot in my life at a moment in time! See more here!  Some affiliate links may be included!

1) Essie In Plane View nail polish
This is a fantastic darker teal and as soon as I painted it on my nails I ordered another bottle because I don't want to run out for awhile.  It's been my constant since Thanksgiving weekend and it might stay until Christmas, we'll see!  When a nail gets too chipped I just scratch off the rest and repaint that one, as needed.  It's my semi-lazy way to keep my nails painted without the work of constantly starting from scratch!

2) Universal Thread Cat boots
This was an item from my fall/winter shopping list and these have been a FANTASTIC addition to my closet.  Except they are rarely in my closet (I don't think they have been yet) because I wear them almost daily.  I wear sweatshirts A LOT when I'm not doing more than school runs and errands (which is most days) and I wanted a more casual boot than my leather riding boots (which I also still wear, just did this morning!).  Enter these, got them on a Thanksgiving weekend sale and they are comfy and cute and casual.  If there is real snow on the ground I do also own rain boots and real heavy duty snow boots so these shouldn't have to get too icky in slush.  Hopefully. 

3) Mini Christmas Trees
I own a lot and am always interested in more even though I realize I am going to be running out of storage space if I keep up my current rate of purchase.  BUT...Target has some good ones this year!  This green is just PERFECT (last year the blue was PERFECT).  I also am trying this blue glass tree and have a taller version of this mercury glass one AND these mini ones.  I DO still consider myself a minimalist...but not at Christmas.  (That being said, I did clear 5 items out of my closet this morning.)

4) Backstreet Boys - A Very Backstreet Christmas
Yes, I also mentioned this last month but it's been SUCH a part of our Christmas music rotation that it needs another shoutout.  It's fantastic and one of their best sounding CDs.  Love it.  

5) Paint by Sticker - Christmas
Part of the boys' St. Nick gifts were one of these each.  Sam got the older one since Luke had done most of that one last year.  Luke got this year's new one.  We read A LOT of picture books, especially in December, and sometimes it helps to keep hands busy.  Sam and I worked on one together this morning too!

6) Target Felt Ornaments
I bought this alien as a gift (and one for myself) and this whale was my St. Nick ornament. (I grew up getting an ornament every St. Nick so that's what I bought myself.  Matt grew up getting candy so that's what he bought himself.  Our boys always get an ornament and lately chocolate coins too.)  These are very cute AND not breakable!

7) Everything at Shining Light
The boys also got Christmas Memory for St. Nick.  And this mini St. Nick puzzle.  And this block puzzle (it's actually harder than it looks!).  We did this advent Nativity last year and it's still in good shape for this year!  I split the pieces and Luke puts in the odd and Sam the even (last year they were the flipped of that).  And I REALLLY wish they had this magnet nativity set out when I placed my last order in November because I definitely would have bought it.  I almost placed another order just to get one but couldn't justify it to myself.  We are all in on Shining Light. 

8) Baking It!
Matt and I watched this short Christmas baking competition on Peacock last year and enjoyed it (we also enjoyed the summer series, Making It!, but there wasn't a new season this year!).  It's delightful holiday fun.  Just saw Andy Samburg was placed with Amy Poehler for this season, we'll see how that goes.  Should still be good.  

9) The Popcast Deep Dive of The Holiday
If I had to pick one single podcast as my favorite, it would be The Popcast.  Hilarious and entertaining on things that don't really matter (pop culture) but also frequently makes me laugh, a lot.  Last week's episode was a deep dive on The Holiday, a movie I have watched every year, for over 10 years, mostly while wrapping presents.  It is greatly enjoyable to me, very seasonal, and I laughed a lot at this deep dive.  

There you go!  A whole bunch of things we are loving at our house right now!

{10} Item Christmas Gift List

 My blog reader feed has been filling up with gift guides for WEEKS and I always enjoy browsing them, even if the tastes or price ranges are to my own.  It's just interesting to see what other people like!  And sometimes I DO find a good idea!  

This is my 3rd year of doing a very short Christmas gift list.  These are all items we own or items on our own Christmas lists.  We do pretty specific gift lists with most of the people we exchange with but I always dream of getting the perfect present that I didn't specifically want.  Even though I am always aiming to have less.  But the IDEA of someone filling a hole in my life I didn't know I had...that appeals greatly.  Even though I am also find with not entering into any more gift exchanges.  I didn't say it all made sense! 

Here's the lists from the past two years:

2021 {10} Item Christmas List
2020 {10} Item Christmas List

And here we go!

 

Note: There are some affiliate links below, I make a small (very small) commission off items if you purchase through those links, at no extra cost to you.  I appreciate your understanding and support! Of course I fully support utilizing the library or shopping used or from an independent bookstore!

BOOKS
1) The Sea Below My Toes by Charlotte Guillan, illustrated by Jo Empson
For: Your 3-8 year age range interested in animals and/or the beach/ocean!
I always start with books and we're starting with the youngest age range book!  This is a GORGEOUS picture book that has fold out pages so if you laid it out, it would be about a 10 foot long picture of the different layers of the ocean.  It is wordy if you just sit down to read about them all (we did it over two reading sessions) but I learned SO MUCH about the oceans and about the creatures in them.  Plus, pictures are fantastic. 

2) Unsolved Case Files Series by Tom Sullivan
For: 8-12 year age range who likes mysteries
Luke read the three in this series in the fall and they were right up his alley.  These are colored graphic novels about three different unsolved mysteries.  He would be VERY interested in finding the answers and the idea of these mysteries still out there intrigued him!  Plus, a nice change from Wimpy Kid or DogMan.

3) The Office BFFs: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey
For: The Office lover in your life (there probably is one)
I've been listening to their podcast since it started in 2019 and Matt gave me the book for Mother's Day/our anniversary in the spring.  It's even more behind the scenes from the actresses who played Pam and Angela.  A ton of behind the scenes pictures.  Just so fun, cheerful, and interesting!

4) Katherine Center novels
For: romance readers in the 20-40 age range
These are romances that I feel pretty comfortable recommended to most anyone in that age range (or even higher or lower).  I've read Things You Save in a Fire, The Bodyguard, and What You Wish For, and maybe getting one more for Christmas.  She's very consistent but also writes intriguing, complicating, and romantic romances while also keeping it all pretty chaste.  I know when I pick up one of her books that I am in for a good reading experience.

5) Messy Minimalism: Realistic Strategies for the Rest of Us by Rachelle Crawford
For: anyone who feels like they have too many THINGS
This will be on my favorite reads of 2022 list.  I've read many minimalism books and this had a different tone that felt very relatable and also like advice from a funny and caring friend.  I've been following her on Instagram since and she is a good follow with funny reels and such.  This just makes minimalism, in whatever form you pursue, actually seem doable. 

OTHER
6) Salt Lamp Night Light
For: anyone interested in pretty things that are real expensive but also a little useful
I bought this for myself last winter and it has been a lovely little bright spot, literally, in our kitchen ever since.  I simplified our counter a bit (it might have happened after reading #5) but still wanted to hide an outlet there.  Enter this nightlight which adds such a cozy glow to a darker area.  It's just pretty.  And functional!

7) Lego Succulents
For: adults who grew up on Legos and also appreciated home decor
This was one of my birthday gifts from Matt and he picked it out on his own (Legos are always a good bet for anyone in our family).  I put it together over three evenings when Matt & I were watching Stranger Things after the boys went to bed.  It was just a delightful experience and they look pretty good!  It currently sits on top of the printer next to my desk and it's the perfect amount of cheer and, also, needs NO watering.

8) {50} Awe-Inspiring Travel Destinations
For: anyone who likes puzzles and can handle the pieces
This one might be on my Christmas list.  I went on a REAL BIG puzzle kick last winter and I am just waiting for most of my Christmas work to be done so I can get my puzzle table set back up.  Then I will be back at the puzzles again this winter.  And it's always fun to work in some new ones.  Although my puzzle collection is certainly big enough to not need new ones.

9) Letterboard
For: anyone who wants an easy word display
I thought about buying one of these for the boys for awhile since they kept wanting to play with mine but they eventually stopped so I haven't.  But I still might eventually if they show interest again!  I have a larger one that I got right after Sam and I semi-regularly change it out for the seasons.  Mine lives in out kitchen, a very frequented area of our house.  If I were to get a second, I personally would prefer the blue pictured...

10) Play-Doh Grill and Stamp
For: kids who like Play-doh
That's every kid, isn't it?  Sam's getting this for Christmas.  Please don't tell him.  He's at a perfect age for Play-doh and Luke will even play with him on weekends and breaks.  I'm sure this will get a lot of play over Christmas break!

Happy shopping!

Christmas Season Decide Once

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  I've said many times how much I love everything about Christmas, even the never-ending to-do list that comes with it.  I think there is something about how much I enjoy crossing things off a list combined with the fact and I honestly enjoy nearly all of the tasks I give myself to make Christmas happy that just makes it a lovely time of year.  I like decorating and wrapping presents and reading A LOT of books and baking and watching cozy movies and the extra family time we get.  So while my to-do lists are very long in December, it's a joy to accomplish most of those tasks (if only guiding a child through homework wasn't one of them).  

That said, it is very easy to get overwhelmed during this Christmas season and thus I've made many choices to make things as easy as possible for me.  The Lazy Genius taught me the beauty of "deciding once" and that is in FULL EFFECT this time of year.  It's greatly helped by our many Christmas traditions but also many of my "behind the scenes" type of work I do exactly the same as years prior.  I have a lot of decisions to make already (what to buy people, how many cookies is too many cookies for an after school snack?, should I attempt to watch Love Actually while Sam is likely awake and very likely to come downstairs?) that eliminating as many as I can really helps me enjoy the season!

Here are some of my "decide once" decisions!

1) Address Christmas cards on Thanksgiving Eve (while watching The Family Stone)
I've done this at least 10 years now.  I don't have to try to figure out when I am going to do this.  It's always the same night with the same movie. (In Lazy Genius terms, this is also my Christmas season opening ceremony.)

2) Start Decorating with Jesus
I always start my decorating on Black Friday.  How much gets done that day depends on if I am shopping and/or we have a Thanksgiving with family that day.  BUT when I do start I always start with Jesus.  As in, my nativity that I've had for 30 years.  I know what box it all is in and it's the first one I unpack.  Then, the shelves in the front room if I have time.

3) Schedule 4 Elf nap times
I always do these the first 2 full weeks of December, on the Tuesdays and Thursdays.  That gives me 4-6 hours to get my wrapping done.  I watch The Holiday the first week and Love Actually the second. This year Sam actually napped (!!!!!) on the first one so I prioritized wrapping all of his and Luke's stuff as fast as I could!  

4) Start baking the first full week in November and start with Reindeer Noses
I've been following this same basic plan for years now even though I have greatly cut back how much I bake from our years pre-kids.  I make my plan on Halloween, shop for supplies in the first few days in November and then start with Reindeer Noses after that.  

5) Buy 4 gifts each for the boys
They always get a Lego or Duplo set and a book each.  Then two other gifts from us.  They also give each other a gift (that we pay for) so 5 total items to open on Christmas morning.  That is it. 

6) Start with Friends, end with Community
I aim to get through all of these Christmas (and other holidays when it's time) episodes every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Matt will watch the Parks & Rec, The Office, and Community episodes with me.  We always watch Community season 2 & 3 (two of their very best episodes) in the few days before Christmas.  We sprinkle in the other two shows before that.  I start with Friends because I already have those DVDs upstairs from watching the Thanksgiving episodes.  (That list is outdated for where they are streaming but with the DVDs we own there are only 2 shows I have to get from the library!)  I try to end with American Dreams because apparently I like crying on Christmas Eve.

7) Ornaments for St. Nick
This goes back to my childhood when my parents always gave each of us an ornament (or one year, a stocking holder) for St. Nick Day.  I've kept that up with my boys each year of their lives, picking something I'd probably not care for necessarily but something that means something to them (Luke got a zombie Hulk this year).  And Matt has added candy which is what he got for St. Nick as a kid. And maybe a Shining Light doll each (and for me...) BUT we start with an ornament!

8) Part of Teacher's Gift something Local
I don't have a decide once for a whole teacher's gift but I do always make sure at least some part of it comes from a local small business.  That helps narrow down my choices a bit (the Farmers Market is VERY helpful with this!).  And I often include some chocolate pretzel rods from Target, those seem like something most people will like!

There are probably many other things I've already decided but they've already come so second nature that they don't even come to mind!  I love the bustle of the holidays but also enjoy making things easier when I can or at least giving myself a same starting point year after year.  I also have this list of {12} Christmas Hacks (of sorts), almost all of which I still do!

If you have any of these decide onces for the holidays?  I'd love to hear them!  I am always looking for ways to streamline!

{10} Item Christmas List - 2021

We've once again hit the time of year when at least half of my blog reader is gift guide posts.  I LOVE a gift guide post even though I don't often buy from them.  I like seeing what other people like!  And when I do buy from them it's usually for myself.  Probably because we mostly shop from very specific gift lists for many of the people on our lists so I'm (usually) not looking for gift ideas for others.  Just for myself.  As if I don't have enough other things I'd like to spend my allowance on.  

Here is a quick 10 item gift guide of things we've really liked or things our kids have really liked or things we are actually gifting to people or things that are on my own wish list.  That's a pretty broad range of things.  All of which could make good gifts!  I am actually more on top of my shopping than any other year in recent memories.  We are DONE shopping for the boys besides their stocking stuffers and have our godchildren maybe 75% of the way done.  And our parents ~50% done!  That's a great place to be more than a month before Christmas! 

Of course, I have NOTHING for Matt besides a single stocking stuffer so I still have shopping to do!  If you do too, here are some ideas:

Note: Affiliate links abound below, I make a small (very small) commission off items if you purchase through those links, at no extra cost to you.  But these are also things I would tell you about if I didn't make pennies off your purchase.  I appreciate your understanding and support! Of course I fully support utilize the library or shop used or from an independent bookstore!

BOOKS
I ALWAYS want a book for my birthday and Christmas (I 99% of the time pick these out for myself, I love my husband but I do not trust his book picking for me).  We also always give the boys a book and I give many of our godchildren books as part of their gifts.  A lot of book buying!

Don't Forget to Remember by Ellie Holcomb
Who: the preschool-ish age set, kids who love lemurs and like seeing them in books
This is one we are gifting to our two youngest godchildren because it's been a huge favorite around here since we picked it up in the summer.  One: it features ring-tailed lemurs and red pandas quite often (as well as mine and Matt's official favorite animals: flamingos and turtles, respectively) AND even I appreciate the message of God not forgetting us, even in our worst days.  Seriously, some days I pull this to read to the boys because *I* need to hear the message.  

Any Greg Paprocki Alphabet Book
Who: kids who are learning letters, children of parents who like to change out many things for the seasons
Greg Paprocki is one of our favorite picture book illustrators and we've read SO MANY of his alphabet books (I've requested the library to buy a bunch of them too!).  His pictures have a neat vintage quality to them and have so many great little details.  I read this one to Sam daily in the early days of the pandemic and he had it memorized before too long.  He has them for a whole bunch of holidays like Valentine's Day, Easter, we say this one is 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  We also have School and Camping and National Parks.  We love them.

Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee
Who: anyone who wants/needs more joy in their lives, anyone interested in self-improvement or decorating
I read this book (and gave it it's own post) almost 3 years ago but it's been on my mind a lot lately, maybe because we're over 1½ years into a pandemic and sometimes life feels really hard?  I'm SURE that has something to do with it but also, when I wrote that post a whole year before the pandemic...I was thinking then that my life could use more joy too.  It's on my list to reread in the new year and then actually implement some of the ideas.  Sometimes you just need to be on the lookout for it but, also, sometimes you can take active steps to find it.  And this book helps with that.

Leave Only Footprints: My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park by Conor Knighton
Who: travelers, especially of America's National Parks
This is one I read this year and have thought about often since.  The author was going through something personally or professionally (or both, I forget all the details) and decided to spend one calendar year visiting all the National Parks.  He started with sunrise on January 1st in Acadia and finished with sunset on December 31st, somewhere on the West Coast where the sun set last.  I learned a lot about different national parks and how some of them came to be and the significance of many.  I don't think I'll ever make it to them all but I really enjoyed following along as he did.

The Book of Lost Names by Kristen Harmel
Who: readers of historical fiction that also have a romance
This is another book I liked so much I gave it it's own post about a year ago but what brought it to my mind lately was my Mom mentioning to me that she read it and really liked it.  I can't say I was quite expecting that but it did remind me how much I did like it.  When I was looking for a fiction book that I could sort of broadly recommend, this is what I landed on.  Yes, it's World War II, but there's also a romance and it's based on a true story, and the Catholics help out, and it's about how kind and wonderful people could be to each other during that horrible time.  And my Mom and I both liked it so there is that!

Not-Books
Play Food Sets
Who: preschool-ish set, parents who like the idea of their kids having play food but don't have space for a full play kitchen
Luke was never really into the play food but Sam really is.  And then Luke is always interested in what Sam is getting so he's minorly interested in these too.  We don't really have the space for a full play kitchen but I like things like this that let them mirror the adults but not make the full mess of real food.  My sister had recommended the smoothie set after she got it for her son so we bought it for Sam for his last birthday.  We gave this mixer to one of our goddaughters for her first birthday last winter (with this book), and then Sam might be getting this taco set for Christmas (we saw it in a store and he was IMMEDIATELY enamored with it).  They've provided a lot of fun for Sam.  

Picasso Magnet Tiles
Who: Kids 2+, adults, anyone who likes to play
These are not an original idea but in case there are other parents out there, like me, who avoided them for years because "we have a lot of other toys"...these are as good as everyone says.  We bought a set for our boys to share for their birthdays right at the beginning of COVID (literally, gave the tiles to them the day after Luke's last in-class day of 1st grade).  Like all other toys, they come and go on how much they use them.  Sometimes they are out every day for 2 weeks and then they might stay in the cupboard for 2 weeks.  The boys are currently 8 and 3 and they can both play with them (although not always well together, always fights for the biggest pieces) and Matt & I will build with them too.  Endless creative fun.

Elephant Pen/Phone Holder
Who: Someone who likes cute things and has a desk or counter
This isn't something I own but it IS something on my Christmas wish list.  I don't even have a particular affinity for elephants.  Or really even need a pen holder (although this could be a nice upgrade from the blue mason jar I currently use, especially because then I could use the mason jar for peach sorbet) but I stumbled on this on Amazon and just thought it was really cute.  You might too.

Window Box Bird Feeder
Who: anyone with a window who isn't afraid of birds
This is an idea I got from Young House Love and since we haven't had a bird feeder since we took down the one the previous owners left hanging over the (very old) AC unit...this seemed like a fun things to share with the boys.  Warning, mice (I'm assuming) WILL get into bags of bird seed left in the garage but other wise this has been a fun window addition!

Puzzles
Who: Anyone who likes a cozy winter activity, people who want something to do with their hands while watching tv/movies or listening to podcasts, and kids
We love a good puzzle around here and I am mainly talking about myself and Sam.  I LOVE having a puzzle out most of the post-Christmas winter and will frequently work on them when catching up on podcasts or watching something on the tv or to avoid helping with 3rd grade math homework (that I have to google for help with too often even though I have a college degree and actually like math) or when I should be going to sleep but just want to find one more piece (it's so hard to walk away).  Sam has also gotten into floor puzzles in the past year-ish and we're still working on him doing them completely on his own (which is fine!  Longer until he outgrows them!) and it's a fun activity to do with him.  I had my collection down to 5ish and then I expanded it greatly in the past year.  Some recent additions: Snowy Bethesda Fountain, All Good Things are Wild and Free, Classic Literature Locations.  Sam got this Space Floor Puzzle for his 3rd birthday and will be getting this Christmas Nativity Floor Puzzle for Christmas (please don't tell him).  Puzzles are perfect for winter. 

2020 {10} Item Christmas Gift List

My Christmas Picture Book Process

There are many wonderful things I love about the Christmas season starting with nearly every single thing about it.  I love the baking and decorating and wrapping and celebrating and eating and movie watching and even the cold doesn't bother me so much at Christmas.  Last year, despite the pandemic, or maybe because of it and the greatly reduced gatherings, we had a fantastic Christmas season.  I was very pleased with how all my decorating came out (since I had more time at home to do it) and we did all of our normal things for the 4 of us.  That includes reading A LOT of Christmas themed picture books.

Christmas picture book season is a whole being into itself for me (and maybe one of my sisters).  I take it VERY seriously and get such joy out of reading many (nearing 200) of the same picture books to my boys every year.  I am not about to buy and store 200 picture books that we only look at about 6 weeks of the year.  Which means we VERY HEAVILY use the library for this, even though our Christmas picture book collection grows by at least a few every year.  

In news that should surprise exactly no one, I have a spreadsheet to track our library checkouts.  Which is how I can tell you that from about mid-November until Christmas we checked out 282 items on the boys' and Matt's library card.  The majority of those were Christmas picture books.  At least 225 of them I would say.  And it is not easy to find 200+ Christmas books to read and get them all from the library in a 5-6 week period without a little bit of planning and strategy.  So here's mine, in case you are also interested in filling your house with Christmas picture books (it really is so delightful).

1) Source my (initial) list
Get a list.  My starting point is my Seasonal-Christmas shelf on Goodreads where I go through everything I've rated 4-5 stars (I know when I'm rating books that I will only seek it out to read again if I've rated it 4 or 5 stars and thus rate accordingly.)  

I've posted Christmas book lists here: The Nativity Story, Santa Stories, Animals Celebrating, Christmas Trees, {25} Christmas Picture Books.  

Additionally, Everyday Reading is a FANTASTIC picture book resource (here's her 25 All-Time Favorite Christmas Picture Books list).  I follow book.nerd.mommy on IG and she's always posting great suggestions too.  

I learned last year that through our local library app, you can scan the ISBN barcodes on books and look them up in their catalog.  I did that with all the Christmas books we read last year, saving them to a Christmas 2021 list, and thus saved myself a TON of time by having to type in all the 4-5 star reads from my Goodreads list.  That library list currently stands at 166 books.  

I will add to that 166, as I learn about new Christmas picture books.  I LOVE reading some new books each year, always hoping to find some new favorites!

2) Try to anticipate what might hard to get
Once I have my list, in early November I start strategizing how I will get them.  I do an initial scan to look for any that jump out as being hard to get last year or that I know I had to get on the list early to get (these are often the books I end up buying, the ones we really like that the library, inexplicitly only had 1-2 copies of).  Those "hard to get" books will be among my first priority.  I don't always guess this right but I try!

3) Sort what is available from my branch
Next I go through to list to pull out what is available at our local branch.  I will get as many there as I can since I am there at least once a week.  I don't want to waste precious holds on books I can pull myself.

4) Mid-November - go to the downtown library
About now I am looking at my calendar to figure out when I should go to the downtown library to pull as many as I can from their shelves.  I rarely get anything there that's also on the shelf at my local branch but try to get 50ish of what is on the shelf at the main branch.  A stroller is required for this, mainly for hauling books (at least with a 3 year old I can still pretend it's for him).  I want my checkout period to go through Thanksgiving weekend.

After my initial 2020 Christmas picture book pulls, the huge stack on the right are all Christmas books.

5) Mid-November - pull what I can from my branch
After I've done my big downtown pull I gradually start pulling from our local branch.  Last year our library system shut down indoors (just curbside pickup) at close of Black Friday and I was there a few times that week loading up as many books as I could. 

6) LOAD UP THOSE HOLDS before Thanksgiving
The books I can't pull from downtown or our local branch I'll start putting on hold.  I know from my initial list run through which books this will be (in my planning I will have already separated out lists for the Christmas books to pull from our branch and the books I plan to get from downtown).  We currently have 10 holds per card, I use my holds for my own books.  Matt lets me use 4-8 of his holds (I need extras at the holidays) and then 20 between the boys.  I will go twice a week to pickup books and place more on hold (if books are on the shelf at a branch I can usually get 2 sets a week) so somewhere around 16-20 picture book holds will come in twice a week, don't check my math, last year this all worked out for me!.

Besides the books that might be hard to get, I prioritize St. Nick stories (since that's early December) and Christmas tree books, since those are fun to read around the time we get our tree Thanksgiving weekend. 

The day before Thanksgiving 2020, at max Christmas picture books, gearing up to start them the day after Thanksgiving!

 
7) Read and Return
Our favorite Christmas books we own.  Those are the ones that get read the most.  Generally, the library books only get read once and then return.  I'd say 60% of them are a one-time read and return.  Maybe 20% of them get read twice and 20% stick around for a long time.  Until I buy them and then we don't need to keep the library checkouts forever. 

8) Renew all Christmas books every Friday
Finally, once we get into December I will try to renew ALL our Christmas books every single Friday so I know which books have holds on them (we have enough renewals that I will still get through the Christmas season as long as there are no holds).  Those books we will try to read and get returned more quickly because I KNOW how annoying it is when you are trying to get many books in a small window of time and people are slow to pick up holds and then keep the entire checkout period.  I KNOW, they are allowed but I also feel it's very courteous to help others out.  There are definitely books we keep our whole 3 week period even when we've waited on hold for awhile but I try not to do that at Christmas since it's such a short time frame.  Again, if it's one we really like I will probably end up buying it.  

_____________________________________________________________

And that's it!  I now put about the same level of planning and execution into my Christmas picture book acquiring as I do into my Christmas baking (I really don't know if I spend more time baking Christmas cookies or reading Christmas books to my boys, IT'S CLOSE).  I LOVE the Christmas season and cozying up with my boys and enjoying a big stack of books multiple times a week (and smaller stacks a few more times a week), in front of the Christmas tree, under blankets is just so wonderful and soothing for us all.  It makes us slow down and connect over something positive and cheerful instead of fights over homework and chores and screentime.  Christmas picture books rank right up there as some of my favorite parts of the season.

The Spring Switch

This past Monday was March 1st.  I have decided (when did I decide this??  I don't know.) that that is the start of spring for our household.  (It could also be remembered as the day I had my first foot surgery which was then followed by the most beautiful March I've ever remembered, where it was 70° most of the month and I recall that at least once on the blog every March since.)  

I have been leaning HARD into marking and separating out the seasons lately.  Part of this was brought on by our COVID life that started almost exactly a year ago.  So much of life was feeling the same that having obvious markers to the seasons changing was very helpful and therapeutic.  The weather outside doesn't (rarely) cooperates with what season I think it should be (that's what we get living in Indiana!) but at least inside our 4 walls I can control what the seasons feel like.

Last year I did a 3 part series on marking the seasons (Living Seasonally, Changing with the Seasons, Opening/Closing Ceremonies) and a few years ago I did a seasonal series on Senses of the Seasons (Christmas, Spring, Summer, Fall).  So maybe this isn't just a COVID thing.  I also love a good themed item (how I shocked Matt & Luke by buying a large bag of red, white, and blue Sour Patch Kids last summer, just in time for the 4th.  I think I ate about 3 of them) but also don't love storing a lot of things or spending a lot of money.  But I also like to really feel the change in the seasons.

Since I was just talking about seasonal book storage last week and then this past Monday I did a HARD dive into all things spring, I thought I would take you along to many of the things that I am switching out around the house as I mark this beginning of spring (I still have snow in my backyard too, but not much).

I didn't realize until I started this process how much of it was based on our enclosed front porch.  We use our porch a lot in the warmer months but hardly at all in the winter, just to get mail and packages.  So it makes sense to me that welcoming spring into our home is also opening the porch back up to use.  It's a wonderful place to enjoy warmer weather but avoiding the mud that is rampant right now.  

On the porch I took down the lights that have been surrounding all the front facing windows since Thanksgiving weekend.  These were still on a timing to turn on twice a day through the morning of March 1st and really did help to make those dark winter mornings a little lighter.  So those lights came down, the paper snowflakes in the windows came down.

I switched out some of the art, decorations, and pillows (I have a little more tweaking to do with those.) The table decor will change up a bit too, I constantly tweak those!

Next, coming inside I switched out the seasonal book basket with what we have so far, all just general spring books since we won't do Easter until actual Easter.  And I'm waiting on some St. Patrick's Day books at the library.

 

Switched out the pillow cover on the chair next to the book basket too.

The couch also got new pillow covers but the blanket stays for now because it is still chilly some days! 

 

In the kitchen I switched out my Instagram gallery wall by the back door.

And switched out the snowman salt & pepper shakers for general ones.

Over the weekend, on laundry day, I had pulled out the last of the snowman towels to wash and store away until December.  

I even switched out my lip balms from winter-y feeling vanilla and cinnamon to more spring-y strawberry (and plain, it's what I had).

I usually change my phone and desktop background pictures on the first of each month to something seasonal-ish.  So on March 1st we went with St. Patrick's Day themed. 

 

And I synced my phone to iTunes for the first time in almost 2 months maybe to add songs I had downloaded (thanks, free Amazon credits) and move my Spring playlist near the top of the list.  I even updated the playlist's picture.

Over the weekend we took the flannel (snowman and snowflake) sheets off the bed for the last time until late fall but the bed heater and extra blankets stay for now.  Just like I haven't switched out my closet to spring/summer yet either.  I can make a lot of changed but ones concerned with actually keeping us warm out and INside the house still stay in winter mode for awhile longer. 

These might not seem like a lot of changes (even though it took me a couple hours to do it all!) but they all add up to making our house feel like it's waking up after a long winter.  Spring weather is going to take a bit to stick around for good but we are embracing the parts of spring that we can now!  It's such a wonderful feeling!

Christmas Media to Consume

The month of the year I log the most screen time is definitely December.  Between what feels like constant online shopping (especially this year) and then all the seasonal movies and tv shows we watch while trimming the tree, decorating the house & cookies, and wrapping presents...it's A LOT of screen time.  I am MUCH MORE lenient on the boys' screen time when it's something like a Christmas special (they already have their first viewing of "Christmas Monkey" in) than I am the rest of the year.  I think it's knowing all this celebrating has an end date?  That we won't still be binging Christmas shows in January that makes it feel ok.  Also, I have a lot of things I want/need to get done this month!

My December media content skews VERY HEAVILY Christmas.  Books, tv episodes, movies, podcasts, music...it's not completely Christmas (I'm hoping to sneak in 4 books that aren't holiday-ish in order to meet my reading goal for the year) but it's pretty close.  

Here are things I plan to read, watch and listen to in the next month, a lot of watching done while wrapping presents and eating my solo lunch on the weekdays!

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BOOKS FOR ME
Father Christmas series
Cheery novella set in the English countryside, around a woman finding her biological family.  I've been reading these every year for awhile!

Winter Street series
Not labeled as novellas but these are still fairly quick reads, about a family who manage an inn on Nantucket, their various foibles and romantic entanglements.  I've read these all every year since they've been released!

The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp
My annual Advent devotional that breaks down the journey to Jesus' birth through the Jesse tree.  Helps me focus my crazy Christmas brain.

The Characters of Christmas by Daniel Darling
A new one for this year that I hope to start soon, makes up stories for various characters in the Nativity story.  

Loving my Actual Christmas: An Experiment in Relishing the Season by Alexandra Kuykendall
I read this a few years ago in December, after enjoying her Loving My Actual Life and appreciated the message and reminders! (FIX THIS)

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
I read this over the recent Thanksgiving weekend and it features a woman who signed up to go on 12 themed dates in the month of December.  It was charming and set in England (England features heavily on this list) but it was also pretty obvious how it was going to end.

One Day in December by Josie Silver
Despite the December in the title, this takes place over the course of a year, starting and ending in December.  A woman sees a man who she decides is the love of her life through a bus window and then spends a year searching all over London for him.  Are they soul mates?!?!?  This was still a charming Christmas-ish read (Instagram post here).

We Met in December by Rosie Curtis
Apparently December is for British meet-cutes.  This one with platonic roommates who kiss and the woman thinks they are soulmates but when she comes back after Christmas, the guy is dating another one of their roommates.  Are they soul mates?!?!?!?  

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren
This is on my library pile to get through this December so I have no idea if it is any good or not, we'll see!

BOOKS WITH LUKE
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
I read this to him for the first time last year and it was so enjoyable for us both.  I remember my Mom reading it to my sisters and I and then I read it to myself as a kid.  The copy I read Luke is my copy from 25+ years ago!  It's so good.

How Winston Delivered Christmas by Alex T. Smith
A new one I am trying with Luke this year, a Christmas story told in 24½ chapters, so one chapter a day.  Hopefully between writing this and it posting we have started it!

And then so many Christmas picture books.  SO MANY.  Here's a list of {25} Christmas Picture Books I did a few years ago, my Christmas Tree book flight from Tuesday...and then we'll read about another 100.  We go through A LOT of these.

MOVIES
The Family Stone (I watch this every year while addressing Christmas cards)
White Christmas (on Netflix, our "decorating the tree" movie)
The Holiday (one of my wrapping movies)
ELF (family movie night)
Love Actually (a wrapping movie for me)
It's a Wonderful Life (Matt & I watch this every Christmas night after putting the boys to bed)
The Polar Express (Our family Christmas Eve Eve movie)

TV SHOWS
As many of these as I can fit in (I've already started!)
Classic tv specials we'll watch while decorating cookies: Charlie Brown, Rudolph, Frost the Snowman, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas (aka "Christmas Monkey)
Dash & Lily (Netflix) - I have this on my list but haven't watched it yet.  We'll see if I get to it!

PODCASTS
The Bible Binge: season 4, episodes 1-4, focused on the Nativity Story

The Popcast with Knox & Jamie
-Episode 69: The No's of Christmas
-Episode 225: Rating Christmas Traditions
-Episode 277: Christmas Confessions

The Lazy Genius #88 - Refocus Your Christmas Brain

 Well...writing that all out sounds like A LOT and I'm not sure I'll get to it all but we'll see!  Right now I have a lot to do but since we're getting online shopping done soon to allow time for shipping, I'm thinking/hoping my schedule opens up a bit closer to Christmas!  We'll see!  Plenty of options for just sinking into that Christmas joy!

Let me know what you'd add to this list, maybe I'll make some swaps!

{10} Item Christmas Gift List

Tis the season for my blog reader to fill with Gift Guides.  I have so many gift guides in there, some of which I've read and some of which I haven't.  I'll get to them all eventually!  Even if I don't need them as gift guides I do like seeing just what people are interested in.  There is at least one thing on this list I only know about because someone else talked about it!  Actually, that's probably most of the list! 

My family is big on gift lists.  We've been using Elfster for years to give each other ideas on what we need/want.  We no longer do a sister (and brother-in-law) exchange but I use ideas from there to buy for my parents and the boys' godmothers.  I post lists for myself and the boys, Matt posts for himself.  It is SUPER handy.  I am always torn between wanting to micromanage my own gifts from Matt (I no longer buy them for myself but I can't stop myself from texting Matt when I see something on sale on my list) and also be surprised.  Basically, I'd like to be surprised by someone with my exact tastes and that can read my mind...which is limited to...me.  It's a process!!

This is not an exhaustive gift guide but it is a variety of items that I think have a pretty broad appeal.  Many of these are items I am gifting to others this year and others are items that I just love so much and want to tell more people about!  I previous did a list of my favorite kitchen gadgets and a lot of that list could make good gifts too.  I got those baking mats for Christmas a few years ago and they are fantastic.

Note: Affiliate links abound below, I make a small (very small) commission off items if you purchase through those links, at no extra cost to you.  But these are also things I would tell you about if I didn't make pennies off your purchase.  I appreciate your understanding and support!

BOOKS
I recently realized that I want a hardcover book every year for my birthday and Christmas.  Always, I don't often buy them for myself (at least, before 2020 I didn't buy them often) so it feels extra special to get them as gifts.

HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style by Elizabeth Holmes
Who: Anyone who follows the British Royals. 
This is on my list this year!  I follow Elizabeth Holmes on Instagram and she has fantastic insights into why the women dress the way that they do.  And the book looks very pretty.  I did briefly flip through it when my library hold came in much quicker than I expected but returned it once I realized I was probably getting it for Christmas.  It is gorgeous with so many photographs.  I hope I am reading this between Christmas and New Years!

The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff
Who: For your Dad, anyone else interested in history and real people. 
I have had this book sitting next to my desk for over 2 months, waiting for me to write a post on it.  This is an amazingly told story of 9/11 and the days that followed by people who lived through it, on the ground in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania, as well as the President and government leaders.  It is heartbreaking but also hopeful and so so well done.  I think almost any American over a certain age, especially those of us who were old enough to remember that day, could appreciate this.

The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace what Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi
Who: For adult women, mainly Moms, who feel overwhelmed or just want to feel a little more on top of their lives, who want the ok to skip the stuff that doesn't matter.
A book bound to be on my top 10 of the year and what I almost bought for all my sisters for Christmas, before I decided most of them probably wouldn't read it (but I'd recommend it to them all!).   Reading this book really did help me improve my life.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home by Jeni Britton Bauer
Who: For the home cook who really is more into making sweets (ice cream, cookies, cupcakes) than making the actual food we need for sustenance.  *raises own hand*. 
The two cookbooks that I use the most are ice cream cookbooks and I don't feel bad at all.  If you have an ice cream maker and don't know what to do with it...get this book. 

Stir, Crack, Whisk, Bake by America's Test Kitchen Kids
Who: For kids, the under 3 set mostly. 
This is Sam's current favorite book and I have read it at least once a day for at least 2 weeks now.  And it's so good, I really don't even mind.  We are giving this to our youngest godson this year (he's not yet two, he's not going to find out here.  And my sister who will probably read this already knows).  It is a board book that wants kids to tip the book to pour the cupcake batter into the cups, help "frost" the cupcakes, blow a kiss to get sprinkles to appear.  It is darling and one of the best I've seen of this interactive genre.

NOT BOOKS
I do shop for more than just books...even if my gift stash for the boys (largely books) says otherwise.
Ice Roller
Who: For anyone who wakes up tired and/or gets headaches. 
This ice roller is really the reason this lists exists.  I already put it on a "things I like post" and I wanted to write about it again because it is one of the best things I have ever bought.  I am serious.  I used to have a lot of problems with headaches but now when I feel one coming on I hold this under my eyes and if the headache isn't gone, at least it's much less painful.  I originally bought it when Sam was having major problems not sleeping through the night a year ago (he'd be awake ~2 hours a night, 5 nights a week, just screaming his head off at 2am, no biggie, the rest of us didn't need to sleep or anything).  I don't drink coffee but I needed SOMETHING to help me wake up in the morning.  This didn't make up 2 hours of missing sleep but it did help a lot.  I use it multiple times a week still and it feels amazing every time. The price has gone up since I bought mine but I'd still pay the higher price.

Seche Vite
Who: For anyone who paints their nails with regular polish. 
This is another item I've written about before but I recently bought my second bottle and wanted to talk about again.  I almost always have my nails painted; I just like doing something just for me.  However, it took me a long time to figure out when I had an hour I barely needed my hands.  Enter this.  It's a quick dry top coat that helps my nails last a week.  AND QUICK DRY.  I wouldn't take a shower or dig in the garden 5 minutes after applying but I feel fine doing normal things without worrying that my nails will smudge.  I only paint my nails with this now, I couldn't constantly be doing it otherwise!

Ticket to Ride: New York
Who: For couples, anyone who needs some more options for game night. 
This is the Ticket to Ride that we own and I like that it's a quicker version.  Matt & I can play 3 games in about an hour.  It's very satisfying to be able to complete multiple routes every game, something I never managed to do in the full version!  And I like the vintage New York aspect.  Ticket to Ride seems to be one of those games that a lot of adults have played and enjoyed but maybe don't all own?  I feel like I've been hearing about it for years but people are still excited to see it on sale.  I don't feel we have many games that are repeatedly fun with just the two of us!

Stomp Rocket
Who: For pretty much anyone, particularly kids under 10 maybe. 
We are also gifting this to our youngest godson for Christmas (his Mom already knows).   Luke got one for, I think, his 3rd birthday that got a lot of playtime for about 4 years and by that point was destroyed.  Then Sam got one for his 2nd birthday and now that one is getting a lot of playtime.  Kids of all kinds seem to love these but the 2 year old do usually stomp it low enough that it's not flying over the fence or onto the roof or into our one tree (Sam thinks Matt keeps a ladder in the garage just for getting rockets off the roof).  Matt & I even stomp on it too.  It's seems to be a very well received gift!

Slippers
Who: Anyone who has feet and likes them to be warm and comfy.
The single item of clothing that I own that gets the most wear are my slippers.  I wear underwear but I change it every day.  I change my shirt every day and my socks.  But I am wearing the same slippers almost every waking moment I am in my house from September - May.  I am wearing them right now!  These look very similar to the ones I have and I love them.  I need a hard slipper base with my bad arches and it helps my feet stay warmer too.  My last pair like this lasted quite a few years and these seem to be holding up well so far, one year in.  They are one of the best things I've picked out for myself recently.

We own almost every single one of these items and I have or will be gifting many more!  Happy shopping!

The Holidays Will Look Different This Year

This holiday season is going to be different than every other one we've had recently.  Of course, there have been other years when our plans have drastically changed, our first married Christmas, the first Christmas we had Luke, but those years were due to rather happy circumstances.  This year, not so much.  I've been thinking a lot the past few weeks about what the holiday season, those lovely 6 weeks from Thanksgiving - New Years (really, through when school starts back up) that I love so much, will be like.  How much we can still do from prior years.  

It has been really helpful for me, in this year of many changes, to focus on what we CAN still do.  The library closed in March but I could still read books (pivoting to a lot of digital, getting through my big stock-up, and buying a few books from an independent bookstore).  We had a stay at home order but I could still run, as schedule and weather allowed.  There are still things we can do, that we enjoy, while also staying healthy, and keeping those around us healthy.

So the answer really is, we can do most of what we usually do with the holidays.  It's just that the things we might not be doing involve being around a lot of people and our families are both filled with lots of people.  I love celebrating with them and going to Christmas Mass and who knows what will happen with those events in a month, if they will happen.  But we've also started a lot of lovely traditions in our house, with our little family, and all of that can still happen, as long as we all stay reasonable healthy (I swear I've been congested for 2 years straight, thanks, RA, for making my immune system crap). 

So, in an effort to stay positive, I am focusing on what we can do and on what I can control.  We will remember this year, how could we not?, but I want these holidays to be a lovely memory for my boys .  Yes, things were different, but December will still have that magic feeling and we will still make good memories, even if it's primarily just with us 4.

Here are a few of our family traditions that we can still do from home and/or mostly away from people!

Frost Christmas cookies while watching classic TV specials
Matt & I started doing this even before we had kids and this year we plan to let Sam join for the first time.  I'll cut-out and bake (hopefully with help from the boys) a whole bunch of Christmas cookies and then all four of us will sit down to frost and decorate them while watching classic Christmas TV specials.  I DVR'd and burned to DVD (our own personal DVDs, that I do not sell, which is perfectly legal) a whole bunch of the classic specials: Frosty, Rudolph, Charlie Brown, The Grinch, and I think there is one more? I did this back in 2008 or 2009, knowing someday we'd want easy access to those (thanks, prior Diana!)  We watch these while decorating cookies and it is absolutely delightful. 

Fantasy of Lights
A local park sets up a whole 2 mile loop of Christmas light displays.  We don't get out of the car and the only time we interact with anyone is while paying.  They even opened 2 weeks early this year.  We usually don't go until close to Christmas and have never waited in a line more than 10 minutes (then I heard horror stories from my sisters of waiting in line for hours.  YIKES.).  We did our annual fall hike in the park and mid-October and it's always strange going back two months later to see them all set-up!  

Seeing the lights downtown
This one is slightly different from years past, since the big lighting ceremony over Thanksgiving weekend was canceled this year but we'll still go downtown to park and walk around to see them all on our own.  We had to do this a few years ago when it was pouring rain for the official lighting ceremony and it was still really fun and festive AND much easier to find parking.  Maybe we should take along hot chocolate to sip while walking around??  Will be considering that.

Our traditional decorating movies
Luke & I watch White Christmas every year while decorating the Christmas tree, something I plan to do again this year.  And then maybe Elf (it takes us more than one movie to do the tree).  I usually end up doing most of the tree myself while he gets distracted by the movies or escapes to "help" Matt in the basement (Matt always makes himself scarce for the tree decorating, after I've already gotten him to haul a tree onto the roof of the Jeep, get it in the house, and help me hang the lights, he's earned his escape by then.).  

Boxing Day Stockings
We always open our stockings on Boxing Day, going back to the years when Matt & I were running between our two parents' houses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  It's nice to have one more things to look forward to after the joy on Christmas Day.  And, BONUS, Matt won't be working this day this year (since it's a Saturday) so we won't have to wait until he's home!  And we go one at a time to drag it out even more. 

Watching The Polar Express on Christmas Eve Eve
Luke was already asking to watch this with the snow we got this past weekend and I told him, not until Christmas Eve Eve!

Christmas Cards!
I personally love the act of both sending and receiving cards.  I love any mail any time of year that isn't a bill or a political ad or junk mail (although I have made dozens of calls to get off lists and we get very little now).  I think we've mostly determined you probably won't get COVID from the mail just wash your hands and all that so Christmas cards are safe.  I think the key to not making it a big deal is to 1) take care of them early (I have addressed mine on Thanksgiving Eve for over 10 years because that is my tradition) so there's not a time crunch.  And 2) I made a whole night of it with my favorite Christmas movie, The Family Stone, chex mix, and hot apple cider with caramel vodka.  Since we are seeing even fewer people this year I want to see their faces on a Christmas card!

I'll be planning out other Christmas movies for family movie night and involving the boys (well, Luke) in helping wrap his gifts to hand out.  I don't know what will happen with anything relating to the holidays outside of our own home BUT I do intend to do all we can to fill our home with joy and Christmas magic and keeping the boys' spirits cheerful.  Instead of looking at the things we can't do or might not get to do, I'm focusing on what I can orchestrate, mostly from home, and still keep the magic of Christmas.  

This year has required a lot of pivoting from all of us.  It took me months to realize I should just stop writing things on the calendar because they were more likely to get crossed off than to happen.  There is much outside of our control but I'd encourage you to focus on what you can control, what Christmas joy and magic you can create with the people closest to you.  It's not a year for a desolate Christmas, we all need more joy than probably most other years.  

We will still be celebrating Jesus' miraculous birth even if we are possibly celebrating from home (I am preparing myself for that so I will be delightfully surprised if we get to go in person!).  We will still be exchanging presents and decorating and eating more cookies than necessary.  It's going to look different but also the same in many ways.  Focusing on what we can do and the magic I can make really makes me very optimistic looking ahead to the next month.  It's still the most wonderful time of the year!