MONTH AHEAD // DECEMBER 2021

MONTH AHEAD // DECEMBER 2021

 

MONTH AHEAD // DECEMBER 2021

A SMALL TASTE OF WHAT'S COMING UP THIS MONTH

 

 

Editorโ€™s Note //

You know youโ€™ve officially reached the busiest time of the year whenโ€ฆyouโ€™re three days late to posting Decemberโ€™s โ€œMonth Aheadโ€. But itโ€™s also my favorite time of year and holiday content is some of my favorite to create and share, so late or not, this post was happening.

On the busy note- does anyone else feel like this yearโ€™s busy season is, well, extra busy? Or is it just me? I feel miles behind in all the things I need to do, Iโ€™m struggling to find a second to do even one of the many festive things I love about this season, and the other day, when I was mapping out my calendar for the month, it somehow looked like Christmas was about to be here in .2 seconds. So much for savoring the season??! Ha!

Hereโ€™s the thing. I know this is always my busiest time of year, work wise. And yet, every year, Iโ€™m always determined to make the most of the season and do alllll the holiday things, even though I end up not being able to. But this year, Iโ€™ve been feeling so especially strung out, I had almost convinced myself we were too busy to even get a Christmas tree. I mean, too busy to go pick out an already cut tree???! What is wrong with me and who even am I??! That was a full stop moment for me to check in and say โ€œSomethingโ€™s got to giveโ€ and that something shouldnโ€™t be the something that is festive, merry and bright and brings me so much joy, especially after another, shall we say, less than normal year.

So we got ourselves a tree. It still remains undecorated, along with the rest of the house. But we have a tree, and it look pretty and smells good and has been bringing me insane amounts of joy in the midst of another busy week, so thatโ€™s all that really matters.

Iโ€™ll be spending the rest of this busy month figuring out what else has โ€œgot to giveโ€ so that I can squeeze in more of what actually matters, even if itโ€™s just baking pre-made holiday cookies instead of making them fully from scratch, or checking out the holiday lights on the way to run errands versus going for a full on holiday drive. I hope you can find ways to do the same and add some festive holiday joy into this busy month, too!

xx

 

ON THE SITE //

WEAR cozy, carefree looks that Iโ€™ve been living in + maybe a holiday party outfit or two along with some favorite makeup products for festive holiday looks

EAT a classic Christmas cookie

WANDER finally going to be sharing the pictures from our magical winter wonderland Switzerland trip that we took before the world went upside down

CELEBRATE a few festive updates to the holiday HQ page

GIVE updating my โ€œgifts that give backโ€ page

IN MY WORLD //

what Iโ€™m pinning // my DECEMBER INSPO BOARD is getting me in the spirit with all the cozy, wintery, festive feels

what Iโ€™m watching // all the holiday classics (ya know, like The Holiday and Elf), the cheesy holiday Hallmark movies (much to Daveโ€™s dismay) and re-watching my favorite European holiday show (that I discovered last year) at least a million times while I not-so-patiently hope/wait for them to come out with a third season (itโ€™s just so goodโ€ฆ.set in the perfect wintery setting, funny, romantic, relatable, Christmas vibes, good music, episodes are short enough to watch on weeknightsโ€ฆI mean can you tell why Iโ€™m watching on repeat?!)

what Iโ€™m listening to // speaking of said favorite holiday show, Iโ€™m also listening to the showโ€™s playlist on repeat (I know, big shocker) as well as my holiday playlist and Iโ€™m also really loving this playlist of chill holiday tunes

what Iโ€™m following on Instagram // I donโ€™t know how but I somehow just discovered this account and Iโ€™m obsessed! Inspo, style, European vibes, aesthetics, all on-point!

what Iโ€™m cooking // lots of cozy, festive pastas (like this one and this one), warm and nourishing soups and Christmas cookies (le duh!)

what Iโ€™m shopping for // finishing up gift shopping and trying to find some new chic winter coats that donโ€™t cost my entire life savings (Who knew this was so hard to do?!). So far Iโ€™ve got this one (use code ALYSSA15 to get 15% off) and Iโ€™ve got my eye on this one as a good budget option as well as this one (canโ€™t believe itโ€™s 100% wool for that price!)