LivingAlyssa PonticelloWhat's AheadComment

MONTH AHEAD // DECEMBER 2024

LivingAlyssa PonticelloWhat's AheadComment
MONTH AHEAD // DECEMBER 2024

MONTH AHEAD // DECEMBER 2024

A TASTE OF THE MONTH AHEAD

 

EDITOR’S NOTE //

December has arrived and, I don’t know about you, but for me it always comes with such a mixed bag of emotions.

It’s this strange time of year where you’re both trying to slow down and savor the season but you also have a million and one things to do. Did you bake the cookies? Did you hang the stockings? Did you remember to get presents for everyone on your list?? And did you remember to wrap them, too? In the midst of it all this you’re also trying to finish everything for the current year (Heck maybe even finally start that thing that’s been on your list all year that you never seem to have time for so you keep pushing it off but now you’re almost out of time so why not try to finally accomplish it during the busiest season of the year!?) while simultaneously thinking clearly enough to start planning for the next year ahead. You’re constantly getting bombarded with sales and ads and emails and party invites and yet another gift you have to buy. You’re supposed to be out and about doing fun seasonal things but you’re working longer hours than ever, the days all seem to blend into one another and you definitely feel like you’re surviving not thriving. You’re constantly trying to make sure you don’t get sick so that when Christmas actually rolls around you can actually enjoy it. But you forget to eat lunch again and grabbed a protein bar on the run? And sleep? What is sleep?? Never heard of her!

And Christmas! You know, the actual reason for the season. Somehow, seemingly out of nowhere, it’s suddenly a mere 2 weeks away and you haven’t prepared…anything??! You feel the pressure to suddenly accomplish everything you somehow haven’t gotten to the other 11 months of the year, but you also feel ready to throw in the towel and circle back next year. You’re doing everything and nothing at the same time and it’s somehow both the most anxious time of year while also being the most exciting and fun. It’s all so exhilarating and exhausting, magical and maddenning. A weird melting pot of juxtapositions, if you will.

I’ve recently started journaling again every morning, brain dumping 2-4 pages as part of my morning routine, and I’ve also incorporated breath work into my routine. I’m not sure why I ever stopped either of them because both have done wonders for keeping me calm and helping me to slow down, be present, lower stress and ensure I’m not up all night tossing and turning and thinking about my to do list. Highly recommend and I hope you take this as your reminder to add in, or not lose sight of, the bits of your routine and day that help you to stay calm and centered, in this season and the next.

I’ve also added Advent reflections into my morning routine and so many of them having really been speaking to me and hitting home with their messages. Reminders on things like the art of doing nothing and leaning into what is truly important and letting go of what isn’t. This particular line in one of the recent reflections especially caught my attention and has stayed with me since I first heard it- “Things that matter most should never be at the mercy of things that matter least.”

It’s a reminder I need all the time, but especially during this hectic time of year. Maybe you need it too.

And speaking of one of those things that matter most is the art of doing nothing. At a time of year where schedules are more packed than ever, and it feels near impossible to get a minute to yourself is quite precisely the time you need it most. My Advent reflection reminded me in the midst of the madness it’s crucial to pause. These days we work more than ever. Both at our actual work and our unpaid work aka all the things we busy ourselves with and fill our time with, the to-do’s, the errands, the tasks, not to mention all the extra holiday to-do’s. And when I pause to reflect, it’s true. There isn’t a moment these days where I just sit and breath. Every moment is filled with something, even if it’s simply scrolling (unnecessarily and mindlessly) on social media.

Of course, certain times just simply require more from us. And I’d argue I happen to be in one of those times. November was an absolute gut punch to the soul and the ripple effects of being personally victimized by the second to last month of the year are continuing on into December.

I won’t bore you with too many details but our home has had all sorts of issues which have resulted in temporary relocations, construction, cleaning (so.much.cleaning) and just all around chaos. Did I mention our one and only car also decided to die and almost a month later it’s still tbh on when we will have it back again…if ever? Nothing like spending your holiday fun money on an unexpected car rental and car repairs instead. And as a cherry on top, I got some challenging health news made all the more difficult by knowing that the culprit was more than likely…stress. You don’t say?!

Needless to say it’s been a constant stream of endless tasks, to-do’s, errands and cleaning, all of which seem entirely necessary. And yet they’re leaving me feeling completely deflated and depleted at an already exhausting time of year. Forget even the holidays, I am just feeling entirely unprepared and completely behind…in life. Everyone has jumped two feet into Christmas. Meanwhile I’m thinking it’s a miracle that I somehow managed to even pull off a Thanksgiving dinner. I don’t have a single Christmas decoration up and I’m making peace with the fact that this may be the first year (ever) in my life that I won’t have a Christmas tree in my home.

The thing is I absolutely love this time of year. In fact, I live for it. The traditions, the nostalgia, the magic, the lights, the food, the festivities. It is, hands down, my favorite holiday.

But not this year. This year I feel like Mila Kunis’s character in Bad Moms Christmas. I’m over it, all of it.

The stress to make it all work and find the time to squeeze all the extra holiday things into an already over-packed schedule. The fact that it’s one of the busiest times of year for me with work (Solidarity with all my people working in media and retail this time of year. Oof!). The fact that I’ve been working on Christmas content since before August so by the time the actual holiday rolls around some of the joy has been taken out of it for me. Kind of a been there, done that, over it energy, if you will. The fact that the season can be filled with difficult emotions and triggers to challenging memories. The fact that in the midst of rushing around for the holidays you’re also simultaneously trying to squeeze in the 7568 goals you didn’t accomplish the other eleven months of the year, but somehow in the midst of the busiest month yet you decided, yes, this is the time I will finally get them done. And then you battle the feelings of failure when you inevitably don’t get them done. Because there’s nothing like ending the year on a high note.

And after all that, when it’s all said and done, on the other side of Christmas, is a holiday hangover, literally and figuratively, fueled by too much charcuterie, too many martinis, not enough sleep and nothing but January’s barren winter blues stretching wide open before you.

It’s a lot, for me, and I’m sure for you. I hope what I shared from my own Advent reflections resonate with you, and just know that I’m in solidarity with you trying to find a moment of peace and pause in the midst of savoring the season, getting the necessary things done, slowing down, preparing for a new year ahead and not letting the things that matter least get in the way of things that matter most.

xx

P.S. For all the fun and festive things of the season, you can find them on my HOLIDAY HUB PAGE. And if you’re still looking for gift ideas be sure to check out my GIFT GUIDE PAGE. I’ll be continuing to update both pages and will be adding fresh content over the course of the season so be sure to check back and feel free to reach out if you’re looking for any specific holiday recipes, gift ideas, etc.

 

HAPPENINGS //

WORDS TO LIVE BY //

Things that matter most should never be at the mercy of things that matter least.

WHAT I’M PINNING //

Check out my DECEMBER BOARD to see what’s inspiring me this holiday season

WHAT I’M GIFTING //

My favorite gifts to give are those with more meaning, something personal, something meaningful, something impactful, something sustainable, something that isn’t necessarily actually, well, something. But if you’re looking to go the more traditional gifting route, I’ve also rounded up some lovely and unique ideas for everyone in your life so if you’re still on the hunt for the perfect gift be sure to check out my GIFT GUIDES.

WHAT I’M COOKING //

I love festive food as much as the next person, but we can’t just survive on Christmas cookies and baked brie the whole season (or can we??!). So, while I’ve of course got cookies on the brain this month, I’m also thinking about what I can make for hosting guests, for cozy, nourishing weeknight meals and the bites in between all the madness, er, merriness. Here are a few recipes on my mind for this month-

WHAT I’M LOVING //

  • My favorite Christmas movie, Feast of the Seven Fishes, and show, Home for Christmas, playing on repeat. No really, we watch both at least once a week, if not more. They’re both currently available on Netflix so if you’re looking for something different (and better) to watch this season, this is it. Trust me.

  • Getting new cleaning products AND loving them is peak adulting, but if you have to clean you might as well make it as enjoyable as possible, right?! I love the scents of the Koala Eco products and this Homecourt surface cleaner for just that reason.

  • The HU Kitchen holiday chocolate bars are such a delicious and festive (but better for you) treat. My favorites are the raspberry hazelnut and peppermint mocha.

  • Another decadent (but better for you) treat is this bone broth hot chocolate. You might have seen various bone broth hot chocolate recipes making the rounds on social media, but I’m telling you the Paleovalley is the best of the best. I have a cup almost every day. Add a little cinnamon and nutmeg and it’s just chef’s kiss! It’s so rich and creamy and packed with benefits and you can’t even taste the bone broth. Promise!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO //

The Cozy Christmas Jazz playlist is THE holiday playlist. I’m telling you, you won’t need any other playlist this season.

WHAT I’M EYEING + BUYING //