Concept | December
And…queue Frank Sinatra!
It’s that cozy, candle-lit time of year again full of fresh pine scents, gatherings with friends and family, and of course - delicious food. I’m excited to get in the kitchen a bit more myself this December and try some recipes that I’ve never experimented with before.
We’ve gotten our tree (what else is the weekend post Thanksgiving for anyway?) and are almost through with decorating our apartment. I’m a simple gal when it comes to holiday decor…nothing over the top. I prefer to stick to natural and organic plants/textures to help bring in the scents and aromas of the outdoors, paired with candles and lights everywhere.
December is always a fun and very social time of year. For me, it gets a bit taxing - with all the parties, gatherings, and dinners so I try to enter with a good plan for staying organized and balanced during such a hectic time. This year I’m (thankfully) a little more ahead of the game and have done a majority of my gifting early. Yet there are still those special people (looking at you grandma and grandpa) who I always struggle finding the perfect gift for. This year I’m going with something a bit more creative which I can’t wait to share soon. Hint: it has to do with photographs.
Always for me, this time of year is about balance. I thrive on repetition and more often than not, the holidays tend to upend a routine like no other. I’m going to try and be mindful of setting time aside for myself - to enjoy my coffee before rushing out the door, or open a special bottle of wine for a quiet dinner at home. Sometimes we put so much pressure on how the “big events”, like parties or cocktail hours turn out that we forget sometimes the smaller moments are just as special during this cozy and festive time of year.
I’m planning to talk more about staying balanced through (and after) the holiday season with a couple of easy steps. Its super easy to go off the deep end with all of the decadent indulgences that this time of year has to offer, so I thought it might be helpful to write about my healthy and mindful practices for staying on routine. Stay tuned!
Happy December folks! Hope it’s a merry one.
A few things I’m up to this month
Making my grandma’s famous Linzer cookies
Taking a jaunt around the neighborhood to look at all the pretty houses and their lights
Giving back - I’ve donated and plan to donate again to the recent victims of the California wildfires you can do so here!
Marathoning holiday movies (White Christmas, The Holiday, and Love Actually to name a few)
Recipe testing! I can’t wait to crack open the Bon Apetite mag that just arrived today…
