December is such a whirl of contrasts. For many of us, it’s filled with festive outings, decorating, baking, delicious food, celebrations, and overall merriment. Meanwhile, you’re trying to finish up work for the year amid the festivities and everyone feeling burnout, topped with the overall weight and frustration of so many things around us.
Then you have this last week of December where you’re holding on to the sparkle while the pressure of changing your personality in a few days keeps popping up. It’s all a bit of a seesaw experience punctuated by the fact that the cold and gray has settled in here in the Midwest.
Oy humbug. So where does that leave us on Jan. 1? Here’s what’s on my mind:
Being more intentional with social plans amid the cold and gray: coffee catch-ups, indoor walk and talks and setting the dates for a plant swap and Galentine’s Day.
Gratitude for my health, the people in my life and feeling safe in my home. Too often I forget how precious these are.
I’m not one for resolutions, but I do usually set a small and specific habit goal. In the past it’s been environment focused (composting, reusable bags, bring my own coffee cup and takeout containers, installing a rain barrel) but this year I’m going to aim for regularly cleaning out my digital clutter — photos, emails, saved posts — I’m setting a monthly reminder to help.
… but I could get behind a Pasta Quest.
January Cure. I’ve done this since the first year and I both dread and love it. It feels very needed this year, plus I’ve conned enough friends into doing this every year so we can commiserate and celebrate together.
This quote from Simi Botic from an episode of the Unmeasured podcast keeps coming to mind, “I don't think, as adults, we should spend our energy trying to figure out how to be someone we don't even want to be.”
What’s on your mind heading into a New Year? Are you resolving? Makings ins and outs? Celebrating the version of yourself you are today?
Answers in the pages…
Poverty, by America, Matthew Desmond
This book has made several year-end best of nonfiction lists and for good reason. It’s an essential read (or listen, I did the audiobook) that weaves important to understand history and stats along with personal stories. The state of poverty in America is infuriating and heartbreaking, but most most importantly this book explains what it means to commit to poverty abolitionism.
sociological nonfiction / pair with this episode of Vibe Check / read if, well I think everyone should read this
Lagom, Niki Brantmark
Lagom, hygee, the Scandinavian countries seem to have balance and coziness figured out (at least compared to America). Nothing groundbreaking here, but it was a lovely book to flip through before sleep.
nonfiction / pair with an early bedtime / read if you’re looking for SAD coping strategies
Better Not Cry, Augusten Burroughs
This one starts with laugh-out-loud nostalgic moments of childhood Christmases and as the author grows up, the holiday becomes more dark, but ends with hope. The excellent writing makes this one worthy of your holiday reading list next year.
Christas memoir/ pair with gingerbread / read if you want to commiserate around holiday hijinks
Faking Christmas, Kerry Winfrey
The Kerry Winfrey stack continues! This was a fun one — a modern take on Christmas in Connecticut set in central Ohio. The family traditions and Midwest vibes were my favorite and Winfrey writes the best love interests. Plus, anyone who puts in black and white what a babe Jimmy Stewart was deserves accolades.
Christmas romance / pair with a cookie dance party / read if you’re not ready to let go of the holidays
Winter in New York, Josie Silver
Spanning across seasons, this isn’t overly Christmasy if you’re one for a New York set romance. The plot dragged a bit for me and I thought the main conflict was weak and left me frustrated — but! I did enjoy learning about the real-life inspiration for it.
Christmas romance / pair with gelato / read if you’re missing family
Answers online…
Did you pick up something new like I suggested last month? Is it frustrating you? Good news, there’s freedom in openly sucking. Trust me, come to a dance workout class with me sometime.
Mr. Brightside “now belongs to a pantheon of modern classics that are both extremely of their time and transcend it.”
Answers in the kitchen…
The real stars of the kitchen this month were all. the. cookies. These are my favorite.
And more: Shepherd’s pie. BBQ veg burgers. Carrot apple soup. My go-to chicken recipe. Lentil soup. Cranberry kale quinoa salad. An easy crockpot meal.
Answers elsewhere…
It’s puzzle season, baby! This was a fun one over Christmas.
See you next month when I may be less humbug, but probably not because to quote Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, “it's gonna be cold, it's gonna be grey, and it's gonna last you for the rest of your life.”