Happy December and perhaps more importantly, happy beginning of the holiday season. Normally I’m a post-first week of December kind of gal, but this year December 1st was it for me. I am ready to decorate everything and soak up all of the holiday coziness at home this year. November felt like a long one and a short one all at the same time. One minute we were watching people dance in the streets of Brooklyn after the elections results, and the next thing we knew we were eating turkey at a table for five. This is definitely one of those “the days are long, but the weeks/months are short” kind of years and November was no exception. Here’s what we’ve been up to:

READING

  • Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier ****
  • We Were Liars by E. Lockhart *****
  • Recursion by Blake Crouch ****
  • The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab ****
  • Hands Down by Mariana Zapata ****

BAKING/MAKING

  • this lemon butter chicken was amazing. A lot more work than our usual weeknight dinners, but it was so, so worth it.
  • butternut squash soup which we topped with crispy bacon, toasted pepitas and a sprinkle of goat cheese. I already cannot wait to make this again.
  • these Italian Lemon Cookies were AMAZING. I immediately regretted not doubling the recipe. Definitely adding them to the Christmas cookie bake list
  • also a batch of snickerdoodles for one no-good-very-bad day of work for the boys
  • this hot chocolate recipe, which was so ridiculously good. It was super rich, so much so that you really only need a half a mug (or even less!) WAY better than the pre-mixed packets.
  • these parker house rolls that I made for Thanksgiving were delish! I don’t think they’re going to be THE roll recipe I stick with, but they didn’t disappoint.

EATING

  • so much stovetop popcorn! It is SO good when you make it with coconut oil, I crave it almost every night when we sit down to watch tv after dinner
  • quite a few more flagels with jalapeño cream cheese. So yum.

DRINKING

  • made these skinny margaritas for election night, and while I liked them, they were much more drink-able when we added some seltzer. A work in progress.
  • it was a red wine month! Lots with dinners and on random nights where happy hour was just plain necessary.

LISTENING TO

  • Lovely Day by Bill Withers – a classic that’s definitely been having a moment this month
  • Pristine by Mantaraybryn – impossible not to dance around while this is playing.

WATCHING

  • Friday Night Lights on Hulu – can’t stop, won’t stop!!! I am obsessed.
  • Holiday Baking Championship – this show is our guilty pleasure. Ry and I both LOVE it and look forward to every Monday night. We started watching it when we first moved in together, and every new season reminds me of that first month in our brand new apartment two years ago. It’s so nostalgic for me!
  • Rebecca on Netflix – watched this with Courtney after our buddy-read of the book. Shocking news… but I think we both liked the movie better than the book!
  • The Undoing on HBO – can’t believe my MOM recommended us a show, but she did! And we binged the first three episodes on a random Friday night and were hooked. I think we could have watched the entire series that night if it were available, but even more exciting that we can watch in real-time – a novelty these days! If you haven’t watched this already, I highly advise it.

LOVING

  • Cholula Hot Sauce Sweet Habanero – a hot sauce favorite! We are a biiiiiiig hot sauce household and always have 5 or 6 bottles open in the fridge. I had bought this over the summer, and actually finished it this month! Finishing a hot sauce? Unheard of. This one is my absolute favorite! It’s spicy with just a touch of sweetness. In other words, it’s perfect. Especially on scrambled eggs.
  • Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel – I have had these for probably two years and found them shoved in the back of our medicine cabinet this month. I used one and IMMEDIATELY noticed a difference in the texture of my skin. It eliminated any roughness, and left me with smooth, glowing skin. I’ve been using these any time my skin is feeling dull and it seriously is like a five minute facial. They’re pricey but I swear they work wonders! Definitely something to consider purchasing from the few and far between Sephora sales – I got another box and am so glad I did.
  • Plantifique Natural Superfoods Foot Peel Masks – saw these on TikTok one night and Ry ordered them on a whim. Let me tell you, these worked better than any pedicure “extra” I’ve ever had. In one week we both had baby soft feet and not a trace of dead skin. I don’t know how it works, but it is AMAZING. We already can’t wait to do another one.
  • Quinn!!! – unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know we got a PUPPY!! And she is amazing. I promise a full into post is coming this week or next.
  • If you don’t have one of theses veggie choppers in your kitchen, you NEED one!! Ironically I have had one in my kitchen for two years that I didn’t even realize I had. I pulled it out of the cabinet to chop some onion for tacos, and ended up making a super quick pico de gallo with my jaw on the floor at how well it worked. I have used it so many times since and I can’t get enough of it. BEST gadget.
  • I basically lived in this shirt the entire month. I have barely gotten any new clothes this year because, hello sweatpants, but I did buy this and it was money well spent. The most comfortable. Washes really well and makes you sooooort of look like you have it together, but really it just feels like wearing a sweatshirt.

DOING

  • VOTING! – handed in my absentee ballot on Election Day and crossed a major item off my fall bucket list.
  • Christmas shopping – you guys I am basically DONE shopping! I did an insane amount of ordering on Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year and I am so happy to say that I only have a few small things left on my list to buy. AND I’m even halfway wrapped. Imagine that. 2020 confinement is good for something after all.
  • Playing cards – back to 2020 circa March and playing poker on the weekends at the dining room table. I wonder if playing cards with my family will always remind me of pandemic life…

CELEBRATING

  • Our 8 Year Anniversary! – just a quick evening trip to the beach where we got engaged. We went for a long walk, had a special bottle of wine with dinner and played poker. It was a special one in its own weird little way ❤️
  • Thanksgiving – In similar fashion, it was a strange one, but a good one. We made the most of a less than ideal situation and for that it will always be memorable. Mom and I cooked dinner together and Dad picked up raspberry cream pie from Briermere out East. If anything, 2020 has made me so incredibly thankful for the little things, and especially for quality time with family.

sending hugs and one giant load of Christmas cheer

with love, jak