Happy December 1! Every year, I am tempted by the grown-up Advent calendars. But I always talk myself out of it. Do I really need 24 tiny jars of jam or different teas or skincare products? The idea of a little treat every day in December really appeals to me, though. This year, I had a brilliant idea. I’d create my own Advent calendar out of things I already have! I did not physically create a calendar, but I wrote in my planner a little treat for each day in December that did not already include holiday fun (like a Christmas party or concert). Here are a few of my ideas. Let me know if you have any I could add to the list for this or future years.
Open one of my unopened tins of tea.
Use a face mask.
Take a bath with Epsom salts.
Light a scented candle.
Get a peppermint mocha from Starbucks.
Bake a favorite Christmas cookie recipe.
Paint a Christmas manicure.
Get out a holiday-scented soap.
Gift Recommendations
I haven’t written too many posts since last Christmas, so there’s not much to add to my Totally Unsolicited Holiday Gift Guide from last year. But here are a few things I’ve recommended over the past year that I think would make great gifts.
Long-sleeved waffle weave sweater (I actually have a purple one on my list for this year!)
What I Want for Christmas
Last year, a friend asked what she should ask for for Christmas and said she always has difficulty coming up with a list. I do *not* have that problem (ha!). I love giving gifts, love getting gifts, love reading about gifts other people give and get. So I hope this list helps if you need a little inspiration for your personal list. And leave a comment to let me know what you’re asking for for Christmas!
Because I love surprises, my strategy is to make my Christmas list very long so I never know which items I will actually get. Here’s some of the items on mine.
Pickleball paddles! - Our friends introduced Darby and me to pickleball, and we go about once a week to ACU to play. I LOVE it! Pickleball is the perfect sport for someone like me who has little to no athletic skill. We are able to use paddles from the gym, but those are of dubious quality, so I want my own.
Wireless earbuds - I lost my Apple AirPods (RIP), and since I can no longer trust myself to have such nice things, I’m requesting a cheaper (but still recommended) version.
L’Ange Le Duo airflow styler - I watched a friend of mine use this to curl her short hair on a trip, and I decided I need one for myself. It blows air as it curls so the curls set more quickly.
Mini tabletop fire pit - I think this would be fun for roasting s’mores without having my hair smell like a campfire, which I hate.
Pretty iPhone case - I LOVE pretty versions of everyday items. Rifle Paper Co. has some of the best designs, I think. I love everything they make.
Reverse coloring book - I heard about this on the Sorta Awesome podcast and thought it sounded so fun. The book has watercolor paintings, and you draw in the pen lines. I love art-adjacent activities that don’t require a lot of actual artistic skill.
Winter-patterned wool socks - I am all about wool socks over leggings with boots, and I’m in love with these cute winter ones.
Anomia party edition - I’ve had the base version of this game since college and absolutely love it, so I was so excited to see this new edition with new categories. It’s a great party game.
A dressy coat - I don’t have that many occasions for a dressy coat, but when there is one, I reeeally wish I had one. Somehow the old puffer just doesn’t always look exactly right. :)
Cookbooks - Even though I get a lot of recipes online, I still love flipping through cookbooks, especially ones with beautiful pictures. And I finally have a system in place that ensures I actually make recipes from the books I have. The ones on my list this year are Snacking Cakes by Yossy Arefi, Feed These People by Jen Hatmaker, and Dinner in One by Melissa Clark.
What gifts are you excited to give or receive? Do you do an Advent calendar? We are doing another escape room style game calendar this year as a family, and I’m pumped. We had a lot of fun with it last year. I’ll be back in a few weeks with my favorite books of 2023. I hope you have a happy first week of December!
Until next time,
Kayla
Add to advent calendar: lunch with Amber!