If you have been following us for a while, you know that we do a Friday Favorites every Friday with one item that we love, and then we added in a Friday Favorites post each month that showcases some of our favorite items for the entire month. December has flown by so fast, and I feel like I just did November’s post.
December started off as a whirlwind of thinking I was ahead for the Christmas season, followed with lots of Christmas concerts and holiday parties at school, ending with the normal rushing around and feeling behind. Of course, December always ends with Christmas and family, over in what seems like an instant, and then reflecting back on the importance of the season and setting new goals for the upcoming year.
My Friday Favorites for December seem to be based around the coziness of the season, as well as looking ahead to goals for the New Year.
Number 1:
One of my favorite items that I use throughout the year, and especially the month of December as I plan out the holiday festivities and meals and then make goals for the upcoming year, is a notebook. I am a list maker, so I am constantly picking up my pen and jotting down lists and notes to myself. This notebook is so pretty that you are sure to want to make lists and notes in it!
Number 2:
Of course, after going on what seems like a month-long eating binge, starting with Thanksgiving and ending with sugar cookies and eggnog, you are probably like me and are starting to think about eating a bit more healthy. SkinnyTaste’s One & Done cookbook is perfect for planning some healthy meals that are made using “one vessel, whether that’s an Instant Pot, a slow cooker, an air fryer, a sheet pan, a Dutch oven, a grill pan, or a skillet.” This cookbook is chockful of recipes that are family friendly, flavorful, and easy go-to meals.
Number 3:
Soaking in a bubble bath at the end of a long day is my idea of perfection. Adding in a glass of wine, a lit candle, and a book is one way that I could probably end up spending all night. This bathtub caddy tray has a spot for each of these items, and is adjustable to fit most tubs.
Number 4:
After you get out of your relaxing bath, grab an eye mask to freshen up your eyes and give yourself a quick spa evening at home. After any long day, these eye patches will help to brighten under your eyes and de-puff the tiredness right away.
Number 5:
Although I love the kids home over Christmas break, they craziness of the holidays and the toys strewn all over can leave you feeling a bit stressed and even more tired. Wake up by treating yourself to some of Starbuck’s Caramel Macchiato creamer added to your cold brew coffee. Believe me, you will not regret it. (And then add in another glass in the afternoon for a pick-me-up, and even an evening glass to make it until bedtime. No shame in that!!)
Number 6:
Do you ever look back after a picture has been taken and think, “What?!?! I thought I looked good, and I look really tired!” The lack of Vitamin D has caught up with us all by December. Grab a bottle of this sunless tanning lotion to add a little color to your pale skin. Added bonus, you will look like you just got back from a tropical beach vacation, even if it was really just a visit to see your favorite sister in Illinois 😉
Number 7:
The dry winter air takes such a toll on my skin. Do your feet feel a little like alligator’s skin right now? I have tried all kinds of fancy foot lotions, and this is what I keep going back to. Lather it on daily, once in the morning and then right before bed, and you will not be embarrassed to throw on sandals when we have mid-60 degree temps in the middle of December like we did yesterday.
Number 8:
The end of one year and the beginning of the next is the perfect time to reflect on yourself and set resolutions. Set a goal for the upcoming year, and then really prioritize that goal and set out to slay it. All too often we set goals for the New Year that are crazy and unattainable, or that we will brush to the wayside within a week (or even a day). Don’t give yourself a laundry list of resolutions, but instead pick one and then concentrate on making it a daily goal that will eventually become a habit.
Number 9:
Santa gifted these Gratitude Journals to my girls in their stockings, and I love them! It opens up an opportunity for them to reflect on their day and express their feelings. They are meant to not take long for them to fill out, and is really the perfect way to open up a daily discussion on gratitude.
Number 10:
Of course great friends that are like family had to make the list of my favorites for December …. and every month!
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas, full of family and togetherness, and are looking forward to new beginnings in the New Year!
-Callie
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