December Goals

Happy Monday and first day of December! I cannot believe that it's already December. This year has truly flown by, especially the last few months. Although I'm sad that fall will be over soon and winter will arrive in just a couple of weeks, I'm looking forward to the holidays. I'm also looking forward to winter.

As always, November was a very busy month. In fact, it seemed like November was busier than usual. It was a month full of events, celebrations, and spending time with family. We went to Raphael's Thanksgiving feast at his school, celebrated Vivi's first birthday, and went to Mami's house for Thanksgiving. 

We had another low-key Thanksgiving, and honestly, it was perfect. We spent the morning resting and relaxing until it was time to go over to Mami's. 

The next day, I went shopping, and I'm so happy I stuck to the things on my list. I'm really trying to be more intentional with my shopping, especially for this holiday season. I'm happy to report that it's going really well. I also went shopping on Small Business Saturday and was so excited to shop at my favorite local businesses. I even went to a new-to-us pizza spot and really enjoyed their food.

This month, I'm looking forward to a few events in my city. I'm looking forward to a few school and holiday events. I can't wait to check out the Kris Kringle Market after the Christmas tree lighting. I can't wait for the holidays and am looking forward to watching so many holiday movies and shows. 

This month, I'm going to give myself grace. I want to focus on enjoying this month, crossing things off my list, enjoying the days leading up to the holidays, and welcoming winter with open arms. I'm still going to keep working on my monthly goals. However, if I don't accomplish any of them or even try to work on them, then I'm not going to give myself a hard time about it. 

Since I mentioned monthly goals, let's recap my November goals and check out my new goals for December.

Recap of November Goals

• Read 2 books I borrowed from the library: I read 20 books I borrowed from the library. Most of the books were children's books that Raphael and I read together. He's been on a Creepy Carrots kick and is now really into Jory John's Food Group series. I'm currently on a Humans of New York kick and have been reading the books in the series. I read Nora Ephron's I Remember Nothing and loved it. 

• Read 2 books I received from NetGalley: I didn't finish the two books I was reading, but I am very close. I should be done with at least one of them by the end of the first week of December.

• Participate in Exhale's November blog hop: I didn't participate this month. I had a few ideas, but couldn't decide on a format for my piece. I'm hoping to work on this prompt in December, since I think it would work for this month and the winter season.

• Try 1 new recipe: I tried a chicken nacho recipe and added a few things to make it my own. It turned out surprisingly well. I love how quick and easy it was to make. The kids loved it, and I plan to add it to our go-to lunch/dinner rotation.

• Make 1 scrapbook/Project Life layout: I actually forgot about this goal until the last day of November. Honestly, my excuse is I was swamped in November, and I'm still dealing with this awful creative rut. 

• Work on the latest round of the Here: Five Things course: I worked on a couple of the prompts, but did not finish. I may try to complete them in December. I'm really hoping that December is the month that my creative rut subsides.

December Goals

• Read 3 books I borrowed from the library
• Read 1 book I received from NetGalley
• Participate in Exhale's December blog hop
• Try 2 new recipes
• Make 2 scrapbook/Project Life layouts
• Participate in Jo Blaker's Winter Trees daily drawing challenge
• Work in my sketchbook/journal

What are your goals for December? How did you do in November?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

November 2025 // A List

1. Well, my goodness, November! If October was a whirlwind, I don't even know how to describe you. Sure, there were some slow days, but overall, I feel like you arrived, I blinked, and now it's time for you to go.

2. The first week of November is always a strange one. I'm usually still on a Halloween kick with bits of Christmas excitement mixed in. And a dash of Thanksgiving anticipation. 

3. The weather gave me whiplash. Some days were unseasonably warm, and then the next day, winter popped by to say hello. The past few days have been cold (I'm talking high 20s and 30s in the mornings), but a bit warmer in the afternoons. I wish it would just stay one weather. It's always tricky deciding what to wear in the morning because I wonder whether to wear a coat or a sweater.

4. I started lighting a candle every night in November. I absolutely love it. I've even indulged in quite a few candlelight baths. It's absolutely relaxing and a new favorite part of my self-care routine. 

5. Thanksgiving was full of celebrations. We went to Raphael's Thanksgiving feast at school and had a blast. Raphael was so excited to show us his desk and introduce us to his friends. 

6. We also celebrated Vivi's first birthday. I can't believe she's a year old now! I remember holding her when she was still an infant. 

7. Thanksgiving was a success. We went to Mami's for dinner. I love that Mami already had her Christmas decorations out and on display. She did a fantastic job decorating her home. 

8. I'm trying to be intentional with shopping during the holiday season. So even though I don't usually get up early on Black Friday, I did this year. I was able to buy a few things we needed and a few gifts here and there. I also did a bit more shopping on Small Business Saturday. I really want to support more local businesses, and I'm happy to say I found quite a few gifts made or sold by local shops. 

9. There is nothing like a moody sky in November. 

10. A song on repeat: Tell Ur Girlfriend by Lay Bankz

11. November was a good month for reading. I read so many great books. I read a mix of fall/Halloween books, Christmas books, nonfiction, romance, essay collections, and children's books. 

12. I've been on a Humans of New York kick. I finished reading Humans of New York a couple of days ago. Now I'm reading Human of New York: Stories. Next up will be Humans. I put Dear New York on hold at my library.

13. We need to put our Christmas decorations up. I'm hoping to put the tree up by December 1st. 

14. I loved seeing the holiday decorations in our city's downtown square. I can't wait to see them at night, and I'm looking forward to the Christmas tree lighting. 

15. We tried a new-to-us pizza spot, Ruby's Sourdough Pizza, and loved it. 10/10 highly recommend.

16. The state of the country is still worrying and angering me. Every day, it's something new, and yet I'm also not surprised. 

17. My creative rut is still here, but I've found some inspiration in a few things. I'm hoping this means I will be working on a few projects, or at least my sketchbook/journal, in December. I'm planning to join a daily challenge in December, and I'm looking forward to it. I'm giving myself grace, and if I miss a few days or choose not to complete a few prompts that I'm not into, then that's ok. 

18. Thanksgiving Break was a much-needed, much-wanted, and much-appreciated week off. I'm sad that it's almost over. However, I feel more rested and at ease. 

19. So long, November. You were a busy month, but I'm so grateful for the slow, cozy days that were sprinkled in here and there. Oh, December. I already know it's going to be a busier month than November. Here's to a month full of joy, peace, hope, family, and festive cheer. May December be a month full of magic. 

Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

If You and I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet up at one of our favorite coffee shops that's near the grocery store. It's the day before Thanksgiving, so we'll take our drinks to go, brave the crowd at the grocery store, and buy the last-minute things we forgot to buy earlier in the week. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. It'll be nice to spend time with family, eat good food, and watch the Thanksgiving Day parade. I'm also looking forward to playing board games, reading a good book, and maybe (hopefully) taking a nap.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I can't believe November is almost over. This month flew by even faster than October. I'm excited for December. I already know December is going to be another busy month. I just looked at my calendar, and my jaw dropped at all the events, appointments, and meetings I have already scheduled. I am already looking forward to our two-week holiday break. It is very much deserved.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm still dealing with this creative rut. The main issue is that I'm having trouble deciding which journal/notebook to use. It seems like every time I sit down to make something and look at several new notebooks and journals, I end up unable to pick which one to use. The sketchbook is either too big or too small. Or it doesn't have the right paper. I've been thinking of using my Get Messy Art Journal, and it would be a perfect sketchbook, but I wish it were smaller. Then I think about using a Moleskine sketchbook or a watercolor sketchbook, but I can't decide which paper to use. I've also been unable to decide whether to use a landscape or portrait sketchbook. Every time I think I've made my decision, I end up changing my mind, and then I get frustrated. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I can't wait to put up our Christmas tree and Christmas lights. I'm also looking forward to buying a new ornament for the tree. This is one of my favorite family traditions. We'll visit a few of our favorite small businesses to check out the ornaments. I'm also really excited to check out the Kris Kringle Market during our city's Christmas tree lighting. A few of my favorite vendors and small businesses will have their booths set up. I can't wait. 

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I have been devouring Terry's Chocolate Snowballs. These are so good. I've tried the original Terry's Chocolate Orange, and it's pretty good too. I've also been drinking a lot of hot chocolate, and sometimes I'll add a piece of chocolate like Ghirardelli squares or even a slice of Terry's chocolate to it. 10/10 highly recommend.

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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Just Five Things

1. We're on Thanksgiving Break, and this week off work is much-needed. I feel like I've been non-stop busy since October. I haven't really posted much here except for my Happy and Grateful lists. I'm hoping to write more soon. It seems my creative rut is slowly creeping into my writing, and I'm not happy about it. Or maybe it's just my body and mind telling me that I need to rest. Either way, I've been giving myself grace, and surprisingly, I'm not too stressed about not creating much recently, but I do wish this creative rut would just go away. I think I just really want to know what is causing my creative rut. 

2. I'm in my candle era. I'm pretty sure I've mentioned this before, but I have so many unused candles. However, lately, I've been lighting a candle every night, and it's been such a balm to my soul. It's a new part of my self-care routine, and I love it.

3. I saw this really cool DIY Drippy Candle Plate, and now I want to try to make one. It would look really great on our dining room table. Even though the video lists this DIY for Fall, I think it would be perfect for winter too. 

4. I went grocery shopping with Mami over the weekend to prepare for our Thanksgiving feast, and I was hit with a heavy dose of nostalgia. It may seem silly, but it really warmed my heart to do this simple thing with Mami. It reminded me of my childhood. 

5. I'm currently reading several books. I'm still on a Halloween kick, so some of the books are Halloween-themed. However, I'm also reading Christmas-themed books, too. I'm still slowly reading Mary Oliver's Little Alleluias, and so far I'm enjoying it. I've been reading a few poems and some prose before bed. It's been a good way to wind down.

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Saturday! Today I'm sharing my happy and grateful list. It was a pretty great week. I've read, listened, and watched so many good things. We had a few fun events happen, too. Also, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas (even though Thanksgiving hasn't arrived yet). What are some things that made you happy or grateful this week?

1. It was a busy week, but a highlight of the week was going to Raphael's Thanksgiving Feast at his school. It was nice to join his class and check out the work he's been doing. He was so excited to show us his drawings that he had made with one of his friends. 

2. I watched The Nun II, and now I want to do a Conjuring series rewatch. #spookyseasonforever

3. The Pender Island Fire Rescue's Twilight parodies have had me cackling.

4. A Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate. A bit sweet, but so delicious.

5. A song on repeat: Slow Motion by Charlotte Lawrence

6. This is the good stuff.

7. I received a paperback copy of Cleo Wade's Remember Love from Random House, and I'm so happy to read this new version of the book. I'm excited to check out the annotations. I remember when I first read the book, I absolutely devoured it. 

8. I bought these amazing joggers from Old Navy. The name, SoComfy, suits these joggers because they really are comfy and so soft. I also bought a couple of Old Navy's Dynamic Fleece Jogger Sweatpants. These sweatpants are a great alternative to their SleekTech Cargo Joggers. They are perfect for colder weather and for staying indoors, too.

9. I love the pops of color in this home.

10. We're officially on Thanksgiving Break, and I am so grateful to have the week off work. I can't wait to spend time with my family, eat good food, watch some fun holiday movies, and listen to Christmas music.

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Sunday! Today I'm sharing my happy and grateful list. With the current state of the country (and the world), I believe it's important to remember the things that make us happy and grateful. For me, this weekly ritual is an essential part of my self-care. Also, it's nice to balance out the good and the not-so-great.

1. I don't usually get excited about movies, but I just saw the teaser trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2, and I can't wait to watch it! 

2. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I've already asked the boys what they would like for Christmas, and I've been making all the lists. We are planning to shop for a new holiday ornament (love this tradition!). I'm also planning to go through all my holiday clothes and accessories to start preparing for my staff's holiday spirit dress-up days. 

3. I absolutely love the idea of mothering myself. This was such a good reminder. 

4. A song on repeat: Hurricane by The Aces

5. "You are more than the roles that you play in other people's lives." -Alex Elle

6. I finished reading I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron and absolutely loved it. Now I'm on a Nora Ephron kick and just picked up a copy of I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman.

7. On Saturday, I went to The Read Shop and tried their Gingerbread Latte. It was so delicious. I also stopped by my new go-to bakery, McEntyre's Bakery, and bought some thumbprint cookies, gingerbread men cookies, ginger bears cookies, and a strawberry cream cheese croissant. We devoured the thumbprint cookies. I may have to start making these at home, especially since it's cookie season. For the holiday season, I may try to make a different type of cookie (maybe a cake or some pastry) every week.

8. We celebrated my baby niece, Vivi's, first birthday and we all had a blast. It was great spending time with my family and seeing my nieces and nephews. I say this every time, but they are growing so much. I can't believe that my oldest nephew will be an adult next year. And now my youngest niece is a year old! 

9. Old Navy's Super Cash began over the weekend, and I definitely took advantage of all the sales. The boys needed some new cold-weather clothes (they are growing so fast). I also have my eye on a few pants and joggers for myself. 

10. We only have five more days before Thanksgiving Break begins, and I'm so excited. I'm ready to spend time with family, eat delicious food, watch a couple of movies or shows, play some board games, and rest. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Saturday! Today I'm linking up with Charlotte for a weekly happy and grateful list link up.

1. I lit my first candle for the fall/winter season, and it brought me so much joy. In fact, I can't remember the last time I lit a candle besides a birthday candle. I have all these candles that I either bought or received as gifts, but have yet to light them. This season, I'm in my candle era, and I plan to light a candle every evening. 

2. I recently learned about Fridge Finder, which is a website/app that allows people to find community fridges that contain free food in New York. I think it would be so cool to have this all over the country. 

3. John and I played a few rounds of Guess Who? and tried to teach Raphael how to play the game. I hadn't played Guess Who? in years, and it was so exciting to play it again. In fact, we (mainly me) haven't played many other board games in a while, but we plan to change that. There's just something about playing board games during fall and winter that soothes me. 

4. A song on repeat: Golden Brown x Love Story (Slowed and Reverb). I really like this mashup. 

5. This is so sweet. 

6. And this made me cackle. 

7. I returned a stack of library books and can't wait until the next batch of books I've placed on hold is ready to be picked up. One of the books I plan to read next is I Remember Nothing by Nora Ephron.

8. On the wishlist: This Speckled Ceramic Stubby Candle Holder. Also, this Brass Garland Golden Leaf Garland would look perfect around the candle holder. Shout out to Joanna Goddard of Cup of Jo and Big Salad for recommending this on The Good Trade's newsletter. 

9. The results of the November 4, 2025, elections gave me some hope. May people continue to ensure their voices are heard and continue to vote in every election.

10. I'm so glad it's the weekend, and it's going to be a much-needed, laid-back weekend, which I'm grateful for. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

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