As expected, December was a whirlwind…

WHAT I/WE DID

Well, December feels far away now, especially the beginning of the month, when so much has happened. Of course, we had family visiting, so we spent time with them, played tourist a little more, and visited Clearwater. That included the Clearwater Aquarium, which I recommend visiting if you’re in the area (they are a non-profit dedicated to caring for and saving sea life).

Once our family left, I went full speed on “settling” and organizing as I felt like I was behind on everything. Finally, days before Christmas, I felt the magic of it, when several things that had been major stressors just resolved themselves, all in the course of two days. It was a huge relief and it provided well-needed joy for the holiday season just in time.

The holidays brought peace, joy, and reflection as we’ve moved on into a new year.

December BLOG POSTS ROUNDUP

December was clearly a slow month on the blog as I reluctantly took a needed break. I did, however, publish 3 posts…

November at a glance. The monthly overview from the month-at-a-glance series.

Statement pieces for your holiday outfit. When it comes to holiday style, I say that you don’t have to be decked from head to toe in order to be the “life of the party”. A few statement pieces can do the talking for you…

5 things that bring me joy this week. While I didn’t want to break the weekly habit of sharing the small things that bring joy, as it turns out, I only published this list once in December… But I think it was a good one 😉.

What I bought

In truth, December is now a blur, and while I know this is not the only purchase, this bag comes to mind.

I am no expert in leather (the maker claims it’s made of it), but this bag is gorgeous! It’s well made and honestly, it looks high-end for a great price. I definitely recommend it!

What we watched

With cooler, and even rainy weather especially on weekends, we spent cozy evenings watching movies and getting caught up on some TV shows:

The Morning Show. I find this show consistently entertaining, even if intense.

The Crown. To be honest, I am glad this show is over. This wasn’t my favorite season for various reasons, but I have to admit that the final episode and ending left me choked up with tears.

Spirited. Cute and silly, but entertaining.

Family Switch. Cute and what felt like an “old school” family movie, or should I say, deja vu?

Love Actually. I won’t lie, I love this movie — you can tell that from here.

Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers. I am sure I watched these at some point but, they felt new and oh-so funny! I really enjoyed them!

We also watched the typical old Christmas movies like Home Alone, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, etc.

WHAT I READ

When my mind was too tired, but I didn’t want to turn to TV, I read. Not a lot, but given that the second book is long, it took me most of the month… Here’s what I read in December:

The Letter from Briarton Park by Sarah E. Ladd.

“In Regency England, one letter will alter a young woman’s fate when it summons her to Briarton Park—an ancient estate that holds the secrets of her past and the keys to her future”.

I really enjoyed this book. I could clearly see where the story was going after a while, but that didn’t take from it for me. And just now I saw that this book comes in a series, though, at a quick glance, the second and third book’s story seems unrelated to the first… Nonetheless, I will have to read them ASAP…

Homecoming: A Historical Mystery by Kate Morton.

“The highly anticipated new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Clockmaker’s Daughter, a sweeping novel that begins with a shocking crime, the effects of which echo across continents and generations… An epic story that spans generations, Homecoming asks what we would do for those we love, how we protect the lies we tell, and what it means to come home. Above all, it is an intricate and spellbinding novel from one of the finest writers working today”.

In truth, I was looking for a somewhat short read, and heads up — this is not it! In fact, this is the only complaint I have about the book — it contains a little too much description, or what felt to me, filler, which delayed the actual storyline. As far as the storyline itself, it was enthralling and it sure kept me guessing, with even a few twists I didn’t see coming. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I can honestly say that I was looking forward to reading it each chance I got. Recommend.

SONG OF THE MONTH

I know, I know… this song played all over social media all December, but I still love it!

WHAT CAUGHT MY EYE ON THE INTERNET

The exact IPL I have is on sale! Read my full review and tips here!

Extra 70% off 3+ sale styles at J.Crew with code NYEWYEAR! So many goodies, including their boots and shoes!

Festivus 2023 airing of grievances: America's top complaints of the year. An entertaining read, for sure.

10 Best Warm Places to Travel to This Winter as I am sure that’s what’s on many minds as the cold weather settles in.

The Most Peaceful Place in California Is a Stunning Garden Overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The secret is out — this was one of my very favorite places in California. It truly is incredible and oh-so-special to me!

These Were the Biggest Fashion Trends of 2023, According to Lyst. And this is why I don’t follow trends — some of them are downright ugly and/or ridiculous!

Well, hello, 2024! Please be kind!