My Favourite Articles This Week
The “specialness spiral” might be the reason you have so much clutter.
How to fit volunteering into a hectic schedule.
Your friends don’t have to all be the same age. I can attest to this- I have friends older and young than me, by at least a decade in both directions, and it’s so great to have different perspectives and still have so much in common!
The case for inviting everyone to everything. I did this for a party last year and it was so much fun!
How to mindfully consume the news.
Sassy comebacks to invasive questions for the holiday season!
My Favourite Pins This Week
I’ve been a longtime fan of Smitten Kitchen, and this recent chicken and rice recipe is perfect for cold weather dinners. It’s deeply comforting but comes together without a lot of ingredients, which feels just about perfect, especially for the coming weeks! Don’t let this unassuming photo fool you- it’s got loads of flavour. Find the recipe here.
First of all, I know how divisive eggnog can be, so if you don’t like it, you could definitely just do no frosting! Or a bit of glaze! Or store-bought vanilla frosting! Anything you want, really. But I feel like these would be SO delicious at any holiday gatherings, don’t you think? Check out the recipe right here.
I attended a new years eve party last year that had a hot chocolate board, and it was such a hit! Perfect for gatherings that have both kids and adults- we had some liqueurs that adults could add to theirs if they wanted, and the kids were so excited by all the options they could add to their hot chocolates! Definitely a fun crowd pleaser. You can find the whole set up and list of things here.
How cool are these twisty candles? Apparently they are super easy to make, and if you are a frequent TikTok person (I am not, but I check it out from time to time), there’s been a lot of success on people making these! Check out this great step by step DIY on how to take normal taper candles and turn them into something fun and sculptural. Heck, you could pop to the dollar store today and have these ready to gift by tomorrow, if you were so inclined! Find the DIY here.
If you are looking for a cute little stashbuster to crochet over the holiday break, might I suggest this adorable little bear? I love all the little details, it just makes it so extra special! Find the free crochet pattern right here – it includes all his little accessories!
This feels like it’s been a tough year for so many, and I wanted to wish each and every one of you a gentle, cozy peaceful holiday. I hope that you get the time to do some things that light you up, and that all your crafting turns out perfectly. If this is a stressful time of year for you, I feel you- sending lots of hugs. You can do it.
xo Julie
Re: Inviting everybody. Yes! I’m a notorious introvert, and am usually more into small gatherings or one-on-ones. But when we do throw a party, we go big, and for those few hours, I actually do kind of love it (although I am also absolutely shattered by the end and super glad when it’s all over). The key is to not try to make everything meticulously planned. We usually do it open house-style, so “We’ll be here from this time to that time, eating and drinking delicious things, so show up whenever. Bring something or don’t, it’s all good.” And then you don’t have to stress about exact numbers, seating arrangements, or having everything be perfect. And as long as you stick to stuff your household enjoys, then even if literally no one shows up (which has never happened in my experience), that just means you have lots of food you like eating, and you don’t have to cook for a few days.
This is such a great idea, Brenda! love that casual, it’s-all-good approach to having people over. So smart, and less stressful!