Cozy Holiday Finds & Festive Favorites: Your December Good Things List

Welcome to our monthly curation of delightful discoveries and cherished essentials. Each month, we bring you a thoughtful selection of things to see, buy, read, and watch, designed to enrich your life and bring a little extra joy. This special December edition is brimming with festive cheer, featuring our beautiful live Christmas tree (and helpful tips for yours!), sustainable beeswax bowl covers, my absolute favorite warm long underwear, in-depth reviews of seven recent books, and the heartwarming holiday movie that captivated us!

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And just like that, we find ourselves immersed in the final, magical month of 2024 – a truly astonishing thought! Every year, as the calendar pages dwindle, I’m left marveling at how swiftly time truly flies. December arrives not just as the end of a year, but as a vibrant tapestry woven with holiday preparations, much-anticipated school breaks, exciting travel plans, and all the unique personal celebrations you might have envisioned for this special season.

Here at home, we’re eagerly looking forward to rekindling some of our cherished family traditions. While our annual holiday movie night took on a slightly different shape this year, shared with my wonderful mom instead of our grown children – and what an absolutely delightful film it was (more on that below!) – the essence remains. We anticipate indulging in our favorite festive foods, gathering with loved ones, and creating new, precious memories. Of course, this time of year also carries a poignant note of remembrance for those special people who are no longer with us, like Brian’s beloved mom, whose warmth and spirit we continue to miss dearly.

My sincere hope and prayer for you is that this December brings immense joy, profound gratitude, and a renewed focus on the countless blessings we do possess in our lives, as we collectively prepare to turn the page on yet another year. May your days be filled with warmth, connection, and the gentle glow of holiday spirit.

And perhaps, this carefully curated list of “Good Things” will contribute a little something special to your wonderful month!

December’s Good Things

Our Beautiful 2024 Christmas Tree

Our family has enthusiastically embraced the tradition of visiting a local Christmas tree farm on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. This year, we proudly brought home a magnificent 7-foot Noble Fir. This annual outing is more than just selecting a tree; it’s an experience. We spend several delightful hours together, culminating in a cozy soup lunch and engaging conversation – truly one of our favorite holiday kick-off events!

Despite having purchased a beautiful artificial tree a couple of years ago – which we used for the very first time in 2022 – the allure of a live tree remains strong. After all, we live in Oregon, the quintessential “land of the Christmas tree”! We’re committed to continuing our live tree tradition for as long as it brings us such wonderful family bonding moments. There’s something truly special about the fresh pine scent and the unique character each natural tree brings to our home, making the effort of watering and clean-up entirely worthwhile.

This year, we were blessed with an extra set of helping hands. Our daughter and her fiancé (yes, we’re excitedly looking forward to a wedding in 2025!) journeyed down from Portland and took on the joyous task of decorating the tree. This was such a thoughtful gesture, freeing me up to attend to other holiday preparations. Adorning the tree with all our favorite ornaments collected over the years is, for me, one of the most heartwarming aspects of the entire experience. Each ornament tells a story, bringing back cherished memories and adding a layer of personal history to our festive display.

Looking at the photo, I’ve noticed our lovely tree is quite wide and could benefit from an additional strand of beads to fill it out perfectly. I envision adding a shimmering silver strand alongside the existing gold, creating a richer, more layered look. I also plan to incorporate a few festive bows that are currently tucked away in another decor bin, which will add a charming touch of color and texture, making our tree truly sparkle and shine.

Embracing Sustainability: Beeswax Bowl Covers for a Plastic-Free Kitchen

After years of faithful service, my beloved plastic “shower cap” style bowl covers have finally reached the end of their life, with most having developed small tears and holes. This prompted me to seek out a more sustainable and durable alternative, ideally moving away from single-use plastics in the kitchen.

My search led me to these fantastic beeswax bowl covers, which I’m already loving as a stylish and eco-conscious substitute. I’m hopeful they’ll prove just as effective as their plastic predecessors, if not more so. What I appreciate right off the bat is how effortlessly they stretch and conform, even over my largest mixing bowls, providing a snug and breathable seal. Having used beeswax wraps previously, I know firsthand how easy they are to clean and maintain, simply requiring a quick rinse with cool water and mild soap. This makes them a wonderfully reusable and environmentally friendly choice. They’ve even been on sale recently, so it’s worth checking the current price!

Inspired by this successful switch, my next DIY project involves trying my hand at making some pan covers using linen and PLU plastic (a food-safe, waterproof fabric). I’m excited to see how they turn out and will definitely keep you updated on my progress and the results!

If you’re also on a journey to reduce plastic in your kitchen and have made any clever or successful swaps, I would absolutely love to hear about your experiences and recommendations in the comments below!

My Favorite Secret Weapon for Winter Warmth: Silk Long Underwear

As I’ve mentioned in previous lists, during the majority of the colder winter days, you will invariably find me wearing a silk long underwear top as my foundational first layer. The transformative difference they make in keeping me warm is truly remarkable, far surpassing the insulating capabilities of regular cotton or even many synthetic thermal polyester layers (though I now make a conscious effort to primarily invest in natural fabrics whenever possible).

Of all the various brands and styles of silk tops I’ve experimented with over the years, I consistently find the Lands’ End silk tops to be the absolute best. Their exceptional quality, comfortable fit, and superior warmth-to-weight ratio make them an unparalleled choice. While their regular price can be a bit steep, I always advise waiting for a fantastic sale. I managed to snag the versatile black one pictured above during this past Black Friday for a delightful 60% off! If you’re in the market for a genuinely effective and luxurious solution to stay cozy this winter, I highly recommend taking a look here, as Lands’ End frequently offers excellent sales that often extend throughout the holiday season, presenting a perfect opportunity to invest in lasting comfort.

November Reads: A Dive into Diverse Narratives

November proved to be an unprecedented month for “DNF” (Did Not Finish) books in my reading journey! I found myself starting and abandoning or significantly skipping through no fewer than five titles, with one purchase being so disappointing I actually returned it to Audible. This experience reinforced my strong belief that you are never obligated to finish a book simply because you started it. Just like trying a new TV show and deciding after one episode it’s not for you, there’s no shame in moving on if a book isn’t resonating. The world is brimming with incredible stories, and life is too short to slog through ones that don’t capture your interest or spirit!

Book Swap, Tessa Bickers. While I technically “finished” this one, I must admit I skipped a considerable portion of the middle. I struggled to connect with the main characters, finding them somewhat unlikeable and excessively self-absorbed. Their emotional maturity seemed stuck in high school, fixated on old wrongs, slights, crushes, and bullying, despite being in their thirties! The novel did explore weighty themes of grief and forgiveness, particularly through the loss of a friend to cancer and the complex journey of understanding a parent’s past choices. These somber yet authentic elements were, for me, the only parts of the book that felt genuinely real and resonant. I did, however, appreciate how classic literature was cleverly woven into the story’s fabric, adding an interesting layer.

Run, Black Crouch (not pictured in the collage as I couldn’t fit all seven, and frankly, it was the least enjoyable). This was the infamous book that my husband Brian and I stopped listening to a mere quarter of the way through, leading to its immediate return to Audible! We picked this up based on a recommendation from a blogger whose taste usually aligns with ours (a good reminder that no recommendation is 100% foolproof, haha!). The story is relentless and utterly exhausting – the entire plot revolves around a family desperately running from relentless, murderous pursuers. That’s it, the whole book. By the 25% mark, we simply couldn’t endure the constant violence and genuinely disturbing (and often gratuitous) imagery any longer. There was no end in sight, and frankly, no real plot or character development to anchor the perpetual chase. We’re also generally not fans of narrator Scott Brick; his overly dramatic delivery quickly becomes tiresome (he also tried our patience with “Eruption,” which wasn’t a great book to begin with). A definite sigh of disappointment for this one.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bently, Courtney Walsh. This book was a truly welcomed breath of fresh air after my previous reading struggles. It’s a charming and sweet narrative centered around a woman who firmly believes she is perfectly content on her own, without the need for friends or an active social life to find happiness. She then embarks on a mission to disprove a magazine article suggesting otherwise, and predictably, her journey leads to unexpected friendships, engaging activities, and a blossoming surprise romance. Through these experiences, she gradually realizes how much richer her life can be, recognizing the sadness of her previous isolation. While her personality traits suggest she might be on the autism spectrum, her feelings and journey of self-discovery are deeply relatable to anyone. For me, it was a perfectly (and delightfully corny!) happy ending!

What in the World? Leanne Morgan. My husband Brian and I are huge fans of Leanne Morgan’s relatable, real-life, and refreshingly clean comedy. We eagerly grabbed her new autobiography as soon as we saw it, looking forward to listening to it together. It absolutely did not disappoint! This book is a wonderful blend of humor, authentic life experiences, and even some genuinely heartbreaking moments that reveal the depth behind her comedic persona. The serendipitous story of how she stumbled into the world of stand-up comedy is truly remarkable and inspiring. Her husband, often a character in her routines, emerges as a perfectly clueless, straight-faced sitcom dad in her anecdotes, adding another layer of warmth and humor to her already engaging storytelling.

How to Read a Book, Monica Wood. This story genuinely surprised me with its unexpected depth. I initially anticipated a light, easy read, but while it wasn’t overly heavy, it thoughtfully explored several profound themes, including grief, death, forgiveness, and various life-altering moments that shape human experience. It also contained many light-hearted moments and culminated in a satisfyingly happy ending. Critically, this book prompted me to reflect on numerous societal issues I hadn’t deeply considered before, particularly concerning incarcerated women, their complex backgrounds, and the nuances of their treatment within the justice system, making it a truly thought-provoking read.

Long Island, Colm Toibin. Ah, I recall a few months ago when I read “Brooklyn,” the first installment of this two-book series, and wasn’t particularly captivated by it. I had placed “Long Island” on hold at the library, so when it became available, I decided to give it a fair shot. However, I regrettably gave up at about the quarter mark once again. The story felt increasingly bleak and depressing, heading into narrative territory I simply wasn’t interested in exploring. After quickly looking up a summary online, I was immensely relieved I hadn’t wasted more time slogging through it. Much like its predecessor, “Brooklyn,” this book reportedly doesn’t offer a definitive ending, leaving the main character’s crucial choices unresolved and the reader without closure, which is ultimately not my preferred style of literary fiction.

Trust, Hernan Diaz. I ventured into the middle of this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, and honestly, I found myself thoroughly perplexed, struggling to grasp its direction or purpose. After completing the first section, I was so disoriented that I had to resort to searching for a summary online just to understand what was supposedly happening! (It turned out to be notes from an unfinished autobiography, presented as rather disjointed random notes in the audiobook format.) Following that clarification, my interest completely waned. The narrative style and thematic exploration simply weren’t to my taste, confirming that even critically acclaimed works aren’t for every reader.

Watching: A Holiday Cinematic Gem

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, theater. Brian, my mom, and I absolutely adored this incredibly sweet and profoundly heartwarming story about a small-town Christmas play that, as you might expect, takes an hilariously unexpected turn. Its success at the box office and its impressive 91% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes confirm that our enthusiasm is widely shared, extending far beyond just our trio! This film strikes a perfect balance, making it an ideal family holiday movie in my opinion. It’s packed with genuine laughs, touching moments, and a spirit of true holiday wonder that resonates deeply. While it might not be playing in all theaters currently – we had to catch a matinee to see it – I believe it should become available for online rental around December 10th. If you have the opportunity to watch it, whether in theaters or at home, I wholeheartedly recommend you do; it’s an instant classic that will surely become a treasured part of your annual holiday viewing traditions.

That concludes another delightful installment of the Good Things List!

If you’re curious to explore more of what captures my interest and brings joy, you can delve into all the past Good Things Lists right here. I’m always eager to hear your thoughts and recommendations – perhaps you’ve tried some of these items or have something wonderful to suggest. Please feel free to leave a comment below and share your insights!

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