Holiday Wish List 2018

It's that time of year where I share my holiday wish list because I have given up the pretense of a gift guide - I love looking at holiday lists for MYSELF. If you love them, too, check it! And here's 2014, 2015 and 2017 for more listy goodness. Pictures are via the websites linked below and some Amazon affiliate links are included. 

We found this gem of a chocolate shop on our trip to San Diego and I can't recommend Nibble chocolate enough. So, so, delicious. I have been craving some ever since.
This year, one of my 'to-do' items was get a little more art in my life and that never happened. Paint this Book: Watercolor for the Artistically Undiscovered might be just the impetus I need.
We put up the tree every year the day after Thanksgiving and I noted that we have ZERO Harry Potter ornaments. This Harry Potter ornament trio from Boxlunch is tempting me...
I love unique studs that can go with pretty much anything and these opal studs from Amour Vert fit the bill.
I've contemplated wireless headphones for a long time, but I just can't stand the rubber ones that go IN your ear. I love my iPhone earbuds and am now coveting Apple AirPods.
This Rifle Paper Co Chicago print from Pottery Barn is too cute for words.
I actually already picked up 300 Writing Prompts during a recent trip to Half Price Books, but it's too fun of a gift idea and I had to share. Debating whether I'd put some of those writings here or keep them in the book!
The running section of my sock drawer is so sad. I am terrible about replacing them and may actually ASK FOR SOCKS this Christmas. But when it comes to the awesome Feetures socks, they are rather indulgently priced and gift-worthy.

Happy holidays y'all!

Book Advent Activities for the Kids (and my steady decline thereof)

Years ago, I came across a great idea to wrap up a book to open daily as an advent activity.  I did this successfully ONE year for ONE child with a combination of books from the library (yep, I'd wrap them up and then return!), gifts from family and a few new ones I'd buy.  

Once I had a second kiddo, that felt overwhelming.  So I did a 'Twelve Days of Books' to whittle things down - either the first 12 days of December, or the final 12 days leading up to Christmas.  And, lo, this became an overwhelming endeavor as well with two kids (especially when they have different preferences in books).  

I really wanted to keep the yearly fun of new holiday books in some way.  So now I include it as an activity in our personalized advent calendar.

This is the best way to go with books for advent, in my opinion!  I can fit two chocolates in each day's pouch, as well as a note with a fun activity for the day.  Some are just 'listen to Christmas music' or 'drink hot chocolate' for days we're busy or days I just can't even, versus the days we go out to see lights, make ornaments or cookies, etc.  Now I pile up all the holiday books at the beginning of the month, and dole out the cards for a 'open a Christmas book' activity throughout the calendar.  

At the end of November, the library puts out the displays of holiday books and I grab as many as I can (and maybe throw in a book of my own).

Then I do some investigating on what's new, or what I think the kids would love, and put a bunch on hold for a second round of books (and maybe a Seth McFarlane CD, because I love that dude).

We got a good haul this year and I must say that both kids are entertained by Little Red Gliding Hood.  And I must give a shout out to my favorite kid Christmas book that we own: Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve is just adorable, funny and sweet.

So if the idea of a wrapped book every day in December is a new and cool idea to you, give it a go next year!  And know that if it's a bit too difficult to accomplish, the kids still love getting surprises, however they arrive.

Great Winter (and Holiday) Reads

For the most part, I don't plan my reading schedule according to the seasons.  However, last year, I picked up My True Love Gave to Me over the holidays and enjoyed it IMMENSELY.  

If you are like me and strategize your library holds ahead of time, here are some great stories I recommend for winter and holiday reading. (Links are to reviews on this site, or Amazon if I haven't reviewed them here.)

• Landline by Rainbow Rowell (Georgie McCool, a sitcom writer, skips the family holiday trip to her in-laws to work and finds a phone that can call backwards in time to speak to her husband.)
• The Thirteenth Tale by Diana Setterfield (An old favorite Gothic mystery, perfect for curling up with a blanket by the fire.)
• My True Love Gave to Me edited by Stephanie Perkins (Twelve engrossing holiday tales.)
• The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (A childless couple, living in the outer reaches of Alaska build a girl out of snow, and a child appears running through the woods the next morning...)
• Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris (Classic Sedaris short story hilarity, but with holiday themes.)
• Belleweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia (A high school winter music festival at a haunted old hotel goes awry after one of the students goes missing - The Shining meets Agatha Christie.)
• Light on Snow by Anita Shreve (A widower and his 12 year old daughter discover an abandoned baby in the woods.)
• This is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper (Not necessarily a winter book, but the gathering of a family after the loss of their father feels reminiscent of The Big Chill and holiday gatherings.)
• Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand (This is sort of a cheat, since I haven't read it yet - but it's on my list for this December, since I rather enjoyed The Matchmaker.)

And Goodreads has a trove of winter books, sorted by category.  Happy reading!