my favorite holiday traditions

just the hits #17

We got a head start on the holidays this year.

Our tree was put up and lit the first week of November, and fully decorated the week before Thanksgiving. We’ve already watched The Christmas Prince and Princess Switch trilogies (my kids inexplicably love them), along with both Home Alone films.

I’ve probably watched 8 more films on my own - all Hallmark, naturally. My favorite was Christmas With The Singhs. It’s my our thing.

Since we’ll be away on Christmas, we’re doing our family celebrations next week. My husband and I will be wrapping gifts and stuffing the stockings while we watch Love Actually on Friday night, with ‘Christmas morning’ the next day. We stay in our pajamas all day, enjoy cinnamon rolls and biscuits & gravy for breakfast, and have a potato feast for dinner.

In an effort to extend the festive season and to bring some joy into the new year, we’re shifting some traditions out. We’ll be sending New Year’s cards instead of Christmas ones, postponing our annual Lord of the Rings marathon to January & February, and keeping the flameless candles and twinkly trees out for the whole winter.

I used to think that extending the holiday season would dilute the magic of it all. Now, I think about how to bring what’s magical - intentional family time, little treats, a cozy home - all winter long. Hygge, baby.

For us, that means keeping the tree up and the holiday cards on display until February, and stocking up on Pillsbury Christmas ready-to-bake sugar cookies to enjoy for a little bit longer.

It also means that in-progress jigsaw puzzles, reading time with a cozy YouTube scene, cookies + cheesy movie nights become a part of our winter traditions, and not just holiday ones.

If you’re still shopping for your loved ones (especially the ‘impossible to shop for’ folks), I have you covered with this gift guide. I personally think that a donation in their name is one of the best gifts you can give, and highly recommend donating to PSI. If you donate via my link all December, I will match all donations up to $1000.

The Impossible Gift Guide

I hope you’re taking exquisite care of yourself, especially now. If that feels too hard, come steal my ‘stay well’ plan:

the plan - december 2024

Catch up with the latest posts here:

bed rot and learn (about why things are the way they are)

what I'm grateful for

I would be so appreciative if you upgrade your subscription to help support #5SmartReads (my weekly news series that amplifies underreported stories and underrepresented perspectives). I’m taking a note from

Emily Amick

and am lowering the annual subscription to $30/year for the rest of the year.

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The Christmas Orphans Club

by

Becca Freeman

This is only my third re-read of TCOC, but we’re calling this a future tradition. Because reading this book, preferably next to a fully trimmed tree and sipping your favorite beverage, is an exceptional way to spend a few quiet hours.

It’s a beautiful, funny, and poignant story of four friends who found themselves spending Christmas together for over 10 years, and supported each other through all the times - the good, the bad, the heartbreaking.

It’s got more depth than a Hallmark film, but not as devastating as the ‘Emma Thompson crying in her bedroom’ scene in Love Actually (and also, much healthier relationships than that film).

It’ll make you laugh, cry (happy tears), and you may want to start reading it again immediately after you finish it.

You can find my 2024 reads here, and my December reads here.

Thin Merino Wool Socks ($25 for 6 pairs)

This was the first year I got winter socks. And after slipping my feet in these, I wonder what took me so long.

These socks are perfect - and I know that’s a weird thing to say, but let me elaborate. They’re thin enough to wear with those perfectly fitting shoes you usually wear sockless (like a faux fur-lined clog, tighter ankle boots, or a pair of Atoms), and also insanely warm (that’s the majority merino wool for you).

Did I mention that they don’t slip down? They’re the true Goldilocks of winter socks.

Find this month’s Amazon favorites here.

What’s the Difference Between the FDA and the USDA?

published in Eater

Few things make me madder and sadder than people railing on the FDA - especially when they don’t understand what the agency does.

Don’t get me wrong - there’s a lot more the agency can be doing, especially on the food side and in approving new sunscreen filters (I see you, Charlotte Palermino). That doesn’t discount the hard work from thousands of scientists who care deeply about the safety and efficacy of the things we ingest and apply.

The respect I have for the FDA extends to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), who ensures we have “a safe, sufficient, and nutritious food supply” and oversees the vital SNAP benefits program.

This article does a great job of explaining the role of each agency, the areas where their responsibilities overlap, and how they oversee the safety of the types of food we eat.

If we really care about Making America Healthier Again, it starts with increasing funding and staffing to these two agencies (the reverse is more likely, as we saw looser inspection requirements at food factories and farms and a spike in food recalls as a result).

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• Caroline Chambers
  ’ Christmas movie index is a work of art. 100/10.

• We’ve had 3 holiday parties in 3 days, and I’ve never been happier to have a stash of Hotel Lobby Candles and Brightland olive oil on hand for hostess gifts.

• Fully copying this lotion reapplication trick to refresh my winter makeup.

• I picked up this little activity/coloring book + pen set for myself, and it’s helped me stay off my phone when I’m taking a break from work or watching TV at night.

• What I shared on IG this week - my quick ‘reset the day’ routine, getting the word out on this amazing nonprofit, the case for bed rotting, and a random Monday in my life.

• If you’re looking for a meaningful gift for the women in your life, might I recommend a custom Haverhill piece of jewelry? My flat heart pendant is one of my ‘never take off’ pieces, and I just swapped my wedding stack over to my moonstone Warren ring and my sons’ birthstone bands. You can get up to 25% off (and custom orders placed by December 15 will be delivered by Christmas!)

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If you enjoyed this weekend’s letter, please consider:

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As always, take exquisite care of yourself this week.

xo,
HPN