In the last few days, I have gently sidearmed several wonderful social opportunities from my December calendar. One was a monthly get-together with two dear girlfriends, another a lengthy phone call with a faraway friend. While I treasure and look forward to getting these on my calendar soon, as I survey what’s already on my calendar, it’s clear that adding something else in December would make it less likely I’d be able to enjoy the tasks I know I have ahead of me: wrapping gifts, addressing cards, reading picture books, sharing year-end posts right here on EFM. And I really do love those things, when I have the time to do them!
So yes, there’s a tinge of regret when I suggest postponing til January, but also the comforting feeling of caring for myself well. As a one of the friends said when she got my text, “this is big Enneagram 5 energy,” ha. Feel free to borrow a little of that energy today, if you need. Saying “let’s plan for January!” might just be the best gift you could give yourself now, no wrapping needed :)
On my calendar: — Handel’s Messiah at Duke Chapel (above). I’ve wanted to attend for years, and a few Articles Club gals and I finally made it happen! It was beautiful. — Dinner out with John for our 2024 review and celebration. Locals, we’re trying Figulina and this pasta lover is excited. — A post-Christmas mountain trip with my family. We’ll spend a few days in Blowing Rock and are planning to take the kids snow tubing for the first time! Fingers crossed for some real snow, too.
What I’m loving right now: — Crafting with my girl! One day last week while the two littles were on a playdate, we pulled a set of paper mache houses out of the closet and had a very fun two hours painting them, dusting them with “snow,” and adding a tea light inside. Ours were from this set I bought a few years ago, but this one looks similar or these ones (here, here, here) are cute, too! — I’m on a Defined Dish kick and these BBQ chicken tacos with jalapeno slaw were a winner! They come together so easily in the slow cooker and the taste is more multi-dimensional than jarred BBQ sauce, which I don’t always love. — All the Christmas picture books. Here’s a round-up of our favorites!
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What you’re loving right now:
This is where I highlight a few items here that have been popular in the last month with fellow readers, based on my analytics. Here’s hoping this will help you find something you’ll love!
What I read in November: — God of the Woods | After making it to the top of a 600+-person waitlist at the library, I’m happy to say I enjoyed this book! My brother-in-law is Liz Moore’s literary agent, and it’s been fun to celebrate the incredible hype surrounding it. That being said, I think the hype might have pushed my expectations a bit too high, because while I did thoroughly enjoy this thriller mystery set in the woods of New England, it wasn’t life-changing. (In fact, I may prefer her earlier thriller Long Bright River.) But definitely worth reading! — Tress of the Emerald Sea | This Brandon Sanderson novel made it onto my 2024 reading list because I was intrigued by its backstory: it was created as part of the largest Kickstarter campaign of all time. I made it about halfway through but ultimately decided to DNF :/ While it was described as appealing to those who love The Princess Bride (most certainly me), the characters, plot, and writing style all left me a bit underwhelmed. — When Breath Becomes Air | Stunning. As a reader of Cup of Jo, I knew about this book while Paul was still alive, but it’s taken me a decade to feel ready to read it. (The circumstances of his death and leaving his young wife and daughter behind hit me hard; I had also been knocked for a loop by The Year of Magical Thinking right before this came out.) Even if it took me ten years, I’m so glad I circled back around — it absolutely lives up to its reputation and is a moving, exquisitely-observed memoir. (And Paul himself – wow! Hard to imagine a more impressive person.) — The Christmas Pig | The kids and I listened to this while driving to and from Virginia over Thanksgiving (John was driving and had his Airpods in, ha). While billed as a heartwarming Christmas adventure, I would have liked to know in advance that there are significant hard and sad themes here: parents fighting, divorce, remarriage, bullying, anger, trash-eating monsters, etc. That being said, the kids seemed to LOVE it and clamored for it to be listened to whenever our car was moving. It certainly made the drive fly by. So take that for what you will! — The Kids are Alright | I feel like I have a LOT to say about this book but I shall try to sum it up in brief. I have read the blog Design Mom almost from the beginning, and have long admired the family culture Gabby and her husband seem to have created with their six kids. In more recent years, I’ve been disappointed to see her blog wither as she spends more time on social media and discouraged to see how hostile she’s become to anyone who doesn’t think exactly like her on any number of topics. I miss the days when she shared thoughtful insights into her family’s habits and adventures. All that to say — I approached this book with a bit of trepidation, but on the other side, I’m relieved to say I really enjoyed it. It seems we still have a lot in common when it comes to raising independent, connected kids who contribute to the world and love to spend time with each other, and this book felt like a throwback to (what I consider) her best blogging days, offering insights into how she and Ben have achieved that with their family.
My reading list for 2024! I’m 16 / 24 so far. Just one month to go and I think I’ll get to 1-2 more from my list!
Revisiting my November goals: Edit Sheptember, Volume 6 (Oh how I wish this were done! I have been laid low with a cold for 10+ days now and fatigue and earlier bedtimes have really curtailed me wrapping up some of these goals.) Design and order our Christmas card and newsletter (Done! For the first time this year, I was able to print our newsletter on the back of our Minted card due to a new “create your own” option. Fingers crossed it looks cute when it arrives but yay for one less piece of paper!) Finalize china salad plate choice (No progress here but I did just pull out our collection of Christmas salad plates so not going to worry about it for a bit :)) Sell the gray table to make room in our loft (Done! Feels so good!) Read chapters 13 and 14 of Outlive Paint the kids’ book ornaments (In progress! June’s is 95% done, Annie’s is 75% done, and Shep’s is 25%! Watch me paint here.)
December goals: — Frame a few pieces of kid art via Framebridge. We have a bit of money left over in our 2024 home budget category and you know what they say… use it or lose it! ;) — Find a dresser for Annie’s room — Edit Sheptember, Volume 6 — Finish the kids’ book ornaments — Submit the paperwork for my own passport renewal — Stuff, stamp, and address our Christmas cards — Execute our end-of-year generosity plans — Savor the Christmas season by focusing on loving the ones I love most, and loving those who need it the most. Even to me this sounds somewhat trite, but also the best way I know to celebrate the arrival of a tiny baby king who did the same.
I’d love to hear: What have you read and loved recently? I’m working on my 2025 reading list and would love to hear your suggestions for what should make it on!!
Hello, friends! I hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings. We were in Virginia with John’s family and the week left me feeling full and happy. We decorated sugar cookies, we played cards and Do You Love Your Neighbor, we went on a hike, we went into DC and had tea, and our Thursday table was full of all the usual favorites plus buttered noodles, a Thomas family tradition.
Perhaps my favorite part, though was the walks. Every morning, any adult siblings who were available snuck away for a brisk walk, 30 minutes to an hour. Not only did it feel great to move my body throughout a week that is more often known for lounging and eating, but the power of walking and talking was on full display. We filled each other in on jobs and home projects, kids and parents, travel and health and plans for next year. I am grateful for the siblings I married into, and relished the opportunity to catch up with some of my favorite people in this way. I hope you were able to find moments of connection this week, too.
To wrap up this year’s gift guides, I thought I’d share a few of the items I’ve squirreled away for my family’s stockings. Linking is a bit difficult, since I prefer to pick up items throughout the year as I visit small shops and boutiques, but I’ve noted the same or similar items where possible. I hope it’s helpful! (And if you want to finish your shopping in one go, don’t forget about my friends’ ingenious one-stop stocking shop, Persnickety Gifts!)
Annie:
— A new water bottle and a handful of stickers from our summer travels to jumpstart decorating it — Color-changing flame packets for s’mores nights (I’ll split these up between the kids!) — A kitty pencil pouch for all her treasures — An adorable little deer stuffie — Fairy house supplies from our local garden store — A sheet of Bluey stickers — A Liberty fabric knotted headband — A few Schleich animals — Hair elastics — The most fun bandaids — Some sort of candy
Shep:
— A handful of Yoto cards stored up from our subscription — A roll of Scotch tape, since he’s forever borrowing mine — A mini paper airplane set — Cherry sour balls from Michigan favorite Cherry Republic — The most adorable little lantern. (All of the kids are going to go nuts for this and I probably should have bought three…) — Tattly dino tattoos — 50 silly scavenger hunts — A camo tank and camo jeep — A new paint-by-sticker book, his favorite — Glow in the dark stickers — A few new Hot Wheels (I think I’ll see if there are any on our neighborhood Buy Nothing group!)
By popular request, I’m transposing the conceit of my gift guide for kids to this one – gifts for the people you love – by sharing what I’m actually gifting to a few of the loveliest people in my life this Christmas. Plus, I’ve included a few notes on gifts that have landed well in the past, in the hopes that one might be the right for your husband, mom, dad, sister, in-law, or beloved teacher.
(And on that note, if you are any of those people, close out this post pronto. Please and thank you :))
In the past, I’ve gifted experiences (Jim Gaffigan, Nate Bargatze, a treetop adventure course), this chair that folds up tiny, LOTS of clothing (this, this, this, this, this, and this most recently), a tumbler, a Durham Bulls shirt, a NYT crossword puzzle book, a Soda Stream (still used daily four years later), a weather station, and a very suave briefcase. (The briefcase linked is not exactly the same, but as close as I could find from the same brand – I bought John’s in 2018. It’s been used daily and still looks handsome!)
In the last few years he’s also bought himself a ruck carrier and plate, a down coat with hood, a fleece jacket and hat (both seen above), and some Ugg boots – after lusting after my warm toes for years. And don’t forget this post on some of John’s clothing favorites – lots of good ideas in there! One to highlight: the Legends sweater shirt, which is still his favorite thing to wear. Looks like a flannel, is as incredibly soft and stretchy as the best sweatshirt.
Oh yes, and don’t forget books: though John doesn’t read a ton of them himself (he’s more of an articles guy), he loves to support his favorite authors and thinkers by adding their offerings to the collection on his nightstand :) A few new additions this year: Fighting Shadows, The Divine Conspiracy, The Anxious Generation, and How to Know a Person.
My Dad will get a continuation of the Atlantic subscription I started for him a few years ago, and whose articles we enjoy discussing together – though I’m intrigued by this grill prep and carry set that is being gifted by several members of Articles Club this year.
For his Dad, John chose a gift basket of food goodies from Asheville. It’s a little more than the limit (see below), but it’s in support of our beloved mountains, so we’ll just consider the overage a donation :)
On John’s side of the family, the siblings and parents draw names — everyone gifts to one other person with a $100 limit. I drew my mother-in-law and chose for her a weighted vest (I got the 6 lb version!), a stick-on bird feeder, and the cutest seed birdhouse from a local garden store (above!).
On my side of the family, the siblings and husbands have opted to splurge on a fancy dinner out, together, in lieu of gifts over the last few years – and this year, too. However, my younger sister Kim will be joining us for Christmas morning this year, and per my desire to leave no one out of the gifting, I’m planning to wrap up a few small things for her: a set of 2025 PowerSheets (perk of the job!), a caramel tasting set from Trader Joe’s, a watercolor workbook, and a Ghiradelli’s brownie mix paired with a little bottle of blood orange olive oil. (You swap the flavored olive oil for the canola oil called for in the recipe – so delicious!!)
My Mom is going to get this Blackwatch pullover from my own wish list – she likes most of what I like and as a diehard New Englander, loves an L.L. Bean gift :)
All of the kids’ teachers will be getting a gift card to a local business, matched to their interests, and a very grateful note.
A few other gifts we’ve given in the past for your consideration:
— Chappy Wraps | Light yet cozy with the prettiest patterns. This is the go-to blanket on our sofa and we’ve gifted one to my parents, too!
— Original Bogg Bag | We use ours at the pool, the beach, and the soccer field, but I think they’re particularly helpful for road trip packing.
— Snap tote | They fold up flat and snap open to fit a ton – I use mine at least weekly, and have had it for years!
— Boat & Tote bags | Incredibly sturdy and incredibly classic. I like mine open top, in navy, with sans serif embroidery. I find this to be a versatile gift at a great price point that’s easy to personalize – you could embroider her initials, nickname, or something funny or practical! Plus, they introduced the most beautiful medium blue this year!
— Geometry napkins | I split two packs of these between my Mom and I for Mother’s Day this year, and they were a hit with both of us! The suede-like material requires no ironing for a smooth fold and there are dozens and dozens of patterns to choose from.
— Something meaningful, framed | We recently gifted John’s parents a house portrait as a housewarming gift and framed it with Framebridge – a favorite I’ve used for many projects over the years. There are lots of house portrait options on Etsy, too!
— Solo stove | Yes, this gift was all the rage a few years ago, but it’s still worth a mention! Produces a near-smokeless fire in a compact, good-looking package. Pair with extendable sticks and the absolute best thing to sandwich a marshmallow between.
— Tea kettle | An elegant countertop tea kettle for the tea, coffee, or hot chocolate drinker in your life! We’ve gifted these twice and they’re always a hit. Lots of fun options for this one – pair it with some gourmet or meaningful tea or coffee, a pretty tea towel, and/or a mug that will make them smile!
— Something from White Flower Farm | This is my father-in-law’s favorite plant source, and we have ordered many things from them over the years! Bulbs, wreaths, flowering houseplants – or a gift card for them to choose something for their yard.
— A photo gift | Don’t sleep on the photo mug, friends! Are they a little cheesy? Yes. Do lots of grandparents legitimately want one? Absolutely yes, but they’re not, you know, something you’re going to buy for yourself. A personalized calendar with photos from the year is another sure bet!
— A live wreath | This was our go-to teacher gift for several years running – we bought simple wreaths from a local fundraiser and dressed them up with bows. I have also done the same for hostess gifts! L.L. Bean has beautiful options if you need to ship.
— A media subscription | Whether physical or digital, this is one of my favorite things to give. In recent years, I’ve given an Our State subscription to a friend, an Atlantic subscription to my Dad, and a So Many Thoughts subscription to my Mom.
— A digital picture frame | The siblings went in on this for John’s parents a few years ago, and it’s so easy to upload new photos by email!
Whew!! I sincerely hope you found an idea in there for the ones you love, or that something I listed sparked an even better idea. And happiest Thanksgiving, friends! I’ll be back with a final gift guide on Friday :)
Everyone’s favorite gift guide – what we’re actually giving our kids this Christmas! It’s been enjoyed since 2019, when we had a four-year-old girl and a one-year-old boy. Below, I’ve shared what each of our kids will be finding under the tree this year, along with a few suggestions I gave to relatives. I’ve also listed a few of the very favorite kid items we already own at the bottom if you’re looking for a few more suggestions!
(And if it’s helpful, I’ve linked everything here!)
First, the kids will be receiving one joint gift this year – the beautiful embroidered banner below for our loft/playroom, in honor of the Narnia books they’ve been reading with John. I love it so much, but the other designs are tempting, too!
June (who is almost 9) will be receiving:
— A ticket to Alice in Wonderland performed by the Carolina Ballet this spring. I wasn’t thrilled with the DPAC offerings this season, and though I don’t think a ballet would be her first choice, she thrives on a fancy night out and 1-on-1 time so I feel like we can’t go wrong here. — New bedding: the duvet, sham, and sheet set of her choice. I’ve selected some options I think she’ll love (including this, this, and this) and will wrap and print a little catalog for her to choose from. She’s been asking for a “fluffy” comforter for awhile (she has a quilt on her bed now), so I think this will be very exciting. — 8 books in the Dear America series, a favorite from my childhood. And when I say from my childhood, I mean from my childhood – I’ve tucked these away for several decades just for this moment! — Two winter watercolor workbooks – one from Emily Lex (I bought it in the cutest shop in our downtown, supporting two small businesses in one go!) and one from Brighter Day Press. I’m hoping she’ll let me paint alongside her!
— A ticket to Dude Perfect when they come to Greensboro next summer. We would have bought tickets for both kids, but June will be at camp on this date! — A replacement Yoto Mini. Yep, you read that right: somehow Shep’s Yoto went missing a few months ago, and though I am annoyed that he lost it and was definitely not going to jump in to replace it immediately, he’s been sad without it and I’d love for him to have one again. — A wooden paddleboat kit. We snagged this surreptitiously on our Bryson City trip after he clamored for it in a store. — An NC Courage tee to cheer on his favorite soccer ladies.
— Dog BINGO. I originally purchased this for June a few months ago, and she’s going to be very jealous when she sees Annie open it, but ultimately it will be played by everyone and I’m relieved to have another gift with the name of the hardest child to shop for under the tree :) — A giant box of chalk. This sidewalk chalk is incredible – bold and vibrant – and with 180 pieces, should satisfy our smallest artist for at least a few weeks. — A kimchi tee. All of our kids are nuts for fermented cabbage, much to John’s delight. They’ll get a kick out of this graphic tee, which I’ll wrap with a few consignment finds I held back from my fall haul. — A new bike helmet from our local shop, just like the big kids. — A little purse for all her treasures.
Other ideas I gave to relatives: panda slippers and a bunny light. Mostly, this girl is still just thrilled to be here and happy to open anything! :)
A FEW OF OUR TIME-TESTED, VERY FAVORITE TOYS AND GIFTS:
— The Nugget, a key component for hours of open-ended play. — This ice cream play set, which has provided hours and hours of entertainment. FIVE STARS. — A set of MagnaTiles, because yes, they’re as good as everyone says they are. Definitely add the cars, and remember MagnaTiles and PicassoTiles are interchangeable! — A big box of colorful Duplos (played with daily for many years). — America’s Test Kitchen Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs, which has some of the most delicious recipes I’ve ever tasted (those chocolate crinkle cookies!). — A box of letter writing supplies (cards and envelopes, postage stamps, a fancy pen, stickers, a return address stamp, maybe even pre-addressed labels printed with the addresses of grandparents and friends!). — The softest faux fur tie dye blanket in all of June’s favorite colors. — A wooden train track. We have a combo of the Hape and Ikea sets, which are interchangeable. — A Micro Kickboard scooter. These are hands-down the best scooters – we’ve gifted them to all of our kids around age 2, and 3-5 is the sweet spot. — A glow-in-the-dark soccer ball – perfect for street games after Daylight Savings Time! — A Priority Start bike. June started with the 16″ at age 4 3/4, graduated to the 20″ at age 6, and got the 24″ for her 8th birthday. Shep now rides the 20″ and Annie will get the 16″ on her 4th birthday. These bikes are SO well-made – they’ve been through several kids in our family and still look perfect! — An art case coloring set. One of Shep’s most beloved items, used daily! — A game you can play together: try Cover Your Assets, Ticket to Ride, or Sushi Go Party, all family favorites. (More ideas here!) — The cutest personalized notepads. BIG favorite with June.
Whew! I hope that’s helpful! I’ve rounded up a bunch of ideas, but remember, kids don’t need much to be happy – in our family, we’ve actually found that too many gifts can be overwhelming and dull the whole experience. So choose wisely, and with joy – giving our kids good gifts is a really fun part of being a parent! :)
Below, tell me what you’re getting your kiddos this year — I love hearing your shopping lists!
Previously: — 2023: A 7-year-old girl, a 5.5-year-old boy, and a 2.5-year-old girl — 2022: A 6-year-old girl, a 4.5-year-old boy, and a 1.5-year-old girl — 2021: A 5-year-old girl, a 3.5-year-old boy, and a six-months girl — 2020: A 4-year-old girl and a 2.5-year-old boy — 2019: A 3-year-old girl and a 1.5-year-old boy
