Friends! I’ve missed you! This may be the latest in the month I’ve ever posted a goals post in my many years of doing them, but gosh darn it I’m here! :)

Since going back to work at the end of October, we have essentially had house guests 24/7 as our parents took turns watching Shep during the day. We have also traveled 3 of the 6 weekends between then and now, and John, June, and I all came down with a 24-hour stomach bug this past weekend. Combined with a busy season at work, the holidays, and John starting a new job (!), I’ve felt a bit like I’m just keeping my chin above water. On any free evening I do have, it seems by the time I’ve taken care of my necessary tasks to keep our household running, it’s 10:30 and time to get ready for bed. This is unusual for me, and honestly it’s been frustrating. There’s been no time for reading and no time for writing, and I’ve felt the lack of both.

All this to say – thanks for sticking with me! I am hopeful that I’ll be able to share a few posts before the year is over (I’ve got so many brewing!!), but even if not, I know 2019 will be a fresh start.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves :)

On my calendar this month:
— Dinner out with John for our 2018 review and celebration – one of my favorite nights of the year!
— Christmas in Connecticut, complete with a Polar Express train ride with matching cousin jams!!
— A low-key New Year’s Eve dinner and board game night with neighborhood friends

What I’m loving right now:
— We’re trying the Crew + Co Advent cards for the first time this year, based on the beloved Jesus Storybook Bible. I think June is still a bit young for the practice, but I’m enjoying it :)
— Listen, if you enjoy the government/action/conspiracy genre (only my favorite genre of them all), you MUST watch Bodyguard on Netflix. It’s six episodes and you will be on the edge of your seat the whole time. SO SO SO GOOD.
— You all know and love my friend Nancy (she of How We Do It fame), so I wanted to make sure you knew about her new blog! I’m as eager as you to learn from her, and can’t wait to see what she has coming down the pike.

What I read in November:
— Still plugging away at The Coddling of the American Mind (see above). If you’d like more recommendations in the meantime, I’ve rounded up my favorite fiction and non-fiction picks for your perusal!

Revisiting my goals for November:
Write one thank you note per day (Only got through about 15 notes, but it was a great practice!)
Organize our loft (Uhhh no. Moving this to my yearly goals because it clearly needs a more expansive plan.)
Do lots of Christmas shopping, taking advantage of Black Friday sales (Oh yes.)
Share gift guides for ladies, gents, parents, and kiddos (Wish I could have gotten more of these together earlier, but they take hours to research and write! Would you still be interested in seeing the last two, even though Black Friday is over?)
Order Christmas cards and Christmas newsletter (Christmas cards ordered and received – they look so good!!)
Work on Shep’s baby book and update June’s
Take down June’s pelmet and replace with curtains, creating a reading corner

December goals:
— Set our 2019 budget
— Finalize and print our yearly newsletter and send out our Christmas cards with love
— Work on Shep’s baby book and update June’s
— Share the story of Shep’s birth
— Send out invites for June’s birthday and order supplies
— Love on our trash and recycling guys, our neighborhood friends, and June’s teachers

Friends, I’d love to hear: do you do anything special for the folks who help make your life run smoothly, like the ones I listed above? I’m always looking for good ideas, though peanut butter balls are perennially a must.

P.S. On the subject of goals: I’m sharing bits of my PowerSheets prep work on Instagram this week, and it has been fun! Would love to have you join me!

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Ah, some of the most difficult people to shop for… no extensive commentary because we’re headed for more family time, but I wanted to get these ideas your way while the sales are hot! More picks for your favorite parents, grandparents, and in-laws here!

Hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings!!

A. Floral pitcher | Adding this to my own wish list… would look so pretty with hydrangeas in the summer.
B. Photo calendar | Minted does it again! And you can get this for FREE when you save ten dates in their system?!
C. Market basket | My mom would use this for her yoga mat and water bottle or as a stylish farmer’s market tote!
D. Trekking poles | If your in-laws are big hikers like mine! Also on Amazon.
E. Moviepass | Watch 3 movies of their choice in theaters per month for $10!
F. PowerSheets | I know PowerSheets are more commonly thought of as being for 20- or 30-somethings, but I think they’re actually PERFECT for empty nesters.
G. Subscription to The Sill | This service is so neat – house plants delivered to your loved one’s doorstep every month, in beautiful pots!
H. Bell buoy bell | Have a lover of New England coastline in your family? These beauties will transport them back to the ocean with every chime.
I. USB wall charger | File this one under “things your parents didn’t know existed but will be really excited to discover.”
J. Floret puzzle | A 500-piece beauty from two of Erin’s iconic photos!
K. Vanity Fair’s Proust Questionnaire | Would be such a fun coffee table book.
L. Butter keeper | People are evangelistic about these things. I think my parents would love one! Also this pretty marble version.
M. Tartan dessert plates | These would be an instant family classic.
N. NY Times crossword puzzle book | Pick the day of the week difficulty level – just make sure it’s edited by Will Shortz!
O. Tartan throw | Finally, a cozy blanket to bring holiday charm.

Now, back to my own Black Friday shopping! :)

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Better late than never, am I right? :) Black Friday/Cyber Monday is upon us, so I’m making my list and checking it twice for all of the loved ones in my life. I’ll be sharing gift ideas in a few different categories this week and next in case you’re stuck on a certain someone! Up first: your best girls.

P.S. A note on prices: though everything here is under $100, I did include a range. In both sides of my family we’ve gone to a gift pick system, where the siblings draw names and there’s a $75 cap per person, and I figured some of you may have done the same! Or maybe you’re looking for something to add to your personal wish list for a generous parent to gift you :) I hope you find these ideas helpful!

A. Chambray notebook | A lot of my gifts tend to fall in the “upgraded essentials” category these days, including this one. Someone on my list is getting one of these this Christmas!
B. Dreamy joggers | Is it embarrassing that these are at the top of my personal wish list? No? Good.
C. Rose tinted lip balm | The stylish Lisa recommended this to me. Also on my wish list this year!
D. Flower studs | I’m seeing (and admiring!) these statement floral earrings everywhere, and I love this handmade (and inexpensive!) interpretation. (I also adore everything from this shop if you have a little more wiggle room in the budget!)
E. Bow gloves | These are on my wish list in the navy, but I think the red is such a fun splash of color, too.
F. Clipfolio | File this under “things she didn’t know she needed but now definitely does.” The perfect spot to keep it all together!
G. Super Tips marker set | I know this might seem like a strange gift, but if she does any sort of drawing, sketching, or doodling, these markers are SO fun to use and have the best colors!
H. Mixing bowl set | Eek! The pink sold out between gathering and posting, but I also love the jadeite.
I. Bow napkin rings | Literally stopped in my tracks when I saw these in Target… and then bought two sets for myself.
J. The best greeting card set | I know you’re probably sick of hearing about these, but they are SO beautiful and SUCH a good deal – couldn’t not include them! :)
K. Gold earrings | I love that these are a more modern take on the bow shape. you could dress them up or down!
L. See the good tee | A message she’d be happy to wear.
M. Delicate necklace | I found so many pieces to love on this site – aside from the necklace above, I loved these earrings and this necklace, too. An amazing kind-hearted company to support!
N. Custom keyring | The Mama Bear example shown above is perfect, but you can also commission a custom phrase for a super-sweet gift!
O. Monogrammed pouch | A pretty spot to hold her essentials in a larger tote bag.

Any other great gift ideas to share? Please do — I know readers would love to hear!!

P.S. Last year’s gift guide for gals, and the 2016 guide – lots of great picks in both I still stand by! :)

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Do y’all still take yearly photos with your extended family? We do, and we joke that the real purpose of our annual Maine vacation is so that my Mom can get her Christmas card photo with everyone present and accounted for – ha! Joking aside, we all love looking back at how our family composition has changed over the years, and acquiesce to the yearly photo session with minimal grumbling.

As my family’s resident “creative person,” I always get tasked with deciding on the year’s outfit color scheme. Outfitting a ten-plus person grouping, with kids, babies, adults, and grandparents in the mix (all with varying preferences and styles) and is not for the faint of heart. Since we’re in the thick of preparing for our family photo right now, I thought I’d share a few of the tips I’ve gathered over the years — both for outfitting, and for the photo session itself!

1. Think ahead. Depending on how often your family gathers together, you might have to take a photo months ahead of Christmas if the goal is to have a photo ready for a holiday card. My family is scattered, but one of the most reliable times we’re all together is in the summer, so that’s usually when we take our photo. (This year is an exception!)

2. Make an outfit plan. For our family, the goal is to look casually — not cheese-ily — coordinated. We don’t want to look like we’re trying too hard :) With a big group, it’s important to have a wide-enough palette that you’re not all stuck in one of two colors. A mix of textures and patterns can also go a long way toward a look with depth, as well as different shades within your palette. The goal isn’t to match perfectly, but just to look like you belong together! (That goes for the level of formality and the seasonality, too!)

I usually pull two color palette options (using inspiration photos like these) and then ask my mom and sisters which they’d prefer. Once we’ve chosen our palette, everyone is responsible for selecting their family’s outfits. Sometimes I start a Google Doc to track what everyone is wearing; other times we just bring several options and make final decisions the day of.

3. Choose a location. My MOST IMPORTANT location criteria isn’t aesthetic at all: it’s to choose one that’s inconspicuous! The last thing you want while wrangling multiple generations is to feel rushed or awkward, so pick a spot where there will be few passersby and you can take as much time as you need (or pause to regroup as necessary). To let your faces shine, a simple backdrop is best – a colored wall, porch steps, a fence, stone wall, evergreen hedge, etc. Avoid distracting colors, signage, and clutter as much as possible.

If at all possible, take your photo outdoors – it will be WAY easier to get a well-lit, professional-looking result, even if you’re just using an iPhone.

4. Pose. If you have an especially large group, it can be helpful to incorporate levels, like a chair, bench, rock, or fence for some people to sit on. From there, have fun! Look at each other and then back at the camera, throw in some fake laughter (because it always results in real laughter!), and squeeze in close enough to each other that it feels awkward :)

5. Take the picture. Some folks use a tripod and remote clicker set up, which sounds awesome but isn’t something I have experience with. We usually use the newest iPhone in the group (ha!), either with the timer function or in the capable hands of a cousin or friend (remember, we’re usually taking our photos on vacation in Maine). Enlisting a photographer is especially helpful when you have young kiddos in the group, as the likelihood of smiles goes up!

Of course, working with a professional photographer is the ultimate, and well worth the splurge if you can swing it! Many of my favorite photographers hold “mini sessions” in the early fall, which are shorter sessions at a lower price point and PERFECT for capturing a large group.

And now, a few of our family’s photos from years past…

And a favorite outtake :)

Any tips you’d add? Do y’all still take yearly photos with your siblings and parents?

Photo credits: Bethany Wilson, Photography by Jess, unknown, Jubilee Family Photography, Jubilee Family Photography, Heather Telford Photography, Ravenberg Photography