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. And oh yes, I did a little shopping along the way :) Some of my favorite purchases included this blue floral dress for me (50% off!), an embroidered C.S. Lewis banner for our loft/playroom (30% off!), curtain rods and rings for our dining area, and two of these quilted pullovers so my Mom and I can match (15% off!). And several items from my gift guides: gifts for Em, favorite gifts for loved ones, and what we’re actually getting our kids! 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

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 :)) Husband and other guys: This year, John will be receiving a Great Smoky Mountains Landmark tee (in honor of our fall trip!), a new camping lantern, and a quartet of wooden cooking utensils since this article finally convinced me to ditch my black plastic ones. I’m also replacing his sun hat (it’s looking pretty dingy after a few years) and his pajama shorts. 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

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 side-by-side pottery wheel session with Mama. Pottery was her first elective choice at camp and she’s been eager to try her hand at the wheel. We’ll pair it with dinner after and I think she’ll be in heaven!— 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.— A dog rescue LEGO Friends set. She goes hot and cold on LEGOs but a “animal or bakery” themed set was at the top of her list this year. This one should do nicely.— 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

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 kiddos 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! First up, we’re giving a few family gifts this year. The kids will be receiving:— A Nugget play couch. A dear friend was gifted a gift card for a Nugget earlier this year, but since they already have several, she generously offered it to me (!!). I’d eyed them for years but hadn’t pulled the trigger. Instead of presenting such a momentous item to the kids on a random Tuesday, I’ve squirreled it away in a friend’s attic for the last few months and will go pick it up on Christmas Eve! :)— A copy of Little Pilgrim’s Progress. I have heard nothing but good things about this “lavishly illustrated” version and would love to kick off a family read-aloud by gifting a copy. June (who is almost eight) will be receiving:— A ticket to The Lion King when it comes to the DPAC in the spring. She loves dressing up and going to shows and I know this will be thrilling!— A purple bed rest pillow and super-soft minky blanket. June is all about making cozy corners in her room where she can read for hours, so I know these will be well-loved. — A learn-to-knit kit. No yarn is safe in this house! She doesn’t know how to knit, but inspired (I think) by Hyacinth Vanderbeeker, she’s constantly pillaging my yarn and