Thankful for you, ever so thankful. Thankful for this life we get to live and share, that this year is almost over, that I have my health, ever so much.
“The Thanksgiving Song” by Ben Rector has been helping me put this year in perspective and focusing on what really matters.
The only Black Friday shopping I did was at a local favorite of mine, The Burlap Bag. Did I go a bit overboard on candles? Yes. And I feel really good about it.
Home for Christmas (or Hjem Til Jul) was my first foray into Norwegian shows, and I blooming loved it. As in I watched the entire first season in one excessively rainy day. It’s the perfect mix of heartwarming, heartbreaking, and relatable. Such a realistic of kindness and absurdity and the full range of emotion. Good gosh, I could cozy up with it and a hot chocolate all over again just thinking about it. (P.S. Its soundtrack is pitch perfect.)
Jamie Dornan on How to Fail. Even though I’ve been a fan of some of his work, I was a bit taken aback by just how much I enjoyed this interview and how down to earth he was. Then again I’m always drawn to people who, like me, feel like their life is just a hefty series of failures and the learning experiences that come with them.
Another good listen was Priya Parker on Unlocking Us. There was a moment in her discussion with Brené Brown where she mentioned something like toxic peace in family relationships, which really struck and stayed with me.
Half Baked Harvest’s Roasted Squash, Caramelized Fig, and Feta Salad has had me counting down the hours to dinner the past few days.
It’d be more honest to say I’ve been counting down to dinner and dessert. The Pioneer Woman’s Pear Crisp with Vanilla Ice Cream has had me wondering why I don’t have crisps in my regular rotation. They’re so simple and simply heavenly! I’d recommend halving the salt on this one.
Over the weekend, I’ve been working through a stack of children’s books from the library. It will come as a surprise to no one that I loved How to Hide a Lion at Christmas by Helen Stephens — especially the snowy street scenes.
Light and love, dear ones, light and love.
xoxo,
Sally