Weekend Musings | December 20, 2025
In my heart and in my cart + other things
In My Heart -
Hello! We are in the single-digit “sleeps” countdown to Christmas and I’m already reminding my family that there’s really no need to wake up before 7am on Christmas Day. Last year my littlest boy was resolutely awake at 2am and I spent hours - hours! - shouting “go back to bed!” from my own room. It’s an experience I’m not keen to repeat, and frankly neither is he. Melatonin waits at the ready!
In other news, last weekend I roadtripped to my hometown to spend a couple days being extremely festive with my big sister. We treated it like our very own short Christmas vacation and spent a wonderful Saturday checking out the holiday market downtown and doing some light pub-hopping and appetizer snacking. There is nothing quite like a well decorated bar to set the mood, you know? I’m inspired to invest more in good garland.
*
This week was sprint week. Last full week of work. I have to go in four days between now and the new year, but it’s two short weeks back to back. I’ll accept silverlinings as they appear. The last week of school too, complete of course with a full line of up spirit days. Our PTA was blessedly casual about the whole thing. Spirit days were things like Wear Red Day and PJ Day. On Friday though, a good ice storm overnight cancelled school and my kids couldn’t decide if they were delighted or bummed to miss their Christmas parties. They quickly got over it. We also had Christmas concerts, my in-laws visiting, and my company work party, at which I offered to be DD so I could ensure waking up on Saturday morning ready to be productive. It worked!
*
2025 is wrapping up quickly and as one does, I’m taking inventory of how I spent money this year. There are two things that sit on the shelf, chiding me for my blind, influenceable optimism and sheer stupidity. I’m talking about regrettable purchases and curious if there’s anything you bought this year that was entirely disappointing. I’ll go first.
Lemme GLP-1. Purchased in desperation, and worse, I forgot I signed up for a automatic refill. It resolutely does not work and personally, it also causes my eyelids to twitch uncontrollably. It’s hilarious if you’re not me, haha. I was in a one-on-one with my manager earlier this year and he literally asked me if I was okay because my eyes were going bananas. I learned my lesson. Regrettably, I have five unopened bottles of the stuff on my shelf and perhaps I am keeping it as a reminder to not fall for snake oil!
INNBeauty Moisturizer. I know this is developing a cult status but it drives me crazy to hear rich influencers pimp it as an “affordable” or dear-god, “cheap” product. Folks, this bottle costs $70 - that is not cheap or affordable in general. I might be willing to spend the money, but it is not special enough to warranty the $70 price tag.
I did, however, discover another cult classic, Vanicream, which retails for $13 and is incredible for my dry skin. It’s early into the winter season, but so far (this is gross!) no dry, scaly patches on my cheeks and forehead, which usually start appearing right about now.
*
I impulsively got a haircut this week. I’ve been noodling on the idea since early November, but kept nurturing a dream of growing it out. The problem is that I hated the in-between stage, where it’s not quite long enough to pull into a ponytail, but constantly in my face and flat, flat, flat. I had a window on Tuesday afternoon and shockingly, so did my salon. They scooted me right in and honestly, no regrets. As soon as my hair was cut into a bob, I felt like myself again.
Speaking of hair, I’ve been saving a lot of photos of hair tucked into turtlenecks and find it so chic. Very quiet sophistication, like CBK in the 90s.
In My Cart -
+If we must be cold, can’t we also be cute? The 90’s vibes on this hat and these earmuffs almost make me want to go outside. I think they’re fun!
+Winter themed puzzle to chip away at for the rest of the month. Not so christmasy that I’ll want to haul it away immediately if I don’t get done before the big day.
+But also THIS, omg. For feeling like the queen of the castle whilst puttering around the house.
+20% off full size fragrances at Sephora, so I invested in a couple that will last me all year long: Replica Never Ending Summer (my daily driver) and Phlur body mists in Beach Skin and Heavy Cream.
+One last Christmas find: a phone charger the size of a keychain (genius!) for my husband.
+I bought this for myself and unpacked it to use immediately. I feel so 90s mom having a radio in my kitchen and my kids are mystified by the “channels” and tuning. Like, what do you mean you don’t get to choose the song? They just play music and you can’t skip?! It’s a learning experience.
Other Things -
+Currently reading. It’s meant to be a page-a-day read for folks who enjoy American history, but I’m consuming it in gulps. There’s a whole series!
+My one and only perfect mom hack: Christmas Edition.
+After much thought and consideration.
+Anyone else experiencing “Decoration Guilt”? via Cup of Jo. I have my tree up, but that’s it and I absolutely do feel guilty that I haven’t mustered up the energy to put anything else up or out. All I can think of is the work to clean it all back up.
+Picked up a giant bag of oranges so we can give this recipe a try over the weekend.
+Thoughts on a December Audit? “Successful years are built in December.”