December 2025 | Issue 11 | Holiday
The Edit
As I took a walk over the Thanksgiving weekend, something felt different. The sun shined brightly on the leaved sidewalks. An invisible sense of cheer and hopefulness was in the air. Strangers walking by smiled and took a moment to chat. While walking around my local nursery admiring the lines of Christmas trees and poinsettia, the sound of holiday tunes and bells was ever present. All signs pointing to the beginning of the holiday season. Just like that, only a few days after Thanksgiving! December has a way of brightening your spirits and changing your disposition, if you let it - all you have to do is lean in! We’ve heard it said many times before, this time of year is the season of kindness, generosity and for believing in the goodness in each other, and this day confirmed that.
Christmas eve has always been my favorite day of the year. A day spent with family - playing games, dancing, eating special treats and enjoying time together. I cherished the next morning too, as a child I remember waking up and creeping down the stairs before anyone else was awake, just to witness the magical glow of the colored lights and shiny ribbons and bows. Anyone watching could see the sparkle in my eyes as I marveled at this rare sight that only comes once a year. Nothing is as special as seeing a child’s eyes light up on Christmas morning. This year, I’m looking forward to leaning into that same magic and spreading joy to loved ones and new friends alike.
"May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve." — Unknown
Design Inspiration
Design Tip 1:
We are loving Benjamin Moore’s Essex Green - HW188 - this winter. The warm green reminds us of the holly and bright red berries you find hanging around during the holidays. With so much regality and character, this color will truly give any room more presence. It pairs beautifully, of course with colors in the red family, like merlot and plum, as well as navy, browns and golds. Dress it up for a more elegant space, as seen here, or keep it simple with creamy whites and tans and dark wood furniture.
Design Tip 2:
There are endless options when it comes to holiday decor - vintage, DIY, classic, minimal or bold and extravagant. Your decor may be well underway as soon as December 1st rolls around but here’s a few of our favorite ideas to get you inspired. Sprinkle holiday decor items into your entry way or shelves or add velvet bows wherever you’d like for some subtle sparkle. Another easy way to transition into the holidays is by introducing gold or silver accents to a room to make it feel more festive.
Never underestimate the power of garland. The classic kind you’d find at your nursery, DIY paper chains or ones that string together dried fruits and herbs can be hung around framed art, draped over a doorway or used to frame a window. Our favorite unexpected hacks happen to both utilize mirrors you may already have in your home. They’re the perfect place to hang a wreath or position one behind your Christmas tree to enhance it’s presence. Whatever decor you decide on, go all out - the holidays are only once a year!
Tunes in the Office
Mind
The end of the year is the perfect time for reflection. It can be hard to pause from our busy everyday lives to take a step back and acknowledge how far we’ve come. Often times, a friend will recognize my growth and accomplishments before I do. Jot down in a journal, light your favorite candle or take a moment with a cup of tea and think about the year passed. What have I accomplished this year? What lessons have I learned? What new discoveries have I made about myself? What memories have I made? Take stock of your life, be grateful even for the baby steps and thank yourself for showing up, before you skip ahead to new year’s resolutions. This will help you identify patterns, learn from your mistakes and enhance your perspective. Not only that, but you will gain a sense of closure and allow yourself to let go of any difficult emotions and experiences you may have had and move on in a healthy way, entering 2026 with clarity and a fresh outlook.
Currently Reading
Why not try out this fitting read for the month of December?! This novel follows Maryam and Anna, who begin as strangers but quickly bond on a flight to Toronto. Maryam is headed to her sister’s wedding and Anna is going to meet her boyfriend’s wealthy family for the first time. Severe turbulence on the flight compels them to take stock of their lives and confess their hopes and fears with an otherwise complete stranger. When the plane takes an emergency landing in the picturesque town of Snow Falls, their lives take an unexpected turn as well and they begin to realize everything they were so sure about isn’t so certain after all. This story is nothing short of festive and takes place not only during Christmas, Ramadan and Hanukkah, but also includes a little dash of holiday romance. We hope it will have you feeling merry and bright.
Good Eats
We love this idea for a holiday punch! Serve it at your holiday party or bring it with you to your next event. It features familiar flavors you’d expect this time of year like cranberry, pomegranate and fresh rosemary. All of which are in season in December as well. Add your favorite liquor or serve as is for a refreshing treat.
“Thank you for sharing in our first full year of newsletters!
Happy Holidays from me and mine to you and yours. See you in 2026!”
-Cass ♡