fighting off sunday scaries with a list winter activities and holiday musings

Good morning. Are you also feeling an abnormally large surge of the Sunday scaries? Me, too.

So here’s a light hearted newsletter- the holiday/ winter activity list I promised. I’ll also share a few articles and news clippings at the end. I have a lot to share with you tomorrow.

The holiday season is not for everyone. If you’re feeling a little grinchy this year, or if you’re burnt out and looking for ways to get into the holiday spirit, I made you a list. This is not a bucket list. This is a list for you to pick a few things that sound interesting to you, and go do what makes you feel cozy and comforted and a little more merry. 

Some of these activities are clearly more winter/ dark academia inspired. Some are more holiday/ Christmas. I love both depending on my mood. 

(Also, most people associate dark academia with fall. And while I agree, it feels very autumnal, I almost think winter feels more dark academia. It’s darker and more dreary. Everything is dead. Everyone is cold and the sun goes down early, all whilst being juxtaposed by the cheery nature of Christmas disposition and the holidays. But just wait until Christmas is over and everyone is depressed and dreary. Dark academia at its finest if you ask me). 

To start, I’ll share some ideas I enjoy doing that I wrote about in a previous newsletter alluding to today’s topic just in case you didn’t read it:

-Watching my favorite holiday movies: A Charlie Brown Christmas!! <3 (because snoopy forever), When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, Mixed Nuts, While You Were Sleeping, Metropolitan!!! <3

(notice a trend here?) 

Miracle on 34th Street (1947), It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), Home Alone 2 (1992)

Here’s a few more (feel-good): Winnie the Pooh Christmas, Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmas, Eloise at Christmastime!!! <3 Elf, the new cartoon Grinch movie, Love Actually, The Holiday, The Nightmare Before Christmas. 

(*Notice the multiple exclamation marks and hearts that denote my favorite favorites)

-Baking: to some, this is a chore. For me, it’s one of my favorite ways to relax. It doesn’t have to be Christmas themed. Bake what sounds good to you. There are a few things I bake every year during this time. One of them is cinnamon rolls. And the others are holiday cookies: Thumbprint with raspberry jam, salty dark chocolate chip cookies, ginger molasses cookies, and rosemary shortbread. Occasionally I’ll make treats that remind me of my childhood, like rice crispy treats (but a grown up fancy version with brown butter and vanilla bean paste), or pillsbury Christmas tree cookies. I also make some rendition of a salty sweet snack mix with pretzels and peanut M&M’s and chex mix. 

Wait, do you like Peppermint Bark? I have a hot take here…

I loathe… detest…. despise peppermint unless it’s 1⁄2 pump of peppermint syrup in a peppermint mocha. Or peppermint bark from williams sonoma. IF a mint chocolate chip ice cream is done brilliantly, I’ll happily indulge. But if what I’m tasting reminds me of the toothpaste I use every morning, I will gag and it will take forever and a year to get the taste out of my mouth. 

-Listening to jazzy Christmas music. Or classical Christmas.

-Lighting Christmas candles- either pine scented, or sweet cinnamon and vanilla, or oatmeal cookie. Something cozy.

-Tying your hair back with velvet ribbon. Velvet everywhere. Velvet dresses. Velvet bows. Velvet blankets. Etc.

-Building a gingerbread house. These are also a pain in the ass. I cheat and use a hot glue gun because I’ve never met a person who enjoys eating gingerbread house pieces. Although, if you’re looking for a project, it might be fun to make your own gingerbread and icing for something simple and tasty. I might try that this year. 

-Reading A Christmas Pageant by Donna Tartt. Mother Donna please please please give us your next book. That’s all us bookish girlies want for Christmas. 

-Going to a Christmas Market. In New York City, there are several Christmas Markets I go to that are magical. I suggest planning it on an off day when you can beat the crowds, otherwise it’s a nightmare.

-Drinking hot cocoa and snacking on cherries dipped in dark chocolate. Cherries, pomegranates, persimmons, pears- all the winter fruits.  

-I would suggest lighting the fireplace at home. But most people don’t have those. If you do, please do it for all of us and enjoy the warm cozy crackling sounds of wood over your favorite winter beverage and a good book. 

-Tying bows on your Christmas tree and victorian candles. I’m really into the dark yule Christmas aesthetic this year. I also really love the “old money” Ralph Lauren classic Christmas. But I’m not Shiv so until then…

-Taking walks in the snow. I love the little crunchy noises your shoes make when you walk in the snow. 

-Hosting an intimate cookie decorating party with your friends: paired with wine, a jazzy Christmas playlist, and good food. There is nothing better than this in my opinion. (I say this as a very introverted person). But having a few friends over who you love, decorating sugar cookies with fancy little sprinkles and frosting- it’s like you’re in elementary school all over again except no one can tell you what to do and there’s wine and good food and jazzy christmas music in the background. 

-Going to the tree farm to cut your own Christmas tree. (Even if it’s a baby Charlie Brown tree. Those are the best). Tree farms smell amazing. 

-Ice skating. Glide around the rinks with little mittens and a big puffy coat and earmuffs to keep you cozy.

-Go get some Peppermint Bark from Williams Sonoma while it’s on sale. 

-Make a wreath. If you’re crafty (I’m not), it could be fun to make your own wreath. You can add in dried oranges to make it pretty. 

-The Nutcracker. I did ballet for 18 years and even though I live in New York City, I still have yet to watch the NYC Ballet perform The Nutcracker. This is high on my list. If I miss it this year, I’ll save my money and wait for Swan Lake in the Spring. 

-Holiday parties. These are hit or miss. Some cause more harm than good. Proceed with caution. But if you go to the right place with the right people, it could be a lot of fun. 

-Advent calendars. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, making your own advent calendar filled with little treats to enjoy every day in December is a fun way to boost your spirit. If you’re in the market to buy one, Bonne Maman makes one filled with little baby jam jars. Laduree makes a very fancy (expensive) one that I wish I could have. My ultimate advent calendar would be The New Yorker puzzle one. But it’s a million dollars so I wont be getting that. 

-Drink mulled wine and cider.

-Listen to classical music in the morning, wear soft slippers and your coziest robe, sip on hot coffee or ginger tea, read the paper or your current book.

-Visit your favorite museum on really cold days.

Are you feeling a little better now?

Let’s get into some light-hearted news and articles:

-How to Monetarily Evaluate Your Friendships During Gifting Season

In this playful and pragmatic take on holiday gifting, the author humorously categorizes friendships into Olympic-style tiers, each with its own budget and gift suggestions, reflecting the grown-up reality of navigating the social and financial complexities of gift-giving. This lighthearted approach not only captures the nuances of various relationships—from the 'gold' level inner circle to the obligatory 'participation trophy' acquaintances—but also offers a candid, slightly tongue-in-cheek guide to thoughtful, yet budget-conscious, holiday shopping.

-Kirsten Dunst’s Feminine Urges

The meme "the feminine urge to" humorously encapsulates the paradoxical and often absurd experiences of womanhood, a theme poignantly illustrated in Lars von Trier’s film "Melancholia." Kirsten Dunst's portrayal of Justine embodies this concept, as her character's erratic and unconventional actions amidst a looming apocalyptic event serve as a metaphor for the complexities and contradictions of feminine existence.

-The Introvert’s Guide To Actually Enjoying A Party

The article discusses how introverts can navigate social events like weddings, where they may feel overwhelmed. It explains that introverts process experiences internally and may find prolonged social interaction draining. The concept of a 'social battery' is introduced, highlighting the need for introverts to take breaks and have solitude to recharge. It suggests preparation for events by identifying quiet spaces for breaks and understanding the social context in advance. The importance of recognizing personal social needs and preferences is emphasized, along with the understanding that taking breaks and preferring deeper conversations are normal aspects of introversion.

-It’s Cookie Week at NYT Cooking! Here’s a fun cookie week YouTube Playlist if you’re also into cooking videos.

-If you’re like me and love The Great British Baking Show, the holiday edition special is set to premiere on December 8. 

Okay that’s all for now. I have lots of articles and news to share with you tomorrow morning. 

Also, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy writing to you. I look forward to it everyday.

I love you and thank you for being here with me.

Bye <3