Weekend Reading 12.05
A short gift guide plus an Irish Christmas home tour and more links for your weekend.
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And just like that it’s December 5. I know we were all just cleaning up from Thanksgiving dinner but here we are with just 20 days until Christmas.
I’m doing my best to slow down and enjoy my favorite time of the year but I’m also someone who didn’t start my Christmas shopping until Thanksgiving was good and over so I’m hustling a little bit.
My family is helping by sending gift ideas but I’m also perusing the many gift guides that are coming across my social media and Substack feeds. So, in that spirit, here’s my own little gift guide of things that Tom, Madeline (of course) and I have and love.
Note: some of these are affiliate links, which means that if you click through and make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
For Kids
Montessori Book Shelf (Amazon). I have one of these at my house for Madeline and I love the front-facing shelves. I rotate out the many books I’ve saved from when her mom and uncle were little.
Mouse in a Box (Maileg). I am so charmed by these little mice that come in matchboxes so I was happy when M liked the Big Sister mouse I got her. I’m going to add a second for Christmas.
Personalized Chair (Pottery Barn Kids). This was M’s first birthday gift from us and she uses it a lot. Hers is in a buffalo check pattern that appears to have been retired but I’m taken with this new cable knit style.
Doll Stroller (Target). I picked this up for M on a whim over the summer and I swear she has pushed it for the equivalent of a 5K by now. It’s been the biggest hit.
My First Classical Music Books (Jam Jam Books). Madeline has several of these and we keep them at her house, at my house, and in my car. They’ve kept her busy for long periods of time from a very young age.
Corduroy Bear (Amazon). Madeline loves Corduroy by Don Freeman, as did my kids (and probably me…it was written in 1968) so I got her the bear for her birthday. Also, I just grabbed the Corduroy audiobook because I saw that Viola Davis is the narrator(!).
For Him
Chelsea Boots (DSW). Tom has these boots in brown and just asked for them in black too because he says they are so comfortable.
Shirts with Contrasting Trim (Paul Frederick). Tom has several of these shirts with the contrasting trim on the cuffs and button plackets and he often gets compliments on them.
Digital Tape Measurer (Amazon). I realize it’s stereotyping to put this in the ‘for him’ category, but I bought Tom this for his birthday after his “garage” tape measure (as opposed to my “house” tape measure) broke.
For Her
Oversized Cashmere Wrap (J Crew). I have this wrap in black and I swear by it for winter weddings or other dress up events where I don’t want to wear a coat. I love that I’ll have it forever too.
Vest for All Seasons (Coldwater Creek). I searched everywhere for a longer length, lighter weight vest and found it in this one. I have it in black and would like it in red, but there are more than a dozen colors to choose from. I also added this cap sleeve puffer vest to my list.
Quilted Crossbody Tote. Another item that I have in one color (navy) and am asking for in another (black). Cute, lightweight, and it comes packaged so nicely including a dust bag for storage.
For the Home
Bamboo Picture Frames (Wayfair). I picked up a bamboo frame like these at a gift shop this fall and I wish I had one or two more.
Cassis and Rose Reed Diffuser (Pottery Barn). My local Pottery Barn had this in their restroom and I loved the scent so much that I bought it before I left.
Cordless Lamps (Amazon). I now have four of these. I use them down dining tables, on bookshelves, in my powder room, and on my kitchen counter. I’ve got my eye out for small shades I like so I can change up the look.
Here’s what else I saved to share with you…
This cozy Christmas tour of a home in Northern Ireland is full of moody colors, flickering candles, and natural Christmas decor. I love the home but it’s honestly worth watching for her accent alone.
A Charlie Brown Christmas nails something no other Christmas album can. From the article: “The last couple of years, I’ve developed a ritual of sorts: a few days before the 25th, I’ll put on A Charlie Brown Christmas and wrap the presents I’ve bought. The opening chords of “O Tannenbaum” have become a shortcut for that layered, complex kind of nostalgia – a mix of anticipation, peace, melancholy and less easily expressible feelings – which tends to hang over the holidays.”
Designer Leslie Martin’s La Jolla, CA home is for sale in case you have $5.6 million lying around. My friend Kathleen and I scheduled an entire lunch just to discuss the video tour of this house so I am happy to get to linger over the big, beautiful photos in the listing.
I read Wreck by Catherine Newman over the long holiday weekend. If you’re in a similar stage of life to mine (grown kids, aging parents, a little health anxiety), I think it will resonate with you and Newman’s stream-of-conscious writing style makes it feel like you’re chatting with a friend.
I seem to be starting a Fair Isle sweater collection. Here’s the latest addition in misses, petite and plus sizes. A fun thing that happened: When my son-in-law’s mother walked into our house on Thanksgiving she was wearing this same sweater. I was wearing something else that day but I think it might have been fun if we had been matching.
I hope you have a good weekend. Thank you for being a reader!
Julie