I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! Mine was spent in the company of my family and friends (for the first of two annual “Friendsgivings”. The second and larger of the gatherings usually happens shortly after New Years when it’s easier to coordinate a dinner with so many people after the hectic holiday season winds down and schedules open up a bit more!) and also putting in a bit of overtime at work.

December and Christmas are upon us- but before I bid a fond farewell to the roller coaster that was November and focus on getting my decorations set up and my gift shopping list organized- I wanted to share some of my favorite things from this past month, first!

There’s only a few things I photographed- but plenty of other random things that made the list, too!

I used to snicker at jokes about “basic bitches” who collected UGG boots and drank pumpkin spice lattes all the time- until I turned into one, anyway. While these boots are not UGG brand- they are just as comfortable for half the price. I’ve been sporting these almost daily since we haven’t seen more than an occasional flurry of snow around here lately. The faux-fur lining on the inside keeps my feet warm and dry, and walking or standing for any length of time feels like I’m simply wading through marshmallows. These boots are super cozy and go with just about any pair of skinny jeans, leggings or tights.

Speaking of being cozy. Now that it’s considerably more chilly outside (and sometimes indoors, too)– I’ve been bundling up in anything with Sherpa material underneath my winter coat for extra warmth. I’m particularly fond of this lined flannel pullover with Sherpa material around the collar. I usually bring this to work with me to put on at my desk in case there’s a draft. It’s long enough to wrap around me but it’s still chic- so I don’t look like I’m wearing a bathrobe in public or anything.

While my home typically smells like pine, gingerbread, peppermint and vanilla (with a hint of brown sugar) around the holidays- I thought I’d add a touch of something new this year and purchased one of Yankee Candle’s new “All Is Bright” jars. The fragrance- a freshly popped bottle of champagne- is already getting me ready for New Years. It’s sweet and bubbly- just like the drink. If you see this candle around- definitely grab one. It’s lovely!

I received a sample of this brightening moisturizer with SPF 15 from Garnier with a recent purchase of my usual micellar water- and I’ve been hooked ever since. This oil-free formula is lightweight, loaded with vitamins, keeps my skin feeling soft all day, and has visibly evened out my complexion (which usually gets a little blotchy and patchy with the dropping temperatures) with continued use. I’ve already picked up a full-size tube for when I run out of the decently-sized sample- and I plan on using it religiously throughout the Winter.

Finally, in an attempt to cut back on my spending for the holidays (and overall, really)– I’ve started taking the time to prepare my own coffee in the morning using my K-Cup brewer instead of making speedy early morning stops at local cafes. I’ve been loading up on homemade peppermint mocha lately (with a touch of chocolate flavored creamer. So good!) and my mom was kind enough to pick up this spill-proof and durable Vera Bradley travel mug for when I head to work. It’s definitely better for the environment than multiple discarded plastic and Styrofoam cups- and the painted feather design is really pretty.

And now, onto some of the other odds and ends!

– MUSIC/MOVIES/TELEVISION –

• The Killers – “Don’t Waste Your Wishes”: Now that’s it acceptable and not way-too-early to listen to Christmas music, I strongly recommend The Killers’ new album- a compilation of all of their holiday singles- to benefit charity. While “A Great Big Sled” and “Don’t Shoot Me Santa” will forever be my all-time favorites, hearing Brandon talk about his childhood in the album’s closing cover of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” is especially poignant, too.

• TCM’s Natalie Wood Marathon: This past month, on the nights when I would get home from work and just wanted to veg out on my couch or in bed- I flipped on any one of the TCM’s choice Natalie Wood (one of my favorites) movies since she was the network’s star of the month. I loved re-visiting “Rebel Without A Cause” and “West Side Story”- but “Searchers” and “Kings Go Forth” were fun to see for the first time, too.

– MISCELLANEOUS –

• Planning my New Years: 2016 was, essentially, a dumpster fire- and a year I plan on giving the proper attention and criticism it deserves for my “In A Nutshell” post at the end of December. Until then, I’ve been starting preparations for my New Years Eve- and while I’m keeping quiet on what my final farewell to this past year that was will look like- I can say that the details have me very excited. It’s nice to have something to look forward to considering how rough 2016 has been so far. Not just for me- but for a lot of others, too.

And I think that’s pretty much it for my November hits! As always- if you’d like to share your own list of favorites for the month- feel free!

Have a great Monday!

xx