Favourite Things: December Edition

Happy New Year!

If you’d like, take a few minutes to look back at all the things that made December memorable for me and my family. Then feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Books

As I read Little Fires Everywhere it struck me that it would be perfect for a book club (as long as you don’t mind some adult content). There are many issues to discuss and I loved getting the perspectives of multiple characters.

I had high hopes for Crossing to Safety because I enjoy well-written novels about ordinary lives and relationships. It took me a little while to get into it, but I think I’d read it again.

I enjoyed The House at Riverton, Kate Morton’s debut novel, and I’ve heard that her later books are even better.

Activities

I got a prenatal massage for the first time — it felt so good!

One Friday afternoon we stopped in at the Granary Road Christmas Market. The petting zoo was a hit!

I finished up some sewing before Christmas (I didn’t make all of these this year).

Food

I prepared lots of freezer meals at the beginning of December. It’s so satisfying to have the freezer full before the baby arrives.

On Christmas day I made a brunch that included overnight caramel french toast (it tasted like a decadent cinnamon bun, but I didn’t have to knead any dough) and roast beef dinner (turned out well even though the battery on our meat thermometer had died).

One of my goals this year was to make a buche de noel (yule log cake). I ran into some difficulties with the icing (my stand mixer gave out and my little hand beater broke too) and I didn’t get it decorated as much as I’d planned. There’s always next year…

After Christmas we stocked up on chocolate we found on sale. (And by stocked up I mean I have never bought so much chocolate in all my life… now I need the self-control not to eat too much in one sitting!)

We also continued our tradition of baking a New Year’s cheesecake. This time we used this recipe (with a few tweaks, of course, because we don’t want to do it the easy way!).

TV Show

Andrew and I watched The Great Canadian Baking Show, which was entertaining — and gave me an excuse to bake treats to eat after the kids went to bed (such as candy cane eclairs).

Music

For Christmas Andrew made a playlist (using this free service through our public library) for each member of the family, put them on a USB, and showed me how to play them in our van. Fun!

I love this song by George Ezra and think the music video is hilarious.

Bible Verses

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
    and apply your heart to my knowledge,
for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
    if all of them are ready on your lips.” – Proverbs 22:17-18

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23

Hope you’ve been enjoying the holidays. Any December favourites you’d like to share?

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