Currently #72

Hello! Hello! Happy Christmas Eve! Thank you for taking the time to check in here today before the holidays begin! It’s a busy time of year, but I hope in the midst of the hustle and bustle, you are taking some time for yourself. 

This month has been so busy, but in all the best ways. I am still recovering from a family wedding this weekend that was so fun and full of love!

Next week, I will be sharing my recap of 2025, one of my favorite posts of the year, but before we get to that, I wanted to share my recap of this month for Currently.

It has been a busy month between Thanksgiving and Christmas prep, we have a lot to catch up with.

Let’s recap!

What I've Been Up to: 

Since we last caught up, I, like so many others saw Wicked: For Good, it exceeded my expectations. I loved it!

We had our first snowfall

I enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving and decorating with my family for the holidays.

I began the day with the Turkey Trot 10K, it was a cold one.

We watched the parade

We had a delicious spread!

And a Thanksgiving spread

We enjoyed lots of family time together and enjoyed lots of snacks!

We spent the day after Thanksgiving decorating our home for Christmas

We enjoyed a second round of Thanksgiving bites!

The place settings

The table

The plates

And desserts

I also started watching holiday movies! Miracle on 34th Street is a classic!

I finished up my shopping and Christmas wrapping!

I’ve been watching ALL the holiday specials

Even more Christmas specials!

We decorated our tree in the midst of the holiday season

I have been doing lots of holiday baking too

And doing Christmas shopping while supporting local businesses.

What I’m Wearing:

Here’s what I wore for Thanksgiving.

All the fall colors.

Same skirt, different top and look

Here for the neutrals

My makeup for a wedding I was in!

Feeling festive for the holidays!

What I'm Reading:

I finished some thrillers and mysteries and I have been making my way through my to-be read list, but right now, it’s all about Christmas books.

Pictures of You- Pictures of You by Emma Grey was the second book I read by this author. I finished this month by reading this book. It’s all about a woman who gets in a car accident which kills her husband, but she loses her memory. She slowly gets her memory back thanks to her old friend and she quickly learns her life isn’t what she thought it would be. Warning, there are some challenging topics that are covered with relationships. 

Weekends with You- I picked up Weekends with You by Alexandra Park on whim and it was the last book I read before I began my holiday reading. It’s all about a group of roomates who get together once a month for a weekend for a bonding activity. Two of the roommates like each other, but they only have that weekend to spend together. Can their relationship last just be seeing each other once a month? You will have to read to find out. I thought the book was cute, predictable, but a fun read.

Winter Street- Winter Street is the first of four books in a series by Elin Hilderbrand. I really loved reading Nantucket at Christmas time. Such a fun and charming story, but with some family drama too.

Winter Stroll- Winter Stroll is the second out of four books in the Winter Street series by Elin Hilderbrand. I won’t give too much away, but it picks up a year after the first book. It’s all about how the Quinn family is navigating new relationships, loss, new members of the family and how the dynamics in the home have shifted. I really liked how it picked up right where the first one ended. Now, onto the third!

Winter Storms- Winter Storms is the third book in the Winter Street series by Elin Hilderbrand. This one follows the Quinn family through all four seasons leading up to Christmas. This was a heavier book because it dealt with challenging topics like pain, addiction, and health issues, but it ended with Christmas on Nantucket- the best ending!

Winter Solstice- I finished the fourth installment, Winter Solstice by Elin Hilderbrand just in time for the holidays. It was a sad, but moving ending and I’m so glad I finally got around to reading this series during the holidays. It definitely got me in the holiday spirit.

The Perfect Divorce- The Perfect Divorce is the sequel to The Perfect Marriage. You don’t necessarily have to read the first to read the second, but there are references to the first book. I listened to this as an audiobook and really loved the different narrators for the characters. This book involves more murder, more disappearances, and more questions. I recommend both the first and second book.

What I’m Watching:

Only Murders in the Building- This was a great month for me when it comes to finishing shows. I am all caught up with Only Murders in the Building. My mom and I have really enjoyed this show. I love the plot lines, the characters, and the writing. I can’t wait for the next season. 

Breaking Bad- After starting it over a year ago, I finally finished Breaking Bad. I thought the show was good, but not great. It was dark and serious and I prefer more lighthearted shows, but I’m glad I made it through and finished it. The last few episodes were insane, wow!

I also have been keeping up with lots of Christmas movies and specials. Tis the season!

I watched Meghan Markle’s holiday special.

What I'm Cooking:

This month was filled with so much holiday baking and cozy food items! My two favorite things!

My roundup of holiday baking items

Cowboy Soup- I ended November with more soup. Nothing quite says like homemade soup. I loved Emily Ley’s recipe for Cowboy Soup. It’s lots of beans and flavoring and I added some chicken too! Yum!

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies- These are always a hit around the holidays.

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies- These were from a new recipe to me, but I loved how they turned out.

Red Velvet Cookies- An easy cookie that screams Christmas with the red food coloring.

Puff Pastry Brie- I got this recipe from Joanna Gaines' Magnolia cookbook. I love how they are bite size bries that can be enjoyed in a single serving-yum!

Rustic Cranberry Apple Pie by Mix and Match Mama was a hit for our Thanksgiving.

Turkey, Cranberry and Brie Sandwiches- I used the last of the leftovers and made these delicious sandwiches. They were a hit and so filling!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies- A classic cookie for the holiday season

Twix Cookies- These were simple to make with Nilla Wafers, a rolo candy, and melted chocolate, but the presentation could use some work.

Rosemary Chicken Avocado Salad- I tried this recipe from Half Baked Harvest and it’s the perfect winter salad. I love salads that have lots of flavor and this one certainly checks the boxes with fresh veggies, fruits, nuts, and protein. Yum!

Sunday Sauce- My fiance and I made a hearty meat sauce and pasta after a long and chilly day. It was such a filling and tasty meal in the winter.

Neiman Marcus Bars- I tried Mix and Match Mama’s Neiman Marcus Bars and they were heavenly. So moist and sweet and full of peppermint flavor. I may make them again around Valentine’s Day.

Chocolate Dipped Treats- I made lots of chocolate dipped treats this holiday season, from Pretzels, to Oreos, and Crackers. Some were Pinterest wins and others were fails.

Ham, Cheddar, Apple Sandwhiches- This was an easy and filling lunch from Emily Ley’s cookbook. I loved the crunch of the apple.

Coffee Cake- I made this Coffee Cake from Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia cookbook to give as a gift for someone and it turned out so good, I wanted to keep some for myself.

Reindeer Food- I love a good trail mix and Mix and Match Mama’s reindeer food didn’t disappoint.

What Inspires Me: 

I absolutely love this time of year. Give me all the lights, Christmas music, movies, decor, and festive treats! 

Some inspiration for the month.

Daily desk motivation

A festive sign for this time of year!

What I Accomplished:

I made the most of this month by crossing things off my Christmas bucket list!

We got our tree early in the season

An advent program, the true meaning of the season

Celebrating my first engaged Christmas!

Goals for this Month: 

New year, new month. I am all about fresh starts and I can’t wait to see what 2026 holds!

Goals from Last Month:

It was such an incredible year and I can’t wait to share it all with you next week!

That’s a look into life this month. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. I hope you continue to have a joyous holiday season. Sending you peace, love and joy!