“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having in spirit, become a child again at Christmas time.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder

Let this be your reminder to allow yourself to grow tender and childlike this season. In the midst of to-do lists full of shopping, baking and cleaning, as well as calendars full of events and obligations, let go of the expectations and look around in wonder at the magic of the season. Someone was recently talking about how the holidays seemed more magical as a child and I think it’s because when you are a child, people create the magic for you. As adults we often are the magic makers. So don’t forget to make a little magic for yourself!

1. Thanksgiving in Alabama. We just got back from spending 5 days in Alabama with my husband’s family and it was a week FULL of hustle and bustle. We celebrated my brother-in-law’s birthday with a team scavenger hunt around the town, had Thanksgiving on the front lawn with 28 people, opened Christmas presents with my nieces and nephews, and watched Alabama pull out a close win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl! It was full of fun and laughter and love.
2. Three days in New Orleans. After all that intense family time, Tyler and I drove a few hours west to stay in New Orleans for a few days. We had a short list of things we wanted to do, but no real agenda or itinerary. It was so refreshing to just have time to relax and explore. We ate beignets, poboys, gumbo, oysters, cafe au laits, crawfish, and shrimp. We walked along the river, through the French Quarter, around an old cemetery, and down Magazine street. I got some great ideas and inspiration for my book as well!
3. Christmas decorations. Some of the big mansions on St. Charles had put up their big fancy Christmas decorations and lights when we were there and it was so fun to drive past them all. And before we left for the week, I set up a few inside decorations so we could come home to a festive house! Just this morning I put up our outside decorations and I’m really happy with how it turned out this year. Taking time to make magic for us and our neighbors!
4. Promised Land Eggnog. Guys, this is my favorite eggnog I’ve found so far. They were out of stock when I went to the store last week so I bought a generic brand and it just wasn’t as good! Now, I very rarely drink just a straight glass of eggnog anymore but around this time of year I start using as a creamer in my evening cup of decaf coffee to make it a real seasonal treat. Promised Land delivers on this front! So… when I went to the store yesterday and they had it in stock I bought it even though I already had a mostly full carton of the other brand in my fridge. Because this season is too short to drink inferior eggnog! (But don’t worry, I won’t waste it. I already found a good cookie recipe to use up the rest.)
5. The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah – No November book report this week because I legit only finished one book this month. I didn’t get into anything enough to finish before my library loans were up, so I have a few half finished books that I’ll finish when they’re available to borrow again. That being said, I did finish this book and it was so good and so heartbreaking. Set during the Depression, a woman makes her way to California with her two children and has to find a way to scrape out a living for them. It is such a real picture of what life was like for people who left their homes and farms during that time and how California was not the great salvation they were promised. I would recommend this book over Grapes of Wrath any day to someone who wanted to read about this time period. I mean, I love Steinbeck but I felt more connected with these characters and their emotions felt so real and raw. Hannah wrote another book I absolutely loved (The Nightingale) so now I feel like I need to read through her whole bibliography! 5/5 stars, highly recommend if you are mentally and emotionally well enough to handle the hard stuff.