You know how on Facebook memories, a photo will come up and say, “Three years ago, you posted this…” Well, it seems like all the hard stuff we have endured happens in Novembers. Lately my personal feed is filled with “Remember this?” photos of Steve being burned alive and the brutal recovery he made three years ago, or how today is the one-year anniversary of Rolo’s death.

These things are hard to remember and sometimes I would rather not. But they do serve as reminders that life is fleeting, and that all we have is today. And then I’ll start clicking through old photo albums on FB, fall down the rabbit hole and realize:

1. Time is moving so dang fast
2. I really overshared on the internet from 2006-2016. I’m sorry.

As November nears its close and my brain starts whirring with all things Christmas (gifts! baking! decorations! parties! xmas cards!) I find myself wondering how to do it better this year: with less stress and chatter. I want to create space to actually enjoy the season, not just hop on the whirring treadmill of shopping, planning, baking, stressing. It can feel like such a machine. I sometimes dream of taking a year off, of booking a tropical holiday right over Christmas, just to see what that feels like. Maybe someday. Of course, when I look back at photos of the holidays, I am flooded with a warm nostalgia and am glad I busted my buns to make it a memorable, cozy time for our family. But maybe moms should just get a Government-mandated week off at a spa from December 26-Jan 1? Then I could totally rally and make that Christmas magic happen!

Aside from plotting my Christmas baking plans (Cranberry Bliss Bars, Coffee Toffee and maybe this?) here is a bit else of what’s bouncing around in my mind:

1. My automatic espresso machine gave up the ghost and I have been slumming it with Starbucks Vias in the morning but it’s just not cutting it. Any recommendations on a good home machine that does all the grinding, steaming, etc at the touch of a button? Also, I want the coffee to be hot and scald my tongue, because that’s how I like it.  My old machine was a Saeco and she was a good girl. I rode her hard. I release her to her rest.
2. Disney + is fun. I think we will keep it over the Christmas holidays and then re-evaluate. I am loving all the old 90s movies on there like Heavyweights, Mighty Ducks, etc. And the original Parent Trap will forever reign supreme.
3. We are planning to take the girls to Hawaii this winter; they have never been before (poor bunnies) and I am so excited! They are at such a great age right now where they still don’t have phones, they prefer one-piece bathings suits to bikinis, they can carry their own luggage and entertain themselves on a flight, and they still like to hang out with us. We have never done an extended holiday with just our immediate family, but I am so looking forward to it. Shave ice! Coconut bras! Mai tais!

I hope the cooling temperatures, early nightfalls and new streaming options bring you cozy joy. We can do hard things!