Kate's Monthly Take - December 2019

I blinked and it’s December, almost mid December…practically January! How does this happen so quickly every year??? December can be such a joyous yet stressful time…I’m trying to concentrate on a few special things this month and enjoy them more fully vs cramming so much into each day. Wish me luck!!! No seriously, though we have a simple bucket list (only 5 things) and will be celebrating Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning with just our family of five. I hope it’s a memory we treasure forever! Happy Holiday Season!

Enjoy my Monthly Take!

Kate's Monthly Take - December 2019

Mood

  • This is a constant struggle for me but I’m trying…“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” - Amit Ray

Currently Coveting

  • A pair of sparkly heels for a handful of festive engagements this season! I love these, but honestly why do all heels have to be 3.5” high? I can barely walk in them at that height and who knows what will happen after a glass of wine!

Favorite Product

  • This season I can’t live without my box cutter (for all the online shopping) and my razor paper cutter (for all the gift wrapping). Seriously, these items help make the holidays run a little smoother!

Design Pick

  • My dream is to have a home with a breakfast nook and in it I would have a round marble topped table…preferably but not realistically it would be a Saarinen round dining table. It’s something my modern design loving husband and I could most certainly agree on!

What I'm Reading

  • My mom just lent me a few books and I haven’t had a chance to start any yet but The Dutch House is on the top of my bedside pile!

What I’m Listening To

  • I haven’t had a lot of free time in the car or meeting less workdays but I have started to listen to Michelle Obama’s, Becoming on Audible. Michelle narrates it, she has such a lovely voice and I’m learning she was quite spunky as a kid.

What We're Reading the Kids

What I’m Watching

  • All the holiday movies that I can. My favorite is White Christmas but Home Alone, Love Actually and The Holiday are fiercely vying for second place.

Instagram Handle

  • Joanna Goddard and her blog (Cup of Jo) came along eons ago. She’s part of the OG blogging crew for sure. I read articles based on posts on the gram and I appreciate her and the blog so much because it’s not her posing in an outfit that she is trying to sell but it’s a collection of really useful and amusing info. Maybe it’s the stage of life I’m in but I relate to a lot of the material. I love the posts with reader blog comments and the gift guides are pretty spot on. They guides are pared down, reasonable and creative. Stick on Earrings for the girls and a wallet for George were recent stocking stuffer ideas sourced from Cup of Jo.

Guilty Pleasure

  • I’m going to be completely honest here…I love to decorate our Christmas tree without the kids. I’m not a complete Scrooge as the kids do like to help put the ornaments on but I love it when they are in bed and I can get out the remaining ornaments and rearrange the tree. Houston, we have a problem…

I Need A Vacation

  • Anyone else wanted to be transported to a cozy English village in the countryside like in the movie the Holiday? Naturally, there is an entire website devoted to English Country Cottage rentals! So maybe I won’t make it there this year but someday it’s going to happen!

Shit My Kids Will Eat

  • Kid Tested & Approved - When we cook in the winter it’s often soup…I can’t stop myself there is always a new soup recipe to try and I will actually eat the leftovers. I’m not a huge leftover fan but soup I will eat. Anyways, we recently tried Zuppa Toscana for the first time. We used a recipe from Budget Bytes and while I probably prefer something with a tomato base of sorts this was a great way for the kids and myself to eat kale. Wilted in soup is basically the only way any of us will eat it!

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