13 Things Thursday: 10
The celebration edition!
Life/Personal Things
I’ve been having a birthday month! Usually my birthday gets eclipsed by Thanksgiving, but this year I got to extend the celebration, and I’m totally milking it. :) My parents visited during Veteran’s Day weekend, Bryan took me out for my birthday dinner last weekend, and I’m going out for a birthday dinner with friends today. Let the celebrations continue!
Speaking of celebrations, I’ve been really leaning into the festive holiday traditions. We got a new tree this year that fits our space better, and I’m loving it so much! I turn it on in the morning and leave it on all day just because the lights give me joy. Other holiday traditions on my list: Watching old school Christmas movies, blasting Christmas music in the car, drinking an insane amount of hot chocolate, and white elephant gift exchange with friends and family.
Our tree, with alternating warm white and multicolor lights. Ooooh, ahhhh! :) Advent calendars: We were all gifted some advent calendars this year, which have been really fun to work through! Della has a treat calendar, Bryan and I are sharing a wine calendar, and I have another one from FabFitFun. I used to love the chocolate calendars as a kid, so these adult versions have been really cool. I may make a new tradition of trying a new one every year. :)
Speaking of gifts, I’m actually pretty proud of myself for where I am in my Christmas shopping and gift planning. I still have some homemade elements to complete, and of course the wrapping. I’ve had my years where I’m in panic mode around this time, so it feels good to have a more relaxed outlook this year. Melissa Urban talked about going “slow gift” during the holidays, and I’ve been embracing something closer to that mindset. As I was writing, I got the fun idea to do my own version of a gift guide or Oprah’s favorite things. Ideas I love or what to do if you’re still stumped. Ooooh, stay tuned!
Thing my future self is thanking me for: To make shopping easier for family, I created a wish list on a website called Things To Get Me. It’s a free service, so you can create a universal wish list for any occasion by typing in general ideas, creating a money fund, or link to specific websites. Sharing for anyone else who might find it helpful. :)
New skincare: I recently switched my skincare to the Facetheory brand, and I’m really loving it so far! It’s safe, effective, and more affordable than what I was previously using. I use their Freshening Face Wash, Porebright Serum N10, and Supergel Moisturizer. I also recently incorporated using disposable washcloths from Clean Skin Club to wash my face in the morning, which helps to keep my acne at bay.
Current favorite shampoo/conditioner bars: As I’ve been teasing in my previous posts, I’ve been testing several different shampoo and conditioner bar brands in my quest for effective, eco-friendly hair care. I started this experiment in the summer, but I’m realizing that my hair’s needs change as the weather gets colder. So the stuff I was loving in the summer just doesn’t give my hair enough nourishment in the winter, when we tend to need a bit more moisture. So here are my current favorites in my regular rotation:
~Earthling Co. (Currently using Sweet Sandalwood)
~Superzero Volume + Shine shampoo bar with Medium Intensity conditioner bar
~Viori (The Hidden Waterfall scent is divine! I’m almost done with the mini sizes, which have lasted me quite a while.)Self-care moment: My friend Jillian Parkhurst recently released an offering called December Drop-In, which includes a bunch of short 20-25 minute sessions for meditation, breath work, or body-based practices designed to regulate your nervous system. I purchased her all-access pass to be able to drop in throughout the month, and I’m so excited to be able to take this time for myself to be present in my body. There’s still plenty of time to sign up for the rest of the month if this is something that calls to you.
Currently Reading: Book 3 in the ACOTAR series, A Court of Wings and Ruin. I’m having such a moment with this series! My friend who introduced me to it recommended that I start reading the Crescent City series after this because of the timeline overlap, so I may pivot to that next. Have you read these books? Tell me what you think (no spoilers, obviously)!
Tarot/Spirituality
Tarot/oracle decks I’ve been using: Gentle Tarot, Biddy Tarot, Animal Kin Oracle. I used to switch up my decks almost every week, but now I find that I’m using the same ones for a lot longer. This hasn’t necessarily been intentional, but I’m enjoying the change of pace.
Danielle from Oak Moon Tarot recently moved her newsletter over to Substack. If you’re interested in cool takes on card interpretations and insightful spreads to add to your practice, definitely check her out!
I recently won a year-ahead tarot reading from Dana Does Tarot, and it was such a beautiful offering! I got a voice note and a picture of my cards to follow along with the reading. I know this is something I’ll keep referring back to throughout the year. Highly recommend!
Have you ever calculated your personal year in numerology? To calculate your year, add up all the numbers in your birthday with the current calendar year, then reducing to a single-digit number. I’ve been in a personal 1 year, which means new beginnings and opportunities, independence, etc. In 2024, I’ll be moving into a 2 year, which is focusing more on relationships, slowing down, and developing patience. I’m here for it!
I hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season!