5 Things I Loved in The Month of December

Happy New Years, guys!!!!!!

And now for a collective sigh of relief knowing that 2020 is behind us... seriously, go ahead. Take a deep breath and let it out. WHEWWWWWW.

I'm not even going to TRY to guess what 2021 has in store for us all, but here's to hoping that it's significantly better than what we're leaving behind, amen? BUT, if 2021 is just 2020 2.0, here's to hoping that we confront it with grace and dignity and kindness!!

Anyway, I wanted to quickly share my December favorites with you! (I'm trying really hard not to think about how true, southern winter starts this month and all of the glitz and warm-fuzzies that come with Christmas and NYE are gone... Ugh ugh ugh!)

Let me know what you were loving in the comments down below!

1. Cake Batter (Christmas) Truffles - (Recipe) Ok, so this recipe comes from the blog "Lauren's Latest" which is run by Lauren (duh) who is a PROFESSIONAL RECIPE DEVELOPER. If that's not enough to convince you to try this delicious, easy desert, this is an excerpt from her bio: "Early in Lauren’s career she was invited to appear on ABC’s Good Morning America to feature one of her recipes and to cook with Sandra Lee from The Food Network. She stole the show with her natural ability to shine on camera. Additionally, Lauren has had recipes featured in several magazines which include, Everyday with Rachel Ray, Better Homes and Garden, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping." Convinced now?! PLEASE let me know if you make these and tell me what you think. I am OBSESSED. They're so easy, even I can do it -- and I have set a toaster on fire just by putting bread in it TWICE.

2. Glossier Stretch Concealer - (Makeup) I fully understand that this is the millennial in me coming out, but I LOVE Glossier products. This concealer was a Christmas gift from the husband, and wow it's so, so nice. If you have dry, sensitive skin like me, you'd probably love it. It's very emollient and dewy (e.g. shiny) so if you have oily skin, I wouldn't recommend. But it's got jojoba oil, avocado oil, beeswax, and "adaptable mineral pigments" which apparently just means that it can easily adapt to most skin tones. 10/10.

3. 'Replica' Bubble Bath Eau de Toilette - (Perfume) If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you've already heard me rave about this fragrance, but y'all: I am HOOKED. For an EDT, it's surprisingly strong without being headache-inducing, and it lasts for 5+ hours on my skin. Fragrance notes are: soap, bergamot, lavender, jasmine, rose, white musk, coconut, and patchouli. If you like clean, fresh scents that are also sweet and creamy, this is worth checking out.

4. "The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life" by Piero Ferruci - (Book) This was such a delightful read! Piero Ferruci is a respected transpersonal psychologist, and he walks us through the benefits of being kind, while also sharing all the ways that we can present kindness to others. Ultimately, his argument is that kind people are the ones who thrive in "a hostile world." This book is almost 15 years old, but I think it's incredibly relevant for us today, and probably always will be.

5. Folklore & Evermore by Taylor Swift - (Albums) Look. I won't downplay my love for Taylor Swift. I have every CD of hers, and have been a Swiftie since 6th grade. I LOVE her and her music. I am convinced that Folklore and Evermore are the albums she was made to create. They're very different from her other albums, but they are the best work she's ever produced. I particularly love the tracks, "Peace," "Betty," "Happiness," and "Willow." (*Note: Both albums contain songs that have swearing in them -- clean versions are available on Spotify or the iTunes store!)

That's my December roundup! Thanks for reading, my friends. <3