It’s hard to believe this will be the last “Favorite Things” compilation of 2024 and that both Christmas and New Years are just a few short days away! Now that I’ve recovered from my recent bout with the flu and am back to my usual schedule, the next few days are going to be spent finalizing some last minute gift wrapping and coordinating the delivery of said gifts to various friends and family around Massachusetts (with the remainder set aside for some post-New Years get-togethers I have planned throughout early January!)
But before I take a brief break for Christmas Day (and return later on this week to share some of my favorite photos from this past year!) I thought I’d first share a few of the items and purchases I’d made throughout this month that have helped make my apartment, my skin, and my future travel plans feel all the more festive and fun.
As always, I’ll be sharing the items I could snap photos of first before I get into the miscellaneous odds and ends I’ve also been enjoying.
So let’s get right into it!
Right after Thanksgiving, Stef and I had met up to do some shopping and enjoy a quick lunch in Historic Deerfield, where I grabbed a set of these six serving plates from Certified International. Each plate includes a cute, Christmas-themed drawing and a dictionary-style definition about the object depicted – and they are so, so funny and sarcastic. Right up my alley, really!
Since then, these have been a huge hit when I’ve shared photos of them with my loved ones and when I’ve used them when entertaining guests and company over these past few weeks (and prior my getting sick!)
I believe there are more plates available that weren’t in the collection I’d scooped up during Black Friday, and I’m hoping to find the rest of them by next year’s holiday season!
I am obsessed with smelling like holiday treats this time of year, whether it be candy canes, sugar cookies or even fruitcake. If you advertise shampoo or body wash that was specifically whipped up for the Christmas season, there’s a good chance I’m going to buy it and obsess over it.
And since I also like to stay exfoliated (and extra moisturized!) in the Winter, I’ve been loving and using this shortbread-scented body scrub from NCLA Beauty a couple times a week during my “everything showers” I treat myself to. Infused with shea butter, cocoa butter and mango butter – along with a few other skin nurturing ingredients – this sugar scrub has consistently left me with soft and smooth ankles, elbows and knees, even on the coldest and driest days.
And it makes both me and my shower smell like a fresh baked batch of cookies, which is also a plus in my book!
Finally, renewing my passport was a long overdue milestone for me in 2024, and I’m looking forward to hopefully putting it to good use in 2025. Of course, keeping it safe and protected both when I travel and when I have it stored away in my apartment is a priority – and I knew I wanted a case that not only had some padding to it – but was also cute to look at, too.
So when I came across this “Girl Dinner” holder (with extra card storage) from Frasier Sterling, I knew I had to have it ASAP. The cushioned case is super soft and keeps my documents secure, snug, and dry from any outside elements when I have it on me.
And the illustrations, which include a martini, cheese plate and a baguette are absolutely adorable!
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While that concludes the photogenic portion of my monthly “Favorites” installment, I’ve got a couple of other things to add to the list, too!
– Movies/Music/Television –
‘Nosferatu’ – Although this movie doesn’t actually come out until Christmas Day, my expectations for this one are already insanely high and the early reviews that have been coming in have been glowing so far. With an absolutely stellar cast taking on one of my all-time favorite classic horror movies, I can’t remember the last time I was this excited to watch a horror movie (during the holiday season!) in the theater. I’m so looking forward to catching this one this week since it feels like I’ve been waiting for it’s release forever!
‘A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter’ – It’s been a while since we’ve had a true variety show to keep us collectively entertained, but Sabrina Carpenter – who is both extremely talented and very funny – gave us her festive spin on what used to be a classic tradition via Netflix this month. Her musical variety show, filled with special guests and plenty of catchy tunes – was something I thoroughly enjoyed while I was hanging up Christmas decorations and baking cookies earlier this month!
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And there we have it, my December 2024 “Favorite Things!” and the last installment of 2024! What a journey it’s been!
I wish everyone who is celebrating a wonderful, safe, and both love & laughter-filled Christmas Eve/Day spent in the company of those you cherish the most. I’m looking forward to sharing some photos from my holiday celebrations over the next couple of days!
See you all on Friday!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 