Tag: holiday

Life Style

My Christmas PJs

bookishluna3 Comments

Hello and welcome to a bit of a silly post! A few years ago I decided to share my Christmas Eve outfit. You can find that old post here, Let’s Talk | My Christmas Outfit. I decided to do the same again because I thought it was lighthearted and I do love comfortable PJs!

Flannel two piece set with majority black and red colorways.

This year I ended up going on a few outlet websites and ended up coming across this set. This set is from Banana Republic Factory so they were very much discounted, can’t beat a good sale! As of right now there are still on the site you can find the top and the bottoms. Just so you know I don’t get anything from sharing these, I just figured if I am going to share them and talk about them I might as well share where you can get them.

I have never gotten any sleep ware from this company, but I have gotten a sweater in the past that quickly turned into a favorite because it was so soft so I felt pretty comfortable knowing the chances are they would be soft as well. I waited about a week and when I opened the bag I was truly delighted at how soft this set was. I am super excited to wear them, sip some hot cocoa and relax with my family.

Sign Off 2020

Tumblr | Twitter | Goodreads

Let's Talk

How I Destress During the Holidays

bookishluna2 Comments

Hello and welcome to a little post where I am sharing some ways I destress during the holiday season. I know this time of year is meant to be a happy one, but I also feel like a lot of pressure comes with it, especially if you are hosting anything. I know for me, I make presents and sometimes I get close to my deadlines or I feel like I need to do more. The truth is, at least for me, I feel like this time of year is sometimes built up a little too much and has some very high expectations of baking cookies, finding the perfect present, and a lot of social gatherings. Don’t get me wrong they are fun, but is those are exhausting as well. I feel like with all of that going on sometimes we just need to try and take care of ourselves and remember that this is about having fun and not about being picture perfect. With that in mind, here is what I do to destress when I have a spare moment.

  • Watch a favorite movie
  • Put on music and just enjoy it, you can even sing along and dance if you want
  • Do a 5 min. meditation
  • Go for a walk
  • Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the decorations
  • Go on a drive and see the lights in your neighborhood
  • Take a few deep breaths
  • Break tasks down into smaller parts
  • Look at to-do list and remove things that are not something you need to or really want to do
  • Take a nap, even a small cat one
  • Take some time to do something selfish, even for a half hour

So those are some of the ways that I destress during the holidays, mind you these are what I do and I am no professional. This is just what I notice helps me when things get a bit overwhelming during this time of the year. I do hope that you are and continue having a wonderful month and enjoying the season and are not stressing too much.

Sign Off 2020
Sign off, thanks for reading!

Tumblr | Twitter | Goodreads

Lists & Recommendations

My Favorite Films to Watch This Time of Year

bookishluna4 Comments

Hello All! I am really excited about writing and sharing this post. I am normally not a huge movie watcher, but this time of year I get really nostalgic and love rewatching some movies from my childhood that I just absolutely love. Without going on too much with this introduction here are some of the movies I adore watching this time of year.

A Year Without a Santa Clause (1974)

This movie is not just one that is from my childhood, but was one from my parents as well. It was something they were really excited to share with me as I was growing up. The songs are catchy and the characters of the Miser Brothers are just the best! Just writing this I am already humming some of the songs. This movie starts off with Santa giving up on delivering presents because he was advised by his doctor after falling ill and he also feels like no one cares anymore. From there, many try to prove him wrong and the shenanigan’s go from there.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

I don’t know why, but when I think of the Grinch, this is the version I think of. I don’t think of the animated version. I think of Jim Carrey and him walking back and forth in the mailroom lecturing Cindy Lou Who. Also, who can say no to the cute puppy that played Max. This is another one that I hum along to the songs as well. It just sets up the feeling of the holidays for me.

Little Women (1994)

While I will say, I do very much enjoy the most recent remake in 2019. This is the version I loved from a very young age. This is also one of my all time favorite books and I read and watched this movie so many times and this is just a comfort cozy watch for me. It is like coming home. Sometimes with the chaos of the holidays it is really nice watching something that I know what is going to happen, I know what is going to be said, there is no surprises at all. I just feel really comforted while watching.

The Santa Clause (1994)

This is again a really festive and funny movie in my eye. What happens when your workahaolic dad you have nothing in common with or spend any quality time with ends up turning into Santa Clause after Santa falls off your roof?! It is just a really fun adventure story as well as a really heart warning story about a son and father.

Sign Off 2020
Sign off, thanks for reading!

Tumblr | Twitter | Goodreads

Knitting, Crochet, Crafting, Art & More

Crochet Talk | September 2020

bookishluna13 Comments

Hello and welcome to another little post about my most recent crochet adventures. This past month I started to work on some presents for the holiday season so I have been hard at work and may have already broken one of my hooks! But, I am so happy with how things are coming out and the progress I am making because before we know it, it will be time to give these items away! Any who, here are the ones I have been working on and completed this past month.

Easy Crochet Velvet Twist Headband by Daisy Farm Crafts, here you can find the Written Pattern and Video Pattern. So, this one was a spur of the moment project I was just going to make a scarf, but I came across this pattern and I have never worked with velvet yarn before so I wanted to give it a try. This was so simple and easy and it has the best little detail if you ask me. I might even make myself one when I am done with all my other crochet plans.


This was created by Grace Forthefrills, you can find the patter here for free, Easy Boho Placemats. I am making 2 sets of 6. I had to stop after two because I ran out of yarn, but thankfully as I write this I got a yarn delivery and I will be able to continue today or tomorrow. I am really loving how these are coming out and I am so glad to be working with cotton yarn again. I really love it more than the synthetic ones, but sometimes those are best suited for the job.

This was created by Daisy Farm Crafts, here you can find the written pattern: Crochet Velvet Infinity Scarf. This is the scarf I am pairing with the headband pictured above. Originally aI was going to do this pattern in wool, but I had enough of the velvet yarn to make it a matching set instead of just complimentary colors. While this yarn was the most soft I have ever worked with, be aware, it is so slippery! It was a really nice challenge and I felt myself actually getting better with crocheting after this project since I tried quite a few new things.

What have you be doing to pass the time as of late?

Sign Off 2020

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Let's Talk

Blogmas | Let’s Talk | Christmas Traditions

bookishluna1 Comment

LetsTalk12:17

Hello and welcome to another blogmas post, I am so surprised I have actually stayed with my plan of 12 days of blogmas and the time is almost over already. Time flies when you are having fun! Earlier in blogmas I shared some of my favorite memories surrounds the holidays, Blogmas | Let’s Talk | Best Holiday Memories, well now I want to share some of my favorite traditions.

My favorite tradition would have to be cuddling into bed with a hot cup of cocoa on Christmas Eve and watching some of my favorite Christmas movies. I wrote up an entire post of the ones I love watch on the Eve and the day of, Blogmas | Lists | My Favorite Christmas Movies. There is nothing like relaxing and getting cozy with a heart warming movie. Then at midnight my boyfriend and I open our presents from one another, so it is technically Christmas, but we are the only ones awake and is it just so fun having our own mini Christmas in our own little world. We save all the rest for the morning with the immediate family.

The next tradition that really sticks out to me would be breakfast with my family after all the excitement of opening presents. It is just so wonderful to sit around the table, have fun, talk, and just be around one another without having to run off to this place or another. We always have the same breakfast eggs, bacon, english muffins, and delicious coffee. The coffee is very important because my extended family comes over for dinner so we have a lot of cooking to do. But, even with that breakfast feels so relaxed and nice. It is also at this time we usually take a family picture together to save the memory for us all.

My last favorite tradition is Christmas dinner with my extended family, I don’t see them often enough so I really love just sitting around and spending time with them. Our food is different every year, but we are always together and that is what I value very much.

What traditions do you have for the holidays?

SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Let's Talk

Blogmas | Let’s Talk | Best Holiday Memories

bookishluna6 Comments

LetsTalk12:17

Hello and welcome to a bit more of a personal blogmas post. I wanted to take the time and reflect on some of my favorite holiday memories and share them with you. I would also love to hear your favorite holiday memory as well. I feel like this is a time to spread joy and happiness and hearing all the wonderful stories and sharing adds to this. Anyway, on to my stories.

The first story is when I was very young. I can’t quite figure it out, but it was after the Space Jam movies came out. I remember laying on my floor Christmas eve and looking at my Space Jam poster of Lola Bunny. Then I heard a noise, jumped up and ran to the living room to see what was going on. Under the tree were all the presents all of a sudden dropped off by Santa Clause. I remember the glittering wrapping paper under all of the lights. It is still so vivid in my brain. I was so excited I ran to my parents room,  jumped on their bed and announced that Santa had come already and he had presents for everyone. We all went to the living room opened all the presents, we laughed and played and had a wonderful time while both my parents had coffee.

As an adult, I brought this memory up to my parents and I was told some funny things I did not realize or remember. I apparently had fallen asleep on my floor without realizing it and I had woken up at about 2 or 3 in the morning and decided to wake everyone else up. Thankfully, I let everyone else go to bed after we opened presents. It is funny, because I totally had forgotten that it was still pitch black outside.

The second story is a little more magical at least in my eyes. I was driving home Christmas Eve in the backseat of my parents car from a Holiday get together. I remember looking up into the sky hoping to see Santa riding his slay around. According to Santa Tracker on the radio, he was seen over my area not that long ago.

I vividly remember the cold glass on my forehead as I peered as high as I could, begging the clouds to break. Then all of a sudden seeing a red light followed by some white lights. I was so excited I had just seen Santa Clause and Rudolf flying. I remember telling my parents to hurry home because I wanted to make sure I was asleep before he could make it to our house. I didn’t want him to miss us. I never told anyone what I saw, I wanted to keep it a secret because I was afraid my parents would panic we wouldn’t be home in time.

Both of these stories are silly, but they both are stories that stick out in my memory all these years later. I think because I felt true wonderment and excitement, I felt that I saw or heard something magical and it just ingrained itself on me. But, they also are wonderful memories that I told of me and my parents. They are both wonderful people and it is only proven more true because they let me wake them up in the middle of the night excited to open presents. I am very lucky to have them and I am so happy that I have these treasures of memories to hold dear.

What is your favorite Holiday Memory?

SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Let's Talk

Blogmas | Let’s Talk | Holiday Reads

bookishluna2 Comments

LetsTalk12:17

Hello and welcome to another blogmas post! I am excited to share some of my favorite Christmas / Holiday Reads. Some of these are very short, some are longer. Some of these are older and some of them are more recent. They are a little all over the place, so I hope you can find something fun to read!

A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott

A Merry Christmas and Other Christmas Stories

A very short 148 pages of family focused christmas story, which for me is the focus of the holidays. I love spending time with my family, catching up with them and just hanging out. This collection of stories is very similar and feels so warm and welcoming, I fall into these stories every single year.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter, #2)

Now, I am always in the mood to read or watch The Chamber of Secrets or Harry Potter in general. This book in particular makes such a wonderful show of Christmas and I just love the idea of visiting the castle over winter break, running around while the other students are at home. It just seems so magical and fun.

Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie

Hercule Poirot's Christmas (Hercule Poirot, #20)

Another short classic of a story, sitting at only 192 pages. This festive themed mystery is one that pulls you into it right away. When I read it, I read it in nearly one sitting. It would have been one if I didn’t need to go somewhere. But, I love Agatha Christie’s writing and this does not disappoint.

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

Mr. Dickens and His Carol

This is a fun twist on the life of Dickens and the development of A Christmas Carol. I really loved the use of actual facts twisted into the fiction making this feel tangible. I really recommend this one.

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien

Letters from Father Christmas

It is no secret that I love the works oof J.R.R. Tolkien, this one is is no different. How this 111 novella/collection of letters came into being is such an adorable one. These letters fun, quick, and just heartfelt. This is a really great read for Christmas Eve, you will fly through these letters quicker than you think you will.

T’was the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore

The Night Before Christmas: The Classic Account of the Visit from St. Nicholas

I cannot make this list without mentioning this wonderful poem. It is short, sweet, and magical. I feel like this is always a wonderful one to read on Christmas Eve no matter your age.

What is your go to Christmas or Holiday read?

SignOff12:17

Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads