The December Edit
The December Edit
A silver baguette, a mystery guest, a move to Napa, and a word for the year!
The Monthly Edits are a round-up of eats, reads, finds, and experiences. They also include Lauren’s Lists—a collection of links from around the web to capture your attention or get you thinking. Buon appetito!
December has been brisk, clever, and merry. I baked cookies (linked below), renewed our passports (no, we’re not going anywhere—they were just expiring), and attended a few fun festive dinners. The month started with a plan of having two weeks off at the end of the year to rest and recover. Scott and I booked ourselves an Airbnb out in the woods to escape the city and scheduled time with family and friends around our getaway. But on the first Saturday morning of this month, I woke up and thought: maybe we should move for the new year? I’m so tired of this space.
Scott needed no convincing, so we’re moving to Napa! Well, not really Napa. We found a beautiful suite in Oak Bay that will provide us with three times (yes that’s correct, 3X) the amount of space than our ultra-cozy downtown apartment. So I’m pivoting, rolling with the punches, and accepting the loss of our super relaxing holiday plans (and the very cute Airbnb). I’ll be packing boxes and cleaning house for the new year and honestly, I couldn’t be happier. I can’t wait to sit in an empty living room and order pizza with my favourite guy as we plan the layout for our next adventure. It will make 2024 really feel like a fresh start—one that will provide space for hosting, creative projects, and endless opportunity.
Alright, on with the December edit!
For eleven years in a row now, I have selected a single word at the start of the year to guide/theme my days. I was introduced to this practice by Susannah Conway back in 2013. A friend of mine printed out and gifted me one of her gorgeous journalling workbooks (free to download—highly recommend!) and I’ve been hooked ever since. 2023’s word was ‘authenticity'. I didn’t know exactly how this word would pan out when I selected it back in January, but that’s how things typically start. Looking back, it makes total sense—I started a newsletter in June and shared some really personal stories and unglamorous realities. It’s no surprise that my most read articles this year are examples of this authenticity; thank you so much for letting me bring these truths to light.
My most popular essays of 2023:
A real look into the small business I started (then ended) and how I let the ‘Girlboss’ mentality get the best of me.
How getting off Instagram was probably the best gift I gave myself in 2023.
A personal favorite about how the Eras tour was much deeper than just a movie about a concert. PS: Taylor was named person of the year for 2023.
I went through the camera roll on my phone this month and there was barely anything there. No pictures from the holiday gatherings I attended—which is a sign I had a fantastic time (but also kind of a shame because… memories?). My OOTM needed to include this silver baguette 🥖 bag that I bought for the holidays, and this happens to be my only photo of it, so there you have it. Ta-da!
Lauren’s List Vol. 7
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