I am acutely aware of the fact I did not give myself a sufficient runway to finish out my blogging schedule for 2024.
I have so many more things to discuss about Christmas! And what about my annual Ta-Da list? My last chapter title recap? And I still need to write about how I worked through themes of rest and Sabbath in December before I sit down to reflect on an entire “Year of Shmita”. Gah! It will be July before I move on from Christmas and year-end fodder.
But today’s Friday and that means you showed up to talk Happy Things and I’m ready to deliver.
Friends, the Canadian postal system is officially working again. I waited until after Christmas to send anything through the regular post; it felt very satisfying to say goodbye to a sizeable stack of Christmas cards and packages this week. (For those who are owed giveaway prizes, they are all in the mail…though I can’t guarantee how quickly things are moving.)
I also received mail this week, including two postcards – one from Nicole and the other from Engie. Thank you!
In November Kyria had asked me if I could make use of store credit for a Canadian retailer that doesn’t ship to the US. I told her I would wrap the items up with a giant bow and put them under the tree with a tag that said From Kyria. Alas, the store shipped through Canada Post so my items weren’t going to arrive until after Christmas. But look what showed up in my mailbox this week! My very first pair of Darn Tough socks. (I have been buying them for John for years, but this is my first set.) I have a merino wool base layer coming my way as well. Thank you, Kyria!!
Even though holiday cards couldn’t come and go through the mail system, we still managed to accrue a nice collection of holiday greetings. And now I get to look forward to receiving a little trickle of Christmas cards well into the New Year!
NEW YEAR’S EVE
We don’t typically do much for New Year’s Eve (aside from going to bed early – 8:30 pm would be quite typical). But this time around we had company, older kids, and some newish friends we’ve never managed to have over for supper.
It ended up being a wonderful evening with lots of good food and laughter. Everyone in our household made it to 12:00 am for the first time ever!
DESSERT FOR BREAKFAST
Remember my list of 20 Fun Ideas for 2025? Well, I’ve already crossed the first idea off my list. Eat dessert for breakfast is complete and it was every bit as wonderful as I imagined it might be.
I originally planned to have dessert for breakfast on my birthday and the day after Thanksgiving. But then I woke up on January 1st and thought: we have a leftover cheesecake in the fridge (my favourite dessert) and I have a list of fun things just waiting to be crossed off (one of my favourite things to do). It didn’t take a rocket science degree to figure out the only logical way forward…
SO GOOD!
There was peanut butter and (cream) cheese and graham crackers so it’s breakfast adjacent, right?
BONUS HAPPY THINGS
- Julie posting this anti-diet manifesto from author Anne Lamott. Yes, yes, yes, and yes!
- Getting back to the gym. It felt amazing! I did an inclined walk, a run, and weights. I got to catch up with Jan (how fun to randomly see each other at the gym), and I also listened to The Girl Next Door Podcast episode on 2024 Year in Review.
- On that note, what a Happy Thing to have Kelsey be a guest on the blog.
- Fresh pages in a planner.
- Sleeping in. We stayed up too late too many times, but we also slept in like champs. Especially Belle. She has hit her teen sleeping stride.
- Morning naps. I took a 5-minute power nap yesterday morning and it gave me a burst of energy that lasted the whole day.
- Twinkle lights. The tree is still up and I think it’s going to stay up for a while yet. Since it’s artificial this year, there are no drooping branches, no rush to get it out to the curb for collection, no water reservoir to fill. I’ve slowly dismantled a lot of other decorations, but for now the tree will stay!
- Molten chocolate lava cakes. I haven’t made these in several years and they did not disappoint. A 10/10 review from everyone (my brother and SIL asked for the recipe which, in my books, is the ultimate test of how something actually tastes). I added a dollop of peanut butter to the middle of the batter. A quick recipe to prepare and it’s very impressive and decadent.
- Lighting candles at supper each night.
- Watching the Hallmark movie Sugarplummed with Indy this week. It was fun and festive and a little bit different from the usual plot.
- That the kids head back to school today! It seemed ridiculous to have them start on a Friday, but it also helps us ease into the routines of getting up early, packing lunches, coordinating schedules, and launching extracurriculars again.
- My new iPhone battery! My phone actually holds a charge!
- Coffee with peppermint mocha creamer.
Happy Weekending!
Your turn.
- What’s the last piece of (fun) snail mail you received?
- What’s your all-time favourite dessert?
- Did you stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve?
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J
YOU ARE CRUSHING YOUR GOALS!
Yay on mail resuming, and on good socks!
The last piece of fun snail mail I received – a birthday card from my cousin, a holiday card from an IRL friend, and a holiday card from Maya (not my Maya, Maya at PocoBrat). I’ve gotten quite a few lovely cards over the last few weeks though! I love this time of year for that.
My Maya went to bed on NYE at 9 or something. Ted and I stayed up until 11:30ish? I mean, who stays up until 11:30 and then doesn’t stay up to ring in the new year? But we weren’t watching any NYE coverage on TV and we were ready for bed, so we went to bed when we wanted to instead of staying up. It was perfect.
Elisabeth
I am wearing the socks right now and they are AMAZING. It’s funny how when you get to adulthood, receiving nice socks as a gift is a very big deal.
I usually am thrilled to be in bed – asleep – long before midnight. I was pretty tired by 11:15 when the guests left, but at that point couldn’t bear the thought of NOT ringing in the New Year. And it was fun that this was the kids first time staying awake. I’m pretty sure Belle has done it a few times, but never Indy.
Melissa
Naps, breakfast for dinner, you’re on a roll! I received some birthday cards in the mail in December. I did not stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve. We needed a game to play to keep everyone occupied but no one had bought anything down to my parents.
Elisabeth
I have a feeling I won’t make it the whole way through the year with such nice days, but it was an excellent way to jump into 2025.
Tobia | craftaliciousme
Whooo for crushing your goals on January 1. Way to go.
That lava cake looks to die for. I never thought of doing this myself. It seems like the most complicated cake of them all but I guess it can be done.
How lovely for Kyria to get you some gifts.
Also yeah to new years even party and enjoying it.
Elisabeth
The lava cake is SOOOO good and it’s so, so easy. It comes together in about 5 minutes, cooks for 15, cools for 2 and then it’s ready to eat and is amazing. I don’t know why I haven’t made it more in the last few years when we’ve had company because it is a crowdpleaser and I always have the ingredients on hand.
Jan Coates
Our mailbox was stuffed, but mostly with junk. But I did get a royalty cheque (mailed early Nov), for A Hare in the Elephant’s Trunk, and I’m so happy it still sells despite being published almost 15 years ago. Sadly I suppose that’s partially due to ongoing strife in Sudan (although the Lost Boys were from South Sudan). Nice to chat yesterday🥳
Elisabeth
Yay! A royalty cheque! What a nice surprise (or maybe you knew it was coming).
It was lovely to see you yesterday (we were there again today and I missed you while I was on the treadmill – chatting helped the time go much faster). Looking forward to joining you on some of your 5 km walks 🙂
Birchie
Happy New Year Elisabeth!!!
There is a blurb on the USPS website that they are still not accepting Canada mail – the only reason I thought to check instead of just dropping the cards in a mailbox was that Engie mentioned it in her post today. I’ll check again next week and get your card in the mail as soon as everything is a go.
There is no shame in falling behind in the blogging game! The joy of having a blog is that you get to write what you want when you want. There’s nothing wrong with writing about Christmas and New Years in March!
We usually stay home on NYE and staying up until midnight is optional, but this year we broke our pattern and went over to a friend’s house. We had a great group of eight adults and a handful of kids and had a blast – great conversation, a fun game, and midnight came very quickly.
Elisabeth
Wait. What?!! Not accepting mail to Canada…still?!! It’s the 3rd of January. Gah. Well, Canada Post is accepting mail to the US, so everything on my end is sent and this just means my holiday greetings will trickle in over an even longer period of time which at this point sounds lovely.
Sounds like such a fun NYE. It is nice to have distinct memories of some holidays, and it sounds like this was memorable (in all the best ways) this year.
mbmom11
Dessert for breakfast FTW! My dad would call that a breakfast pastry – and I have several family members who enjoyed cheesecake for breakfast this week. It’s probably better than a donut!
I received only a few Xmas cards, which is fair as I did not send out any last year. A college friend sent hers with a box of little gifts for all my kids. She’s such a sweet person- she’s done this ever since I had kids. So 30 years? The funny thing is that I haven’t seen her since college graduation, and we don’t really write letters to each other anymore ( except my holiday letter and thank you card). So it’s like a little gift left by magical fairy or mysterious benefactor. Adds to the joy of the season!
I hope the first day of school goes smoothly – you will have the weekend to recover and retool as needed!
Elisabeth
What a sweet friend. I’m sure it brings her as much joy to pull that package together as you feel receiving it.
Nicole MacPherson
Yay, I have had a couple of cards arrive in the past couple of days. But get this: I ordered a new collar for Rex on Etsy, because, you know, I want to support small business. FOR WHATEVER REASON this retailer mailed it. Through Canada Post. So it is still in the US and has been since November. I mean, it’s not like Rex knows when it is Christmas but a) his collar right now is practically shredded from his wild stay at the boarder’s, and b) I WOULD LIKE MY COLLAR PLEASE. I am SO annoyed but I don’t want to be a bitch about it because small businesses were so hurt, etc., by the strike. AND YET. Anyhoo this is NOT a happy thing, but it’s a thing.
All-time favourite dessert – I love cake. Just generally. I love sheet cake from the grocery store that everyone reviles but I LURRRVE. Like, I want all those weird sugary flowers on the cake!
Elisabeth
I also like sheet cake (though NOT the corner flowers). I feel like different stores produce very different quality, though. I DON’T like Costco sheet cake. Sobey’s is okay. Superstore is my fave.
Argh. So frustrating about the shipping. Birchie mentioned they’re still not able to send things to Canada.
Jenny
Oh don’t worry- we’ll be happy to read Christmas recaps and 2024 wrap-up posts well into January!
Your kids went back to school TODAY? That’s… odd. I wonder if a lot of kids won’t be there because they’re still out of town (that’s what would happen here.) Our kids start back on Tuesday, sigh.
I can’t wait to read that anti-diet manifesto.
We’ll be using our peppermint mocha creamer for a while- I just got two containers on clearance.
Your New Year’s Eve sounds fun! Followed by dessert for breakfast- the best way to kick off a new year.
Elisabeth
It is odd! I was a bit frustrated, but now I’m loving it. I think it will really help to ease back into the routine. So now I’m embracing it!
I had a giant cup of coffee with peppermint mocha creamer today and it was delish.
Kelsey
Mmmmmm peanut butter chocolate cheesecake for breakfast: you are winning at dessert for breakfast! What a lovely list of fun things, and I’m honored to be included!
– Last fun mail I received: lovely linen napkins that I bought on Ebay. I’ve long been wanting to update our cloth napkins and I loved buying these beautiful ones (from Palm + Perkins) at a discount.
– My favorite dessert…I always pick brownies and ice cream for my birthday so that must be it! I love the combo of a bakes dessert + ice cream.
– Did not stay up until midnight! But was awoken a bit afterwards and had to tell my tween to go to bed lol.
Elisabeth
Kelsey, it was SO good. Thanks for providing the inspiration <3
We don't usually stay up until midnight, but I feel like we will be moving forward. Belle will be almost 15 (what?! how?!) and Indy will be 11 next NYE and I feel like that is very much a stage of life where the kids will want to celebrate.
Lisa's Yarns
I love those socks that you got “from” Kyria. They are perfect for you as I think you love the color purple/plum. I love warm socks! We got bombas from my parents this year but I especially love it when they gift us smartwool socks which is my fave brand (I’ve never tried darn tough, though! But Phil has a pair.).
What’s the last piece of (fun) snail mail you received? Holiday mail is trickling in. I also received a small package from a junior co-worker yesterday that I haven’t opened yet. I will tonight. But now I feel a bit guilty because I didn’t get him (or anyone) anything but I did send him our Christmas card… Gah, you know me and our gift neutral stance!
What’s your all-time favourite dessert? My favorite dessert is this butterscotch budino pudding that we get at our favorite restaurant. It is so so so so so so good. We are going there on the 11th to celebrate a friend’s birthday and get this. Since it’s a popular place, we have a reservation at 5:30 and they’ve asked that we depart by 7:30. Which is basically perfect for an early bird like me. 🙂
Did you stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve? OMG no and I haven’t in many years. I think Taco was up at 6:15 that day. Sometimes he will sleep in until 7 but not that day. Of course he is hardest to stir on days we need to leave the house as 7 and then when we have no where to be, he’s up at 6:15. GO FIGURE. I went to bed around 8:30 and read until 10 pm.
Elisabeth
That pudding sounds delish!!
I am wearing the socks right now and they are SO comfy. They are the only socks John likes and their lifetime guarantee is amazing!
Michelle G.
Well, I have exciting snail mail news – I got Nicole’s postcard from Rome today! Woot! Woot!
I got so many lovely Christmas cards from bloggers in December, which was so fun!
I love all your happy things, Elisabeth – especially the Anne Lamott anti-diet manifesto. Thank you for that!
Elisabeth
Yay for postcards from
Nicole.
I’m so glad Julie posted the diet piece; such a good reminder that we are so much more than a number on a scale.
sarah
I love dessert for breakfast!! And your whole list, actually. Happy New Year 🙂
Elisabeth
Happy New Year! You always look like you make the BEST desserts.
ernie
I love that you already managed to eat dessert for breakfast. Ha. Hooray for the mail getting going again. I bet getting Christmas cards after the fact will end up being a nice way to start the new year. I’d say my favorite snail mail usually comes from my best friend from high school. He lives in New York city and he will just randomly send me notes or funny comics that he cuts from the paper. My favorite dessert is probably Rocky Road Fudge Bars. So decadent. I don’t make them often, but when I make them AND I make the GF – delicious.
Sophie
Australia Post is also still not accepting post to Canada Elisabeth! But surely will re-open this week Elisabeth. Perhaps you’ll get your card in February 😂🤣
Love all your happy things- yay for dessert for breakfast and sleep ins.
My favourite dessert of all time is sticky date pudding with ice cream. And mum made it for Christmas Day- so good. 😊
I almost made it to midnight- maybe 11.30. But we pretended 11pm was midnight as a lot of Australia is on the later Timezone, so I didn’t feel like I missed anything. Ha!