5 things
For the holidays.
Every year, the holidays fly by so I’ve been trying to soak it all in as much as possible. Decorating the house. Listening to Mariah on repeat. Hosting parties. I didn’t even let myself get fazed by the month-long spirit calendar of daily festive attire from my kids’ school this year. ‘Tis the season, and here are some things I’m loving right now and what’s on my mind.
Holiday traditions
I loved reading
’s recent letter on holiday traditions from some of her favourite Substack authors. From fancy fondue dinners to holiday crafting parties, it was a heartwarming peek into how others celebrate the season. It also made me reflect on our own family traditions. We usually go from spending Christmas Eve with my husband’s side, playing games and watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, to a big Filipino gathering the next day with lots of extended relatives, food and singing (yes, we bust out the karaoke, lol.) Travelling back and forth can feel chaotic and exhausting, but we wouldn’t have it any other way because being surrounded by loved ones feels like what Christmas is all about.
This year, we also started a new tradition with the kids and surprised them with a fun holiday-themed day. They got to skip school, and we picked out our tree, then headed to the Toronto Christmas Market at the Distillery District. It’s our version of the European Christmas markets and is always bustling with lots of vendors and activities against the backdrop of dreamy holiday displays and twinkling lights. We walked around, took a pic with Santa, and grabbed dinner at Cluny bistro, before heading to our last surprise: A viewing of Elf with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. It was so fun and the perfect way to get into the holiday mood—a 10/10 day we plan on repeating next year.
The Christmas movies and episodes I’m re-watching
There’s no better way to relax amidst the hustle and bustle of the season than curling up on the couch with a glass of wine and a feel-good Christmas movie. Everyone has their list of favourites. Mine are Love Actually, Serendipity, and The Family Man.
Sometimes, I’ll even put on Christmas episodes of my favourite TV shows in the background while wrapping presents. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve already re-watched the Christmas party episode of The Mindy Project when Danny dances to Aaliyah’s “Try Again” for her Secret Santa present. It’s the best Christmas rom-com you could ask for in a 30-minute episode.
‘Tis the season to indulge
And I’ve been indulging a lot. I’ll take anything with mint/peppermint/candy cane in it, any day, and there are always so many more choices this time of year. I just picked up a tub of President’s Choice Candy Cane ice cream because it isn’t the holidays without it (IYKYK). We’ve also been eating our way through our Trader Joe’s stash of Christmas treats we picked up when we drove to Cleveland for our son’s hockey tournament. This variety pack of Joe Joe’s hit the spot and these Mini Dark Chocolate Mint Stars taste just as good as the mint chocolate Girl Guide cookies.
Nothing minty, but just as sweet—my husband makes these Nanaimo bars every holiday, as per the request of everyone we know. We also just hosted a party with friends, and this Dirty Santa drink and this super easy dip by
(recommended by a fellow Substacker) were both big hits.
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The cold shoulder
I know showing skin isn’t really conducive to winter dressing but I think a bare shoulder is subtle enough to keep you from feeling overexposed while giving you a little oomph for your holiday gatherings (and beyond). I bought this off-the-shoulder wool cashmere sweater in red from Aritzia, which I wrote about here, and wore it to the Christmas Market and our annual holiday party with friends.
I’m loving the variety of off-the-shoulder styles right now, from oversized, slouchy knits to more polished, fitted tops and even party dresses. For accessories, I’d personally choose to leave the neck bare and stick to earrings (I have these but also love these and this pearl drop style) or bold cuffs over the sleeves.
Sweaters: The Leandros sweater in heather charcoal / A COS merino wool jumper that looks so cozy
Long-sleeved tops: This white J.Crew top, this Reformation one and this bodysuit give similar vibes as EmRata’s top above / This Everlane top with a fold-over neckline is something you could dress up or down / Another similar option from Aritzia / For something dressier, I like this brown one or this Zara asymmetrical style
Short-sleeved tops: There’s limited sizing in this Reformation silk top but the colour is beautiful (on sale, too) / Also on sale is this Enza Costa silk bias blouse in a rich brown / These black tops from Staud and A.L.C. are spendy but so chic, here’s a similar style from Aritzia for a fraction of the cost
Dresses: A show-stopper (perhaps for New Years?) ruffled mini dress from Staud (currently on sale) / a classic off-white jersey maxi dress from Empire Studios
A donation and something personal
The holidays always put things into perspective for me, more than any other time of the year. I know I write a lot about shopping and the lighter things, but it’s important to me that the work I do could also be meaningful. When I started using affiliate links in my newsletters, I had it set in my mind that I’d want to donate a small portion of any commission I earned to a worthy cause.
For those unfamiliar, affiliate links (like the ones above) mean that, if you click and purchase something using one of my links, I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. This is a good read if you want to dive deeper into affiliate links and how they work. Being a small newsletter, my earnings from affiliate links are modest, but I’m so grateful for the support because it helps me continue writing these. I wanted to pay it forward and have been thinking a lot about where I want to give back.
I always hesitate to get too personal in my writing because there are some things I like to keep close to my chest. Two years ago, around this time, we experienced the loss of a close friend to cancer and while it still doesn’t feel real most days, her presence is missed especially on special occasions, like the holidays. She brought so much joy to our friend group and I deeply miss her witty sense of humour and infectious laugh. In honour of her and her sweet family, I made a donation to Rethink Breast Cancer.
If you’re able to, I hope you’d consider making a donation of any amount to a cause meaningful to you in the spirit of giving.
Thank you again for being here, and I wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday!
*Essential Reads is a reader-supported newsletter and sometimes includes affiliate links, which means I may receive a small percentage from anything you purchase through a link, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links help support the work that goes into these newsletters, and I carefully select recommendations based on what I love and would wear, regardless of a commission. You can also support the newsletter by upgrading to a paid subscription, ‘liking’ this post or sharing it. Thanks for being here! x
Most of my traditions revolve around baking since it’s my side hobby; cinnamon rolls for Christmas Eve brunch, sweet potato tart for Christmas Day, (store bought) gingerbread houses with my kids!!
On a very unrelated note; the Freja bag is an INCREDIBLE alternative to the Alaia teckle!!!
Love your cold shoulder picks! Agree perfect for this time of year (also so many parties are shoes off so I gotta make the top half count:)
Merry Christmas to you and your fam!!🎄❤️