Let's Talk Holiday Vibes
Festive books for gifts, a poll, and the Little Women Christmas of it all
Hello, holly jolly and merry!
But really, how’re you holding up?
I’m curious to know how this time of year hits for you. Allow some adorable men from Love Actually and me to check in on you with this poll and some mellow hijinks.
An aside: yes, now that I’m a woman over 40, I realize this movie is actually the worst for us ladies. But that opening with Hugh Grant’s voiceover at the airport, the music, Emma Thompson for life, the Billy Mack of it all—could I just have this, please? Please.
And in that vein, what are we reading to celebrate/cope/completely disassociate? If you’re looking for something with a touch of Christmas, I’d recommend my First Comes Love which starts in the spring and culminates in a merry Christmas Eve and Christmas Day big finish. Light hints of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for those who, like me, mark that particular story as penultimate Christmas.
And if you’re searching for gifts for the readers in your life, my Kissing Series is a swoony, funny, mostly clutching-your-pearls-free romance series! Read them in no particular order or grab the set. Great for loved ones who enjoy ye rom-coms of olde like You’ve Got Mail, Hitch, Fever Pitch, or Notting Hill.
For the Little Women of It All…
Are you hearing about Little Women Christmas or is it just my highly curated feed? All the homemade, handmade, handcrafted activities and goodies for this 2025 holiday season.
In that spirit, here are some cozy-wozy things I’m considering. Bonus points if I have the Junior Bake-Off playing whilst enjoying these analog pursuits. (Iff you haven’t seen it, it’s a heartwarming delight.)
With the cozy-wozy in my house on high alert, even while my free time is limited, I want to produce some handmade somethings. So why not start knitting again? This Classic Ribbed Hat pattern, both simple and free, looks like the perfect project to start and possibly forget come January 1st.
The Great British Baking Show and Big Sugar worked their charms on me and I’m back in a baking state of mind. This Christmas Yule Log looks amazing, and I’ll report back if it actually happens in my house.
And all this handmade goodness has brought me back around to bullet journaling. Have you tried this? My daughter, then in middle school, showed it to me several years ago. I didn’t get into it much then, but I’m thinking the fun pens and hand to paper of it all would feel like a gentle conversation for my brain. Using this article as a how-to.
If you’re considering your own Marmee-goodness I hope you’ll share it below.
Finally—Book News!
The second book in my The One You… series is in the works! The first book, The One You Fall For, released in July and features the delightful Indy Bird and her estranged husband Sully in this closed door, second chance, enemies to lovers romance. The next book features a new Bird sister and if you have a guess which one, drop it below! I’m hoping to share a release date here in the next month or so.
If you haven’t read it yet, grab it on Kindle Unlimited, Kindle or Amazon. If you’re so lucky as to be local to Knoxville, you can grab a signed copy at Good Girl Books or Union Ave Books.
If you wanted to gift me this season, I’d love your good review of this book! Five stars make for excellent Christmas presents.
That’s it and that’s all. A-wassailing we go…. I hope you’re finding your speed this holiday season whatever it might be and digging in.
Take care and talk soon,
Emily