Monday, December 7, 2020

Sparkly In-Home Holidays

Hi! I ate 6 sugar cookies yesterday and 7 today and the semi-sick but also satisfied feeling in my stomach as I look at our sparkly redesigned living room made me miss you all and this space and the posts of the same traditions I write every year.
So much about this year is different, but we decorated the tree while listening to the Raffi Christmas Album and I made my quadruple batch of sugar cookies and nearly broke the kitchenaid and it was nice to have something that is exactly the same.
I rolled and cut and baked while James hung Christmas lights in the front yard and the kids raked leaves and the sheer normalcy of it was soothing to my soul.
The cookie decorating also went as expected. James made an anatomically correct gingerbread man and Landon found it so hilarious he almost could not recover.
Cora, my meticulous 7-year-old, decorated exactly 4 cookies over 90 minutes and ate 2 immediately. Claire decorated a solid dozen and managed to eat 5 before I realized how many she'd downed.
And I, I decorated all 100 of the rest. Which is only fair, since I seem to do most of the eating.

I continue to work from home. It's safe and I'm thankful for the care with which my agency has approached this pandemic, but as an extrovert I feel a bit like I am slowly dying inside. And the holidays- with their whirwild of parties are usually SUCH a battery charge for me, even in a normal year of going to work each day, teaching at two different yoga studios, attending two different school's PTA Board Meetings, and meeting up regularly with family and friends, and well, I've been a bit dreading the loss of my surge of happy sparkly extrovert endorphins.
But I decorated the house and the sparkle gives me a lift every time I walk through the living room, which is often, because I drink 650 cups of tea a day and live for the change of scenery that is walking to the kitchen to make it. AND I get to make it instantly with my instant hot water dispenser that James got me for Christmas last year and my dad installed and it makes me SO HAPPY.
Like little puffy emoji hearts burst from my eyes everytime I turn the handle and steaming hot water comes out. It's 200 degrees of joy on tap.

Other pieces of happiness: our advent calendars.
Since so much of our traditional holiday fun is canceled this year, I decided we should all have an advent calendar to brighten December. James got one with tiny Bonne Maman Jams and Preserves he eats with breakfast each day, the kids are taking turns opening a Lego calendar that is the highlight of each morning, and I got this one from Adagio Teas. We're on Day 7 and I'm still SO excited to wake up each morning and see my new tea. So far I've had five I never would have purchased (Blueberry White; Caramel Candy Apple; Cranberry Black) and they have been SO good.
Also, Moose wearing a holiday sweater with a MOOSE on it.
And the fact I got Maggie a matching one after she seemed jealous of his.
I can't imagine why I didn't just get Maggie one in the first place, but I think I had a moment of misplaced frugality when matching Christmas sweaters for the Rescue Pets were obviously never going to be the place for that.
Moose also got a Christmas stocking and now all seven are hung by the chimney with care.
It's his first Christmas and he is filled with holiday spirit.
In much bigger projects, I started working with a designer in the neighborhood to rework our living room. I never felt like we used the space well - it's so long and narrow and SO open on the sides I just couldn't figure out how to fit a second couch in and hated how the one we had chopped the room in half. So I just left it as it was and have spent the last 8.9 years wishing I could think of a better solution.
Enter Melodye. She looked at our space and current furniture, got my budget, and then sent me a drawing of the redesigned space largely repurpusing what we already had. Once agreed on the plan, she'd send me 3-5 ideas for the various things we'd decided to purchase, like the couch and rug, so I could pick a favorite. It was the first time I've ever worked with a designer and she helped me break through the wall that was my stalled living room plans.
And now our whole family can sit comfortably all together! It opens up the space so much- you can talk to someone in the kitchen, at the bar, or sitting at the table.
I adore the textured bean bag ottoman I never would have purchased that the kids now lie on all the time. The carpet is fluffy and soft and Moose's favorite place to stretch out and sleep. The new couch is beautiful and I never would have thought to pair it with our old one the way she did. She reused all our side tables, moved around art, and we've ordered a new piece full of color I can't wait to see.
We're still getting new bookcases and some gorgeous new tile around the fireplace but this little update has brought me more joy than I could have imagined. The budget is equal to what we spend going to Colorado to ski every December (canceled this year obviously) and I love that we're using it to shake up a space we now spend so much time in.
And even if these were Normal Times, after nearly 9 (9!!!!) years in this house, we're just in a different life phase than we were before. Our kids are teens and tweens and even the third baby is a big kid- we hang out in a way that is so different from the early playroom-in-the-dining-room days. We watch shows together and chat in the evenings and everyone reads their own books all sprawled out on the couches. Landon is often baking in the kitchen and no one goes to bed before 8. This space fills my heart and I'm thankful for the vision of another who made it possible.
I'm still working much of the time and I'm still struggling a bit with the at-home nature of my life right now, but I really mean it when I say there are also so many moments of bright joy and quiet happiness and I'm so thankful we've been able to be safe and well this whole year. I've been missing this space and I truly hope you all have something that gives you a little bit of the joy Cora felt when she opened her new rollerblades (and literally every other gift) on her birthday a few weeks ago.
(She turned 7. Our tiny amazing gift of a perfect third baby is SEVEN. What in the actual hell.)
Now that our pool has a heater, so James could keep offering swim lessons after our nights turned cold, she got to swim on her birthday and eat a "chocolate mermaid cake with all the chocolate in it" and she found it to be the most perfect of days.
I've heard from a few of you (thanks!!) and you've mentioned missing my meal lists (along with my witty ramblings, obviously). We continue to eat all meals at home, with a takeout treat 1-2x/month. Given that I now also eat all lunches at home, I have cooked more in the last few months than in so many years prior, but I haven't minded. It gives me a reason to leave my computer in the bedroom and the money we've saved by not eating out (and not paying for a nanny, restaurants, or anything fun that takes place outside the house) has allowed us to update the living room and even save despite the swim school being functionally closed. And so while I can't remember much of what I've cooked, I've recently made and loved these:

Turkey Pot Pie (perfect use of leftovers, I'll make this again with chicken)
Creamy Mushroom Chicken with Crispy Onions (with triple the crispy onions) 
Baked Honey Mustard Pork Chops (first time I liked a pork chop)
Sunday Chili (my new fave chili recipe)
Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup (obsessed with this one) 
Lemon Chicken Soup with Orzo (love! go slowly with the tempering of the egg)
Other regular favorites: homemade pizza (nearly every Saturday), Gyros (Trader Joe's, with naan, roasted potatoes, veggies, and tzatziki), Tacos or Tamales (most Tuesdays), my mom's spaghetti, and Big Salad Night.

May your days- and/or your nights- be at least a little bit merry and bright.
Happy December! Also- the comments should be fixed and back open, so let me know what's giving you joy this last month of 2020!

Update!: You guys I had finished the kids photobooks several weeks ago after WEEKS of late nights and a carpal-tunnel-inducing million mouse clicks and they've been sitting in my Shutterfly cart because I just CANNOT spend the full amount on them, even at the constantly available 50% off sales. I was worried the elusive "unlimited free pages" promotion that takes my cart of four giant books from $400 to $120 wouldn't arrive in time this year and then today IT DID just this morning. It did and it's done and my books are ordered and now I am completely done with Christmas shopping and I am so happy. Sometimes, joy is the right coupon code after weeks of work and waiting. Thank you Shutterfly and Happy Tuesday to you all,

37 comments:

  1. Lovely to see you here!

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  2. We don't celebrate Christmas, but this post , all of it and especially Moose and Maggie with their matching sweaters , were just what I needed to see this December. Thank you !

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    1. Thank you!! These comments were so sweet to wake up to this morning :).

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  3. Yay, so lovely to see an update from you!
    - Long time reader from New Zealand

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    1. Yay x 2! Another long-time reader from New Zealand here, loving the Xmas post.

      Love the living room too. I need similar help - do you have a link to Melodye's services?

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  4. I was SO happy to wake up to a blog post from you and even happier to know that there’s sparkly Christmas joy.

    We did a living room makeover as well and it makes what was once a cold and sterile space into a warm inviting one. Happiness, indeed.

    Merry Christmas LL family.

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  5. Loved reading your updates once again. We also made some changes to our seating arrangements in our lounge for this pandemic and it's been the best. So much more space to spread out and chill together.

    Merry Christmas from South Africa! xx

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  6. So happy you’re back! This whole post is wonderful.

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  7. This was a nice surprise to read this morning!

    This year definely has been challenging, regardless of how much your day to day live has changed. And if it's nice to read the positives people are finding while still acknowledging the challenges.

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  8. Aww, yay! Merry Christmas, Lagliv family! Giving me joy this season is my favorite Barnie's Coffee Co. "Santas' White Christmas" coffee, and 2 new mugs: 1 that says, "What the Elf?" and the other says, "I'm not feeling very worky today." ;)

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    1. Love this! My snowman mug, pictured above, was purchased at the dollar store and makes me unreasonably happy every single morning. Even if it's actually too big and wide to keep my tea warm for very long!

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  9. Loved reading the update...but lost especially about free pages on Shutterfly as I have some $$$ books in my cart. I don’t see the promo—what is it??

    Glad to see you post again 🙂

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    1. I got an email with a unique code. I'm not any kind of special Shutterfly customer, but I have had a book sitting in my cart for about 2 weeks and maybe they have an algorithm that sees that? Or knows that I always order one this time of year? I'd totally share it, but it specifically mentions it can only be used once so to be sure you have all the books you want together in one order. Maybe if you contact them? Seems worth a try!

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    2. Thanks!! I need 3 copies of a book that is currently on “sale” for $222....not gonna happen!! Going to try the cart trick and hope it helps. Happy photo-booking!!

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  10. It was so nice to see this update! I know it's weird, but your not posting when I've been reading so long has been like missing a friend. Merry Christmas!

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    1. This was so sweet to read, thank you! I honestly felt like I was missing friends!!

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  11. This was such a great surprise this morning! Merry Christmas to your lovely family (and thanks for some recipe inspiration).

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  12. Lagliv’s back!!! I’ve missed your voice in this internet abyss.

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  13. I was so happy to see you post! Longtime reader and am glad to hear there is some joy this season. I doubled my recipe for Chex mix yesterday and thought of you when I bumped up from a 9x13 pan to a giant roaster pan :) I will always enjoy your writing if you are inclined to return!

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    1. Yesss! Once you go roaster-size, you never go back. I'm on my second batch!

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  14. Yay!!!! The amount of joy this post just brought me is immense!! Lately candles have been bringing me joy but I think I need twinkle lights and a thousand other things to bring me some joy this year.

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    1. Love the candles- I think I'm up to three on my bedroom desk now and I light them based on my moods and the length of whatever call I'm on. As long as I can't be at work,I might as well enjoy getting to do things I can't do there! (And yes on the twinkle lights, I LOVE the ones I just got for our mantle and have them on pretty much always.)

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    2. If you love candles, these are my new fave although they are bombarded with orders right now!!! The names are AMAZING and scents are even better https://sonshinebath.com/collections/all

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  15. I am SO GLAD to see a post from you! I love what you have done to your home. (I have to confess after all these years of following your blog...our family is friends with the previous owners...and the changes you've made are MAGNIFICENT and a bazillion percent better than the prior!!)

    For us, the silver lining of this year, besides staying safe and healthy, is getting to spend these past months with our adult kids. Our younger daughter and her husband had transferred to Los Angeles in February, and when his office shut down in March in favor of telecommuting, they returned to Texas to shelter here with us (and his family). Our sons delayed moving out to their own apartments and I've also seen our older daughter and her husband (and the granddaughter!!!) so often this year. It's been a grace-filled time for our family, a chance to squeeze some last moments of actual togetherness in the same space before they are all out of our nest.

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    1. Oh my gosh that's so crazy!! We're so thankful to be the most recent in a long line of owners of this great home :). I'm always so curious what it looked like over the years, but I'm quite happy with where it is now.!

      And I loved your silver lining. A grace-filled time, indeed, I've thought that about our extra time with our teen and tween as well. Normally they'd still be home of course, but with fewer activities and opportunities to be with friends, we've soaked up so much extra family time and I've been able to be grateful for almost all of it :).

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  16. It's so nice to have a post from you again. Although we don't know one another at all, I've grown accustomed to reading your writings over the past several years and it was genuinely enjoyable to catch up this afternoon.

    I hope you find some creative way of satisfying your extrovert nature, that you continue to take blogging breaks as needed (but that you keep popping back in now and then), and that your family has a fabulous Christmas!

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  17. Another happy reader here! I'm always so glad to see your posts. I love what you've done with your house and that it brings you joy.

    Bringing me joy is the time this crazy year has given my family together. My kids are grown (24, 21, 18) but all still at home. Oldest son graduated college, has a good full time job but also put his plans to move out on hold due to covid. My daughter has been struggling post HS but started therapy & meds for depression early this year and she just got accepted to her top choice school in the UK for fall 2021. Our youngest, and most introverted, graduated HS & has started college online- he was fine with missing out on all the Senior year festivities and is enjoying virtual schooling. In a year I think our lives will look very different, with 2 of the 3 kids not living at home. So I'm just grateful that we've had this time to be together and support each other through everything.

    Also bringing me joy- our booze advent calendars! thespiritco.com We got the bourbon one for myself, husband and oldest. Daughter got gin (I've never been a gin drinker but some of the flavors sound & smell amazing- smoked rosemary, chocolate orange, roasted pineapple!). Youngest gets to occasionally try (or be dared to try) a sip.

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  18. Add me to the chorus of those who are thrilled to see a post from you! I am obsessed with those moose sweaters-where did you get them? I’m sitting here enjoying your post by the lights of our lovely tree which was cut fresh Thanksgiving weekend. Also listening to my esoteric but enjoyable Christmas playlist. I semi retired in March (such timing) and am enjoying being less immersed in the practice of law (though I still have my full days of juggling client needs and stress). Thrilled to lose my commute, too. What has meant so much to me this year are the little things. In the past week or so, I have had several old friends take the time to tell me how much our friendship means to them. My husband grabbing me and giving me a hug after a nice meal to tell me that he loves me. Our grand dog jumping onto the couch blanket that awaits her as I read and gifting me with a big slobbery kiss. Reading some great books that gathered on my groaning nightstand. Feeling lucky to be healthy and warm. Have a Merry Christmas- hope to see more posts soon (no pressure :)

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  19. I am also so happy to see a post from you, and I love seeing your Christmas decorations and the moose sweater. Bringing me joy is the Minnesota Public Radio holiday stream, also known as "Christmas muffin music," because my kids call any classical/choral music "muffin music" and the holiday stream is heavy on orchestral and choral arrangements of traditional Christmas music.

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  20. It's so great to see a post from you! I've thought of you often post-election and have hoped the (eventual)results brought some solace to this hell hole of a year. Merry Christmas to you and the LL family and wishing all of you the best for 2021!

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  21. SO fun to see a glimpse into our National Treasures the LL fam. : ) One of the times I missed you most was around the elections! I so wanted to just text you a bazillion times and say OMG!!!! I think so many extroverts are truly suffering right now and my heart hurts for you. You are handling it so well, and creating all the beauty you do so beautifully, but my heart aches for how hard this is, too. Sending you and all your cuties (all 7 of you!) so much love and many hugs! xoxo

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  22. Oh such a treat to see an update from you! I've missed your blog and I'm so happy the LL family is doing well amidst (gestures around) all of what has been 2020.

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  23. Oh, how I've missed your blogging! I almost never comment, but read every post. Welcome back and happy holidays!

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  24. Yay! So happy to see an update from you and to hear you and the fam are well. I'm also working from home with kids and it is tough! I'm finding joy in my electric blanket (I wrap myself up in it at my bedroom office desk, and it is amazing), and my toddler's contagious delight in Christmas lights (his little voice saying "Lights! Whoa!" Is just the best).

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  25. Yes!! Is all I want to say!!!

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  26. Oh oh oh - soooo lovely to have updates and your sitting rooms looks splendid. And - welcome back - I have missed you

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  27. Oh oh oh- so wonderful to read your log again. Thank you! The sitting room looks splendid. So happy to have you back. Abigail

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