Our Favorite Christmas Traditions

Our Favorite Christmas Traditions

Dec 21, 2020

I'm not a Grinch or a Scrooge... but I'm not far off. There are lots of things I love about the holiday season, but many of them aren't the typical aspects of celebrating Christmas. I don't enjoy most holiday movies and rarely read Christmas books. I love hanging stockings and putting up the tree, but I don't do any other Christmas decor. We don't do Elf on the Shelf... or Santa Claus. I know, right?! If I did the work, I want the credit!

But I do love the feeling of Christmas – the anticipation leading up to it, the coziness of sitting by the lit tree, the joy of choosing the perfect gifts for my boys, and the fun of our family traditions. I may not enjoy all the trappings of Christmas, but I want to make it special for my boys. I will never pass up a holly jolly dance party with them! I was recently thinking about our Christmas traditions and wanted to share the four I love most:

1. Christmas Book Basket

I got this idea from Pinterest! Starting on December 1, we read one Christmas book at bedtime each night. We started in 2018 and have happily continued it. I store all of our Christmas books separately, and they only come out during December so they stay special! The selection always changes a little – I borrow things from the library and buy new (and used) books to add to it throughout the year. They're a mix of spiritual and seasonal.

The first year, we wrapped every book because that's how I saw it done. I realized that would make me resent the tradition, so now I leave them unwrapped. On November 31, I pick 25 for our book basket. On December 1, my big boy gets to pick anything he wants me to read at bedtime that night. He looks at the books on his own frequently but knows we'll only read one a day together. He gets so excited to make his selection each night! 

2. Jesse Tree Advent Calendar

My parents didn't do an advent calendar when we growing up – at least not that I remember? – so it wasn't really on my radar when Nick and I got married. After we had our first baby, I started noticing cute little advent calendars at Target where you'd get a different product/candy/surprise each day. That seemed fun, but I felt like we were already spending so much money on stuff and didn't want to add to it. Then, I heard about a Jesse Tree.

This tradition first started in medieval times, and it's my favorite thing we do at Christmas. A Jesse Tree is an advent calendar that focuses on telling the story of God's family from Creation to Jesus' birth. We purchased this gorgeous felt ornament set and stand. Every day, we hang a new ornament on the tree and read the corresponding story in our children's Bible. I love how it helps us keep our hearts and minds on Jesus during this season.

3. "Cookies & Jammies Light Night"

Don't you love my very official name for this evening? I need to work on something catchier! About halfway through the month, we bake cookies together (sometimes Christmas-themed, sometimes not). After dinner that night, we put on our pajamas, bring our cookies in the car, turn on some classic Christmas music, and drive around our neighborhood looking at all the lights while snacking on some sugar. It's so much fun!

 It doesn't last too long – maybe an hour, at most. But we love our big boy's commentary on which houses are the best! He'll tell Nick when to slow down or stop and what streets to go down. We live in a pretty big neighborhood where lots of people go all out with their decorations, so it's the perfect place to look at lights. I doubt this tradition will continue once the boys are older, so I'm soaking up all the childhood sweetness while I can. 

4. Christmas Eve Gift

This is a tradition from my own childhood that I wanted to continue, with a twist! Growing up, we always got to open one gift on Christmas Eve: a new pair of pajamas. Then, we'd wear our new jammies to bed that night and would be looking extra cute in photos the next morning. I'll never forget hearing my doorbell ring on my first Christmas Eve as a newlywed and finding a box left on my doorstep – new pajamas for me and Nick. *tears*

For our boys, the pajamas are holiday themed and, of course, matching. As a teen and adult, my mom just gave us something cozy and cute (so I'll make that shift when the time comes). The twist I've added is each gift contains a book (or two or three...), too. I was inspired by this Icelandic tradition and just looking for another opportunity to gift more books. Is there anything better than going to bed with a new book and waking up to Christmas morning?

What's your favorite holiday tradition?

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Tales & Tiger Lily: November 2020

Tales & Tiger Lily: November 2020

Dec 18, 2020

My sister recently joined bookstagram as @talesandtigerlily. Her name is Caroline, and Tiger Lily is her adorable sidekick (pictured above). Since she's discovered a love of reading, I've had the best time talking about books with her. Be sure to check out her introduction post to get to know her better. Once a month, you get a new installment of Tales & Tiger Lily. In each post, she reviews three of her favorite reads from the previous month and ends with a list of everything she read with ratings (and links to reviews, if applicable). Her top three from November:

NINTH HOUSE BY LEIGH BARDUGO

“That was what magic did. It revealed the heart of who you'd been before life took away your belief in the possible. It gave back the world all lonely children longed for.”

Ninth House is a book about Yale’s secret societies but with a fantasy twist — the societies possess magic. Bardugo went to Yale and was actually part of Wolf’s Head society. She intertwined fact and fiction leaving you wanting to Google search which parts were real. For me, it made it an even creepier read. I don’t normally like stories with ghosts, but I just decided to go with it. It was quite fun — in a dark way.

The Ninth House, the Lethe House, is supposed to keep an eye on the other societies practicing magic. There were so many secrets to uncover! The characters were fabulous. Alex Stern, the main character, was “found” by the Lethe House because of her ability to see ghosts. I felt very invested in her — I loved her personality and her commitment to justice.

My only complaint about the book? Not enough Darlington!! As Alex’s mentor, I was hoping to be graced with his presence every page. Why do I love the men in fantasy novels? However, I have a feeling we are going to get a lot more of him in book two, and I can’t wait. I thought this book was going to be a lot darker because of all the reviews about “trigger warnings.” The bad things that happened in the book were very real world cruelties that people sadly endure every day. I don’t think it’s anything that should keep you from reading it. I loved it, and I know I will be excited to read book two. I would understand if someone didn’t care for it tho. It reminded me of Ghosts of Harvard, but I liked this one A LOT more. | 🐶🐶🐶🐶.5

PIRANESI BY SUSANNA CLARKE

“May your Paths be safe, your Floors unbroken and may the House fill your eyes with Beauty.”

I was very intrigued as I opened this book and sat down to read it. It’s quite short, so I felt like even if I didn’t love it, I didn’t waste much time. For the majority of the book, I questioned my own comprehension — wondering if I was making sense of the events, the symbolism, the characters. The House, the main character Piranesi, all these long endless halls leading to rooms filled with thousands of statues — what is going on? It was quite confusing, but you just have to let your mind go with it.

Then, oh so beautifully, Clarke does a brilliant job of putting all the puzzle pieces together in an ‘aha’ moment. I was so happy because my understanding and predictions were accurate. Piranesi is just one of my favorite characters. He was, to me, quite a bit of the Pollyanna type — happy, optimistic, at peace with his surroundings. The world needs more people like him. I grew to love him by the end of the book.

The ending! It was so magical and beautiful that I actually shed a tear. The ending made me want to appreciate all the wonderful things in our world instead of focusing on the negative. Seeing a family eating dinner together, taking a walk and watching the sunset, picking out a new book, meeting a friend for coffee — these normal daily activities are really the precious moments in life we take for granted.

I would understand if someone didn’t care for this book, but it was a five-star read for me. I think if you loved Circe by Madeline Miller, you should definitely give it a try.  | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶

THE NIGHT CIRCUS BY ERIN MORGENSTERN

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not.”

The Night Circus is rich in detail — magical, wispy, and breathtakingly beautiful. Every chapter was a masterpiece. The writing captivates you as though you were in a dream you never want to end. The story ends and you want to start the book over to enter the dream again.

You turn each page not knowing what you will find. Your curiosity will get the better of you as you enter the magical Le Cirque des Rêves. You will feel you know the characters well and at the same time they will be out of grasp, like a shadow or shape that appears in the night.

Most of you have probably read this book, but if you haven’t, you must pick it up. It’s perfect. I loved every minute of it, and I read it slowly throughout the week. I didn’t want The Night Circus to end.  | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶

Recapping the Rest of Caroline's November Reads:

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater | 🐶🐶🐶🐶

The Poison Thread by Laura Purcell | 🐶🐶🐶🐶

Black Sun by Rebecca Raonhorse | 🐶🐶🐶🐶

White Ivy by Susie Chang | 🐶🐶🐶.5 • Review

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas | 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Trenton | 🐶🐶🐶🐶.5 • Review

The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue | 🐶🐶🐶🐶

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy | 🐶🐶🐶

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Quick Lit: November 2020 (Part 2)

Quick Lit: November 2020 (Part 2)

Dec 17, 2020

It's the second installment of my November mini reviews! I read 14 books total, reviewed eight in Part 1 yesterday, and am sharing the other six books in today's post. You'll notice I was on a mystery kick...

HRH: SO MANY THOUGHTS ON ROYAL STYLE BY ELIZABETH HOLMES – I don't follow Holmes on Instagram, though I am familiar with her popular "So Many Thoughts" feature. This is a beautiful book and I read it quite quickly, but I did expect more fashion commentary and less royal biography from it. I liked the way the book had a section dedicated to each woman, but the structure within each section didn't really make sense. The text became repetitive, referenced outfits that weren't pictured, and just broadly focused on each woman's style. I want more than surface-level thoughts! It read like it was written by someone who is a fan of the royals but isn't necessarily knowledgeable about fashion. But I still So Enjoyed It and will love seeing it sitting on my coffee table.

A TRICK OF THE LIGHT BY LOUISE PENNY – This was a good addition to the series, though not the most memorable for me. I don't always love being in Three Pines because I find its inhabitants completely insufferable, but it they didn't buy me too much here. I don't always connect to the discussions about art in Penny's books, which is probably my biggest complaint about this specific one. However, I did enjoy some of the relational strain and developments that certain characters went through. I think that worked in the book's favor and kept me hooked when I might have otherwise felt a little bored. When I finished this one, I was excited to pick up the next because I could tell Penny was laying the foundation for some pretty big revelations. Overall, I So Enjoyed It.

A CUBAN GIRL'S GUIDE TO TEA AND TOMORROW BY LAURA TAYLOR NAMEY – I'm always curious to see what Reese's Book Club will choose each month, even if I don't always read them. But when I read the summary for her most recent YA selection, I had to buy it immediately. A book combining food and England? That's a recipe for success! And thankfully, it turned out to be as adorable as I hoped. The setting was perfect, the baking left my mouth watering, and I loved the heroine's Cuban roots. The romance was so cute, but I appreciated the friendships and the familial relationships, too. It was my favorite kind of contemporary – cute but with depth as the heroine dealt with grief over several losses. I So Enjoyed It and can see myself re-reading it, too! 

THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY BY LOUISE PENNY – Of all the books in the series, I was least looking forward to this one. The fact it's set in a monastery in the wilderness of Québec that became famous for monastic chants just didn't appeal to me. Thankfully, it was more interesting than I'd expected – mostly because the increasing tension between Gamache and other detectives was so compelling. The mystery surrounding the death of the choir director didn't interest me, and I thought the monks seemed a little interchangeable. Also, Penny seems to love art, poetry, and music, and sometimes I roll my eyes at the way her characters talk about those subjects. I'm a little bit like Beauvoir in that sense! Overall, it was better than I anticipated, but not a favorite. I So Liked It.

HOW THE LIGHT GETS IN BY LOUISE PENNY – Ahhh, my favorite Gamache book yet! Even when I was the most unsure about whether I'd stick with this series or not, I was always curious about the hints of corruption within the Sûreté. With this installment, Penny finally delivered on the storyline that's been building from the very beginning. I couldn't put it down! The mystery in this one was interesting in its own right, but it was the high-stakes search for answers within the police force that had me racing to the end. I am so glad I stuck with this series and got to experience this story! I've always loved how Gamache is a principled leader who chooses kindness, even when it's mocked or misunderstood. This book was such a testament to his integrity, and I'm So Obsessed With It. 

THE LONG WAY HOME BY LOUISE PENNY – I will admit that this book was a bit of a letdown following the emotional high of the previous one. There were a variety of factors at play that led to that feeling. First, I have never cared for Clara or Peter, so I wasn't excited about the prospect of a book where they were the central characters. Second, I didn't love that the crime wasn't introduced until the very end. Yes, there's a mystery from the beginning – where is Peter? – but it wasn't a question I cared to have answered. And finally, the pacing was rough. It dragged on and on, and much of the story felt repetitive. Pretentious conversations about art bore me! Give me more Gamache and Beauvoir, please and thank you. Penny's writing was still lovely, so I will tepidly say I So Liked It.

What have you been reading lately?

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Quick Lit: November 2020 (Part 1)

Quick Lit: November 2020 (Part 1)

Dec 16, 2020

It's time for more mini reviews! I finished 14 books in November, and I've chatting about six of those books in today's post + briefly mentioning two more at the very end. Tomorrow, I'll share reviews for the other six books I read in Part 2. If you enjoy this feature, check out other readers' reviews at Modern Mrs. Darcy.

THE WITCH ELM BY TANA FRENCH – After getting back on the Tana French train in October, I decided to keep rolling and start The Witch Elm. From a quick perusal on Goodreads, I noticed this was her lowest-rated book, by far, so I went into it with low expectations. But y'all, I actually So Enjoyed It! I thought it was exciting to see French do something a little different. Her atmospheric writing and psychological-driven story were familiar to anyone who has read her work before, but it was a new experience to see thought the eyes of a victim and subsequent suspect rather than a detective. It was a spooky, mentally twisting read that actually surprised me. Is it overly long, character driven, and slow? Yes, but I really didn't mind. I give credit the audiobook for that fact. 

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY BY MATT HAIG – Well, this was a charming surprise! I bought this based solely on the cover and summary, and the reward was worth the risk. The concept immediately appealed, and I was so thankful that Haig delivered on it. I was invested in the heroine, even though I often wanted to shake her a little bit. The structure was very clever and perfectly paced. I kept telling myself I'd just read one more chapter, then only one more... until I was at the end! I treated myself to the audio, too, and adored listening to narrator Carey Mulligan. If you like books that explore at the various paths you could have taken in life, this one is for you. I found the ending so emotional and loved how it explored themes of choices, regrets, and how to fully live. I'm So Obsessed With It!

SAVE ME THE PLUMS BY RUTH REICHL – I love food in books and decided to finally try one of Reichl's memoirs! I'd started but decided not to finish her fiction debut, so I wanted to give her one more chance. Reichl has written several memoirs, each focusing on a different aspect of her culinary history. Save Me the Plums, her most recent, chronicles her time as the editor in chief of Gourmet magazine. The food writing was definitely the best part of the book, and you can see how Reichl has made that her career. I also enjoyed the peek inside the magazine industry, especially during the time print started to struggle. It did, however, name drop a little too often in a way that left me feeling disconnected. I wanted more of the nitty gritty of running the magazine, but I So Liked It overall.

BURY YOUR DEAD BY LOUISE PENNY – There are three mysteries at play within Bury Your Dead – a murder discovered in Quebec City's Literary and Historical Society, fallout from investigation gone wrong, and re-opening a previously closed case. For me, the way Penny shifted back and forth between them all kept me hooked. The murder taught me more about Canadian history, and I enjoyed that fact. I loved that Gamache was able to admit he might have gotten it wrong and allow someone to re-investigate one of his previous cases. This gentle detective has just snuck in and stolen a piece of my heart! But my favorite part was how Penny slowly revealed the incident that's left Gamache and his team reeling. I So Loved It and am glad I gave this series another chance.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE WITCHES BY ALIX E. HARROW – Having loved Harrow's debut, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. But y'all, it felt like it took me forever to make any progress on it. It started so slow, and I wasn't really invested until about halfway through the novel. The last quarter was the best, but for a while there I wasn't sure I'd finish it. Harrow's writing was gorgeous, and the concept was so clever. Stories with witches don't personally appeal to me, so it's saying something that I ultimately appreciated the way Harrow used that aspect to explore women's rights. But there was just something about the pacing and the characters that kept me at arm's length, so I'm a little sad to say that I simply So Liked It. I want it to be a favorite!

THE HUNTING PARTY BY LUCY FOLEY – Here's the deal, if I hadn't read The Guest List earlier this year, I probably would have enjoyed this book a lot more. Foley excels at atmosphere, and the idea of a group of friends stranded in an isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands definitely captured my attention. However, I felt like I'd already read this exact same story... from the same author. The multiple POVs, the largely unlikeable characters, the remote setting, and the closed circle mystery were all things Foley did The Guest List, too. And honestly, both were pretty predictable. It wasn't a bad read, but I'm just So Okay With It. The full cast audio made my reading experience very enjoyable and is the only reason I didn't get it a lower rating. I'm still bummed that the book wasn't more unique.

Additionally, I read Simple and Safe Baby-Led Weaning by Malina Malkani. I appreciated the portion size and serving suggestions that were pictured to scale, I found the overall book lacking. It didn't make me feel more confident about baby-led weaning or fully addresses some of my questions and concerns. I So Liked It for a basic overview, but not as a go-to resource. This is one I'd suggest getting from the library, rather than buying.

Finally, one of my goals for 2020 was the read the whole Bible in a year. I completed this goal in November! I couldn't have done it without the Read Scripture app – a beautiful resource with videos that helped me understand the context, daily text reminders to read my Bible, and a beautiful design that tracked my progress. I highly recommend the app and loved how accessible it made the entire experience! In-depth study leads to more insight, but I'd always wanted to read the Bible in its entirety for the big picture. I'm so happy that I've finally done it!

Check back tomorrow for Part 2.

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20 Books I Want to Read This Winter

20 Books I Want to Read This Winter

Dec 15, 2020

Even though I don't typically read everything from my seasonal TBRs, I love making them. It gives me a starting point when I ask myself, "What should I read next?" And it can often motivate me to read things that have been sitting on my shelves for just a little too long! My Fall TBR was 20 books, and I finished 15 books off my list. Could be better, could be worse. So, here are 25 books on my Winter TBR for today's Top Ten Tuesday topic:

• REVIEW BOOKS •

1. Meet Me in Bombay by Jenny Ashcroft (January 19) – Did I fall victim to this beautiful cover and the oh-so-tempting "Read Now" button on NetGalley? You better believe it. I better not regret my rash decision...

2. You Have a Match by Emma Lord (January 12) – Tweet Cute was absolutely adorable, so I almost died when I saw her new release was briefly available as a "Read Now" download. I hope I love it just as much! 

3. Ten Rules for Faking It by Sophie Sullivan (December 29) – I'm a sucker for rom coms with cute illustrated covers, so seeing this was "Read Now" on NetGalley felt like fate. Are you sensing a theme here? 

• NON-FICTION •

4. My Southern Journey by Rick Bragg – Things set in and about the South often appeal to me, and I'm somewhat familiar with Bragg from his essays in Southern Living. This was $2 at Goodwill, so I had to try it.

5. Austen Years by Rachel Cohen – If you know me, you know I love Jane Austen. This memoir has mixed reviews, but I loved the concept too much not to at least try it. Worst case, it looks nice in my Austen collection.

6. The Ministry of Ordinary Places by Shannan Martin – I bought this when the Christian bookstore near me was going out of business, and I love the idea behind it. I don't want it to sit on my TBR much longer!

• FICTION •

7. Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry – I've seen people rave about Berry before, and lately I've found myself craving slower, character-driven novels. This seems like a peaceful read, if that makes sense, and I've need those.

8. Hungry Hearts edited by Elsie Chapman – I love food in fiction, so I couldn't resist a YA short story anthology about "the intersection of family, culture, and food." These will probably be hit or miss, but that's okay.

9. The Searcher by Tana French – After binging three French books in October, I had to buy her newest release and add it to my Winter TBR! I'm actually hoping to listen to it on audio because it's my favorite format for her.

10. The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow – After enjoying two Austen-inspired fictional tales this year, I'm more motivated to pick this one up. I love that it focuses on Mary Bennet but am nervous about the length.

11. Dark of the West by Joanna Hathaway – This was a completely spontaneous Book Outlet purchase, but it was described as The Winner's Curse meets Code Name Verity. I need it to deliver so I can binge the whole trilogy!

12. None Shall Sleep by Ellie Marney – Marney writes amazing YA mysteries, so I have to read her newest book... even though the cover and summary (a serial killer!) kinda freak me out. Fingers crossed, doors locked.

13. The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny – This went from a series I didn't plan on finishing to one where I read about seven books in as many weeks. I can't believe I've made it to #11 and will be sad when I'm caught up.

14. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon – I had no intention of reading this book, but my sister convinced me that I had to try it. She even gave me her paperback, and it's just staring me down now.

15. The Star-Crossed Sisters of Tuscany by Lori Nelson Spielman – I'm trying to stay up-to-date on my Book of the Month selections, so I need to prioritize this November pick. An Italian vacation is just what I need!

16. Fable by Adrienne Young – Did I buy this book because of all the bookstagram hype? You better believe it. I love how the cover pairs with the sequel and that I got a copy of the first without Reese's Book Club logo.

• PRE-ORDER •

17. Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano (February 2) – This cover immediately appealed to me, but a rave review from IdleWildReads catapulted it to pre-order status. I can't wait to get my hands on it!

18. Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson (March 2) – A Good Girl's Guide to Murder was one of my favorite books of 2020, and I've been eagerly counting down the days until the sequel comes out here in the US. 

19. A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas (February 16) – I'm not ready, but I want it! I need to re-read the trilogy and prepare myself emotionally first. I've wanted this story from the first moment Cassian and Nesta met.

20. An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn (March 2) – This series gets better with each new release, and I'm looking forward to seeing where Raybourn takes the characters after the events in the previous book.

What are you hoping to read this winter?

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