making spirits bright
Good morning on this cozy, rainy day. Some things bringing me joy this week:
The NYTimes Holiday Cookie Recipe videos.
On the subject of baking, do you have a kitchen scale? I don’t use mine every day, or even every week, yet its one of my most prized kitchen utensils. When it comes to baking, weighing your ingredients is much more accurate than using volume measurements like cups and pints. It yields better results and is easier, too — you’ll wind up with fewer dirty dishes.
Reservoir runs at dusk.
This article about how to become a truly excellent gift giver.
These baby blankets, all machine-washable, are so playful and fun. I love the larger versions, too — I’m imagining the strawberry one, draped over a chair in Mila’s room.
El Rico Chocolate Peanut Butter. I’m hesitant to broadcast this recommendation because it’s a limited batch and part of me wants it all to myself. But that’s not the spirit! So, if you are a fan of chocolate and peanut butter, do yourself a favor and order at least two jars of this immediately. It’s one of the best things I’ve tasted in 2022.
John Derian’s sticker book is delightful.
This Cozy Christmas Jazz Spotify playlist. 🎄 🎶
So much eye candy in this piece on how designers decorate their homes for the holidays. I love all the homemade treasures, such as a colorful paper chain made out of wallpaper samples. Two ubiquitous themes: candle light galore and citrus abound.
…which inspired me to incorporate dried oranges into our Christmas decor this year. I decided to make a garland, but will consider repurposing the oranges into ornaments next year. The process is easy — you can find all sorts of tutorials online, but basically you slice oranges, place them on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake at a very low temperature (~200 degrees) for 2-4 hours, flipping them every thirty minutes or so, until they are dried out. They keep easily for future years, but are also compostable if you don’t want to store them. Here’s an Instagram reel that shows the process. 🍊
And lastly, my gift wrapping aesthetic this year: white butcher paper with fluffy wool yarn. (And maybe one of those stickers from the John Derian book I mentioned above.) Another beautiful option: vintage ribbon from this Etsy shop.
Love, Marichal