Firstly, let me start by wishing you all a very happy New Year. I say this as someone who did not welcome it in with sequins, prosecco or a countdown, but instead chose the radical act of being horizontal on my sofa and asleep well before midnight. I am not anti New Year, I am just deeply pro comfort. That said, I do love the collective optimism that creeps in as soon as December hands the baton over to January. The idea that we can all collectively decide that this is the year we become better versions of ourselves feels comforting, even if history suggests I will still be ordering takeaway on a Tuesday and forgetting my reusable bags.
The last few weeks have been utter chaos and I have loved every single second of it. Time away from work, time at home and time with my son has felt like the kind of luxury you do not appreciate until it is gone. I hope you were able to spend time with people you love, whether you celebrate Christmas, simply enjoy the break, or just leaned into the slower pace. There is something about the end of the year that makes everything feel louder and softer all at once.
THE BEAUTY BREAKDOWN
If you have been around here for a while, you will know I am in a committed, borderline inappropriate relationship with the MAC Full Coverage Cream Foundation. I love how it applies, how it wears, and how it somehow looks better at 4pm than it did at 9am. It is one of those rare products that quietly does its job without demanding applause, which is honestly what I aspire to in most areas of my life.
Recently though, I have found myself reaching for liquid foundations more than usual. This started as an attempt to use what I already own rather than continuing to hoard base products like they might be discontinued overnight. What I discovered was that some of these formulas are genuinely excellent. The Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation has been on heavy rotation and I am reminded every time I wear it why it was so hyped in the first place. It gives skin that healthy, hydrated, I slept eight hours glow, even when none of those things are true.
Mascara wise, I tried to be sensible. I ran out of my beloved Haus Labs mascara just before Christmas and decided that spending nearly thirty pounds on a replacement felt excessive. I popped into Boots and picked up the L’Oréal Telescopic, which has an almost cult like following. After a week, I quietly reordered the Haus Labs one. Sometimes the heart wants what it wants, and sometimes it wants a mascara that just does more.
THE FAMILY UPDATES
Every month I tell you how much I adore motherhood and every month I worry I sound like I am auditioning for some sort of parenting propaganda. The truth is, it really is that good. The days can be long, loud and messy, but they are filled with moments I know I will ache for one day. My son is already changing so quickly and I am painfully aware that this version of him will not last forever.
Just before nursery finished for Christmas, we received a message that sent my heart straight into my stomach. Multiple cases of chickenpox had been confirmed across his groups. We hoped we might dodge it, partly because he does not attend every day and partly because denial is a powerful thing. A few days before Christmas, his temperature spiked, he became miserable and by Boxing Day, the spots arrived. The real insult was that he had received his second chickenpox vaccine just one week too late to be fully protected. Sods law does not even begin to cover it.
Christmas for us became about patience, rest and survival. As he started to improve, we were hit with a truly brutal flu. We tag-teamed parenting like Olympic athletes, just trying to get through the day without collapsing. There were moments where I wondered what life would look like had I never become a parent, but when I strip away the illness and exhaustion, I would not change this life for anything. I know that the Christmases ahead of us are only going to get better.
THE FASHION UPDATE
I went into December with the very pure intention of cutting back on spending and focusing all of my festive generosity on everyone else. And while I did, without question, spoil my nearest and dearest, I also managed to spend an alarming amount of money on myself. Sometimes I genuinely believe I black out while shopping. One moment I am innocently browsing, the next it is three days later, the postman is knocking, boxes are appearing in the hallway and my husband is giving me that look that says he has already accepted defeat.
The first addition to my wardrobe, and the one I feel no guilt whatsoever about, was the Bottega Veneta Link Lock bag in a rich chocolate brown. If you have spent any time on this site, you will know I am incapable of resisting beautifully woven leather, and this bag ticked every box immediately. I bought it the week before Christmas and it has barely left my side since. It works just as well with jeans and a coat as it does with something more dressed up, which in my eyes makes it a very sensible investment, regardless of what my bank statement might suggest.
The second item could not be more different and yet has been just as loved. I picked up a pair of black suede western boots from Boohoo during the Black Friday sales. I know, this is not a brand I typically mention here, but I was on the hunt for a specific style and the price felt suspiciously good. Against my better judgement, I ordered them and they have hardly left my feet since. It is a reminder that when you shop with intention, there are gems to be found in the most unexpected places, and sometimes the fashion gods simply smile upon you.
THE NOVEL PROGRESS
I went into December with big plans. I had lists, intentions and conversations with my husband where we carefully carved out time for me to work on getting my novel out into the world. Illness had other plans. I am entering the New Year with the same to do list I had at the start of December and a renewed understanding that timing is everything.
That said, my only resolution this year is to get my book out there. Not to write more, not to be more productive, not to overhaul my entire life. Just this one thing. Second only to my family, this is the milestone I want to hit. It is terrifying and exciting in equal measure, which usually means it is exactly what I should be doing.
THE HOME RENOVATIONS
When we bought our home back in 2019, it exceeded every expectation we had. The space, the potential, the location. It felt like a dream. Every room is now decorated and functional, and on paper, there is nothing wrong. And yet, I find myself scrolling Pinterest, imagining marble fireplaces and bespoke kitchens like it is my full-time job.
We could begin phase two. The big changes, the investment pieces, the dream upgrades. But there is a part of me that wonders if that money would be better spent on our next property, the one that might truly be our forever home. For now, I am trying to sit with gratitude rather than constantly chasing the next improvement, which is easier said than done.
THE MUSIC REPORT
This month is light on musical discoveries. I have not been driving much and therefore have not been soundtracking my life in the way I usually do. That said, Ella Langley and Choosin’ Texas is still on repeat. It remains the first song I think of when I want to listen to something and I play it far louder than necessary.
There is a small part of me that is excited to get back into routine, back behind the wheel, and back into discovering new music while driving aimlessly with a coffee in hand. Sometimes inspiration arrives when you least expect it.
THE MENTAL HEALTH REPORT
I do not want to tempt fate, but things feel good. I am actually looking forward to returning to work because I thrive on routine and structure. Beyond that, I feel more stable and content than I have in a long time. The festive period can be tricky for me, but this year felt different.
I think my little family has a lot to do with that. Even during moments where I might previously have spiralled, I felt grounded. The clarity I have experienced over the past year feels hard earned and precious, and I am doing everything I can to protect it.
THE SOCIAL UPDATE
I left the house socially three times over the festive break. Three. This is record breaking behaviour for me and my equally disorganised friends. Calendars were aligned, childcare was secured and we actually made it out together. I will not tell you how long it had been since we last managed this because it is frankly embarrassing.
I am writing this feeling fresh because I bailed on New Year’s Eve plans. It is my least favourite night of the year. Give me a Chinese takeaway, a glass of Sauvignon and my sofa over crowded pubs and overpriced heels any day.
THE RECENT READS
Reading in December was a struggle, not because the books were bad, but because my attention was everywhere else. The few novels I did finish were excellent, which almost makes it worse because I wish I had read more.
Cowboy Casual was an instant win. The name alone should explain why. Once past a slightly slow start, it delivered everything I love. Slap Shot by Chelsea Curto was another highlight. Predictable in the best way, full of characters I adore and completely addictive.
OTHER RAMBLES
I am still locked in an internal battle about my Range Rover. Do I keep it and accept the risk, or do I trade it in for something sensible that screams practicality? Each month I get closer to making a decision and each month I recoil at the thought of driving a stereotypical mum car. For now, I live in a state of mild anxiety and denial, wondering if today is the day something expensive goes wrong.
As I step into the New Year, I am not chasing perfection. I am chasing presence, progress and peace. Life feels full, sometimes overwhelming, but deeply good. If there is one thing I am carrying forward, it is the reminder that joy often exists alongside chaos, not instead of it. Here is to another year of figuring it out as we go. As always, thank you for being here and for reading. Let me know what your December looked like, what you are carrying into the New Year, and what you are leaving behind.
