Let the countdown begin! My papers are graded, my meetings wrapped up and I’m ready to dive into cookie-making and present wrapping. I’ve got more Christmas books to share (one you can finish on a lunch break!), a 22 for 2022 goal-setting session and the nitty gritty of sleep.

What I'm Reading:

As you know, I’ve been on a bit of a cozy reading streak to countdown to Christmas and finished two cozy titles this week. I just can’t get enough and keep updating my Bookshop list. But don’t worry, after the holiday, I’ll get back to my beloved children’s literature titles and adult selections to share with you!

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

Oh, this book. I’m starting to think I need to move to England and open a bakery since I seem to be so smitten with this idea in the books I read. Bayliss introduces us to Kate, a fabric artist and baker who was convinced to join a dating site promising to help singles find love before the holiday. Twelve different men, twelve different dates and twelve opportunities to realize what is most important. There are ups and down, laughter and tears and most importantly, the realization that things might not always be as they seem. This is a heartfelt story that tugged on my heartstrings in so many different ways.

Oh, What. Fun. by Chandler Baker

I was waiting to pick up my daughter after school and downloaded this book to my Kindle app to sneak in some reading. And oh, what fun it was. It was a very short (only 47 digital pages) Amazon Original Story just perfect for this time of year. Not only was it literally laugh-out-loud funny, it offered a powerful lesson about the true meaning of Christmas and the unseen work that goes into putting family first throughout the session. I believe it is a tribute to mothers everywhere and is a must read. 

What I'm Writing:

I’m getting ready for 2022 with my 22 for 2022 List! It’s something that Gretchen Rubin (my favorite!) recommends and I loved pulling my list together for 2021. Here’s a fun printable to jumpstart the process, but nothing other than a notebook page and a few minutes to dream is needed. Here are a few ways to start pulling your list together, right from Gretchen herself:

  • organize lists into themes, such as “Adventure,” “Family,” “Career”
  • make a list of 22 items that all involve the number 22, like “Read 22 books,” or, “Reach out to 22 people”
  • have one theme for the entire list, such as “Health”—this theme might tie into a one-word theme for the year
  • ​allow for evolution, by making a list of 32 items so that ten can be dropped, or making item #22 something like “Replace one item on the list with something I’d rather do”
  • make a list of only fun, enjoyable things
  • make a list of 11 stretch goals and 11 easy goals
  • make a list to tackle with another person or as a family

So, what’s on your 22 for 2022 list? Here’s one of mine: I want to visit 22 bookstores in 2022 sparked by Zibby Owens. Join me!

What I'm Learning:

I’m a bit embarrassed to say that I am a TERRIBLE sleeper. I am lucky to get 5 – 6 hours of sleep each night and this has been going on ever since my first son was born. For a long time, I wore it like a badge: I don’t need sleep! But guess what? I do. I really, really do and I am desperate to find more of it. I listened to this episode of the Goop podcast and got all of the horrifying facts straight: sleep matters to our health. So, I’m devising an evening routine, turning down the thermostat and convincing my husband that he does not need the television to fall asleep. Cross your fingers for me on that one!

What I'm Loving:

I loved this graphic from Natural Life. They called it like it is. Here are a few of the links I loved this week amidst my Christmas-anxiety-haze:

I found a new coffee and chocolate company: Galletti Speciality Coffees & Chocolate.

I’ve got another holiday hand lettering tutorial: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I found a new podcast to binge: Best Laid Plans. A fellow educator / upholder / lover of planning shared it with me (Thanks, Dawn!) and I can’t wait to dive in. I mean, who else gets excited about planner retreats?!

Last week, I shared the 2021 She Reads awards and this week, I’m sharing the Best Books of 2021 from Goodreads. 

There you have it! I hope this inspires you to make space for more reading and writing in your own life. What are the highlights from your literate life this week?