December 22, 2024
Welcome to A Lovenote.
A weekly digest where I say hello and share. You’ll find things you can cook this week + some things you didn’t ask for but might enjoy. I’m so glad you are here!
Hi you!
Winter officially arrived yesterday. As I sat with my morning lemon water, before Fraser and the kids stirred awake, I felt particularly introspective. Questions floated through my mind: Am I investing my energy in the right places? Am I truly nourishing my body and soul? Do my habits align with the goals I've set for myself?
A gentle reminder echoed in my mind: "Winter whispers what we so often forget: rest isn't a luxury, it's a requirement. Nothing in nature produces endlessly. And neither should we."
For many of us, this season naturally triggers reflection. As we review our year, we find ourselves in a time that's so full—full of connection, tradition, and yes... sometimes an overwhelming number of to-dos. As women, we're wired (or maybe conditioned) to juggle it all. We're professional multitaskers, holding space in our minds for everything from work deadlines to restocking the home, researching holiday recipes, and managing the family schedule.
But lately, I've been wondering: What if we didn't do it all? What if "good enough" was truly great? If you're feeling that end-of-year overwhelm, here's your permission slip to embrace "good enough." Remember, the people who love you don't need perfection—they just need you.
This season, I'm inviting us to take an honest look at our health, habits, and happiness. Winter often draws me into a quieter, less energetic version of myself. Recognizing this pattern, I've created something special to help us nurture and cultivate a vibrant winter life.
🌟 Introducing: The 10-Day Winter Wellness Challenge 🌟
Starting January 6th, join me for:
10-minute daily guided meditations
10,000 steps goal
Nourishing, seasonal recipes
Thoughtful journal prompts
Rejuvenating yoga practices
The Details:
WHAT: 10 Day Winter Wellness Challenge
WHEN: January 6-16, 2025
INCLUDES:
Daily guided meditations delivered to your inbox
Nourishing recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
At-home yoga flows
Reflective journal prompts
Personal accountability check-ins
Supportive community
Downloadable habit tracker WHO: You!
Until then, embrace this holiday season with your loved ones. Remember, when you pause and give yourself permission to slow down, you create space for clarity, creativity, and purpose to flourish.
Wishing you the merriest of Christmases, the happiest Hanukkahs, filled with joy, love, and perhaps a few sweet treats. Thank you for being on the other side of these emails—your presence means more than you know.
Now, let's dive into today's newsletter, shall we?
With warmth and gratitude,
xoxChristie
Scenes from my week: Santa (Fras) came for a visit | Family shinny and skate | Our 1st Winter hike through the woods | Sadie’s Volleyball Team Holiday party and Cookie exchange | The easiest peppermint pinwheels (recipe asap) | Elevated 5-star marshmallows (recipe below)
What caught my eye this week …
HABITS Leading up to the 10 Day Winter Wellness Challenge, I’m going to be focussing on getting 10,000 steps in every day, getting sunlight into my eyes in the morning and staying hydrated with my electrolytes. (use my code Lovestory15)
READING Pinterest predicts these will be the trends of 2025.
What you should know about Memory and Menopause.
The holidays aren’t mandatory, you know. There is JOMO in skipping a party or two.
WATCHING While doing a million piles of laundry and wrapping presents this week, and preparing the house for the renters (the house has Airbnb renters arriving today), I clicked on Black Doves on Netflix. I thought it was a Christmas movie. It’s not. It’s a spy thriller with Kiera Knightly and it’s pretty good! I think I ploughed through 3 episodes in one sitting!
Also, we watched National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation when we got to Collingwood - a classic!
LISTENING. I added a bunch of new songs to my Christmas music on repeat playlist. It’s so joyful. I also really like this Christmas Cocktail Jazz playlist.
SHOPPING I’ve been perusing last minute gift ideas for the super procrastinator. Here are some easy and thoughtful ideas:
Print off a photo of them and put it in a thrifted or inexpensive frame.
A subscription to NY Times Cooking. Or if cooking isn’t their thing, maybe YOLO for the traveler.
And of course, leaving the gift guides here for final inspiration, should you still need it!
Merry Merry Everything to you. Thank you for being here!
As always, I would love to hear from you!
You can catch up on last week’s Lovenote here.
SCROLLING Pamela Anderson. Love her.
Did you guys hear about the Olive Oil story on TikTok and how there are almost 8 Million views on it? It’s actually hilarious and I wonder if it’s enough to save TikTok next month?
7 Tips for Holiday House Guest Prep. Both Fraser and my families are close by, so we don’t have anyone staying with us over the holidays, but if you do, there are some simple and thoughtful touches in this guide.
FOOD Some of my favourite holiday recipes for you to consider this holiday. Start with this Easy Blueberry Cinnamon Breakfast Bake, and pro tip? Substitute the milk for eggnog for an entirely festive version! When entertaining, there is nothing more show stopping than this Festive Cheesy Pull Apart Bread. And before we move onto the main course, don’t forget about these Christmas Spiced Nuts. One of the biggest hacks if you need a side dish is this Easy Boursin Risotto. Or if you have vegetarians in your life, don’t sleep on this Mushroom Herb Stuffing. For dessert, I’m making this High Protein Chocolate Mousse. Everyone loves it and it can be made in advance.
From the blog this week...
This week’s meal plan
Thank you for being here!
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I would LOVE to hear from you! Please let me know what is on your mind and how I can help!
These easy protein peanut butter and jam cups are the perfect midday treat. Rich and creamy peanut butter center, with a dollop of sweet jam hidden inside, they taste so good you won't even be able to tell these are packed with protein!