Best of December 2021
Well, here we are for the last time. My best of December 2021 list! This will be twelve months of writing these lists and twelve months of being on this journey of gratitude. It’s been really difficult at moments, more so than I ever expected, but I am so glad that I stuck with it. What I’ve been thinking about a lot recently is how there really is no shortage of hard things to deal with in life. Maybe that view has been shaded a bit too much by the ongoing unprecedented times. But there is a truth to it, there will always be hard things.
Speaking for myself I really lost track of all the little moments of magic in life. I think before all this kicked off I was really in-tune with it. So being without that perspective for so long beat me down. I’m so happy this journey has expanded my horizons to the good things in life. I hope you enjoy this final list of my Best of December 2021.
BEST BRUNCH OF DECEMBER 2021
Why do I seem to always end up doing sad brunch? Maybe because it’s a sure fire way to brighten things up? Maybe because unlike other meals brunch feels like deliberate carved out time to meet with dear friends or family. Breakfast or Lunch etc are more necessities. Brunch is pure luxury.
It’s not common for me to get into super long lines for brunch, I’m just as happy at Denny’s. But we put our names on the waitlist for OEB and thought it was going to be a 30 ish minute wait. We ended up waiting almost two hours but I can’t even be mad because LOOK AT HOW PRETTY THIS IS? The flower petals as decoration brought me so much happiness. How lovely to eat a meal decorated with flowers for no other reason than to be beautiful and bring delight.
BEST TIME GOING ROUND AND ROUND OF DECEMBER 2021
Call me crazy but there is something about going around in circles on a wooden horse that makes things feel all right with the world. I mean, I would not judge you at all for thinking me insane. Before you do I would recommend going to the Burnaby Village Museum Carousel. Entrance is free but the carousel costs a couple dollars. Is it so difficult to get on the high horses that you will see your life flash before your eyes as you try to get up or down? Yes. Yes they are. As a secondary thought you will also worry that on your fall down you will destroy a carousel horse that is over a 100 years old. Yes. Yes you will. Still absolutely worth it.
I don’t want to give the impression that carousel riding is something I do on the regular because it really isn’t but as soon as life brings me to one I remember just how I love them. With every rotation you can feel your troubles fade into the background.
BEST EARRINGS OF DECEMBER 2021
You know what’s great? Fancy earrings. You know what’s also great? Pizza. You know what’s absolutely amazing? PIZZA EARRINGS! These Kate Spade earrings are so dainty and beautiful it might take you a second to notice they’re pizza! I love everything about it. They are $96 dollars so I’m not sure I will be buying a pair. Who knows, maybe if I am still thinking about them in February I will treat myself for my birthday. Still, they made me very happy to look at.
You can get your own pair here: Pizza My Heart Hoops
BEST THING I SEWED IN DECEMBER 2021
The past couple month have been really hard for me and there hasn’t really been any free time. Any spare few moments were usually just spent watching my comfort tv shows because I had no energy for anything else. Naturally, sewing fell by the way side for quite awhile and I had a backlog of projects.
I had a friends Christmas dinner coming up and decided I hated all my fancy clothes. I don’t really feel like going into too much detail but I also had a surge of manic energy so I impulsively decided to make myself a Christmas dress. So with limited time, anxiety energy, and some festive fabric gifted to me by Minerva Fabric I was ready to go!
I hacked the Sagebrush Top by Friday Pattern Co. I lengthened the ruffle, shortened the bodice, and added two tiers of gathered skirt. Easy enough to alter. It was definitely a challenge and there were moments I was convinced it wouldn’t be done in time. But I did it! Until it was done I had no idea how badly I needed a sewing win. Or really any win. As silly as it sounds I think I needed to be reminded that I am actually pretty good at sewing and I can make some really cool things.
I don’t exactly remember why I chose this fabric but I’m very happy I did. It really reminds me of the dresses with big lace collars my mom would put me in for holidays when I was a little kid in the 90s. Throwback vibes with what I hope is an added element of sophistication.
If you want to buy some of your own fabric you can get it here: Cotton Poplin
Once the dress was done I was off to one of my favourite Vancouver restaurants Joe Fortes! There aren’t many places I will hype up but this is one of them! It has such a nice ambiance that throws back to some old school glamour without being pretentious. The food is always delicious, try the oysters. Best of all the staff are so wonderful and lovely. I always love dinner at Joe Fortes but I am hoping to try their brunch and Happy Hour in 2022.
BEST CAT NEWS OF DECEMBER 2021
This is the first Christmas with our two cats and I was very nervous how they would be around the Christmas tree. I didn’t want to not decorate the tree but I also didn’t want to be chasing off cats every two seconds. Luckily they got the memo pretty quickly! Now we all get to enjoy our odd looking Christmas tree.
BEST UGLY SWEATER OF DECEMBER 2021
I have been WAITING rather impatiently to get invited to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Finally it happened this year and that is exactly when I realized my ugly Christmas sweater no longer fit me. With little time and even less ideas I came up with the idea to make myself a giant Christmas present.
I laughed quite a bit at my self. Let me tell you it is nerve racking to casually walk down the street in a giant box sweater hoping no one looks out and wonders what the hell you’re up to. As utter hilarious as this sweater was to me it became more funny when I tried to drink my wine while wearing it. It gave me T-rex arms and eating and drinking was a struggle!
BEST TREAT OF DECEMBER 2021
Tell me why that when I look for Avalon Eggnog I find exactly none and go years without it. My dad goes out and finds a consistent supply of it. Can’t be mad because it is so extraordinary and I love it so much and I’ve drank so much eggnog I might be sick.
BEST WEATHER OF DECEMBER 2021
I am not a winter person, I live and breath for hot summer days. With saying that I have to admit that snow at Christmas time is a specific type of magic. Snow when I have to drive is abhorrent. Snow when I can stay home and look at it from the warmth of my own home is delightful.
This is a list about good things and I don’t really like to mention the not good things in it but I think it’s worth saying this Christmas took a pretty big last minute turn from what I thought it would be. In the midst of grieving the holiday I thought I would have it was nice to have a snowy Christmas and be reminded that the magic is still happening. You can hold more than one emotion in your heart and that has really been my experience this month.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading these lists, I’ve greatly enjoyed writing them.
Writing this best of December 2021 list is bittersweet. I’m going to miss compiling and sharing these lists but I am also excited to choose new challenges for 2022!
Wishing you a new year full of gratitude and goodness!
Hannah
Want to go back to January? You can see that list here: Best of January 2021
