November Recap
December 1, 2023
How is it December already? November felt like it flew by, and in all honesty, I feel like I don’t have “much” to share this month. But what’s more real and behind-the-scenes than sharing life—and the fact that some months are slower and quieter than others, and that’s okay?
So yes, November was slow. Not intentionally so, but it seems that I naturally go through life in cycles. One month, I’m buzzing with energy, and the next month, I take a step back to rejuvenate and reflect.
This month’s highlights:
I watched the film What Happens Later (starring and directed by Meg Ryan) in theatres, and it was probably the highlight of my month. I have always been a fan of romantic comedies, so when I saw the trailer, I knew I had to see it in theatres. And you guys, it did not disappoint. It was the most artistic, honest, and heart-warming film I’ve seen in years. (And honestly, it was less rom-comy and chick-flicky than I expected; my husband even enjoyed it and said it reminded him of a play.) If you can, take the time to see it; you won’t regret it!
I launched a small batch of hand-painted Christmas ornaments, my first collection of ornaments in years. This collection was a joy to make, and it’s full of deep gemstones and wintry pastels—harkening back to the moody paintings I made this year—and I am absolutely in love. There are still a handful of ornaments left, so claim yours while you still can if you’d like to add a fun and contemporary touch to your tree!
I helped my dad edit a book that he’s been working on. My dad, an engineer, is not a writer, so this is a passion project of his—telling the story of my great uncle, who was a prisoner of war in Korea in the ‘50s. This was the second time I’ve been asked to help someone conceptualize and edit a book, and both times, I was reminded of my teenage dream of being a book editor. Knowing what to say and how a piece of writing should be structured comes so naturally to me, so my mind will just buzz with ideas for hours. All of which is to say—if you have a book idea or draft that you’d like my help refining, then let’s chat. 🙂
I competed in another tennis tournament (my new favorite hobby since the pandemic), this time at the beach for state. (Yes, adults “go to state,” too, apparently.) My team finished third out of 12, so we were thrilled!
For Thanksgiving, we visited my husband’s family in small-town, south Alabama. It was a relaxing long weekend filled with a 36-person (!) Thanksgiving lunch followed by an adults-versus-kids soccer game (the group of 4 to 7 year olds had us 30-somethings wiped out). Plus lots of good food, time outside, college football, a bonfire, etc.
Looking ahead, I am stoked about December. It’s my birthday month, and I love the holiday festivities and cooler weather, and I always find myself reminiscing and dreaming and inspired this time of year.
Check back next month for a recap of my favorite season and possibly the entirety of 2023!