Sunday Scroll #118
When December feels like A LOT: a 5-minute dinner + lunch, easy gift ideas for hard-to-shop-fors, plus a roundup of links to delight you
Good morning, and welcome to Sunday! How are you faring this morning? I’m trying to take a moment of calm in the midst of all this *waves hands* holiday stuff. Even when you mentally know the deluge is coming, it’s… a waterfall of commitments. And merriment. And fun!!! It’s just a lot of all that stuff at once. 🙃 Here’s where I’ve been hiding out in my spare time.
This week on the scroll, I’ve tried to curate some life hacks to make your season more simple (spoiler alert: 5-minute dinners and lunches!!), a few good reads to help you reflect, a couple gift ideas, and some moments of levity — because, hello, we need those right now.
Let’s go for a scroll!
Questions to ask yourself before winter takes over. Such a good seasonal self-audit for clarity, craving, and staying warm inside your own life.
23 inspiring newsletters for the well-read woman. Amelia Wilson at Happy on Purpose has the most exquisite taste in, well, pretty much everything. I love her writing, and I love learning about new-to-me Substacks and getting reminded of favorites I need to check out again. (big thank-you to Amelia for mentioning The Landing in this list!)
The vintage toy that’s a hit with kids today. Have you seen this in your neck of the woods??
Speaking of vintage: how about throwing a Merry Little Thriftmas? If you’re doing a Secret Santa or another small gift exchange, and you don’t feel like shelling out a ton of cash or buying more new things, this is a cute alternative.
If you happen to have leftover mashed potatoes, here’s a genius hack for reusing them. I *never* would’ve thought of this. So clever! And looks so delicious!
How an M&M launched the search for the next perfect peanut. The most random thing you’ll read all week — and maybe the most interesting!
A really good 5-minute dinner. Throw in some garlic toast, and this looks like a perfect low-key winter dinner from a couple ingredients you probably have on hand. (And this is a good one too, especially for a quick lunch.)
Is protecting your peace making you feel lonelier? A licensed therapist explains. This is really good food for thought. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “What’s the difference between a boundary and a wall?” you might find this helpful.
Do you want some delightful joy for a couple minutes? Watch Seth Myers interview his three young kids. Pure hilarity, 10/10. Made me smile til my face hurt!
This is the realest thing I’ve ever seen about decorating the tree with your spouse. 😂
My kids used Gizmo Watches when they were younger, and they are such a great way to keep everyone connected without handing over a full phone. Verizon is offering $75 off a Gizmo Watch 3 or Gizmo Watch 3 Adventure with a connected device plan — an easy way to save when every dollar matters.
I mentioned this cute find a while back, but Aura extended our discount and it’s now $55 off, so I had to share again! They sent me their Stone Digital Frame, and I gifted it to Caroline — the natural texture is adorable in her room, and I can drop photos from my phone straight to her frame in seconds. Such a perfect gift for grandparents or kids. Use code EMILY to save $55 on the one she has!
*PS: here’s the link to the cute star globe in that Aura Frame photo above. My kids have had these for ages, but they’re still at Target.
December has a special kind of sparkle, doesn’t it? The lights, the coziness, the anticipation. But it can also bring chaos if we’re not careful — full schedules, endless to-do lists, and that little voice whispering you should be doing more.
This year, Team Simplified’s sharing how we’re choosing a slower, simpler December — one that’s more about connection than perfection. Let’s fill our days with presence, not pressure.
Psst: need an easy gift idea for a teacher, co-worker, or someone on your holiday list you’re a little stumped about? Give them the gift of analog — in a beautiful way!
Our linen journals are one of our bestsellers. Throw in some pens, maybe a patterned pen cup (they’re BOGO today!), and you’ve got a gorgeous and thoughtful gift — that you didn’t have to stress over.
May your week be full of holiday magic you didn’t have to create — and a mug of hot cocoa or two.
So many great links! And a big thank you for including mine ❤️
I never would have thought of the mashed potatoes ideas! Why is that always the one food item that has the most leftovers!?