Closing out the year with the December edit! In 2025, I wanted to consume less and create more. And from all the things I did consume, I tried to only share the things that mattered to me, which meant my recommendations weren’t always packed to the brim. I’m okay with that.
I’ve loved writing these monthly edits so if you’ve enjoyed reading them, please let me know!
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and many more small joys to come! x
A nostalgic walk through 1997! This romance is about a divorced woman who reluctantly moves to Vermont to run her late mom’s bed and breakfast. There, she meets her next-door neighbour who is a single dad and the town’s resident baker. It’s like Gilmore Girls meets your favourite nineties rom-com.
This Clare V-esque sweatshirt was too cute not to buy. I love the bright blue and pop of yellow, along with the playful phrase. I’ll be living in this over the next few months. The exact sweatshirt is sold out so here’s a similar one.
I bought this blazer a few months ago and wore it recently during a broadcast segment. I received so many compliments! It has a just-right boxy fit and the coziness rivals that of a sweatshirt. This one just sold out—same silhouette but different pattern here.
I am a sucker for a beauty brand from a cool celeb makeup artist or hairstylist. Roz is Mara Roszak’s haircare line, hairstylist to Emma Stone, Zoe Saldaña and more. I picked up this styling oil on a work trip to San Francisco a few months ago. It smooths frizz and flyaways, and adds shine, my current go-to for the cold and dry winter months.
I had a gift card from The Detox Market so I bought two nail polishes from Manucurist, a French brand known for its plant-based formulas. After sporting back-to-back gel manis for extended periods of time, I’m letting my nails breathe for a bit with this three-in-one polish. It strengthens nails, blurs imperfections and provides a sheer wash of colour.
I always find myself gravitating towards a soft and sophisticated sparkly nail polish and this one is basically mermaid glitter for grown-ups. File under ‘Cultivate more whimsy in 2026’!
This has been a hotly anticipated product and I’m so happy to have been able to finally try it. Cassatt is a new skincare brand from veteran beauty editor and Breaking Beauty Podcast co-host, Carlene Higgins who has her own Substack called The Elevens by Carlene Higgins. The debut product is a gentle plant-based retinoid ointment designed for sensitive and perimenopausal skin. I love everything from the packaging to the formula and it’s now in rotation in my routine.
This daily planner was one of my recent small joys but I had to mention it again because I love it so much. Did I mention it’s lilac? Here’s hoping that Moleskine releases more fun shades in the near future.
I like my hot chocolate creamy and decadent and Toronto-based Soma Chocolatemaker does really good hot chocolate. Winter is hot chocolate season so I’m on the lookout for more good ones to add to my collection.
Did I watch episodes five and six more than once? Of course I did. I’ve also loved seeing actors Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams live out their dream and cheering loudly from the sidelines alongside other Heated Rivalry fans.
There’s a line in season five where Alfie says, “Turn off your brain and jump!” The context is a dance scene, but as this review of the new season says, it’s also an apt description for how to watch the season. I wasn’t Heated Rivalry-levels invested but it was just the right kind of escapist balm for the holidays.
How to take care of your winter shoes so they survive the reason.
Loved The Molehill’s interview with Heated Rivalry costume designer Hanna Puley.
How to be organized in 2026: tips and advice galore from Anna Newton.
Five “lucky” houseplants to help start the year on a positive note.
Is toddler art the next big thing in interiors?
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