December is here… how are we already in the last month of 2025!?
Our family enjoyed a low-key Thanksgiving day at home with lots of good food and some football too…
And now we’re in Christmas mode!
The house is decorated, some goodies have been baked, Christmas music is playing every day, and we even got a huge snowstorm over the weekend, so everything is pretty and white.
I’m excited to share my favorites with you again, in hopes that some of them will help you simplify and/or find more enjoyment in this busy time of year.
Favorite Moment = Kids Decorating
For the last few years, our schools have given us the day before Thanksgiving off for a super long 5-day Thanksgiving break — it’s fantastic!
And since I had already made all our Thanksgiving foods on Tuesday (everything except the rolls), we planned to use Wednesday morning to set up our Christmas decor.
I’ve continually downsized our Christmas decor over the last 20 years, so we just have 2 artificial trees and 2 small bins of decorations. We hauled everything to the kitchen, and, much to my delight, the kids did the rest!
I made rolls and cinnamon rolls and caught up on a few household things while the kids strung lights, hung ornaments, set out Nativities, and made all the Christmas decorating decisions.
They were so excited, I was more than willing to relinquish something from my to-do list, and everything was finished by lunchtime (including my rolls).
Yay for older kids who can actually do things well!
Favorite Routine = Advent Countdown
Last year, I made the wooden Advent Countdown tree pictured below, and Nora helped me make 25 wooden ornaments.
I wondered if it would feel too babyish for the kids this year… so I was surprised when they eagerly pulled it out of a Christmas bin and had an animated conversation about who would get to flip each day, whether we’d do it at breakfast or dinner, and where the tree should be situated.
Apparently, it’s not too babyish for them… and we’re officially on year two of our homemade Advent Countdown!
We’ve decided on reverse age order (Clara wanted to go first, which would allow her to flip the final ornament on Christmas day), and so far, we’re doing it at breakfast. 👍🏻
RELATED READING: How to Make a Candy Countdown Chain (this is easier than the tree if you’re short on time!)
Past Favorite = Drain Snake
One of the least expensive and most-used “tools” in our home is our trusty drain snake (just over $1 per snake on Amazon!) I keep one in every bathroom, the laundry room, and the kitchen.
We use them regularly to clear hair from our shower and sink drains… yes, it’s very gross! 🤮However, it’s easier, cheaper, and faster than calling a plumber or using toxic drain cleaners… and it’s weirdly satisfying too.
If you have girls (or boys or pets) with lots of hair and regularly struggle with slow drains, I highly recommend investing a few bucks in some drain snakes and keeping them handy in every bathroom.
Also, after I use the drain snake to get out the majority of the “solid matter”, I use the simple DIY drain cleaning recipe below to flush out anything left in the drain. It works like magic!
RELATED READING: How to clear a clogged drain in 10 minutes.
Favorite Hobby = Puzzles
Once the snow starts flying outside, it’s time for puzzles inside… and yes, our whole family really does enjoy them!
However… they can’t be too difficult, or we won’t do them (no thanks on the 1500-piece puzzle of polar bears in a snow storm!)
Our most favorite puzzles are the Bits and Pieces puzzles (300 or 500 pieces) because the pieces are a little larger than traditional jigsaw puzzles, and the pictures are easy enough that even younger kids can do a full puzzle on their own in a reasonable timeframe.
The boys worked on this puzzle a little after school and then finished it after dinner.
I don’t know what it is about these particular puzzles — they are just so doable, yet still challenging enough to be enjoyable.
They are great for both kids and adults — especially if you have arthritic fingers, poor eyesight, or just don’t want to devote hours and hours to one puzzle. ☺️
We are thankful our church library has dozens of Bits and Pieces puzzles. We take a couple home each week and get new ones the next week. It’s a great wintertime hobby.
Favorite Book = A Lantern In Her Hand
If you love Little House on the Prairie, you’ll thoroughly enjoy A Lantern in Her Hand (if you can find a copy.)
After receiving multiple recommendations to read the book, I had to dig for a bit before I found a participating library that would lend it to me through our local branch (it was written in 1928 and apparently isn’t in regular circulation).
I read the entire book in 2 days over Thanksgiving break, and while it was a bit confusing in the beginning, everything came full circle at the end (I actually went back and re-read the first 2 chapters after finishing the book).
This book was written from the wife and mother’s perspective, so it doesn’t mask over the hardships of frontier life like the Little House books tend to do (written from a child’s perspective).
If I could travel back in time to “visit” the late 1800s frontier life for a couple of days, I think I’d jump at the chance… but then give me back all my modern appliances, local grocery stores, and indoor plumbing!
Oh, and after doing a bit of research, I found there is now a movie based on the book (A Mother’s Gift). I found it at our library, but you could likely buy it online too.
READ THE BOOK: A Lantern In Her Hand
Favorite Media = Free Spotify!
I have a free Spotify account that I use every Christmas season to enjoy various Christmas playlists (in addition to my Amazon Prime Music). However, this year, I got an email with an offer for FOUR free months of Spotify Premium!
Obviously, I signed up (and immediately put a note in my planner to cancel at the end of March)… so now we’ve been enjoying ad-free Christmas music, in addition to a selection of audiobooks and podcasts.
While I’m not necessarily interested in spending $12 per month for Spotify Premium, I will say that FREE Spotify Premium over the Christmas season is one of my new favorite things!
I did a little Googling, and I *THINK* you can also get 4 months free (as long as you’ve never had a Premium account before). This link should work through Dec 31, 2025.
Merry Christmas! 🎶
Favorite Gift = Money Ornament
I made angel money ornaments for a few people last year and, based on the feedback I received, you would have thought it was the most creative gift ever!
Everyone loved it… and it was SOOOO easy! (Here’s the YouTube tutorial for the angel.)
Of course, there are dozens of origami money tutorials online, but this particular angel uses 2 bills, so you could go as frugal ($2) or as spendy ($200) as you’d like, depending on how many gifts you need to give or how well you know the person.
Either way, the recipient will enjoy this clever, creative, and clutter-free gift by disassembling the ornament and using the cash to buy whatever they want, whenever they want it.
RELATED READING: The Ultimate List of Clutter-Free Gifts for Everyone on Your List
Favorite Recipe = Spiced Molasses Cookies
My recipe for Spiced Molasses Cookies is an attempt to recreate one of my great aunt’s recipes. They are soft and chewy with a glaze that hardens after sitting at room temperature for a few minutes… and yes, they are delicious!
This is one recipe that I only make around Christmas — so it stays special and everyone looks forward to them.
If you’re looking for a new Christmas cookie recipe to try this year, give these a go and let me know what you think!
TRY THE RECIPE: Spiced Molasses Cookies
Favorite Archived Post
Last year, I shared several “gift-free family traditions” for families who’d like to get away from so much of the consumerism that often surrounds the holiday season.
If you’re tired of shopping, and wrapping, and returning, consider these ideas instead…
Read the full posts here: 10 Gift-Free Family Traditions
That’s all for this month. 😆
If you’re interested, you may scroll through all my Favorite Things posts HERE!
Heather Ratliff says
Thank you for the drain snake recommendation! Our bathroom sink had been getting slower due to beard hairs going down it and I was about to call the plumber. Your solution was far cheaper and worked perfectly!
Carrie says
My friend recently told me about an 12 day Advent Calendar she received as a gift. It is a set of 12 puzzles. It sounds like something that may interest your family.
Andrea says
yes, we’ve seen these before too! We prefer puzzles we don’t have to buy or store though 🙂 We love just picking a couple out every Sunday and bringing them back the next Sunday!
Anon says
Andrea, I respect your mothering approach so much. Please know that Spotify is not safe for children and teens. Not to be melodramatic but because of personal experience, I have to share with other parents that predators use services of Spotify to groom children and share porn (photos can be shared on playlists, and unfortunately people have figured out how to misuse that feature) and encourage children to use other apps to communicate with strangers in extremely dangerous ways. Spotify knows this is happening and refuses to take action to protect children and vulnerable people.
Andrea says
Yikes — that’s crazy!
Thanks for sharing Anon. I do think the vast, vast majority of my readers are older adults (like 30+) so it likely won’t be an issue for them (hopefully not!)
Calliope says
I’m always at awe watching usa families unwrap dozens and dozens of gifts. In Greece this is not common at all. Maybe a (reasonable) gift or two for the immediate family, grandparents and very close friends but that’s it. Usually the gifts are books, cosmetics, winter apparel or just edibles. Of course this alters depending on the family’s budget, but now I’m talking about “normal” middle class working families. One year I read here about non-materialistic gifts like travels and experiences and it just clicked! Since then it is very usual for my family to receive cinema/theatre/museum open tickets and they all love it (esp the mothers 🙂
My 18-year-old-university-student son still LOVES advent calendars. It was the highlight of his year since he was 3 years old so you have a lot of years ahead of precious advent times. I did miss it terribly this year that he is away…
I wish your family all the best! From (far far away) Kalamata, Greece!
Andrea says
thanks for sharing this Calliope! So fun to see what other families do!
Rhonda says
Sounds like your family might like a puzzle board for Christmas, if you don’t already have a dedicated table that doesn’t need to be cleared off regularly for meals. If you upgrade to 1000 piece puzzles, it’s nice to have the drawers on the puzzle board.
Andrea says
Hi Rhonda,
We’ve considered purchasing a puzzle board but we don’t know where to put it as it wouldn’t fit under our couches and Buster will eat the pieces if it’s anywhere close to his domaine!
Lauren says
A Lantern in Her Hand is one of my favorite books ever! I’m due for a reread, as it’s been several years since I read it. Glad you discovered and enjoyed it!
Andrea says
oh good — glad I’m not the only one who has enjoyed this book! Yes, re-read over Christmas!
Dorinda says
Hello from New Zealand. I also enjoyed reading A Lantern in Her Hand. A similar book that I thoroughly recommend is Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson. This book is set just before and during WW1,featuring a young lady who proves an outback claim on her own.
Down this end of the world we are enjoying fresh strawberries and looking forward to a Christmas Day swim at the beach.
Thanks to Andrea for her positive and encouraging posts.
NZ Nana
Andrea says
Hi Dorinda! I’m jealous of your nice weather and fresh fruit right now… but I know our time will come in 6 months again 🙂
Thanks for the book recommendation, I will add it to my list! Have a great week and a Merry Christmas!
Chris says
Hi Dorinda, it is so neat to see a comment from New Zealand. We live in the US and visited there in Jan and Feb. of this year and absolutely LOVED it, both the beauty and the people were so friendly and kind. It really stood out to us. Chris W.
Barb DeVries says
I love the book A Lantern in Her Hand also!!! I found the book about 30 years ago and have read it 3 times! Love molasses cookies also..will give this recipe a try! And I’m going to try the Spotify deal!! I’ve got the Apirl date on my calendar! Oh, and I ordered the drain things for my family Bingo boxes! Lots of girls with long hair! Thanks for all the great ideas!!
Merry Christmas!
Barb
Andrea says
Wow — I’m thrilled you will have clean drains and (hopefully) some free music these next 4 months!
Hope you like the cookies!!
Moira says
Thank you, Andrea, for another year of your posts. There’s always something that I can use, and the photos of your family are fun to see.
I used to have very long hair, and I suggest getting plastic hair traps. My family always had hair traps for all the drains. They’re inexpensive and last a long time. They’ll help you NOT have to dig all the gross stuff out of the drains! Now I have very short hair while my retired-from-the-army husband has long hair, and the hair trap is still doing a good job.
As always, I look forward to your next post — thanks again.
Andrea says
Thank you Moira! I appreciate your kind words and encouragement so much!
And yes, now that I think back to when my sisters and I all had long hair and shared a bathroom, we did use a hair trap in our shower — maybe I need to find one of those again 🙂
Thanks for the reminder!
Linda Blauw says
Andrea,
Who is the author of the book you recommended, A Lantern in Her Hand?
Linda Brinks Blauw
Andrea says
Hi Linda,
The author is Bess Streeter Aldrich. It’s a great book!
Candace Cole says
I can smell that book from here! 🙂
Andrea says
yes, it had a VERY old book, musty library basement smell!
Lynn Greenhalge says
Dear Andrea,
your Little House neighbor here….
Did you find and read THE ROSE YEARS? Laura’s daughter, as well as the older generation ones?
There is also On the Way Home, and West from Home…
and searching I found this
I was trying to find an associated book, written about a young couple in their first cabin… but I donated the book so don’t know its title anymore… sorry about that!!!
I believe I read the book you mention… long ago.
https://www.abookloversadventures.com/laura-ingalls-wilder-books-in-order/
enjoy if you find anything new!
Glad you had a great gobble day (we call it gravy and pie day)
and Merry Christmas to your ‘pack’.
I’ve never enjoyed such a wonderful family, from afar. Thank you for sharing with us all these years Andrea.
Lynn G
Andrea says
Hi Lynn,
Yes, yes, and yes — i’ve read all the Little House books (including the fictitious ones of Laura’s mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and then the ones by herdaughter). I loved them all 🙂
Here’s the link to see all those books: https://melissawiley.com/blog/2008/10/14/the-little-house-books-in-chronological-order/
I haven’t looked at all the cookbooks and scrapbooks yet, that might be interesting!!
Thanks for your kind words.
Merry Christmas to you too!
Nina says
I miss the birthday cookies! I may have to try this recipe for nostalgia sake.
Andrea says
haha — it’s pretty dang close to Aunt Hilda’s recipe 🙂 Even my mom was impressed (and they are her favorite cookie)!
Chris Leach says
Andrea,
I think one may never be too old for an Advent countdown. My husband and I have been reading Ann Voskamp’s Unwrapping the Greatest Gift for the past 5 years as part of our Advent tradition. I have a small tree that we hang the ornaments on. My husband will be 82 in January, and this is one of his favorite traditions we do together every morning, reading together the story and hanging the ornaments.
Enjoy the traditions and this season of joy, hope, and blessing.
Nancy says
That’s so wonderful. I’m happy to read this comment. We’re in the middle of our 70s and enjoying life, I wasn’t sure how it would be.
Chris says
The story is timeless and full of hope. And no matter our age, I think we all need to be reminded of the hope and the reason for the season. 🙂
Andrea says
Good to hear, Chris!
I’m glad my kids don’t feel too old yet 🙂
Katie says
I love the advent tree, do you have a tutorial you used to make it?
Andrea says
No sorry — I just sort of “wung it” based on an Etsy tree I found for $120! I made mine for pennies compared to that!
Sandy Vander Laan says
I was going to ask the same. Can you at least give us dimensions on the length/size of the boards you use and that sort of thing? I’d love to make them and gift them to my married kids for their families. And what did you put on the other side that you flip over?
Andrea says
Hi Sandy, here is the link to the Etsy tree I “copied”. She has measurements on her post!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1102820612/jesse-tree-ornaments-and-tree-jesse-tree?
This tree would be a great gift idea!!