In a month where overconsumption is at its peak and reading about Kimmerers intake on gratitude and gift giving makes me rethink about it all.

In The Netherlands we have two big holidays in December: Saint Nicholas and Christmas both usually centered around food, presents and all sorts of abundance. Over the years my family dialed it back: no Saint Nicholas and a simpler Christmas, just a little less stress and preparation.

But now my nephew, and the first baby of our family is here, and suddenly we are in holiday overdrive. We want to make it magical for him, and special. But are the presents and decorations the things that make it special? Or the memories?

My best Christmas memories have nothing to do with presents. They're of waking up to Christmas music my dad played on our record player, walking into a dark living room lit only by the glow of our tree. About celebrating with my family and grandparents who I still miss dearly. 🕊

So now I'm wondering how we can make those memories the heart of his holidays. How do we show him that it's not about expecting gifts, but about toghetherness and the memories created year after year.

I want him to grow up as the wonderful little boy he already is: confident in who he is, grateful for what he has, and at ease in his place in the world. I hope he learns to listen to what he truly needs, not what a fast-paced society or TikTok tells him he should want.

I know this might sound a bit dramatic, but as an ’80s kid (that’s all I’ll say 😇) I grew up without cellphones or social media. I spent my days outside, not behind a screen, and those moments turned into real memories Not selfies made just to show other people what I was doing or what I had. It feels like such a different kind of growing up, and sometimes I wish kids today could have a bit more of that.

I got TWO very exciting bookish emails today!!

I finally got off the waitlist for a subscription box I've been really eager for (the Science Fiction & Fantasy box from The Broken Binding). I also found out their next box is a special edition of a book I was already super pumped for: Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman! I can't wait to see what their special cover artwork is!!

I also got approved for my very first physical ARC, and it's a book I'm really excited about: A Stage Set for Villains by Shannon J. Spann! I've heard there's a wicked twist at the end that I can't wait to read, and I'm really thrilled to finally have a physical copy of an ARC for my bookshelf!!

Just wanted to share my bookish good news, sending good vibes to anyone else sitting on waitlists or waiting on ARC approvals! 🤩🤩

Pagebound has made my reading addiction worse by giving us badges we can earn. 😂🩷 Sometimes I come on here just to look at them like some goblin hoarding treasure. That cute little snowman on the winter readalong badge? I can't wait to get my hands on his neck. It gives me cute aggression. 😌☃️