Happy First Sunday of DECEMBER! We first want to commemorate this past Monday, which was World AIDS Day. Making sure we never forget such a devastating time when no one had answers, and we lost so many beautiful lives, is so important. So is continuing to have awareness, as well as continuing to fund research. Health is such a precious gift and is not guaranteed to any of us. So with that said, hug your loved ones and enjoy what will hopefully be a beautiful holiday season. Ok, here are today’s links:)

This week’s house tour is what they are calling a blue box! It’s an 800 sq ft Berlin apartment that is modern and extremely cool, but also cozy and warm. You just have to see it.

From Emily: Ok, four cute stocking stuffer ideas for those of us who are stumped:
– Laser pointer pen (yes, like what you use for a cat). Charlie saved his allowance for this and loves it. Makes all different shapes and can go really far.
– Glow-in-the-dark tape. Here me out on this – we love Mission Impossible style stunts in our house (usually with blue masking tape), so I was thinking that this would be so fun for a family obstacle course night (or heck, maybe just with their friends in their rooms).
– Whoopee Cushion or any sort of prank gift (hand buzzer is also a great one). THESE NEVER GET OLD.
– I doubt it’s too late to add these adorable cat scratching nail files to your cart (you file your nails down while scratching their tummy!!!).
– Elliot also loves Posca paint markers and cute scrunchies. If anyone else has great teen/tween stocking stuffer ideas, let me know in the comments!

From Caitlin: I used Cyber Weekend as an excuse to stock up on my all-time favorite tights. And by “stock up,” I mean “I bought two pairs” – they’re made from proprietary, rip-resistant fabric, so a single pair lasts all year! They’re sized by weight (from 79 pounds in the XXS to 340 pounds in the 4XL), so it’s easy to find the best fit for you; I grabbed a large, my daily-wear size, and an XL for any bloated days where the idea of a waistband cutting into my body is too terrible to imagine. After years of finding myself near-tears when a ripped stocking ruins an outfit minutes before a holiday party, these have been a welcome addition to my closet! (Next time, I’ll buy faster – my favorite sheers with sweet little polka dots sold out in my sizes before I could grab! If you’re not a M, L, or XL, take a peek. Let me live vicariously through you!)

From Marlee: A new deodorant recommendation – in an AMAZING new scent. I’ve been using Salt & Stone deodorant for 3+ years at this point, and I just love it so much – and that is because it smells. so. good. First, I went for the Santal scent. Fantastic. Then I moved on to the Bergamot Hinoki (I got this in the gel deodorant – wouldn’t recommend you need to get the solids. The gel doesn’t really stay on, but I loved the scent so much I got it in the body wash). I also LOVE the Rose + Oud, it’s way more floral/perfume-y but not overpowering – now they have this really amazing neroli basil scent, and it might be my new favorite. I really love salt and stone products, and any time I tell someone that, they usually say, “Oh, their deodorant doesn’t work for me”. To which I say: first of all, you’re not using enough. You can’t just hit your armpit with a quick swipe swipe like you do with some heavy-duty aluminum dove. It’s more of a swipe swipe, swipe swipe. And maybe a couple more for good measure. More is more! Second of all, I really don’t use it when I anticipate doing anything that imposes a level 7/10 or more sweat risk. THAT’S what the dove is for. It still totally works – but if you’re doing something really sweaty, you might just smell like Black Rose + Oud PLUS body odor. Overall, to me it’s the equivalent of why I like to have one bottle of really nice lotion in addition to my everyday CeraVe… or why it’s fun to treat yourself to a latte on a Saturday after a week of making black coffee at home every morning. It’s just a small, simple, everyday luxury that makes me happy and smells amazing and creates a sense of “put togetherness.” It’s not a replacement, it’s supplemental – who knew deodorant could evoke such strong feelings of joy and splendor!

Also From Marlee: There is nothing I love more than receiving a stocking full of consumable goods – if you have a foodie in your life, I would recommend all of the following of my personal faves as stocking stuffers (look for these in your local grocery store too!): a box of Maldon Salt, 3 pack of Momofuku seasoned salt (makes a great salmon or chicken rub!), this not-that-spicy garlic chili crisp, the BEST nut butters (IFKYK, also hello rebrand!), I LOVE Fishwife tinned fish (if you bought me the big variety pack I would love you forever!), a lil bag of coffee (life hack, buy a sample pack and split it up as stocking stuffers!), Jacobsen salty caramels, the best teeny popcorn, a fancy bottle of cherries for cocktails, I could go on!!!

From Gretchen: First, let me follow up on my link from last week to say, I’m still reallyyy loving my new vacuum! Sure, it’s only been a week, meaning I still can’t give you a true “how it’s holding up” review, but genuinely, I love using this vac. Having it in my life has made it so much easier (and more fun) to keep up with cleaning, and I just wanted to share that so far it’s not a fluke!

Now onto the real link. Let’s talk stocking stuffers! Even though I’m 31, my sweet mother still fills my stocking every Christmas. The inventory changes slightly each year, but there is one gift that has become tradition in our family–a Toblerone chocolate bar. It’s the perfect shape to tuck into a stocking and slightly more special than a pack of Reese’s. Other staple items are a really great pair of socks. Mom, I know you’re reading this….My favorite pairs are the Girlfriend socks from Le Bon Shoppe. Sometimes she’ll also throw in silly little knick-knacks or art supplies (we’re both pretty crafty). If you’re looking for ideas, I’ve recently fallen in love with these oil-based paint pens. They are super easy to use, don’t smell, and have decent longevity. They come in a ton of colors, but I really love using the metallic ones. I made some fun DIY Christmas decorations this year, and they really came in handy!

From Mallory: One of my favorite gifts to give (and receive) for the holidays is anything by Staub – I am absolutely obsessed with their cookware, but the best thing they have by far is the Dutch oven. They can be pricey but often go on sale (especially the smaller sizes – call your local Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table to see if they have sale ones in store!) I just bought this one for a present in the prettiest basil green for $150, and I bought my mom a cast-iron a few years ago, also. If they’re more into baking or already have these items in their kitchen, might I suggest the mini Staubs?? I bought those for myself in yellow, and I’m obsessed.

From Jess: There are two things I re-ordered for Black Friday because they are simply the best. First up are the Classic Aviator Ray-Bans. While I like to try other styles, I just love these aviators the most, and really feel like me. However, it’s been a few years since my last pair went missing. I think I was subconsciously punishing myself for losing the last pair, but then spending money on less expensive options that I just didn’t love as much. So I decided to just grab them, and I can’t freaking wait to feel like “Jess” again:) The second item I repurchased was my face moisturizer – Air Angel Peptide Plumping Gel Cream by Dieux Skin. I’m almost out, so I decided to buy 2 since they were on sale! It just feels so good on, makes my skin look great, and doesn’t clog my pores (which is important since I’m very milia-prone).

From Arlyn: I am simply not a person who looks good in a pair of sweatpants. They are perfectly fine for puttering around the house, but I feel like I look so sloppy if I leave the house in them. Mostly because I’ve never found the right fit for my petite but curvy frame (or what to wear as a top that isn’t a baggy T-shirt). But I took a chance on these “bounce fleece” sweatpants from Old Navy in a petite length, and they are so great! I wore them for school drop off recently on a cold morning, and I was so comfortable, mostly warm—they could probably be warmer, FYI, but good for a 50-degree morning—and felt moderately pulled together with cool socks and sneakers and a matching pullover. I’m thinking of grabbing them in another color or two.

Thank you for stopping by and see ya’ll tomorrow!! xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kailtin Green | From: Christmas In Our Home 2025 – Whimsy, Color, And Non-Traditional In A Really Cozy Way