the take home folder vol 95
don't postpone the festivity / what we're getting our kids for christmas / gift ideas for her / make a plan / + more
welcome to the take home folder
I’ve decided that I actually like the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals stretching before and after Thanksgiving. As someone who prefers to shop online, it is nice to have ample time to browse/be thoughtful and not feel a weird time crunch to buy it all in one day. I’m also thinking about how I can support small businesses in the holiday season. A few ideas:
-buying directly from makers - I set an alarm last week to buy a couple of ornaments from Rare Press, a local Mpls artist. They already arrived and are stunning. A big box store could never. Could you go to your farmer’s market for a few specialty consumables? Attend a craft show? Buy from an Etsy shop?
-set a category in which supporting small business is a non-negotiable. For me, it’s books for myself (I buy less than 5 a year so really romanticize the experience by purchasing from an Indie bookstore). Have you been to a local bookstore during the holiday season? The vibes are high. I’m hoping to swing by at least one bookstore in December, can’t wait!
-if you’re gifting someone a restaurant or coffee gift card, could you choose a local business? If you’re going out for a meal, could you do the same?
-could you leave a positive review for a local business whose service has been exceptional?
Would love to hear your ideas for supporting small businesses in the comments.
Note: this newsletter is packed with goodness. It may get clipped by your email service. To ensure you can read the entire thing, tap ‘view entire message’ at the bottom.
my sunday questions
What is something I can do for our home?
What is something I can do for/with our family?
What is something I can do for myself?
Today for me it’s a clean kitchen at night, cheering on my son’s hockey team in their final game of the tournament, and taking an everything shower in the early evening.
one // what our kids are getting for christmas
We decided on a simple Christmas with no big ticket gifts this year. Here’s what’ll be under our tree.
nice marker set // Harry Potter pennants (bought secondhand) // wallet // play sword // cozy crocs // nerf strike n’ score
coop pillow // playing cards and poker chips // nintendo switch game // play sword // cozy crocs // chess set
Oh, to be on the bubble between kid and teen. 🥰
Family gift:
First to Worst card game. So excited to play this!
two // stocking stuffers for our kids
fidgets // raw sugar kids soap // dr squatch soap // pokemon cards1 // mechanical pencils (all the rage in 5th grade apparently) // snack and/or a treat
three // have a place in mind
“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” -Andy Rooney
I fully co-sign this notion. And also, in the days following Christmas, you might start feeling the itch to get your house in order.
So - look at the gifts you have planned for your family members and visualize where in your home they will go.
Let me walk you through with my 10 year old’s gifts:
pillow - on his bed. current pillow will be tossed
playing cards and poker chips - in the card game basket in our office/den (already gave away a handful of card games we haven’t been playing in anticipation)
switch game - in the drawer of our entertainment center
play sword - in the basket in our basement with the knee hockey sticks (predicting these will be played with outside at some point in which they’ll go in the nerf bin)
crocs - will go right into the rotation. I’ll clean up their current crocs and move them into the shoe bin in the basement. They may still fit in the spring.
chess set - on the coffee table, table in the office/den, or on the ottoman in the basement
Lots of items with no homes = overwhelm. Take a moment before the gifts are unwrapped to make a plan. I promise your future self will thank you.
four // gift ideas for her by price
This is the last gift idea list I can muster, friends. Can you tell I prefer to give practical and/or consumable things? Hope it gives you ideas for a woman in your life or for your own stocking. :)
under $15
drink packets! true lime packets (add one to a crispy Diet Coke and thank me later), Liquid IV White Peach*, or Redmond Electrolytes would be my choice
Baggu reusable bag - the best, we use the standard size
my fave socks - quality and comfy
seche vite topcoat* - nothing else compares
good chocolate*
Q-less crossword solitaire game (I’ve been eyeing this forever)*
under $25
Snippets* - have you seen the bows? Gah so cute. The boxed sets of cards would also be such a good gift! Free gift with purchase right now on the site. And we love supporting small businesses.
puzzle to do in January (this one is so cute!)
Biom dispenser and a refill pack* - peep the new special edition scents
Experiment Super Saturated* - for the record I haven’t tried this yet but it’ll be in my stocking!
book (preferably from an indie bookstore)
Prequel cleanser - one of my fave discoveries of 2025
print a photo and frame it. No one prints photos anymore! This feels so special. Could be even less expensive if you thrift a frame. I do a yearly photo print order from Mpix.
under $50
stack bracelets - these are good quality and $10 until sold out. I think they’d work for anyone tween - grandma
nice candle - Sincerely Sarah Jane, Hotel Lobby (use code BEGINATHOME25), Snif all make stunning gifts
the cutest Owala travel tumbler
over $50:
Pureology shampoo and conditioner - I buy this yearly on BF/CM
Yeti Camino Bag - finally restocked! We use this year round - pool bag, travel, carry all for hockey tournaments, etc.
*going in my stocking
five // don't postpone the festivity
My natural tendency is to “save” the good stuff. In the case of Christmas, I tell myself that I’ll indulge in my favorite Christmas things when Christmas comes closer. But then Christmas comes closer and I can’t fit it all in.
So this year, I’m committed to using the good stuff, Christmas edition. I’m lighting a Christmas candle tonight. We’ll watch Home Alone as a family ASAP. The cookies my son requested? They don’t have to wait until December 20th to be made.
Because the season is already short, let’s start it now.
bake the cookies
listen to the music
turn your Christmas tree on during the day to enjoy
wrap the gifts as they come in (goals!)
watch the Christmas movie
use the sugar cookie body wash
do the festive puzzle
wear the cute outfit
go on the lights drive
light the candle
Let’s savor the little things. This only comes once a year.
see you right back here next week,
p.s. Need anything from Amazon or Target this week? Letting my link open in your app before checking out (no matter what you buy!) supports my work at no cost to you. Thank you for doing this, I notice and am grateful.
impossible to find right now but my neighbor found a set at Target and grabbed one for me, I’ll split between the stockings
I adore reading your gentle, wise words each week! Thank you and Merry Christmas!
So relieved to see Rothy’s clogs on your splurge list, as I just splurged on them myself. I’m also motivated to find a home for more items in our home. We have been in this house under 6 months and everything feels like it’s floating around.