December was an absolute blur. We were packing boxes, running to parties, second-guessing Christmas gifts, trying to keep the wheels on in work and life. Despite running around on a seemingly never-ending loop, I did find a couple of standout things to share with you!

Below you’ll find six things I tried last month and loved, from an album I played on repeat to a fantastic cookbook that’s helped me hone my cooking skills to candles that can be reused over and over again.

Anything you tried recently that you’d like to share with us? A T.V. show you watched? Gifts you received for the holidays? Gifts you bought for yourself (heck yes)? Let’s hear ’em down below!

WEAR

Classic Straight Jeans

$128

I haven’t taken these off since I walked out of the store—honestly. They are PERFECT for those of us battling a C-section scar that won’t be budging no matter what we do. Size down because they do stretch and run a bit large.

READ

The Woman in the Window

$17

I couldn’t put this book down. I love stories that play with perception, especially as I work on how my own projections and narratives skew the stories I tell myself. This book grips you from beginning to end and sticks with you long after the last page.

LIVE

Grove Collaborative

Prices Vary by Product

Grove is a one-stop-shop for just about everything you need for natural home care and personal health care products. They do the vetting for sustainable, cruelty-free brands, so you can trust that when you’re shopping on the site, the brands align with your values. Sign up for recurring delivery of your everyday items or try new products out until you find the perfect fit. Grove has replaced almost all my household supplies that I used to purchase on Amazon. 

Grove is offering New Customers a Free Gift with a $20 purchase:
• Grove Collaborative Laundry Vessel⠀
• Grove Collaborative Laundry Detergent Pouch⠀
• Grove Collaborative Stain Remover Spray⠀
• 60 day VIP trial⠀

COOK

Where Cooking Begins: Uncomplicated Recipes to Make You a Great Cook by Carla Lalli Music

$33

This cookbook is truly helping me hone in my cooking skills. The front half of the book is organized by cooking method, which completely opened up a new way of working through the ingredients begging to be used before going bad. I had never thought to pan sear a butternut squash or steam leeks until I sat down to really study the methods that bring each recipe together. And don’t worry, if you need to follow a recipe line by line, the back of the book is FULL of recipes that provide enough context to learn basic skills with ingredient suggestions for those of us looking to try new flavor combinations.

TREAT

Siblings Candles

Prices Vary by Product

Candles are notoriously wasteful, from overdone packaging to the gases released while being burned. Siblings Candles have all the benefits of burning high-quality, artisan scents with none of the waste or chemicals. According to the Siblings website, “Most candles are mass-produced using paraffin—a byproduct of petroleum; most tumblers never get reused or recycled—contributing to landfills; and an empty candle glass you toss out today can take up to a million years to break down.”

Each Forever Candle comes with a gorgeous vessel design to last for years to come and a plant-based bag filled with eco-friendly coconut wax blended with beautifully crafted scents. 

LISTEN

Two Hands by Big Thief

$7 on iTunes

I’ve completely lost myself in this album. My writing music of choice, it threads together like the chapters of a book I know by heart, yet continues to surprise me with new nuances each time I listen. It feels like a warm blanket mixed with a comforting conversation with a friend who is both there for you and also calls you out on your bullshit. Just like those hard to find friends, I like what this album brings out in me.

Editor’s Note: This article contains affiliate links. Wit & Delight uses affiliate links as a source for revenue to fund operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. Wit & Delight stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.