musings 003
it's the most wonderful time of the year
Ah, yes. Here we are, in the stretch between Thanksgiving (for my American followers) and the winter holidays. Some call it the most stressful time of the year, some call the onset of winter blues literal hell, and I call it my favorite time of the year! Though I am just as prone to SAD as the next person (especially in this London grey chill — damn), there is something about this time of year that I just adore.
That being said, welcome to the special holiday edition of Musings!
The Moodboard
What I’m wearing:
A non-basic capsule wardrobe (shocking, I know)
I just came back from 10 days in London, and I, ever the over-packer, actually made a successful capsule wardrobe. Out of everything I had brought with me, there were only two pieces I hadn’t worn, and that’s just because they were more “going out tops” (the London chill deterred me from wanting to leave the warmth of my friend’s flat). I’ll be posting a full outfit/ non-basic capsule wardrobe rundown soon, so keep an eye out! (and I’ll link it here once it’s up)
What I’m watching:
Dash and Lily! If you are going to watch one thing this holiday season I INSIST that it’s Dash and Lily on Netflix. It is my favorite holiday themed show, and I’ve rewatched it every year since it came out in 2020. Though I am an absolute sucker for a rom-com, I am telling you there is something magical put into this show!! It perfectly encapsulates the festive time of the year, amidst the main characters dealing with personal conflicts the majority of the show. The episodes are short, super binge-able, and just straight up fun. Yeah it’s cheesy, but in the best kind of way.
Of course, because Netflix hates us all and wants us to experience no joy, there is only one season. But hey, maybe it’s for the best… I’m not sure any other season would live up to season 1 anyways.
What else I’m watching:
Anne with an E: Something about watching this show this time of year specifically feels right
All of the holiday themed episodes of Gilmore Girls (NOT a Year in the Life), New Girl, and The Office
Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Murder Mystery: Okay if you haven’t seen Murderville, this is me telling you to go watch it. Will Arnett is a detective who is tasked each episode to solve a case, but the twist is that his “new partner” is a famous celebrity or comedian who has no script and therefore no idea what’s going on. It’s amazing. This episode specifically though is just comedy gold. The new partners include Jason Bateman, Maya Rudolph, and then out of literally nowhere Pete Davidson. It’s ridiculous, it’s fun and I have no notes.
Love Actually: It’s a Christmas classic, and I’m even more excited to watch it this year post-London
A Christmas Story: Watching this movie every year while my mom makes pies for Christmas day is a family tradition. My mom hates this movie, hence the pies, and my dad loves this movie so much that he can (and does) quote the entire thing. I keep asking for a frame by frame remake but it’s just my dad playing everyone, but so far no luck with that.
What I’m reading:
One Day
*insert flashback of me sobbing hysterically watching One Day edits on TikTok after I saw the second to last episode… it took me a week to recover before I could watch the finale*
To quote one of my close friends, when I told her I was reading One Day for the first time to feel something, she responded with “Is that feeling PAIN and DESPAIR?!” And honestly, that sums up One Day pretty much entirely. It’s actually a really good read, and I’ve spent most of my mornings on my London vaycay with this book, chai lattes, and a pastry. Am I procrastinating finishing the last few chapters… yes, let me cry in peace.
What I’m listening to:
My Christmas playlist!
What I’ve been musing on:
I’ve actually been musing on quite a few things lately but today I’m going to talk about music archives as a form of self portraiture.
Having memory associations with music is not a novel concept in the slightest, but from an observer’s (or listeners) perspective. Music has the power to invoke a deep feeling of nostalgia, transporting the listener back to a certain time period, event, or reminding them of a specific person.
This concept is illustrated beautifully in the hit musical Hadestown, which I recently saw on the West End and immediately fell in love with. The whole plot revolves around a melody that Orpheus is reviving and makes Hades remember the love he once had.
The oldest archive I have exists on Spotify, in a folder titled “monthly playlists.” It’s my music collection, what I have had on rotation per month since 2019. I usually don’t think about it, it’s just a thing I do, but when I decided to go into 2025 with a clean liked songs slate (saw someone on TikTok do it and I thought ah yes this will solve everything), I also decided to look back on the past six years of music I’ve loved.
I’ve never noticed it before, but the music archive I have created paints such a clear narrative of who I am and the life I have lived since my senior year of high school. For example, the playlist 4.19 transports me back into my 2005 Toyota Corolla, driving back home after a chilly sailing practice. I can feel the salt residue on my skin and smell the sulfur of the marsh near the harbor.
My love of club hits started in May 2020 (5.20) with the addition of Body by Loud Luxury and No Hands by Waka Flocka Flame and listeners can easily track pivotal moments in my life, emotional highs and lows, through the songs I loved at that exact moment in time. I’m finishing out 2024 with an easy going, nostalgic, and just a tad melancholy collection of songs by artists including Lana Del Rey, Mt. Joy, Shaboozey, and Young the Giant.
People say “to know you is to love you” but to know me is to listen to my music archive.
What I’m being inspired by:
1. Vintage Vogue Holiday edition covers
I just love the warmth and nostalgia of the Christmas season and this month I’ve been obsessed with these old Vogue covers. They’re so whimsical and fun, and surprisingly colorful. If you want some non red and green holiday inspo, definitely check out the rest of the collection!
2. Ornate gift wrapping
Every year, I say that I’m going to do cool, unique, pretty gift wrapping. And every year it just doesn’t happen. Well, I’m telling you all right now that THIS is my year to test out some of these gift wrapping techniques. I just love the look of using different textures (velvet or satin bows, fabric wrapping) and elements (custom tags, adding tree sprigs or cut outs) and being able to customize it for each person. My favorite that I have seen so far is the DIY gift charms (second row, middle) by Jasmine Dowling (@jasminedowling) on TikTok.
3. Ugly Christmas sweater outfits
I think the true test of a stylish person is if they can make an ugly (and I mean truly hideous) Christmas sweater chic. I’ll be honest, I have yet to do it, but stay tuned.
That’s all I have for you festive people today, and in all honesty I have no idea how to conclude this post. After I finish workshopping a proper conclusion, you can find me baking cookies for my Christmas cookie boxes while watching Love Actually, or sleeping off the London jet-lag. I’d love to hear your thoughts and inspirations in the comments below or in the chat, and I hope you’re looking forward to future editions of “Musings” just as much as I am. Mwah!