I can’t believe another month has already passed – it feels like I just wrote my roundup for October! Time has been passing in such a strange way this year, and it’s made me reflect on how quickly I rush through life. I’m very goal-oriented, and I’m always focused on the next item on my to-do list. But lately I’ve been trying to enjoy each moment rather than just moving on to the next thing, so I wanted to reflect on two moments that felt really special this month.
The first was my 31st birthday. I tempered my expectations – mot of us have had to celebrate our birthdays differently this year – but I ended up being overwhelmed by the love I felt from my friends & family in the US. I received birthday cards in the mail, a few amazing deliveries, and I was able to video chat with a lot of my friends in the states. Although I have a terrible habit of feeling guilty when someone does something special for me, this also made me feel incredibly lucky. I’m so grateful for the friendships I have all over the world (although it did make me a little extra homesick).
The second was being able to celebrate Thanksgiving. In the Netherlands, we can have up to three guests visit at home. So we had two of our friends over, and actually celebrated a real American Thanksgiving – complete with delicious pumpkin pie, turkey, and a LOT of wine (plus the next day hangover). 🙂 We also FaceTimed with our families, which helped us feel closer to the people we love the most. Then that weekend, we had another “friendsgiving” with more delicious food and games (and of course… more wine). Overall it made me feel so thankful for the close friends we have made this year, despite relocating to another country during a pandemic.
And with that, here are a few of my favorite things that I loved in November!
xx,
Mercedes
What I’m doing: staycations
Restaurants & bars have been closed in the Netherlands for quite some time, but hotels actually remained open during this lockdown. If you stay at a hotel, you’re also able to eat at the hotel restaurant. Although we have some great delivery options in Amsterdam, I really miss eating in restaurants. So I’ve taken the opportunity to stay at a few local hotels for “staycations”, which have been great (and much needed) for my sanity.
What I’m wearing: croc ankle boots
Like most of you, I haven’t had THAT many opportunities to wear anything but glorified pajamas. But when I do get out of the house, I’ve been loving these croc boots (US link // EU link). They’re under €50/$60, super comfortable, and also come in black (US link // EU link).
What I’m using: Farmacy honey potion
My friend Kelsey gave me one of her favorite face masks (US link // EU link) for my birthday and I’ve been obsessed with it. It’s deep cleaning but also hydrating – great for stressed out winter skin. It has almost a miso scent, and I love the texture and how it heats up when you apply it.
What I’m listening to: my holiday playlist
My mom always played Nat King Cole during the holidays, so I’ve been listening to a lot of holiday music. I put together some of my favorites (old & new) into this Spotify playlist.
What I’m reading: gratitude journal
Technically I’m doing more writing than reading, but I was inspired recently to request a gratitude journal for my birthday. I’ve been taking a few minutes every morning & evening to fill it out, and it’s been helping me put things into perspective and shifted my moods. This one I use is available in the EU, but I also love this one that is available in the US.
Outfit details
- Burberry classic check cashmere scarf in Stone: US link // EU link (also available at Bloomingdale’s)
- Zara coat: sold out, but similar coat available here
Affiliate links
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So glad you found the time to write this one! A great post and so many good finds! Xx, Kelsey