I’ve been scrambling these last few days of 2023 to get up all the posts I’ve been meaning to share before the start of the new year… Can you tell? Classic me. I’d like to say it will be different in 2024 but I know myself better than that—a procrastinator through and through. I’ll be sharing a more in-depth year in review post later, but for now here is my usual monthly watchlist, reading list, playlist, etc.

What’s New?

• I spent the first week of December planning an 80s themed 50^th birthday party for my aunt, and while it was a lot of work and very time consuming, it was SO worth it. The party was an absolute blast and will surely go down in the history books. I’m still working on a post to share all my handmade decorations and snack/cocktail ideas, so stay tuned for that next week!
• On Wednesday I got back from a very relaxing week in Palm Springs with my family to celebrate my dad’s 60^th birthday (my dad and aunt are 10 years and 10 days apart—it’s the year of milestone birthdays!). I was a little apprehensive about spending Christmas in a sunny and warm place—would it feel like Christmas at all?—but I wouldn’t have changed a thing about the experience. Sure enough, it didn’t feel that much like Christmas, but it also didn’t feel like there was a ton of pressure on the day or seem disappointing when it was over. A good tradeoff, I would say.
• I got a new phone, again. I can barely talk about it it makes me so angry, but if you recall, I got a new phone in the summer of 2022 and the camera stopped focusing this past spring. I went through several factory resets and a new device, which didn’t fix the issue. So, my brother (who desperately needed a new phone) and I brokered a deal. He took my old phone because he never takes pictures anyway and everything else works fine, and I got a new model for only $250. I hate that I had to pay more for another new phone but I just pray this finally solves the problem… and my frustration.

Today’s Outfit

I wore this outfit to a date night in downtown Denver a few weeks back. I’ve been seeing girls all over Instagram styling mini skirts with long sweaters for an almost dress-like look, and I decided to try it for myself, with low expectations. I’ve found that longer tops or tunics aren’t the most flattering on my figure, so I didn’t think the long sweater-over-skirt look would work very well for me. I love the beige turtleneck with the rich maroon shades of the skirt, and I think I did a good job of recreating the style with pieces already in my closet. But, as expected, I don’t think it’s the most flattering thing for me—not terrible, either, but I probably wouldn’t try another tunic/mini skirt combo again.

Top Performing December Blog Posts

• Weekly Recap #48, 2023
• Thrifty for a Winter Wedding
• Weekly Recap #49, 2023

Favorite Outfits from December

• I didn’t have that many December outfits worth mentioning, but I did love the white sweater and patterned skirt I wore to the Christmas market. The cobalt blue coat will forever be one of my favorites, and it’s such a fun pop of color among the sea of red and green this time of year!
• I also broke out some new pants from Clara Sunwoo for a work-from-home day, and even though it’s a simple outfit, I think it’s so chic—can’t wait to wear it again.

What I Watched

• Violent Night—This R-rated Christmas movie starring David Harbour was actually really entertaining, as far as dumb holiday movies go. I would never see it again, but if you’re looking for a Christmas movie to watch with your adult family, it was funny enough.
• The Black Demon—Why are shark movies always so bad?! We could tell from the first five minutes this was going to be absolutely terrible.
• Don’t Worry Darling—For all the negative critic reviews, I actually liked Don’t Worry Darling more than I thought I would. Sure, there are a handful of things that don’t make sense in the end, but I thought the intrigue and style made it worth watching nonetheless.

What I Read

• The Girl with a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson—I’ve read two other novels by Swanson and this was my least favorite of the three. It was also his first novel, and I can tell; some things didn’t quite add up and I even caught a mistake. But with that said, I like Swanson’s books because they’re entertaining and quick reads, even if they’re not the most believable. (This one had a lot of sex though, which was SO uncomfortable to read about.)
• Dark Horse by Tami Hoag—I picked up this thriller because Hoag’s novel The Boy is one of my all-time favorite books. I wanted to see if all her novels are as good as that first one I read. While I still think The Boy is better, Dark Horse had lots of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. While Swanson’s books are simpler, quicker-to-read thrillers, Hoag’s are far more realistic, and you can tell the amount of research she does to bring her books to life. My only complaint about Dark Horse is that she switches between first person and third person throughout the second half of the book and even within the same chapters, which I found very odd.

December Spotify Playlist

This month’s playlist is a very strange mix of songs that came up during basement karaoke at my friend’s house a few weeks ago and a handful of my favorite Christmas songs that they never play on the radio.

What I’ve Been Loving Lately

• Caprese salad. For my aunt’s party, I made skewers of cherry tomatoes, little mozzarella balls, and rolled up basil. I had a lot of leftovers and loved eating it as a little snack when I got home from work or as a side with dinner. I kind of forgot caprese salad exists, but it’s so fresh and delicious!
• “Succession.” My boyfriend and I still haven’t finished the series yet, but we’re in the middle of season three (out of four). It’s such a crazy show but so entertaining.

What I’m Looking Forward to in January

• Right now, I don’t really have any plans for January. It’s also my least favorite month of the year—all the holidays are over, it’s cold and gloomy, there’s not much to look forward to, etc. But I am excited to start implementing some new habits and ideas for the new year. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on resolutions or anything since it often ends in disappointment, but I am hopeful I’ll get back on track with some time management things I’ve been struggling with lately.
• I also just got a jury summons in the mail for the end of the month. I’ve never done jury duty before! I’d say I’m equally excited and nervous for the opportunity, if I get selected at all. If I am chosen though, I’m going to miss a very important meeting at work, so we’ll see how that plays out…

This Month on Graceful Rags

• Air and Space Museum Reel
• November 2023 Month in Review
• Upstairs Circus Date Night Reel
• Weekend in Las Vegas Reel
• Weekly Recap #48, 2023
• Weekly Recap #49, 2023
• Closet Clean-Out Part 6 Reel
• Weekly Recap #50, 2023
• Thrifty for a Winter Wedding
• Close Clean-Out Part 7 Reel
• 6 Holiday Outfits Reel
• Weekly Recap #51, 2023
• Closet Clean-Out Part 8 Reel
• What We Did in Palm Springs
• Closet Clean-Out Part 9 Reel
• Every Outfit I Wore in 2023 Reel
• Top 23 Outfits of 2023
• Color Coordinated Camera Roll Reel

Hope you have a great end of the year and start of 2024.

 

Miles of smiles,

Grace

 

Sweater: Clara Sunwoo, gifted by brand, last worn here | Plaid Skirt: JCPenney, $25 ($1.56 per wear), last worn here | Black Knee Boots: Clarks via DSW, $100 ($0.76 per wear), last worn here | Pom Pom Socks: DSW, $15 ($2.50 per wear), last worn here | Maroon Circle Purse: Nordstrom Rack, $50 ($2.00 per wear), last worn here