Holy heck, is it just me or did November fly by? Sometimes I feel like we just arrived in New Jersey and sometimes I feel like we’ve been here for 400 years. This picture makes me laugh because, truthfully, I was looking at my knee and didn’t realize there was a dead plant next to me. I thought about re-taking it and then was like…well, that’s pretty much 2020 in a nutshell. Me, the plant, all of it. Like, can’t you just see me saying “It’s okay, buddy. There’s always next year!” Also, these holiday jammies are amazing! They are peppered with scenes of NYC at Christmastime, which means I *added to cart* immediately. I linked them here, and will share some more of my holiday faves later this week!
WORD OF THE WEEK | Thankful. This past week was focused on being thankful and grateful, and I can’t help but continue to be filled with both. We’ve had a lot going on in our house the past few weeks and I’m thankful for the little blessings that continue to surprise us, even amongst the angst, stress and constant change that inevitably comes with 2020.
LOOKING BACK | This was our first full month in New Jersey and I can’t believe it’s almost over! We’ve gotten in an okay routine, but the holidays and time off always throws a bit of a wrench in that. One of my all time favorite new traditions is our weekend walks in the local state park. It’s called Natirar Park and it’s a beautiful former estate with a rich history. I’m hoping to find some more parks in the area for us to explore! The next time we visit Costco we plan to stock up on cold weather gear so we can really be prepared for winter walks!
ONE THING I LEARNED | I can cook a whole turkey!!!! I consider myself a pretty good cook and love to play around in the kitchen but I’ve always found poultry to be kind of overwhelming…especialy in their whole form. I’ve only cooked two whole chickens in my life! Thankfully I had Claire on hand to help me with Dorothy (our turkey) and I gotta say, her recipe was freakin’ fantastic and really quite easy! Dorothy was a 15 lb bird and we will be enjoying our turkey bounty for the next week at least 😉 More pics of dot under snapshots below!
WHAT I’M EXCITED FOR | I’m getting my hair cut! I feel like I say this every time I get my haircut but it’s such a cathartic experience for me. Like, cut away the dead ends and refresh and revive me pleaseeeee! I think I’m going to stick to my normal lob and add some honey blonde highlights and balayage for good measure. That extra sparkle does wonders for my confidence and mood, let me tell ya. FUN FACT: I didn’t start coloring my hair until I turned thirty! At the time everyone warned me that once I started I wouldn’t want to stop and so far that’s proven to be true. That being said, I don’t ever do a single process – my girls do a great job of giving me a cut and color combo that grows out well and means I only have to visit them every three to four months! Here are some inspo photos for my next visit – I am forever inspired by Natalie Portman, Anine Bing, Jessica Alba, Lucy Hale and Olivia Palermo:
ONE THING I’M PROUD OF | Honestly, the year has been tough and the holidays especially so. I’m really proud of C and I for embracing a different kind of holiday season. It’s not easy, but one of the things this year has taught me is that it’s okay to accept where I am at. Everything about this year is different, but we are doing our best to make the most of it especially during the holidays. I sure didn’t expect to be living in NJ and cooking my own Thanksgiving, but that’s what ended up happening! Despite the many changes, we had a lot of fun creating our own traditions and making the most of our day. Letting go of that pressure to make things “normal” or please others has really helped us stay grounded in the present and be happier as a result!
SNAPSHOTS | Some unedited #lifelately highlights from my camera roll…
Epic Meatballs FTW / Post-Election Day feels
My Small Packages Women in Food Box (use THANKSNORA for 10% off) / Healing Chicken Soup (recipe coming soon!) / My OOTD as of late
Scenes from a Natirar walk / How we actually take photos sometimes / Bison Ragu (recipe coming soon!)
The Best Coffee Combo / Snuggles with Bean / Our Thanksgiving table
Dorothy in her element / Self timer saves the day!
BROWSING, READING, LEARNING, LISTENING | Honestly this section is going to be pretty boring because all I’ve been doing in my free time is watching Outlander. My friend Chloe and I started it together last Saturday and we are already on season 3 – we are in deep. I know that I’m seriously late to the game on this one and I have to say, it’s probably my favorite show…of all time. Lofty statement, but true. It’s almost as if Game of Thrones and The Crown had a baby, and only gave it their best genetic material! I love the combination of historical and period references, with a touch of time travel for good measure. It’s sounds strange and I haven’t been able to find a great way to explain it but let me tell you, if you haven’t already watched it you should give it a whirl! It’s on Starz but the first three seasons are on Netflix.
SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS…
BEAUTYCOUNTER | TODAY is the last day of Beautycounter‘s annual sale! It’s super rare that we have a sitewide discount (and free shipping) that includes as many sets and products as this one does. It’s the last sale (but not promotion) of the year so if you need to stock up or want to try something new, now is your chance! Head here to get the scoop on my five all time BC faves and email me at purelynoramassey@gmail.com if you have questions! Click here to sign up for my Better Beauty email list and get the inside scoop FIRST 🙂
PURELY NORA HOLIDAY | Gift guides and all things holiday are live and will remain in the HOLIDAY tab under LIFE. Past holiday posts are archived there, too!
LINKS + CODES | I added a page with all of my links and codes for you guys! If you hit shop, you’ll be taken to a LikeToKnowIt page where you can easily get the details for my outfits and other linkable products. Under that, there’s a submenu called LINKS + CODES with all of my promo codes from brands I use and love! I figured it would help to have everything in one place.
ICYMI
Gifts That Support Small Businesses / Gifts for Self Love + Care / Gifts for Home and Hosts / C’s Gifts for the Guys / Gifts on My Wishlist / Purely Nora Holiday and Gifts I Own and Love
Thanksgiving Outfit Inspo / Thanksgiving 2020
Five Favorites 11/20 / Five Favorites 11/13 / Five Favorites 11/6
What I’m Re-Buying and Trying from the Sephora Sale
My Top Tips for Clear and Glowing Skin
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