Holiday grab bag

Christmas home tour, holiday movies, a cookie recipe, and a book update

Hi friends,

Hello from inside my holiday vortex! I’m waving to you from what I imagine is your own version, full of festive things like treats, movies, and presents, all lightly dusted with the stress of last‑minute shopping, travel, and keeping up with everyday life.

This week’s newsletter is just that: a little hodgepodge of everything swirling around lately.

Next week, I’ll be sharing my annual reading/book report, and then we’ll end the year with my favorite post, what inspired me in 2025. If you’re not already subscribed, make sure you are so you don’t miss it.

A book update

In case you’re new here, I wrote a book! I’m currently in the stage of trying to find a literary agent, a process that can be long, arduous, and occasionally demoralizing. That said, I’ve also received thoughtful feedback, had some promising leads, and felt incredibly supported by family, friends, and my writing community.

One of those people is my friend, Maria Hanley, who writes the wonderful Substack Dream Big. This week, she graciously shared her platform with me, where I talk more about my writing journey and where things currently stand:

Author Spotlight: Michelle Hickey

I hope you’ll click over to Dream Big to read the interview — and to soak up some of Maria’s encouragement while you’re there.

A cookie recipe

I’m endlessly amused by the corners of the internet we end up in. Recently, my husband has become a devoted student of a French chef named Jean‑Pierre. He loves watching his videos and has effectively turned our house into a test kitchen. I’ve been a very happy beneficiary, especially after the incredible spread he whipped up for Thanksgiving.

This week, he needed treats for a cookie exchange at work and naturally dove into Jean‑Pierre’s archives for inspiration. You know how recipe titles always claim to be “the best ___ you’ll ever have”?

Well, this time it’s actually true. These may very well be the best cookies I’ve ever eaten, which is saying a lot, since I’m not even a big chocolate person. If you’re looking to wow your family or friends this season, try this recipe (and you may find Jean‑Pierre just as delightful as we do).

Holiday movies

We’re officially in the heart of our holiday movie podcast releases, and it’s been so much fun dressing up as characters, recording, editing, and creating clips. It’s consumed most of my life for the past few weeks — and I’m loving every minute of it.

If you enjoy podcasts or video versions on YouTube, I hope you’ll tune in. And if not, I hope you’re still finding time to curl up with a holiday movie or two this season. Here’s a list of all the films we’ve covered on the podcast:

Christmas home tour

And finally, I thought I’d end with a little peek into the winter wonderland we’ve created at home. I truly wish we could keep it all up year‑round — it brings me so much joy.

✍️ Creative Exercises/Journal Prompts

1. Who is someone you’ve connected with creatively this year? Send them a quick note to let them know how much you appreciate them.

2. Make and share a holiday treat or try a new recipe you’ve been meaning to test.

3. Plan a holiday movie night, complete with snacks.

☀️ Five good things

When we can recognize the things that bring us the most joy, we invite more of them into our lives. Here are five things that made me happy this week. Share yours below!

Five good things that happened this week:

1. We tried a new restaurant and shared a delicious holiday dinner with dear friends.

2. I’m fully living inside a holiday movie world: my dinner outfit was inspired by Judy Haynes in White Christmas. How’d I do?

3. I rounded out the year with one last hydrafacial, and I truly can’t say this enough: prioritizing skincare has made me feel lighter in more ways than one.

4. We’ve taken sweet pajama photos with my husband’s family for the past 18 years. I gathered them all and turned them into ornaments, gifted early. Hanging them on my in‑laws’ tree was pure joy!

5. I snuck into World Market for some last‑minute gifts, and it felt like a small oasis in an otherwise chaotic week.

💬 Share your intention

Whether it’s a giant leap, a tiny to-do list item, a habit change, or something else, there is power in accountability, and this is a safe space to share your aim. Some weeks, we’ll fail, others we’ll soar, but with support, we’ll always keep going together.

Until next week, get out there and make something beautiful.

Michelle

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