Friday 12th December 2025

✨ Warm Welcome

Hello my friends, and happy December.
I’m writing to you today with a warm cup of tea beside me, fairy lights glowing, and the rain lashing off the windows here at our little house in the country. It has been such a full, busy, bright season — full of joy, full of making, full of creativity… and yes, full of exhaustion too.

And so today’s letter is a little different. A little slower. A little gentler. And the last one you’ll receive from me in 2025.

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✨ From Our Little House in the Country

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind — finishing the attic work, decorating, Christmas Craft Markets, restocking candles, posting orders, helping with school and stables and all the usual December bits.

I’ve loved it all, but I’ve also felt myself reaching that point where the season starts to blur. Where the to-dos grow louder than the twinkly moments. Where the tiredness settles in behind the eyes.

And the last thing I ever want — in my home, in my work, or in this community — is to rush through December without actually feeling it.

So I’m taking my own advice.
I’m slowing down.
Just a little.
Just enough to breathe again.

Which is why this will be the final newsletter of the year.

But don’t worry — there is so much still coming your way.

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✨ What’s Coming Up on the Blog

Even though the newsletter is taking a little holiday rest, the blog most certainly isn’t. There are new posts scheduled right up to Christmas Eve, and every day of Twixmas.

Here’s what to expect:

🎄 Tuesday’s new post — a fresh seasonal piece – The Simple Joy of Giving
🎄 December 21st — The Gifts of Darkness and Light (which also happens to be our 20th wedding anniversary 💛)
🎄 Christmas Eve — a special reflection on presence, wonder, and the quiet magic of December 24th
🎄 December 26th–January 1st — A Twixmas Letter every morning
Seven short, reflective notes to accompany that in-between stretch of the year… a gentle way to pause, look back, and look forward.

And if you’re in the mood for festive reading today, you can find all my Christmas posts here:
👉 Christmas 2025

There’s everything from slow-living rituals to cosy family nights, seasonal drinks, movies, baking, traditions, and more.

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✨ A Quick Note on the Podcast

You won’t see a new podcast episode this Sunday.
I want to give each episode the space, thought, and heart it deserves, and this week simply didn’t allow for that — and that’s okay.

But there will be two more episodes of Seasonal Notes before Christmas.
One early next week, and one the following weekend.

Then I’ll take a short winter break, returning mid-January to carry us through the rest of winter and into spring.

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✨ Looking Ahead to 2026

One small change:
From January onwards, the newsletter will arrive every second Friday instead of weekly.

This gives me the breathing room to bring you richer, more thoughtful notes without rushing — and to keep building the blog, the podcast, and my little candle business at a pace that feels good and sustainable.

I think it will be a really positive shift for all of us.

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✨ A Very Merry Christmas

Before I go, I want to say something I’ve been feeling so strongly these past few weeks:

Thank you.
Truly.

When I started rebuilding this blog and community just over a year ago, I could never have imagined where we’d be now, a wonderful community on Instagram, a growing candle shop, a podcast, and thousands of small, steady moments of connection with you.

Your kindness, encouragement, messages, comments, orders, shares, and quiet support have meant more to me than I can ever say.
You have been a bright part of my year.

From our little house in the country to yours…
I’m wishing you the warmest, cosiest, most meaningful Christmas.
May it be full of small joys, gentle moments, and the kind of memories that stay with you long after the decorations come down.

Merry Christmas, my friends.
Ciara xx