December 20, 2025

“I will honor Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all year.”
— Charles Dickens

Hello, my friends,

This season has been exceptionally busy—busy in a different way.

And as we all know, we can’t juggle everything and do it all well. So this year, I made a few executive decisions: some things would be done well, some would be done adequately (we’ll call that “good enough”), and some simply wouldn’t get done at all.

You may—or may not—have noticed this issue arrived a week late. Along with that, it’s short and sweet, neatly wrapped up in about a five-minute read or less.

But here’s what did get done: meat pies were made with my mom, I finally learned how to make her gumdrop cakes, I hosted a choir sing-song, enjoyed a two-family gingerbread night with our adult kids, wrapped up two Christmas concerts at school, and there are quiches tucked into the freezer—ready and waiting for Christmas brunch.

Shopping done? No.
Wrapping complete? Nope.
Front door decorated like a magazine cover? Not even close.
Baking? Nope.
Cleaning? Absolutely not.

We can’t do it all. We just can’t.

Taking a moment to weigh what truly matters is something we should all do more often—and then give ourselves a guilt-free pass.

I chose presence over pressure. Memories over momentum.

So yes, I let the last issue go. And this one is simply a quick hello to wish you a very Merry Christmas—and to share two discoveries this week that are just too good not to.

Who am I kidding?

Wanna make God laugh? Tell him your plans.

I do promise however, that each issue will continue to be a place for you to escape for just a moment whether it is first thing on a Saturday morning over a steaming cup of coffee, an afternoon break or light entertainment as you settle in at the end of the day.

cynthiagraceLIVING will always be a curated happy hour carefully crafted just for you.

If there’s something you’d like to see more of here — recipes, beauty, conversations, heath and fitness, or quiet encouragement — I’d love to hear from you.

Feel free to drop me an email (just hit reply) and be a part of what cynthiagraceLIVING will become in 2026.

…ONE FULL UPPER LIP!!

A Golden Girls Moment 💄

Picture this: Halifax Shopping Mall, five minutes left to shop, sprinting past the MAC store.
HALT. Stop right there, missy.

I thought, I’ll just pop in quickly… maybe they have a little something for the staff party tonight.

Let’s file this under impulse shopping 🎁

Sales Associate: “Can I help you find anything?”
Me: “Yes please—my upper lip. I have five minutes, a party to attend, and no time for a lip flip.”
Him: “I got you. Give me five minutes and I’ll change your life.”
Me: “Game on.”

GIRLS—listen closely. These products are unbelievable.

He worked his magic. The colour. The liner. Absolute perfection. I walked out with a lip I haven’t seen in years—maybe ever—and exactly 50 minutes to get ready.

Back at the hotel… no MAC bag. I’d left it in the next store I popped into.

Cue the dilemma:
A) Shower, wash hair, lose the lip
B) Skip the shower, keep the lip

I chose the lip.

And let me tell you—it lasted for HOURS. Sipping, eating, dancing, partying. Still flawless.

Worth every impulsive second.

Holiday Simmer Candle Lamp. I love this so much ❤️