The most wonderful time of the year | Stephanie’s December 2025

Hi everyone, Happy New Year! I can’t believe I am writing this in 2026, each year truly passes by faster as I get older. I know I am loved and have so much love to give my loved ones each day, but something about the cold winter and warm cozy indoors, friends and family reunions, and holiday time off -  makes December feel like the most eventful, wonderful, and loving time of the year followed by thanksgiving. Let’s get to the recap. 

— Stephanie 

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Lifestyle, Lows, Lessons:

Career-wise, I feel proud of myself for truly stepping up and owning our Quarterly Business Review despite being new to my role. I feel even more proud that following right after, I spoke up for myself to my manager to express my interests in career growth within and outside of the team. Honestly regardless if she takes action or not, I feel good that I finally let it out my chest and expressed to her that career growth is unclear to me on this team, and that I want that clarity, and that I am also interested in things outside our team. I also want to say that I’ve been feeling extra lucky this month for the career I do have, while it’s not perfect and I’ve been struggling with growth and extra busy this year, this month I was able to reconnect and gain the support of my mentors at my company, and I am also extra thankful for the generous winter break. It’s a privilege to be here, and the time off made me feel cared for as an employee and gave me the time to shut off, which is a great segway to my personal life. 

Friendships-wise, December is primetime to reconnect with all my friends and do all the festive things. It makes my heart warm to see annual traditions continued, from my annual Cheesecake Factory dinner + Christmas Tree photo with Pearl and Sadie, to my annual Christmas Tree and Inoor Activities with Tiana and Tammie. While we usually do this at Tiana’s, this year I hosted at my place and it was so nice to long catch up / yap over wine and wholesome arts and crafts such as painting jewlery dishes and making charm bracelets. Creating time to do these arts and crafts as an adult feels so healing and wholesome. Another unexpected reunion - was joining Tiana’s husband’s boy’s potluck, it was wholesome to see everyone and their friendship that has grown over the years, especially since I grew up with some of these guys since elementary and haven’t seen them since high school. I always feel lucky for my friendships that date back to elementary and it is heartwarming to see that their boy’s friendship has also persisted over time. Speaking of friendships since kindergarten, I was also able to have some long overdue catch up with Ashley. It’s been tough maintaining our friendship the way it was when we were neighbors and our new chapters of life, it’s bittersweet for sure, but I am glad I was able to be her hair model and also celebrate her special day. Being her hair model was awesome to see how she’s been enjoying beauty school and seeing her thrive. 

Relationships-wise, my boyfriend (still getting used to saying boyfriend lol) continues to show me how loved I am through his actions. He went out of his way to redesign my workspace even though I never asked for it, since I lived with my family for so long and am used to sharing a monitor with my sister - I honestly was fine with my laptop set up. However it was so loving to see him go out of his way to get me a monitor, mouse, and a pink keyboard and a customized a my melody keyboard so I can have a cute creative space to work. What made it even more heartwarming was how he researched soft girl aesthetics lol. This was also a month in which he started to meet my friends (now that we’re official) and it’s been nice spending time altogether, for them to see our dynamic and vice versa, and for me to also meet some of this friends. Since we both work for the same company now and he also had winter break, he wanted to use this time to book us a winter trip. Despite it being last minute, I feel loved that he wanted to make time for us and that cost or distance wasn’t a concern (though I kept him at a distance and budget lol). Despite the pouring snowing weather, despite our initial plans shifting, despite not feeling well, despite most things not going as expected - the winter getaway really showed me how much I enjoy simply spending time together - whether that’s going out and about or staying in and being silly. It's wild to look back at the end of the year at how after all these years of hyperindependence, I ended this year with a loving boyfriend.

Family-wise, my highlights include christmas hotpot with my sister, and taking my parents out and about to do all the festive holiday things in SF. Growing up we weren’t big on Christmas, we often tagged along my cousin’s plans. As adults, it was nice to see my parents go to the decked out pier, and to see the live massive gingerbread house at the Fairmont, take pictures and for them to experience all the touristy holiday things that they likely didn’t get in their childhood. Simply spending together has meant so much, I admit I haven’t done my best at balancing being present with family because I am so tired from work and socializing that when I see my family I shut off and rot. Whether it’s going on long walks and community building with my dad, trying new restaurants with my family, I hope to incorporate more intentional time together in 2026. 

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My pick of the month: Christmas tree and wreath 

This year I was able to have a Christmas tree and made my first wreath! Growing up, my family always joined my cousin’s house festivities, as we grew older - the traditions drifted altogether. We never had our own tree or wreath, so to be able to do this and bring it to my house, makes the winter season feel extral fulfilling. It feels so long ago since that time, but the little girl in me is excited to see that she’s brought Christmas to her household and family. 

Looking back, I still remember when holidays were bittersweet after my cousins grew out of decorating and celebrating the festive season once they started to go to college because that also ended the traditions for my parents. It’s awespiring to see that I’m now able to create new traditions in my adulthood and to have annual traditions with my friends, partner, and family and experience that festive holiday season that younger me yearned for. I almost forget there was a time that I wanted this. While towards the end of the month I was battling health issues and anxiety, while this month was super busy work wise, while the weather was pouring - it’s been the warmest (internally) because of all the love I’m surrounded by. 

Here’s to 2026, I can’t wait for what’s to come in the New Year. Wishing everyone the best year yet. Happy New Year and cheers to 2026!

Chat soon in Feb, 

Best,

Stephanie