November 2025

monthly mems2025
Written By Stef Caldwell

November in Review

November was a really fabulous month in so many respects. It also was a month of some really heavy things that weighed on my heart in ways that I am not ready to express yet. On the light and happy side though… The month started with our first family vacation as a family of four, to the Hamptons, NY ahead of my little brother getting married, also in NY the following weekend!!! I am so stinking happy for him and his WIFE, Claire. They had the most beautiful ceremony atop a hill in Tarrytown, NY overlooking the Hudson River, alive in her most glorious fall colors, with their first kiss just as the sky was set ablaze for sunset. It was absolutely magnificent. So romantic. The beautiful ceremony was followed by some of the best speeches, and dancing of all time! The Hora consisted of not just putting Brad and Claire up in the air in chairs, but also Andrew and Babs (Claire’s parents), and Phil and Ann (my parents). I swung around in circles with Claire, her brother, her aunts and uncles, and we all smiled with glee as we celebrated the two of them and their love. November also included a trip to New Buffalo. And ended with the most epic Thanksgiving Feast, after our plans to host Ronnie’s Family in New Buffalo were cancelled on account of some contagious sicknesses across the family.

Aside from Travel, November also consisted of more nesting, this time, with holiday flare, as I got the house ready for Christmas, and everyone in the Christmas spirit with our Christmas Tree, Garland and Bow covered front porch, and matching family Christmas pajamas.

Looking Ahead to December

Looking ahead to December… I’m so excited to be working with Taylor Good again for our family home video, I am so excited to be putting together my scrapbook, and I can’t wait to send out our annual Christmas card!!! I am so excited to be drinking coffee out of my christmas mugs, I am so excited to watch the Grinch (2018 cartoon version) as many times as Charlie’s little heart desires. I am so excited for our Christmas Eve tradition of Hibachi with my family, and Christmas Day with Ronnie’s family. I am so excited to see Charlie’s face when Santa comes and surprises her with all the toys she wants. I am just so stinking excited for all of it.

What are you most looking forward to this December?

Alright onto my favs and finds from this month.

Favs This Month

  • Fav Book: After my recent post about how I am exploring faith again after many years resisting religion, I started two books in November to deepen my exploration, 30 days to understanding the Bible and The Spiritual Child. 30 days has been a really helpful overview of Christianity and the beliefs and scripture underpinning it. The Spiritual Child is a POV that says “the child that grows up with faith is set up for more happiness and resilience in life” and is written by a PHD who has made the study of this topic her life’s work.

  • Fav Podcast Episodes: This Tracee Ellis Ross on Aspire with Emma Grede one was a highlight of the month, I absolutely love the hair products from Pattern, for my daughter Charlie, who has a mix of textured hair and my hair, which has made styling it and understanding what products work with it (and which don’t) a big challenge. Despite the fact that Pattern is indeed a Celebrity-Packaged Good, I had no idea Tracee was behind it, and simply fell in love with the products first after another friend who has mixed-babies recommended them… a hallmark of a great product and a great brand! Listening to this episode was a fun behind the scenes look at the intentionality that went into building the brand, and where they are headed next.

  • Fav Streams: Victoria Beckham Documentary on Netflix, Nobody Wants This, and Being Eddie — Eddie Murphy’s Documentary were highlights of the month. While VB’s documentary did feel a little like publicity for her fashion line, as a Spice Girl Stan, I was more than happy to enjoy learning about her journey in the fashion world while also getting the behind the scenes on her story in the music industry. Eddie Murphy’s on the other hand, felt real, raw, and made me say to Ronnie “Holy Shit I forgot what an icon Eddie Murphy was…” which is wild that he could be alive still, and I would have forgotten about him… I feel like perhaps this documentary was the first of a few projects he’ll release in the coming years, and I hope like hell one of the next ones will be a new standup special. Finally, I had the opportunity to return to Nobody Wants This which made me so happy. It’s such a feel good series. I love Kristen Bell, and I love Adam Brody.

  • Fav Recipes: Goop Kitchen Chicken Teriyaki Bowl Dupe. The (gin) Hepburn. Karen’s dirty martini. Justin’s guac. French Toast. Savory Crepes. Luis’s Chili. Starbucks Egg Bites Dupes. Jenny’s Healthy Cobb. Raw Oysters with a Honey Mignonette.

    • P.S. did you know that all of my recipes now have downloadable recipe cards (like this one!) that make it really easy to follow the whole menu from your phone, ipad, or even a printed sheet of paper?

Finds This Month

Stef Caldwell https://bystefcaldwell.com
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