Book Review: All is Calmish

Niro Feliciano, All is Calmish: how to feel less frantic and more festive during the holidays. Minneapolis, MN: Broadleaf Books, 2025.  ISBN: 9781506498348. 

Genre: self-help

Subgenre: seasonal, personal essay

Format: e-book galley

Source: Edelweiss Plus 

 

This is basically a self-help book to help you cope with the stress of the holidays.  For many, the holidays season is anything but merry and bright. The author, a psychotherapist you may have seen on the Today Show, offers strategies to help you survive and be well, or at least feel better in the season.

The book starts with a note to the reader. Author then offers 31 chapters, and ends the book with a list of "Ten Ideas to Keep the Holidays Simple and Memorable." The book overall follows a simple formula in the chapters: a story from the author, lessons to draw from the story, and some small exercise or practice to help or encourage mindfulness. 

The stories vary in quality. Some are interesting and relatable. Others to be honest feel like a privileged person complaining about champagne problems. There is a lack of consistency. On the positive, you don't have to read all the stories. This book is one you can skim and read a bit here or there. 

I will note there is quite a bit of Christian religion in the text. Part of it I am sure is a reflection of the publisher, a self-described Christian publishing house. I mention this in part because I have seen other reviewers mention it and because the author does lay the Christianity on the thick side. This may be fine for the devout, less so for other readers. 

Overall, the book just feels OK. Some of the stories are good, others are so-so, and a few honestly I could not care less. Some of it feels too sweet, treacly even. I'd consider this as highly optional for public libraries and a skip for academic libraries. It could've had potential, but the substance was not there. 

2 out of 5 stars. 

 

This book qualifies for the 2026 Netgalley/Edelweiss Reading Challenge. 

 

 

 

 

Holiday Post 2025: What the heck happened?

Welcome to the fourth and last post in the 2025 holiday posts series. For me, being Puerto Rican, I am still in the holidays spirit well into January. In fact, as I am typing this,  Tuesday was Dia de Reyes (Three Kings Day) in Puerto Rico and much of the Hispanic world. In Puerto Rico we keep going with  "las octavitas." So still plenty of holiday cheer to go around. The weather has been between seriously cold and unseasonably warm this winter season so far. I do appreciate the warm days as it makes it easier for me to do my morning runs, but I am also aware it may be a sign of climate change getting worse. Best I can do is take it a day at a time. 

In this post, I take a look at what happened in 2025. Boy, I thought 2024 was a pain in the ass, but damn, 2025 is a year I am definitely glad is gone.  2025 was a year I made sure to stay up to midnight not to celebrate but to make sure it got the fuck out of here. Not that 2026 is looking any better given that I woke up on Sunday, January 4th, 2026, logged into social media only to see people ranting about the Pendejo In Chief invading Venezuela (story via CBC) and kidnapping President Maduro. This will most likely make it to the top events list when I write the "what the heck happened?" post for 2026 next year. To be honest, as I am looking over the articles I am compiling for this year's summary, and I look back at the 2024 post, heck, 2024 is starting to look like a picnic compared to the hellscape of 2025, and sadly, it is not going to get better anytime soon.  

 

Top news events of the year

•  Once again, the year that was is on track to be among the hottest on record. Al Jazeera reported 2025 was on track to tie for the second hottest year on record. 
• Truthout also covers the story of the 2025 top rank as one of the hottest years.  
• Time Magazine named the "architects," also known as the rich tech bros who threw money in, of artificial intelligence, better known as AI Slop, as their "person of the year."  Story via BBC, but it has been covered in a few places. 2025 certainly feels as the year when those assholes really put in the effort to shove AI Slop into anything and everything. Sadly a lot of people, including some who should know better, keep falling for their scam machines.
• For Counterpunch, 2025 was the year the U.S. stopped giving a fuck about democracy. From what I have read and learned, I think the U.S. never gave a fuck about it, or gave it lip service at most, but last year the American Empire did go into full overdrive.  

 

What the heck happened? 

(Big news overviews) 

 

 

For 2025, I did not find much in terms of the usual big news summaries, like CNN for instance, or I did not find them as interesting, pretty much the same. What I did find was a variety of smaller and niche summaries of the year looking at a variety of topics, so here is a selection of what I found to help us recall what was going on, especially besides the usual. 

• In technology, 
• As if AI Slop was not bad enough, there are also hackers and cyberattacks. The Street looks some of the cyberattacks of 2025. It is the sort of stuff that makes you wish you could just go off the grid. 
• The Verge offers their tech year in review, and of course, AI Slop figures prominently. This is a podcast episode you can listen to.
• Truthdig notes that 2025 was the year that tech bent the knee to Trump. I think they did more than just bend the knee. If you have not figured it out by now, the article explains how Big Tech was never liberal; they just kept a good mask on until now where we all can see them for the predatory assholes they really are.
• Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) presents The Breachies, the worst data breaches of the year.  
• EFF also has their 2025 in review feature. 
• In climate and environmental news, Grist notes that 2025 was the year the U.S. said fuck it on any efforts to address climate change while the rest of the world steps up as they see they need to do without the United States. 
• Despite all the awful stuff of 2025, the United Nations points out we did have some good health advances in 2025.  
• Type Investigations highlights their 5 must-read stories of the year.
• Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) has their most read posts of the year. Their summary: "The rise of authoritarianism was the big story of 2025, and the censorship that goes along with it. The resistance to the dismantling of democracy continues to be underreported. The power of tech bros looms. And Israel/Palestine continues to be the greatest international concern." 
• Pro Publica offers their most read stories of the year and their 25 investigations you may have missed. Some good stuff here.  
• Dissent Magazine also lists their most read stories. 
• Mother Jones offers their list of heroes and monsters of 2025, and boy did we have quite a few monsters this year.
• Speaking of monsters, Counterpunch looks at the year that was 2025 in ICE abductions and abuses. Please note the story came out before ICE killed that woman up in Minnesota at the start of 2026.
• Despite that, Counterpunch somehow managed to find 10 good things that happened in 2025. 
• FactCheck.org looks at the "Whoppers of 2025." No, these are not burgers. These are the big lies of the year, in other words, a sampling of politicians talking.   
• Open Secrets has a wrap up for 2025, and if you are interesting in topics like following the money this may be for you.  
• The Daily Yonder has their rural year in review.  
• Washington Blade has their top 10 LGBTQ+ national news stories.  
• In libraries and library science, LIS News has their 10 stories that shaped 2025. Yes, AI Slop made this list too. 
• In higher education. 
• Inside Higher Ed has a list of 16 nonprofit colleges that closed or died off in 2025.
• Impact of Social Sciences looks at the culture of academic publishing in 2025 and they look at research in the age of AI. 
• In science.
• Knowable Magazine offers their top science stories of the year.
• Brujula Verde (Spanish language source) offers their 24 extraordinary archeological discoveries that amazed us.
•  Finally, here is what I often consider the best end of year wrap up, and that is the Rude Pundit's annual haiku end of year event. He has people submit a haiku over a few days, and he publishes them on his blog. The haikus are great brief summaries of what happened in the year and how people respond. I always enjoy reading these. 
•  One haiku after another.
• Wake up haiku man. 
• No other haiku. 
• House of Haiku. 

 

 

A bit from around the world  

 

• From Latin America: 
• Task Force on the Americas has their 2025 in review. 
• From Puerto Rico, Centro de Periodismo Investigativo has their list, in English, of their most read investigations for 2025.  A lot of local corruption along with abuses from the gringo colonial overlords went on.
• From Puerto Rico, La Perla del Sur reports that 2025 ended on the island with 426 homicides based on police reports.  
• Across the pond in the United Kingdom, Freedom News (UK) reports that "2025: A gilded year for the right, hubris fulfilled on the left."  
• Washington Blade lists their top 10 LGBTQ+ international stories.  
• The Walrus (Canada) has their 2025 year in review from around the world.  They also report on the year in business, or as they say, a year without money (well, for the rest of us), and they managed to find some things to bring us joy. 

 

 

Film, music, and television

 

 

While I do enjoy media, I am not obsessive about keeping up with the newest and latest. I will add that these days a lot of media comes out of the paid streamers, and since I do not subscribe to any of those, I just go on blissfully with my life. Usually I know enough of what is in film, music, and television to be aware. Like yes, I am aware such a show exists, but that may be about it. So looking over these lists helps me see in a quick glance what has been coming out and making waves for some people over the year. If any of you is a fan of anything that came out or was chosen this year, let me know. Maybe I will check it out. 

• Movies and film. 
• Here is Rolling Stone's list of best 25 movies. From the list, the new at this time Frankenstein and Weapons are the only ones I've heard about. I'd heard of Eddington only because I've seen it featured on some YouTube folks' worst films of the year list. 
• Rolling Stone also ranked their best horror films. Naturally, Frankenstein and Weapons made this list too. Sinners is the one I keep hearing about; I am a bit skeptical as I am not a fan of the "one actor playing twins" gimmick, but a vampire film does make me curious enough to seek it out down the road. 
• Out Magazine offers a list of 11 top LGBTQ+ films of the year.  Only film I heard about from the list was the Wicked sequel, and probably because it is mainstream enough many, including me, would not have thought of it as an LGBTQ+ film. I also learned there is another remake of Kiss of the Spider Woman. 
• The Detroit Metro Times just lumped their lists of best films and television together, so here ya go.
• And we need to have at least one worst movies list, and UPI delivers it. Aside from the Minecraft Movie, which has gotten panned in other places, the rest of the list items I had not heard about until now.
•  Television.
• Here is Rolling Stone's best television list.  Most of the stuff is from streamers because to be honest legacy television ain't putting out much worth a damn. From the list I've heard of Andor, mainly because Star Wars in social media often won't shut up about it. The other show on this list I've heard about is The Pitt, again, because folks on social media keep yapping about it. At times this is a reason I don't feel much of a need to seek out articles on a movie or show. Social media folks, if it is a big deal to them, will keep talking it up. If it sounds good, I look it up and add it to my list of things to watch. If it does not interest me, I had the title to the filter list on social media to not see it again. 
• Variety also has their best TV shows list.  There is a bit of overlap with the previous list, but not much. 
• Out Magazine has their list of best LGBTQ+ shows for the year.  
• If reality TV is your thing, Reality Blurred has their list of the best reality TV for the year. They provide a small overview of the year, and the author notes the list is from shows they actually watched. To be honest, aside from a cooking show here or there, reality TV is just not my thing, and most of these again are on streamers. But feel free to comment and make a case why I should watch one of these shows or not. 
• Music.
• The Guardian lists 50 best albums.   
• Variety has their list of best albums too.    
• Rolling Stone has a list of best Latin and Spanish language albums. 
• Out Magazine has their list of best LGBTQ+ albums and their list of best songs. 
• Louisville Public Media offers a list of 10 best classical music albums.  

 

 

Books and reading 

I already did a holiday post on books and reading, so this covers some lists I found interesting that I may have missed and/or came after that post, plus some trivia about books and reading. On a side note, let me mention that I will be writing and posting my end of year reading list and report later this month on this blog, so stay tuned to see what I read in 2025.

•  Literary Hub presents the 29 best (old) books they read in the year. Everyone always does the best books they read in the year, and they are usually books published in that same year. This is a nice idea for a change. There are a few really old books here and some interesting choices. 
• Inquest has their year in books. From this list, I have read This Book is Free and Yours to Keep (link to review). 
• Gizmodo had 20 authors pick out their favorite books of the year in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. 
• The Comics Beat has their list of best comics of the year.  
•  Not every book is great or good, and Steve Donoghue lists his worst fiction of 2025. Do you agree? Have you read any of these? Feel free to comment. 
• Literary Hub also has a list of the most scathing reviews of 2025. 
• Claridad (Puerto Rico, Spanish language) looks at the vices and virtues of end of year book lists. They also list some books in Puerto Rican history and culture. 

 

 

Adult and risque 

 

 

If this is not your thing or interest, you can just scroll down to the final category.  I do enjoy some adult entertainment, and I find the trivia around it interesting, so here are some stories from the adult entertainment and porn world. 

•  Pornhub released their annual trends report, which among other things reveals details like top online searches on various topics. Unfortunate for me, Kentucky is one of those retrograde states pushing for privacy violating age verification, which I am not doing, but if you live in a better state you can see the report. Highlights from the report can be found at Pride.com, at AVN, and XBiz. 
• For gay folks, someone sorted out their top 5 gay sex positions.  Via Pride.com.
• Clips4Sale gets a bit into the "word of the year" with their fetish of the year, which was gooning. You can read more about it and see their list of other growing fetishes for the year on their blog.  Hat tip to AVN. 
• In awards, via AVN.
• The 2025 Adult Empire Awards announced  “which honor the best and most popular stars and movies on the award-winning platform within a given year."
• The 2025 Femdom Awards announced.

  

 

Miscellaneous

 These are stories that did not fit any of the categories above and/or just random trivia.

• Contenders for "word of the year."
• Dictionary.com named "67" (whatever the hell that was) as their word of the year. Story via ABC (US).  
•  Macquarie Dictionary went with "AI Slop" for their choice. Story via ABC (Australia). 
• Merriam Webster kept it short and chose "slop" as their word of the year (story via NBC).  
• The venerable Oxford Dictionary decided on "rage bait."  Given how angry the year was I would say this is a pretty good choice.
• The Conversation has an overview of words of the year, highlighting some of the above a few others. A common theme they saw is digital disillusionment.  
• Best video games. I suppose I could have put these up with the other media, but they did not quite fit for me. Video and computer games are not an area I really keep up with. I do enjoy a game here or there, but I am pretty much seriously casual in my video and computer gaming, so these stories help bring me up to speed on the topic. 
• Here is Rolling Stone's list of best video games for 2025. Apparently this was a pretty good year given there were a lot of releases. They list 25 games. A few are sequels of classics, but to be honest most of these I did not hear about until I read the article. 
• The Toronto Sun has a list of 10. At least three titles here overlap. 
• Maxim offers a list of their top 20.
• In photography, My Modern Met offers 45 photos from around the world.
• In liquor and booze: 
• Maxim has their list of  "The Best American Single Malt Whiskeys Of 2025."
• Drinkhacker offers "The Top 20 Whiskeys of 2025."
• The Drinks Business looks at  "The biggest drinks acquisitions of 2025."
• Marion Nestle has a food politics roundup for the year.
• The Pen Addict shares "Stationery Things I Learned In 2025." 
• Teen Vogue sums up the "11 Biggest Celebrity Breakups of 2025."  
• Quartz highlights a report on  "The 8 richest families in the world." You know, the rich assholes making life hard for the rest of us. 
• Some anarchist reading.
• Top posts from Polar Blast.
• Top posts from The Slow Burning Fuse.   
• Deaths of the year.
• The Toronto Sun's In Memoriam. (video segment) From this list, for many I am sure Pope Francis passing was the highlight of the year. There are a few folks I missed that said to myself omg they died this past year. Ozzie Osbourne was a hard one for me this year. For me, Dick Cheney and Charlie Kirk fall into the good riddance category. 
• Out Magazine has a list of  "16 LGBTQ+ celebs who passed away in 2025." 
• Literary Hub lists "Notable Literary Deaths in 2025."

 

Predictions for 2026

 

A fluffy cat with a cloth on head, necklace, and crystal ball. Text: Let me check my crystal ball.

 

 

Predictions was a new category I added to this in 2023. People love to make all kinds of predictions about new year, and I found quite a few. This year I am breaking this down into trends, you know the pundits, experts, and gurus who tell us what to expect, and into esoterica where we look at things like astrology, Tarot, and other esoteric ways to predict what will happen. 

Trends:

• Metro (UK) has a list of predictions (slide show) based on Old Moore's Almanac. Extreme weather will continue in 2026 is one of their predictions. That seems straightforward enough. 
• Quartz predicts prices will keep rising as they look at what is likely to cost more in 2026.  To be honest, this one is not predicting much that we do not know already like rising grocery and utilities pricing. 
• Fitch Ratings expects higher education to keep deteriorating. Story via Higher Ed Dive. This is another prediction that seems more like it's already happening.
• Al Jazeera looks at "all the big elections to look out for in 2026" including the 2026 midterm elections in the United States, where we will see if gringos finally get their fucking act together or if they keep going down the abyss.
• Not quite a trend, but maybe we can make it a trend and care for our mental health in 2026. The San Juan Daily Star has a list of  "9 ways to take care of your mental health in 2026."   

Predictions and looking at the future: 

• On an interesting note, Metro (UK) went back to see if their resident soothsayer, dubbed "The New Nostradamus," got their predictions right or not from 2025. For 2026, he is predicting the Ukraine and Russia war will end. He also predicts the AI bubble will burst. I admit I can see that bubble bursting, but not quite sure yet if 2026 will be the year for it, so we will see.
• From Om Times.
• Their 2026 Tarotscope forecast. I read my sign, and it looks pretty good. 
• Their 2026 astrological overview.  It foresees a rise of spiritual warriors, and given the Hard Times I can certainly hope. 
• Lisa Eddy of Angelorum offers "2026 Astrology: Complete Horoscopes for All 12 Zodiac Signs." 
• From Theresa Reed, the Tarot Lady.
• She has her ultra-deluxe superfly astrology guide for 2026.  
• She also figures out the Tarot card for the year.  This is a universal card, but you can also figure out your own individual card; this is usually based on your birth date. I probably should check mine for this year, but I digress. 
•  Collective World has "What Each Zodiac Sign Should Be Excited About Going Into 2026."
•  Teen Vogue has "2026 Astrology Guide: Retrogrades, Eclipses, and Tarot Card Pulls for Your Zodiac Sign."
• Finally, I did a small Tarot spread for 2026. It is not predictive, but more a bit of advice and lessons to keep in mind in 2026.  

 

 

 

 

Holiday Post 2025: Books and reading

Welcome to my third holiday post for 2025. 

 

In case you missed them, here is the first post looking at  "Traditions, Manners, and Miscellany" and the second post looking at "Gifts, strange things, and other shopping." 

 

Today I am looking at books and reading. I will look at some book lists, and see if there are any books I may have read and/or any books I would like to read down the road. If I read a book and reviewed it, I will add a link to the review so you can check it out as well. If I mention a book for my TBR list, I will include a WorldCat link so you can find it in a library near you. I will also add any other stories about reading during the holidays season as I find them. 

Even though I track a pretty broad range of sources on my feed reader, I know that I miss some things. Doing this post allows me to get an idea of what is out there that I may not have seen, and maybe it may also be of interest to my four readers.  

 

Big lists

  

This is what the title says: the big lists, you know, the ones everybody looks at and usually get covered in the media from the legacy media to every other book writer. I usually include these to remind myself of what other media thought were the big book deals of the year. I may or not have read anything from the big lists since I tend to read other things, but one never knows. Let's have a look in no particular order. 

• Amazon's best books of 2025. Like them or hate them, one has to acknowledge the outsized influence that the Big A has on books, reading, and publishing. Their page has lists in various categories such as a Top 20, their editors' picks, and lists by categories. I can say I have not read anything from their Top 20 selections, and I am at peace with that. 
• Barnes and Noble is not as big as they used to be, but still big enough to look at their 2025 best books list. They also offer lists in various categories, and to be honest, they offer more categories than the Big A.   

 

 Lists from Newspapers, Magazines, Periodicals, and other Websites

  

This is a look at print and online media ranging from large and popular publications to smaller ones. It is a very selective sampling of what is out there, and for the most part these are general lists. 

• Time Magazine has their 100 must-read books of 2025,  which odds are good meant I did not read a single one in 2025 because I rarely read must-read books. After looking at the list, sure enough, I have not read a single one. However, there are two books on the list I have on my current TBR( to be read) list: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and The Martians. 
• The New York Times has a list of 10 best for the year. To be honest, compared to other lists, this one seems a bit measly. 
• The Associated Press has their must-reads of 2025. It has a blend of fiction and nonfiction, and for the most part fairly predictable. Still, from their list, Careless People by Sarah-Wynn Williams, the whistleblowing account of a former Facebook worker, may be the one for the TBR here. Although to be honest I am not sure I want to read yet another book on the malfeasance and corruption running rampant in social media and technology companies. I may need to order it for our library though. 
• I am sure every other librarian, including me, looks at Publishers Weekly best books lists, and here is the one for 2025.   The Buffalo Hunter Hunter made this list too; it made quite a few end of year lists, and from what I hear it is well deserved. Aside from that, nothing really catches my eye from this list. 
• Here is Esquire's list of 35 best books for 2025.  
• From their list, I will say Jane Austen is not on my usual reading horizon. I had to read some of her works as an English major, and that was more than enough for me. However, the book Jane Austen's Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney, which is about a book collector seeking the women writers that had an influence on Austen does sound interesting. I tend to like books about the book trade, antiquarian books, and history of books, so I am adding Romney's book to my TBR list.
• Yes, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter made this list too.
•  Colossal offers their list of favorites for 2025. Most if not all on their list I had not seen before, and some they describe as whimsical. An example of whimsical would be the book Fresh Sets: Contemporary Nail Art from Around the World. That book shows once again that you can really find a book on just about any topic. On a side note, on checking Worldcat, for my location, I see at least two libraries in Kentucky already have it, so I may consider requesting it on Interlibrary Loan. 
• Here is the list of best from Foreign Affairs. These are selected by their editors and reviewers. If you are a bit more into politics and current affairs, some of the books here may be for you.
• The Kyiv Independent offers a list of Ukraine-related books for the year, timely given current events at the moment.  
• Libby, the library service, also has a list of best books for 2025. If you have a library card in the United States, make sure you check to see if you library uses Libby for ebooks, audiobooks, and other media. I certainly recommend it both as a librarian and as a reader. 

 

 Lists by genres 

  

These are lists for specific genres and formats. Again, they are not listed in any particular order.  

• Literary Hub lists their best audiobooks for 2025.  I do not listen to audiobooks very much, but I do enjoy having someone read a book to me once in a while. For audiobooks, I tend to favor nonfiction as it feels easier to follow and to interrupt if I have to pause listening. From their list, Alton Brown's Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations is the one catching my attention for the TBR list now. 
• Want more audiobooks? LibroFm has a list too.  
• Literary Hub also has a list of 100 notable books from small presses. For me, one of the positive things to come out of my (selective) publishers' boycott is discovering and reading more books from small and independent presses. Also note that Lit Hub's list serves as a counter to the New York Times 100 notable books list for the year. Most of the books on the list seem to be literary fiction or creative nonfiction, but there are one or two other genres that may be of interest. From the list: 
• Costs of Living: A Whisper House Press Horror Anthology sounds interesting. I am trying to read a bit more horror these days, so I am always looking for good anthologies as I find short stories a bit easier to read lately. 
• Speaking of horror, also adding  Dead Red and Razor, a novella, to the TBR list.
• In nonfiction, The Sound of Exile: European Jewish Refugees in Shanghai 1938-1941 may be one I need to order for our library.
•  From CrimeReads:
• List of best books in crime fiction, mysteries, and thrillers.  
• Their best of noir fiction. 
• Here is their espionage fiction list.
•  Times Now (India) has a small fantasy and science fiction list for the year.
• Gizmodo got 20 science fiction, fantasy, and horror authors to pick out their best books in those genres for the year.  Naturally, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter made the list. 
• In history: 
• History Extra, part of the BBC, has a list of 37 best history books for the year.
• From their list, I already checked out from our library A Short History of the Gaza Strip.  While I know the basics of the history, I figured reading an up to date history would help me understand things better. 
• The list has one or two other "short" history books I may consider reading down the road.
• Black Perspectives, from the African American Intellectual History Society, presents a list of the best in Black history books for 2025.  There may be some items here I need to order for our library. I did go ahead and check our catalog, and from their list of 10 we have 4 at this moment.
• For horror, The Lineup has a list.  
• KCRW has a list of best cookbooks for the year. This list caught my eye in part because it mentions Barons, which I read and reviewed.  Note that Barons is a book about the food industry but it is not a cookbook. 
• Ministry of Pop Culture has their list of best books in pop culture. List features fiction and nonfiction.  
• Words Without Borders offers their selection of "the Best Books in (and on) Translation We Read in 2025."
• LGBTQ reading: 
• For folks who may enjoy sapphic fiction, I Heart Sapph Fic offers a list of top 5 for the year.
• OutSmart magazine has their list of must-read queer books for 2025.
• Them has their "32 Best LGBTQ+ Books of 2025." They state their list offers from "horror to heartfelt romance (and sometimes both at once)."

 

 Some miscellaneous lists for fun

Here are a few other lists on various topics just for fun. Maybe you will find something of interest here. Basically these are things that did not quite fit the above categories for me.  

• It is not often I see a list of books in cryptozoology, so I had to include this list of top books fro Cryptozoonews.  The list does feature books for adults and juvenile readers.

 
 

Random holidays season thoughts, or hey, cash for the holidays is fine

A couple of men doing some Christmas shopping. Photo, if I recall, comes from LoC.

 

 

I saw this article from the AP on my feeds, "What Americans think about giving cash as holiday gifts, according to a new AP-NORC poll," and it caught my attention. This is the sort of article I usually do a quick share on my social media with the link and maybe a snarky comment or two, but this one gave me a moment or to think a bit about what I think about some of the questions in the poll. Keep in mind, these are my random thoughts, and I am sure a few retailers and business people may not be too happy because I don't always follow what is conventional. So let's look at some of the findings from their poll. Quotes are from the article. 

" About 6 in 10 Americans say cash or gift cards are 'very' acceptable as holiday presents, but they’re much less likely to say that about a gift that was purchased secondhand or re-gifted. . . "

I am perfectly fine if I get the cash and/or a gift card for the holidays. In terms of gift cards, prepaid cards like VISA would be preferable to specific store cards because I could use them in various places including online shopping. In my case, I often buy cartomancy decks and other witchy woo stuff online, so a money gift card is helpful for that. When I get one of those cards for the holidays, I usually save them to use later in the year when some of the retailers have sales. Hey, you need to be prudent in your shopping and save a penny where you can. 

Another favorite gift card option for me is a card for Half Price Books, where I can always find something I want. 

Cash is certainly welcome and a good option. I do remember growing up that at times folks giving cash for a holiday present, or any present, were viewed as lazy or leaving it to the last minute. I am sure some of those folks were a little lazy or just left it to the last minute. But let us be honest, the flexibility of cash is a good thing. I would rather buy something I want and/or need with money from a gift than getting a gift I do not want nor need, and it taking up space until I can get rid of it.  According to the article, young people, which they define as under 45, do say cash is a very acceptable gift. In the end, in the Bad Economy, cash is still king. 

As for something secondhand or regifted, I suppose it depends on what the item is and in what condition it is in. I buy things used for myself often, including cartomancy decks (hey, a good cleansing, and you're good to go). Would I give as a gift something secondhand? It depends on what the item is and the condition. If it is something I think or know they would appreciate, and it is good condition, yes, I would. Would I regift something?  Yes, I probably would as long as I make sure there is no way the source of the original gift could find out, just to be safe. 

 

"It’s not just your pesky neighbors who leave their holiday decorations up into January. About one-third of U.S. adults say they’ll leave them up after New Year’s Day."

I am Puerto Rican, and the Better Half appreciates that including the fact we DO leave the holiday decorations well into January, sometimes close to February even. You see, where I come from we have a very long holiday season that also includes Three Kings Day (January 6th) and las octavitas after that. SO you bet we leave the tree up and decorations after New Year's Day. Plus, let's be honest, you go through all the work to put up a tree and decorate your home. You should take some time to really enjoy the results of your holiday labors instead of rushing out to bring it all down on January 1st, in my humble opinion.  

 

"About one-quarter of U.S. adults say they’re planning to watch sports on Christmas Day, while only 5% will head for a movie theater." 

We do not watch nor really care for sportsball at home anytime of the year and certainly not on Christmas. We do not do the movie theater thing either. Christmas we stay home, relax, spend time with family, enjoy some good food. But hey, do what makes you happy for the holiday. 

 

"About 3 in 10 U.S. adults say they will give a gift to their pet this year." 

In recent years, yes, we do have a stocking for our cats with treats and small toys, and once in a while they may get a larger gift as needed. It is a cute thing to do, and usually it does not cost very much. After all, they are part of the family.

And finally, 

". . .44% of Americans who say they won’t stay up to greet 2026, according to the poll." 

I will be honest, the appeal of staying up until midnight during new year's eve does wear off a bit as you get older. As a kid I thought it was great and fun. Now, it is a nice thing to do with your loved one, assuming she is not working, but we are pretty easy going about it. Often we will take a nap earlier in the day so we can be ready for midnight with a little bubbly. We do not do any specific rituals like eating grapes or tossing water out the door, though I try to do a cartomancy spread for the year ahead which I share over at Alchemical Thoughts. So feel free to stay tuned and check what the cards hold for the upcoming year. 

And there you have it, a few random thoughts about the holidays season based on some poll. 

How about you folks? Any of these traditions or activities things you do or do not do? Or maybe you add a spin? Feel free to leave comments and let me know. ,

Happy holidays. 

 

 

Holiday Post 2025: Gifts, strange things, and other shopping

Greetings and welcome to the second installment in my holiday posts series for 2025. In case you missed it, here is the first post in the series looking at holiday traditions, manners, and miscellany.

Today I am looking at gifts, strange things, and other shopping. This year seems to be marked by many people stating up front that they will spend less for the holidays and/or are making efforts to keep expenses and gifts at a modest scale. This is not the first year that people make such statements; you hear some of it every year, but this year the situation seems a bit more urgent, and folks sound a bit more insistent about it. I can add that we are doing our best to keep holiday expenses as low as possible and trying to keep the gifts modest. My one indulgence has been some cartomancy decks, and I saved money throughout the year to get them. One thing I can say is we are not using credit or any other pay later scheme to pay for the holidays. If we do not have the money for it, we can do without just fine. In the end, I hope folks out there take it easy. Don't feel pressured to shop just because the big stores and businesses urge you to do so. Do what you can with what you have, and in the end, remember it is more about the thought and the quality of time with those in your close circle. 

 

Tips and advice for holiday shopping 

• As I mentioned, many people this holiday season are trying to make do with less. The Bad Economy is hitting some folks hard. Here is a small sample of such stories: 
• Two out of Five Americans plan to spend less for the holiday season, via The Independent. For some, this means no gifts at all. This is not good news for ordinary folks, and it certainly is not the kind of news retailers want to hear at this time of year. The article draws on some survey data and a look at key issues in the U.S. such as the still expensive groceries and the Pendejo In Chief's tariffs. 
• NPR also mentions that Americans are planning to make do with less this holiday season. People who have what may be considered regular and stable jobs are still having to take on second jobs and even going to food pantries to make ends meet in the Bad Economy. That is not all, so read the article for more details. 
• Our Canadian neighbors up north are also planning to cut back. The Toronto Sun reports on a survey stating one-third of Canadians plan to spend less for the holidays. How grim are things? For example, the article reports that "the poll shows 60% of Canadians are redirecting savings to essentials like groceries. . . ". What can I say? People need to eat. The CBC also reported on what people are doing to keep expenses down for the holidays. According to the CBC, people say they are cutting down their shopping lists, limiting gifts to just the children, and thrifting. 
• Even back in Puerto Rico, where people do their best to go big during the holiday, 7 out of 10 Puerto Ricans report they are cutting back for the holiday season according to a local survey.Story via the San Juan Daily Star. 
• For some folks, anxiety with giving and/or receiving gifts is an issue. Via OM Times, here is some advice to help you cope and overcome that anxiety and discomfort. One bit of advice that resonated for me: "What is the best present you can give or receive? Many would say it is the other person’s presence and willingness to listen to them without judgment or interruption." 

 

General gift ideas

  

This is where I look at some general lists that have a bit of this and a bit of that. Mostly I am looking for items I may find interesting or amusing. 

• Rolling Stone has their list of "best Christmas list."  I am always skeptical when someone claims they got the best list of whatever, so let's take a look at this list. They state their list goes from affordable stocking stuffers to luxury items.
• Coming in at $30 is a 10 ounce Yeti tumbler. Given the recent craze of Stanley Cups and other similar beverage containers, does anyone really need another insulated cup? However, the detail to keep in mind with this tumbler is that its "double-walled insulation keeps wine at the right temperature." We all know how important it is to keep that wine at the right temperature. 
• At $25 they got a Leuchtturm1917 Notebook. Let me be honest. As an amateur writer and journaling enthusiast, I may use a nice notebook, but I certainly do not pay $25 for one. Only time I have paid more was for a handcrafted journal notebook from a local artist who works in leather and upcycled materials. Those are notebooks and notebook covers to cherish, plus you buy local. 
• At the $100 range they got a Google Nest Audio, one of those home smart devices that I will never have in my home as long as I live. However, if being spied on by Google is your thing, oh well. 
• $58 gets you a cast iron pigeon, which I honestly have no idea why anyone would want one, but here we are. 
• If you want to splurge for someone they suggest a LEGO set to build a Porsche 911 model at $169 or so.  I like LEGO, but that is definitely out of my price range.
• When I first saw this headline, I wondered why anyone wanted a hamper. Turns out across the pond the hamper refers to a basket, kind of like what I might call a picnic basket. Anyhow, The Telegraph (UK) has their list of best Christmas hampers if you are interested.  The newspaper reviewed a bunch of different baskets from various companies to help you decide which to get or not. Note these can be a bit on the pricey side. I'd say you may be better off making your own hamper or basket as a gift to someone. This leads me to the next article.
• In the Bad Economy, Teen Vogue offers the idea of "preloved baskets." These are gift baskets you make with items you got second hand and/or from thrift stores.  If you have someone in your life who is into some fandom, you can make the basket with items related to their fandom. With some patience, creativity, and perseverance, you can make this work for anyone and stay in budget. To be honest, I like this idea better than the Telegraph's list. 
• Need something for those stockings? Vice has a list of holiday snacks for the stockings. From the list, the Legally Addictive snacks were new to me. 

 

Specific niche gifts 

These are lists of gifts for specific groups and people. I am not listing them in any particular order. 

• For gaming enthusiasts and movie lovers, The Verge has a list of 36 items. Note this article also has links to some of their other niche lists. Prices range from under $20 to about $400. 
• The LEGO Gameboy model also made the Rolling Stone "best" list above.
• For men, Art of Manliness has a list of 15 items. This annual list tends to be traditional male gifts, some of them a bit old school, but I think the right guy would appreciate some of these. It has a blend of some basics, some practical things, and a classic or two. For example, it features a pocket knife, which is a very classic gift for a man, although at $200 for the one they feature, that is a serious investment in a pocket knife. I had pocket knives when I was young, especially when I was in the Boy Scouts, but as an adult I've never felt the need to have one, or at least a very high end one. I do have a multi-purpose knife and tool I carry in my backpack. 
• For the toy enthusiast, and I do not mean children unless we mean children of all ages. Comics Beat has a list for them in 2025. Once again, LEGO sets are popular in a list; this one features a LEGO gumball machine model that runs about $180. 
• For the comics lover, Comics Beat also has a list.  An issue with the list is they have their writers mention titles with brief descriptions, but there are no links for purchase or where to find the items, so you'll need to do a bit more searching on your own to find some of the books listed. Having said that, there are some interesting titles here, and you might discover a new to you book to read. 
• For the internet and online activist, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has a small holiday list of items you can buy that look cool and you can help support EFF. From their list I do like their gaming dice.
• For the fancy traveler, Quartz looks at 9 best Christmas destinations according to the Michelin Guide. If you have time and some money to burn, maybe you want to visit one of these places. The list does feature some nice places.
• For the book lover and reader:  
• Smart Bitches, Trashy Books has their annual holiday gift guide. It features gifts like mugs and jewelry. I thought the library card coasters were a nice idea.
• This just caught my eye, via Literary Hub, an estate sale in Philadelphia where they are selling thousands of books. If you were curious, like antiquarian books, or just want to see what the deceased collected, this would have been interesting. 
• Book Page has a list of 5 literary gift books.  From their list I am intrigued by the book Everyday I Read.
• Libros 787 has a list of 10 perfect books for Christmas (Spanish language).  From the list, I have the first book on the  list, the new at this time history of Puerto Rico, on my TBR list. Also from the list I read The Puerto Rican War graphic novel (link to my review). 
• For the stoner and cannabis enthusiast, if you are in Michigan, the Detroit Metro Times has some gift ideas.  
• For writers: 
• Especially memoir and essay writers, Open Secrets Magazine offers a gift guide. It features books, workshops you could sign up to do, and other things.  
• Literary Hub has a gift guide for writers.  Tea scented erasers are an item on the list, and I am not too sure about those. A lot of these items overall I definitely view as highly optional and probably a bit on the pretentious side.
• The Washington Blade offers an ultimate guide to queer gift giving.  Claiming it is "ultimate" does set the expectations fairly high. I have to admit the vulva candles can claim an ultimate gift level. The candle is one of those that burn from underneath, so they can keep the shape as they melt down. That aside, the list combines some cute items with some luxury ones.
• You may want to consider buying your gifts from Black-owned brands. Story via The Root.
• Rolling Stone has a list of best gifts for wives that prove the husband (or spouse) is listening. It must be wives who like expensive things because if I got some or any of these for the Better Half, she would know for sure I was NOT listening when she said to keep it simple and modest.
• Rolling Stone also has a list for the husbands. Most of the stuff is fairly stereotypical male guy stuff.      

 

Alcohol and spirits

  

A small sampling of the liquor and alcohol lists for gifts this year. I always remember back in younger days my dad, who was an industrial salesman, often received bottles of liquor as gifts from his vendors and clients. And they were usually very nice, albeit modestly priced bottles. My dad drank, but moderately so, so he got more booze than he knew what to do with it, so he drank some and regifted the rest as best he could.  

• Maxim has a tequila lover's gift guide.  Most of these are a bit pricey, but the Dizzy Donkey, love the name by the way, comes in at $30 for the blanco. Just for the name I am curious to go look for it. 
• Maxim also has a list of best rye whiskies for the year.  I do enjoy a good rye whiskey now and then, but these may be a bit out of my price range, but if you can afford it, have at it. 
• The Spirits Business has their top 10 Christmas gift ideas.  The rum gift set by Drop Works sounds interesting. 

 

 

 Tarot and other cartomancy and esoteric

• Collective World has a nice idea: what gift to give yourself this holiday based on your zodiac and Tarot. List is not so much material things but more things that may help your personal development and growth.
• Pagan Grimoire has a list of 40 witchy gifts for men. This caught my eye in part because one does not see too many things for men in the pagan and witchy scene. It is what it is, but as I said, it caught my eye. Naturally the items, some at least, do have the necessary manly man aesthetic, whatever that means. Anyhow, for the pagan dude in your life some of these could be an option. There are some interesting items overall. I liked this list.  
• From the list, I am intrigued by the back flow incense burner, the first item on the list, but I get the impression you may need to buy their incense to make it work. Personally, I am perfectly happy with basic incense and a cheap burner, but if you want to splurge a bit have at it. 
• By the way, the book they show as an example, The Hermetic Museum: Alchemy and Mysticism, I just finished reading it, and yea, for your pagan man, he might appreciate it if he is a reader or just likes nice books. I hope to post a review for it soon. The book is published by Taschen, and they always put out very nice books. 
• They also suggest a Tarot deck. Personally, I would say unless you know the person, this may not be the best option because, in my humble opinion, each cartomancer knows their own preferences and aesthetic. Just give me some cash or a gift card so I can get my own decks. Having said that, if this will be their first deck, just be mindful in your choices. 
• I liked the idea of making or giving a handmade wand. I may need to do that for myself, find a good stick to make a wand. 
• Naturally, there is at least one LEGO set, and this time they suggest the Hocus Pocus model featuring the Sanderson Sisters house so you can build it together (wink wink).
• Colette Baron Reid has her list of favorite things for the holidays. List combines a bit of self promotion, say for her decks, and some more personal ideas like writing  a handwritten notes. 
• Theresa Reed, the Tarot Lady, offers her "2025 Tarot, Astrology, and Mystical Holiday Shopping Guide." She does put some thought and offers some good variety of items and services of interest to the witchy and other magical folk. From the list of books she suggests, I am currently reading Ethony Dawn's Become an Exceptional Tarot Reader, and so far I can say the book is great. I will have a review here on the blog soon. 

 

 I end this post with the adult section. If that is not your thing, you can stop reading here, and I thank you for stopping by. If you are cool with, keep reading. 

Adult and/or sexy gift ideas 

 

 

•  Back in September, Tenga was taking pre-orders on their advent calendars. Story via AVN.The calendar features "25 unique surprise Tenga Egg strokers to discover throughout the holiday season." This sounds like one of those fun items that the Better Half and I should get one of these years for some fun quality time. At about $120, we'd need to save a bit of money for it. Oh well, maybe next year. If you want to get it, here is the link to their store.
• Girl on the Net has her list of Christmas gifts with sexy suggestions. 

 

 

 

Holiday Post 2025: Traditions, Manners, and Miscellany

Greetings and happy holidays. Welcome to the first of my 2025 holiday posts. This is where I take a break from the usual and write some things about Christmas and the holidays season. First up we take a look at some traditions, manners, and miscellany; this is basically a bit of holidays trivia and general information that I hope may be of interest to my four readers.  I search the net near and far to find some links and add a bit of commentary, mostly for fun. 

 

 

Traditions and manners

 

 

• The U.S. Census Bureau has a small winter holiday season fact sheet (warning PDF). 
• The Old Farmer's Almanac has a page on fun facts, trivia, and folklore for the month of December. They packed a lot of good information and trivia on their page. For example, the Winter Solstice this year falls on December 21; it is the shortest day of the year. Their page also includes some useful tips such as: 
• How to set and decorate your holiday table.
• Taking care of your Christmas tree.
• Making your own holiday candle. 
• Holidays or not, we are living in Hard Times, and there are plenty of stories out there about the Bad Economy. For instance, the Conference Board, a business non-profit think tank, states that Americans are likely to spend less for the holidays season. This includes gifts as well as what they call "non-gift" items, things like wrapping paper, decorations, food, etc. In addition, they state that "consumers also said they are focused on giving their family and friends items they need this year rather than items they want." In other words, it's underwear and socks under the Christmas tree this year it seems.
• Then again, you may want to take the Board's report with a bit of a grain of salt if this year's Black Friday is any indication. The Associated Press reports that "shoppers spend billions" despite the Bad Economy. I am not a pundit nor play one on TV, but I suspect some of that shopping spree was fueled by credit cards, and I get the feeling some folks will be getting some high credit card bills in the next couple of months. We'll have to wait and see. 
•  Want more holidays insight from a commercial point of view? Well, the National Retail Federation has their report on "Winter Holiday Data and Trends" for 2025.  Report includes things like asking consumers about how much they plan to spend and their top five reasons that consumers give for shopping early. By the way, I am one who advocates getting your holiday shopping done early so you can take it easy the rest of the season. 
• In a more whimsical note, seeing the PNC Christmas Price Index is an amusing tradition for me. They basically price from year to year the cost of the items in the "12 Days of Christmas" song.  In case you wonder, the overall cost in 2025 of all the items in the song is $218,542.98, up 4.4% this year. Go on and check the items' prices to see how they arrive at the number. 
• A fun tradition you can do with children of all ages is tracking Santa Claus as he travels the world on Christmas Eve. You can do it at NORAD's Santa Tracker site.  In addition, they make it easy because they have some social media presence and their own apps for your mobile devices. You can find details on the site.
• Staying home for the holidays? Perhaps you are not traveling, and it may be your first time home with the family for the holidays. Jennifer Jahn, writing for the Northern Kentucky Tribune, offers some ideas and suggestions for holiday traditions to start and try out with a theme of keeping your household a priority. The idea is to start creating stories now that you will cherish in the years to come. 
• A bit more of December trivia and fun facts from Creole Moon. 

 Tips and advice for coping, etc.

 

 

In these Hard Times, posting and sharing tips and advice for coping with the holidays is essential. These days the holidays can be a minefield for some people, and I hope that sharing some of this might be helpful in navigating it without an explosion or at least with minimal damage. Remember that whether it is your physical or mental health, or both, you need to take care of yourself.   

• Via the Northern Kentucky Tribune, here are some health tips from the American Medical Association.  One simple bit of advice is watching what you eat. I know, no one wants to hear that during a season known for excessively sweet and carb loaded foods and treats, but you'll probably feel better afterwards if you plan ahead a bit and keep your eating in moderation. Same goes for alcohol, if you do it do so in moderation. Please do not add to the end of year tragic statistics of dead due to drunk driving. Come back home safely. 
•  CreateWriteNow offers some stress management strategies for the holiday season. There is a bit of common sense and emphasis on taking care of yourself and maintaining balance. 
• OM Times offers some advice on "navigating family politics during holiday gatherings." Because very often there is that one family member who can't shut the fuck up about politics during a family gathering . If just outright shunning them or you just not showing up are not an option, here are some suggestions to at least bear through it and make it out. Do keep in mind some suggestions may be a bit too charitable. For example: "Even though it’s upsetting to see the people we love expressing opinions that we hate, part of being a family member is accepting each other for who we are, even when we think that the other person is terribly misguided." I am sorry, but no. If the relative is not just misguided but an outright bigoted asshole who advocates taking my rights and those of my loved ones away, that is not misguided. That is just being an outright nutjob asshole, and they are certainly getting shunned. There are just evils I refuse to tolerate, and I think neither should you. 
• If the holidays season brings you grief instead of joy, and you need a little advice, Broadleaf Books has their list of some comforting books that could be of interest.  
• You may consider making a gratitude list for the season. Here is one from a children and youth services librarian from the Association of Library Services to Children (ALCS) blog. To be honest, this is a small exercise I may try to do myself. 

 

The Christmas Tree, Decorations and other objects

 

 

•  Not sure when to put up the Christmas tree or how to decorate it? This article from the BBC offers some ideas. A lot of people these days put up the tree and other holiday decorations as soon as they can. Heck, in my neighborhood, one family had it up literally the day after Halloween. I think they put it up right after Halloween. Back in my younger days, mom usually made sure our family tree went up the day after Thanksgiving. For a good while, we had an artificial tree, then at some point my parents decided to go with natural trees. I don't quite recall when that happened exactly. 
• Want to learn more about the tree? Illinois Extension, out of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, has some fun facts about the Christmas tree.  
• Better Homes and Gardens offers 7 Christmas tree trends they claim will be everywhere in 2025.  One of those trends is having multiple Christmas trees, which I can already assure you won't be happening in our small apartment, but then again, our home is not one of the "better" homes. 
• The Guardian across the pond has a list of best Christmas drinks. What caught my eyes is that someone has created a fruit cake liqueur. I am not sure if that is an abomination or a stroke of genius. Will it be condemned to be passed around and regifted eternally after you receive it? Stay tuned. 
• Do people still send Christmas cards? I keep asking this question as the number of cards I send out for the holidays seems to keep shrinking for various reasons, but I persevere and keep sending a few cards to family and friends. If you still send holiday cards out, or you want to try doing it, but you are not sure what to write in them, Just Christmas Cards offers a list of card messages you can pick and choose for your cards. No one has to know you did not write the sentiment yourself.  Certainly beats asking an AI Slop machine to write it for you. 
• The Pagan Grimoire offers a "complete guide to Yule symbols" looking at history and how to celebrate for your modern pagan practice.  They also offer a list of winter solstice party ideas. 

 

Other trivia (other topics) 

•  If you are sending gifts via mail, here are the dates to keep in mind if you are using the U.S. Postal Service. 
• If you use some other service, here are their dates, via MSN. 
• And if you want to do something nice this year, maybe you consider adopting a child's letter to Santa via the USPS Operation Santa.  

 

 

Final stuff  

 

• To wrap up, Theresa Reed, the Tarot Lady, offers us our horoscopes for December 2025 over at Old Farmer's Almanac.

And there you have, a bit on traditions, manners, and miscellany for the holidays. Stay tuned for the next post in my holiday series where I look at gifts and shopping. In the meantime, feel free to comment and share any traditions or trivia you keep or find interesting. 

Peace and happy holidays.