A Simple Island Christmas & Slowing Down This December
December tends to arrive quietly on Vancouver Island. The days shorten, the mornings feel heavier, and everything seems to move just a bit slower, whether we plan for it or not. This year, instead of pushing against that slower pace, we’re leaning into it.
We’ve all felt it before: the pressure to do more in December. More events, more shopping, more traditions, more everything. Somewhere along the way, the season that’s meant to feel warm and grounding can start to feel rushed and overwhelming. This year, we’re choosing something different. Less noise, fewer expectations, and more space for the things that actually make this time of year feel good.
Gift Giving
When it comes to gifts, we decided to rethink how we do things with our kids. Instead of filling the tree with all new toys, we’re doing a toy exchange between our families. Toys our own kids once loved, played with, and have now outgrown are being passed along to other little ones who will love them just as much. It feels thoughtful, practical, and surprisingly meaningful. There’s something really nice about knowing the toys being unwrapped already hold memories and are ready to become part of new ones.
We’re also trying to remember that some of the best parts of December aren’t things at all. They’re the moments that happen in between. A slow walk outside before dinner. Sitting in a warm café a little longer than planned. A quiet evening at home when the rain shows up right on cue. Living on Vancouver Island makes it easy to find those moments, but we still have to give ourselves permission to slow down enough to notice them.
Baking & Traditions
Baking is one of the ways we naturally slow down and find comfort. Not the perfectly styled kind, but the familiar, slightly messy, music-on, oven-warm kind. The recipes we come back to every year are the ones tied to memory, the trifle that shows up at family gatherings, ginger molasses cookies that somehow disappear faster than expected, and triple chocolate cookies that feel like December in dessert form. This year, we’re sharing a few of those favourites with you, so you can make them part of your own season in whatever way feels right.
As for traditions, we’re keeping them small. The ones that fit naturally into our lives right now. Decorating slowly instead of all at once. Visiting the same familiar places we return to every year. Saying no when we’re tired and yes when something genuinely feels good. We’re learning that traditions don’t have to be big or elaborate to matter; they just have to feel true.
Time for Rest
December on the Island has a way of reminding us that rest is part of the season, too. The foggy mornings, quieter beaches, and early evenings all seem to nudge us in that direction. So this month, we’re choosing to do a little less and feel a little more.
If December feels heavy or overwhelming for you, you’re not behind, and you’re not doing it wrong. You’re just living in a season that asks for balance. However this month looks for you, we hope you find a few moments that feel calm, connected, and completely your own.
Here’s to a slower, simpler Island Christmas.