The Gift of Presence Over Presents

🍋 Lemons, stained glass, and the things that matter most

Hello, Gorgeous!

This is going to be the last newsletter for 2025 (unless I pop in with New Year’s wishes!). It’s hard to believe that the holidays are nearly upon us with Chanukah starting Sunday night and Christmas just a few days later and all the wonderful beautiful winter holidays taking place in a space of a few weeks. And while so many gifts will be exchanged, it occurs to me that the best ones aren’t always wrapped.

Stained glass lemon light catcher from Avalglass

Over the next weeks I am going to be intentional about who I spend time with. Family I was born into and family I chose. Friends who have stuck with me through the best and the worst. Neighbors who became my community. Of course I’ll also be stuck with people I’d prefer not to spend any time with, but that’s the trade-off of holidays. And I’m okay with it.

Stained glass is a lot like life…and sometimes both hand you lemons

One of my favorite gifts this year is an absolutely stunning stained glass piece from a company called Avalglass. First of all, because I really really love stained glass. Second of all, because it feels like such a metaphor for life in general. Stained glass takes broken pieces and creates something beautiful that changes color and texture when light passes through. And yes. Sometimes life hands you lemons. But if it feels too hard to even make the proverbial glass of lemonade, maybe you can treat yourself to a reminder of the quirkiness and beauty in life.

Grape Stained Glass suncatcher by Avalglass

Permission to let go

If I’ve learned anything in the past year, it’s that you really don’t have to hold onto everything forever. That means your possessions, guilt, friendships that no longer serve you. And when you let go of the things holding you back, or if you gift something you love to someone who might love it even more, you free up space in your own life for even more good things.

You see the grape suncatcher above? I love it. It’s stunning. But I knew that my sister would love it even more. And since I’d been struggling with what to make her for her birthday this year (probably a turquoise bracelet), I decided to give her the suncatcher I love so much. Why? Because it probably will fit her life better than mine.

“There is a crack, a crack in everything that’s how the light gets in.”

~Leonard Cohen

Some years ago I traveled through the Southwest (in a baby blue Caddy!) and loved stopping to meet with Indigenous artists. I remember buying an incredible silver cuff bracelet and the artisan smiling at me bemusedly. “I hope you take good care of it until you find its rightful owner,” she said as she rang up the sale. She explained that in Native cultures, you don’t buy or own jewelry. You’re simply the caretaker of each meaningful piece until the rightful owner comes along.

Don’t get me wrong. I have no intention of giving away all my jewelry (I really love my shiny things). But that lesson really stuck with me.

Things are just things. Sure some come with meaningful backstories or take on almost mythical feelings when you have them for a while, but the gifting fever of the holiday season can sometimes take over the true feeling.

Joy. Comfort. Connection. Love expressed through tangible items when appropriate.

So, yeah. I love gifties.

The Wish List

I posted a great big gift guide yesterday. But if the past year taught me anything, it’s the intangible gifts that matter most.

You all matter so much to me.

To know that you show up most days as I ramble about new makeup or incredible skin care or pop culture and we share our insights or disappointments or favorites (or least favorites). So sure. Buy some stained glass for someone you love (You can find Avalglass on Etsy), but realize that someone could be you or your sister and that’s just fine too.

Wishing you all a peaceful, wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year.

See you in 2026! (holy carp. how is it almost 2026?!!!!)

Do you plan on building in some down time over the coming weeks? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.