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What are you up to this weekend? New York has gotten cold! Last night, the boys and I went to see the Christmas lights in Dyker Heights<\/a> and drink hot chocolate and listen to holiday tunes. It\u2019s become an annual tradition, and we love it. Hope you have a good one, and here a few links from around the web\u2026<\/p>\n Big Salad\u2019s Best *Everything* of 2024<\/a>, including a sexy movie, gay jeans, Irish swimming and a major parenting realization. No paywall!<\/p>\n We\u2019re also offering 20% off Big Salad subscriptions<\/a> (including all the juicy archives<\/a>). Thank you so much; we are so grateful for our wonderful readers.<\/p>\n Invisible apple cake<\/a>, yummmmm.<\/p>\n A stick library for dogs<\/a>.<\/p>\n J.Crew is having a HUGE sale<\/a> \u2014\u00a0I mean, this beanie<\/a>! this barn jacket<\/a>! \u2014\u00a0and packages will arrive by Christmas Eve, if you order by Sunday.<\/p>\n What a simple and pretty way<\/a> to decorate a Christmas tree.<\/p>\n Why we should all join a board game club<\/a>. \u201cPeople are just so eager to meet other people\u2026 There\u2019s something very nice about a chessboard, where you can sit in total silence with a stranger across from you because you\u2019re focusing, or it can be a totally chatty game.\u201d (NYTimes gift link)<\/p>\n Ooh, a very dramatic camembert salad<\/a>. (NYTimes gift link)<\/p>\n Rules for a modern life<\/a>. \u201cIf you\u2019re in an empty restaurant you can ask them to turn the music down. If it\u2019s full then you\u2019re on your own and can remember for next time.\u201d<\/p>\n A producer attempts to pitch The Nutcracker<\/a>, haha.<\/p>\n The last-minute gift that everyone loves<\/a>.<\/p>\n Plus, three reader comments:<\/p>\n Says Sarah on a one-rule game for the holidays<\/a>: \u201cThe Number Game<\/a> is a massive hit with my two neurodivergent boys. We\u2019ll play it on the platform while waiting for whatever train we\u2019re cruising that day, and strangers will sometimes join in! A few weeks ago, we got the whole platform playing, and when four people said, \u2018NINETEEN!\u2019 at the same time, everyone on the platform started screaming and laughing with my kids. It warms my heart to see how many strangers are friendly to my quirky boys.\u201d<\/p>\n Says Lauren O. on a marriage proposal with fruit jams<\/a>: \u201cIf the couple didn\u2019t arrive at their wedding reception to Technotronic\u2019s \u2018Pump Up the Jam,\u2019 everyone in this anecdote is fired.\u201d<\/p>\n Says Summer on what are you grateful for<\/a>: \u201cThis comment section feels like when Elmo asked how everyone was doing on Twitter<\/a> and then everyone was vulnerable and honest. We needed this outpouring. It\u2019s amazing to remember how varied and complicated life is by getting a glimpse into the lives of others. It made my burden feel less heavy today.\u201d<\/p>\n (Photo by Kristin Duvall\/Stocksy.)<\/p>\n Note: If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission or have a sponsored relationship with the brand, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.<\/em><\/p>\n