Hello! This is the monthly letter for the Cut Council, a community of our most dedicated readers. If everything going on in the world has you feeling less than festive this holiday season, we can relate. It’s no small task, trying to spread cheer right now. Fortunately, we’re lucky to have next week off for the holidays for some R&R. If you do too, we’ve got plenty of recommendations for how to pass the downtime. If you don’t, maybe you can brighten your days with some comfort food, good books, and long naps. You’ll find all that and more inside this month’s edition. For the last time this year, enjoy!

Some of us are making plans.

If you’re lucky enough to be within reasonable driving distance from a beach, the best thing you can do during the dead week between Christmas and New Year’s is to spend some time walking the shore with your loved ones. I’m from New England, and there’s something low-key magical about the beaches there in the offseason that’s worth bundling up for; your group can always retire to a warm seafood restaurant or crusty dive when it gets too cold. —Catherine Thompson, features editor

Earlier this month, my colleague Brooke LaMantia interviewed the woman who made Olivia Rodrigo’s SNL cakes, and in doing so found out where she got her cute-ass baking smocks. They’re from Etsy (of course), and I’m jonesing to buy one. Maybe, armed with a full-coverage country-core apron, I will finally figure out how to make good desserts? Perhaps I can spend the wonky week between Christmas and New Year’s whipping up sugar cookies by the dozen and roasting whole chickens? There’s no telling what kitchen miracles this smock will bring. —Danielle Cohen, staff writer

I like to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s trying to reach my Goodreads reading goal, which I always manage to fall behind on. Last year, I had to read three books during that time. Thankfully, this year I only need to read one. —Brooke LaMantia, shopping writer

The last week of the year, for me, always comes with a side of homework: the GetBullish Design Your Year workbook. I’m not typically the self-improvement-workbook type, but for the last few years, I’ve downloaded and filled out this PDF to help me take stock of the last year, celebrate wins, drill down on the changes I need (or at least want) to make, and imagine and plan for the next 12 months. It’s a fun, actually useful reality-check-manifesting mash-up that makes staring down a new year a little less daunting and a lot more exciting. —Jen Ortiz, deputy editor

I am the queen of the solo restaurant dinner. You just walk into a restaurant with an article or two you want to read or some emails you want to catch up on, ask for a solo seat at the bar, and let fate handle the rest. I’ve made many friends (and have even gotten several dates) this way. And holiday season is prime time for solo bar dining — everywhere is packed with larger groups for special occasions, but there’s generally not a super-long wait if you’re just one person. Put your listening ears and people-watching eyes on, chat up your bartender, and just generally don’t be afraid to talk to strangers. It’ll be fun, I promise. —Sasha Mutchnik, senior social editor

Others are firmly in the stay-home-and-do-next-to-nothing camp.

My fantasy holiday dead week is to stay on the couch, surrounded by books Santa delivered, and drink endless hot cocoa from a mug that miraculously is always full and hot. Instead, I’m usually frustrated with my family and getting too drunk with high-school friends, but someone really should live my wholesome fantasy. —Angelina Chapin, features writer

There is only one way to spend the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and that is to do nothing. Absolutely nothing. If you must do something, go to the movies. Anything more strenuous than that is not in the spirit of the week. You’ll know you’ve done this correctly if New Year’s Eve is the first time in seven days you’ve thought about looking presentable. —Olivia Craighead, blogger

My bed is one of my favorite places in the world, so the week between Christmas and New Year’s is a dream. This year, I plan on watching all eight Harry Potter movies and then moving on to the Twilight saga. I’ll try to catch up to my end-of-year Goodreads goal if I need a break from staring at the television. —Hanna Flanagan, shopping writer/editor

Just rest! If possible, do no errands, ignore your other responsibilities, limit your human interactions. Instead, read a book, watch five seasons of a TV show, do a movie marathon, scroll on your phone all day. (The media you consume doesn’t have to be good, either. Live your best raccoon life!) If you’re feeling spicy, do some self-care. The year has been hard. We survived. We deserve a week of nothingness. —Andrea González-Ramírez, senior writer

My mom absolutely loves Dr. Shereene Idriss, so this year I bought her the Major Fade Solution System from her brand, Pillowtalk Derm. I already own the Major Fade Serum and can see the difference after a few uses, so I know that using the whole lineup will definitely show satisfying results.

I have Sonny Angels and Smiskis hidden all over my apartment, and the last time my cousin visited, she also became obsessed with them, so I decided to buy her a few new Smiskis for her growing collection.

I bought these New Balance 610v1s this month, and the underfoot grip has been game-changing for running on the treadmill (which I hate). I’d much rather run outdoors, but I am not brave enough for this cold. They’re so stylish and comfortable I’ve found myself wearing them almost every day.

My friends always turn to me for beauty recommendations, but my favorite recommendations to give them are for the home. Every year at the holidays, I try to introduce them to a new candle brand. This year is Glasshouse — not only are they packaged festively, but they smell divine and are long-lasting.

I bought a fuzzy hot water bottle to warm my bed since it’s getting cold in the city. It’s also amazing for cramps and lower-back pain from sitting in front of the computer all day. They’re like $30 and life-changing.

I’m usually a seasonal scent girl, but recently I’ve been obsessed with Dedcool’s Sunlit Blooms. It’s a floral, citrus, and vanilla blend that’s replaced my go-to By the Fireplace from Margiela and Sweet Diamond Pink Pepper from Kayali. It smells more like a summery day and less like the week before Christmas, but it’s a nice change.

After I grabbed an engraved J.Crew lighter at their holiday party, I’ve found myself incessantly, unnecessarily lighting candles just so I had a chance to use it. I purchased my boyfriend an engraved lighter off of Etsy for Christmas, but I have yet to receive it and will have to wait and report back on if I’m being scammed. I’m also eyeing this bedazzled lighter from A-Morir Studio — which stopped me dead in my tracks when I saw someone pull it out of their bag — as a gift for myself. It’s pricey, but I’ll cherish her forever, I just know it. And the UGG Tasman slippers are the gift that keeps on giving. This year, I’m giving pairs to two homebodies I love. They’re the ideal shoe to wear at home, on a run to the corner store, or even to the movies.

Plus …

READ | It’s always a good time to read Ottessa Moshfegh. Writer Bindu Bansinath says, “I’m way behind on the Eileen train, but after reading Emily Gould’s recent essay about the movie adaptation not being weird or gross enough, I ordered a copy. Very happy I did.”

COOK | Senior news editor Erica Schwiegershausen has finally landed on her ideal lasagna recipe: “I make Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese, and otherwise follow the directions for Alison Roman’s classic lasagna. I’m also a fan of swapping in no-boil noodles, which means that making it isn’t even that laborious, apart from letting the sauce simmer on the stove for a few hours.”

WATCH | If you haven’t streamed Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix, do yourself a favor. Managing editor Rachel Bashein plans on rewatching it over the break. “Christmas came early when it got a second-season order.”

That’s it for the Feed this year. We’ll be back in January.

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