At-Home Enjoyment

Hi friend,

The news that, in the wake of Diane Keaton’s death, The Family Stone writer-director Thomas Bezucha is working on a sequel got us to thinking: Why are there so few good holiday movies? 

Schlocky holiday movies, meanwhile, are a dime a dozen. Hallmark, Lifetime, and now Netflix are churning out mostly forgettable entries like this year’s A Merry Little Ex-Mas (starring Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson) or Christmas Everyday (Brandy). It’s all so banal; despite the success of last year’s Hot Frosty, going weird and campy is still the exception to the rule. Even action hero Kiefer Sutherland has fallen prey to the treacle factory — though Tinsel Town does look watchable.

Perhaps the slump will ease tomorrow with the release of the family dysfunction film Oh. What. Fun. Directed by the zany Michael Showalter (of Wet Hot American Summer), it stars Michelle Pfeiffer as an overburdened, underappreciated, and unraveling mom. There’s a dash of Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold chaos, it’s set in a stunning house to rival Home Alone’s brick Georgian, and it’s got a stacked cast.

In addition to at-home entertainment, we have at-home decor on our minds this week. Keep scrolling for a few items from our wish lists, plus more recommendations.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

The worse the weather gets, the more we want to hole up inside. Combine that with hosting and the holiday season, and home items are pretty much all we’re browsing online these days. A few of our favorites, below.

• These silly, loopy little dishes sell out super fast. Small Things Olive Dish, $85.

• We like the shape and the size of this simple glassware (plus, it comes in a few other great shades). Lenox Tuscany Stackable Short Glasses, $28 for four (with code EXTRA30).

• The most beautiful tablecloth. Madre Linen Sobremesa Tablecloth, $160.

• We have and love these sheets. 21 Tara Block-Print Cotton Duvet Cover, $90 to $110.

• Such a pretty menorah. Floral Society Tall Beacon Menorah, $90.

• We’ve been eyeing this powerful, portable carpet cleaner; part of the cost goes to pet rescue programs. Bissell Little Green Machine x Susan Alexandra, $173.

• A festive set that’s classic enough to use year-round. Crate & Barrel Aspen Striped Organic Cotton Dinner Napkin, $22.35 for four.

• Eye-catching and functional. Kim Seybert Tortoise Drink Coasters, $60.

• Maybe we will invest in a tree skirt like this some day. (If you’re in the market, Etsy has a lot of vintage ones like this, this, and this.) Casa Cosmia Handmade Scalloped Christmas Tree Skirt with Red Piping, $150.

• So cozy and thick. Carly Home The Fluff Throw Quilt, $198.

• Love the modern vibes of this tortilla press — it’d be a great gift. Masienda Tortilla Press, $75.

• Sleek and minimal. Via Maris Trace Menorah, $110.

• Do not need, but definitely want. Projektityyny Ristipisto Corduroy Pillow, $105.

• Into the retro aesthetic of these stockings. Handmade Christmas Stockings, $18 per pair.

• The soap everyone’s been raving about. Flamingo Estate Manuka Honey Bar Soap, $46.40.

• A warm and stylish quilt for the couch or your bed. Schoolhouse Stillwater Floral Quilt, $179.40.

• Cannot get enough of this little green rice cooker. Tatung Electric Rice Cooker and Steamer, $220.

• Can a coaster be handsome? This one is. Fields Outfitting Algarrobo Coaster Set, $41.

Shop the Story

Life is busy, and we’ve officially hit the stretch where holiday parties, school events, and last-minute gatherings seem to pop up every night. Which is why we’ve been relying on the clothing rental site Armoire. Instead of buying something new for every occasion, it lets us rotate in beautiful clothes from great brands every month so we can enjoy getting dressed with a little less consumption and a lot less stress. You share your style and they build a personal closet for you using smart tech and real stylist picks. It feels like borrowing from that effortlessly stylish friend who always has the perfect thing. Sizes run 0 through 3X and they handle shipping, cleaning, and styling. Plans start at four items a month and go up to unlimited, and you can pause the service if you need to. Use code GLORIA for up to 64 percent off your first month, plus two bonus items. And yes, the unlimited plan is $89 right now. Try it here. #partner

TO STREAM In addition to Oh. What. Fun., Michelle Pfeiffer’s contribution to the holiday-film canon, we are interested in the new Netflix series The Abandons (out Thursday) which has a Yellowstone vibe and stars Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson. Also: If you want to watch 50 Cent’s disturbing docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning, it might be prudent to do it soon, as Combs is fighting to get it pulled.

TO TRY These women’s health products are designed to make sex feel more comfortable, connected, and pleasurable. Vella Bioscience is led by doctors, scientists, and women’s health advocates, creating clinically backed solutions for women’s wellbeing. Their trio includes an arousal cream, a silky oil-based option, and a clean water-based lube. If you’ve been curious, this is the moment to try them. #partner

TO MAKE This is a really good marinade recipe for skirt steak tacos. We rolled the dice on it last week for a party, and it was the most popular dish we served. It’s easy, too; just give yourself time (we marinated it in the fridge).

TO TRY Nirvana awaits with this multi-shape, doctor-recommended vibrator that hits all the right spots. Reignite the fire of your most electrifying encounters with sublime sensations that intensify arousal. There's still time to get 35 percent + an extra 15 percent off this award-winner with code H4PPY15. #partner

TO LISTEN We missed Hannah Cohen’s album Earthstar Mountain when it came out this spring, and were reminded of it when it made The New Yorker’s list of the best albums of 2025. It’s very serene listen. Also, there are two new Aphex Twin tracks out — you can sample them here.

The question isn’t “can we train our eyes out of the need for readers?” but instead “who has the time for ‘daily eye push-ups’?” • The triple-decker sandwich generation. • Miranda July’s having an estate sale. • A fascinating look at the life of a call-center scammer.

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