Not-So-Ugly Sweaters And Holiday Traditions
Shifting into holiday festivities, including hand-made decorations, traditional rum cake, and my go-to sweater.
December 23, 2021
By Tosin Sanusi
Most people love Christmas. I mean, what’s not to love? An abundance of delicious foods, beautiful lights, decorations, and gifts!
Anyways, though most people love Christmas, I’m obsessed. I think It’s because, at age twenty-three, this is only the fourth Christmas I’m celebrating. Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to celebrate it because of my family’s former religion.
I would watch my classmates make holiday-themed crafts, listen to stories about their fun family traditions, and overhear the long list of presents they got.
When I first celebrated Christmas, there was the temptation to be a little extreme about it.
I always saw the holiday season as a time to celebrate abundance and my first couple of years were no exception.
This year, I decided to take a different approach (emphasis on the ‘tried to’ as I can’t say I exercised as much caution as I would have wanted).
![OLIVER CHARLES - Blog #Repeat - Style, Sustainability, Unique Innovative Materials, Sizing, Enclothed Cognition](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0294/4928/9868/t/4/assets/olivercharlesblogrepeatstylesustainabilityuniqueinnovativematerialssizingenclothedcognition1-1640259975204.jpg?v=1640259976)
A Go-To Sweater That Lasts For Life
I’ve decided to make it my goal to gift the people in my life items that will bring them lasting functionality and joy.
If you’re out of ideas or know someone who loves a quality sweater, the OC is the perfect gift.
This year, my gifts are all items that my loved ones can use for years, use often, or give tons of joy.
![OLIVER CHARLES - Blog #Repeat - Style, Sustainability, Unique Innovative Materials, Sizing, Enclothed Cognition](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0294/4928/9868/t/4/assets/olivercharlesblogrepeatstylesustainabilityuniqueinnovativematerialssizingenclothedcognition2-1640259975214.jpg?v=1640259980)
Crafting Home-Made Holiday Decorations
For the past couple of years, I decided to buy traditional plastic baubles to decorate my apartment, but this year, I wanted a different look that I can only describe as ‘natural’.
All I did was slice my oranges as thinly as I could, patted them with a cloth to get rid of some of the excess moisture, laid them out on some parchment paper, and baked them at 225°F for two hours.
My favorite thing about my homemade decor was the quality time I shared with my sister and my fiancé.
![OLIVER CHARLES - Blog #Repeat - Style, Sustainability, Unique Innovative Materials, Sizing, Enclothed Cognition](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0294/4928/9868/t/4/assets/olivercharlesblogrepeatstylesustainabilityuniqueinnovativematerialssizingenclothedcognition3-1640260306100.jpg?v=1640260307)
My Family Tradition Is Baking A Rum Cake
I don’t realize how much of a "rum head" I am until I give other people a sample of my favorite holiday dessert.
Even when my family didn’t celebrate Christmas for religious reasons, my mom would always bake a couple of rum cakes.
I prefer a lighter, less pudding-like rum cake than most so, when I follow Sharon’s recipe, I only add half of the wine (which my mom and I like to substitute with cherry brandy).
![OLIVER CHARLES - Blog #Repeat - Style, Sustainability, Unique Innovative Materials, Sizing, Enclothed Cognition](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0294/4928/9868/t/4/assets/olivercharlesblogrepeatstylesustainabilityuniqueinnovativematerialssizingenclothedcognition4-1640260306114.jpg?v=1640260311)
What Makes The Holidays So Special?
I’m new to this whole Christmas thing and we all celebrate differently. That’s part of what makes it so special.
You could be trying to dedicate more time to making happy memories with loved ones.
![OLIVER CHARLES - Blog #Repeat - Style, Sustainability, Unique Innovative Materials, Sizing, Enclothed Cognition](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0294/4928/9868/t/4/assets/olivercharlesblogrepeatstylesustainabilityuniqueinnovativematerialssizingenclothedcognition5-1640260306121.jpg?v=1640260314)
Maud, my cat and a fellow sweater lover, is in the spirit this year. She wishes you a Happy Holidays and New Year!
If you believe that every good wardrobe starts with owning less and owning better, consider buying yourself an OLIVER CHARLES sweater.
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