The Monthly Edition: December
Let's chat about magic puzzles, Etsy witches, a wholesome Instagram account, the funniest comments about mixing up our words, found cassette tapes, and more.
Here’s our hope: that this edition is landing in your inbox while you’re feeling refreshed and enjoying some cozy time.
In case you’ve missed it, here are a few things we shared in December:
And as a little New Year’s gift, we’ve removed the paywall on three issues from October:
Could we get your opinion? Same Boat currently publishes one issue a week for paid subscribers that includes a longer form feature article, along with a few mini-articles. We also send out a monthly edition for all subscribers (like the issue you’re reading right now) on the last day of the month.
We’re considering changing up the format in the new year. We would continue to send out a longer form article each week to paid subscribers, but we would take the short, mini-articles from each issue, and send one out each day to both paid and free subscribers.
Which do you prefer?
From Melanie: “During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day, I neglect any other duties and only focus on completing a big jigsaw puzzle. My sister-in-law just introduced me to the Magic Puzzle Company which makes cleverly illustrated puzzles with a bonus: Once completed, an envelope is opened with instructions on rearranging the pieces to reveal an additional image! They’re a fun winter activity.”
From Randi: “If you're in need of fresh, wholesome content, look no further than Plumes, an instagram account I came across recently. French musician Loris Assadian, who goes by the stage name Plumes, sings and plays music for a wide range of animal audiences and their responses are so endearing, and often surprising. I've spent way too much time watching my way through the archives and (maybe) shedding a tear or two along the way.”
From Gabrielle:
I just arrived back in France today after a week in New York with my family. For Christmas, two of my kids gifted me a Round Mini Shoulder Bag from Uniqlo—it’s green with with a cute racing stripe strap—and I used it every day while exploring the city instead of carrying my usual tote bag. It’s lightweight, holds more than I expected (wipes, sunscreen, portable charger, lip balm, advil, etc), and was just perfect for those 20,000 step travel days.
An honest conversation on what it’s actually like to run a small (creative) business
In Vogue Business, “I Know a Good Etsy Witch”: Why Gen Z’s Turning to Witchcraft
A fish that was still alive landed in her living room via her chimney
The Verge is predicting that smaller, purpose driven communities are the future of the Internet
ABC News reports that eating high-fat cheese and cream are linked to a lower risk of dementia
Magical, and totally unexpected, holiday blooms
The responses to this thread from themexinpdx are so funny and well worth a scroll. Here’s a small sampling:
Intertapes takes randomly found cassette tapes and digitizes them for anyone to enjoy. It includes voice memos, field recordings, mixtapes and more. It feels like content for an enthralling episode of This American Life.
We’re currently listening to an NYC hip hop station from 1994.
Thank you for reading the monthly edition of Same Boat! We’re so happy you’re here. We hope this issue brought you inspiration, resources, knowledge, and joy—don’t hesitate to leave a comment and share your own recommendations. We love hearing what you’re thinking about these days and some of the topics you’d like to see us cover in 2026.
As always, please feel free to forward this to a friend.
Happy New Year!
Mmmm- nope. Just like your previous monthly edition, the three paywalled articles you say you have unlocked are actually still behind the paywall.
Like how this edition mixes cozy, whimsical, and thought-provoking content!