December

 

I have to start off by saying that my December posts will be less than in previous years. We're in the process of moving into an apartment following the sale of our home. Until our new house is done in February, we'll be living in a 2-bedroom apartment. I usually work on my December posts in the Fall, but this year I just haven't been able to.

I'll be reading your posts, and commenting and am looking forward to the inspiration I always get from you this time of year!

November!

 

November! For most of you this means much cooler temps and beautiful Fall colors. Maybe even some snow flurries. For me it means temps in the low 80s and nights in the 50s. It's sleeping with the windows open weather!

This months list is kinda strange to me. 

20. I'm not sure where you can get a free Thanksgiving turkey/Christmas Ham. A better idea would be to donate a free turkey/ham to someone less fortunate.

21. This one I can get into. We took an oddball photo for our Christmas cards this year. I'm not sure that I'm really brave enough to send it out. We'll see.

22. I don't really "do" Amazon. I like to buy stuff that I can touch. That being said, my daughter has a Prime account and let's me use it if I do need to buy something online.

23. In Arizona, you can apply for a permit to cut a tree. But to be honest, the areas they open up for cutting are not very pretty.

24. This is a great tip. It's never to early to start planning your December activities.

25. I have no idea what KCL is. But shopping Black Friday sales can be fun!

Christmas Time's a'comin'... no, it's here!

Today's the day I've been waiting for since July... Hallmark Christmas Movies start! I enjoy watching the new releases, but I think I enjoy revisiting old favorites even more. 

I plan to settle in today to watch movies and cross-stitch. Plus the high temp today is forecast to be 89 degrees so I can have my doors and windows open! 

 

Hmm, as I read this month's list I realize that none of it applies to me. I don't use Shutterfly, Snapfish, or Vistaprint. We don't "do" holiday pj's. I don't typically make Halloween themed Christmas decor. And I don't give Halloween candy as stocking stuffers.

What I will be doing this month is:

1. Order Christmas postcards.

2. Begin writing annual Christmas letter.

3. Shop at Hobby Lobby every week. If I don't, everything sells out before I get a chance at it! Our Hobby Lobby has had Christmas out for weeks and the shelves empty as fast as they can fill them.

4. Start my Christmas Baking list, buy ingredients each week.

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. With all of the uncertainty in our lives with the new house and our current house being on the market, I'm trying to get everything done so I'm ready to face whatever comes my way. Since I don't even know where I'll be living for Christmas, I don't plan on decorating. If I can, it'll definitely be last minute! I'm feeling good about my progress toward a stress-free Christmas...

 

Here we are... another month closer to Christmas!

 11) I am busy stitching away on Christmas stockings for my DIL's nieces. I have decided which craft the Grands will make their parents for this year. 

12) I don't drink wine, but this one made me laugh!

13) I have an advent calendar system I made for the Grands a few years ago, but won't use it this year as we're in the process of selling house.

14) Now this I will do. I tried it last year and it worked great!

15) I only have four more people out of my little family of 14 to buy for. The rest is bought, wrapped, and stored temporarily in a closet.

How're your Christmas preparations coming along? 

Four Months From Today...

 

Four months from today is Christmas Eve. I am so conflicted about the upcoming Christmas season. On the one hand I'm so excited for the joy of the season. On the other my life is so topsy-turvey right now that I sometimes dive into anxiety.

We put our current house on the market at the end of May. We sold it at the end of June. The CASH buyer dropped out this past Sunday. That's right, 20 days into escrow, long after the inspection period, they just changed their mind. Ugh.

We had already contacted the utilities, canceled the pool service, signed a contract on an apartment, and paid for renter's insurance. Sigh.

Now we start all over. 

And to top it all off, it now looks like our new house may not be done until January 2023. Really big sigh.

What does this have to do with Christmas you may wonder?

I have grandkids already clamoring about what are we going to do for Family Christmas? Where will we be for Family Christmas? We are going to have Family Christmas, aren't we?

It gives me joy to know that they really enjoy that tradition. It gives me pause to think about how I'm going to pull it off. My tentative plan right now (other than praying for a miracle that we'll SOMEHOW be in our new home) is to have Family Christmas at one of my girls' homes. They can provide the location, but I'll still plan the event.

To that end I'm continuing on my usual path towards a stress-free holiday. I've been shopping, wrapping, and storing gifts. I'm completely finished with gifts for three Grands and two adult kids. I'm disappointed that I won't be decorating this year, but oh well, that's life.

My oldest granddaughter, Sunny was over the other day and, out of the blue, asked if she could plan the Family Christmas menu. I said of course! And she did. So I texted my daughters with the menu and their food assignments. They laughed. I'm thrilled that the 13 year old is showing that kind of interest! haha

Four months from today my Family Christmas will be behind me. Christmas Eve is typically hosted by my SIL. Christmas Day is typically just Dan and I. To be honest, I ususally start taking Christmas decor down on Christmas Day (surreptitiously, as it irritates Dan!) 

Maybe I'll be in my new home (probably not), maybe I'll be in a tiny apartment (probably) but either way I'll be with my family and that's the joy for me.

This year's gift stash

Christmas Time's a'Comin'🎅

I'm not sure why this list of tips promotes so many retailers, but you can ignore that and still get some good ideas for a stress-free Christmas. 

August is not too early to start to plan. When it was just the six of us in our little family, I started Christmas gift shopping in May. It was the start of our family birthday season and a good time to collect wish lists from our kids.

Although our family birthday season has grown to be year round (except for April and November) I still keep up the tradition of starting to ask for wish lists in May. Most of my adult kids give me wish lists all year long, which I love!

Another thing I generally do in August is to begin planning for family Christmas events. I make lists of food I might serve, goodies I might make, and games we might play. The lists start out pretty long, but I whittle them down as the holidays approach.

This month I'm going to choose my Christmas postcard and focus on getting the right photos to use. I'm also going to start a draft annual Christmas letter.

What are you going to do to achieve a stress-free Christmas?

July 31st

 

21 Weeks From Today

The Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, MO

We would frequently come to the Plaza on Thanksgiving night to watch them turn the lights on. It's one of the most vivid memories of my childhood. Even if we didn't come to see them turned on, we always drove the Plaza lights at least once each Christmas season. 

July 30th

 

Christmas in July has come to an end. I enjoyed reading all of your posts and came away truly inspired this year to try some new things. 

As I think about the upcoming Holiday Season, I am equally excited and filled with dread. The not knowing if we'll be in our new home, or even where we'll be is daunting. The thought of decorating a new space is exciting. 

Right now our estimated closing is November 7, with keys being received on November 9. I am literally praying that we won't see more delays, but I know in these times it's entirely possible. 

But, Christmas is not about decor, or where we live, or gifts, or baking, or activities. It's about celebrating the Birth of Christ, spending time with family/friends, giving out of our blessedness to bless others.

Those are things that I can think about and plan for with excitement.

July 29th

 

Welcome to Fun(ny) Friday

Here we are at the last Friday of CIJ. My original thought was to highlight quotes from the movie "Elf". But I have a confession to make, I've never seen that movie. I know everybody loves it, but I've just never been interested in watching it. So my next thought was "A Family Stone" which is another favorite of mine or "A Miracle on 34th Street" which I also love. But the final choice is "Elf". (if these are not funny, I apologize. As I said I've never seen this movie)

This is the only quote I remember ever hearing!

July 28th

 

My plan for this post was to share photos of Christmas 2021. However to my dismay when I went to pull photos, there are none. I did not feel good at all last Christmas. I was dealing with Hyperthyroidism. The bad part of it was the racing heart, the severe anxiety, the feeling like I was running all the time even when I was sitting. The not-so-bad part was the rapid weight loss, haha. After visiting an Endocrinologist in Feburary, I was diagnosed with Thyroiditis. I was already on the mend by then and I feel fine now. 

I knew I didn't feel good, but I didn't realize I neglected to take photos. Oh well. We had professional family photos done that year so I'll share them instead.

Jessica's family

JD's family

Katie's family

Zach's family

Me and Dan

All of us

The Grands

July 27th

 

Today I'm featuring miscellaneou uses of mason jars for Christmas (thank you, Pinterest)

I think I'm feeling more inspired to use some of my dozens and dozens of mason jars this year. Stay tuned for December posts to see if I'm successful!

Luminary

Advent Calendar

Tablescape

Centerpiece

July 26th

 

The Hallmark Christmas in July movies are coming to an end this week. But I thought I'd share some games I found on Pinterest that can be played when the Hallmark Countdown to Christmas schedule starts in October.

Now I know that the title "drinking game" may put some of you off. Others of you may be thrilled! haha I'm diabetic and don't drink alcohol at all, but I do drink water or iced tea. I think any drink can be used to play this game.

Hallmark Countdown to Christmas

Coming

10/21/2022

July 25th

 

Today we celebrate the Reason for the Season

July 24th

 

22 Weeks From Today!

July 23rd

 

One area that I need to up my game in is appetizers. I always serve the same old boring appetizers at family events. I searched Pinterest to find some inspiration for this Christmas. The site I found is here. Below are photos of some of the appetizers I think I can make that my family would enjoy:

Candy Cane Caprese Board

Rudolph Cheese Ball

Snowman Cheese Ball

Christmas Tree Pull-apart Bread

Christmas Tree Skewers

Christmas Tree Veggie Platter

Christmas Wreath Veggie Platter