My journey on the Path less traveled. Introverted survivor of childhood abuse using writing to “Bring on the thriving!” A little lopsided sometimes, stubborn, but smart enough to know it’s time to truly heal! 🙏🏻❤️
So I’ve been saying I’m “Concerted Out” for quite a few years now. Long story short, lets just say I saw lots and lots of the 80s hair bands back in the day. So much so, that I ended up taking almost a 20 year concert break.
Oh, that came to an end last night!! With the goal of gifting my young adult kids an experience rather than another $50 stocking stuffer that ends up on the floor somewhere, I went with the shared activity gift idea this year.
Pentatonix did not disappoint!! Wow, what a beautiful night! There’s just nothing like hearing a group like this sharing their God given gift in such a dynamic and beautiful holiday concert. Their voices are so Magical together!
Today I’m so thankful for the gift of time together with ones we love. There’s just no replacement for the gift of a shared experience. Sorry Macys, my kids aren’t getting store gifts this Holiday season.
Live, Laugh, Love with everything you’ve got while you still can!! 💜✨ Thank you all so much for stopping by. I truly appreciate and value you all here.
So I’m definitely the wrong person to have all the quick and easy, or creative answers to figuring out what the “Perfect Christmas gift” to give is. Blame it on my “hard to explain” upbringing that reinforced that STUFF is never what means the most. I know it’s true, but hear me out on this one little thought.
I get it, on most days I do. But I can tell you from experience that there’s still nothing like seeing someone’s face absolutely light up when you are able to find a gift so simple and meaningful to them especially. That feeling of joy and gratitude you feel inside and out, just knowing that you were able to connect with your gift receiver on an almost spiritual level.
My parents were not great gift buyers, but I do remember them trying, and that memory of the love behind the thought will stick with me forever. If I’m truly intent on finding the good in the not so good, that’s the emotional approach I choose.
The Holidays are not about the physical gifts, but kids especially do crave at least one little surprise, even a homemade card! ❤️✨ It’s in that one gift that they are able to feel included, remembered, cared about, and socially ok when their friends ask them what they got for Christmas.
There will always be families that cannot afford even one gift. Today I’m thankful that our Church puts together an annual Giving Tree to help make that one gift happen for as many kids as we can.
Again, I know it’s not about the gift, but the emotional response from a child being able to share in at least one is deeply tied to developing emotional health too deep to be able to explain here in writing.
If you know of any children that may need that one special moment, I can’t tell you enough how much of a difference it will make in their overall healthy development. It’s just too hard to explain in words, you’ll just have to trust me on this one.
Live, Laugh, Love with everything you’ve got while you still can! 💜✨ Thank you all so much for stopping by. I truly appreciate and value you all here.
Oh I have the best memories of pouring through the Sears and JC Penny’s Christmas catalogs back in the day!!
I’d almost wear the highlighter out circling all the potential gift ideas. I’d have so many pages dog-eared that the next person to look through the catalog would be a bit overwhelmed by my little Mess.
Those hours spent pouring through the pages are some of my best “wish memories” as a kid! Even if you knew it wasn’t affordable, it was still such a fun visual to circle the picture and to imagine what your closet could look like.
A favorite personal feeling, that I’m just now remembering I loved, was the “window shopping” element of the holiday season. It honestly can be just as fun, just as intoxicating as literally buying the items. The experience itself can be felt in the imagining, the creativity, and the warmth the visual can create.
Happy Window shopping season!! Today I’m thankful that our old Christmas Catalogs are coming back! My screened out, blood shot eyes are thankful for the more relaxing, old school catalogs to make it back.
Live, Laugh, Love with everything you’ve got while you still can! 💜✨ Thank you so much for stopping by. I truly appreciate and value you all here.
Welcome to the start of a new and “for fun” posting created by our own creative and great blogger, Jordanne. She’s an awesome mentor and peer here in our writing community. I’m happy to be a part of this new and fun tradition! Thank you for including me in on the seasonal fun Jordanne! Definitely check her out at: https://www.thelifeofaglasgowgirl.co.uk/?m=1
Since Fall is such a fun time of year the questions are all about October and Halloween. I’ll add the rules here first, add in my own answers to the questions and then nominate other fun bloggers! 🎃🦸🏼♀️ ✅
🎃 Rules:
🎃 Questions:
1. What’s your favourite thing about October? Easy One, my birthday!!!! 🤠 oh, and the gorgeous and vibrant oranges, reds, and yellows on our trees! And the crisp change in weather, getting out my hoodie and slipper socks, and…. I could go on and on! Apple Cider, Fall festivals, bonfires at the local pumpkin patch,….
2. Are you a big celebrator of Halloween?
Actually not really myself but I’ve tried hard to give my kiddos some fun neighborhood memories! You know, the kind where multiple families all meet up at one house with a bonfire, and taking turns walking kids around and passing out candy. 🍭🍬🍫
3. What’s your favourite horror movie? Ok, you’ll find out sooner or later,…I’m a complete wimp about horror movies. 😳 I’ve only seen a few and had nightmares for YEARs! I know right?!! Definite scariest (no real favorite so this instead) was The Ring. Holy Moly! Hate when the kids are coming to kill you! 👀
4. Would you rather a cosy night in watching horrors or a big night out in a costume? I’m picking the neighborhood get together/bonfire combo! Fun with friends, lots of food, and laughs.
5. Which has been your most favourite costume to date? Back in the day my hubby and I went out as Al and Heidi from the Home Improvement show. That’s about as crazy as I’ve ever gone. I gots some Halloween issues!!! I was raised in a very strict religious home and I wasn’t allowed to celebrate. Years of sitting out during the school parade!?? 🙀 don’t get me going,…
6. Bobbing for apples or pin the hat on the witch? Definitely the apples! 🍎 🍏
7. How do you celebrate Halloween? Our kids are older teens now so we’re turning into the goofy neighbors will bowls overflowing with enough candy to feed an army!
8. What’s your least favourite horror? They ALL terrify me! Some of my worst memories are from pet cemetery, Chucky,…ok, all of them. My daughter laughs at me constantly. She’s seen a crazy amount and loves them!
9. Do you have a favourite trick or treating memory? My parents didn’t believe in celebrating so really no fun memories.
10. What’s your favourite thing about Halloween? It had to be watching my kids have such a good time over the years in their power rangers, princess, goblin, dinosaur, …..Spider-Man costumes! 🦹♀️ 🤠
12. What’s your favourite Halloween candy? Too many!! 🤣 ok, if you insist,…sneaking the Kit Kat’s out of your kids bag and hoping no one catches you. 👀😁
13. Ghost decorations or skeleton decorations? I’m rerouting with fall decorations, pumpkins, hay bales, and scarecrows. 🎃🍁
Your Turn to Answer!! I’m tagging the following bloggers!
🎃 @cathycola513
🎃 @AfarinRava
🎃 @CafeBeautyBlog
🎃 @Be_Kinderr
🎃 @BonjourBlogger
Have fun and pass along as you’d like too! All in fun, good seasonal fun!
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Live, Laugh, Love with everything you have, while you still can! Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate and value you all so much. 💜✨