Christmas is almost here!

Wow! Can you believe Christmas is only 3 days away? I say this every year but this year especially really flew by. Believe it or not I am pretty much ready for Christmas this year. It is very surprising to me as usually I am one of those people last minute shopping or staying up until midnight Christmas Eve finishing my wrapping. So, I am feeling pretty good this year. Don't get me wrong I still have my house to clean and get
ready for the company that will be joining us on Christmas Day for dinner but for the most part (as far as shopping and wrapping go) I can officially say that I am done!

It is really a great feeling. I feel like I can enjoy these last few days before Christmas. Maybe I will bake with the kids or create a gingerbread house. Maybe just relax by the fire with some hot cocoa and watch a Christmas movie. The days prior have been so hectic with shopping, wrapping, school shows and parties. It will be nice to just sit back and relax. I hope each and everyone of you can enjoy this Christmas with your nearest and dearest family and friends. I wish you peace and joy. Spend the day with the people who mean the most! Merry Christmas!

Quote of the day

" For every minute you are angry you lose 60 seconds of happiness!"
                                ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Annual Christmas tree cutting

This past weekend we took our annual trip to our local Christmas tree farm.  The past few years there has been snow on the ground which despite trudging through the inches of the white stuff did make for a very festive event.  But no snow this year!

We bundled ourselves up and headed over.  I get such joy watching each of my three kids run from tree to tree picking out "the perfect one."  All my husband and I hear throughout the farm is, "Mom, Dad, I found it, look at this one....no wait how about this one over here?" They examine each and everyone numerous times checking the height, how wide and how soft or hard the needles are.

My son who is now 13 excitingly has taken over the role of cutting the tree down.  He feels so proud now that he has taken over his Dad's job. Taking such care to make the perfect cut.  After pictures all five of us grab a part of the tree and carry it to the truck.  We then head over to the campfire for some hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.  What a perfect December day! Now on to decorating....

How to keep balance during the holiday season!

The holidays are here! Christmas parties are scheduled, family visits are planned, shopping excursions, cookie parties...the list goes on and on. The holidays bring such excitement!! But I need to find some balance this holiday season. I want to keep the holidays special and embrace that magic but still have energy left and time for fun!

Focus on what really matters:

Being together.....
It should not be about how exquisite your house is decorated, how many cookies you bake, or how many holiday parties you attend or throw. The focus should be on being together with the people who mean the most to you. Focus on the quality of time together with your friends and family.

Keep things simple....
Dinner/ parties do not have to be over the top celebrations.  If your stressing over how you are going to fit 25 people for a sit down dinner, have it buffet style.  You can still have a beautiful holiday dinner buffet style.  Don't stress, delegate side dishes, make simple deserts or hey, if you have the means have it catered from you local big box supermarket!

Decorating.....
I have definitely streamlined some of my holiday decorating. A house can still look festive without all of the million snowmen, Santa clauses and miniature Christmas trees.  I love a good jolly ol' snowman but this year some of them will remain in the storage box. A house can look just as decorative with some poinsettias and pots of amaryllis!

Enjoying family.....
Don't take your family for granted. Family is one of the greatest gifts. But don't feel like you have to see everyone over two days.  Spread it out if you can.  You can plan a get-together before Christmas, the week between Christmas and New Years or you can make the New Year a time to get together.  What a way to kick off the New Year with a family get-together!

Think about the reasons we celebrate Christmas, the magic it brings and the blessings that surround each and everyone of us! Enjoy your holiday season! Find balance in your celebrations and enjoy the moments!

Quote of the day

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." ~ Philospher William  Jones

What I am thankful for.....

Things that I am thankful for this year.....

My husband- my soul mate, my best friend. The one I can count on for anything and everything!

My three wonderful kids- my rocks, without them my life would be nothing, they complete me!

My family- my support system. They are there when I need them and even when I don't. They are there to listen, to cry, to laugh, to understand, to cherish!

My home- the place where everything is safe and peaceful. It provides us shelter and comfort.

My friends- Like family they are there for support, guidance and friendship.

My health- It keeps me going, to be healthy is a blessing!

My dog- I am thankful for the happiness that he shows me no matter how many times in one day I walk through that door. His happiness is never ending....

My life- I am so blessed to have what I have in my life. I am so fortunate to have the family, friends and support system that I have. My wish is for all to be happy and healthy this Thanksgiving Holiday and blessed with the love and joy of family and friends!

The all-important Thanksgiving Holiday!

Last week I wrote about the beginning of the holiday season. The holidays actually begin with Thanksgiving.  But does the rest of the world realize that?  With holiday songs playing on the radio already and Christmas decorations adorned on houses and in stores,  does the world overlook Thanksgiving altogether?

Many retailers this year are actually planning their "Black Friday Specials" on Thanksgiving day.  What happened to Thanksgiving being a day of relaxation with family, sitting together, eating, sharing blessings, playing board games or watching football?

I recognize that there are some superb deals out there that can really make a difference for someones holiday budget.  But on Thanksgiving day?  Why do the retailers keep pushing the "holiday shopping" time up? The day after is deemed as the "biggest shopping day of the year".  Let us enjoy our Thanksgiving.  I know that I will be spending my Thanksgiving with my family, enjoying each other's company, our food and just the pure joy of relaxing and being together.  There are plenty of shopping days left....

How will you be spending your Thanksgiving holiday?

Preparing for the Season!!

The holiday season is officially upon us. Christmas is only how many weeks away…..?? Yup, 7 weeks away? Can you believe it? It feels like just yesterday that my kids went back to school, didn’t I just attend that back to school night?? The year has flown by and soon a new year will be upon us. 

With the holidays fast approaching along comes all the joyful festivities that come along with.  There are family gatherings, holiday decorating, shopping, wrapping presents, gift giving and receiving. But with all that can come stress and anxiety. I thoroughly enjoy the holidays but I can attest to that feeling of being overwhelmed at times.  Sometimes that feeling of being overwhelmed can take away the whole meaning and magic of Christmas.  It goes by with the blink of an eye, this year I vow to be different.

A few things I plan to do different this year:

1.  Plan my shopping list NOW! 
           - I keep a copy with me wherever I go.  You never know when that certain item might appear for that special someone.

2.  Not having enough money
            - Well, I don't think we ever feel we have enough money.  The key here is communication.  Be honest with your family about your gift-giving preferences.  Let them hear your ideas and  listen to theirs.  You can exchange pollyannas, homemade gifts or set a price limit.

3.  Most importantly, Enjoy the holiday season to the fullest!
            - Savor every moment.  With this time of year being so busy it just makes the time seem to go by even faster.  Take the time to really enjoy the moments with your family.  Share the magic with your children.  Just seeing their faces light up when we put up the outside lights or decorate the tree just melts my heart.  It makes it all worth it!

Enjoy the upcoming holiday season!

My Bucket List

So do you know what you want to be when you grow up? I should know considering I am 40 right??  And according to my friend, half dead! (gee, thanks Traci).  Well, I am a mother, wife, registered nurse, part-time secretary ( for my husbands business), aspiring writer, chauffeur ( for my kids), tutor- the list can go on and on.  But is there more I want to do with my life?  When they read my eulogy when I die would I be satisfied with what it said? Will I be content with everything I have achieved in my life?  What more do I want to do or complete?

So, here comes my "life bucket list".  I'm completing a list of 50 things that I would like to do before I die.  Does 50 seem extreme considering some of my items might seem extravagant (to me anyway) "Canadian wildlife adventure" anyone??  I don't think so...I think 50 is a perfect number!  I think it would be gratifying for me to write these things down and check them off as I complete them.  By seeing them on paper might aspire me to go after my dreams. I think it would be beneficial for everyone to have a "bucket list".  I might even have my kids join me on this adventure.  It would be interesting and fun to see what they would write on their "bucket list".  Something we can look back on years from now!  What is on your "bucket list" ?

Quote of the day

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." ~ C.S. Lewis

Love that quote!

I would say that I am generally a happy person.  Although I am not one of those people who jump right out of bed in the morning with a huge smile on their face and say, “I’m ready to start the day!”  I try, I do.  But I have to work at being happy.  Don’t get me wrong, I am so blessed to have what I have in my life.  I have three beautiful children, a wonderful, supportive husband and great friends and family.  But sometimes life can get in the way of that enduring happiness.  That is what I need to work at every day.  The daily grind of so-called life, where your child misses the bus, the dog had an accident on the carpet and your toddler is having a meltdown because the dog ate her toast, all before 8:30 am.  That’s where I need to take a step back, take a breath and realize that all will be OK!  That is my daily intent to bring a little happiness into my life.  I have it all around me.  No matter if I’m chopping vegetables for dinner or watching Elmo with my little one.  I need to stop, breathe and take in the moment.  That will be my little handful of happiness.  How do you find happiness?